Iron & Wine does New Order

I'll tell you right now that there's no lurking darkness to Sam Beam's cover of New Order's "Love Vigilantes".  The only tell is the recognizable sweet sorrow in the words, a story magnificently written from the standpoint of a soldier coming home.  This may not be your Sunday gospel, but nonetheless Mr. Beam does poetic justice to an '80s goodie, creating his own atmosphere of calm after the storm.

One of my favorites from the shaggy folksman: "Love Vigilantes"

Delphic

In the UK, the British indie scene seems to be at crossroads.  Female pop acts like Florence + the Machine are currently swamping headphones, but it seems at the moment that American indie holds the fire.  Emerging from the ever-famous Manchester music mecca is Delphic, bringing their own brand of darkly-tinged, dance-rock.

At first listen, one can immediately think of the Editors, New Order, Joy Division and the rest of the gang.  But I feel like there's progress in this sweeping genre of alternative dance.  There are fluttery sections of synthesizers and softer voices, not so completely deep and bass-lined.  They definitely don't hide behind the wires and mazes of laptops like a Fischerspooner, but each of their members plays an actual instrument.  

It's futuristic, with gleaming robots, yet hints of elegant nights in the city, behind the wheel of a black car in a black suit, not sure of what will come.

"Doubt", "Counterpoint", "Halcyon"

Their debut album Acolyte drops June 29th.  Catch them at nearly every well-known European music festival this summer.