After the results from the Indieful ROK reader votes on best Korean indie album of the year were revealed, some of you expressed an interest in finding out which the nominated songs were. To be honest I had thought that voting for favorite songs would be the easier one, but the readers of Indieful ROK proved me wrong by not only listing more albums than songs, but on occasion not listing any songs at all! Anyway, the song titles were not published at that time, since no two valid votes contained the same song and I couldn't make a top list, but the full list has now been posted below.

The Best Korean Indie Songs of 2009
3rd Line Butterfly - Heavy Night Fog
3rd Line Butterfly - Nine Days
Apollo 18 - Discusting
Apollo 18 - Iridescent Clouds
Broccoli, you too? - 봄이 오면
Bulnabang Star Sausage Club - 석봉아
Casker - 향
Crying Nut - 비둘기
Donawhale - Doremi
Donawhale - NaNa
Dr.Core 911 - The Escape
GoGo Star - Not disco, but disco
Guckkasten - 거울
Han Hee Jung - Acoustic Breath
Hi, Mr. Memory - Fat Boy
Indian Palm - 바람이 되어 (Fly High)
Jang Kiha & The Faces - 달이 차오른다 가자
Jang Kiha & The Faces - 멱살 한 번 잡히십시다
Jang Kiha & The Faces - 아무것도 없잖어
Late Spring - 이젠 너를
Loveholics - 아픔
Lucid Fall - Les Miserables
Lune - Absinthe
Lune - 희한 (I'm The Only Sinner In The World)
Mate - 그리워
Misty Blue - Baby P
No Reply - 끝나지 않은 노래
Phonebooth - Got A Chance
Playgirl - Happy Mania
Tearliner - Embrace All
The Moonshiners - Rose Mary's Baby
Winterplay - Gypsy Girl
Yoo Hee Yeol & Kim Jong Wan - 내가 바라는 나

If you happen to come across a YouTube links to any of the songs above not already linked, feel free to let me know and I'll add it to the Indieful ROK Best Songs of 2009 playlist, playing above.

Although Janet reminded me by posting a link to the video for Oriental Lucy's 왔었나요 I never got around to posting on Midnight Hotel last year. The "danceable garage rock" act's new mini album got a digital release on December 11, and has been out on CD since January 28. The tracklist lists 6 tracks, including Rorina Homestay (로리나 홈스테이) familiar from the 2008 three track EP 오리엔탈루시즘.

If you'd like to learn more about Oriental Lucy and the recording of Midnight Hotel I'd suggest reading Shawn Despres article from the October edition of Groove Korea: Oriental Lucy.

Thanks to an enthusiastic post at soulvirtue, I realize that electronica act House Rulez has released something new. The title of this digital mini album is Winter 2010 and it has been out since January 21.

Aeganjang Production, the label that released Wounded Fly's second album last year, had two artists debut on January 16 - both with samples from every track available at Hyang Music:
- Singer/songwriter Ducks released his first EP, 추가 공기밥 하나. [Hyang]
- Spacebar released a self-titled EP. Not quite sure how do describe his kinda calm, instrumental music ("clean disco" is more confusing than enlightening here, I'd say) but it does sound fairly interesting most of the time. [Hyang]

Although it seems they've been around since 1998, it was not till January 18 this year that pop punk trio Purple Paze released its first single, 하루에도. Listen to both songs from the single at their Cyworld Club.

Metal trio Funeral of August had their first EP, Shattered Truth, released on January 12. Although marketing themselves as melodic death metal, save for the vocal style I'm reminded of the magnificent, somewhat romantic/gothic, style of Japanese bands such as Versailles which makes me think FoA could do fairly well in Europe. Have a listen to the full EP at MySpace.

Thanks to Janet and her video updates in the shoutbox here at Indieful ROK, I learned that Cherry Filter has recorded a song called 미세스타운 for the tvN drama with the same name, Mrs. Town (미세스타운). The original version was released on a digital single on November 18, and the ballad version has been out as a digital single since January 12.

Another band in the same vein, Island City, had a song called 별이 빛나는 날 released on the soundtrack for KBS drama God of Study (공부의 신) on January 14. Two weeks later, January 28, the second part of that soundtrack was released upon which yet another similar sounding band - the energizing Swimmin' Fish - was featured with a song called Fly.

The extraordinary Nakion has been signed by French label Tigersushi and released a 12" vinyl called Heartbit EP a few days ago. Two of the three EP tracks, Osaka Tom and parts of the Joakim remix of Deus Ex Machina, can both be sampled through MySpace.

