Another month gone and the Music Alliance Pact is ready with another installment of The World’s Greatest Mixtape. This month’s Danish contribution is an exclusive download of Copenhagen based pop-rock outfit The Kites’ infectious ‘Play’. As usual you can download each song separately or all 34 songs in a single zip-file by following the link at the very bottom.

ARGENTINA – Zonaindie

Who: Entre Ríos (MySpace)
Song: Frontera (Right Click to download)

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Finally we get the chance to showcase this great indie-pop band from Buenos Aires on MAP. Entre Ríos is a musical project led by Sebastian Carreras (vocals, keyboards, guitar) that has been around since 1998. Their first albums were recorded with Isol as the main singer, but since her departure in 2005 they’ve featured different guest vocalists live and in the studio. ‘Frontera’ is a MAP-exclusive premiere from their brand new EP that will be released in a couple of weeks, with Josefina Mac Loughlin on vocals.

AUSTRALIA – Who The Bloody Hell Are They?

Who: Boy & Bear (MySpace)
Song: Mexican Mavis (Right Click to download)

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Sydney singer-songwriter Dave Hosking has taken a slight change of direction with his new outfit Boy & Bear. Releasing his first EP ‘Marmalade Hill’ late last year, Hosking has decided to abandon the songs from the album (which I was still rather fond of) and start fresh, writing towards a more mature and original sound. Producer of the first EP, Andrew Macken, has proven to be a great collaborator with his intricate and almost narrative-based approach to the arrangement and production.

BRAZIL – Meio Desligado

Who: The Name (MySpace)
Song: Come Out Tonite (Right Click to download)

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If I had to bet which Brazilian band could repeat the success of CSS on foreign lands it would be The Name. ‘Assonance’, their new well-produced EP, presents songs that could put them side by side with some of the greatest names of the post-punk revival of the 00s or the major bands of nu-rave scene. ‘Come Out Tonite’ is here to prove it.

CANADA – I (Heart) Music

Who: Magneta Lane (MySpace)
Song: Love And Greed (Right Click to download)

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Magneta Lane were on the verge of world (well, Canadian) domination a few years ago, and then they suddenly vanished. They’re back now with a new album, ‘Gambling With God’, but you wouldn’t know it from the total lack of support the album is getting from both the band and their label. Nonetheless, it’s a pretty outstanding release, and as songs like ‘Love And Greed’ show, Magneta Lane could still conquer the world… assuming, that is, they want to.

CHILE – Super 45

Who: Astro (MySpace)
Song: Raifilter (Right Click to download)

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Alongside electro-poppers Moustache, Astro (Andrés Nusser and Octavio Cavieres) is one of those noble bands cultivating the sound of acts such as MGMT or The Knife – just on the verge of the night spectrum of pop – acquiring a good combination of simplicity and a good dose of highly contagious fun for their debut album ‘Le Disc Du Astrou’. Following this trail, ‘Raifilter’ is a song with a very special melody, the result of very intense arrangements as well excellent vocals courtesy of Nusser, who shapes a beach-like tune to give us a perfect excuse to have a neverending sound party.

CHINA – Wooozy

Who: Loudspeaker (MySpace)
Song: I Will Be Back (Right Click to download)

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Established in 1999, Loudspeaker is the hardcore pioneer in Shanghai. This song is from the ‘I Will Be Back EP’ released in September. You can download the whole EP here. Loudspeaker’s new album will be ready at the beginning of 2010.

COLOMBIA – Columbia Urbana

Who: Hety And Zambo (MySpace)
Song: Proud (Right Click to download)

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Hety And Zambo are a duo with the capacity to get you on your feet and dance. The Kings of Creole, as everyone knows them in the dancehall underground scene, came together six years ago in the island of San Andres with one objective – to create good music with their own rhythms, writings and language.

DENMARK – ALL SCANDINAVIAN

Who: The Kites (MySpace)
Song: Play (Right Click to download)

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I stumbled across these guys on a MySpace cruise recently and was immediately charmed by their quite British-sounding pop-rock. The Kites may not be revolutionizing music, but less has been known to do it. Not least when it’s this infectious. Get ‘Play’ exclusively via MAP and then head to their MySpace page and check out the equally excellent ‘Balloons’.

