Crackout - Oh No!

The second album from British band Crackout. They split up soon after. It's an interesting mix of rock with jazz influences and a vocalist you either love or hate.

Vex Red - Start With a Strong and Persistent Desire

Vex Red split in 2002 to form some three different bands like Septembre, Scenes, or hooking up with Malpractice, Killing Joke or the likes of Mark Chapman from A. Although they let slip plans for a reunion, they also said it was probably not going to happen. This record is probably the only thing they have and will ever release.

Firebrand Boy - Songs for Cake

I didn't realise until the last track that these guys were Scottish, and it got me all excited. They're the first Scottish 8-bit I've heard, and maybe even the first British release I've downloaded from 8bitpeoples. The Scottish accent can be very nice when it sings, as can be heard in a lot of songs by Biffy Clyro or Sucioperro.



You can get the album here, or check out their MySpace. They're also currently touring with Anamanaguchi, my favourite chiptune band.

Yourcodenameis:Milo - All Roads to Fault

This album wasn't the first I heard of YCNI:M, but it has a few songs on it that became favourites with fans. It's a spectacle I can almost guarantee you will never see, but when they played All Roads to Fault live they would slow it down so far that they stopped, and the crowd thought it was over. A brilliant short album from a brilliant dead band.

Death From Above 1979 - Heads Up EP

These guys split back in 2006 over, by the sounds of it, serious arguments. While they were live and kicking, they carved a niche for themselves as lively, grungy dance punk. This EP is noticeably more raw than their later album You're a Woman, I'm a Machine.

Rival Schools United by onelinedrawing

Just today I spotted a copy of this split EP from New York post-hardcore group Rival Schools, and onelinedrawing- solo project of Jonah Matranga. Despite the band not being active for nearly five years, they will be playing various festivals in 2008. New songs are appearing, so it looks like they might be back with another album sometime soon.

Rebus - The Red EP

Another band from Small Town America. From their online presences it's very hard to tell whether they're still active. Aside from compilations, this is one of two single releases.