The fourth album from Vermont-based Grace Potter and her backing band the Nocturnals is a raunchy, rocky affair: a mixture of slow-burning Southern soul rock ballads and faster, gutsier numbers. The band have been gaining momentum in the US and Canada, with appearances on several of the major chat shows and their music being used in a number of hit US dramas. But here in the UK, they’re much more of an unknown, and clearly the band hope to hit big with this summer release.

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Over the past few months things have been pretty quiet in the All Forgotten camp, especially since parting ways with vocalist Jon Thorne and working with new vocalist Ex Kenai’s Dan Lawrence, however All Forgotten are now back with their new single ‘Deadweight’.

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Colin MacLeod, aka The Boy who Trapped The Sun, is a 25-year-old hailing from the Scottish Highlands (Isle of Lewis, to be exact) who, under either name, would largely have escaped most people’s attention – until now that is. Bursting forth with his debut album that glides effortlessly across elements of folk and country, seamlessly gelling with layers of guitars, piano, drums and a drafted in string section for good measure, ‘Fireplace’ could see The Boy fairly rapidly outstrip his contemporary rivals.

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On July 19th, singer/songwriter Charlee Drew releases his debut single and if the mood of his music matches the weather then we are all set for a heat wave next week. The song’s called “Sugar Rush” and it’s a perfect summer tune with it’s catchy but not too cheesy chorus.

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From the country that brought us the likes of Miley Cyrus and Taylor Swift now introduces us to a new voice in amongst the mainstream of the names mentioned. Sky Ferreira is the newest singer-songwriter hailing from Los Angeles and at only seventeen, this young lady has already shown so much potential especially in her new and debut single ‘One’.

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Originally released in December 2009, Stars of The Search Party offer a re-release of ‘Lost In The Dust Part II’. The Surrey six-piece open up their 3-track EP with ‘The Culprit’, a song made up of catchy guitar riffs and sounds purposely written to be played live. With it’s chanting choruses, you can instantly see an entire crowd’s hands and heads raised to sing a long.

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‘Little Girl’ is the debut single from Kent based three-piece Black Circles. The release has the potential of mass mainstream appeal yet still holds all their originality and credibility. The song itself is quick with fast-paced vocals matching the speedy yet smooth guitar riffs and soon escalating into a chorus which encapsulates all the catchiness of modern-day indie yet still keeps a cool rock edge to it.

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Having only previously released a double-A-side in 2009, this album is The Perfect Crime’s first real chance to show everyone what they are about but is it good enough for them to make their mark? That question remains unanswered.

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When I hear the name Brandon Flowers, I automatically think of the classic songs he has sung for the world like ‘Mr. Brightside’ and ‘Somebody Told Me’. I have always been a fan of The Killers, but to hear that Flowers will be releasing his debut solo album ‘Flamingo’ came as a bit of a shock to me. A surge of questions came flying through my mind; ‘will he be able to pull this off?’, ‘what’s happened to The Killers?’ and ‘how will fans react to this?’.

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The Pains of Being Pure at Heart are no strangers to the music industry with their debut album reaching no.15 in NME’s Top 50 Albums of 2009 last year and now they’re back with their new single ‘Say No To Love’ which is out on July 5th on Fortuna Pop

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Having had rave reviews of there debut album last year ‘In the cold wind we smile’ and having heard The Xcerts before I wasn’t quite expecting this new single to turn out the way it has.

