Rodrigo Campos at Music Alliance Pact

Click the play button icon to listen to individual songs, right-click on the song title to download an mp3, or grab a zip file of the full 18-track compilation through Dropbox here.

ARGENTINA: Zonaindie
Fabiana Cantilo y Fer Isella - Viernes 3 AM
In 2009 the Argentine goverment published several declassified official documents produced during the dictatorships that ruled the country from 1962-1982. One of these documents is titled "Songs whose lyrics are considered not fit to be played by broadcast services" and it includes compositions by all kinds of Argentine and foreign artists. Canciones Prohibidas is a compilation with 16 versions of these censured songs. For MAP we selected Viernes 3 AM, originally by Argentine rock living legend Charly Garcia, here recorded by (also legendary singer) Fabiana Cantilo on vocals and producer Fer Isella on piano.

AUSTRALIA: Who The Bloody Hell Are They?
Fresh Kills - The People
At The Drive-In is the first association any rock connoisseur will make with this 90-second post-punk melodrama. It's all energy and emotion without the slightest hint of pretension. The song is chaotic and at times confusing without a single comprehensible lyric (go on, try to figure out what the hell they're saying) but that's exactly the charm of this south Australian band.

BRASIL: Meio Desligado
Rodrigo Campos - Katsumi
Rodrigo Campos, a prolific name in São Paulo's contemporary music scene, has just released his third solo album, Conversas Com Toshiro, which is influenced by Japanese culture. "Katsumi" is a good opening gate to his work.

CANADA: Ride The Tempo
Harrison - Sorry
Toronto producer Harrison beeps and blips his way into a sweet apology with his latest track, Sorry.

CHILE: Super 45
Breaking Forms - Folie A Deux
Breaking Forms is a duo formed by Nicole L'Huillier and Juan Necochea. Although they currently live in the United States, their journey began in Chile under the wings of two emblematic bands, Cóndor Jet and Picnic Kibun. While in the first one, L'Huillier developed a penchant for psychedelia and post-rock; in Picnic Kibun, Necochea explored the multiple facets of dance music. Breaking Forms is, in its own way, the meeting point for both genres. Proof of this is their first single Folie A Deux, a power-pop song spiced up by electronic sequences and noisy synths.

COLOMBIA: El Parlante Amarillo
Electric Sasquatch - Hunting Season
The legend of Bigfoot, or Sasquatch, acts as inspiration for this stoner rock band from Cali. They feed on forest myths, adding elements of theater and visuals to their presentations. From their brilliant self-titled album, whose CD version comes in a beautiful wooden box, we present Hunting Season, in which the Sasquatchs show us a more violent and dehumanized side.

DENMARK: All Scandinavian
Slaughter Beach - ClearInsight
Slaughter Beach are very much a Scandinavian proposition. Hailing from Denmark, they played their debut concert in Gothenburg, Sweden and are signed to Norwegian label Brilliance. MAP exclusive download ClearInsight is taken from their debut EP, Love/Venice, released this month.

ECUADOR: Plan Arteria
Radio Invasor - Magnolia
Radio Invasor is an electronic project blending digital sounds with organic elements of rock, funk, dub and hip hop. From their first EP, released this September, we present Magnolia. It's an epic, experimental track that offers a taste of Radio Invasor's potential.

INDONESIA: Deathrockstar
Littlelute - Berlibur Ke Poznan
Littlelute is an indie-pop outfit from Bandung. Their ukulele player recently visited Poznan and the beauty of the Polish city inspired him to write this cute pop composition (see video).

IRELAND: Hendicott Writing
Owensie - Dramamine
After more than three years tucked away from the eyes of the Irish music scene, dream-pop artist Owensie returns with Dramamine, a trippy ode to a motion sickness drug. The track features Conor O'Brien of Villagers and comes ahead of a third album of the same title that's seemed an extremely long time in the making. One for watching the world drift by outside your window.

ITALY: Polaroid
Port-Royal - Death Of A Manifesto
Port-Royal is a trio from Genova that fuses elements of ambient techno, shoegaze, melodic IDM and post-rock into a dreamy, evocative sound. Active since 2001, they have toured Europe and the United States, and released several records, compilations and remixes. Where Are You Now is their fourth proper album, out on Oakland-based label n5MD. Port-Royal are expanding their palette, and the gorgeous Death Of A Manifesto is one of their more pop-oriented compositions.

