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Particularly impressed by the acknowledgement of Blanck Mass, Errors and Forest Swords there. But I think to exclude Pulled Apart By Horses, who for my money have made the most exciting British rock record for quite some time this year, is criminal. How you've managed to include Emmy The Great and The Kills (are we classing them as British?) and not them is beyond me.

sums up the attitude of SO many indier than thou Pitchfork obsessed snobs I know (I love Pitchfork like, I just mean people who mainly like the traditional Pitchfork indie bands)

There's loads of good stuff in the UK at the moment, no real "scene" that the NME or whatever can pick up on, but it's all the better for it, I think. Loads of variety in a really small country, and a nice mix of new and established artists, bedroom projects and proper bands.

It doesn't have many high profile slightly alternative acts right now but we're doing plenty of interesting things.

Scotland in particular is doing some great stuff. Phantom Band, Moffat and Wells, RM Hubbert, De rosa, Emma Pollock, Admiral Fallow, loch Lomond, Alasdair Roberts, Malcolm Middleton, Mogwai...

yeah we're really good at dance

Actress
Burial
Champion
Darkstar
Ekoplekz
Floating Points
Guido
Harmonic 313
Ikonika
James Blake
Kuedo
LHF
Mount Kimbie
Newham Generals
October
Peverelist
Q, DJ
Richard Skelton
Shackleton
Terror Danjah
Untold
Vessel
Wiley
Xxxy
Yorke, Thome
Zomby

Rude health lol.

Agreed with the point above that there isn't a clear scene (in 'indie' circles at least) in the UK. Hasn't been one for a few years tbh. I think that perhaps damages the exposure that some deserving acts would get were there a scene built around their sound. But more importantly there's a diversity in the UK at the moment which makes for exciting style exchanges etc. I'd definitely take this state of play over a second New Rock Revolution.

Your list also needs some Jamie Woon, Golden Fable, Standard Fare, Vessels, Matt Elliott and Portico Quartet.

Chad Valley
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uPlRBEWh0cA&feature=related
Deptford Goth
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ze0KJDQh9uk
Demdike Stare
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O_jhV6f62g8
Three Trapped Tigers
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N5nmP5xv0lE&feature=fvst
Vondelpark
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wLWpYywrxLI
Breton
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QdinjFpqAyc
Four Tet, of course
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cDEVk0cTJyI
These New Puritans
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vasNDS9BXJI&ob=av2e

Cold Pumas
Richard Youngs
The Caretaker / Leyland Kirby
Demdike Stare
Gnod
Still Corners
Anna Calvi
James Blackshaw
The Haxan Cloak

then delete comments left by their PR guy revealing that he wasn't going to send DiS a copy anyway as he knew they wouldn't be into that sort of thing, but that the reviewer asked for a review link and pretended to be interested in it.

Also ripping off stewart lee jokes.

Also being derogatory about the scottish rugby team

Also boasting about not writing anything about kurt cobains 45th birthday.

Remember Remember's worth a mention.

Andrew Chalk's collobaration w/ Timo Van Luyk as Elodie.

You may enjoy sean, since you I remember you enjoyed Richard Skelton so much.

The Caretaker's S/T to Patience (After Sebald) is good.
Haven't had much of a chance to listen, but Trim mixtape seemed nice.
Patrice & Friends / Modern love crew / Hype Williams crew...

I was surprised by Stephen Merritt saying in the interview that he thought UK pop was better than the US version. I'd vehemently say the opposite. Fuck awful over-produced MOR retro bollocks, what I want is people shouting over samples ffs!

Echo Lake
Way Through
Water World
Allo Darlin'
Gentle Friendly
Peepholes
Eaux
Y Niwl
Hyetal
Epic 45

I also agree with Breton very much so. Really great band.

See also

Trophy Wife
Jessie Ware

I genuinely love so many bands coming out of Britain currently, its formlessness is exciting I tihnk personally.

But also Arthur Beatrice, Toy and Clock Opera are worth including

They sound pretty much exactly like that taught indie dance stuff that was all too popular circa 2005

That's healthy in terms of bands having a bit of breathing space, and it also saves us from what happens when a big scene takes off: a million shitty rip-off bands chancing it whilst things last.

So you don't have a Blur but you also don't have a Catch, and you don't have a The Strokes but you also don't have a Little Man Tate.

The problem is, 'scenes' usually take off and go bananas because of one or more bands who are incredibly good...I'd say that the current lack of any massive crossover scene suggests that there aren't any amazing bands out there at the moment.

always seems to be superficially judged by how many really big bands or artists are out there with critical acclaim who genuinely appeal to both alternative & mainstream audiences and sell records by the bucketload. That hasn't happened for some time. Of the current biggest british acts, Coldplay have mass appeal but have lost much of their initial critical acclaim and alternative fanbase. Radiohead are on the whole loved by the critics and have a sound alternative fanbase, but they also have a number of fans who prefer their Bends era 90s indie rock as opposed to their experimentation of the last decade. You get a sense that an act with mass crossover appeal is what many are waiting for. You only have to look at the line-up of the Olympics closing concert - as much as I love Blur, The Specials & New Order (and will endeavour to get a ticket when they go on sale on Friday), in all fairness this could have been the line-up for a closing concert for Euro 96 (and if that concert was held in 96, not many would have thought to ask the question how healthy is the british music scene as there were acts around back then who tick all of the boxes mentioned). The massive crossover scene thing does not bother me as I know there is plenty of great music being made currently in Britain, it's just many perceive the british music industry to be in poor health unless there are crossover acts around that appeal to both critics and alternative & mainstream audiences alike.

