“Indie-pop” (Used 29 times)

Happy Puppy is proud to announce the re-release of a long out-of-print and rare debut EP by Canadian band Plumtree.

Plumtree were originally out of Halifax, made a big impression early on and that continues today, ten years after they broke up, thanks to starting that whole Scott Pilgrim thing.

They released one cassette EP, three albums and a handful of singles in their 7-year lifespan, making a mark on the Canadian indie scene with their smart, spunky and fun rock music.  And Plumtree did rock.

I never felt that the band truly got the attention and respect they deserve: they were one of the best groups to come out of Canada and I'm extremely happy that the band have given me permission to make their debut EP from 1994 Flutterboard available on Happy Puppy for free download (for a limited time!).

These tracks are from their cassette master, and if you like what you hear, please visit their site where you can purchase their new 'best of' collection and other assorted Plumtree goodness (including Carla and Lynette's new SISTER project) or consider a donation for their generosity.

A Sunny Day in Glasgow's dream-pop stylings have gotten increasingly layered with ethereal subtlety since their debut in 2006, and this translated surprisingly well to the Primavera Sound festival environment. I'd recommend listening back to this live recording through extremely large speakers -- as big as you can find -- at maximum volume, outside.

Contrary to what their name might have you believe, A Sunny Day in Glasgow is actually from Philadelphia PA. Core member Ben Daniels and mult--instrumentalist Josh Meakam are also members of King Kong Ding Dong (who I've written about here). The current incarnation of ASDiG -- either 2.0 or 3.0 for those keeping score -- is rounded out by vocalists Annie Fredrickson and Jen Goma, bassist Ryan Newmyer, and drummer Adam Herndon. 

The Primavera set capped off a 6 week European tour, and focused on new material. A particularly catchy unreleased song (to be titled either "broken radio" or "come away with me" or "sigh, inhibitionist") bodes very well for the future of ASDiG. Most of the other songs can be found through the Mis Ojos Discos label, on either Ashes Grammer (2009) or the Nitetime Rainbows 12'' EP (2010). The latter demonstrates how well the ASDiG layered sound lends itself to remixes with three unique takes on the title track, including one by Ezekiel Honig. You can pick up ASDiG releases through their website, along with a few more free mp3 downloads of demos, singles and remixes (including a Radiohead remix). Word is they have a new full-length in the works, so keep an ear out!

>> A Sunny Day in Glasgow live @ Primavera Sound 2010 (full set)

Glasgow has been a center of learning since the middle ages. It was the focus of the Scottish Enlightment in the 18th century. It has been the site of major leaps in engineering. It has been a city of fearless, forward thinking people for centuries. Glasgow's Kazoo Funk Orchestra approaches pop music with the same fearless Scottish method. They are a pop band having fun and inviting you in on the joke.

Fall in love with Scottish fearlessness -- even in pop music! Enjoy the albums MIDNIGHT FINGER PAINTER and ADVENTURES IN FUZZY FELT LAND in full here at the FMA.