ENGLAND – The Daily Growl

Who: Jeremy Warmsley (MySpace)
Song: Dancing With The Enemy (Right Click to download)

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Rather than something new this month, here’s an old favourite from one of my favourite British singer-songwriters, Jeremy Warmsley. It’s from his ‘How We Became’ album of last year. If you like this, he’s got a free acoustic EP available via his MySpace and he’s also fronting a new band Acres, Acres. Watch out for them.

ESTONIA – Popop

Who: Antonina (MySpace)
Song: Itsuyorimo (Right Click to download)

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When Helene Vetik started to write music, she played on the streets to get some pocket money, started a high school punk-band that didn’t last long and sang at cheesy corporate parties. However, it was when she began to record her old songs into lo-fi electro-pop that she teamed up with Zanduro (keyboard) and Mihkel Masso (guitar) to form Antonina.

FINLAND – Glue

Who: Cleaning Women (MySpace)
Song: Across The Void (Right Click to download)

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From planet Clinus 1 robots CW01, CW03 and CW04 (subbing for CW02 who was lost in action) create industrial avant garde music using a wide array of instruments, some rock lines, a few jazzy beats and a lot of funky grooves. The trio has just released its third album, ‘< < < U > > >’, which includes some futuristic tracks that could form the soundtrack of a Philip K Dick novel. One of them is the instrumental ‘Across The Void’, a good example of the spooky atmospheric music these hygienic robots make.

FRANCE – ZikNation

Who: Kitsch Device (MySpace)
Song: Is This Home Now? (Right Click to download)

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Kitsch Device is a group straight out of the Parisian scene who take us on a high. They first started playing as a hobby but they now scour concert rooms in Paris and are always a blast to watch for their style and professionalism. ‘Is This Home Now?’ carries a folk-rock melody which will make you shake your head and tap the floor with your foot to the beat.

GERMANY – Blogpartei

Who: Candelilla (MySpace)
Song: #13 (Right Click to download)

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Candelilla is a female four-piece based in Munich. Their impulsive sound fits into no existing scheme – it varies from Dresden Dolls to Sonic Youth, from punky grunge to vanguard indie. Straight drums accompany the piano, a whetted guitar accents murky basslines, all highlighted by the staccato voices. ‘#13’ is the first single from their debut ‘reasonreasonreasonreason’.

GREECE – Mouxlaloulouda

Who: Giannis Aggelakas (MySpace)
Song: Volta Sto Dasos (Right Click to download)

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‘Psyhi Vathia’ is the soundtrack for a movie directed by Pantelis Voulgaris. It takes place in 1949 and tells the story of two brothers who fight in two different camps during the Greek civil war. Giannis Aggelakas, who was singer and songwriter of the legendary rock band Trypes, composes an emotionally compelling score drawing on traditional musical heritage. Sad, evocative instrumental melodies rich with contemporary elements coalesce with ethnic nuance that depict the era and echo the film’s mood. ‘Volta Sto Dasos’ (“Walk In The Woods”) is a marvelous track that reflects the two elements of the movie – pain and hope – through the lament of violin and the serenity of the guitar.

ICELAND – I Love Icelandic Music

Who: Kimono (MySpace)
Song: Black (Right Click to download)

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Kimono is an experimental rock trio hailing from Reykjavik and Halifax, Canada. They have released three full-length albums, the last one in collaboration with Icelandic producer Curver (of Ghostigital). ‘Black’ will be on their upcoming fourth album, ‘Easy Music For Difficult People’.

INDIA – Indiecision

Who: Pinknoise (MySpace)
Song: Dream Dream (Right Click to download)

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Pinknoise is an experimental rock act from Kolkata that takes nu-jazz sensibilities and combines them with angular, guitar-driven rock. ‘Dream Dream’ comes from a soon-to-be-released live DVD. It’s the quintessential spacious, open jam that frontlady Jayashree Singh orchestrates with this band. With mid-song tempo changes and lazy atmospherics, it’s a fun five minutes through slacker town.

INDONESIA – Deathrockstar

Who: Santamonica (MySpace)
Song: Bobsessed (Right Click to download)

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Santamonica’s album ‘Curiouser And Curiouser’ was praised by the media as an eclectic mixture of pop, bossa nova, electronic and classic waltz drawing influences from Astrud Gilberto, Antonio Carlos Jobim and My Bloody Valentine to classic Disney soundtracks.