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They say life begins at forty, but when Feeder launched their sixth studio album ‘Silent Cry’ two years ago, you might have been forgiven for thinking that these forty year-old rockers had reached their sell-by date and ought to settle down with a pipe and slippers

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Sheffield based quartet ‘The Little Million’ lead by front man Jimmy and completed by Ross, Jez and Bailey are on their way to take over the globe with their mature My Chemical Romance pop edge, Queens of the Stone Age melodic crunch and a compelling sense of free spiritedness

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In the modern music scene Echo Lake are not exactly conventional; everybody in the band swaps roles and instruments during their live sets (even the lead vocals), and they say no to high-tech production and yes to DIY

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Any pop-punk band that’s fronted by a red-headed female is instantly going to be inundated with comparisons to Paramore, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing if the music offered stands as strong. However MiMi Soya have something different, and that’s that they’re from the other side of the Atlantic

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I’ll throw my hands up and admit it; before “Enemy of the World”, I’d never paid very much attention to Four Year Strong. Their works remained stagnant in my iTunes, longing to be played but lost within a sea of mediocre pop-punk and guilty pleasures. So to say I was pleasantly surprised when I listened to FYS’ latest offering is somewhat of an understatement

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Currently touring around the UK, Fighting Fiction release their new single ‘We Will Not Forget.’ The song offered is a political indie-punk anthem with guitar riffs as aggressive as the anger in the words.

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When a band open their demo CD with a spoken message telling critics to “get a real job”, you somehow know the music following is going to be something different. Jaakko & Jay certainly don’t disappoint with their debut album, ‘War Is Noise’ as each song offers something uniquely delightful.

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Kitsuné are back with a brand new selection of tracks ready to bring in the summer.

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Isn’t he Dead?, Was my first reaction when asked to review this album, however he’s alive and kicking (even if most of his live kicking seems to be 70s revivals at Butlins!)

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The annals of Christian metal history are littered with the remains of talented bands that, for reasons unknown, never signed a deal with a label. India based In Heavens Eyes may not be well known as many of its Christian Metal contemporaries, but its members certainly do not lack in musical ability

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You would easily be mistaken to think that The Chain Gang of 1974 was a well oiled machine made up of multiple members, however this band is the brain child of one man by the name of Kamtin Mohager

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We get to see the softer side of Chipmunk shine through as he gets ready to storm through 2010 much like he did in 2009. Changing the tone to the song ‘Until You Were Gone’ featuring Esmée Denters is the perfect way to keep his success rolling

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Souvenir is the debut mini-album from The Blueskies, a group of five self-confessed synth-geeks from Brighton. But this isn’t a full-on electronic assault, only one member of the group is playing keyboards, with a more traditional guitar rock line-up alongside him. The result is a wonderfully warm sound, classically clean synth lines sit nicely with driving guitars, dancy disco-style drums and electronic vocal harmonies.

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This is the third single to be taken from Frank Turner’s album ‘Poetry Of The Deed’. Like the other tracks on that record, ‘Isabel’ has a more refined, fuller sound than on previous Frank Turner albums, probably as a result of a closer collaboration with his band (the same outfit that has been touring with him).

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Twenty-two year old Scotsman Paolo Nutini is no stranger to the music charts, with his million selling album ‘Sunny Side Up’ topping the charts an outstanding three times.

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After making a name for themselves stateside, this Boston pop-punk quartet are trying to break the mainstream this side of the Atlantic. Currently on a worldwide tour then playing shows all across the U.S.A with The Bamboozle Road show, it seems that Boys Like Girls are set for big things.

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Having been gigging since 2002 it seems about time Anonymous Tip’ found themselves in the spotlight. Set to release their second full length album “Snitches & Stitches” later this year; this Twickenham quarter tease their eager fans with the first single ‘The Weirder Brave’.

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Taken from Ignition’s debut album, Silver Sun, ‘Take Me There’ is the band’s latest release. Citing Oasis as their biggest influence, this 3.19 track shows the extent of how the Brit-pop movement has shaped this trio from Northern Ireland.

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Singer-songwriter Alan Pownall is set to release his debut album ‘True Love Stories’ later this summer; however we get the first burst of his unique pop sensations in April with the release of the highly addictive single ‘Chasing Time’

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Have you got room for another UK rapper in your life? If so, allow me to introduce Aggro Santos, an up-and-coming urban-electro artist from South London. Aggro Santos rapping style is somewhat similar to Sean Kingston’s, where the voice does not match the Country of residence (Yes, a polite way of calling out his fake accent) but his style can be seen as a breath of fresh air in the UK rap scene

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Award winning Australian pop star Sia is back and set to release her fourth studio album ‘We Are Born’ produced by Greg Kurstin who has worked with the likes of Red Hot Chilli Peppers and Britney Spears, on June 7th.

