7.50 And so, after a fallow year (actually, I was beyond the reach of even the European Broadcasting Union's powers of transnational transmission) it's the return of No Rock's Eurovision Liveblog. Back in 2007, I managed to upset someone from Norway (or wherever it was) because I failed to show enough respect to their between-tracks microfilms; given the fabulous intolerance of Muscovites - demonstrated by the crushing of today's gay pride march - I hope there's nothing in any way amusing about the telecast at all. This year's event is being shown in HD, which ...

# 8 May 2009 Time for another MAP edition. I've chosen the band Retro Stefson. www.myspace.com/retrostefson www.kimirecords.net The MAP Collective is also featured on the Spin Website: www.spinearth.tv/feature/MAP AMERICA: I Guess I'm Floating Lands & Peoples – Awake Baltimore-based Lands & Peoples seem to have a knack for hypnotherapy. With a commanding ethereal ambience and gorgeous catatonic tensions throughout, Awake is an eye-opener from start to finish. You'll ask, "How have I not heard of them?" and "I can't believe they aren't signed!" Well, believe it. There's an album in the works coming out later this year (perhaps self-released), but for now you can listen to more gems at their MySpace page. ARGENTINA: Zonaindie Les Mentettes Orchestra – Hold On Les Mentettes is a psychedelic pop band who just released a five-song EP with orchestral arrangements conducted by former Orquesta de Salón member Manuloop. It's a free release so if you like Hold On you can legally download the other tracks as well. They are currently playing this record live with a full orchestra in several venues around Buenos Aires. AUSTRALIA: Who The Bloody Hell Are They? Jonathan Boulet – A Community Service Announcement I only recently discovered the very talented Jonathan Boulet's music online, and upon hearing this song immediately purchased his album from iTunes. It is simply amazing that the 20-year-old produced and recorded everything himself in his garage. Big future for this guy. BRAZIL: Meio Desligado A Banda de Joseph Tourton – #3 A Banda de Joseph Tourton only have a few songs on the internet and released a digital EP last year, but they are already one of the most interesting of the new generation of alternative groups in Brazil. They create instrumental songs full of groove, emotion and originality, making the next step in mangue beat's (a musical movement from Brazil's northeast) history, going through post-rock, jazz and their regional culture influences. CANADA: I(Heart)Music Green Go – Brains For Breakfast For a year or two now, my friends in Toronto have been raving about Green Go to me and now that their debut album, Borders, is out, it's easy to see why. As songs like Brains For Breakfast show, the band create infectiously catchy pop with shouted group vocals and bouncy riffs that sound like they'd make for a big, sweaty blast of fun in concert. CHILE: Super 45 Mutrone – Bristol A mix of experimentation, psychedelia and improvisation are the foundation elements from which Mutrone build solid sound walls comprising samples, effects and a dynamic reminiscent of the machine-like structures of krautrock. With two albums, Oscillatore and Centinela, both released under a Creative Commons licence, the four guys in Mutrone have discovered an exciting way to bring the real sounds of the city into the machine. DENMARK: All Scandinavian Sinusstøv – Who Am I? The translation of their name is "Sinus Dust" but there's nothing at all dusty about Claus Pedersen and Søren Friis Dam's musical output. Who Am I? is lush, sweeping and crackling electro, showered in the melancholy Scandinavians have to live with and everybody else finds moving. Another grand testament to the incredibly healthy state of Danish electronica. ENGLAND: The Daily Growl Blue Roses – Doubtful Comforts Another month and I'm sticking with all thinks folky, although we're leaving London for Shipley in Yorkshire which is the home of Laura Groves. She has recently rebranded herself as Blue Roses and released an amazing self-titled album (on XL). Of all the young folky female artists I've enthused about here and on my blog, she's possibly the best. FINLAND: Glue Delay Trees – rgb(255, 0, 0);font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"> Zonaindie Les Mentettes Orchestra – Hold On Les Mentettes is a psychedelic pop band who just released a five-song EP with orchestral arrangements conducted by former Orquesta de Salón member Manuloop. It's a free release so if you like Hold On you can legally download the other tracks as well. They are ...

Find us a trap door, find us a plane Tell the survivors help is on the way I was a blindfold, never complained All the survivors singing in the rain I was the one with the world at my feet Goddess of battle, leave it up to me What it is and where it stops nobody knows You gave me a life I never chose   Metric - Blindness     I dedicate this to a certain Dr. Daniel F . I know you were only fictional, but you'll be missed!    *      The Streets once had a hit with a song called Let's Push ...

Guido - Orchestral Lab (Punch Drunk) Trust Punch Drunk to bring us music from Bristol's freshest underground talent. This one's a kinda throw-back sound from one of Joker's grimey mates. As the title suggests, it's brimming with big orchestral arrangements of an unselfconsciously synthetic variety, shot through with the kind of raw squarewave riffs I haven't heard since Grime's instrumental 'golden age' a few years back. The strongest comparison I can think of is DJ Oddz in his prime (before he found God) - cinematic and emotional. Flipside "U Make Me Feel" continues the theme but ...