IRELAND – Nialler9

Who: Band On An Island (MySpace)
Song: Back Disco (Right Click to download)

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The debut release from Kildare’s Band On An Island, ‘The Sound Sweep’, revels in the details of hometown life, taking in nights by the campfire, love, drinking, getting into trouble, picking yourself up again and this cute nightclub-themed song featuring the vocals of Claire Prendergast. Combine these myriad of issues with the music – a mix of country, folk, raucous guitar music and heartfelt ballads – and you’ve got the essence of Band On An Island.

ITALY – Polaroid

Who: Annie Hall (MySpace)
Song: Morning News (Right Click to download)

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It would be too easy to describe the sound of the Annie Hall as a Beatles influence revised through a folk sensibility. But this way you would overlook the simple fact that these songs are truly touching in such an immediate way. Annie Hall just released their second album and are now ready to spend the next months touring the country non-stop, as they usually do.

JAPAN – JPOP Lover

Who: Sebastian X (MySpace)
Song: Tour Star People (Right Click to download)

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Sebastian X are an impressive Tokyo-based outfit with indie-pop and punkish leanings. Their brilliant debut album ‘Wonderful World’ was finally released last week. The band, who don’t use guitars, have catchy melodies driven by the cute pop vocal of Manatsu Nagahara.

MEXICO – Red Bull PanameriKa

Who: Pepepe (feat. Cyane) (MySpace)
Song: Sleep With You (Right Click to download)

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Here is a track from Pepepe’s latest album, ‘Roba Orgón de Plantas y Animales’, released on the Poni Republic label. Pepepe is one of the monikers of Pesina Siller, a 21-year-old electronic musician and visual artist who was ranked among the top 50 in Radiohead’s Reckoner remix contest. He’s the kid behind various projects that show the multiple faces to his mystic persona, with sounds that go from dubstep to psychedelic folk. This song is full of clicks, cuts, lots of aleatory processing and a beautiful collaboration with Guadalajara’s vocalist Cyane.

NEW ZEALAND – Counting The Beat

Who: Psychic Powers (MySpace)
Song: Wellington (Right Click to download)

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Psychic Powers are an international duo – Nik Brinkman is a New Zealander and Alejandro Cohen is from Los Angeles. The two collaborate on songwriting from opposite sides of the world via the internet. This piece of very 80s sounding synth-pop is about Nik’s home town, New Zealand’s capital city, Wellington – bringing together the local and the global in a way that seems purpose made for the Music Alliance Pact. The song has been released on 7″ vinyl by US label Geographic North.

NORWAY – Eardrums

Who: Kråkesølv (MySpace)
Song: Privat Regn (Right Click to download)

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Kråkesølv is a quartet from Bodø, a town in the north of Norway. They sing in their dialect and their music can be put somewhere between pop, indie and post-rock. The band have received much acclaim for their lyrics and the reviews of their recently released debut, ‘Trådnøsting’, have been very positive.

PERU – SoTB

Who: Los Protones (MySpace)
Song: Swinging Lima (Right Click to download)

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Los Protones are an instrumental band formed in Lima in 2007 who play in a style that combines psychedelia, surf and garage-rock. Their self-titled debut CD was released in February 2009 by the Peruvian label Discos Gordos. It is an album where there are no words, although they’re not necessary – the guitar solos are the universal language and the titles of songs such as ‘El Desvío’ paint pictures that could easily relate to the soundtrack of our experiences.

PORTUGAL – Posso Ouvir Um Disco?

Who: Casino Royal (MySpace)
Song: Casino Royal Deluxe (Right Click to download)

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Led by Pedro Janela, Casino Royal are a quintet from Figueira da Foz, a town known for its sandy beaches and its casino built in the 19th century. Casino Royal create music that takes us back to a certain living by the post-war European jetset. Would you like your cocktail shaken or stirred?

ROMANIA – Babylon Noise

Who: Silent Strike (MySpace)
Song: 27 (Right Click to download)

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Silent Strike (Ioan Titu) is a 27-year-old electronic music composer and sound designer from Bacau. He is influenced by Aphex Twin, Future Sound Of London, Orbital and opened for Faithless and Bonobo. ’27’ is a little gem of electronic sounds arranged in an acoustic manner and it was released for his birthday.

