If I had been in Korea this Saturday evening, you would most definitely have found me at Sangsang Madang checking out what in many aspects may be the world's most awesome rock band, Apollo 18, as they take on the stage supported by members from Indieful ROK favorites such as Donawhale, Bomb&Tree, and 13Steps. If you're in Seoul, there's no reason why you shouldn't be there tonight.

Although hardly comparable to the real deal, one comforting detail for all the unlucky souls far away from all the action is that this most likely fantastic evening will be recorded for a live DVD to be released later this year. More details over at Korea Gig Guide: “With a Little Help from My Friends”.

Galaxy Express now has an official Facebook page, and the first item post announced a gig in Hong Kong during this week's Music Matters Live!. It'll take place on May 27, but there also appear to be a couple of appearances more during the weekend. More details here.

Thanks to said Facebook page. I came realize that the Ruby Salon "rockumentary" Turn It Up to 11 (반드시 크게 들을 것), featuring not just Galaxy Express but also Tobacco Juice, had it's official release on April 22. Check out the trailer here.

Via R.O.K Scene I learned that the first episode of Korean indie music show Seoul Underground is now online: Seoul Underground: SMACKSOFT.

In the episode you'll hear Stuart Reece have his questions answered by Whang Bo Ryung and consequently learn som of what she has in mind for the 4th full length album. For some actual SmackSoft music, there's 해 (daydreams) performed live in the Studio, and 파란구슬 (Blue Marble) performed at Soundholic.

Let's have a look at last week's Bugs' Indie music chart before moving on to the most recent one:

Bugs Indie TOP10 - May 13, 2010
1. Daybreak - 팝콘 [live]
2. Tacopy - 치고달려라 2010 (feat. Invincible Baseball Team) [@ Rockin' Korea]
3. Galaxy Express - 진짜 너를 원해 [MV]
4. Lazybone - 우린 모두 챔피언 (feat. 한빛 빛소리 중창단) [MV]
5. Oyster Boys - 이유없이 [Hyang]
6. 10cm - Good Night [@ Veloso]
7. 10cm - 오늘 밤은 어둠이 무서워요 [recandplay]
8. 조우람 - 나는 너를 꿈꾼다
9. Hapoom - 어디로 갈까 [@ Afternoon Stage]
10. Han Hee Jung - 오늘은 휴일입니다

The new additions to the TOP100 list were the following:
43. Storyseller - Super Girl [MV]
55. Oyster Boys - 세미스타
63. Oyster Boys - 니가 뭔데
81. Tobacco Juice - I Am A Boy, You Are A Girl [@ SangSang Madang]
88. Galaxy Express - 난 아무것도 아닌데 [@ SSam]
91. Galaxy Express - 지 나고 나면 언제나 좋았어 [@ SSam]

See the full top 100 list here.

In 2008, pop punk band Tacopy recorded a song called 치고 달려라 for KBS N Sports 2008 Pro Baseball. Two years has passed, and a 2010 version of the song has been recorded for KBS 2TV baseball variety show Invincible Baseball Team (천하무적야구단). It was released as a digital single on May 7, also including an instrumental version, the 2008 version, and a 2009 version featuring G-Idea.

Not quite ready to release a full length album yet, Lazybone returned with release no. 4.7 on May 6. It's a digital single with only the song 우린 모두 챔피언, which features a children's choir previously seen on some Superstar show. The song itself is a fairly pompous creation where Lazybone's old ska-punk sound sees some revival.

Singer/songwriter 조우람 released his first digital single, 고양이와 선인장 Episode 1 (Part.1) on May 6. Working a guitar and keyboard, the single contains song 나는 너를 꿈꾼다 and a piano theme version of the same.

All female rock band Storyseller is back with a mini album! Called Super Girls, the CD has been out since May 11 and judging from the corresponding music video their production budget has increased a lot since the making of My Dear two years ago. This time two of the songs, Super Girl and Aio, have also been recorded in English.

Fun indie rock band Tobacco Juice has returned with their second full length album, 설레발. The CD came out today, May 20, but the mp3s have been sold since May 12. Offering 10 new songs, the one called 청춘 features Dalmoon.

