Maths: Descent
It is the rhythmic sensibilities, rather than the actual screamo element, that make Descent so appealing. Being able to pack a punch and provide sparse haunting sections all in one fluid movement makes this Norfolk-based quartet a sure hit.
Eliza Doolittle: Eliza Doolittle EP
Ah Lily Allen, you have a lot to answer for. How were you to know that your unique sound and image would be saturated by swathes of pretenders all scrambling for a chance to sit on your perky, cheeky cockney-pop throne?
Katatonia: Night Is The New Day
Swedish doom-metal is not everyone's idea of an easy listen, but Katatonia - the five-piece from Stockholm - has thankfully evolved from the early days of grinding guitars, growling vocals and a distinct lack of tunes.
Tegan And Sara: Sainthood
Sisters Tegan and Sara Quin never wrote a song together. In their 11-plus years as Tegan and Sara, the process for the Canadian duo has always been the same: write separately and hash things out at a later date. So when they tried to write together recently for their fifth album Sainthood, the collective experiment...
Little Boots hits back over 'fat' jibes
Little Boots, aka Victoria Hesketh, has lashed out at people who criticise her for her weight. The Blackpool-born singer-songwriter has admitted that she finds it difficult when people make comments about her appearance. Hesketh posted on her Twitter last week: “ok getting really bored of people calling me fat online now… diet started yesterday, you...
Devendra Banhart: What We Will Be
Devendra Banhart is the Hare Krishna’s poster boy. Not one to dally with themes of tension, conflict or hatred, but instead composing the kind of fuzzy warbling gems that furry children’s book characters might include on mix CDs for their woodland pals.
A groovy kind of love
And still she waits; the perennial bride of our time. With extra buttons loosened and an ever shortening skirt, on show is a sordid foreplay that would normally raise a chorus of "get a room!".
Singles club: 23/11/09
This week's singles are mostly depressing, however there's an unlikely saviour in one of the Fratellis...
Codeine Velvet Club: Codeine Velvet Club
Codeine Velvet Club is a side-project of Fratellis lead singer Jon Fratelli (real name John Lawler). He has teamed up with accomplished chanteuse Lou Hickey to create this quirkily retro album of the same name while on a break from his main job.
N-Dubz: Against All Odds
Against All Odds is the second outing from Camden-based N-Dubz, the moniker of three South London school-friends. Following on from the somewhat unexpected success of their first album Uncle B, the trio have switched record labels, taken a strongly bouncy route, and released the new LP.
