First Listen :: Teleman

So with Pete & The Pirates seemingly no more, it seems the adage of when one door comes, another opens, could be the order of the day.

Walking in are the newly formed Teleman who comprise of former Pirates Thomas Sanders, Jonny Sanders and Pete Cattermoul. And with their formation is announced their debut offering, ’Cristina’.

Back with ‘In Your Fur’, 'Cristina' will be released on January 14 2013 through the new Moshi Moshi Singles Club.

So wave goodbye to the Pirate boys, and wave hello to this new trio of shiny pop delightment.

Cheatahs Extended Plays/North American Dates

East London based Cheatahs four-piece (which also includes two parts of Male Bonding and Weird Dreams)have been one of the stars of the Wichita Recordings stable this year with their two acclaimed EPs 'Coared' and 'Sans, and the heard-everywhere single 'The Swan' (released on November 26).

Now the four-piece rockers have announced the release of 'Extended Plays', to be released on February 5 next year.

Extended Plays tracklist
1. The Swan
2. SANS
3. Fountain Park
4. Flake
5. Coared
6. Ripper
7. Jacobi
8. Froshed

The band have also released details of their March 2013 tour with Veronica Falls and Cold Showers.

Mar 6 - Washington DC @ Black Cat
Mar 7 - Philadelphia, PA @ Johnny Brenda's
Mar 8 - New York City, NY @ Bowery Ballroom
Mar 9 - Boston, MA Great Scott
Mar 10 - Montreal @ la divan orange
Mar 12 - Toronto @ The Garrison

Megan Wyler Debut Single

Familiar with TV ad watchers for her 'I'm Not Invisible' (Ford cars) and the Johnny Cash cover 'I Walk The Line' for Levis, now American folk songstress Megan Wyler releases her debut single 'Through the Noise' (available thru i-tunes from December 16).

Recording with multi-instrumentalist producer, Adem Ilhan, brought the benefit of his own wide-ranging career to the project. As well as his solo albums with Domino Records, playing bass for post-rock experimentalists, Fridge, with Kieran 'FOUR TET' Hebden, he's also one half of the Silver Columns duo.

'Through The Noise' looks eset to establish Wyler with UK audiences. Stripped back, soulful piano and the seering beauty of her own voice that comes as note perfect as you could wish.

Megan will be playing a single release show at Cecil Sharp House, London, on December 17. There will also be performances from Telegrams, Little Owl, The Geese and Seamus Fogarty.

November 30 2012 - Five Hot Ones For The Week

Delphic - Baiya




Swiss Lips - Carolyn




Loom - Bleed On Me




Woollen Kits - Susannah




Seasfire - We Will Wake

First Listen :: Loom

Released on December 3 in limited cassette form through Heart Throb Records, Loom offer the first chance to hear what the building hype around them is all about.

Until now the Warwickshire foursome (Tarik Badwan – vocals; Matt Marsh – guitar; Joshua Fitzgerald – guitar; Neil Byrne – drums)have been keeping it fairly low-key, with a small handful of support shows, some impressive swagger, and a setlist that whilst small, nevertheless holds enough to warrant a second hearing.

'Bleed On Me' and the b-sides are home recordings. The single includes a cover of The Misfits classic 'She', which the band also include in their live set. “I chose She because the original Misfits vocalist, Glenn Danzig, is one of my favourite singers. I'm a big fan of the original Misfits, visually and musically,” states Tarik.

A limited edition (of 100) will be available in MP3 320, FLAC, or other formats.
1. Bleed On Me
2. Lizard (Tape-Only)
3. She (Tape-Only)

There's not a lot to be found about them (though a mention in NME will have done them no disservice), and probably not helped by the fact that they seemed to have opted for a slight change of name during the early part of this year, going from 'Bloom' to a 'b'-less Loom. What you will find is that their name has been bigged up by Rachel Zeffira of Cat’s Eyes, who reently hailed them ‘a mix of Nirvana and The Misfits'. Though given her comrade Faris Badwan’s brother Tarik is the vocalist here that may not be totally unexpected praise.

Live they run a gamut of psychedelic, post-punk grunge - as evidenced on 'Bleed On Me', which live drowns in an effective finale shower of white noise drone. An impressive guitarist in Josh Fitzgerald and an even more eye-gripping frontman in Badwan, Loom could just turn out to be the big thing for next year.

