A welcome return. I’ve missed the blue moods of Spain. They released some amazingly beautiful albums more than 10 years ago. Especially She Haunts My Dreams from 1999 holds a special place in my heart. I really loved albums like She Haunts My Dreams by Spain or Curtains by Tindersticks back then. And obviously still do. The frontman Josh Haden reformed the band some years ago and now they have a new album ready to hit the stores and our hearts. Glitterhouse will release The Soul Of Spain on 11th of may, 2012. This is Without A Sound from the new album.

[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/42663324″ iframe=”true” /]
 
and here is Every Time I Try from She Haunts My Dreams

[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/28534046″ iframe=”true” /]
 
You can listen to more new and old favourites on their soundcloud.

Spain Website
Spain at Facebook
Spain at Soundcloud

PUGWASH – THE OLYMPUS SOUND

Pugwash is an irish power pop group and Lojinx recently released their fifth album The Olympus Sound in the UK/Europe. I think it came out in Ireland last year, but I missed the boat then. Even though I remember it getting good reviews. So The Olympus Sound is a new thing at the onechord.net headquarters. I admit that it took me some spins to realize the full beauty of this pop album no matter how ludicrous that seems now after falling for the album. Strong melodies and great pop songs that bring to mind all kinds of pop heroes from Jeff Lynne to Jason Falkner (latter especially on Be My Friend Awhile). Guest appearances from Ben Folds, Neil Hannon and Andy Partridge, but now I’m done with the pointless namedropping. This is wonderful pop music and this future pop classic is entitled Fall Down.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dPOCX7G5WhA]

Pugwash Website
Pugwash at facebook

YOUNG HINES – GIVE ME MY CHANGE

I wrote about Young Hines several weeks ago, but a revisit is in order, because his debut album Give Me My Change is now out and available (On Readymade in the US, on Lojinx in UK/Europe). I was obviously extremely interested about Young Hines, because Brendan Benson was the one who signed him. I do love Mr. Benson and Young Hines seem to be a really talented musician as well. His debut is kind of a mixed affair to me. I really adore his pop songs that are often very Beatlesque, but the energetic rockers aren’t really my cup of cheese cake. This new video Can’t Explode showes the side of Young Hines that I’m not that thrilled about. Not that there’s anything wrong with it, but the pop beauties like Don’t Break My Fall and Keep Me Goin’ are the real treasure for me.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4WY06lywrN8]

Young Hines Website
Young Hines at Facebook

Now here is something that doesn’t happen every day. Australian Jack & the Beanstalk just released a new single. Whirly Bird is a great power pop / garage song and you can get it for free from their bandcamp. The frontman Joe “Big in Finland” Algeri is also getting ready to release a new solo album under the name The JAC. That should be out sometime soon.

Jack & The Beanstalk, The JAC, Joe Algeri at bandcamp