Asobi Seksu

Perhaps the title of their 3rd CD, Hush refers to the change in their sound? After 2 albums of lovely Gazey bursts, the NY duo of Yuki Chikudate and James Hanna has opted to scale things back. Partly due to personnel changes and a conscious effort to avoid the Wall Of Sound/Shoegaze revivalism, they have gone for a Dreampop sound peeling back the layers, and focusing on a purer sound.

Sample Tracks

• Familiar Light
• Blind Little Rain

The Blueflowers

Guitarist Tony Hamera is at it again. Isn't there some kind of limit to the number of great bands you can form? Although we were sad to see the demise of Detroit Shoegaze outfit, Ether Aura, at least he brought the golden voice of Kate Hinote along with him. With new members: Marvin Shaouni (Drums), Erica Stephens (Bass) and David Johnson (Acoustc Guitar), The Blueflowers feature a more organic, Americana sound. Their debut, Watercolor Ghost Town is available now.

Sample Tracks

• Any Three Words
• Just For Show
• I Can't Stop My Heart From Breaking

White Lies

Did White Lies just make the album The Killers SHOULD have made? This London Post-Punk band is Moody, Synth, Poppy and Infectious. Combining the best elements of bands The Killers, Editors and Interpol, they have already released 4 UK singles. Included amongst these are song of the year candidates, To Lose My Life and Death. The CD To Lose My Life is released in the US this month, with a tour to boot. Catch them now.

Sample Tracks

• To Lose My Life
• Death
• From The Stars

The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart

Boy, girl, boy, girl, boy, girl....sorry we love this stuff. We couldn't describe their debut any better than their bio does - New York four-piece who plays sweet & noisy POP with boy/girl vocals, blissful melodies and blistering drums. Their full length debut is out now and did i mention we love it? Download the delicious singles Everything With You and Come Saturday for FREE on their MySpace page.

Sample Tracks

• Everything With You
• Stay Alive
• A Teenager In Love

School Of Seven Bells

With influences ranging from dream-pop, Afrobeat, IDM, and 4AD’s gauzier moments, the twin Deheza sisters (On!Air!Library!) and Benajmin Curtis (Secret Machines) have been teasing us with sonic singles for a couple of years now. Their full length debut, Alpinisms has finally arrived on noted Ann Arbor, Mi Indie label, Ghostly International Records.

Sample Tracks

• Chain
• Connjur
• Wired For Light

The Ting Tings

We triple dog dare you to listen to the 3 samples we posted and go the entire day without singing one. Bet you can't! This percussive Manchester duo has made a Party in a record with We Started Nothing, with influences from Talking Heads, Tom Tom Club and LCD Soundsystem. They were voted #3 on the BBC's Top 10 To Watch In 2008' and named NME's most exciting new band in the country.

Sample Tracks

• That's Not My Name
• Great DJ
• Shut Up And Let Me Go

Resplandor

Shoegaze is alive and well!...in Peru??? Influenced by bands like Ride, Chapterhouse, Slowdive and My Bloody Valentine, the Peruvian noise-popsters have assembled a superstar supporting cast for their latest CD, Pleamar. The CD was produced by Robin Guthrie (Cocteau Twins) and features collaborations with Andrew Prinz & Ana Breton (Mahogany) and Scott Cortez from (Lovesliescrushing and Astrobrite).

Sample Tracks

• Downfall
• Breathe
• Raindrops

Glasvegas

This Scottish band is making quite a bit of noise both on record and amongst music critics. They get our vote for the most exciting and most unusual new sound. A melding of The Jesus and Mary Chain's feedback with 60's doo-wop melodies, the self-titled debut CD features instant classics like Daddy's Gone and Geraldine.

Sample Tracks

• Daddy's Gone
• Geraldine
• It's My Own Cheating Heart That Makes Me Cry

The Verve

In a year which included reunions from Portishead, My Bloody Valentine and Jesus and Mary Chain, it is only fitting that these Britpop giants would choose this time to reconvene. They have a tall task in front of them as their last outing, Urban Hymns was only the fifth fastest selling British album ever on release and one of the landmark releases of the Nineties. Stepping away from a successful solo career, Richard Ashcroft has rejoined his bandmates to release Forth, their first new album in over a decade.

Sample Tracks

• Valium Skies
• Judas
• The Drugs Don't Work
• History
• Slide Away

Au Revoir Borealis

It's time for the rest of the world to find out what Detroiters have known for the last decade. Few bands are capable of such cinematically dreamy pop as Au Revoir Borealis. The long, long, long awaited follow up to the sublime Tienken EP arrives in the form of Dark Enough For Stars. The record showcases the lovely vocals of Stephenie Halpert McWalters and the Blissfuly hazy guitars of Steve Swartz and Tom Currie. They are joined by guests including Anna-Lynne Williams (Trespassers William) and Jessica Bailiff..

Sample Tracks

• Genius Of Escape Who Will Startle And Amaze
• Dark Western

Sigur Ros

Ok well here is one of the 'other' bands capable of such cineamtically dreamy pop. The Icelandic wonders may have outdone themselves on their latest, Með Suð Í Eyrum Við Spilum Endalaust. The otherworldy voice of Jónsi Birgisson is an instrument all its own, but becomes something extraordinary when paired with the sonic range of the band, often starting at a low dreamy pace and building to an epic crescendo. Við Spilum Endalaust may be one of the finest singles you will hear all year.

Sample Tracks

• Við spilum endalaust
• Inní mér syngur vitleysingur

Toni Halliday joins the chatroom during the Apr 13 broadcast of Aural Bliss

Over the last few months, we have had several wonderful guests in the Aural Bliss chatroom including Electronica vocalist Jes (Motorcycle, Solarstone), Anna-Lynne Williams (Trespassers William), Priscilla Hernandez, Sleepthief, Harland, The Silent Alarm, Ask For Joy, Halou and members of Bell Hollow, The Daysleepers, Tearwave, Ether Aura and Au Revoir Borealis. We also had visits from Dean Garcia (Curve, SPC ECO, The Secret Meeting) and KaRIN + Statik (Collide, The Secret Meeting). A recurring question seemed to be...What is going on with Toni Halliday these days? Well, we are going to let her tell you herself. On Sun April 13, former Curve frontwoman, Toni Halliday, will be in the Aural Bliss chatroom 10PM-Midnight EST during the Aural Bliss broadcast for a meet and greet to discuss her new project Chatelaine Click the Auralgasms Chat Room link on the Auralgasms Radio page. You will be prompted for a Name...this is not a Login ID but simply a handle by which you will be known during your chat session. You will meet your hosts Zumby and Mikeylove, the Bliss listeners from all over the world, and on this special night...Toni Halliday. Don't miss this once in a life time opportunity! During the evening, you will hear our usual blend of Ethereal Dreampop, Britpop, Triphop, Shoegaze and Electronica on the Aural Bliss show which airs Sunday nights 10PM-Midnight EST on Auralgasms Radio. It all happens only on Auralgasms Radio

Aural Bliss Live at (Proof) + Portishead Listening Event

We would like to thank everyone that came out to (Proof) last month for the first Aural Bliss Live event as we brought the great tunes from Aural Bliss into the lounge. You helped make it such a success that we have been asked to make it a monthly event.

At our next event, Thursday Apr 17, we are proud to to be able to present:

The Advance Listening Party for the new Portishead CD - Third.