Apart from being featured on the successful Life compilation, Neons also released his first EP as recently as April 27. The title is a-809 and in addition to 별의 노래 - first featured on the Triple soundtrack from last year - it holds six more laid back electronica tunes. Check out the 첫눈에 반한다는 그런 말을 나는 믿어 music video for a sample.

All produced by Dalparan, Neons - who might still be better known as Mongu of Mongoose - also included a few friends in the making. His girlfriend Miyeol is featured on the track called Baby Swing, since according to Mongu she has the most beautiful voice. Further, Mongoose drummer Ringoo has written 눈물의 루비, which in addition to Ringoo himself also features Sora of Playgirl.


Another EP featuring Playgirl came out on May 6. The EP in question is 悠悠自適 Energy from Oyster Boys and the song where Playgirl can be heard in the chorus is called 참치. Other female voices supporting in other choruses are Look & Listen for main track 이유없이, and City.M's Hwang Jin Young and Plastic People's Ju Mi Yoon on 미소 짓는 사람.

참치 and 이유없이 can both be sampled from MySpace. For more sounds and a look behind the scenes during recording (and a glimpse of the Electric Muse studio cats) I'd recommend checking out some oysterTV episodes.

Catching up on Bugs' Indie music chart, one week at a time.

Bugs Indie TOP10 - May 6, 2010
1. 10cm - Good Night [@ Veloso]
2. Daybreak - 팝콘 [live]
3. Phonebooth - 별빛에 젖어 [MV]
4. Vanila City - I'll Be On Your Side [MV]
5. Melancholy Studio - Melancholy Studio [live]
6. Delispice - 고백 [MV]
7. 10cm - 오늘 밤은 어둠이 무서워요 [recandplay]
8. Broccoli, you too? - 앵콜요청금지 [@ MBC nanjang]
9. 초면 - 초면 (band version)
10. 10cm - 새벽4시 [@ Veloso]

The new additions to the TOP100 list were the following:
13. Han Hee Jung - 오늘은 휴일입니다
14. Lala Sweet - Good Bye
18. Dalmoon - 구제불능
19. Autumn Vacation - 취미는 사랑 [@ Welcomm Theater]
20. Earip - 우리집 싱어
21. Joa Band - 유통기한
22. Oh Ji Eun - 겨울아침
23. Lee Neung Ryong - 끝없는 이야기 (with Lim Ju Yeon)
24. Serengeti - 하쿠나마타타 [@ SSam]
26. Hapoom - 어디로 갈까 [@ Afternoon Stage]
27. Naru - 무지개
28. Lonely H's Band - 고향에 살어리랏다
29. Neons - 달빛 스쿠터
31. Moonlight Nymph - 주성치와 함께라면
33. Galaxy Express - 진짜 너를 원해 [MV]
39. The Breeze - 뭐라할까! [MV]
96. Wiretap In My Ear - Cry (Orchestral Ver.) [original version MV]

See the full top 100 list here.

The third Mintpaper compilation, LIFE, left a big imprint on the Bugs chart a couple of weeks ago, following its release on May 4. Fifteen of the sixteen tracks on the album can be found in the lists above - my guess is that the missing one, Sung Jinhwan's 포근해, simply wasn't categorized as "indi" because of his popularity in vocal group Sweet Sorrow. More on the compilation can be found at Violet Sweets. From most recent to last: update 5, 4, 3, 2, 1.

Male duo Hapoom released its first digital single, 어디로 갈까, on May 4. They have a modern rock sound going and appear to have gotten started only this year. The title track has been linked above, and YouTube also has a clip from the same live session when single B-side 같은 마음으로 is performed.

Galaxy Express's 30 day album recording project, as chronicled on the Galaxy Express Wild 30 blog, led up to the release of the rock'n'roll band's second full length album, Wild Days, on May 6. 20 tracks made it to the album, there among the glorious noraebang version of Jungle the black, a Shing Joong Hyun cover, and a tribute to fantastic fried chicken joint Reggae Chicken.

Soft rock band The Breeze became fairly popular in 2004 as their 뭐라할까 from second album Counterblow was featured in movie Romance Of Their Own (늑대의 유혹). The album has been out of print for some time, but April 26 it got a digital re-release.

Another song from 2004 that suddenly made it to the chart comes from Wiretap In My Ear's second full length album, Prana. After this album the band itself started going by Prana

Catching up on Bugs' Indie music chart, starting now.

