HotSpotMusic.

A universally epic sound, gradually swelling songs in a rare-double length LP and the controversial use of a saxophone marked out M83’s return to the public sphere.  Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming could have been the album title for about 40% of all indie releases since the summer of 2010 but at least Anthony Gonzales’s effort tries to capture the urgency in the beginning of that statement whilst letting the latter drift as your imagination wanders the way of the second part of the album (i.e. into the distance).  

Part of the 2011 winter clearout - albums not reviewed when they came out but still worth sharing before the end of year lists hit.

Original release date: 18 October 2011

The band formerly known as The Bewitched Hands On The Top Of Our Heads has decided to take the ethos of the music - short, catchy and memorable - and apply it to the group’s name.  Now simply The Bewitched Hands, this French ensemble’s first full album (and what a full album it is at 25 songs!) is packed full of power pop gems - as if The New Pornographers allowed Phoenix into the band to make a super-super-group.  Recently asked the timeless “Stones or Beatles” question, they simply responded: “Beach Boys”.  Now that’s my kind of band.  One that’s bound to leave good vibrations on your stereo all summer long.

To celebrate the end of the exciting election debate season in the UK and mark the start of the final run in to May 7, here’s an album by a Frenchman.  I’m sure we can all learn a lot from Monsieur Tellier.  Zut alors, hotspotmusic has gone all political!  Bring on the euro!

This Parisian three-piece has their eyes on Phoenix’s crown and with this diverse and sparking collection of pop songs they’re on the right track.  Their self-titled debut album is full of tracks that ring a bell in your head (“doesn’t this sound a lot like…”) but the challenge will be in the recording of their second album and how to make this sound their own.