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Lemar returns with his greatest hits album showcasing the best of his work since his debut single Dance (with you) back in 2003. Since being discovered in 2002 through TV talent contest Fame Academy Lemar has proven his worth with his mix of soul, RnB and pop songs. His new album however takes a new direction and sees him pushing into new realms. The latest album, Lemar The Hits, mixes 12 of Lemar’s biggest hits from “If There’s Any Justice” to “Lullaby” with four new Tracks.

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On first listen to this cracking album by Chris T-T its evident that he and myself have a lot in common, not the fact that this ‘Love is not rescue’ is his seventh studio album, the fact that his poetic personal views and anacdotes make me smile with recognition of my youth.

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When comparing this album to the first it appears more directed at the glee shows legions of fans, in that there are maybe only two or three tracks that will appeal to anyone that hasn’t seen the show. One of the better songs on the album is the whole cast’s version of Kelly Clarkson’s “My Life Would Suck Without You” and being the last song on the album it is definitely a case of saving the best till last.

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From the same scene that brought you Dizzy Rascal and Tinchy Stryder, 21 year old Ashley Thomas, or better known as his stage name ‘Bashy’ has been bringing us his hip hop classic beats since 2004 on mix tapes prior to his debut album ‘Catch Me If You Can’ (2009). His new song to be released March 26th is an exciting yet agonising wait for his fans. However ‘When The Sky Falls’ pretty much appeals to everyone with the diversity of his beats making the tune unique.

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With the sun now finally making an appearance after weeks of overcast and snow you’re probably looking for that track to lift the mood and to bring Spring back into your record collection, well this would be the track! ‘Rox’ is the newest pop and soul female songster hailing from South London. ‘My Baby Left Me’ is an upbeat, soulful track which is very reminiscent of early Lauryn Hill.

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Fresh from conquering the UK on the Kerrang! Relentless Tour, Baltimore quartet All Time Low are back with their latest single ‘Lost In Stereo’. Plucked from their hit album ‘Nothing Personal’, this track instantaneously captivates the listener into with a driving drum beat and poppy guitar hooks designed perfectly to fill dance-floors. A clear electro influence comes through as the live energy of All Time Low is captured in a slice of power-pop perfection.

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About to hit the road supporting Frank Turner for a 21-date UK and European tour; this Devon-based quartet release “Still To Keep”, an upbeat punk-rock track that seems to have been purposely written to be heard live. From the opening note you wish you were in one of their crowds, chanting along to their inspiring lyrics and pogoing to their fast-paced rhythms.

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After winning support slots with InMe and The Automatic, it appears it’s time for the main attention to be on Straight Lines themselves. Fresh from a headline tour, the band hailing from Wales have decided to lift the infectiously catchy “Runaway Now” from their recently released debut album, “Persistence In This Game.” With lines like “It’s better to be late in this life than early in the next” and a memorable melody, it seems that if there was any justice this indie-rock number would see this four piece catapult into the mainstream.

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‘We The Kings’ are ready to kick off their year with pop-rockers ‘You Me At Six’ on their latest nationwide tour in March. Florida’s quartet are already floating off the success after their much anticipated self-titled debut album back in their home country, after reaching # 1 on Billboard’s album chart. However, can their new single ‘Heaven Can Wait’ from the new album ‘Smile Kid’ reel in the same effect from the UK?

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‘Chiddy Bang’ are a duo from Philly with the aim of changing traditional hip hop forever. Chiddy (Real name Chidera) and Xaphoon Jones (Real name Noah) are currently challenging the norm of hip hop by pursuing a different approach to the music genre. Instead of Chiddy ‘spitting’ over a constant thumping beat, ‘Chiddy Bang’ with the help of DJ and producer Xaphoon are taking some of the current music of today and sampling it with their own lyrics.

