There’s a riot goin on and Mike Torpey is gettin involved.
Ebony Bones: The Muzik – Single of the Week.
With hair to make Marouane Fellaini look like a skinhead, a no rules approach and scorching vocals, Ebony Bones is a one-woman Sly And The Family Stone – she’s that good.
The Muzik, from her debut album Bone Of My Bones, is a dazzling blend of pop, rock, dance and disco.
Fresh and captivating, Ebony’s the real thing.
Carolina Liar: Show Me What I’m Looking For.
Loads of production as you might expect from a Max Martin (Britney, Katy Perry, Kelly Clarkson) collaboration.
Soaring vocals and pop hooks but nothing new. Soft rock by numbers.
The Rumble Strips: Not The Only Person.
Summery vibes with a hint of Lou Reed, singer-guitarist Charlie Waller‘s lays down an apology to muggers who made a seriously bad move by jumping him and his wife.
She put the shits up the pair of them, spurring Charlie to write, ‘come back tomorrow night alone, and you can take anything you want‘.
Brave invitation, fabulous song.
Yusuf: Thinking ‘Bout You.
The artist once known as Cat Stevens has dropped the Islam bit and is now simply called Yusuf.
Common opinion is that he’s picked up where the Cat left off in the mid-70s. Nothing to touch Where Do The Children Play or Father And Son here though.
Could be destined for Songs Of Praise.
Little Boots: New In Town.
Massive hype behind Victoria Hesketh aka Little Boots is well founded.
She’s a major talent with a unique, refreshing sound – stylophone, Tonorion flashing music box and synths.
The edgy New In Town, about being a stranger in a strange place (in this case LA), is a hooky, beat-driven belter from debut album Hands, and a certain hit.
Bombay Bicycle Club: Always Like This.
Compelling melodies from heavily hyped north London quartet.
Jack Steadman‘s tremulous voice tows the whole thing along ahead of a bass groove.
Infectious stuff.
Hockey: Learn To Lose.
Seventies disco meets Sixties soul and brings it all up to speed with a punchy arangement and spot-on vocals.
Crap name but Hockey can make it big. Catch them at the O2 Academy in September.
Enter Shikari: Juggernauts.
Hardcore metal goes full tilt with melodic pop and dreamy rock in an explosion of madness, mayhem and Mike Skinner attitude. gets better with every hearing.
Fanfarlo: Drowning Men/Sand And Ice.
More of the superb strings and keyboards, less of the Snow Patrol strumming and Fanfarlo could be massive.
Simon Balthazar sounds like he’s singing through a muzzle though.
Placebo: For What It’s Worth.
From their first album for three years, For What It’s Worth sees Placebo back to their best ahead of the European festival season. Driving guitar beat inflected with a catchy synth hook.
The Maybes?: Trick Of The Light.
Brilliant offering with a powerful production if nothing too adventurous. A must for fans of The Verve.