Osaka Tom and Heartbit were both previously featured on her 2CD album Leisurist, which shows plenty of sides to her eccentric mix of electronica. Although not all that present in these particular songs, I love it when she gets those italo beats going and would recommend her music to anyone looking for some intriguing electronic music. Check out the video for I Deal Muscle!

It seems acid jazz band CrystalRain is getting ready to release a second full length album this spring. Meanwhile, Janet at make-shift cartology has had a listen to their 2007 debut album Eternal Love over the last few days: Crystal Rain - vol.1 Eternal Love

She's also been writing a couple of new group overviews, introducing some Indieful ROK favorites:
- group overview: Glittering Blackness
- group overview: Apollo 18

The first MBC Music Travel Lalala CD+DVD set was released in August, and February 4 it's time for volume 2. Just like last time, the release will feature a bunch of tracks of particular interest:
03. Brown Eyed Girls & Vodka Rain covering Billy Joel's Uptown Girl [watch]
04. Jaejoo Boys covering 어떤날's 그런 날에는
05. Yozoh & Han Hee Jung covering Michael Jackson's Beat It [watch]
07. Zitten singing Let It Be [listen]
11. Goonamguayeoridingstella taking on Shin Joong Hyun's 아름다운 강산
16. Mate covering The Wannadies' You & Me Song

Full tracklist here.

It's been little over a week since I last took the time to share some of the links I've found particularly noteworthy, as far as Korean indie music goes. So in an attempt to catch up, here they are!


New review from refresh_daemon over at Init_Music:
- Inbox: Epitone Project - 긴 여행의 시작



Chris Park continues to offer one interesting review after the other over at wakesidevision:
- Bluedawn – Self-Titled
- Lucid Fall – Les Miserables Review
- Naru – 1집 자가당착 Review
- Violetone – 너를 부르다 Review
- We Got Underwear And Lots Of Girls – 사랑의 유람선 Review
- Yozoh (요조) – Vol. 1 – Traveler Review

Chris Park also reviewed the Espionne produced solo album from Elena: Elena – Say Hello To Every Summer Review.
Can't really say I agree with him on that one, especially not considering I named it the best Korean album of 2006, so I thought I'd take this opportunity to encourage you to have a listen yourself - both 물빛의 여름 and 입맞춤의 스윙 from the album are up for streaming at MySpace!


If you, like myself, have been curious to learn more about 9 and the Numbers, wassereis is of great help as she's translated a lengthy interview with 9 himself: Mintpaper's 9 and the Numbers Interview.

Through that 9 and the Numbers interview we learn that Miracle Of HanRiver will album debut in March, that Flowing has a new album in the works, and that Loro's will release a remix album.

In other recent release updates from wassereis, over at Violet Sweets:
- EZ Hyoung has a mini album called 봄의 기적 coming out on February 23: [EZ Hyung] New Minialbum
- And now that they're back to being a duo, it seems Zitten has written a whole bunch of new songs: [Zitten] New Album in March


During the week, I've also come across a blog called Luminosity - Blog for Underrateds, written by the same Mardi09 that does the Under The Radar features at Soompi. Although the primary focus appears to be on lesser known kpop acts, there's a couple of recent profiles on artists occasionally mentioned around here:
- [Profile] The Apop
- [Profile] ZY (Zooropa Yellow)

(Oops! Forgot to update this part..) Sorry everyone! A combination of slow internet connection and horrible public transport (snow...) has left me far too little time to catch up on the posting since last weekend. I should do better in the next few days, but for now (on time!) here's this week's indie chart from Bugs.

Bugs Indie TOP10 - January 28, 2010
1. Dalmoon - 옥상달빛 [@ Club Bbang]
2. Kyu Won - 기찻길 [MV]
3. What! - 미친 개들의 싸움
4. Nabi - 발 닿는 곳으로
5. Lucid Fall - 고등어 [@ Director's Cut]
6. 9 and the Numbers - 말해주세요 [Hyang]
7. YNot? - 파랑새 [@ Club Ta]
8. Super Kidd - 내 맘대로 [MV]
9. Broccoli, you too? - 앵콜요청금지 [@ MBC nanjang]
10. Lucid Fall - 평범한 사람 [@ Director's Cut]

The new additions to the TOP100 list are the following:
33. Dalmoon - 하드코어 인생아 [@ Club Bbang]
34. Dalmoon - 안녕 [@ Club Bbang]
56. Snowing Map - 별 헤는 밤
87. Muddy Buddy's Nice Body - 아즈라엘
99. High Quality Face - One [MV]

See the full top 100 list here.

Dalmoon released first EP 옥탑라됴 on January 22. Judging from what I could find at YouTube, the duo has a sweet pop sound full of twee moments, and I think the album info says something about them being the female version of Kings of Convenience? It appears Soda (aka Oldfish) has been very involved in the making of their songs.

