THEY ARE Brooklyn quintet best known for haunting sounds on a Mazda commercial (left). SOUNDS LIKE they've gone for a straighter anthemic sound on their second album. They may reach more listeners, but it probably won't sell as many cars. RELEASE Sunshower Sep 17 TRIVIA They're named after the spaceship in Lost in Space.

THEY ARE Much-hyped quartet from Portland with one of the the ugliest homepages on the web. SOUNDS LIKE Bob Dylan fronting The Cars. RELEASE Mind Chaos Sep 28

THEY ARE Nuclear power trio specialicing in tales about space travels and supercontinental power balance. SOUNDS LIKE The villain theme from a Lloyd Webber MUSEical (ahem), with Robert Miles on piano. RELEASE The Resistance Sep 14

THEY ARE London-based foursome responsible for one this year's most beautiful albums. SOUNDS LIKE Radiohead's Fake Plastic Trees mixed with Interpol's NYC with a dash of Arcade Fire. RELEASE Union Jan 11 (digitally) Sep 14 (physically) TRIVIA They're rather bookishly named after an early 20th century Chinese uprising.

THEY ARE Actually a one-man-band; Seattle multi-instrumentalist Michael Lerner. SOUNDS LIKE Naïve US indie pop like The Little Ones, The Shins and Death Cab for Cutie in their merrier moments. The latter perhaps not so strange, as the album is produced by DCfC guitarist Chris Walla. RELEASE Telekinesis! Apr 07 (US), Aug 14 (EU) TRIVIA Lerner and Walla recorded the album one song a day.

THEY ARE Norwegian pop ensemble responsible for the most played song on domestic radio in 2007. SOUNDS LIKE Stadium-sized synth anthems in the style of Talk Talk, a-ha and Simple Minds. RELEASE Guns Tonight Aug 31 TRIVIA The group consists of seven men, of which two are background singers with specially coreographed dance routines to every song.

THEY ARE Crowded House-frontman Neil Finn and an all-star crew of family and friends, reconvening seven years after the first 7WC event to record a double album's worth of songs written specifically for the project. The line-up include KT Tunstall, Johnny Marr, members of Radiohead and Wilco, as well as Finn's brother, wife and two sons. SOUNDS LIKE The album opener, the Neil Finn-sung Too Blue, is co-written by Jeff Tweedy and Johnny Marr and is a piece of classic soulful pop that easily could have featured on the latest Crowded House-album. Other highlights includes Tunstall's Hazel Black and Don McGlashan's Long Time Gone. RELEASE The Sun Came Out Aug 31 TRIVIA The album's proceeds go to Oxfam.

Some good sites on which to discover new music

• Q
• NME
• indieLONDON
• musicOMH
• Drowned in Sound
• Stereogum
• GigWise
• SoundsXP
• Metacritic

...and the services used to bring you the sights and sounds

• YouTube
• MySpace (allthough it sucks...)
• Grooveshark
• ReverbNation
• Fairtilizer

The summer holiday is officially over (at least here in Norway), and artists and record companies are clearly back from vacation. Loads of great releases coming out these days, these are the greatest eleven of them.
Also, you might notice that the player on the right is new. The selection and service of last.fm was free-falling since their introduction of payment services, but with the new Grooveshark widget, you are at last able to freely listen to the complete compilation in all its glory!

