You've had a busy weekend haven't you? I know you have. All weekends are busy. You head home after a week at work, intent of some R&R, and then remember that you have to do all the jobs you've spent a week ignoring. Then Monday comes around again and exhaustion saps the life out of your body before the grind has even started. Such is life.

So if that's left you in the mood to reach for the bleach and Ribena for easy mixin', you'll love* today's new band, Bleak Black Branches, who, by the sound of their chosen name, don't spend their pocket money on fizzy sweets and Hello Kitty merchandise. Whatever their state of mind - and there's no saying that an absence of E-numbers and mentalist Japanese toys is the sign of a sound intellect - the music they produce is perfect if you need calming on a nerve-jangling Monday morning. In fact, it might even be the sound for Monday night-time too, as If Tired Sleep is the humming, gurgling sound of the blood slurping around your ears as you fall asleep. Circular Cause and Consequence is, comparatively, frighteningly upbeat - circular, looping and organic.

The songs mostly fade in, drift by and seep out of your mind again a few minutes later. It's all a bit 1977-David-Bowie-Brian-Eno-side-two-of-Low, introspective, cold and yet warm. This is a good thing. Listen to Bleak Black Branches at their MySpace page here. Excitingly, all the songs are available to download from here.

*"be condemned into an even tighter circle of introspection by"

Labels: I am calm, slightly mournful, Welsh

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What, another Welsh band on A New Band A Day? There's no hidden agenda here*, just a reflection of the fact that Wales is spewing out great bands at a shocking rate at the moment. I've chuntered on before about how many Welsh bands seem to have something extra that just lifts them above their peers, and guess what? - Today's New Band, Picture Books In Winter are another example of just that.

Welsh bands seem to have a monopoly on the violin too - see Gorky's and Los Campesinos! for proof - and Picture Books In Winter prove again that I was wrong to turn down violin lessons as a youngster. Because if I'd taken them, perhaps I too could be playing in bands with songs as surprising, lithe and strutting as Horizontally I Am Champion.

Hear it on their MySpace Page. "I've always had a talent for arts and crafts", they proclaim over the lolloping guitar line, whilst musing about ex-Blue Peter tea-time-trouser-troubler Konnie Huq. It's unusual to hear a song which is so wonderfully idiosyncratic from such a new band - and as even more incentive, should you need it, Horizontally I Am Champion is available as a free download on their Myspace page. Visit, download, and add them to your burgeoning 'Great Welsh Bands' list that I'm sure you have stuck to your fridge.

*nothing illegal, anyway. Honest.

Labels: Horizontal, violin, Welsh

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What is it that makes us view Welsh bands differently? Even when a song from the litany of fabulous Welsh bands such as Super Furry Animals and Gorky's Zygotic Munki sing in English, there's something indefinable that separates them from their British counterparts, at least. Today's new band, Genod Droog, also have this - with the twinkly space-yness of Gorky's and the full-on mentalism found in the Furries' crazier moments.

Oh, and they're hip-hop. Yup, and rapping fits Welsh as well as it does French: brilliantly. While this might be a novelty enough to just to hear it in action, Genod Droog have tunes in spades too. Listen to Gwn Tatws on their MySpage page and try and stop yourself from singing along in your best attempt at Welsh while their blend of Psych-Rock-Hip-Hop bombards your ears. Then marvel that the song is about veg of champions - the potato (at least I think so; my very basic knowledge of Welsh is fallable).

Best of all is Bomiwch y Byd - the kind of song that reeks of summertime and would sound best if heard sitting a sunny Welsh field, sipping a cider. Fortunately for us mere mortals, this will be possible soon - they're playing a bunch of gigs around the fantastic Welsh summer festival circuit. Welsh bands seem to have an innate ability to do the simple stuff - i.e. tunes - and making it work well, weirdly, and wonderfully. Genod Droog do this too - listen now and then catch them if you can.

Finally, another ANBAD radio show will be up very soon, over the weekend, barring technical mishaps/Internet hell/death. Marvel at its glory! Listen to voices talk in between this week's greatest songs! Free! All those things - and more!

Don't forget, if you have a great band we should listen to and put on A New Band A Day, email me and tell me all about it. We listen to every band you suggest, promise!

Labels: potatoes, summer, Welsh

Know a great band that should be on A.N.B.A.D? Email us or visit our MySpace page and tell us MORE!
Too busy/lazy/forgetful to visit A.N.B.A.D.? Subscribe to A.N.B.A.D. by Email and receive it in your inbox every day!