As 2009 comes to an end, the unavoidable year end posts come a plenty. Korea Gig Guide focuses on the best live events of the year that just passed: KGG Staff 2009 Live Faves.

Other bloggers have instead listed albums:


Just like I did, Saharial too has written something on her 2009 favorite releases for London Korean Links: LKL Critics’ Choice 2009: Saharial. Keeping it a bit more alternative than usual, the choices include Dear Cloud's second and Yoon Band's eight full length album.


Of course LKL's very own Philip Gowman also wrote a bit on his favorites: LKL Critics’ Choice 2009: Philip. The list includes the In Memoriam 1946-2009 compilation to the memory of Roh Moo-hyun, adultchild's second full length album, nabi:mat's debut effort, and Younee's European album.


Contrary to allkpop's general kpop orientation, the allkpop Writers' Picks for 2009 includes the first album from Jang Kiha & The Faces, Mate's debut album, and even the 3rd demo from Broccoli, you too?


And over at wakesidevision, the top albums of 2009 are deemed to be Donawhale's second full length, Apollo 18's Blue album, 3rd Line Butterfly's return EP, and Lune's debut: My Best of 2009

All throughout Christmas I've been looking forward to New Year's Eve as the day to come home and do pretty much nothing - something I've been longing for during the past couple of months. Admittedly the day has been nothing but pleasant so far (I love that I didn't have to prepare to go anywhere tonight, or prepare anything at all for that matter), but catching up on twitter, emails, blogs, I suddenly miss people. I'm not much of a people person, but 2009 has been a great year as far as I'm concerned - primarily because of all the amazing people I've gotten to know in one way or another. Here's hoping that 2010 will be even half as fun & interesting as the year that just passed. Happy New Year!

New week, new indie chart from Bugs!

Bugs Indie TOP10 - December 27, 2009
1. Lucid Fall - 고등어
2. DP - 12월, 겨울, 바다 (with Ha Neul Hae)
3. Super Kidd - 내 맘대로 [MV]
4. Lazybone - 후따후따 네볼라따 [MV]
5. Lucid Fall - 평범한 사람
6. Lucid Fall - 레미제라블 Part 1
7. Galaxy Express - 홀로 이렇게 [MV]
8. Fin - My Dear [MV]
9. ByeBye Sea - 별 빛이 내린다 [MV]
10. Jang Kiha & The Faces - 싸구려 커피 [@ EBS Space]

The new additions to the TOP100 list are the following:
26. Rubylight - Love, On! (album ver.) (feat. Ji-hoon) [single ver. MV]
36. Playgirl - Christmas Card (크리스마스 카드) [mp3]
39. Loose Misty - Free Star
62. Lazybone - 벌써 새벽 5시
70. Lazybone - 지각 왕
74. VioleTone - When Coming A Springday [@ Club FreeBird]
81. DP - 힘든 일 있으면 전화해요 (with Han Sori)
89. 3rd Line Butterfly - 왠지, 여기, 바다

See the full top 100 list here.

Following summer special album Music Show, Super Kidd returns with a taste of a winter edition album with the release of digital single 내 맘대로 on December 22. In addition to the title track, the single also contains an instrumental version of the same.

Not ready to release a full length album just yet, ska-gone-mellow punk band Lazybone followed the 4.5 EP released in July with 4.6 Happy Donut on December 21. In addition to three new songs - all on the chart - the new EP also includes live versions of 4.5 songs Dance Dance and Feel So Good.

Although already mentioned twice, we're still gonna talk briefly about Playgirl's Christmas song here as the release itself has yet to be addressed: Digital single Christmas Card got a release on December 18 and features nothing but the title track. Sounding just like Playgirl should, it manages to inflict a bit of holiday spirit even in fans usually not too keen on Christmas themed music.

Indie music portal Indifan released its first digital compilation album, Join The Fan, on December 22. The list of participating artists includes Icycider and the Cherry Filter produced Coin Classic. The only song making it to the chart this week, however, is the main track performed by Loose Misty.

