Hidden Shoal artists continue to be featured in the end of the year best of lists and Seattle’s pop geniuses Hotels are no exception. The bands masterful sophomore 2009 release Where Hearts Go Broke was chosen by KEXP as one of their top 12 discoveries of 2009 in the NPR Best of 2009 music series.

Read the article here and then remind yourself why Where Hearts Go Broke is such a classic here.

Hotels – Hydra  Hotels – Hydra

Chris Harms, editor of Brisbane’s wonderful Rave Magazine, has given Mukaizake’s Unknown Knowns an honourable mention in his best of 2009 list. High praise indeed and of course well deserved! You’ll know that’s true rather than mere grandstanding if you’ve heard it. Also great to see Perth band Eleventh He Reaches London in Patrick Perriers list in the same edition.

You can check the latest edition of Rave here (PDF download).

Mukaizake – Frisbee  Mukaizake – Frisbee

The latest release from Stray Ghost, Each Paradise is a Lost Paradise, received a glowing review on [sic] Magazine. Have a read over at [sic], or read an excerpt in Stray Ghost’s reviews section.

This awesome EP is available in digital format from the Hidden Shoal Store.

Stray Ghost – La Belle Semaine Stray Ghost – La Belle Semaine

Excerpt: “‘La Belle Semaine‘ floats into view quite beautifully and progresses in this manner for several minutes, lacing light tones over a distant static backdrop before wavering frequencies take over reminding of a radio broadcast that just can’t quite reach it’s destination. A gorgeous and haunting opener. ‘A Revoir A La Belle Semaine‘ as the title may suggest is of the more mournful variety, moving at a funereal pace like church bells ringing in slow motion. Which leaves closing number ‘Réminiscences Et Rêves De Beauté‘ (Reminiscence And Dreams Of Beauty) to aptly follow its title, using the sort of stirring, slow shifting melodies that underpin the music from the likes of Stars of the Lid, The Dead Texan et al. A surprising recording from Stray Ghost, but one that proves this youngster can do almost anything.”

[sic] magazine