A couple of years ago when this whole DIY-chillwave business started it seemed like every half-talented musician with a bedroom had a go at it and released a handful “dreamy” songs. It was all fun and good but it seemed a bit difficult or overwhelming to detect the true brains in it all. So now, what started as “chillwave” has emerged into this fruitful genre and the truly talented musicians start showing.

Millionyoung was one of the first I reckon, at least his name has been floating around for some time. Also, it was reason enough for Pitchfork to slam his debut Replicants with a 3.8 rating back in February 2011 and declare the death of chillwave. Wrong. Just wrong, on so many levels. I still enjoy Replicants and chillwave as a tag might be dead but the music itself is very much alive. Still, any press is good press I guess.

So now Mike Diaz from Florida has released a new album entitled Variable and wow, sun-washed guitar lines, bouncy beats, dreamy vocals, it’s all there and it’s been on repeat here at Poule HQ. It’s an absolutely phenomenal album and a great leap forward – not only for him but also within this vast genre tagged “dreamy”. Attached is Lovin’ which is about THE girl you can’t get out of your head, pop song material wrapped into great smooth tunes. He says he listened to soul music a lot writing these songs and it probably shows most in Lovin’. But really it stretches throughout the whole album, a really perfect collection of post-chillwave or matured chillwave.

Variable might not sound like “much” and even simple at times but that right there is the hardest thing to accomplish. Underneath this simplicity does not lie the death of a genre but a true sense of honesty and ingenuity. It’s a deep simplicity that stems from knowing the essence of it.

Variable is out now on Old Flame Records.

Whaa – hitting play on this, I thought oh well just another indie rock four-piece doing their thing. But then (spoiler alert) those vocals set in – whoa. Chirping are based in Stockholm and quite ambitiously compare themselves to The National and U2 in their press release. I’m hearing more The Drums in this – via vocals. There you go. I reckon Chirping means top button in Swedish. But then again, it might not. Either way good stuff, one to keep an eye on.

Shocking: last week Team Poule left the house! Because you know usually we spend our days and nights working through our emails and the pile of promo CDs pushy lovely PRs send our way.. but oh my, good things do happen in the real world: we saw Tropics and this band from Hamburg was playing support. Didn’t know Parasite Single before and the second the duo went on stage I was quite taken by it. Big drums, an entire electronic setup and a Glockenspiel: dramatic! Paired with the subtle make-up on their faces, the atmosphere was all nice and positive.

They played a great set and it turns out – drumroll – they have an album release coming up: stream the sampler on Soundcloud.

Rad R&B-esque tunes from Mademoiselle Bago. Get your ear around this beautiful voice of hers – gha. The LA-based singer made a handful of “Ones To Watch in 2013” lists across the web already, rightly so. Ace stuff. She has an EP out that is free for download, link is on her facebook. You know what to do.

New single by our favorites from Los Angeles and long time supporters of Poule d’Or: Freedom Fry! Marie and Bruce are the cutest couple you’ll ever meet and you can feel their charm right through the music. Straight out of your speakers. Wonderful. It just gives a good feeling listening to their music, even if it was a lie, it was good, ups and downs, we’re friends and enemies. And oh those warm riffs. No wonder they premiered this one on Valentine’s Day last week.

Friends & Enemies is the first single off their upcoming EP of the same name – to be released April 2nd, look out. Also the two will be playing a couple of shows in Europe these weeks. Parisians, something might be happening: check their website for updates. Only confirmed gig is Queen of Hoxton in London next week, March 1st.

Update: They just announced their first Parisian show too, February 26th at Le Baron. Go and see them, and say hi from Poule d’Or.