Rubylight, Ruby Salon's super group (now with support from Tearliner session player and Low-end project member Kang Ji-hoon), has released an album collecting their bossa nova inspired music. The title of the summery release is Winterless and it's been out since December 22.

Gathering almost every song from the now out of print 2006 EP 아디안텀 블루, the album also contains the band's take on Muhangwedo's 여름이야기 (from Ghost On Summer 2007), the theme from theater play 대빵 큰 고래의 꿈, a song called 천생연분 from OST 2007 movie Swindler in My Mom's House (사랑방 선수와 어머니), and what sounds like the Birdy Bitz Alien remix of Lost My Melody. Full tracklist and samples for every song but the hidden track at Hyang.

Speaking of Birdy Bitz Alien, aka Jelly Boy, aka Rubylight guitarist, aka Danny - bassist of Apollo 18. From GMC it seems like he's the one responsible for the music in movie One Night Stand (원나잇스탠드), that was shown on Seoul Independent Film Festival last week.

In further Apollo 18 related news: Dan Geymer has written an article about the guys for Eloquence. Try to read it here. Also, the band finished the mastering of the upcoming Red+ earlier this week and though I will not dwell on details now (I assure you there'll be more on that later) it sounds absolutely fantastic and is nothing anybody with the least bit of appreciation for Red will want to miss. According to Violet Sweets, the recordings for new album Violet are just about to start and the promo teaser video has already been shot.

Advertising Real Live vol. 7 - Winter Special Concert, a bunch of participating Fluxus artists - namely Park Ki Young, Clazziquai, Yi Sung Yol, Whale, and members from Winterplay and ByeBye Sea - have recorded a special acoustic/acappella version of Mariah Carey's cheerful All I Want For Christmas Is You:


I realize Christmas is almost over just about everywhere right now (and that this clip has been posted just about everywhere else already), but as you might've noticed I've once again fallen behind with all kinds of updates. Things should get back to normal within a week or so. Until then: Merry Christmas!

After I had mentioned Bomb&Tree, I was contacted by S.E. that offered samples from the new single. I had a few listens, but it was unlike anything I usually listen to and not something I favored right away - it reminded me of the kind of indie type soul inspired music (Swedish) critics will praise although I can rarely hear why. A few listens more and I suddenly heard all of these wonderfully surprising and generally awesome passages in both songs, coming to think it's definitely something more people ought to hear. Making that happen, fortunately Bomb&Tree's Lee Seong Rock didn't mind answering a few questions, and he also agreed to let me upload a sample:

Can you please introduce Bomb&Tree?
Bomb&Tree is a kind of vocal band that I started in 2008. When I was in the instrumental band Superstring I decided that I really wanted to make music with good lyrics and singing, so I asked my friend Ye-eun to make some songs together. We released the first Bomb&Tree CD single, City 'N Lights, in Feb 2009 and then Ye-eun went to France to study music more. I wanted to continue working on the project, so I released another CD single, Sooner or Later, alone as Bomb&Tree a few weeks ago.

Since the first single you have taken over the vocalist role. How would you say this has affected your music?
Bomb&Tree's original vocalist, Ye-eun, has a really cute vocal tone, but I think my voice is a little bit more aggressive than hers. I think it gives my new music a more rocking sound than the first CD single.

You've been working with Planet Shiver's DJ Friz and members from The Plastic Day on both singles so far. What are the biggest benefits from working with this group of people?
They are all really good musicians and I have a lot of respect for them.

DJ Friz is a good trance music producer and a legendary turntablist in Korea. I've known him since 2001. We were in university together. We usually spent time together even though we had different musical tastes.

The Plastic Day is the most powerful and dynamic live band that I have seen perform in Korea. I met Ho-Seong (The Plastic Day's bassist) when I was in the psychedelic noise band Marijuana (who would later become The Mustangs) in 2003 in Seoul's Hongdae area. I met Yun-Beom when he joined The Plastic Day as their drummer.

