Yes, I love Bloc Party. We’ve already covered this fact. Here’s their new single, One More Chance.

I’m loving the fact that Bloc Party are simply releasing material whenever it suits them, not waiting for predictable industry schedules to release their music. If only the rest of the industry had their balls, I thikn it wouldn’t be struggling so much. Good music, good ideas. How the industry should be.

Enjoy the sun everyone, and have a great weekend.

http://www.vimeo.com/5231891

I was initially drew to VV Brown following on from her eye-catching and boundlessly energetic performance on coveted music show, Later with Jools Holland, way back in September of last year. With her 50s rockabilly-come-80s Grace Jones stylee, that amazing flat top fringe, and of course her swinging indie-pop to boot, VV Brown has since colourfully catapulted into the musical limelight.

Growing up amongst the records of Aretha Franklin and Ella Fitzergald, VV, real name Vanessa Brown, declined places from the likes of Oxford and King’s College London University in order to pursue her own musical passions. She purchased a guitar from a charity shop, removed all it’s strings but one and alas, her dream was born. With it’s catchy doo-wop hooks, ‘Crying Blood’, VV’s debut single, proved to be her big breakthrough hit. Since then, Brown has gone from strength to strength – most recently returning after her performance at Glastonbury Festival this weekend.

‘Shark in the Water’, VV’s upcoming single, is solid musical proof of this stylish lady’s ability to produce genuinely well-crafted songs. Starting off with kooky “Ooh ooh oohs” echoing the girl groups of the 60s, powerful Winehouse-esque vocals proceed to kick in as Brown sings “Sometimes I get my head in a divvy, feeling so lost, ticking you off.”. Then, in kicks the full-blown, emotionally epic chorus. “Baby, there’s a shark in the water!”, VV passionately sings to the backing of tippity tap percussion and retro brass. Basically – this soulful ballad has Radio 1 playlist stamped all over it.

Liking the sound of it? Well, why not watch the video to ‘Shark in the Water’, below

Pre-order a digital download of the single, which is released on Monday (July 6th), for just 50p over at 7Digital

VV Brown’s debut album, Travelling Like the Light, meanwhile, is set to be just released a few weeks later on July 20th. Pre-order the record now over at Amazon.co.uk for just £6.98

I first featured Richard Walters on Monday with a free MP3 for you to enjoy. I was fortunate enough to sit down with Richard earlier this week…

Hello Richard. What are you up to today?

We’re painting our bedroom and some furniture, and generally melting in the heat.

For the uninitiated amongst our readers, what do you reckon you sound like?

A heartbroken choirboy. A really well weathered, 27 year old choirboy.

How are you finding Paris in comparison to Oxford? Anything you really miss from the UK?

Paris really reminds me of Oxford in many ways, especially in the summer. I think it’s the museumy feel of both places – lots of grand buildings and hidden green corners. I love being over here, I like getting lost, and being new enough here to still be able to get completely lost… It’s a bit of a maze. There are so many things I miss, all small though… All very English… Decent tea, Marks and Spencer’s overpriced food, eavesdropping on the train…

Oxford’s about a 30 minute drove for me (I’m in Southern Oxfordshire)… where were / are your favourite places in the city?

I used to live in Jericho, so ended up spending far too much time on the Jericho Tavern, the Victoria, G & D’s… I spent a lot of time in East Oxford too, Cowley Road, South Park, the Star…so many amazing places.

I love that you’re writing about topics other than the usual love stories. Was this intentional, or just something that happened naturally?

Thank you very much. I think it happened over time; I tried to find twists and different angles to move away from the straight ballad that it’s so easy to fall into writing when you’re younger. It’s a good starting block for a lyric, but love songs more often than not end up sounding hideously contrived and like a complete lie… It has to be soul-baringly honest to carry any real weight, or you have to mess with the delivery of the words and sentiment.

On songwriting – how does it start for you? Lyrical concept? A riff? Turn of phrase? Or a drug fuelled orgy that results in a great song?

Hahaha, I tend to avoid group sex song writing. I’ve always found that a song just happens… If I sit down with the intention of writing a song, most of the time it’s not going to achieve an awful lot, or not anything that I’m willing to air… I tend to write when I least expect it, and it’s always words and melody together… Just singing lines that jump out, revising it, cutting and changing melodies and structure, building it then knocking it down again and again. It’s probably not the most efficient route but anything else feels like cheating to me.

Before going on stage, do you have any rituals?

I cross my fingers on both hands 2 times. I have no idea why, I’ve just always done it, a secret superstitionist… or maybe I’m stretching my fingers.

Finally, what’s one thing we wouldn’t normally know about you?

I was a bit metal when I was younger, I listened to a lot of Machine Head, Pantera, Monster Magnet… Until I was about 16, my life’s ambition was to appear in Kerrang. I don’t see that happening now.

One of the latest hyped bands to make it to our ears is Wolf Gang. Whilst the name may suggest a band, it’s actually just Max McElligott, a part Irish, part German LSE drop out who fell in love with music and out of love with studies.