Loom play London's Shacklewell Arms on November 30, where they will be opening for Temples.

Australia's Woollen Kits Pull The Wool Over No One's Eyes

Woollen Kits are a three piece outfit from sunny Melbourne, Australia - which you can sort of tell by their sunny, beach vibe songs. No bad thing, and they do it very well if this track 'Susannah' (below) from their 'Four Girls' album which has just been released on RIP Society. In Australia anyway, and they seemingly have reached as far as the US, so hang on UK they'll no doubt be here soon.

Some nice tees too, if you're Down Under.

The Woollen Kits EP launch is on December 8 at the Metro Hotel, Adelaide with Alpha Beta Fox and Bruff Superior.

Life In Film For New Year Debut Single Release

The London-based quartet Life In Film are set to kick of the new year of 2013 with the release of their debut Sony Music single 'Cold Wire' on January 28.

Following their self-released EP ‘Pins & Needles’ this year, 'Cold Wire' will be the first single off their forthcoming Stephen Street produced debut album and will be avilable as both a download and on 7” vinyl.

Life in Film are: Samuel Fry, Micky Osment, Edward Ibbotson and Dominic Sennétt.

The Weeknd Live On Later...

In the last of the present series of BBC2's 'Later...with Jools Holland' which aired last night (November 27), The Weeknd perform an impressive version of 'Wicked Games'.

Vinyl Jacket Strip Down For Burberry

Newcastle quintet Vinyl Jacket have stripped down for their Burberry aoustic session, performing a version of ‘Koala’ filmed against the beautiful backdrop of Wylam village.

Vinyl Jacket will release a new EP next year and premiere brand new material supporting Cattle and Cane at ARC Stockton Arts Centre Thursday December 20.

Nick Cave To Release 2013 Album

'Push the Sky Away' is set to be the fifteenth studio album by Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds and will be released on February 18 2013 on CD/Limited CD-DVD/Vinyl/Digital.

Track one "We No Who U R" is available from December 3. The track comes as a download with every pre-order album purchase via nickcave.com or iTunes. 'We No Who U R' will also be available as a single download from all digital retailers.


Tracklisting

We No Who U R

Wide Lovely Eyes

Water's Edge

Jubilee Street

Mermaids

We Real Cool

Finishing Jubilee Street

Higgs Boson Blues

Push The Sky Away


'Push the Sky Away' was produced by Nick Launay and recorded at La Fabrique, a recording studio based in a 19th Century mansion in the South of France, where the walls of the main studio are lined with an immense collection of classical vinyl.

Nick Cave: "I enter the studio with a handful of ideas, unformed and pupal; it's the Bad Seeds that transform them into things of wonder. Ask anyone who has seen them at work. They are unlike any other band on earth for pure, instinctive inventiveness."

Vancouver's Hippies Laurelle & Alexander Release Debut EP

The Canadian duo Laurelle & Alexander - who tag themselves 'hippies with computers' - have been quietly creating a lush wealth of dream pop and which they have just announced the release of. As a result of their achieving 500 likes on Facebook, their debut EP 'Life Underwater' is now being made available for free download, released on November 30 thru Boom Ting Recordings.

There's a fresh breeze of the (Whistler) mountain air (where the pair first met) about their work, that encompasses pop electronica, and layers of synth interwoven with Laurelle's silvery toned vocals, to create an ambient dream palette.

The EP also features a collaboration with producer and Lana Del Rey official remixer Etherwood, who has remixed 'Moon Kids' here. Standout track comes last, 'Lost Stardust'.

Seasfire EP Release And December Live Dates

Seasfire, the Bristolian quartet who have been setting hearts on fire over the last few months, have announced their debut EP 'We Will Wake' will be released on December 3.

Following support dates with Spector and King Charles, remixing Lana Del Ray and performing on the BBC Introducing stage at Reading & Leeds Festivals, the five track EP is being released via Hervé’s Cheap Thrills label.