Bugs Indie TOP10 - April 29, 2010
1. 10cm - Good Night [@ Veloso]
2. Melancholy Studio - Melancholy Studio [live]
3. Vanila City - I'll Be On Your Side [MV]
4. 초면 - 초면 (band version)
5. The Theatre No.8 - 대항해시대 [@ CGV Pub Project]
6. Two Myung - For Kyo
7. 10cm - 새벽4시 [@ Veloso]
8. 10cm - 눈이 오네 [recandplay]
9. Delispice - 고백 [MV]
10. Broccoli, you too? - 앵콜요청금지 [@ MBC nanjang]

The new additions to the TOP100 list were the following:
23. Guckkasten - 거울 [old version MV]
33. Phonebooth - 별빛에 젖어 [MV]
66. Guckkasten - Violet Wand [old version MV]
67. Guckkasten - Faust [@ EBS Space]
78. Vanila City - 하늘을 품은 소년
90. Vanila City - 이카루스의 날개

See the full top 100 list here.

The re-recorded version of Guckkasten's self-titled debut album was released April 22. In addition to getting a new packaging with most titles written in roman letters, the new version of the album also includes an acoustic version of 꼬리

Phonebooth's second full length album, By Me For Me Of Me, has been out since May 6. The tracklist holds 10 titles, and the album info appears to suggest that the album has been mastered in the Metropolis Studios in London.

I have mentioned mrkwang's Pig-Min Agency in the past, and now have reason to do so again as the soundtrack for the agency's second indie game, Sand Castle, is available for download.

The six guitar based tracks have all been created by the same guy that made the game, moonyeom, and though they're cut a bit too short they all have an inviting sound. You can have a listen at last.fm or just download the soundtrack via FileFront.

Still haven't tried the actual game myself, but it does seem like a fun take on puzzle games. So far what's available of the game is just a free "prelude" (The Fading Memories), but a full version of the same is to be expected.

The Happy Robot blog was updated today with news on some upcoming releases:

- A digital single related to Serengeti's radio style broadcast Night Train of Serengeti will be released on May 28 (thanks for correction, wassereis!). In addition to a new song from the afro soul funk trio it also involves what may be a collaboration between EZ Hyoung and Daybreak (Aura) as well as No Reply's 시야 in a remix made by The Koxx keyboardist Shaun

- New Happy Robot signees and occasional Daft Punk cover band The Koxx are scheduled to release their first mini album, Enter, on June 16.

- It looks like Naru's second full length album, Yet, might get a release in June too.

And while not mentioned in the blog post, a visit to the Happy Robot website reveals that EZ Hyoung has recorded a single as a soundtrack for a book about travels in Japan (?) called 도시여행자. The book has been out since late March, but EZ Hyoung's book soundtrack promotion appears to be part of a campaign that started a week ago and continues till mid-June. I have yet to figure out whether it's possible to get a hold of the CD in question without winning it as a price in the currently ongoing competition.

Absolutely swamped with things to update on with no time to do it, I'm taking the easy route and just posting the latest Indieful ROK chart - as determined by the members of Indieful ROK's last.fm group. Hopefully I'll have more time on my hands for better updates tomorrow.

Indieful ROK TOP10 - week 19, 2010
1. Han Hee Jung (-) [끈 YT audio]
2. Casker (+6) [Skip YT audio]
3. Nell (re) [기억을 걷는 시간 MV]
4. Bluedawn (re) [Tabula Rasa YT audio]
5. Donawhale (re) [Running YT audio]
6. Humming Urban Stereo (re) [Luv Sauce AUMV]
7. Tearliner (re) [Go Go Chan!! :Coffee Prince excerpts]
8. Jaurim (-5) [Carnival Amour MV]
9. MC Sniper (new) [BK Love MV]
10. The Black Skirts (re) [Antifreeze 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!

Although this is my first mention of it on the blog, since a couple of months Indieful ROK has been part of a Korea focused English language community from Tatter&Media going by the name Nanoomi (more on that later, I hope). Thanks to Nanoomi I've gotten to know the lovely Cynthia who kindly introduced me to some really nice people while I was in Korea, including a couple of entrepreneurs working with projects related to Korean indie music.