Let England Shake.
Spotify revenues

...with an incredibly diverse and vibrant music scene - another 'Cool Britannia' moment, if you like, with lots of exciting new artists like Ed Sheeran and Jessie J coming through all the time and, in Adele, an increasingly iconic figure who symbolises the growing influence of British music on the world stage.

OK, I didn't actually say that -- it's a quote from some HMV rep I copied from the Mirror. But it was just so smarmy and corporate I had to share it.

James Blake – Measurements
SBTRKT – Wildfire (feat. Little Dragon)
Nicola Roberts – Beat Of My Drum
Katy B – Katy On A Mission
Teeth – See Spaces
Rustie – Surph
Wild Beasts – Two Dancers (ii) - Jon Hopkins Remix
Zomby/Reark – Natalia’s Song
Stay+ – Fever - Fever
Mogwai – Mexican Grand Prix
Tom Vek – Seizemic
Friendly Fires – Hawaiian Air
Darkstar – Aidys Girl Is a Computer
Django Django – Default
Errors – Pleasure Palaces
Metronomy – The Look
Kate Bush – Wild Man
Burial – Street Halo
Blanck Mass – Chernobyl
Forest Swords – Rattling Cage
Jessie Ware – Strangest Feeling
Gil Scott-Heron & Jamie xx – I’m New Here
Jamie Woon – Night Air - Becoming Real Remix
Ghostpoet – One Twos / Run Run Run
This Will Destroy Us – Black Dunes (Holy Other’s Woman in the Dunes Mix)
Luke Abbott – A Caucus Race
Actress – Futureproofing
PJ Harvey – The Words That Maketh Murder
Bill Wells – The Copper Top
Emmy The Great – Trellick Tower
Laura Marling – The Beast
Slow Club – Never Look Back
Lanterns on the Lake – Lungs Quicken
Veronica Falls – Misery
WU LYF – L Y F
Radiohead – Lotus Flower
The Twilight Sad – Sick
Hey Sholay – The Bears The Clocks The Bees
The Maccabees – Pelican
The Kills – Nail In My Coffin
The Horrors – Dive In
Factory Floor – (R E A L L O V E)
Champion – Motherboard
93MillionMilesFromTheSun – Before You Leave
Richard Skelton – Rapture
Pulled Apart By Horses – Shake Off The Curse
Yuck – Get Away
Mazes – Go Betweens
Echo Lake – Another Day
Gross Magic – Teen Jamz
Frightened Rabbit – Swim Until You Can't See Land
Still Corners – Endless Summer
Adele – Rolling In The Deep (Acapella)
http://open.spotify.com/user/seaninsound/playlist/71GOfxniSOR4iQ8B84hNSE

5 years ago, America was dominant. I am not merely referring to pitchfork approved music, but if any 'all time great' records were to be released, it seemed unlikely to come from the UK. There was a lull after our indie rock boom, and sadly a few acts started poorly imitating americana (none moreso guilt than Nosh and the whale). So luckily I think there is a mini revival currently, spurred on by the excellent electronic scene and bands like Wild Beasts. There is much to get excited about if bands take cue from the 'Beasts, by focusing on an individual take on pop music, rather than just creating 'indie'.

I wouldn’t call it awe so much as favour. Speaking as a Canadian, there’s an obvious imperial thread between our countries that causes me to be more disposed to UK music. With that said, UK tunes generally take a different direction and have a different feel. You can hear the difference in the songwriting: the melodies and the chord changes and how they work with one another.

As for the state of British music, Sean’s list features some fantastic artists making progressive music (within the indie paradigm) that sounds, in many cases, like it comes from your part of the world. I’d say that’s as good a sign as any that things are going all right.

No? Well I just did.

odddfellows casino - indie folk - album came out this month i think
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lx4KtQX1zKs

gang colours - out this week
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qgnqCZ-v0ls

ex libras - new album coming out this year i think
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E7N2ZXw0iL0

bibio and diagrams are worthy of a mention

We do a decentish line in aggressive noise bands, but they mostly steal moves from US acts. However, in terms of electronic music I think the UK is streets ahead of almost anywhere right now. There such a fertile scene in terms of experimentation, variety and crossover. I especially like how our electronic acts are really getting closer to the noise and more experimental scenes and trying to incorporate that in their sound. In the US it seems like the opposite (100% Silk etc), but I much prefer the former variant.

but I'd still take it over the anemic US scene (settle down, I'm from detroit. it's all dead here nowadays.)

Munch Munch "Cyclorama"
Hannah Peel "Song of the Sea"
The Veils "Grey Lynn Park"
The Unthanks "Gan to the Kye"
Michachu & The Shapes "Low Dogg"
Wiley "Boom Blast"
Dutch Uncles "Cadenza"
Help Stamp Out Loneliness "Me, Sola & C"
Blood Orange "Champagne Coast"
Zun Zun Egui "Fandango Fresh"
Pychologist "Propeller"
Clock Opera "Belongings"
Gazelle Twin "I am a Shell I am a Bone"

And no Los Campesinos or Johhny Foreigner?

definitely a band taking cue from Wild Beasts (like I mentioned above) in making werid pop music. Though I wouldn't harbour any worries about over-similarities, for one they seem to get better and better and writing songs. Stream the upcoming EP at the above link, definitely download the previous two also.

Male bonding
muscles of joy
fair ohs
spectrals
cold pumas
meursault
rm hubbard
the Scottish music scene is pretty healthy right now

Deadboy, Hudson Mohawke, Jackmaster, Oneman, Spencer, Redinho...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ymtecQJL9wY