At the same time the band will be playing a number of live dates throughout December, including The Louisiana, Bristol, for the EP launch on December 4, followed by December 10 at GoldDust in London; 11th The Soup Kitchen, Manchester; 15th Nottingham Stealth, Nottingham. They also support Bastille on December 6th Sub 89, Reading; 7th The Apex, Bury St Edmunds; 8th Kasbah, Coventry.

Birds Vs Planes :: Relative Worth

Carlisle-based fivesome Birds Vs. Planes are preparing to release their debut EP, 'Narrow Angles' in January 2013. Prior to that they are dropping this single release on December 17 (via Music Bakery).

Lead single 'Relative Worth' a track that epitomises their liking o=for anhular indie hooks and plenty of guitars with those stirring choruses that can lift you to the rafters.

French Synth Poppers Comett Give Away Free Download

With their debut album still in the works, French electro poppers Comett offer up an advance tempter with this free download for 'Time For Departure'.

Glistening with that je ne sais quoi that only the French have, Comett already delighted a year ago with their clever little video to 'Once Upon A Time'/'The City Of Lights'.

Comett are: Alex C-P - vocals, guitars, keyboards, bass, programming; Julien G -drums, programming, bass; Yoann Auzanneau (Artworks).

Manchester's Total Victory Debut Second Album

For their second album, 'National Service', Total Victory have gone the whole hog and recorded and mixed it themselves.

Released on November 5, the nine track selection reflects the Manchester five-piece's post punk heritage. Elements of The Fall and others to be detected, and it's as dark as it is in your face at times, but a minor victory for yet another Northerm offering.

Total Victory are: James Ellams - drums; Daniel Brookes - vox; Matthew Leonard - bass; Matthew Evans - guitar/keys; Martin Mansell - guitar.

Upcoming shows:

November 24 Dog & Patriridge, Bolton
December 7 Jackson's Pit, Oldham
December 20 The Bay Horse, Manchester.

First Listen :: The Dead Fronts

The Dead Fronts are a London five piece who created their debut EP - which came out this week via their own Kiossk Records label - in a London garage after scrapping together equipment.

Brought together by a mutual thirst to create music that blended their eclectic shared taste. Having stumbled upon an unkempt garage in North London, they decided to build themselves a modest but solid studio. Begging, ‘borrowing’ and kidnapping equipment; they recorded and produced their debut EP 'Dangerous Impressions' themselves.

Part retro in feel, part very much of today, makes for an interesting mix and one that you want to hear more of: indie dark, yet poppy enough to be radio friendly.

The Dead Fronts are: Jordan Smith (Vocals), Gaz Tomlinson (Guitar / Vocals), Russell Ditchfield (Guitar / Vocals), Muz McHattie (Bass) and Stu Roberts (Drums).

Theatre Royal Offer Free Download

Theatre Royal, the four-piece psych-pop outfit who have been steadily gatehring praise from across their Medway Towns homebase and beyond, have now released the opening track of their new album for free download.

'Powder Blue' comes from their second album 'At The End Of A River, The Sea...' which is out now.

Take a listen to it here and take a peek at their recent DIY video for a b-side release 'Down South With The Chameleons' - full of cowboys and prairie dogs. Bit like a Sunday afternoon Western really.

Torches Video Release Someone Needs A RItual

Torches - Someone Needs a Ritual from Torches on Vimeo.

After we told you about them here, the electric Torches now delight us with the video release for 'Someone Needs A Ritual'.

Their follow-up to 'Sky Blue & Ivory', 'Someone...' was dropped thru Heart Throb Records at the beginning of November; a double A side with 'Wolves'.

November 23 2012 - Five Hot Ones For The Week

Exitmusic - The Modern Age




The 1975 - Sex




Waylayers - Love Locked




Embers - Hollow Cage




Sin Cos Tan - Bittersweet

Embers Unveil Epic Grandeur From Gorton Monastery

Embers, a four-piece from Manchester, have taken their cinematic approach to a new level with this seven-minute gem 'Hollow Cage' that manages to send shivers down the spine as it builds on strings and atmosphere, to leave you feeling at its end that you have just witnessed a band with enormous potential for the future.

They practically crashed Twitter when this was unveiled yesterday. See for yourself what the fuss is all about.

Embers - Hollow Cage from Embers on Vimeo.