1. The Brimstone Solar Radiation Band - Sanctimonious High
- They are (as the name suggests) a flamboyant retro ensemble from Bergen, Norway.
- This is the first single off their forthcoming third longplayer, Smorgasbord.
- Sounds like The Soundtrack of Our Lives. They actually look like them, too!
2. Brendan Benson - Eyes on The Horizon
- He is now probably better known as "the other one in The Raconteurs", but he actually had been a critically acclaimed recording artist for 10 years before Jack White called.
- This is the song that gave his recent fourth solo album its title, My Old, Familiar Friend.
- Sounds like he learned a few tricks from his onetime collaborator Jason Falkner.
3. The Temper Trap - Science of Fear
- They are much hyped Aussies, recently relocated to London in hopes of breaking the UK.
- This is the track from debut album Conditions with the least falsetto in it, mind.
- Sounds like Coldplay having an uncontrolled tantrum.
4. Metric - Gimme Sympathy
- They are Canadian electro-pop quartet made up by Emily Haines and three other guys (when they're not busy releasing solo albums or performing with virtually every other indie band in Montreal, that is).
- This is one of the highlights from Fantasies, finally getting a proper single release.
- Sounds like a female Killers (not exactly The Beatles or The Rolling Stones, but hey).
5. Century Man - Marauder
6. Darker My Love - Blue Day
- They are LA-based droney indierockers currently sharing two members with The Fall.
- This is a groovefest from their second album, imaginatively named 2, originally released August 2008, but not getting international distribution until now.
- Sounds like Deep Purple's Hush as Ride probably would have played it.
7. Third Eye Blind - Don't Believe a Word
- They are US alt.rock veterans for whom I must admit to having a soft spot.
- This is the lead-off single from their 4th LP, which took them six years to make.
- Sounds like the opening credits to an American Pie film (some might suggest all their songs do just that, and one of them actually does).
8. Paolo Nutini - Candy
9. Ian Brown - Stellify
- He is the ressurection, according to The Stone Roses' legendary debutalbum, which got a 20 year anniversary release this month.
- This is gonna be the first single off his sixth solo album, My Way, released in September.
- Sounds like he's still the untouchable King Monkey.
10. The Ruling Class - Sleeping Beauty
- They are English/Swedish five-piece who is obviously mad fer it.
- This is one of two A-sides on their second single, and I'm not kidding you: the other A-side is just as groovy (and just as indebted to Madchester).
- Sounds like this might be the second coming, then.
11. Radiohead - Harry Patch (In Memory of)
- They are indie eccentrics that have managed to adapt to new technology.
- This is their spontaneous download-only single paying tribute to the last UK veteran of the WWI, that recently passed away, aged 111. Get it here and support the British Legion.
- Sounds like Sigur Ròs doing Pink Floyds The Final Cut.

SUBS (and what they sound like):
Dakota - Wild Child (a somewhat whimpy take on Suede's classic Thrash)
Sugar Army - Tongues in Cheeks (Killing Joke covering Split Enz)
Richmond Fontaine - You Can Move Back Here (Wilco (the band))
Voluntary Butler Scheme - Tabasco Sole (The Beta Band peeking out from their own a**e)
The Chemists - A Love Like No-One Else (Doves' Pounding with synth frosting)

No, you haven't missed out on one. I'm celebrating two full years of C11 by skewing the calendar system. I found it a bit misleading that my monthly mixes usually were published the week after the month after which they were named, so from now on, C11 will be published mid-month.
This unfortunately means that you'll miss one month's worth of clever tunes, but I've made it up to ya by making one hell of a compilation this time: Old faves and new names, loud guitars and snarling synths, party anthems and summer chillers - and even a big beat remix!