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The television series Glee has shot up in popularity ever since its premiere in 2009 and it seems everyone is talking about it especially when considering the massive array of musical covers the cast have created. It’s safe to say that if you are a fan of glee then you’re going to love and live your life by this album and it is definitely worth the purchase. The show is significantly music driven. The music tells the story, adds emotion to the show and gives Glee that special ingredient that has made it such a success. But what if you don’t watch the show, will that make the music irrelevant too? Possibly.

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Vulnerable, poetic and emotive, these aren’t words you would have necessarily associated with American Rock band Paramore, not until now anyway. Paramore’s new single “The Only Exception” is an acoustic ballad that oozes elegance, maturity and passion. With a twenty second delicate instrumental intro it is clear this is going to be an extremely different track for the band. Being simple and subtle throughout, the track builds its way to a powerful verse at 2:54 which showcases the tender emotions of the song.

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Superstar DJ David Guetta is back with another release from his double gold album ‘About Love’ with artist Kid Cudi (the voice behind the smash hit ‘Day ‘n’ Night’). On first listen you are immediately drawn with an addictive beat which is then followed by Cudi’s mellow and relaxed vocals which funnily enough compliments the track well. With a mix of electro syths and pianos this is an electro recipe for success.

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New Atlanta group ‘The Constellations’ land in the UK for the first time in March with the release of their debut single ‘Setback’ from their indie/rock album ‘Southern Gothic’. With a bunch of live dates lined up this eight-piece will show us Brits exactly why they are gearing up to be one of the most exciting new acts to emerge this year.

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After the huge success of ‘Good Girls Go Bad’ Cobra Starship are back with an aim to take over the radio once again with this future club hit. On first listen this single is defiantly not like the previous hit (which features Gossip Girl’s Leighton Meester) with its bass thumping beginning and a less hooking intro than the obvious pop electro that Cobra Starship fans would be used to.

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It’s very hard to find an all female rock band in this very male dominated industry however Plastiscines are just that. The band from France who has shared the stage with such acts as The Slits, Razorlight and The Hives are now leading the way forward with their infectious indie pop songs. After the success in their home country the Plastiscines are set to rock the UK with their new album ‘About Love’.

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Having being a band since only 2007 ‘Trail’ have come a long way and they’ve done it all on there own terms. Having won a place at the Wireless Festival Undiscovered Final and then amassed enough investors to raise the 20k that the album cost to make all on there own.

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It seems that every new band at the minute seems to becoming from Wales and they tend to be all copycat bands of ‘Lostprophets’ or ‘The Automatic’ and quickly fade into non existence when nobody pays attention to them! Straight lines however while you can hear the influences as bands such as The Automatic sound new and refreshing! From the opening track of ‘Versus the allegiance’ they grab you by the throat and make you sing along to every word. The songs are infectious, well written and produced.

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On first hearing the cheesy, pop driven sound of the glee cast’s version of Don’t Stop Believing, you would be forgiven in thinking you had stepped right back into the 90’s where pop music was in its prime. Listen to the track a few more times and you will be hooked!

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3 years after the intended release, Lostprophets are back with their 4th studio album ‘The Betrayed’ after scrapping a full album last year due to Watkins’s opinion being that the album was ‘too polished’ they decided to appoint their bassist Stu Richardson to then produce the new album in the US. The Welsh 5 piece now with Luke Johnson are aiming to impress after the long awaited follow up to 2006’s no.1 album Liberation Transmission.

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Taken from Emilys recent album ‘Despite the snow’ is single ‘Nostalgia’, Stripped Back to basics to amplify her georgous voice and chilling strings, a perfect folk song to kick back to, You may recognise the single from the BBC drama series ‘Wallander’ where Kenneth Branagh runs around the Swedish countryside solving crimes and looking moody, strapping a set headphones to his ears and listening to this haunting, melodic folk piece should help his cause.