JAPAN: Make Believe Melodies
Boogie Idol - Seiteki Na Mimi
The recently released Schau Essen 2 compilation features many talented artists who pull from the glitzy sounds of 1980s Japan, when the economy was roaring and decadence dominated. Producer Boogie Idol offers up one of the best contributions to that set, a shimmering number full of bright synths, sticky bass lines and a slightly uncomfortable growling noise lurking beneath it all.

MALTA: Stagedive Malta
Juno And The Wolf - Dambrose
Born out of the merging of different projects in late 2011, Juno And The Wolf is the culmination of the myriad of influences that inspire its four members - James Azzopardi, Kristian Schembri, Samwel Mallia and Corey Farrugia. The band have developed an experimental ethos, an aim to create a duality with emotion and sound, flowing from heavy, raw numbers to quieter, more introspective ones rather than simply settling for one set genre. Their debut home-recorded self-titled EP was released in September 2014.

MEXICO: RBMA Radio Panamérika
El Muertho TJ - Malandro
El Muertho - a street musician playing romantic delusions with only a Yamaha keyboard, wearing black robes and Kiss wannabe make-up - has emerged from the Tijuana slums to raise a few eyebrows among critics and audiences. But, hey, the best works come from outsiders: Syd Barrett, Daniel Johnston, Tom Waits... add in a little bit of Suicide industrial tremolo and you'll get the perfect treat for Halloween or the Mexican Day of the Dead.

PERU: SoTB
Nave Ascensor - Ciudad Reacción
Ciudad Reacción is the first single from Nave Ascensor's debut album, Hartistas. The Lima trio come with a strong proposal - listen as they rail against the system through rock songs loaded with critical social and visual exercises to help you free your mind.

PORTUGAL: Posso Ouvir Um Disco?
Benjamim - Tarrafal
Benjamim is an artist formerly known as Walter Benjamin, who had a song on the Music Alliance Pact's April 2012 edition. Tarrafal is a single from his new album, Auto-Rádio, which has won over the Portuguese public and critics. In contrast to his previous guise, Benjamim opts for Portuguese lyrics instead of English. The music continues to be sophisticated pop that will get your feet tapping. Belle & Sebastian fans will love him.

SCOTLAND: The Pop Cop
JR Green - Nigerian Princess
With a modern spin on traditional folk music (accordion and mandolin feature heavily) and a healthy dose of lyrical intrigue, JR Green sound like the happy marriage of Frightened Rabbit and King Creosote. Made up of young brothers Jacob and Rory Green, their debut EP, Bring The Witch Doctor, is being released by Hits The Fan Records - the same label that released Frightened Rabbit's first album. Sign up to JR Green's mailing list for updates and freebies.

SOUTH KOREA: Indieful ROK
Silica Gel - Hrm
Silica Gel is most definitely a band to look out for. They describe their music as neo-psychedelic, experimental, progressive, dream and shoegaze - and they manage to deliver on all counts. A great track to dream away to, Hrm starts out plainly with just a simple guitar loop and some toned-down drums, gradually adds more and more to the mix, before unleashing total bliss a few minutes in.

Pequeno Céu at August's Music Alliance Pact

Click the play button icon to listen to individual songs, right-click on the song title to download an mp3, or grab a zip file of the full 17-track compilation through Dropbox here.

 ARGENTINA: Zonaindie
Julieta y Los Espíritus - El Látigo (Modex remix)
This is a song from the new project of Julieta Brotsky (aka July Sky). It's not the original version from the album, but a great remix released a couple of weeks ago by post-punk band Modex. Julieta's beautiful voice can also be heard on several tracks by indie-pop band Entre Ríos, and in Varias Artistas, the female ensemble put together by singer-songwriter Lucas Marti.

 AUSTRALIA: Who The Bloody Hell Are They?
These Guy - Coming Around
Brisbane trio These Guy was originally the solo project of singer and multi-instrumentalist Joe Saxby. Latest track Coming Around combines the lofty vocals and downer lyrics of Saxby's earlier work. Along with buoyant pop production, the result is a track that's interesting at every turn. The absence of any kind of rhythm guitar leaves Saxby's vocals and synth-fiddling to carry the melodic weight of the track. Coming Around is a testament to Saxby's ear for off-kilter production and hopefully points to a more experimental/avant-pop future for These Guy.