Although released in 2008, according to CD Baby, it was not until January 21 that Snowing Map's Yoon Dongju Project - Chaper 1 got a digital release at Bugs. As the album title implies, the songs revolves around poet Yoon Dong-Ju and it contains songs from 14 of his poems and they can all be sampled at CD Baby.

Muddy Buddy's Nice Body, or just Muddy Buddy's will release their first - and it seems also their last - mini album on February 2. The title is 우리가 사라진 이유 and if the album info is to be trusted it should be a spectacular offering from this indie rock band.

Catchy pop/rock band High Quality Face debuted with single One on January 13. I took a liking to them as soon as I heard the title track, and although somewhat different in style I'm liking single track 사랑해 too.

It's January 28 and the day has finally come for the release of fantastic rock band Apollo 18's Violet album! You can have a look at the trailer here alongside the previous two - can you see how they fit together? If you'd rather hear a bit of the new songs, go here.

I've had a listen to the whole thing several times and I can say that this is definitely another good album from the guys in Apollo 18. I've called it "playful" earlier, much thanks to Song A. Lucy has the most incredible intro and then they play some more. Lygerastia is a most awesome song with riffs that remind me of why I became a Jelly Boy fan, although the whole piece is spiced up the A18 way, of course. And finally - I'm loving the heavy guitar parts of Naraka! It's good all the way through, but as soon as they start grinding those guitars I just have to turn the volume up just a little bit more. Need I mention the Pause tracks sound just as good as usual?


And in other good news: there is now an official Apollo 18 t-shirt! Click the picture of Hyun Seok to find out more.

New week, new Indieful ROK chart! These are the top 10 artists from the "unique for this group chart" of Indieful ROK's very own last.fm group. with links (when possible) to the most played song by each artist among all last.fm members during last week.

Some of you may be surprised to find that Broccoli, you too? has climbed 31 places to get to no.3 when they were no.10 last week, but since most Korean artist names have yet to be merged at last.fm it is very possible for an artist to end up on the same chart several times - this week 브로콜리 너마저 is the more popular whereas last week it was Broccoli, you too?. Since I usually go with the English names here on the blog, however, I only use the English names on the chart.

Indieful ROK TOP10 - week 3, 2010
1. Misty Blue (re) [Cherry (no link)]
2. Bluedawn (+5) [Last Arpeggios :Coffee Prince excerpt]
3. Broccoli, you too? (+31) [말 YT audio]
4. Loveholic (+4) [Loveholic MV]
5. Apollo 18 (+18) [Warm live]
6. The Black Skirts (+9) [좋아해줘 MV]
7. Roller Coaster (+5) [Triangle (no link)]
8. Epik High (+12) [Fan MV]
9. Jaurim (re) [Carnival Amour MV]
10. Love & Pop (new) [Winter In My Mind YT audio]

Don't feel like the chart reflects your taste in music well enough? Join Indieful ROK's last.fm group and maybe next week it'll look a little better!

The untitled debut EP from post-rock band Glittering Blackness, Fall was released January 20. Although already streaming at MySpace, the band has also made it available via last.fm as a free download: 0, 1, 2, 3, 4.

I will hopefully have more time to catch up on the release update posting tomorrow, but for now - here's last week's Indie TOP10 from Bugs:

Bugs Indie TOP10 - January 21, 2010
1. Kyu Won - 기찻길 [MV]
2. Nabi - 발 닿는 곳으로
3. 9 and the Numbers - 말해주세요 [Hyang]
4. Lucid Fall - 고등어 [@ Director's Cut]
5. Super Kidd - 내 맘대로 [MV]
6. Jang Kiha & The Faces - 싸구려 커피 [@ EBS Space]
7. Lucid Fall - 평범한 사람 [@ Director's Cut]
8. Mitm - 꽃
9. Lazybone - 후따후따 네볼라따 [MV]
10. Lucid Fall - 레미제라블 Part 1

The new additions to the TOP100 list are the following:
14. 9 and the Numbers - 선유도의 아침 [Hyang]
37. What! - 미친 개들의 싸움
43. Savina & Drones - Backer
48. Poe - Fall
59. Mongkeysound - 까삐요
91. YNot? - 파랑새 [@ Club Ta]
94. Lily A Nun - Killin' Racer
96. Booboo - 류의 거절 (Ryu's Reffusal)

See the full top 100 list here.

January 22, rock band What! returned with 3rd full length album 3. Although I have yet to hear what it sounds like, if getting rid of one guitarist didn't affect their music they should still be equipped with a strong rock sound in line with that drummer Shin Dong Hyun contributed to while still in Sinawe.