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Theres generally one Scottish band to break the mould and enjoy the music limelight each year, following on from previous exports Biffy C, The Fratelli’s and Franz Ferdinand is no mean feat, 2010 could be the year of indie rockers Oswald and judging by the catchy single ‘Flying to the ground’ which blends heavy bass lines, musesque guitars and Bono-v-ocals their not far off.

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If I didn’t know I was listening to the Ke$ha’s album I would have thought I was listening to Katy Perry’s album, which is not an insult, in-fact it’s a huge compliment. Lyrically, the song is a narrative, telling the story of Ke$ha’s obsession with a guy who is bad for her and yes, you guessed it, Mum and all her friends are telling her he’s the wrong guy.

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Its being a a year or so since the Leto brothers have produced some new material and its about time! They have a lot to live up to after there previous hit album (A Beautiful Lie) and some might say that Jared Leto has to prove that this isn’t just a side project band along with his acting career.

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Surfer Blood, a five piece band from West Palm Beach, South Florida take their sound form lo-fi, 90’s driven guitar melody’s and in doing so, have created a ten song masterpiece. ‘Floating Vibes’, kicks off the album with a raw and dark pummelling guitar riff, as John Paul Pitts light and whimsical vocals create a contrasting laid back vibe. ‘Swim (To Reach the End)’, the first single from the album, has all the ingredients to become this year’s indie anthem.

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Talk about “cross-cultural”: a musician from Nicaragua living in France and singing a fusion of Jamaican reggae and Latin salsa in English and Spanish. Born as Carlos Wiltshire, the name he goes by comes not only from his country of origin, but in honor of the great Indian chief Nicarao Cai, considered to be the founder of Nicaragua.

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Until this point I’d never heard of Spectrum7 and at first listen I’d pretty much made my mind up about them. The intro to the song sounds great and gets you interested as what is to come but then the song kicks in and you realise you’ve heard this all before. They sound very similar to Enter Shikari and I can’t help but feel that the indie electro band has already missed this trend of music that came and went a few years ago.

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This album is a complete surprise for many of us with preconceived notions about the Twilight franchise. The mentions of ’sparkling’ vampires and teen love are the subject of many a jeer from those above such nonsense, so when someone says: ‘the soundtrack for New Moon is actually quite good’, it’s fair enough to be a more than a little disbelieving. The opening track, and theme tune to the movie, is ‘Meet me on the Equinox’ by Death Cab for Cutie.

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Having just come on to the music scene it was no surprise I’d not heard of ‘Straight Lines’ prior to reviewing the EP ‘Versus The Allegiance’. Although I will be very surprised if they don’t make it on to a main stream radio airplay list in the very near future. From the moment the first song kicks in ‘Versus The Allegiance’ its clear that these welsh indie rockers know what they are doing and produced the EP very well. It’s clear that band have taken influences from other acts such as ‘The Automatic’ and ‘Kids In Glass Houses’. Even so there is just something that keeps them far enough apart from these bands that you’re not thinking yet another copy cat indie band!

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Swerving away from barbie-pop compositions & helium-eqsue vocals, Sarah Class resonates with a rare musical maturity. Her smooth voice & laid back acoustic-driven guitar ballads are the perfect accompaniment to a chilled evening, background music to conversation or work, or an upfront listening sensation.

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My previous experience of Andy Parsons on screen has been an occasional glimpse of his instantly recognisable face on TVs Mock of the Week, Its evident that his regimental comedic style suits his image and he opens his live DVD with some audience banter directed a nervous front row, I have always thought this is the best way to get to know a comedian, It is very risky ad libbing on stage, especially whilst recording a DVD but Andy pulls it off, as the comedy progresses he revisits his audience to keep them involved with great comedy effect..

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John Garrison is a British singer/songwriter, who hit the music scene in his band ‘Budapest’ in 2002. Since then he has moved from London to New York, and released his first solo album, the criticaly acclaimed ‘Above the Cosmos’.