1. A-ha - The Bandstand
- They are Norway's undisputed kings of pop, having scored 19 top 10-hits back home.
- This is the opening track off their 9th album Foot of the Mountain, which sees the trio returning to their synth pop roots.
- Sounds like Depeche Mode without the heroin.
2. The Cinematics - Love and Terror
- They are gloomy Glaswegians giving Editors and White Lies a run for their money.
- This download-only single is a taster of their second album, out "sometime in the fall".
- Sounds like an improbable Duane Eddy/The Cure collaboration.
3. Jet - She's a Genius
- They are presumably a band on the run, being named after the Macca/Wings tune.
- This is the first single from the Melbourne quartet's third longplayer.
- Sounds like My Sharona's naughtier (and appearantly smarter) sister.
4. Pete Yorn - Paradise Cove
- He is New Jersey-born singer/songwriter, soon to release a duet album with Scarlett Johansson. Bastard.
- This is a summery gem from his fourth studio album, cleverly titled Back and Fourth.
- Sounds like Josh Rouse before his fatal move to Spain.
5. Kamera - Misfortune Strikes Again
- They are another proof of the "bands with names that begin with a K are kool"-theory.
- This is the catchy spearhead of the Swedes' third album, Blank Expressions.
- Sounds like they're gonna give The Cinematics a run for their money (wait a min...)
6. Idlewild - Younger Than America
- They are Scottish punksters-turned-songsmiths who self-released their 6th full-length, Post Electric Blues, this month.
- This is the album opener, showcasing their fascination for the US, musically and lyrically.
- Sound like a surefire hit from R.E.M.'s Green, played by better musicians.
7. Better Than Ezra - Turn Up the Bright Lights
- They are US rock veterans based in New Orleans.
- This is not a dark Interpol cover, but a rather uplifting track from their 7th album.
- Sounds like readymade for alt.rock radio stations.
8. The Duckworth Lewis Method - Flatten the Hay
- They are a baroque'n'roll supergroup comprised by devine comedian Neil Hannon and Thomas Walsh of Irish power-poppers Pugwash.
- This is off their self-titled debut, presumably the first-ever concept album about cricket.
- Sounds like post-Smile The Beach Boys, added English whimsy. Latter-day XTC, then.
9. Reverend & the Makers - Silence is Talking [Jagz Kooner Remix]
- They are political poet Jon McClure and his gang, soon out with their sophomore album.
- This is the first single from it, based round the famous horn theme from War's Low Rider.
- Sounds like a coked-up Tomorrow Never Knows with a mariachi touch (a song they actually interpolate when played as the opener of their current live set).
10. The Twang - Barney Rubble
- They are baggy Brummies heavily indebted to Madchester.
- This is the first single from their media-butchered second album, Jewellery Quarter.
- Sounds like they're really trying to do psychedelic scouse, but not quite getting it.
11. New Education - Another Miracle
- They are Stoke-on-Trent foursome specialising in soaring smalltown anthems.
- This is only their second single, hinting of big things to come for the lads.
- Sounds like the guitarist might own a Stone Roses record or two.

SUBS:
Engineers - Sometimes I Realise
Defend Moscow - Die Tonight
Mew - Repeaterbeater
Tiny Spark - For You the World Waits
The Proclaimers - Love Can Move Mountains

Another month, another 11 cracking tunes, this one sees the return of some of my personal faves from the 90's - and there's even a comeback from a certain 80's act that didn't allow us to forget about them.

1. Ash - Return of White Rabbit
- Something of a curveball from the Northern Irish power-popsters, with its choppy guitars and lurking electronics, this free download is stated as being a prequel to their series of 26 singles in 12 months project, kicking off in September.
2. The Morning After Girls - The General Public
- Putting Alan Moulder behind the mixing desk is clearly not the worst of ideas for a band that wants to sound like Ride meets BRMC, as showcased by the hypnotic title track from the expat Australians' new EP.
3. Jeremy Enigk - Restart
- Taken from his fourth solo album OK Bear, this jangly track sees the onetime Sunny Day Real Estate frontman in surpringly conventional, almost country&western mode.
4. Barcelona - The Takers
- Barcelona were indeed the takers of most football trophies this spring, a feat this song probably doesn't dwell to long on, concentrating instead on taking the grandiose piano-driven anthem to new heights. It's one of the new tracks recently added to the Seattle trio's reissued '07 release Absolutes, following their signing to the big league.
5. Placebo - For What It's Worth
- Brian Molko & co return with a new drummer and funky horns (!) on the groovy spearhead single from their sixth studio album, the critically favoured Battle for the Sun, released next week.
6. Lightning Seeds - Ghosts
- It's been a massive ten years since Ian Broudie put out an album under this moniker, but it only takes a matter of seconds to recognize the scouse pop perfection mastermind behind this bouncy track, tailor-made for summer slacking.
7. Simple Minds - Moscow Underground
8. Silent Film Project - Two Days
9. Kasabian - Underdog
- The Leicester lads will probably estrange more fans than they will attract new ones what with their third long-player West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum being as weird and trippy as the title suggests. The opening track were at least straight enough to feature in the new Sony Bravia TV ad alongside Brazilian footballer Kakà.
10. The Airlines - S.A.T.U.R.D.A.Y.
- LA foursome spell out everyone's favourite weekday on their debut EP.
11. Leaves - Aeronaut
- Being Icelandic and often leaning on the atmospheric and brooding, the Sigur Ròs comparisons are inevitable, but this bunch often come closer to Doves in their lighter moments, even when they bring out the brass.

SUBS:
The Answering Machine - Obviously Cold
The Von Bondies - Blame Game
Alessi's Ark - Over the Hill
You Me At Six - Finders Keepers
Superfamily - Let's Go Dancing