Savina & Drones released first EP Does To Live on January 14. The album info has led me to believe that Savina is a sitar player. Quite intriguing, I'd say, although for now it seems like it's a digital release only so whether there'll ever be a chance to still my curiosity.

Another EP from January 14 I hope to see released on CD soon is POE's Burnout. According to themselves their music is "brit pop, british rock, dream pop, shoegazing" and with a pianist but without a guitarist in the line up, I'm reminded of one of my very favorite bands. I kinda suspect the drummer, Kim Tae Jong, is the The The Band session player that released Factory Sound some four years ago.

Mongkeysound debuted with a self-titled album in May 2009, and returned with a digital single 2Band Radio on January 15. The two members have both participated in other bands previously, Jung Won Jae once the vocalist of Glue and Jo Sung Min once the vocalist of many bands - most notably in Red+/Redplus and the all too forgotten Subway. Sample their modern rock sound in the long music video for first album track 꿈이아니길

If I were to guess, I'd say that the reason why a song from Ynot?'s 2008 digital single Green Apple suddenly made it to the chart is because of the recent controversy regarding CN Blue's 외톨이야 plagiarizing the song in question. Read more on that here, here, here, and here, or listen here.

Lily A Nun had digital single Killin' Racer released on January 14. It only contained the title track and an instrumental version of the same.


On January 14, female fronted rock quartet Booboo released new mini album Package is Arrived - Ryu's Reffusal. Sample Conflict, Ryu's Reffusal, Monster and Stark from the Booboo Cyworld club.

There's a whole bunch of interesting releases coming out within the next few days that I haven't had the time to get to posting on yet, but I just found something so exciting I had to post right away: FilmStar will release a full length album! The title is Pop Sounds and it will be out on January 27. The album includes all three songs from the 2008 release 1St Single album, and also features Lucky G in a club mix - a song that has now gotten its own Music Video.

First time I listened to FilmStar they kinda reminded me of Motorhomes and A Mere Child in particular is a song with high replay potential as far as I'm concerned. Songs appear to have been slightly remade since, but to hear what they used to sound like you can listen to the entire first single at MySpace.

Jo Duk Bae isn't the only one celebrating an anniversary by having other artists remake his songs this year. Today, January 20, the first part - 비처럼 - of Kim Hyun Sik 20th Anniversary album got a release and the tracklist includes W&Whale's take on 사랑 사랑 사랑 and Horan singing 랑했어요.

Unless you're already reading Violet Sweets now might be a good time to start. Unlike myself, the Violet Sweets site admin actually knows Korean and she knows her way around the fan places, so I get to learn a lot from those extra bits of information she usually adds. Here's a summary from the past few days:

Midnight Stitch released third single Deadman Walking on January 17. One more single could be expected before they move on to a full length album: [Midnight Stitch] New Single

Popular soft rock band Mate will release a mini album called With Mate tomorrow, January 20: [Mate] New Minialbum. There's a trailer, and K-Bites has translated a short article with more info no their current schedule.

Not just Midnight Stitch, but female fronted folk rock act Amado Band too have revealed plans to release their first album: [Amado Lee Jaram Band] Working on Album This Year.

Lastly, Guckkasten are apparently just in the middle of re-recording their self titled album debut for the Japanese market, a couple of new titles included: [Guckkasten] Japanese Album

Today, January 19, the second part in the Jo Duk Bae collaboration series was released. As you may recall, the first part had W&Whale and The Black Skirts take on some of Jo Duk Bae's old songs and now we have Wheesung taking on 꿈에 while singer/songwriter Yang Yang does her thing with 너풀거리듯.

A week goes by so fast! It's time for the second edition of Indieful ROK's very own weekly chart. Since last week, the Indieful ROK last.fm group, whose listening habits this chart tracks, has grown roughly 20% and so the "unique for this group" chart at last.fm now shows a total of 50 artists instead of the previous 10. Thank's for being a member!

Again, if you have any opinions on how this chart should be presented, feel free to speak up. For now I'm just going with the same thing as last week, with links (when possible) to the most played song by each artist during last week.

Indieful ROK TOP10 - week 2, 2010
1. Nell (+3) [기억을 걷는 시간 MV]
2. Peppertones (-) [Sing! YT audio]
3. The Invisible Fish (new) [뒤로]
4. Cherry Filter (new) [Pianissimo MV]
5. Lucid Fall (new) [평범한 사람 YT audio]
6. adultchild (+18) [Sad Thing :Coffee Prince excerpt]
7. Bluedawn (new) [Tabula Rasa (no link)]
8. Loveholic (-) [Sad Story lyrics/translation]
9. Galaxy Express (+2) [Jungle The Black MV]
10. Broccoli, you too? (new) [보편적인 노래 live]


Don't feel like the chart reflects your taste in music well enough? Join Indieful ROK's last.fm group and maybe next week it'll look a little better!