Working with all of these guys makes my songs more alive and energetic.

What will Bomb & Tree do next?
I will release the third Bomb&Tree CD single and the first Bomb&Tree EP in 2010. I will play a live showcase when the EP is released. After that I would like to play more gigs and make the first Bomb&Tree full-length album or a second EP. To make these recordings I want to have many musical relationships with all my talented friends.

---

Deciding which song to upload was difficult, because I like them both for different reasons. Eventually I settled on the one favored by Bugs users so here you go: Bomb&Tree - 오 그대여 (feat. DJ Friz)

오 그대여 is an interesting mix of laidback light indie rock and turntablism. The random "biatch" in the middle of it all is what first caught my interest and it makes me highly amused every time I listen, but I also love the Soul-ish organ/vocal interaction towards the end.

이곳의 조명은 너무나 눈이 부셔 appeals to me on a whole different level. Although the song appears to be mostly about something that could've been inspired by Christian Walz at his best, my favorite parts are those with the dreamy/airy element otherwise commonly associated with Donawhale. The two styles are quite different, yet alternating between them isn't just fresh but somehow comes off as the natural thing to do.

If last week was all about the same music as the week before that, this week it's all about new music with only two songs from last week's top 10 still there.

Bugs Indie TOP10 - December 20, 2009
1. Lucid Fall - 고등어
2. Lucid Fall - 레미제라블 Part 1
3. Lucid Fall - 평범한 사람
4. Galaxy Express - 홀로 이렇게 [MV]
5. Fin - My Dear [MV]
6. ByeBye Sea - 별 빛이 내린다 [MV]
7. Nahabi Band - 비가 내리면 [MV]
8. Bomb & Tree - 오 그대여 (feat. DJ Friz)
9. DP - 12월, 겨울, 바다 (with Ha Neul Hae)
10. Jang Kiha & The Faces - 싸구려 커피 [@ EBS Space]

The new additions to the TOP100 list are the following:
17. Broccoli, you too? - 편지
29. Lucite Tokki - 나에겐
39. Oh Ji Eun - 두려워 [bedroom recording]
63. Travelers - 술처먹는 세대 {MV]
70. 물고기 눈물달 - 물고기 눈물달 [instrumental version mp3]
74. Travelers - 9회말 투아웃
80. ByeBye Sea - 어둠이 깊을수록 별은 더욱 빛난다
86. Galaxy Express - Come On And Get Up [@ Salon Badabie]
89. Galaxy Express - 오늘밤 너와
91. Knock - 후유증

See the full top 100 list here.

Since December 2008 a seven Chocolate Project digital singles - Sweet, Deep, Melody - have been released. Now 2009 is coming to an end, and on December 15 those songs were all released again on Chocolate Project 2009. 12월, 겨울, 바다 was featured on volume 1, although at that point DP had featured Tain rather than Ha Neul Hae as this time around. Knock's song from volume 5 too has made it to the chart this week.

Although released September 21, it was not until this week that the two main tracks off Travelers' first album, 술처먹는 세대 (Wasted Generation), reached the chart. Travelers appears to be a project from a guy with an acoustic guitar named Lee Sang Heon, involving plenty of his friends.

Project band 물고기 눈물달 EP debuted with the release of Destiny on December 12. Although the vocalist in the group is Shin Hyun Oh from emo band Green Tomato Fried, this should reminisce the members previous works on various drama and movie soundtracks more.

The full Christmas Card song from Playgirl has now been revealed! It was posted today on the Playgirl blog along with 8 pretty photos of the girls dressed up in wedding gear.

Thanks to Janet I ended up at a new LiveJournal community with something of a Korean indie music focus today. It is called Soulvirtue and is run by a Finnish girl that will "recommend the latest / greatest pieces of Korean music".