 BRASIL: Meio Desligado
Pequeno Céu - Quatro
Post-rock six-piece Pequeno Céu started as a solo project some years ago before releasing their first album as a band in 2014. Pequeno Céu differs from other math/post-rock ensembles because of the Brazilian influences and simplicity of their short instrumental songs, such as Quatro. For fans of BADBADNOTGOOD, Hurtmold and Tortoise.

 CANADA: Ride The Tempo
Mauno - Reeling
Experimental shapeshifters Mauno (pronounced mao-no) reel you in with their off-kilter pop tunes. The Halifax group is unafraid to test you with their strange sounds.

 CHILE: Super 45
AYEAYE - A Medianoche Me Llevaré Tu Alma
After the dissolution of the duo Mostro, and following the many collaborations with Chilean/German DJ Matias Aguayo, the producer and illustrator Carlos Reinoso decided to embark on AYEAYE, a project influenced by dance music as rhythmic experimentation. A Medianoche Me Llevaré Tu Alma ("At Midnight I Will Take Your Soul) is his first single.

 COLOMBIA: El Parlante Amarillo
Danicattack - Perdónate
A feeling of being home defines Danicattack. This Bogota quintet, led by Daniel Lopez, is always exploring new ideas through lyrics and sounds. Their song Perdónate recalls a world of dreams intermingled with the material reality of bodies, as we can see it in the video.

 DENMARK: All Scandinavian
ONBC - White Trash
Risen from the ashes of Oliver North Boy Choir and comprising members who have been and still are part of Superheroes, Private, The Boombox Hearts and epo-555, ONBC released their dreamy and melancholic indie-pop debut Crash, Burn & Cry back in May. Here's first single White Trash as a MAP exclusive download.

 ECUADOR: Plan Arteria
Pastizales - La Casa y La Nada
Pastizales is the solo project of Bernardo Arevalo, who brings us a refreshing lo-fi folk sound. From his debut six-track EP we proudly present La Casa y La Nada, a single that takes the listener into a deeply relaxing, wonderful environment.

 INDONESIA: Deathrockstar
Sajama Cut - Fatamorgana
Fatamorgana is taken from Hobgoblin, the latest album by Jakarta indie-rock outfit Sajama Cut. This song is for every father who never gives up raising their kids with love and compassion in the big city of evil.

 IRELAND: Hendicott Writing
Bitch Falcon - TMJ
TMJ is the third single from highly-rated, grungy Dublin trio Bitch Falcon, who are taking the Irish capital's sticky-floored corners by storm. Named after the temporomandibular joint (which joins the jaw to the rest of the skull), it's poppy and melodic by this particular act's standards, but nevertheless appropriately face-melting. One to pump up the bass on and let their rhythms pummel the base of your soles. Bitch Falcon are one of the most promising rock acts that Ireland has produced this decade.

 JAPAN: Make Believe Melodies
Clone - Follow Me
The bulk of Follow Me, from Tokyo bedroom track maker Clone, draws sounds from the Nintendo video game Pikmin. The plant people players guide around to collect treasure are the primary source, the sound of them being thrown and generally squeaking being the go-to for Clone. Yet this is not merely a bit of video game nostalgia, as Clone constructs it all into a fast-paced dance number that blooms into something quite madcap.

 MALTA: Stagedive Malta
Xtruppaw - Iċ-Ċawl Iċul
Five-piece Xtruppaw play a concoction of styles such as punk-rock, ska, 80s metal, 70s disco, Maltese ghana and country and western. The truly distinguishing feature of the band's music is the lyrics. Xtruppaw songs are all, without exception, sung in Maltese about the Maltese lifestyle, zooming into the raw and crude perspective of the mundane, pointing out the absurdities that we all take for granted with a tongue-in-cheek and often irreverent approach. Xtruppaw have recorded and released two full-length albums to date.