After a slight delay, Apollo 18's re-recorded Red album got released today. Chris Park is one of the fortunate that have already had a listen an he concluded that it is "amazing in every way": Apollo 18 (아폴로 18) – Red Plus Review. Want to get a taste of the awesomeness yourself? The re-recorded version of Warm is this month's South Korean MAP song!

But the Apollo 18 guys made some awesome music already before they formed the band. The bassist was once known as Jelly Boy, a solo project the other Apollo 18 members supported as session members. After being amazed by Apollo 18, refresh_daemon figured that maybe Jelly Boy too could be of interest and set out to sample the first Jelly Boy album: Inbox: 해파리소년 - Everyday Trouble

A bunch of links from the week that is almost over:


Chris Park continues to be impressed by Han Hee Jung: 한희정 – 끈 (String) Review.
Other recent wakesidevision posts include:
- Loveholics (러브홀릭스) – 1집 In The Air Review
- Tearliner – Embrace All Review

Yesterday Violet Sweets reported that Lee Han Choul will start teaching at Dong-Ha Institute of Media and Arts: [Lee Han Chul] becomes Professor. A couple of days earlier news that The Pony's guitarist has left were posted: [Pony] Guitarist left.

Further, Violet Sweets reveals that the new Mintpaper compilation will have new songs from Oh Ji Eun and Autumn Vacation, among others: [Mintpaper] New Infos about LIFE.

And again, wassereis put her translation skills to good use for Violet Sweets when translating an interview with ByeBye Sea.

A couple of new overviews have been posted at make-shift cartology:
- group overview: Peppertones [ 페퍼톤스]
- artist overview: Whiru [휘루]

From a Korean reader I learned that the Sogyumo Acacia Band documentary mentioned previously got its cinematic release this week, January 14. Depicting the duo and the impact of Yozoh, Sogyumo Acacia Band's Story (소규모아카시아밴드 이야기) follows Eunjie Song and Minhong through a year. Watch the trailer here.

And in related news I don't think I've shared previously, there are far advanced plans for a new Sogyumo album. Recordings were almost finished when the new drummer decided to leave (yes - for 8 months or so they were actually a trio!) which caused a bit of problems. So although it was planned to come out sometime during autumn 2009, we'll have to wait another while to hear the new songs.

It's January 15 and time for the year's first collection of the best music in the world. Sadly no submission from Colombia this month, but with Spain represented once again - this time by Oscura Magazine - this edition of the Music Alliance Pact treats you to a total of 34 songs.

As mentioned earlier, it's no others than the incredible Apollo 18 that via Estella Records agreed to let me use a song of theirs to represent South Korea. At a slower pace that suits it beautifully, the song in question is the new version of my very favorite Apollo 18 track - Warm - and since the release of the international version of the Red album, also known as Red+, has been delayed till the 19th because of snow I think this qualifies as the official world premiere. Check out Indieful ROK's interviews to learn more on the band and their new music.

ARGENTINA: Zonaindie
Catalina Vin - Caleidoscope
Catalina Vin is an Argentine-American singer and songwriter who started learning music at the age of seven. Genuine is her first album, in which her roots are reflected through eight indie-pop songs sung in both English and Spanish, with soft string and piano arrangements. Caleidoscope is one of our favourite tracks.

AUSTRALIA: Who The Bloody Hell Are They?
Seekae - Void
Ever since FBi Radio started broadcasting regularly some five years ago, Sydney's independent music scene has flourished from the much-needed lifeblood and community support that the station provides. A lot of young musicians now have an alternative to Triple J to supplement their listening habits and this has encouraged the more experimental writers to pursue their own distinct sounds, knowing they will be played and heard. Seekae is the clear breakout band out of Sydney's resurging experimental electronic music. With their abstract vocals and dreamy atmosphere they have earned their place as leaders of the city's 2010 sound.

BRAZIL: Meio Desligado
Curumin - Vem Menina
Curumin is one of the biggest names of the contemporary independent music scene in Brazil. A drummer and singer, besides his solo work, he plays with artists such as Otto, Céu and Guizado. Vem Menina is a samba from his debut album, Achados e Perdidos, released in 2003. His latest album, Japan Pop Show, was released last year and shows his talent to compose funk, samba, rock and electronic songs.

CANADA: I(Heart)Music
Leif Vollebekk - Quebec
Some people hear Patrick Watson in Leif Vollebekk's vocals. Others have compared his music to that of Owen Pallett/Final Fantasy. I'm not sure about the comparisons, but I know this: Vollebekk is an incredibly gifted performer and artist, and when his debut album, Inland, gets re-released in a few weeks on hot new Toronto label Nevado Records, all of Canada is going to find out just how talented he is.