John has since gained a following both in the USA and Britain, and backed famous artists such as Leona Lewis - for whom he played the bass on the Snow Patrol cover ‘Run’.

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I got very excited hearing the opening bars of “Guided by Lights” new EP “Courage comes between us”. I loved the opening swell of cello and acoustic guitar backing on “Down”. I anticipated a Damien Rice album or the soundtrack from the great movie “Once”. Unfortunately the joy was short-lived and my hopes were dashed when the jarring voice of lead singer Adam Bones came breaking in over the lovely backing.

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From the outset I liked the single by Lou Barlow. The opening clapping into sets an upbeat feel and the jingly guitar and hi-hat cymbals allow the feel to ride on throughout. It reminded me at first of a Simon and Garfunkel song and has that almost summer of love carefree mood. The song ultimately, like that period, never really produced an end result. Whilst the feel was kept throughout the song, the song itself failed to deliver.

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‘Folk Songs’ is an album by James Yorkston & The Big Eyes Family Players. James Yorkston is a Scottish musician highly regarded in the world of folk music. This review is of a promotional CD containing 2 tracks from said album. Folk music has always had its ups and downs, but still remains popular to this day. James Yorkston, for this album, has chosen 11 of his favourite folk songs and, along with superbly named musicians ‘The Big Eyes Family Players’

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This Atlanta 5-some have been around since 2001, however this is the first time that I have had the pleasure to listen to the band, and those first impressions are good. It is a tough mix to try and do what these fellas are doing without being branded as a 1 trick pony, but with such a wide range of things going on and what seems like all the genres of rap, post-hardcore, punk rock, alternative, electronica and nu metal thrown in to one big melting pot it surprisingly keeps the album fresh throughout.

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Kilburn State is the third album by apple rabbits following the beautiful debut album “King Of Anglia” and the now deleted “Ghost Of The Underground”. Jay Fisher of apple rabbits has managed to make an album that whilst electronically even experimentally led still gives us great songs and arrangements making it one of the most interesting yet listenable albums I have heard this year. Starting of with the choral “faces in the wallpaper”, to “Rosena”, which sounds like the Soundtrack to a soviet made cartoon and “Metrodomedary” a beguiling track reminiscent of a dubbed Severed heads.

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Liam Frost shot to the attention of many after the release of his debut album ‘Show Me How The Spectres Dance’. With songs filled with heartache and melancholy, the singer and his band ‘The Slowdown Family’ spent his time sharing stages with many fellow Mancunians such as Elbow, Badly Dawn Boy and Stephen Fretwell. As he came back down to earth and the dust settled on the whirlwind of his debut, it became time to focus on the all so difficult second album.

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This is the first CD from talented French composer Guillaume ‘Spiky’ Muller and it is astounding. Spiky trained in Piano & Musical Theory at the Castle Of Becheville Conservatorium France since 1995 and has the demeanor, passion and Gothic ambiance.. of someone who trained in a castle. Combining a dark and twisted universe influenced by Tim Burton or Terry Pratchett, with symphonic metal and a hint of chaos theory, it’s like an orgasm for your ears. Opening with the powerful Void Factory.

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Following the release of their album Bitte Orca earlier this year, the Brooklyn based six strong “experimental” band release the EP headed by the track Temecula Sunrise. Listening to it you can immediately see why Bjork collaborated with band leader Dave Longstreth recently. None of that collaboration makes its way here but you can see what attracted the Icelandic star, and it’s a shame as this is badly of some help.

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A couple of months ago us kind folk at Gettothefront.com tipped you off to a new album to be released in September by the unlikely combination of indie veterans from Glasgow The Pastels and Tokyo pop duo Tenniscoats. Well we are delighted to announce that the album Two Sunsets is no let down and lives up the expectation created in the summer when we first heard the single Vivid Youth.