 MEXICO: RBMA Radio Panamérika
Turning Torso - Up
Through his landscapist and often acidic compositions, David Sánchez - a young artist from Querétaro creating clever, stirring electronic music under the Turning Torso moniker - is capable of exploring and transmitting a wide variety of complex emotions with his superbly arranged productions. On Up, Turning Torso densely weaves an uplifting yet murky atmosphere whose shape acquires a crooked appearance as the piece progresses. Throwing in some IDM beats that bring to mind the textures of Autechre and his characteristic jazz guitar work which serves as a sort of guide in the middle of the track, Sánchez manifests a robust framework nurtured by a vast intellect.

 PERU: SoTB
Diorama - Travelling
Diorama is a Lima-based instrumental rock band. They released their first EP in 2013, which was met with critical acclaim. Travelling is a song filled with moments of beauty and elegance.

 PORTUGAL: Posso Ouvir Um Disco?
Joana Barra Vaz - Tanto Faz
Tanto Faz is the first single from the new Joana Barra Vaz album, Mergulho Em Loba, due out later this year. Mergulho Em Loba is part of a trilogy started in 2012 with Passeio Pelo Trilho. Joana's music will please fans of the kind of indie-pop started by Leslie Feist.

 SCOTLAND: The Pop Cop
The Insomniac Project - In And Out (Of My Head)
This debut single by The Insomniac Project wears its 80s disco influences loud and proud and has all the ingredients of a synth-pop dancefloor classic. With the Glasgow six-piece having teased with a few SoundCloud demo uploads over the past year, it's a privilege to offer In And Out (Of My Head) exclusively via the Music Alliance Pact ahead of its official release on August 31.

  SOUTH KOREA: Indieful ROK
Floating Island - Parade
Electronica quartet Floating Island released third single Parade this month. The festive pop number is produced by Floating Island member Flash Flood Darlings (our March 2015 MAP artist) together with main songwriter NoohNooh.

Castello Branco represents Brasil in December's Music Alliance Pact

Click the play button icon to listen to individual songs, right-click on the song title to download an mp3, or grab a zip file of the full 27-track compilation through Ge.tt here. 

 ARGENTINA: Zonaindie 

Cam Beszkin - Cucharita De Manual 

We came across Cam Beszkin's music when she was a member of Las Bailarinas Anarquistas, Mariana Bianchini's solo band. This song is from Cam's sophomore album Este Amor Ya No Es Para Tanto, in which her potent vocals adds up to a solid guitar and drum rock duet. 

 AUSTRALIA: Who The Bloody Hell Are They? 

House Of Laurence - Just Don't Move Me 

Let's be real - if the industry was a caste system, psychedelic/prog music would sit on the lower rung. Thankfully, we don't fear throwback in this country. We embrace it with open arms and wild, flailing John the Baptist hair. Just Don't Move Me is the brand new track from Melbourne band House Of Laurence. If the image of Tame Impala's Kevin Parker in a white pressed suit, struttin' (barefoot) down the Fremantle boardwalk makes your insides feel like goo then this is dedicated to you. 

 AUSTRIA: Walzerkönig 

Hella Comet - Tinker Boat 

The post-punk sound of four-piece Hella Comet calls for Sonic Youth comparisons, although their freshly-released second album Wild Honey, from which Tinker Boat is taken, is not afraid of pop either. Hella Comet were selected as one of 18 bands to represent this year's focus country Austria at Europe's most important music festival/conference Eurosonic. 

 BRAZIL: Meio Desligado 

Castello Branco - Necessidade 

Necessidade is taken from Castello Branco's first album Serviço. It's typical of the easygoing feeling he generates to make songs that speak directly to our souls. 

 CANADA: Quick Before It Melts 

Rebekah Higgs - Loneliness 

Rebekah Higgs' new release Sha La La is shot through with the spirit of 60s girl groups minus the innocence and politeness of those times. Higgs gets down and dirty climbing Phil Spector's Wall of Sound. She throws classic doo-wop pop down an echo chamber and what comes out the other end is a gauzy, hazy doo-wop/drone-rock hybrid that's utterly compelling. Loneliness has never sounded better.

 CHILE: Super 45 

Ali B & The Mayan Warrior - World Class Bouncing 

Ali B is the latest winner of Nuevos Sonidos, a demo contest Super 45 has hosted since 1997. She is a rapper who sings in three languages and mixes rhythms from all over the world. Her songs are homemade, built around an MPC and samples taken directly from vinyl. The jury of Super 45 was mesmerized by her infectious flow. Past winners of the Nuevos Sonidos contest include Gepe, Protistas and Fernando Milagros.