SCOTLAND – The Pop Cop

Who: The Unwinding Hours (MySpace)
Song: Knut (Right Click to download)

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The Unwinding Hours have quietly risen from the ashes of the much-loved Aerogramme and the early evidence suggests they’re going to be every bit as wondrous as their former guise. All the ingredients are there – the gorgeously gentle pacing, the elegant orchestration, Craig B’s yearning vocals. ‘Knut’, taken from their self-titled debut album due out early next year on Chemikal Underground, is a MAP exclusive sanctioned by the band and their record label.

SINGAPORE – I’m Waking Up To…

Who: Lunarin (MySpace)
Song: Ariel (File Under Easy Listening remix) (Right Click to download)

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Singapore is a small country, so we’ve formed a rather close-knit bunch of musicians and friends. One such collaboration between friends happens to be The Lard Brothers’ remix of Lunarin’s ‘Ariel’. While a relatively new group, The Lard Brothers have been busy making waves spinning as a DJ group and religiously reworking many classic songs by Singaporean bands. Their efforts don’t go unrecognised with this trip-hop laced remix of ‘Ariel’ by the melodic rock band, Lunarin, perfect for the monsoon season that’s hitting our shores just about now.

SOUTH AFRICA – Musical Mover & Shaker!

Who: Die Heuwels Fantasties (MySpace)
Song: Our Heritage (Right Click to download)

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Die Heuwels Fantasties are an Afrikaans group, incorporating elements of many genres, from hip-hop beats, flat out dance beats, to rap and rock sounds. Die Heuwels Fantasties teamed up with The Soweto Gospel Choir, HHP and JR to produce a song for Heritage Day. The song is called ‘Our Heritage’ and features Pierre Greeff of Die Heuwels Fantasties singing in English. All in all, it’s a song with the message to celebrate our heritage and our unity as South Africans – artfully combining the many different cultural spheres into a feelgood track.

SOUTH KOREA – Indieful ROK

Who: Playgirl (MySpace)
Song: Happy Mania (Right Click to download)

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Female trio Playgirl emerged in September with a retro pop sound from a time when James Bond was still played by Sean Connery. Inspired by The Pipettes, equipped with identical outfits and cute dance moves, Playgirl is currently the most adorable act to come out of Korea.

SWEDEN – Swedesplease

Who: Madamm (MySpace)
Song: Örnen (Right Click to download)

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There’s very little info online about this mostly all-girl group from Gothenburg. I was struck by the band’s wanton energy and the loose nature of their songs. ‘Örnen’ is a demo so who knows what its final shape may be, but I hope they retain the song’s raw energy.

TURKEY – Reset!

Who: Bon Mod (MySpace)
Song: Chocolate Cheesecake (Right Click to download)

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Chemistry is all there is to a band. After meeting about a year ago, the duo started working together instantly as Bon Mod. They take their love of partying and a reckless attitude to make indie, electro and disco-flavored songs. They are possibly the most exciting new band for the season ahead.

UNITED STATES – I Guess I’m Floating

Who: People Eating People (MySpace)
Song: All The Hospitals (Right Click to download)

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People Eating People is the solo work of Nouela Johnston, previously known for her work with Pacific Northwestern act Mon Frere. Her self-titled debut LP is a blending of Fiona Apple’s emotion with Regina Spektor’s penchant for melody. ‘All The Hospitals’ is a catchy tune – we’ll see if Johnston can separate herself from the crowded female pack.

VENEZUELA – Barquisimeto Musical

Who: Amigos Invisibles (MySpace)
Song: Mentiras (Right Click to download)

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Amigos Invisibles (“Invisible Friends”) has been around the alternative/funk/pop local scene for many years. Their groovy rhythms and funny lyrics, filled with Venezuelan pop culture, made them legends in their country and finally got the attention of music lovers worlwide, touring Latin America, USA and Australia. They signed with David Byrne’s Luaka Pop label in 1996. To celebrate their Latin Grammy Award for Best Alternative Album, I have selected a song from that record, ‘Comercial’, called ‘Mentiras’.

DOWNLOAD ALL 34 SONGS IN ONE FILE HERE! (will take you to SendSpace)