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Tommy Reilly from just outside Glasgow was “discovered” after entering TV talent show Orange unsigned because he learned that his mates had entered. After releasing a couple of singles including Gimme a Call which reached Number 14 in the UK chart, and then Jackets which hit number one in Scotland, he has built up a strong following north of the border. Tommy has a full UK tour to look forward to in Sept and October to promote his new album Words on the Floor released on 21st September. The highlight of the tour should be a triumphant homecoming gig at the ABC on Sauchiehall Street on the 25th September.

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I Love this debut album by Apple Rabbits, however Jay Fisher who is Apple Rabbits has previously recorded under his own name with Mike Howletts (Gong) mauve record label in 1994, touring with John Martyn before going on to collaborate with Paul Castle and Dug Wolfsohn as Canteen and further collaborations as vocalist on Eight stories with Dave Randall (Faithless and Slovo)and an unreleased album with Jazz singer Kate Dimberlby. Phew!

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ist are a band hailing from Leicestershire, but the influences are many and vaired across this intriguing album. I’d hate to pigeon-hole this album by mentioning genre’s, so I won’t ! Suffice to say, whatever your taste in music, you’ll find something to delight you here. The opener ‘The Boy’s not right’ is a classic pop song which could have been written in any of the last four decades. Pep Talk, the lead single from the collection is a jaunty affair despite it’s refrain of “it’s just a matter or time before you checkout”. From here, the style refuses to settle down, and every new track provides a different feel.

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Texas Trio return with seconds from their mixed up bag of punk, psychedelic, Ska and Blues. White Denim flew onto the Indie scene last year with the fantastic ‘Workout Holiday’ and now bring us ‘Fits’ to try out do their triumphant achievement. ‘Fits’is overflowing with loud funky riffs and psychedelic freak outs from opening track ‘Radio Milk How Can You Stand It’ to ‘Syncn’. The album has short sharp bursts of energy that enthrals you and traps you into listening from start to finish. The sound waves through elements of the Stoogies and The Beach Boys allowing for a wider fan base.

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This is my first experience of LA based outfit Music Go Music and its intrigued me to find out more, Upon first listen i got transported back into the 1970’s, inpartically into New Yorks Studio 54, with every listen the song seems to almost transfix you into a physcadelic dream world. Its very easy listening and instantly grabs you with the groovy rythmic sound and the funky guitar solos are possibly my favourite part in the track.

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Aimee Newsome-Stone is a young female singer-songwriter from Ringwood on the South Coast of England. The unsigned artist has her 4 track EP Spacemen & Monsters out for public exploration in order to throw her into the big time. Fine plan it may be, however this EP is in no way backed with good tracks, good instrumentation and most of all its not backed by a good voice.

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Thom Stone’s distint sound is a bit like his appearance…. rough, edgy and it needs a good wash, this shouldnt put you off as with a little time this 2 part EP is a growing masterpiece, recorded over a weekend in his bedroom with one-take guitar and vocals, ‘Hearts & bones’ is as engaging as it is addictive. Ive been hooked before with edgy live recordings, more recently with The Maccabees early pre album recordings that in my option were comprimised when ‘tidied up’ for release.

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The new single Boys and Girls from 18-Year-old soul singer Pixie Lott is her follow up single to Mama do. Boys and Girls is a retro flavoured party song and there is no doubt this song will get you in the mood to grab those dancing shoes. Boys and Girls will remind you of Christina Aguilera’s ‘Aint no other man’ in places, even though it resembles the song it is still unlike any other pop songs we currently have floating around in the charts.

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On the face of it, a collaboration between Glasgow’s The Pastels, long revered by the likes of Teenage Fan Club and Jarvis Cocker, and Japanese pop duo Tenniscoats is an unlikely mix that could surely only end up in disaster. However the results are in fact a heady breath of fresh air. Vivid Youth is a gorgeous, light and airy summer tune. .