Having released their debut double A side single 'Sins Unknown'/'Tunnel Vision' just awhile ago, Embers made known the fact that they like to wield the power of dramatic finales, and when incorporating strings and a harmony choir as they do on this - recorded live at Gorton Monastery - the effect is triumphant and assured.


Hear debut single 'Sins Unknown' below.

Kodaline Have The Answer

The Dubliners Kodaline have put out a video for their new track 'The Answer', taken from 'The High Hopes EP', which will be out in March 2013.

The band will also be playing the following upcoming dates:

26/11/12 - Manchester - Night & Day
27/11/12 - London - Hoxton Bar & Kitchen
28/11/12 - London - Sebright Arms
02/12/12 - Dublin - Button Factory
03/12/12 - Belfast - McHugh's
14/12/12 - London - Save the Children - Christmas Tree Sessions @ Union Chapel with Spiritualized, Fyfe Dangerfield, Band of Skulls, Josh Kumra and Summer Camp

Divine Fits - Would That Not Be Nice

Divine Fits, the band consisting of Britt Daniel (Spoon), Dan Boeckner (Wolf Parade) and Sam Brown (New Bomb Turks), have announced details of the release of a new single.

'Would That Not Be Nice' will be released through ANTI Records on November 26 2012.

The single is taken from their debut album, A Thing Called Divine Fits, which was produced by Nick Launay (Nick Cave, Grinderman, Yeah Yeah Yeahs) and released in August of this year.

Divine Fits will also be playing a very special brace of shows with The Black Keys in Las Vegas on December 30 & 31.


Watch the video, directed by musician, artist and filmmaker Brian Butler here:

Iberia Debut Single Release

Take two Swedes, place them in Germany, give them the name of a peninsula, then release a dreamy pop-electronica single. The result is Iberia's 'An Ending (Ascent)', released as a double A side single on November 16 (with 'A Finale').

The project of Alexander Palmestål and Maja Millner (of Makthaverskan), collectively known as Iberia, this is the debut release of the now Berlin residents.

TOY Announce New Single Release

TOY have announced details of another single release to round off what has been a monumental year for the London-based psych rockers.

'Make It Mine' will be released through Heavenly Recordings on December 10 2012. Released as a 12” and download, it also will also feature a Richard Fearless remix of Drifting Deeper alongside 2 unreleased tracks, 'Live Electronics' and 'She's Over My Head'.

The single is taken from their self-titled debut album which was released in September.

'Make It Mine' was recorded during the spring of 2012 with Dan Carey at studio in south London as part of the album sessions.

This year has seen TOY take on an extensive U.K tour (which included a sold-out London Heaven show) as well as a previous 4-week residency at the Shacklewell Arms in London in January, and appear at most of the leading festivals over the summer including Reading / Leeds, Latitude, Bestival, End Of The Road, Festival No.6 and Green Man.

November 16 2012 - Five Hot Ones For The Week

Velcro Hooks - Girlfren




The Soft Walls - House Concern




Les Mistons - Heat The Flowers




Woman's Hour - Our Love Has No Rhythm




Oxygen Thieves - I Can't Play Guitar

Battleships Release Debut Mini-Album

Battleships, the Australian indie rock/folk quartet have just released their debut 7-track mini album 'To You', following singles 'In Retrospect' and 'Your Words' earlier this year.

'In Retrospect' was the first track to grab attention with its blend of haunting vocals and atmospheric, intelligent musicianship, while follow up single 'Your Words' pushed their sound to the next level, cementing their unique sonic aesthetic.





As well as finding themselves in high rotation on Australia's Triple J, the band have been supported by 6 Music's Lauren Laverne and Radcliffe and Maconie, as well as receiving a slew of critical acclaim.

The Soft Walls Album Taster

Recorded over the course of a nine month period, The Soft Walls release their self-titled debut album on December 3 via Tough Love.

The solo product of Brighton-based Cold Pumas member and Faux Discx overseer, Dan Reeves, The Soft Walls offers a raft of sonic textures that nestle psychedelic folk, ambient sounds, lo-fidelity garage, disjointed krautrock, and the more inward-looking mutations of house all together in a way that is both isolating, yet all-enveloping and hypnotic.

And if that's not enough, you've also got a "fog of tape static, claustrophobic ambience and the cavernous effect applied to Reeves’ vocal".

