SINGLE: THE MOJO FINS•
Owning My Condition (Amazon)
The press release that arrives with this single makes pointed references to the Fins’ distancing from haircut-and-swagger-based fame seeking. It’s worth repeating here; you won’t see a load of self-important blogs falling over themselves to hitch this band to some nascent yet nondescript scene. It’s indie pop music, simple as that, delivered with no side, no contrived edge and no artifice. The Fins wisely eschew those angles, concentrating instead on well-played, solid tunes, crisp production and keeping their eye on an altogether bigger and more mainstream prize. (NC)

ALBUM: QUANTIC
The Best of Quantic (Tru Thoughts •)
It was a decade or so ago that we first picked up Quantic’s ‘The 5th Exotic’ debut, a spliffy, trip hoppy classic that endures late night listens to this day. Since then we’ve been spoiled with regular new guises from the producer as he’s travelled the world from the UK to Colombia, From the solid funk authenticity of his Soul Orchestra to dub reggae via Flowering Inferno, all are represented on this two-disc career round-up, as well as loads we’d never heard before from an incredible 12-album body of work packed with soul and energy. (NC)

SINGLE: VARIOUS
OIB Split Series 5 (One Inch Badge •)
‘Goodbye Parthenon’, the swansong from Casiotone For The Painfully Alone, is as good a reason as you need to get this latest One Inch Badge 7′ sampler – the moniker’s being retired with this Pet Shop Boys-on-ASBO slice of lo-fi brilliance. Why? are up next with ‘Close To Me’, yes, a Cure cover whose brilliantly dreamy half-speed drone might actually just surpass the original. Future Islands’ ‘New Face’ is decent enough pop rock, and Nullifier’s ‘Quesht’ is a captivating mix of grunge and synth pop. All in all, the best yet in the series. (NC)

BOOK: We Are Lucky • (wearelucky.tumblr.com)
Matt Martin – curating his first book here – has been a huge influence on the Brighton photography scene since rocking up a year or so ago. Now a part of the Garage Studios crew, his compact camera-based ‘life first, photography later’ style means that he’s able to snap from within his crazy, drunken adventures and make you feel part of it all. That’s echoed by his contributors here, including Milo Belgrove from last month’s art page. All Matt’s obsessions are represented – punk, pretty girls, parties, skating, bikes, stupid behaviour – and the whole thing is an absolute blast. (JK)

ALBUM: WE WERE PROMISED JETPACKS
In The Pit Of The Stomach (FatCat •)
Guitar pop’s pretty simple, right? Verse, bridge, chorus, middle-eight and all that. Well it doesn’t have to be simple, and one suspects that would be too anodyne a concept for the Jetpacks. But despite the towering guitars and thundering rhythms on this second album, it retains a definite pop ethos throughout, underlying its powerful rock foundation. Touring success with Jimmy Eat World and Passion Pit across America and Europe seems to have fanned the flames for a band ready to seriously catch fire over here. (NC)

DEMO OF THE MONTH JIM BRIFFETT •
Kinda Like The One
(jimbriffett.bandcamp.com)
This offering from ex-Miserable Rich guitarist isn’t strictly speaking a demo as such, but it’s a DIY effort, self-recorded and released, so we figured it should still go in. And what we say goes, right? At once a departure from his previous band, this still retains some beautiful strings but bounds along with summery guitar pop energy and catchy chorus hooks. There’s a really sweet stop-motion video on YouTube that’s worth checking out as well. Look out for the forthcoming album ‘Mountains’n’Lightning’. (NC)

WORDS BY NICK COQUET, JAMES KENDALL