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Hailing from London, Ivyrise have been together as a band since 2007. To date the highlight of their career has been supporting Bon Jovi and playing infront of 60,000 people at Twickenham courtesy of winning a London based newspaper competition. No mean feat in itself! Their latest single ‘1000 Feet’ is admittedly my first taste of Ivyrise, and they appear to throw in a kind of 80s sounding Def Leppard / Savage Garden hybrid feel.

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Arctic Monkeys shot to fame in 2005 with the outstanding ‘I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor’ from their debut album ‘Whatever People Say I Am, I Am Not’ which literally out of nowhere hit number one and rightly so…….Fast forward four years to 2009 and you have the latest single ‘Crying Lightning’, taken from their hotly anticipated third album ‘Humbug’.

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Bashy, AKA Ashley Thomas is one of the rising lights in the British hip hop/grime scene. This is the first full album following singles “Black Boys” and “Kidulthood 2 Adulthood” from the movie of the second part. Both those tracks are tagged on the end of this album as bonus tracks. Listening through the album for the first time I am struck by the mix of musical styles. Some of the tracks are very accessible and are likely to bring Bashy to a wider audience.

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Scottish singer songwriter James Yorkston started out as bassist for punk band Miraclehead and with this album you can’t get much further away in terms of two musical styles. “Folk songs” is the most direct and honest album title of the year as on this album James brings us eleven “traditional” folk songs with the arrangement assistance of James Green.

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Having heard snipets of the catchy ska pop sounds of Kid British over the past few years inparticular on Sky’s ‘Soccer Am’ where they gave an accurate review of the premier league season via an impressive 3 minute song, i was intrigued by what would follow. Its always a risk angling your music around a hobby, fortunately for Manchester’s Kid British they have based their first album [well First half of] on the nations favourite sport …. Football, although the album isn’t football based, it introduces a concept of an album in 2 halves, the 2nd of which will follow in September just as the football season is getting in the swing.

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On the back of 3 previous albums, Wolverhamptons Carina Round bridges the gap before album number 4 with a stunning EP, ‘Things you should know’ provides pounding lyrics which are open poetry with stomach wrenching honesty, all the songs are a strong mix of minimal and heavy, the sort of music that fits perfectly in a film score, imagine an emotional scene with the main character staring out a window on a winters afternoon and the mood of this powerfull, edgy release fits.

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Having heard Larrys name mentioned behind the scenes of the music industry for many years I wondered when he would step up to the plate and release much anticipated solo material, I was excited to learn that his album ‘Drumquestra’ is at last to be released to the world, Set the Children free is to be Larrys 2nd single release from his debut album, the track is a mystical dance floor filler that incorporates super grooves into a raggae dub beat……

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The usual pattern for male/female duo bands such as The White Stripes, The Kills or Red Blood Shoes is for them to be loud, energetic and angry(ish) sounding to compensate for the lack of bass guitar, however Sheffield’s Slow Club take an altogether different approach with there waif like vocals and mish mash of alt-folk and cutesy indie-pop tunes.

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2009 is undoubtedly a year we will look back on in years to come. But what we will actually remember about this year? We would have long forgot about the city bankers ruining our economy, the freak weather, Murray’s failed Wimbledon mission and even the untimely death of The King of Pop. 2009 will be remembered for one thing, and one thing only: the rise of female music acts.

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Remember Jamie T? Not so long ago we were all singing along to his first real hit ‘Sheila’ (who went out with her mate Stella). Got it now? Right, well the Wimbledon-born singer is back with a new EP Sticks ‘n’ Stones. It is a four track affair that opens with the song that goes by the same name as the EP itself. Sticks ‘n’ Stones is an instantly catchy tune that once it gets into your head it will do anything but leave.

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British dance legends the Stereo MCs have this month launched a brand new set of remixes off of their most recent sought after album Double Bubble. Singles from the album such as City Lights and Get on It have been remixed and mastered by some of today’s leading DJs. DJ’s such as Don Diablo and Dances with White Girls have leant their DJing talents to create a unique blend of the Stereo MCs ability to fuse musical genres with the collaborator’s ability to make any club go wild for a song.

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