Previously released via Reeves’ Bandcamp page and as a limited edition cassette on Suplex, Tough Love are now making the record available on limited edition vinyl (100 copies only) as well as through all the usual digital services.

Take a listen to 'Human Concern' amd 'Black Cat' from the album here:

The Family Rain - Trust Me I'm A Genius

Smoke flares, dodgy bicycle riding and a bunch of three possible joyriders. Trust them? Not too sure we would on the basis of this video to accompany their debut single release, but 'Trust Me I'm A Genius' is otherwise a hot rod of a tune.

Bluesy, rocky and plenty of balls along with cutting guitar riffs and saw- honed vox here from Bath brothers Will, Tim and Ollie Walter who together make up The Family Rain.

Upcoming live shows:

November 14
BATH, The Porter Cellar Bar

December 6
MANCHESTER, Ruby Lounge

December 9
GLASGOW, King Tut's

December 10
ABERDEEN, Tunnels

December 11
EDINBURGH, Electric Circus

December 12
DUNFERMLINE, PJ Molloys

The Lumineers Announce New Date

After playing their third only sold out London show at Koko last night and with February’s show at Shepherd’s Bush Empire sold out, The Lumineers have announced a headline show at Brixton Academy in March due to phenomenal public demand.

The sold out show at Shepherd’s Bush Empire takes place on February 20th 2013 with the new date at Brixton Academy on March 11. Tickets for Brixton Academy go on sale this Friday at 9am.

Fresh out of Denver, the band are an enigmatic trio comprising of Brooklyn-to-Denver transplants Wesley Schultz, Jeremiah Fraites and Neyla Pekarek. The band’s incredible success has come through touring and word of mouth while interest from international labels was triggered after a breath-taking performance at this year’s SXSW festival and in June they signed a license deal for the album with Universal’s Decca Records.

The Lumineers have become one of the biggest success stories of the year in the US, having sold over 500,000 copies of their debut self-titled album and 1 million single downloads of their debut single ‘Ho Hey’ in less than 7 months through the independent Nashville-based label, Dualtone. ‘Ho Hey’ will be officially released in the UK on 19th November and is already at #10 in this week’s midweek chart. You can watch the video for ‘Ho Hey’ here - http://bit.ly/HoHeyOfficialVideo. Their self-titled debut album is out now.

Full tour dates, which have all been upgrade due to demand, are as follows:

February

Sun 17 Liverpool Academy

Mon 18 Glasgow ABC

Tue 19 Manchester Ritz

Wed 20 London Shepherd’s Bush Empire (sold out)

Fri 22 Bristol Academy

Sat 23 Birmingham HMV Institute

Sun 24 Brighton Concorde 2

March

Mon 11 London Brixton Academy

Have a look at this fan footage below of The Lumineers at their ‘secret’ pop-up show at London’s Sebright Arms last Saturday, where after their gig they went upstairs to the pub and did an impromptu performance of their debut single ‘Ho Hey’

War Child Army Of You - Spector, Tribes - live November 18 2012

War Child have announced Spector wand Tribes will be joining the line up of their Army of You gig oin November 18 2012 at the Assembly Hall, Islington, London.

There will also be DJ sets from Friendly Fires, Raf Daddy (The 2 Bears), and Orlando Boom.

Four years of Army Of You shows, have included early performances from now household names including The Noisettes, Metronomy, Friendly Fires, The Invisible, We Have Band and Crystal Fighters. Since it formed in 1993 War Child has built a reputation at the forefront of the music industry, working with established artists and the hottest new acts, celebrating live music and its power to change peoples’ lives.

War Child aims to protect children who are hit hardest by war and its consequences including street children, child soldiers and children in prison. With projects in Afghanistan, Democratic Republic of Congo, Central African Republic, Iraq, Uganda and most recently Syria. War Child works on the simple but undeniable truth that children don’t start wars, but their homes, schools, families and communities are torn apart by war.

Advance tickets are available priced £13.50 + booking fee from http://www.seetickets.com

What's So Good About Calling All Astronauts?

After seeing the video for “What’s So Good About?” the new single by London’s politically charged, Alternative Electro Rockers Calling All Astronauts, Irvine Welsh tweeted "Brilliant. Fucking amazing. With robotic vocal, I felt like I was an alien looking down on Earth and going, your planet is shit"

So with that kind of commendation, worth a listen, right?

