Captain Black

Sister
Bumpman

Camden’s Captain Black latest single kicks off on a Kooks skiffle pop routine. Vocalist Keith Austin retains that Kooks feel throughout Sister and to be fair this track and back up track Jack Sheppard race along with enough musical variety to keep the interest going. more… “Captain Black”

Looker

Spit For Your Shine
Serious Business Records

Without looking I guessed that this was an all girl band. I was almost correct. The not so clever band name gives it away but also the lame Bangles and GoGo’s copycat stuff really hurts. more… “Looker”

Less Than Me

Three Track Demo
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A very polished three track demo which is actually far too good to be classed as demo material. Excellent, sharp guitar underpins all the tracks but never overtakes the melodies and allows the songs to shine out beyond the Marshall stack. more… “Less Than Me”

Basia Bulat

In The Night
Rough Trade

All the way from Ontario, Basia Bulat is, so the PR blub states, a blend of folk and chamber pop. Listening through these three songs I have yet to understand what chamber pop could possibly be however there is a definite 60’s feel to all three tracks. more… “Basia Bulat”

James Hara

Nothing New
Electric Pig Records

Glasgow based Irish acoustic alt-folk artist James Hara releases the single ‘Nothing New’, lifted from his debut album Take Us The Foxes. Pulsating, driving acoustic guitar leads the way in this short and enjoyable track. more… “James Hara”

Revere

A Soundless Tree
Albino Recordings

How a band could produce four songs so banal and yet so completely contrived is honestly quite startling. A Soulless Tree would have been a more accurate title. more… “Revere”

Hats

Last Year's Man
Saints Recording

Billed as a “thundering single”, Hats ‘Last Year’s Man’ is more throb than thunder. more… “Hats”

Holly Rose

I Don't Care
Old and Wise Productions

Many debut singles will be part of an artist’s forgettable catalogue in the years that follow but Holly Rose will have something fondly to look back on with this simple reggae driven pop song. more… “Holly Rose”

Imperial Leisure

In A Letter
ORG Records

An excellent five tracker single from hip-hop, soul, ska and rock ten-piece Imperial Leisure. Title track In A Letter will punch its way onto any ipod, a fantastic balls-out example of why Imperial Leisure has become a renowned live act. more… “Imperial Leisure”