This week we have been mostly listening to...

You can't accuse us of being narrow in our tastes here at UtR. The first of our 'office stereo' blogs takes in a Springsteen cover, noisy post-rock, sweet girl-pop and star-gazing indie.

We may have our private little disagreements over which music to showcase, but this feature is an anything-goes platform where we'll all be talking individually about our favourite bands, must-hear tracks and guilty pleasures.

The question is, are you old enough to get the Fast Show reference in the headline? (Clue)


Beerjacket
'Dancing in the Dark'

MySpace / UtR profile

Having featured Beerjacket in an On The Radar article a few months back, I've kept an ear out for him ever since. It turns out Rolling Stone were rather excited about this track of his, which certainly got my attention. A Springsteen cover by a Scottish solo artist sounds a potentially hazardous combination, but by keeping it simple and letting the quality of the song shine through, Mr Beerjacket has created something wonderfully infectious.

Stevie Kearney


What The Blood Revealed
'The Corporation As We Know It Is Dead, Dead, Dead'

MySpace

Despite loving the band, I wasn't entirely convinced that What The Blood Revealed were the 'post-metal' act they labelled themselves. Post-rock with a bit of noise, maybe. Then I heard this riff-laden beast of a track.

It's got that slow lead up to a massive crescendo thing going on but with thumping bass and crashing drums and this monster guitar riff that just builds and builds. It's more Red Sparrowes or recent Pelican than Isis but that's no bad thing. Who knows, given time we might just see WTBR pop up on Southern Lord themselves.

Jodi Mullen


Pearl and the Puppets
'Because I Do'

MySpace

There's something alluring about a singing voice that sounds like Jodie Foster's accent - and all week I've found myself humming and bopping along on the subway to this catchy upbeat yet chilled out tune. The innocent sound of Pearl’s voice combined with the sweet yet meaningful lyrics make this my tune of the week, and I can’t stop myself from pressing the repeat button.

Clare Sinclair


Cancel the Astronauts
'Love Somebody'

MySpace / UtR profile

With noggin pounding and fingers twitching, my over-worked aches have this week been soothed by the sound of Cancel the Astronauts’ massaging jangles. Already regulars on our blog, the Edinburgh quartet effortlessly fashion out a soar-away pop opulence reminiscent of Gold Mother-era James. My chosen track, the synth riddled ‘Love Somebody’, finds the quartet at their most dextrous; initially passing off as a hand-holding melee of strum and percussion, this ebullient sheen soon fades away for a tragic tale of heartbroken rejection. Quite simply, magnificent.

Billy Hamilton


There Will Be Fireworks
'We Were A Roman Candle'

MySpace / UtR Profile

Proving that an appearance on STV's The Hour show need not spell career suicide, There Will Be Fireworks singer Nicky McManus told me after a recent gig that the band will soon be starting work on their second album. Personally I'm still not tiring of the self-titled debut, and just this morning their impassioned tones greatly improved my weary, rain-drenched walk to work. This song epitomises their boundless ambition, ranging from breathy atmospherics to cacophonous screaming.

Nick Mitchell

What have you been listening to this week? Tell us below...