 COLOMBIA: El Parlante Amarillo 

Laura y La Máquina De Escribir - Laberinto 

La Máquina De Escribir ("The Typewriter") is the project of Laura Torres, who has been involved in the world of music for more than two decades (since she was a little girl, obviously). From her piano, she recreates a world that reflects her feelings, which are evident in Laberinto, the track that gives its name to her 2013 album. 

 DENMARK: All Scandinavian 

Sylvester Larsen - The End Of Dancing 

In October, Sylvester Larsen released his fifth album (his second in English) The End Of Dancing, and here's a MAP exclusive download of its great title track, which is reminiscent of soul and funk giants Stevie Wonder and Sly Stone. Also, check out the video for first single and album opener Stand Up. 

 DOMINICAN REPUBLIC: La Casetera 

Whitest Taino Alive - Piel De Leather 

We've chosen the newest sensation of Santo Domingo, just to see how the rest of the world reacts to its message. That is, if you can handle it. Full of non sequiturs only true Dominicans understand (or so we think), Whitest Taino Alive emerges as a futuristic hip-hop act that combines trap, trill, minimal electronic and naughtiness. Their debut EP Chopería Fina is out now and available for free. 

 ECUADOR: Plan Arteria 

Ricardo Pita - Canción Para El Resto De Los Días 

Modern, hopeful and nostalgic bohemianism - that sums up the single Canción Para El Resto De Los Días by Ricardo Pita, a songwriter born in the heart of Guayaquil's independent music scene. A musician with a great album and a promising career, Ricardo Pita is a must-listen if you want a vision of contemporary Latin folk music. 

 ENGLAND: Drowned In Sound 

Lanterns On The Lake - Green And Gold (Generator Session) 

From Sting and Prefab Sprout to Maxïmo Park and The Futureheads, the north-east of England has built a reputation for excellence, but it's rare to uncover an act there, or anywhere, that's as precious and heart-kickingly gorgeous as Lanterns On The Lake. They have elements of post-rock which make their tear-duct bothering sadness soar - not unlike the way Low construct epic melancholy. Their second album was recently released by Bella Union and it's gorgeous. Watch the video of this live session track here. 

 FINLAND: Glue 

Robin Pahlman - Ghosts 

After relocating to Vienna via Seattle, Finnish songwriter Robin Pahlman has been working on a series of heartfelt acoustic folk home recordings that form his debut self-titled EP, recently released via Berlin-based label Monkey Records. Here is the inspiring single Ghosts. 

 GREECE: Mouxlaloulouda 

The Callas - East Beat 

Noisepop minimalism, raw garage melodies and kraut psychedelic elements meet to create the kaleidoscopic universe of The Callas' album Am I Vertical? The group mix their experimental art and film background with an addiction to pop tunes to present a witty, truly impressive record that balances darkness and light, innocence and sin, joy and lust. 

 INDONESIA: Deathrockstar 

Andrew Naratama - Putar Haluanmu 

Putar Haluanmu is a retrospective song about memories and all the beautiful moments the singer had during his childhood with friends. Andrew Naratama is also a member of KarnaTra, a rock band from Jakarta. 

 ITALY: Polaroid 

Tempelhof - Change 

There's no easy way to describe electronic music, especially when the sound explores multiple paths and you are constantly finding yourself in new territory. Tempelhof is an electronic duo from the town of Mantova and I think they are true explorers more than simple musicians. IDM, shoegaze, house, ambient - everything comes to build the striking sound that you will find in their new album Frozen Dancers, out now on Hell Yeah Recordings. 

 JAPAN: Make Believe Melodies 

Coffee And TV - Guess What? Summer's Arrived 

It is one of the most factually incorrect song titles of the month, but Tokyo producer Coffee And TV conjures up the warm vibes of the summer on this track. He does so simply. With little manipulation, he finds a snippet of Hey Manhattan! by Prefab Sprout, loops it and milks it for all it's worth. From this basic sonic material he manages to make an easy breezy song that's good for any time of the year. 