One of those entrepeneurs, Hwang Ryong operates something called Blayer which is basically an online music player with Korean indie music. The acts on Blayer are primarily unsigned, fairly new names but as I'm sure you're aware that doesn't mean the music isn't good. One of these days I'm hoping to find enough time to make a playlist with personal favorites..

The same guy is arranging a series of concerts under the name Acoustic Coffee at various cafés in or around Hongdae Monday through Sunday next week (May 17-23). Hongdae - the area where just about everything fun music related happens in Seoul - is absolutely packed with cute and/or stylish cafés so if you're in the neighbourhood this could be the perfect opportunity to try a few of them while entertained by live music. Check out the schedule here, where there's also more info on the cafés if you have a look in the "category" section of the side bar. If you want to hear something from the artists before heading out for that cup of coffee, Blayer is your friend.

It's yet another month with the Music Alliance Pact! Unfortunately no entries from France, India, or Norway this month but nonetheless a total of 34 downloadable songs from about as many countries awaits you below. I suspect the music players made Firefox crash on my Xandros laptop last time, but since nobody expressed any complaints I'm giving them another chance this month (Sorry - just recalled that I'm gonna have to rely on my laptop for updates for the remainder of the month so I had to remove themplayers. Please visit one of the other MAP blogs if you want to stream before you download). Should you experience similar problems anyway please let me know!

Courtesy of Electric Muse's very kind Kim Mingyu, this month music lovers all over the world have the opportunity to hear what may be one of the best shoegazing tunes ever. I'm talking about Vidulgi OoyoO's marvellous Goodnight Shining which represents South Korea. Don't forget to check out Indieful ROK's mini interview with the band!

ARGENTINA: Zonaindie
Verdeoscuro - Allright
This is the musical project of singer-songwriter-producer Diego Acosta. We've been following his evolution since the very beginning of our blog, so we're very fond of the folk-rock vibe, languid guitars and moaning vocals of Verdeoscuro's songs. This is his newest release after the departure of long-time partner Victoria Boano and it was released by a new netlabel called Fuego Amigo Discos.

AUSTRALIA: Who The Bloody Hell Are They?
Cloud Control - There's Nothing In The Water We Can't Fight
Sydney's Cloud Control made a mark in blogging circles with their previous single, the unforgettable Gold Canary. This time I would like to highlight the track There's Nothing In The Water We Can't Fight, taken from their debut album Bliss Release. From a collection of indie gems, this track is the outstanding crown jewel that caught my attention with its amazing melodies, counter-melodies and lyrics. Bliss Release is truly an album for the 2010 indie-rock fan and I'm glad I got to hear this one early.

BRAZIL: Meio Desligado
Renegado - Meu Canto
Straight from the slums, Renegado presents a concise social screed (the fruits of his work as leader of an NGO focused on social development and appreciation of black culture) by mixing hip hop with Brazilian rhythms. The samba-influenced Meu Canto is an example of that, featuring vocals from Aline Calixto and lyrics that discuss the hardships of poverty and the pleasure of enjoying life. Renegado is preparing for upcoming shows in the United States, Europe and Africa. His debut album, Do Oiapoque a Nova York, is available for streaming via his website.

CANADA: I(Heart)Music
Hannah Georgas - Bang Bang You're Dead
Hannah Georgas' full-length debut, This Is Good, is chock-full of exceptionally good, radio-ready pop-rock. Few of the songs on it are as fun as the slyly naughty Bang Bang You're Dead, complete with its children's choir and chorus of "You're talking shhhh... 'bout me / I'm talking shhhh... 'bout you". If (or, more likely, when) Georgas breaks through in a big way, it'll be songs like this one that will help her do it.

CHILE: Super 45
Gepe - Por La Ventana
The long-awaited third record by Gepe will be released this month and is preceded by a suprising first single. Por La Ventana ("Through The Window") must be his poppiest song yet, but it comes from his personal understanding of what pop music is: the mixture of contradictory traditions converging to produce an easy-to-grasp sound. It may be a little upsetting for his hardcore fans but this isn’t the first time Gepe has bent his own rules, and it certainly won't be the last.

CHINA: Wooozy
X Is Y - Curse
X Is Y is a digital rock band from Shanghai with three French guys - G, Fabien and LON. Their first album was recorded in 2009 and you can download it by clicking here.