Another blog I ended up at recently, is one I can't really understand myself but that might be of interest to those of you that can grasp the Brazilian kind of Portugese: sarangingayo. It's mostly the regular kpop stuff, but there are the occasional indie related post as well - such as today's translation of something about Peppertones's recently released 3rd album: ♥ Peppertones agita o mercado indie ao lançar seu 3° álbum.

Another few reviews have been posted at wakesidevision over the last few days:
- Clazziquai Project – Mucho Punk Review
- Nia – My Everything Review
- Huckleberry Finn (허클베리 핀) – Star of Olympio Review

Janet must've been working hard recently as no less than 7 overviews were posted at make-shift cartology yesterday:
- group overview: The Black Skirts [검정치마]
- group overview: Microkid [마이크로키드]
- artist overview: Heureun [ 흐른 ]
- group overview: Dr. Core 911 [닥터코어 911]
- group overview: Huckleberry Finn [허클베리 핀]
- group overview: Swallow [스왈로우]
- artist overview: Hi, Mr. Memory [하이미스터메모리]

As far as I'm concerned, 2009 was a great year for music. Want to share your opinion on what exactly was the best about it? Here's a couple of chances:

- London Korean Links is looking for mini reviews of the best (or possibly most disappointing) Korean album of the year and has a bunch of treats to give away for the effort: LKL competition – album of the year 2009

- Time has come for the very first Indieful ROK top lists! Heavily inspired by Nialler9 you'll find the voting form below. Please take note of the simple rules below before submitting your selections. If you do you'll have a chance of ending up with a copy of your pick between my favorite albums/EPs this year!


Update 100107: Voting closed. Results here.

Another month with the Music Alliance Pact! This time the pact has been joined by The Netherlands, although for mysterious reasons Brazil and Turkey haven't submitted any entries so we're down to 33 songs again.

Representing Korea this time around is the charming Oh My Melodies. I've been playing her So Lazy more than anything else the past week and highly recommend downloading it - as much as I like I Like It All below, the song I can't get enough of right now is Everybody's In The Room. Learn more on Oh My Melodies in this interview.

ARGENTINA: Zonaindie
Coiffeur - Humedad
Coiffeur is not the name of a band, but the alias of a young folk singer and songwriter from Morón, a city in the greater Buenos Aires area). Humedad is one of the finest songs from his third album, El Tonel De Las Danaides, which was released this year by Estamos Felices (Argentina's coolest independent label, you should check them out).

AUSTRALIA: Who The Bloody Hell Are They?
Toecutter - Best Party Ever (Jordan Lightyear & Jimmy2sox remix)
Best Party Ever pretty much sums up Toecutter, a man called David Harris from Milano, New South Wales who creates dancefloor-friendly progressive house music. Apparently, Toecutter has been sitting on this song since 1984 when he recorded the hook onto a cassette and then spent 25 years deliberating on its merits.

CANADA: I(Heart)Music
The Property Line - The Start
The Property Line have only been around a few months but they've been building quite a local following with their brand of psychedelia-tinged country-rock. Their EP (which is available for free download on their site) is pretty strong, and nowhere is it stronger than on The Start, in which the band infuses a little Sufjan into their sound, with absolutely stunning results.

CHILE: Super 45
Gen - ¿Qué Le Pasó A Mi Rap
Es is the latest album by Gen (Freddy Olguin). Putting together amazing beats, social critique rhymes and sounds from another dimension, the Chilean rapper has taken the experience of listening to hip hop to a whole new level. An army of producers has helped him develop a very distinctive personality for his record, which can be compared to the sound of Flying Lotus, Subtle or even The RZA, with the result something nothing short of future-like music. It's refreshing, experimental and highly exciting.

CHINA: Wooozy
Today - Before Ending
Before Ending is taken from Today's debut album which was released last year. They are searching for hope and happiness by watching everyone's love life as a third person. You won't feel lonely after listening to their songs. The band's new album, Live The Life, will be out soon.

