Video: Valley of Abra - Alba Lua

Hailing from Bordeaux Alba Lua are a three-piece comprising of Pepo Durantez (lead vocals and rhythm guitar), Pascal Hoerner (lead guitar, backing vocals and bass) and Renoi Jacob Mathieu (drums and percussion). 'Valley of Abra' is taken from their debut EP Ballad of Joseph Merrick, which was recorded in Barcelona a couple of days after the band saw Neil Young, My Bloody Valentine and Sonic Youth play at the Primavera Sound Festival. Tellingly 'Valley of Abra' features a thrilling mix of shoe-gazey pop and blissed-out summer sunshine.

The press release for this mentions that Vice described it as 'Syd Barrett sound tracking a spaghetti western, i.e. eccentric, reverb-heavy, dreamy pop music' and whilst BlackPlastic generally think Vice are a bunch of twats when it comes to music reviews they kind of got Alba Lua on the money. We have spent the last few days wandering around in Rockstar's rather ace Red Dead Redemption video game, set in the Wild West, and 'Valley of Abra' would make a fantastically psychedelic addition to the soundtrack.

Alba Lua are currently working on a new EP and an album is expected in early 2011.

BP x

Video: 15X - Breton

How very 'meta'. Breton's music video for 15X features them actually making (as in manufacturing rather than recording) their forthcoming Sharing Notes EP, including the packaging. In fact, since the release is limited to 50 numbered copies, if you get number one then that is the one being made in the video. The release includes a printed circuit board which can apparently be built into a synth. Nice.

The song itself is math rock in a similar vein to the Battles but a bit spikier. But don't take our word for it - check it out above.

BP x 

Video: Memory Banks - Lazy Habits feat. Baby Sol

Lazy Habits are an eight piece hip-hop collective who have already been getting a bit of love from the likes of 6music and 1extra. And based on the video for 'Memory Banks' it is a justifiable reaction. Featuring sultry guest vocals from Baby Sol, their first single is a lovely low-down piece of summer soul that deserves to make it onto your barbecue playlist this year.

The single is already out as a digital download and it will be followed up by an album towards the end of the summer.

BP x

Video: Who's Next - Curry & Coco

You liked Devo and the Human League, right? Good. You thought Shy Child were better when they sounded broken and that Datarock's sappy second album lacked the punch of their first? Us too. In which case check out Curry & Coco because they are pretty sick.

Originally from Lille, France, Curry & Coco have been busy in London working on an album with producer David Costen (Bat For Lashes, Chew Lips, Everything Everything). Entitled We Are Beauty it will be out "later this year" but rather than getting bogged down in that BlackPlastic suggests you bask in the sunshine brilliance of 'Who's Next' and Curry & Coco's forthcoming EP Sex Is Fashion.

BP x

Video: Drunk Girls - LCD Soundsystem

It's not that we are biased, it's just that LCD Soundsystem are still more exciting than everybody else. Check out the video Spike Jonze has made for new single 'Drunk Girls' as it's probably Jonze's best in years:

Very punk. Love it.

Forthcoming album This Is Happening is out on 17 May, the This Is Happening EP featuring 'Drunk Girls' is out now, both are on EMI.

Stay tuned - we will have a full review of the album on BlackPlastic soon.  The album can also be streamed in full over at the LCD Soundsystem website.

BP x