COLOMBIA: Colombia Urbana
Transporte - Lonely
Transporte are not afraid to experiment. Formed by Diana Navarro (vocals) and Juan Felipe Bastidas (drums, guitars, sequences), the duo mix live sounds with digital synths to create their electronic pop.

DENMARK: All Scandinavian
The Wong Boys - Git Ur Wong On
At the start of the year, Frank Ziyanak (The Wong Boys, Death To Frank Ziyanak and much more) launched a new website making a solid portion of his impressive musical output - remixes, full albums, demos and rarities - available for download on a "pay your respect" basis. Among the rarities is this remake of The Wong Boys' club-banging smash-hit Git Ur Fuk On, aimed at the Asian market as Git Ur Wong On.

ENGLAND: The Daily Growl
Archie Bronson Outfit - Shark's Tooth
One of my favourite albums of the year so far is Archie Bronson Outfit's Coconut. It's a beast of an album, full of dirty, greasy, noisy rock thrills. And by that I don't mean lo-fi - with DFA man Tim Goldsworthy in the chair, it's pretty high-spec stuff with amped-up guitars, propulsive rhythms and carefully controlled noise explosions. If it sounds rough, it's meant to be that way. It's less about the tunes (though they are there), more the dark energy seething underneath the wall of sound. This is an album that you know wants to rock you, but you're always afraid that it's going to sneak up on your gyrating body and kick your head in. Exciting.

ESTONIA: Popop
Picnic - Too Fast
Picnic was formed in 2006 and features Rivo Jarvsoo (guitars, electronics), Andres Soosaar (guitars, other instruments) and Marju Taukar (vocals, keyboard, accordion). Flowing guitars mingle with electronic beats and treats, and the influence of '90s British shoegaze is not difficult to notice – Cocteau Twins, Slowdive, My Bloody Valentine, Chapterhouse are all there. The band released their debut album Winter Honey on local label Seksound in February.

FINLAND: Glue
Captain Cougar - Engagement Song
For their second album, Captain Cougar came up with a history-related concept album telling the story of two people growing up on the heels of the Finnish independence and civil war in the early 20th century and emigrating for the never-to-be-found hope and glory of the American land. The cinematic music enhances the melancholy of the story with dense atmospherics and layers of instruments underneath the beautiful voice of Eva Louhivuouri, who acts as the narrator thanks to a collection of soft pop melodies. Early in the story, Engagement Song gives a break to the hard-working people in the rural community.

GERMANY: Blogpartei
L'egojazz - Ovatime
Jazz and sampling are the foundations L'egojazz is built on. These guys from the Bavarian Chiemgau draw their inspiration from many different genres such as electro, indie and drum and bass, and merge them to form an eclectic, improvisational sound. Ovatime is a piece of impulsive music with a funky touch that goes directly into your dancing shoes. The song is a Music Alliance Pact exclusive which shows their electronic side best.

GREECE: Mouxlaloulouda
Sleepin Pillow - Silicone
Sleepin Pillow's philosophy is based on bringing together experimental, psychedelic rock along with Greek and Eastern traditional music. They create eerie yet familiar soundscapes while achieving a distinctive sound of their own to form an enveloping whole, with each overlapping texture or shifting tempo plunging the listener further into the darkness. Their album Superman's Blues is rewarding, thoughtful and challenging. It is an ambitious work of power, emotional depth and feeling, with vocals submerged under a claustrophobic blanket of guitars battling with drums.

ICELAND: I Love Icelandic Music
Who Knew - Sharpen The Knife
Who Knew is a six-piece indie power-pop band that produces catchy melodies and groovy beats. The band was formed by lead singer Armann Ingvi Armannson and backing vocalist and guitar player Baldur Helgi Snorrason in 2006. Sharpen The Knife is taken from debut album Bits And Pieces Of A Major Spectacle, which will be released in Europe on the German 101berlin label on May 21.

INDONESIA: Deathrockstar
White Shoes & The Couples Company - Kampus Kemarau
White Shoes & The Couples Company's music make Indonesians feel proud. Heavily influenced by old Indonesian movies and '60s ballads, they spread the warm feeling of their vibrant, vintage pop tunes all around the world, even if most of the lyrics are in Bahasa Indonesia.