COLOMBIA: Colombia Urbana
Miss Muffin - Bways 'n' Gyals
What happens if you put together Juan Valdez and Bob Marley? Well, the answer to this experiment can be given by Isabella Escobar aka Miss Muffin, the known name for this promising talent of Colombian reggae. Originating from Antioquia, with Caribbean blood, Miss Muffin has released Hear This, an album that explores in a curious manner the various possibilities of reggae.

DENMARK: All Scandinavian
Eumig & Chinon - This Fang
The last Danish track of 2009 is also a MAP exclusive. Eumig & Chinon aka Christian Kastbjerg has kindly provided this kickass piece of funky housetronica titled This Fang, which will be on his debut EP coming out sometime next year. You've got to groove.

ENGLAND: The Daily Growl
Banjo Or Freakout - Upside Down
I'm bending the rules a little this month because Alessio Natalizia, who trades under the name Banjo Or Freakout, is Italian - but he's based in London so we can claim him as our own. Just as well because his awesome soundtracks, all wrapped up in a dreamy melodious electronic haze, are worth breaking down national boundaries for.

ESTONIA: Popop
Malcolm Lincoln - Me Iz Loaded With Zoul
Malcolm Lincoln has been active only for about a month so there's not much of a biography yet. The band is the brainchild of Robin Juhkental, who is joined by Madis Kubu aka Fretless Rämbu for live shows. Five more songs are downloadable here.

FINLAND: Glue
Rex Willer - My Girl
Rex Willer is a five-piece indie band who recorded the excellent Inner Moray Scenes EP at their home studio earlier this year. Influenced by My Morning Jacket, Steely Dan and Death Cab For Cutie, they are driven by groovy bass lines and old-school keyboard sounds, without forgetting good guitar licks. Let yourself be caught by the irresistible melody of My Girl while Rex Willer finishes some new material due out early next year.

FRANCE: ZikNation
Michael Wookey - Songs About Snow
At the age of 15, Michael Wookey was given a portable pump organ which belonged to his grandfather, who was an organist during World War II. This instrument inspired Michael to write some songs and start collecting obscure instruments. Now 26, he has released three albums and by using a portable studio, he has recorded in various sheds, basements and meat lockers. He now lives in the red light district of Paris. The French describe his music as folk baroque.

GERMANY: Blogpartei
Dobré - The Melody Is A Stranger
Sometimes you realise within minutes what creative potential a musician has, and Dobré comes into that category. Usually found playing eclectic indie-folk with his mates Sepp Kennedy, he just released a 'best of' solo record called Tools 'n' Toys which you can download here. The Melody Is A Stranger is a downtempo piece of indie which strongly reminds me of early Peter Gabriel.

GREECE: Mouxlaloulouda
2-L8 - Excuse Me, But I Just Have To Explode (Part II)
2-L8's second release - He & She, Angry Enough To Keep Loving In The Dark Ages (download it for free here) - is a masterpiece of avant-garde music that truly haunts the mind. It's a passionate experience, leading the listener into excruciating catharsis - you look into the eyes of two lovers and see nothing but painful regret. It's exhilarating and rare to hear such florid arrangements based on sharp stringed instruments and theremin, trembling, frantically passionate vocals, desperate and bleak lyrics coupled with a sense of hope and all of them laced with uncompromising experimentation, true emotional resonance and weight. A total seductive triumph.

ICELAND: I Love Icelandic Music
Morðingjarnir - Manvisa
Punk-rock trio Morðingjarnir ("The Murderers") play fast and sharp three-to-four chord songs, often with some dark humour. Atli, Haukur and Helgi are influenced by Dead Kennedys and local punk heroes Fræbbblarnir. Manvisa is a song featured on their third album, Flóttinn Mikli, with guest vocals from Kata of the band Mammút.

INDIA: Indiecision
The Mavyns - Greener Than The Sea
The Mavyns (pronounced "May-wins") are a rock act from Mumbai. Their music is a particularly refreshing take on the new British post-punk revival. Powered by piano-driven melodies and a charming disposition, the recently-formed quartet already look set for greater things. Greener Than The Sea makes no bones about its Beatles affectations culminating in a dizzying guitar romp. This live recording from an excellent recent set in the city is a definite sign of a career path that looks to be going only one way - up!