CHILE: Super 45
De Janeiros - Montreal
Milton Mahan and Pablo Munoz are De Janeiros, one of the most interesting projects in the Chilean experimental scene. In the trend of bands such as Health or Fuck Buttons - that kind of plastic and colorful noise - their sound goes beyond by adding a more playful and "tropical" feeling to it. Chilean net-label Michita Rex have made their sophomore album Plateado available to downloaded for free here.

CHINA: Wooozy
PK14 - Cuo Guo Le
PK14 is the best post-punk band in China. Formed in 1997, they have released five albums. Currently, they are preparing a new album to be release this year and they will attend SXSW in March.

DENMARK: All Scandinavian
Cours Lapin - Cache Cache
Cours Lapin is what happens when four movie score composers (Louise Alenius, Asger Baden, Peder and Jonas Struck) get together to do pop. Their name is French (translated as "bunny run"), their lyrics are in French (of course) and the French chanson is at the root of their mellow, melancholic pop that makes me think of black and white movies (and yes, they're French).

ENGLAND: The Daily Growl
Thomas Western - Your Front Door
Last month I picked an Italian musician based in England for MAP - this time it's the turn of an Englishman currently living in Scotland. Thomas Western's bluesy/folky approach to songwriting is reminiscent of Elliott Smith or Bob Dylan, while his exquisite vocal range is pitched halfway between Tim and Jeff Buckley. Western moved from Derbyshire to Edinburgh last year to complete his university studies and Your Front Door is his masterpiece.

ESTONIA: Popop
UNCANDY - Lovecool
UNCANDY (and yes, it's important to write it in capital letters) is multi-talented Maria Juur from Tallinn. Her home recordings have already created quite a buzz in the Estonian indie scene and rumour has it we won't have to wait long for a debut album. She also records under the name Maria Minerva. Lovecool is featured on new Estonian indie compilation album, Kohalik Ja Kohatu 3.

FINLAND: Glue
Vishnudata - Silver Falls feat. Suho Superstar (radio edit)
Established in 2003, Vishnudata is a project by electronic dance music guru Ville Lankinen which explores the artist's techno and house influences. Silver Falls is the closing track of his self-titled sophomore album and progressively it introduces the listener into a shiny ethereal atmosphere and psychedelic soundscape. This radio edit version, which features Suho Superstar on vocals, is included in a recently released EP along with three more remixes.

FRANCE: ZikNation
Ibrahim Maalouf - Souma Hia
Born in Lebanon, Ibrahim Maalouf grew up in Paris and began studying the trumped at the age of seven. Ten years later he met Maurice André, who advised him to give up his mathematics studies to dedicate himself to music. Maalouf also had the opportunity to record a song with French singer Matthieu Chedid and this collaboration can be found in the very good Diachronism album. The track Souma Hia carries a great deal of energy.

GERMANY: Blogpartei
Get Well Soon - 5 Steps / 7 Swords
Get Well Soon is the solo project of Konstantin Gropper, a classically trained singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist from Berlin. His soulful and sophisticated songs take the same path as the likes of Sufjan Stevens or Zach Condon. 5 Steps / 7 Swords is the first single release from second album Vexations.

GREECE: Mouxlaloulouda
Exposed By Observers - In My Skin
Exposed By Observers aim to rape the listeners' ears, yet are less faithfully wed to punk and more interested in dance-derived rhythms, deploying more tightly coiled riffs and distinctive beats than most screamo bands. Secondhand Youth EP, which was given away for free on their website, sounds like everything they'd ever heard, spewed out and rewired for a different type of moshpit etiquette, a brand new teenage riot. They frantically blend cheap samples, beatbox rhythms, clicks, bleeps, fringes, beeps and guitars with manic electro buzz and raw, squawking vocals. Unsurprisingly, there's also a noticeable undercurrent of emo here too, but actually feels charged and compelling in the momentary tantrums of In My Skin. Listen loud!

ICELAND: I Love Icelandic Music
Bloodgroup - My Arms
Bloodgroup was formed in 2006 by Halez, Lilja, Raggi and Janus during some boring winter days on the east coast of Iceland and they make catchy electronic dance-pop. Debut album Sticky Situation was released on the band's own label, Sild Ehf, and got excellent reviews. Its follow-up, Dry Land, was released on the Record Records label last month. My Arms is their latest single.