IRELAND: Nialler9
Kill Krinkle Club - Airport
Justin Cummins and Elena Bergman are an Irish-Swedish duo who released a promising EP back in 2008. They've recently been recording material for their debut album in September (each track will be accompanied by a video) and Airport is one of the first missives available from it, showcasing Kill Krinkle Club's unique electronic/synth-pop sound.

ISRAEL: Metal Israel
Desert - Letter Of Marque
The evocative mastery of classic dark power metal act Desert exports a majestically melodic, edgy onslaught laced with influences from Judas Priest to Deep Purple. They've shared the stage with Sabaton and Draconian and show formidable talent and promise.

ITALY: Polaroid
Vermillion Sands - Miss My Gun
A single out on Fat Possum, an EP on Sacred Bones and now the debut album on Alien Snatch Records - Vermillion Sands may be from Italy but they really talk the international language of rock 'n' roll. Their songs are raw and catchy as hell. You could say they play garage pop with a folk vibe, but you just have to let yourself go and wildly dance. Anna Barattin's twangy voice will hypnotize you.

JAPAN: JPOP Lover
Tim & Puma Mimi - Aquarium
Tim & Puma Mimi is indie electro-pop group that consists of Tim (aka Christian Fischer) from Switzerland and Mimi (aka Michiko Hanawa) from Tokyo. They met in the Netherlands at a party in 2003. They are far away from each other but are connected via the internet, using Skype to record their tracks to deliver sweet and frisky tunes.

MEXICO: Red Bull PanameriKa
Carla Morrison - Buena Malicia
Carla Morrison is a beautiful voice in Mexico's new music scene. Emerging from Baja California in 2009, Carla has touched audiences with just a piano, a guitar and her voice, which seems to melt down every soul that dares to listen to it live. Sweet and haunting, her sound is engaging but, more than anything, it's moving. Buena Malicia is taken from her first EP titled Aprendiendo a Aprender. Carla is recording a follow-up with fellow singer (and fan) Natalia Lafourcade, which will go by the name Mientras Tu Dormias.

NETHERLANDS: Amsterdam Event Guide
Zea - Song For Electricity
Zea's music draws influence from all over the world, and this entry especially is a mish-mash number inspired by an Ethiopian track taken from a recent tour through the country. Tribal beats with fast-paced indie-pop guitars merge with high-pitched electronics to create a messy, "wonderfully bonkers" pop number. File Zea in your collection with other eclectic, world-pop big-wigs MIA, Vampire Weekend and Animal Collective.

NEW ZEALAND: Counting The Beat
Bandicoot - Silence Is Golden
Take teenage angst and energy, pounding drums, speedy riffs, frenetic lead guitar, a hyper vocalist who spits her lyrics rather than sings, songs that duck and dive rather than take a linear path from go to whoa, turn up the treble and approach the whole thing with the aim of having fun. That's Bandicoot. Silence Is Golden is from their second EP Jurassic Warfare and it ticks all those boxes. Jurassic Warfare, along with free 2009 EP Happy Talking are available from Muzai Records.

PERU: SoTB
Caudillismo y Pedigree - Mi Perro Poodle Tiene Pulgas Negras
Mi Perro Poodle Tiene Pulgas Negras exudes creativity both in its hypnotizing, pleasant melody and its lyrics. The minimalism mixes with nostalgia to tell a strange story - the pains and habits of a dog called Poodle. The lyrics seem to make no sense, but in fact the use of metaphors explain and criticize the current society and some dark extracts of Peruvian life.

PORTUGAL: Posso Ouvir Um Disco?
Soulbizness - Victimless Crime
Rodrigo Gomes and Filipe Campos are Soulbizness, a duo deeply influenced by funk, soul and electronic dance music. They won the first music contest in which they participated, in 2007. In 2008, they released their first EP, Collectables, and soon had a single on a major TV series. 2nd Shake is their second EP, released this last April, and Victimless Crime is one of its four tracks.

ROMANIA: Babylon Noise
Discoballs - Watch Out!
"From now on, no one is safe, nothing is for sure," announced Discoballs - a 100% live electronic group from Bucharest - at the beginning of 2008. They were very well received by the public because such a project was missing from the music scene and because they are really good at what they're doing - playing constantly with sound and managing to make incredible music every time they're on stage. Here's one of the few tracks they've recorded.

