Daily MPfree: Active Child

Active Child is Pat Grossi, who describes himself as a “choirboy turned indie-pop musician”. His music is a swirl of electronic and acoustic sounds, laced through with 80s pop drums and polished, warm melodies. He’s an endearing chap onstage too, red-cheeked and humble. His Curtis Lane EP is out now on Merok, and he’ll be playing at The Lexington on July 26th before embarking on an epic US tour.

Active Child – She Was a Vision by snipelondon

Daily MPfree: Sam Amidon vs R Kelly

Whilst browsing the credits of Sam Amidon‘s sublime album-of-the-year contender I See The Sign, a couple of curious songwriting credits leapt out. Firstly, the songs are all arrangements of traditional folk songs with unattributed authors, explaining the timeless feel of the tunes and the antiquated phrasing in the lyrics.

But more surprising is the credit on the albums penultimate track “Relief” – a certain R Kelly. And sure enough, a quick Google search reveals the original. Amidon has removed a few of the more cheesy “man on high” references and such, but his arrangement of the song sounds as timeless and beautiful as anything else on the album.

The unexpected choice of cover feels like a masterstroke – there’s probably a musicology thesis about R&B being the new folk music in here somewhere. But Amidon injects some overtly absent gravitas into the (pretty awful) original version.

Amidon plays London’s CAMP next month, then Green Man Festival, before hitting the Barbican on Sept 27th for Bedroom Community’s rescheduled Whale Watching date.

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Sam Amidon – Relief by snipelondon

Daily MPfree: Surfer Blood

This awesome band (seemingly made up of a bunch of kids skipping school from the picture above) sound a bit like The Jesus & Mary Chain playing the songs of the Beach Boys, with the obligatory bit of afro-beat influence thrown in. Almost painfully on-trend, then, but their eponymous debut album is a scrawling, summery blast undeserving of such a cynical ear. It’s a tuneful, imaginative, wonderfully produced album full of great moments – the most apt summer record of 2010. Catch them at the Lexington on August 25th.

Surfer Blood – Swim by snipelondon

Daily MPfree: School Of Seven Bells

Dreamy shoegaze textures from acclaimed trio The School Of Seven Bells. Catch them live at the Scala next Tuesday, and learn more about them in our August issue.

The School Of Seven Bells – Babelonia by snipelondon

Snipe Likes: The Walkmen

While we’re going all NYC on you, here’s a veteran Manhattan band making a return. The Walkmen are back, with a new album “Lisbon” coming out in the UK on October 11th, via Bella Union. I can’t decide if this song’s brass arrangement reminds me of Christmas, or Mexico. Maybe both. What do you reckon? Download below, then let’s have a “Christmas or Mexico” vote in the comments section…

Daily MPfree: The Hundred In The Hands

Here’s a nice Snipe exclusive for you. Warp Records have given us an unreleased track by NYC upstarts The Hundred In The Hands, entitled “Gigantic Tom Tom”; a more sparkly, poppy take on “Tom Tom” from their ace Desert EP. They play The Old Blue Last tonight at the Vice magazine issue launch party. Plenty of scene points for that, but they’re actually good too. Trust.

The Hundred In The Hands – Gigantic Tom Tom by snipelondon

Daily MPfree: Pacific!

Pretty, blissed-out electronic Krautrock from the Swedish duo Pacific!. Apparently conceived as the soundtrack to a ballet (trailer below) their new album, Narcissus, is out September 13th on Vulture.

Pacific! – Venus Rising by snipelondon

Daily MPfree: The Sword

To offset the twee-core factor of liking Retro Stefson today, our Daily MPfree comes courtesy of balls-out rifflords The Sword. Their new album Warp Riders is out August 24th. You have to trade an email address for your MPfree today, so if you’d like to know whet you’re getting yourself into first, have a listen on MySpace.

Snipe Likes: Retro Stefson

Young Icelandic collective Retro Stefson embody the playful spirit, creativity and musical ability of many bands on the Reykjavik scene. A regular fixture at the Airwaves Festival, they put their stuff out on the more than ace Kimi label. Tzjek ‘it out.

Kimba by retrostefson

Daily MPfree: Mountain Man

Bella Union signings Mountain Man sing dew-sweet three part harmonies over plucked strings or, sometimes, nothing at all; we were captivated recently by their final song at a Union Chapel show, performed bravely off-mic and acappella. These two songs are from their debut album, “Made The Harbour“, out now.

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Mountain Man – Animal Tracks by snipelondon

Mountain Man – Soft Skin by snipelondon