INDIA: Indiecision
Seven Degrees - Shadows In The Dark
Seven Degrees is a boy-girl punk duo from New Delhi. This irreverent twosome produce angular, infectious punk that's largely bare-boned yet crashy enough to cause a decent racket. Shadows In The Dark is part of a free compilation album called Stupid Stupid Stupid available on Indiecision. The song is a spiralling, old-school punk tribute that leaves you with the distinct feeling of wanting to get up and not be lazy anymore.

INDONESIA: Deathrockstar
Seringai - Mengadili Persepsi (Bermain Tuhan)
Seringai are one of the finest Indonesian metal bands, often described as a blend of Motorhead and Black Sabbath. Their brilliant lyrics are a social critique of religious extremism, policies, domestic violence and sometimes just about stupid people.

IRELAND: Nialler9
I Am The Cosmos - Remembering You
Remembering You is a beautiful slice of broody 80s-inspired electronica buttressed on creaking synth stabs and high-pitched melodies. Its creator, Ross Turner, is known for his work behind the drum kit with various Irish bands but stepping out on his own here as I Am The Cosmos, he shows us what he can do in sole producer mode.

ITALY: Polaroid
Port-Royal - The Photoshopped Prince
There was a blizzard here last week and I found myself listening again to this third album by Port-Royal. It was the perfect soundtrack. Shoegaze, IDM, electro and ambient influences blend together to build an epic soundscape. The Genoa-based quartet used to be on the renowned Resonant label and have worked with Ulrich Schnauss and made remixes for Ladytron and Felix Da Housecat. Now they're back with a throbbing, intense, unpredictable, brimful of life new record.

JAPAN: JPOP Lover
Green Blossoms - Hana Akari
Green Blossoms are folky duo Aiko Koga and Anthony Guerra. Aiko sings and plays ukulele, Anthony plays the other instruments. They released their second album, Whiskey Leaves, on US-based Digitalis Recordings last summer. Hana Akari is beautiful, softly-intoned songwriting and its ghostly incantations will stick in the back of your mind.

MEXICO: Red Bull PanameriKa
The Hong Kong Blood Opera - Cansei De Ser Gangsta
The Mexican alternative scene recently witnessed the rise of a synthetic yet raw punk generation raiding the underground. A frenetic quintet from desertic Hermosillo stood out - The Hong Kong Blood Opera. A bloody opera? More like straight hardcore screaming evil and rough beats. The HKBO got sweaty teenagers shaking their guts and also blew the critics away when they won a nationwide competition sponsored by a monopolic corporation a few years ago. Instead of vanishing like every band from those schemes usually does, they reappeared with a remarkable album titled Not For The Faint Of Heart. The record breaks the rock-band-contest cliché and at the same time mocks the whole mediatic circus and abusive music industry models with killer singles like Cansei De Ser Gangsta.

NETHERLANDS: Amsterdam Event Guide
The Wooden Constructions - No No (Hip Hop)
Happy New Year from the Netherlands crew. We'll kickstart 2010 with one of the most talked-about Amsterdam acts, The Wooden Constructions. Their tribal disco with punk-infused lyrics (which harness the confidence of Mark E. Smith) sit alongside their own blend of twangy guitars and driving rhythms. Their unique musical stylings and great live shows have got the city rather excited about what 2010 might offer for this band and the Amsterdam scene itself. Watch this space.

NEW ZEALAND: Counting The Beat
The Mint Chicks - Crush
For three decades, Chris Knox has made some of New Zealand's most exciting music - from the punk of The Enemy, Toy Love, virtually inventing the country's indie music scene with four-track recordings of his band Tall Dwarfs and writing one of the nation's most popular songs. Knox suffered a debilitating stroke last year and to aid his recovery many who have been influenced by him have contributed to an album of covers called Stroke. The roll call includes Jay Reatard, Stephen Merrit, Will Oldham, Lou Barlow and more. Crush, from The Tall Dwarfs' 1984 EP Slug Bucket Hairy Breath Monster, is performed by The Mint Chicks, one of New Zealand's most exciting bands.

NORWAY: Eardrums
Sacred Harp - Next Time Too
Sacred Harp are a trio from Oslo who recently released their beautiful self-titled debut EP on the small Norwegian label The Perfect Hoax. Their music is quite difficult to describe because it's so in the middle of everything. It's dark, but there's also a lot of light and colour in there. It's experimental, but it's also full of pop structures and lovely melodies. It's sacral and calm, other times almost brutal. It's music you just have to listen to. The members are from Norway, Finland and Holland, so they really fit the spirit of the Music Alliance Pact.

PERU: SoTB
La Mente - La Problema
In its wonderful fusion of tropical rhythms, reggae and psychedelic electronic models, La Mente has uncovered an inexhaustible source of energy and dynamism which beckons you onto the dancefloor. La Problema is a feast of total madness and one of the strongest songs from La Mente's new album, Para Los Muertos Y Los Vivientes.