SCOTLAND: The Pop Cop
Sorren Maclean - You Shook
Sorren Maclean is a 20-year-old singer-songwriter who I recently came across while doing research for a feature on musicians from Scottish islands. Although Sorren lives in Glasgow, he grew up in Mull and still maintains strong ties with the island. His debut album won't be out until later in the year but we've got an exclusive sneak preview from it. You Shook is typical of Sorren's sound, driven by melody and harmonies and very easy on the ear.

SINGAPORE: I'm Waking Up To...
Great Empty - Intro (Pattern & The Essence)
Great Empty are an experimental, instrumental band. One of the most beautiful aspects of their music is the raw simplicity that lies at the heart of all their tunes. There is no need for grand opuses, or pitch-perfect production quality. I think flaw is their gift to the realm of music, to ache and bleed out the last vestiges of honest emotion beyond the limits of control. It is heartfelt music, something that's worth remembering and listening to.

SOUTH AFRICA: Musical Mover & Shaker!
Megan C - I Got It
Megan C is a triple threat - a model, classically-trained vocalist and gifted actress. She teamed up with producer extraordinaire Ameen Harron for the song I Got It. It is a blend of slick, uptempo beats combined with MIA-esque rap, hip hop flavour and just a touch of electro to make a surefire dancefloor hit. Megan C is a force to reckoned with, keep an eye out for more from her.

SOUTH KOREA: Indieful ROK
Vidulgi OoyoO - Goodnight Shining
Vidulgi OoyoO (literally "Pigeon Milk") is one of Korea's finest shoegaze bands. They recently put out a split album with Chicago's bliss.city.east and it is scheduled for release in Europe and the US later this month. They wanted to apply their own textures to electronica, post-rock, psychedelic blues and more, and the result sounds better than ever. Goodnight Shining is an outstanding instrumental piece that'll make you want to stay in Vidulgi OoyoO's world of droning goodness for as long as possible.

SPAIN: Oscuro Magazine
Barbo - Exilio En Yokohama
Barcelona indie band Barbo created Matagigantes, an alternative rock album full of three-minute pop songs. Exilio En Yokohama speaks of the search for a personal retreat when you see everything around sink. Musically, they try to recover the fighting spirit of early U2, especially with the drum beat and guitar delays.

SWEDEN: Swedesplease
Big Fox - Saturday
Big Fox (aka Charlotta Perers) accomplishes her sound mostly by herself playing all the instruments, and doing the production/arranging of the songs. You would think that Saturday would be an uptempo pop song about partying, but instead is a slightly melancholy (yet positive) song about being home alone on a Saturday night. Charlotta admits to being influenced by Feist, Regina Spektor, Frida Hyvönen, Jenny Wilson and Ane Brun but her sound stands out on its own at the same time.

SWITZERLAND: 78s
Bonaparte - L'etat C'est Moi
Bonaparte is a multicultural music project based in Berlin. However, the band leader, Tobias Jundt, is a Swiss musician and producer who has gathered members from Germany, France, USA, New Zealand, Mexico, Panama, Austria and Brazil. Together they're putting on an unforgettable show. At the beginning of their energetic and witty live shows everyone is dressed like circus animals. At the end, almost everyone is naked. Bonaparte's music is contagious as hell and will get you in the end. Their second long-player, My Horse Likes You, comes out on June 4.

UNITED STATES: I Guess I'm Floating
Sleigh Bells - Tell 'Em
All it took was a killer P-Funk sample to make Sleigh Bells the hottest new band of 2010. Their debut album, Treats, is hitting shelves in early June on M.I.A.'s N.E.E.T. label and Tell 'Em is the first official track we've tasted. It's like crack-sprinkled Andes thin mints. Absolutely delicious, intimidatingly addictive.

VENEZUELA: Barquisimento
Famasloop - Vaca Lechera
Famasloop is a young band with a new approach to music, combining fresh, innovative rhythms with a marketing campaign full of multimedia elements that match their energy. They go from pop to rock and indie, and claim to make music not from genres but from the heart. Vaca Lechera is taken from Casa 4, a release that includes 10 new songs, 12 remixes and four videos.

To download all 34 songs in one file click here