 MEXICO: Red Bull Panamérika 

Chico Sonido - Niñas Fresas feat. Camila Sodi 

Los Angeles-based Mexican producer Chico Sonido has just released his debut album Nalga Bass, which is quite a gamechanger for electropical music. In a market overcrowded with underdeveloped SoundCloud tracks, Chico delivers a coherently mixed record that transmutes and pushes forward genres such as nu-cumbia, trap, tribal and reggaeton, with a twist of humour and naughtiness. They're good for headphones (and twerking too!). 

 PERU: SoTB 

Daniel & The Dead End - My Valentine 

Daniel & The Dead End is the new project of Daniel Ruiz, the former Space Bee drummer. Having been abandoned by his band before recording, disillusioned and ready to rock, Daniel decided to do all the work himself, giving life to the first EP. 

 POLAND: Łukasz Kuśmierz Weblog 

Armando Suzette - Advent Mists 

Armando Suzette is a Kraków-based band led by Mateusz Tondera. Their music, which combines a variety of genres and influences, is something unique in Poland and it's impossible to describe it in one word. If you feel lost, Advent Mists is for you. As they sing: "Hope you have a real Christmas this time." 

 PORTUGAL: Posso Ouvir Um Disco? 

The Weatherman feat. Emmy Curl - It Took Me So Long 

Alexandre Monteiro's The Weatherman project has a new version of the single It Took Me So Long, taken from the latest album which will be released in Holland and Belgium in January. Emmy Curl, who was featured in the November 2010 edition of MAP, was invited to sing with Alexandre in the newer version of this track. Once again Alexandre confirms his high credentials as a composer, singer and creator of great pop songs. Mariana Lopes directed this great video. 

 PUERTO RICO: Puerto Rico Indie 

Buscabulla - Tu Loco Loco Y Yo Tranquilo 

Buscabulla is one of Puerto Rico's most promising emerging acts, a breath of fresh air in a musical climate that often struggles to bridge pop smarts with heartfelt and engaging music. Singer Raquel Berríos and her band conjure an intoxicating mix of classic cool with more forward-thinking flourishes on the group's first single Tu Loco Loco Y Yo Tranquilo, a cover of master composer Tite Curet Alonso's song made popular in 1969 by salsa legends Roberto Roena y Su Apollo Sound. Buscabulla's debut EP is due in 2014 - it's going to be a good year. 

 ROMANIA: Babylon Noise 

After What - Who 

After What is the side-project of the frontmen of two Romanian indie bands, The Amsterdams and The MOOod, both of whose influences are apparent - the music inherits the creativity of the former and the energy of the latter. 

 SCOTLAND: The Pop Cop 

Medals - Disguises 

JP Reid is a familiar name in rock circles through his band Sucioperro as well as Marmaduke Duke, the side-project he shares with Biffy Clyro frontman Simon Neil. JP Reid's new venture Medals, however, is arguably his most appealing. Debut album Disguises is an honest, pop-focused body of work and its title track stands out as a refreshingly unapologetic crowd-pleaser that you'll likely play again and again.  

 SOUTH KOREA: Korean Indie 

Glen Check - Pacific 

Glen Check have been around since 2011 and already made quite a name for themselves at home. With a fanbase growing abroad, the duo is taking their rock and electronica sound to SXSW in 2014. The infectious electro-pop tune Pacific is the lead track off the band's recently-released second album Youth! 

 SPAIN: Musikorner 

Tiger Menja Zebra - Com Començar Una Guerra 

Tiger Menja Zebra was born from the ashes of Camping, a Catalan post-rock band that achieved great success in the past decade. With this new project, while sticking to the post-rock genre, they haven't given up on pushing their boundaries. 

 UNITED STATES: We Listen For You 

Está Vivo - How Strange feat. Steffaloo 

Está Vivo perfectly titled his newest offering, How Strange. It certainly is strange, yet extremely alluring due to a fascinating mixture of robot-esque male vocals and whimsical female vocals that take turns floating above churning electronics. Let the track simmer and it will certainly take hold as one of the more hypnotic listens of the year. 

 VENEZUELA: Música y Más 

Aspen - Ahora Ya 

Aspen developed from the creative union between members of different bands. Influenced by the classic sound of British artists such as Badfinger and Oasis, their debut single boasts a slight psychedelic tinge. Aspen are one of the first bands on the roster of Macca Records, who also represent Los Paranoias.