Dangermouse + Sparklehorse = DANGERHORSE!

Sparklehorse is the name under which Mark Linkous has recorded four brilliantly woozy alt.country records over the last 15 years, including 2001's masterpiece (and one of my all time favourites), 'It's A Wonderful Life'.

Danger Mouse is the genius super-producer who is in Gnarls Barkley, produced the second Gorillaz LP, and the most recent Beck album, did that 'Grey Album' thing, and a bunch of other stuff.

Together, they are DANGERHORSE, a collaborative project that's been talked about since 2006, but, which now - finally - seems to be bearing fruit. Well, 'DangerHorse' was the working title anyway. But they don't seem to be using that name anymore.

A 'mysterious poster' has been sent to a number of bloggers (not us, sadly), promising an album - 'Dark Night Of The Soul' in summer 2009. It also boasts an eye-watering list of collaborators: Black Francis (Pixies), Jason Lytle (Grandaddy), Julian Casablancas (The Strokes), Nina Persson (The Cardigans, A Camp), Iggy Pop, Gruff Rhys (Super Furry Animals, Neon Neon), James Mercer (The Shins), Vic Chestnutt, Suzanne Vega, The Flaming Lips (!), and David Lynch (!!). It's presumably all the artists who wanted to be on album with the words 'Dark' and 'Night' in the title in 2009, but missed out on that other one. Other than the above, details are non-existent at the moment, (this website doesn't shed a lot of light) but if the album emerges and is anywhere close to the sum of its parts, it could turn out to be the best record of 2009. Possibly the greatest thing ever.

Anti-news round-up

US Record label Anti have been busy this week. First came the news that they would donate $5 to the Best Friends Animal Society For every blog that links to the free download of Neko Case's new single, 'People Got A Lotta Nerve'. It's well known that Bawley (Hearts) hairy animals so we're only too happy to help out. The single's well worth a listen, too. Her album, 'Middle Cyclone' arrives March 3.

.

If that wasn't enough Anti-news, It's also just been announced that hotly tipped ex Grandaddy singer Jason Lytle has signed to Anti- and his debut solo album, 'Yours Truly, the Commuter' comes out on May 19. These are the names of the songs on it:

01 Yours Truly, the Commuter

02 Brand New Sun

03 Ghost of My
Old Dog

04 I Am Lost (And the Moment Cannot Last)

05 Birds Encouraged Him

06 It's the Weekend

07 Fürget It

08 This Song Is the Mute Button

09 Rollin' Home Alone

10 You're Too Gone

11 Flying Thru Canyons

12 Here for Good

New music: 5 for 2009

Here are five fairly randomly chosen new acts from around the world (I'm defining 'new' as 'haven't released a debut album yet') that it might be worth keeping an eye out for in 2009. Or not. Who knows? their albums might all be rubbish. We'll have to wait and see....

5. Soko

Slightly mental French singer Soko first emerged last year with that 'I'll Kill Her' song (number 5 in last year's Bawley 100) and judging by her Myspace, there's a bit more where that came from. She's apparently working on her debut album. Myspace

4. Jason Lytle

This one's a bit of a cheat, because Jason Lytle had been making music for ages as Grandaddy's frontman. But his debut solo album is due next year, and word has it, it's going to be up there with his best work. But they always say that. Myspace (see also: Sew Low Owl Bum)

3. Sui Zhen

Australian singer songwriter Sui Zhen has been playing a lot around Sydney recently, with her excellent band. With a voice somewhere between Joanna Newsome and Feist, and some great quirky indie-pop tunes, her debut, should be one to look out for in 09. Myspace.

2. Little Boots.

One of the many 'girls with synths' that are popping up all over the place at the moment and should be a big feature of the coming year. Little Boots has been working with Hot Chip's Alexis Taylor to create some great wonky electro pop. Download a brilliant 45 minute long mixtape from her myspace.

1. Mumford & Son

Peers of the likes of Laura Marling, Johnny Flynn and the like, This painfully shy four piece do "Folk/Bluegrass/Afrobeat" very well. Really good songs, too. Myspace

Sew Low Owl Bum

Jason Lytle was the creative force behind Grandaddy, the brilliant American alt.rock act who sadly split shortly before the release of their fourth and final album, Just Like The Fambly Cat, back in 2006. He's just added to myspace the first taster of his debut solo album (or Sew Low Owl Bum, as he'd have it on his website). The track's called Flying Thru Canyons and it's quite lovely in a very understated kind of way. It's now looking like his as yet untitled record won't emerge until next year, but until then, you can hear the track here and sigh wistfully to yourself.