The Sifting Pan

Helping you find those Indie Gems!

Tag Archives: Indie Rock


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Dappled Cities – [Run With The Wind]

Dappled Cities

The Australian experimental indie rockers, known as Dappled Cites, are back from hibernation

Dappled Cities – Run With The Wind:

Download Run With The Wind Here (Directly from the band’s Facebook Page)

Almost three painstakingly long years now. That’s how long I have been waiting so patiently for a follow up to Dappled Cities 2009 absolutely astonishing art rock/epic indie pop album Zounds. Now it seems as though my prayers have been answered and the knowledge of a new Dappled Cities album has been bestowed upon me. And not just new album knowledge but a full fledged single has surfaced so my level of excitement is quickly reaching critical mass! Run With The Wind is set to be the first single off the forthcoming album, currently only known as LP 4, and gives us some huge insight as to what to expect this time around. You can still hear the same rich multiple layers of progressive sounds that made Zounds so impressive, and from first listen of Run With The Wind it seems the band is willing to experiment even more with artful distortions and purposeful delays. Those signature falsetto vocals one can so easily match with Dappled Cities have found themselves incorporated once again along side finally crafted lyrics of methodological metaphoric madness. I have never been more ready for a new Dappled Cities album in my life and I eagerly await official news of a release date. Expect to hear more about these guys from me in the near future.

You should show some support and head over to Dappled Cities’ Facebook Page and give them a Like!

Or listen to Dappled Cities on Spotify!


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The Royal Concept – [Gimme Twice]

The Concept

The Royal Concept bring us their pop fueled indie rock from Stockholm, Sweden

The Royal Concept – Gimme Twice: 

I can understand someone’s immediate confusion when listening to this track for the first time. I know the first thought that popped in my head was ‘Is that Phoenix I am hearing?’ I wouldn’t necessarily call it a disappointment to find out that real artist behind this gnarly jam are the soon to pop Swedish indie rockers, The Royal Concept. Detta är indierock på det finaste! The pop infused simplicity and wonderful execution of Gimme Twice gives great reason to have your eyes (and ears!) on this band. The only thing disappointing I find about this band is the overall lack of material. This song is such a tease in the sense it leaves me wanting a full album to hit the up the beach side with and jam out to. While there is no news of a debut album yet, The Royal Concept have at least released one other single for our listening pleasure. I highly recommend checking out their additional track D-D-Dance, which keeps the fun going by picking up right where Gimme Twice leaves off.

Don’t forget to check out The Royal Concept’s Facebook page and give them a Like! You’ll  definitely want to be in the know for when these guys release some new tracks.


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Fort Wilson Riot – [For All The Little Things]

Fort Wilson Riot

Fort Wilson Riot are the Minneapolis-based duo of Amy Hager and Jacob Mullis

Fort Wilson Riot – For All The Little Things:

There is just something special about a boy/girl indie duo that bring together their strong suits to form something much more. Fort Wilson Riot seemingly capture both the tender and firm sides of the indie genre into one streamline sound that holds much stronger then if either member stood alone. The pair are like “peanut butter and jelly” or “macaroni and cheese”, it’s as simple as that. Everything about For All The Little Things is in perfect sync and exemplifies the talent of this promising indie rock partnership. What starts as a simple melodic stroll ends in a complex combination of vocal layering and amazing guitar breaks that run it all the way home. I seriously could listen to only the last two minutes of this song on repeat for hours and be pleased. The track was released off the band’s latest EP Generation Complex back in early December of last year, but that doesn’t stop this track from being a breath of fresh air in 2012. Right now I’m looking forward to dissecting all of Generation Complex as I await news of a future LP album from Fort Wilson Riot.

Head over to Fort Wilson Riot’s Facebook page and give them a Like! Show your support to a band that’s as independent as it gets.


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Top 10 Albums of 2011! #1 A Different Kind of Fix

Bombay Bicycle Club offer us A Different Kind of Fix. I can't seem to get enough.

 Words simply can not describe how much I enjoy A Different Kind of Fix. So I’ll just let the highlights of my favorite album of 2011 do all the talking. 

“How Can You Swallow So Much Sleep” – Bombay Bicycle Club

“Bad Timing” – Bombay Bicycle Club

“Lights Out, Words Gone” – Bombay Bicycle Club

“Shuffle” – Bombay Bicycle Club

Bombay Bicycle Club - A Different Kind of Fix (click image to buy album)

  1. “How Can You Swallow So Much Sleep”* 3:30
  2. “Bad Timing”* 3:34
  3. “Your Eyes”* 5:21
  4. “Lights Out, Words Gone”* 5:01
  5. “Take The Right One” 3:36
  6. “Shuffle”* 3:54
  7. “Beggars”* 4:12
  8. “Leave It”* 3:54
  9. “Fracture” 4:04
  10. “What You Want”* 4:20
  11. “Favourite Day”* 4:57
  12. “Still” 4:25
  13. “Beg (Bonus track)* 3:52
Notable Tracks*

Open and listen to Bombay Bicycle Club’s A Different Kind Of Fix in Spotify


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Top 10 Albums of 2011! #3 Torches

Foster The People have set the alternative/indie rock scene ablaze with their infectious album Torches.

Foster The People more then deserve all the praise they have receive this year. It would be criminal if a band with this much talent had gone completely unnoticed. That being said I think we can all agree we’ve heard Pumped Up Kicks one too many times this year. Like chocolate and fine wine, too much of a good thing can really be a bad thing. This is where the band’s debut album Torches comes into play. You can listen to the same rhythmical and catchy indie rock you’ve known (and at one point loved) from Pumped Up Kicks in a wider variety of doses. First track in and we’ve already come across another instant favorite, Helena Beat. You thought you liked singing about running from guns? Just wait till your trying to stop your self from singing about be strapped to a chair all the while wanting to dance along to the h-e-l-e-n-a beat. Foster The People are just beyond anything I’ve come across in a while when it comes to their use of pop elements and dance hooks that sink their teeth into our brains. They can break down barriers and pierce the ears and hearts of those who listen to other genres besides indie rock. Torches may not be me top album of 2011 but I would say being my number 3 album of the year is pretty high up there when one thinks about all the other damn good music 2011 produced.

“Helena Beat” – Foster The People

“Houdini” – Foster The People

“Pumped Up Kicks” – Foster The People

Foster The People - Torches (click image to buy album)

  1. “Helena Beat”* 4:36
  2. “Pumped Up Kicks“* 4:00
  3. “Call It What You Want“* 4:01
  4. “Don’t Stop (Color on the Walls)“* 2:56
  5. “Waste“* 3:26
  6. “I Would Do Anything for You“* 3:35
  7. “Houdini”*  3:23
  8. “Life on the Nickel“*  3:36
  9. “Miss You“*  3:36
  10. “Warrant“*  5:23
*Notable Tracks (All of them.)

Open and listen to Foster The People’s Torches in Spotify