INDONESIA: Deathrockstar
Tika & The Dissidents - Waltz Muram
Known as the diva from the indie scene in Indonesia, Tika has a beautiful voice and smart lyrics with influences ranging from swing and lounge music mashed with eclectic orchestration. I chose her and her band this month because I also want to promote Bahasa Indonesia, the official language of the country.

IRELAND: Nialler9
O Emperor - Po
After an impressive appearance on Irish TV and some blog love from The Torture Garden, Cork band O Emperor are definitely on the 'ones to watch' list. Especially, though, after repeated plays of their debut single, Po, an unassuming number that reveals itself on multiple listens thanks to its snaking ephemeral guitar lick and a vocal that lodges in your brain for 24 hours at a time.

ITALY: Polaroid
The Calorifer Is Very Hot! - Evolution On Stand-By
Italy is well known for its Prime Minister's various conflicts of interest. For this month's MAP I decided to act in a diplomatic way and promote a band and record that I helped to release. I could tell you that I believe these guys play some of the best indie-pop in this country. I could tell you that their lo-fi punk attitude to songwriting deserves worldwide attention. I could beg you to go to see them live and promise that you will have fun. But these would be all lies. They're here just because I put my money in their new album - buy it!

JAPAN: JPOP Lover
Sonic Attack Blaster - 20000Volt
Sonic Attack Blaster, an alternative band from Tokyo's underground scene, call their music 'samurai rock'. Their songs actually have Japanese retro melody lines that give them an early-90s feel. Interesting and really rather weird. Their new album will be released in January.

MEXICO: Red Bull PanameriKa
Rana Santacruz - Cajita De Barro
Rana Santacruz's richness lies deep in Mexican soil: a buried treasure of plundered Celtic tunes, ranchera-song lamentations and magical-realistic folktales that could have been part of a lost chapter from a rural cuento written by Juan Rulfo. Chicavasco is his debut album - a delicate collection of bohemian vignettes permeated by a true sensorial feel of rain, leather and mezcal. Watch him come up the hills and down the slopes as he slowly claims his place among one of our favourite singer-songwriters.

NETHERLANDS: Amsterdam Event Guide
The Very Sexuals - Bowie Eyes
Hallo from Holland! This is our first submission and we're happy to introduce The Very Sexuals. Starting out as a project between three or four other bands, this act have come together to produce an impressive, emotive and totally free album which has left listeners in dreamy shoegaze heaven since its release earlier this year. Be sure to download Bowie Eyes and look out for album number two in 2010.

NEW ZEALAND: Counting The Beat
Signer - +Kicks And Kicks
Bevan Smith is the musician who records as Signer. Smith started out as an indie-guitar fan but gave that up for psychedelic electronica and synths. His latest album, Next We Bring You The Fire, has a more ambient sound than earlier records, toning down some of the more leftfield noise elements. +Kicks And Kicks isn't that typical of the album - it's poppier and more rhythmic - but gives a good introduction to Signer's ability to create music which is accessible but slightly unsettling.

NORWAY: Eardrums
Moddi - A Sense Of Grey
Moddi is a unique artist from the northern parts of Norway who will release his debut album Floriography on February 8. His music is poetic and dreamy, but at the same time there is a roughness in his sound. I often think of the rugged northern nature when I listen to his music, which is full of beauty but also darkness and sudden changes.

PERU: SoTB
El Hombre Misterioso - 80 Veces 80
The four members of El Hombre Misterioso are so versatile they would sound completely different if separated. They are always willing to experiment with rock and their second album, Inside The Corporation, narrates national historical stories. 80 Veces 80 remembers the worst days of Peruvian history, when the 1980s crisis was worsened by car bombs in a civil war that nearly destroyed the country.