“What’s So Good About?” will be released on December 2, and is already receiving support from BBC 6Music’s Tom Robinson and Ireland’s RTE 2XM

Calling All Astronauts play Mother Live in London on December 7.

Lizzie And The Yes Men - Deserts

Following the release of their debut single “The Broadwalk” (which grabbed the attention of Channel 4, Nemone and Chris Hawkins to name a few), London quartet Lizzie and The Yes Men have announced the release of new single ‘Deserts’.

Describing themselves as ‘Tarantino surf-pop,’ Lizzie and The Yes Men combine their love for the cinematic sounds of Tarantino with surf, pop and desert rock, drawing inspiration from bands such as Best Coast, The Ronettes, Love and the Dum Dum Girls.

2012 saw Lizzie and the Yes Men perform shows in the UK, Sweden and France as well as an Italian tour. They are now preparing for a few London shows to coincide with the release of 'Deserts'.

November 24 - Unit 2, 2A Foulden Road, Dalston, London

December 6 - Bedroom Bar, Shoreditch, London

December 13 - Bopp Club, Hysteria, Dalston, London

Lizzie and the Yes Men are: Lizzie Holdforth, Andy Goodman, Keir Greenaway, Brendan Bailey.

'Deserts' is released digitally on December 10 2012.

O F F Is Well Loved

Who is O F F Love? Why is he here? What is he about? All we know is that a) it IS a 'he' ( the yin/yang masked covering he purveys in live outings gives nothing else away) b) he has opened for the likes of Kindness and How To Dress Well c) he is minimalist to the point of extreme d) once heard/seen, you're not likely to forget in a hurry.

Avec Sans Free Download 'The Answer'

The driving pop synths of electro duo Avec Sans return with the infectious 'The Answer'. If you like your electro with plenty of glitchy beats and catchyhooks, you'll love this from the London-based pair.

The track is available now as a free download from Soundcloud, and is scheduled for an official release through Sans Records on December 10.


Get a free download here:




Watch the video here:

Interview: John Kennedy

This year is the 20th anniversary of one of the country’s best loved radio stations, Xfm. John Kennedy, who has been with the station right from its inception, has been hosting the longest running of all the specialist music shows during that time, four nights a week. X-Posure focuses on cutting edge and alternative music, from genres across the board, and was the first to give airplay to demos of The xx, Adele and Mumford & Sons amongst others.

With the vocal tone of a young Bob Harris and the record collection even John Peel himself would have been proud of, Kennedy is the presenter who lets the music be the ‘star’, unlike many other DJs whose egos are bigger than any artist they will ever spin a disc by. Champion of breaking unheard of artists – and who was recently one of the Barclaycard Mercury Prize judges – Hooting & Howling finds out a little more about the man behind the mic.

Continue reading the full interview at Hooting & Howling:
http://hootingandhowling.com/interview-john-kennedy-xfm/

November 9 - Five Hot Ones For The Week

Father Sculptor - Dysmirror




Flamingods - Quesso




The Prison Library - Lovesick




Avec Sans - The Answer




Monochrome - Glimmer of Hope

Torches + Loom + Chateaux - Live Review Old Queens Head, London, November 2 2012

Early on a Friday evening in an Islington pub it’s more about the drinking and meeting before quite getting onto the spirit of the musical offerings. And so it was, as is oft the case with any first-on-the-bills, that when the young, fresh-faced Chateaux took to the stage of the Old Queens Head at their allotted time, most of the punters were still presumably supping on their lagers in the downstairs bar. For the handful that ventured upstairs early to see this bunch of 18-year-olds in what was only their sixth live show to date, it would have been worth the climb...

Continue reading the full review at Shout 4 Music: http://www.shout4music.com/live/torches--loom--chateux--old-queens-head-london-21112

Josh Kumra To Play Union Chapel Prior To Single Release

Josh Kumra is the young 21-year-old from Swindon, Wiltshire, who is fast picking up a name, not least in his comparisons to Ray LaMontagne or Ben Harper.