PORTUGAL: Posso Ouvir Um Disco?
Malcontent - Aggressive
Malcontent are a quartet from Oporto led by Sérgio Costa. When you listen to them you know their influences (The Jesus And Mary Chain, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Sonic Youth, Joy Division, Nine Inch Nails) and they don't deny them. They started playing in 2007 and released several promo singles. Finally, they have their first full LP out, called Love The Gun, which the band self-released.

ROMANIA: Babylon Noise
Aievea - Joy Of Life
Vlaicu Golcea and Electric Brother are two incredibly talented multi-instrument players. They combine conventional music with electronic beats and the creative rhythms of Tavi Scurtu, the drummer who juggles with sound. To an already great recipe, we add Marta Hristea's incredible voice for the perfect nu-jazz experience. After a six-year pause, they've just released their second album, Cinema, which can be fully downloaded here.

SCOTLAND: The Pop Cop
Galleries - Underground Overground
Galleries have only been in existence for a matter of months, yet the quality of the songs on their MySpace page can't help but mark them out as a band whose reach is sure to extend much wider than the blogosphere. The Glasgow group is made up of three students and, interestingly, BBC political reporter Andrew Black on drums. The lush sounds of Underground Overground beautifully hints at their The National and Jimmy Eat World influences and is taken from Galleries' forthcoming debut EP. It's a MAP exclusive download so feel privileged that you're getting to own it first.

SINGAPORE: I'm Waking Up To...
Sherene's Closet - Stereo Loud
Have we got a classic for you this month! Though now defunct, Sherene's Closet is still very much celebrated in the Singaporean music scene. You might say it all started with this demo recorded during the now legendary Green Room Sessions, and I hear it's a bit rarer than the LP version. This should be considered one of the best local songs ever recorded, owing to Gerald Stahlman's stellar vocal delivery and the raw energy of the rest of the band.

SOUTH AFRICA: Musical Mover & Shaker!
Ashtray Electric - Lia
"A quaint mixture consisting of three parts suburb and two parts platteland" make up the phenomenon that is Ashtray Electric. They combine delicate beats, heartfelt lyrics and catchy melodies that lead to a rather fresh, unconventional sound, albeit one that gets your feet tapping. Lia has been compared to Editors and Interpol but Ashtray Electric bring a fresh new sound that has them at the forefront of the indie scene, and rightly so.

SOUTH KOREA: Indieful ROK
Apollo 18 - Warm [backup link]
Last year Apollo 18 established themselves as one of the very best rock acts of Korea. Starting with a marvellous post-rock-oriented EP, an amazing album followed in which they experimented with hardcore, shoegaze and psychedelic elements. An international version of the first EP has just been released and before the end of the month it'll be followed by instrumental rock pieces of a more playful kind. Re-recorded to magically sound even better than before, Warm is a stunningly beautiful post-rock piece of epic proportions best played as loud as possible.

SPAIN: Oscuro Magazine
2 Minuts d'Odi - Cuidad De Dios
2 Minuts d'Odi ("2 Minutes Of Hate") are part of the "Brave Coast Punk-Rockers" movement which extends throughout the Costa Brava. Cuidad De Dios ("City Of God") is a song against religion which speaks of the Palestinian problem and the bad influences that hatred and violence can have on a kid growing thirst for revenge.

SWEDEN: Swedesplease
Jenny Björkqvist - To Heal Your Wounds
To Heal Your Wounds by Jenny Björkqvist is a song that successfully straddles the worlds of indie and folk - it would be as comfortable hanging out with Nick Drake or Jose Gonzalez as it would be spending time with Dylan or Guthrie. Friend and fellow neo-folkie Tim Schmidt contributes vocals on this track.

UNITED STATES: I Guess I'm Floating
Vikesh Kapoor - Mack The Knife
Vikesh Kapoor is an up-and-coming acoustic artist, currently based near Boston, who writes ballads which draw their strength from storytelling-type lyricism. After making appearances in Billboard and The Boston Globe, Kapoor is releasing his Newspress Scare 7" featuring this great rendition of the Kurt Weill-composed Mack The Knife.

VENEZUELA: Barquisimento
El Pacto - Hyperdance En La Curva De San Pablo
El Pacto are music legends in the city of Barquisimeto. Since 1992, they have been devoted to merging rock, pop, jazz, ska and folk music in a sound so original and vanguardist, they have even influenced famous national bands like Amigos Invisibles. Their shows ususally include circus-like performances with actors and acrobats. Hyperdance En La Curva De San Pablo is taken from the album of the same name.

To download all 34 songs in one file click here