Instrumental music was rather looked down upon in the 90's. Things are a little different these days. Are you a fan of the delectable Battles or of the drama of Mogwai? Then discover Cougar. This band led by David Henzie-Skogen (you do indeed recognize that strange name from Youngblood Brass Band) just recently signed to the Counter label (a sub-division of Ninja Tune) and that can count on the quality-meter. They place themselves somewhere between Four Tet, Fugazi and Nick Drake, their arrangements idolise modern classical rather than indie-rock, but regularly send the riff-o-meter into the red. The title of this fivesome's second album is 'Patriot', to be released on August 17 (here via PIAS) and launched in the States in a tour with Maxïmo Park.

Ungdomskulen blew our socks off again a few years ago with their album ‘Cry-Baby’ (on the K7! sub-label Ever). An impressive epos, instrumentally indebted to the better work of Black Sabbath, Frank Zappa, The Melvins, Can and The Fall. Now they're back again with successor ‘Bisexual’, according to them its a pot full of ‘thinking man's poetic prog-punk’. Their sound has undergone a metamorphosis too, but that's probably because their rehearsal room went up in flames a month prior to recording!

COUGAR - ‘Patriot EPK’