Unless you spent the summer of 2011 on Plane Zed, you wil no doubt have come across his voice when Wretch 32 re-worked one of his songs, ‘Don’t Go’, leading to a #1 single and Josh taking to the stages of Glastonbury and V, as well as performing on ‘Later With Jools Holland’ and Radio One’s Live Lounge.

‘Waiting For You’ is a suitably accomplished first taster of what Kumra will be delivering on his debut long player; a song that sees Josh’s exquisitely textured, husky vocals preside over a choir of gravel-digging gospel and marching blues soul, it is stylistically evocative of both Gnarls Barkley and of Kanye West’s ‘Jesus Walks', with the beautiful and distinctive production coming courtesy of the renowned artist Fink.

'Waiting For You' is released on January 6 2013 on RCA.

Josh will be playing at the Union Chapel on December 14 2012, and will also be opening for Lianne La Havas on Feb 28, March 1, 2, 4 2013

Watch the video for ‘Waiting For You’ here:

Cold Pumas Debut Album

Cold Pumas are the Brighton based motorik trio who have just this week released their debut album, Persistent Malaise, on a three-way split between Faux Discx, Gringo Records and Italian Beach Babes.

If persistent drones are not your bag, then the Pumas style is maybe not for you, but for anyone else there's plenty of trash-garage to keep you psyching out for 40 minutes.

Stepping out from the lo-fi scene, a series of small releases which included split singles with the likes of Fair Ohs and Male Bonding, Cold Pumas now go for the big one with a full album.

Cold Pumas are Oliver Fisher, Patrick Fisher, Dan Reeves.

Man Without Country Unveil New Track

After their date with M83 at Brixton Academy on November 8, the Welsh electronic duo Man Without Country release their next single 'Migrating Clay Pigeon' on November 26.

Included on the single package is 'Nanosea', a languid, epic track of dense, enveloping layers showing Man Without Country confidently developing the nuances of their signature sound. Starting with a tense rhythm, it transforms effortlessly into a thrilling take on the widescreen cinematic sound with soaring guitars and a hypnotic groove.

Nanosea is exclusive to the single package - and not included on debut album Foe.

The Cellophane Flowers - Album Release And London Shows

The Cellophane Flowers are about to embark on a mini tour over the next month to showcase some new and old material in celebration of their new album 'Staring At The World' which is being released digitally on December 3 2012. The ten tracks were recorded and produced by David M. Allen. Dave’s extensive discography covers The Cure, Depeche Mode, Human League and The Charlatans. Mastering was by Barry Grint (David Bowie, I Blame Coco) at Alchemy Studios, Staring at the World, which is set to be released on December 3.

Upcoming dates are:
Brixton Village: Friday November 9
Kilburn Powers Bar: Saturday November 10
Album Launch Party // Paper Dress London: Thursday December 6
The Standards presents @ The Constitution: Sat February 23 2013

The Cellophane Flowers - a four piece hailing from all different corners of the world, but settled in London - have taken elements of an eclectic variety of different music and influences to create a gorgeous anthology of sensational indie pop. The album was produced by Dave Allen (The Cure / Depeche Mode / Human League / The Charlatans), and it’s a great continuation from the critical success gained from their recent EP If I Was A Girl, which came out last year.

The ‘Flowers are the masters of driving, quirky pop. Their songs reflect an eclectic array of influences from tribal drumming to West Coast alt-rock to the dark tinge of 80’s pop. Though bustling with ideas, the band leaves the sublime vocals of singer Francesca Corradini with the room to bring their songs to life – there are no superfluous special effects, the organic feel of the music would be perfectly suited to vinyl, a fact that hasn’t escaped the band who always give their CD artwork an LP look and feel.

Staring at the World offers beautiful, delicate vocals infused with haunting melodies, encapsulated in splendour and driven by passion and bursting with modern day tales.

Foals Announce Single 'Inhaler' And London Show

To much anticipation Foals yesterday (November 5) unveiled their new single, the heavier and three-minute long 'Inhaler', together with the announcement of a major ondon gig.

The band will release the follow-up to 'Total Life Forever' on February 11 2013.

They are also set to headline London's Royal Albert Hall on March 28, with Efterklang as support.

Tickets are on sale from 9am on November9.