PORTUGAL: Posso Ouvir Um Disco?
Noiserv - Melody Pops
Noiserv is one-man band David Santos, a very talented multi-instrumentalist from Lisbon. His self-released 2008 debut LP, One Hundred Miles From Thoughtlessness, was highly acclaimed by the mainstream Portuguese press. In May, Noiserv released a single through the Scottish label Autumn Ferment Records.

ROMANIA: Babylon Noise
Byron - King Of Clowns
Releasing their third album this year (A Kind Of Alchemy), alternative rock act Byron has already developed a unique sound, an alchemy of Jeff Buckley's lyricism and Porcupine Tree's neo-prog escapism. Dan's voice goes from soft and warm to almost tormented, all the way spiced with wild-on-the-verge-of-insanity harmonies. The keyboard work shines with brilliant prog-inspired interventions, the guitar-playing is rock-solid (pun intended) and the use of flute on several tracks also works miracles, bringing a certain distinctness to the whole. Did I say Jethro Tull? Well, you get the picture.

SCOTLAND: The Pop Cop
The Kays Lavelle - Aftermath
If any film directors are reading, do yourself a favour and download this song. With its eerily mesmeric piano refrain and increasingly intense, impassioned vocals, Aftermath is just begging to be played during an emotionally-wrought scene or at the end of the movie as the credits run. A studio version of Aftermath featuring the full band will appear on The Kays Lavelle's debut album due out early next year.

SINGAPORE: I'm Waking Up To...
For This Cycle - For What It's Worth
Sixteen-year-old Weiwen Seah has a lot to be proud of. Performing under the persona For This Cycle, he has released a five-track EP this year and is currently recording his full-length album due next year. Weiwen brings a welcome breath of pop goodness in a music scene better known for its underground subculture with shades of Jason Mraz and Dashboard Confessional. In fact, it's easy to forget that someone so young sings with as much conviction on this month's selection, For What It's Worth.

SOUTH AFRICA: Musical Mover & Shaker!
Van Coke Kartel - Voor Ons Stof Word
Van Coke Kartel is an Afrikaans rock band. Francois Van Coke and Wynand Myburgh were previously in Fokofpolisiekar, who revolutionised Afrikaans rock music by challenging and shifting rigid mindsets. Van Coke Kartel proceeded to explode onto the SA music scene with sold-out shows and rave reviews. The group has been busy working on their new album, Skop, Skiet En Donner, which will be out in early 2010. Look out for it, it's sure to blow your mind.

SOUTH KOREA: Indieful ROK
Oh My Melodies - I Like It All
Oh My Melodies is the US-based solo project of Jiyoung Lee, vocalist of I Love JH. She now offers home-recorded electronic pop with sweet lyrics on the recently released EP So Lazy, which can be downloaded here. I Like It All is a catchy tune with a bit of synth that makes doing the chores seem like the most delightful task.

SWEDEN: Swedesplease
Symfoniorkestern - Tänd Eld På Dig Själv (För Det Du Tror På)
Wow, it was a no-brainer this month. Symfoniorkestern are a uniquely Swedish group. They are like an indie-rock band but with a grab-bag of unusual orchestration, lyrics in Swedish and lovely harmonies. The new EP, Tänd Eld På Dig Själv (För Det Du Tror På), is available here for free in its awesome, spellbinding entirety. The band spent a year and a half recording it - I only wish I could somehow give this review the same amount of care.

UNITED STATES: I Guess I'm Floating
Chll Pll - Dick Moves
Sacramento, CA's Zach Hill has a new project, Chll Pll - a slice of the rather raucous, noisy, blunt force corner of the electro-pop world. Dick Moves is from the upcoming debut Aggressively Humble, out now on Porter Records.

VENEZUELA: Barquisimento
Fordelucs - No Queda Mas
Alternative rock band Fordelucs have been winning over fans and critics alike and building up a name for themselves in Venezuela's music scene. Now the boys are about to start a tour that will take them beyond the borders of their country. No Queda Mas is taken from their first release, Mundo.

To download all 33 songs in one file click here