Wave Machines Follow Up Single With New Year Album & Tour

Following the sucess of their single 'Ill Fit', and with their new album Pollen out on January 21 2013 (through Neapoliatn / Pias), Wave Machines have announced a UK tour headline tour to open 2013, including London Scala on February 6.

January 31 BATH, Moles

February 1 LIVERPOOL, Kazimier

February 2 GLASGOW, Broadcast

February 3 NEWCASTLE, The Cluny

February 5 NOTTINGHAM, The Bodega

February 6 LONDON, Scala

February 7 SOUTHAMPTON, Joiners

The new album entitled Pollen, was written and recorded at St Brides Church in Liverpool and in producer Lexxx's studio in London.

With a focus on consistent sonic and musical themes, Pollen was conceived as a more cohesive whole than their debut. If Wave If You're Really There revelled in their first experiements with pop and its protagonists' misadventures in love and life, Pollen exists in the shadowy and contradictory emotions aroused by long-term friendship and unconditional love.

Ivory Seas Announce Debut Single And Free Download

At long last, the London based outfit Ivory Seas announce the release of their long-awaited debut AA single. Out on December 3, 'Still Brooding' / 'Mothers Tongue' is produced by Richard Formby.

Adam Heron (vocals / keys / Ggitar) Thomas Walker (guitar / vocals / keys) met at Southampton University whilst both studying Fine Art Photography in 2008. During their studies, the pair began to write and demo songs until leaving the south coast in pursuit of finding other musicians in London.

In 2010 Adam met George Latham (drums / pad) whilst working at a record shop near Soho and showed him some early demos. The trio began rehearsing in a derelict pub in South London before meeting Brendan O’Boyle (bass). With the completed line up the band relocated to East London to a bedroom come makeshift studio.

Settling themselves there amongst vintage keyboards and other instruments that adorned the room, they spent the next few months writing, experimenting and developing their intricate brand of ambient pop. They then sought out Mercury nominated producer Richard Formby (Wild Beasts, Egyptian Hip Hop, Darkstar), and after striking an initial bond were invited to record in his Leeds studio.

Ivory Seas play a free show tomorrow (November 3) at The Nest in Stoke Newington, London, followed by a date at The Lexington, London, with Get People and Cave Painting on December 6.

Hear the double A side release below - and get a free download of 'Still Brooding' for your further listening pleasure.

November 2 2013 - Five Friday Hot Ones

Torches - Someone Needs A Ritual / Wolves




The Bloogs - Freezing Rain




Waylayers - Magnets





Spectres - 14 Years





TOWNS - Mirror Ghost

By The Sea Debut Album Release

Merseysiders By The Sea release their self-titled debut album on November 19 through Dell'Orso Records, and on vinyl via Great Pop Supplement.

Earlier single release "Dream Waters" (recorded and produced with close friend Bill Ryder-Jones - The Coral, Double Six Records) in various bedrooms, garages and churches, gave a clue to hallmarks: dreamy guitar sounds, reverb-soaked melodies. Since that time they have been solidly creating a little niche for themselves, and you can see why. Dreampop is how they're labelled and with more gentle breaks than crashing waves, their ambiently accessible flow looks like being 'by the sea' is a place many converts to this latest 'Mersey sound' will be in 2013.

Comparisons to early Stone Roses may or may not be a bad thing, but like fellow young Northerners, MONEY, they are pulling on past influences and making them sound like the the most disorientating love affair that ever failed.

"Dream Waters" is the current GPS 7” single, and "Alone Together" will appear as a single in January.

Saint Saviour Tour And Single Release

Saint Saviour, the Stockton-on-Tees chanteuse, releases the second single from her debut album 'Union' on November 5.

Best known as co-writer and front woman for Groove Armada, 'Tightrope' glides across a pop frontier with her powerful vocals leading a gospel-like emotional rush.


Saint Saviour is on tour now across the UK:

November 2 - Georgian Theatre, Stockton
November 6 - Slade Room, Wolverhampton
November 9 - Bodega, Nottingham
November 11 - Trof, Manchester
November 12 - The Harley, Sheffield
November 13 - Hare & Hounds, Birmingham
November 14 - Cookie Jar, Leicester
November 18 - Sticky Mike's, Brighton
November 19 - Joiners, Southampton
November 20 - The Lexington, London