Enjoy these two tracks, which are both multicoloured, multilayered, and quite different to much that’s out at the moment. I don’t know what else to say really – every listen I hear more, it’s very intricate and glorious. Take a listen.

MP3: Wolf Gang – Night Flying
MP3: Wolf Gang – Pieces of You

I first featured Marc Carroll back in May, and this is the second single to be taken from his forthcoming album, Dust of Rumour. It’s even better than the first, a proper summer feel-good track.

Johnny Foreigner’s new album, ‘Grace And The Bigger Picture’ is out on 26th October and as a first peek, we have “Feels Like Summer” for you. Short ‘n’ sweet at under 2 minutes, it’s got no fat, and is great fun. Also, the video is below.

MP3: Johnny Foreigner – Feels Like Summer

http://www.vimeo.com/5296899

Modern folk music is tainted with a reputation for being tired and uninspired, and so Joker’s Daughter had that much harder a task with her debut album. Released on Domino Records this album is a pleasant delight and is the latest in a string of brilliant dream-pop releases this year (see Dakota Suite).

The gazed indie-folk reaches a seventh cloud peak on ‘Go Walking,’ a track as calm and laid back as they come. They lyrics are simple and the looped guitar riff maintains the simplicity of the track. Producer Danger Mouse is on top from (as always) and this ‘unique’ combination is both intriguing and oddly fantastic.

Perhaps it’s just that I’m a sucker for softer female vocals but the album encaptures the essence of hippy-esque folk which has been missing for so long. There are plenty more highlights through the record as Costas continues to reinvent the initial appeal track by track. Danger Mouse’s influence is apparent on many tracks (The Last Laugh) and the mix of gentle acoustic strumming and electronic beats works magically through the rest of the record (Under the influence of Jaffa Cakes,Chasing Tickling Crocodile).

The album maintains more of what we might expect (Jelly Belly) and juggles a step in a new direction with traditionally generic features without making an absolute mess of it all which must be comended (considering how many artists fall into the dreaded progression trap). Overall a sound effort and a solid album which is bound to go unnoticed by the mainstream (for now at least) though lets hope that by album number two Ms. Costas is given the bigger push in the limelight she deserves – especially when we consider the standards of some of mainstream pops leading ‘ladies’ (Lady BlahBlah).

I’m a huge Defend Moscow fan, so today’s video of the day is their forthcoming single, “Die Tonight”, a moody affair for their debut video. Also, enjoy the B-side, “Sign of Life” below.

MP3: Defend Moscow – Sign of Life

“A white sandwich and a Guinness Stout
But with the beer though I had a bout
So I exchanged it for some apple juice
I had the blues but I shook them loose”

- A Tribe Called Quest ‘After Hours’

And so is the inspiration for the title of North London indie quartet Bombay Bicycle Club’s debut album. We spoke to the band last year fresh off their Levi tour about gigging and recording as a young band from London.

Two brilliant EPs behind them there was always a question mark about when the band would get round to dropping an LP and whether it’d be any good. The break between EP and album was good, it allowed the band to graduate from scenester teens to more mature musicians and ‘I had the blues..’ marks the arrival of a fresh band. Still maintaining their laid back indie stance they’ve evolved and dropped a rather remarkable debut [review to come soon hopefully:P]

Can’t wait ’til July 6th?? Stream the entire album for free here!!

It seems that this 2009 has brought along with it a stylish new wave of British female singers. Following on from our Lilys, Amys and Adeles, we have our Florences, Marinas and, er, Little Boots-es. Elly Jackson, aka, most prominent half of electro-duo La Roux, perhaps shares the most in common with the latter lady. Both Jackson and Little Boots are the current female forerunners in the 80s-revival, electro-pop revolution. However, while Miss. Boots prefers to go for the sunnier side of the synth, La Roux’s edgier debut is proof that these two artists are in fact miles apart. Released Monday (29th June), La Roux’s self-titled album has so far been dividing fans and critics alike. Unsurprisingly, TGTF were eager to have a listen after we were passed the record earlier this week.

Kicking off with ‘In For the Kill’, the success of this song chart-wise is sufficient proof of it’s instant likeability factor. Bopping, retro-synths and a drum beat spikier than Elly’s hair style, this song is stupidly addictive. Similarly catchy tunes include the ping-pong synths of current single, ‘Bulletproof’. “Been there, done that, messed around. I’m having fun, don’t put me down. I’ll never let you sweep me off my feet!”, Jackson spits with a tinny attitude before leading us into the addictive chorus-hook of “This time baby, I’ll be, bulletproof.”. Elly’s vocals, meanwhile, are robotically velvet amid ‘Quicksand’ – a dry, sticky number with an awesome bubbly-synth pop chorus.

The transition from spat, aggressive verses to smooth vocals amid uber-frantic ‘Tigerlily’ is awesome – yet the song is perhaps too overwhelmed by crazy electro beats and harsh drum machines. Meanwhile, the Gameboy synths and miss mashed, shrill vocals of ‘Fascination’ are not exactly easy on the ears. If anything, the song ultimately becomes rather irritable to listen to. ‘I’m Not Your Toy’ is similarly over-synthed and over-shrilled, and is one of the least memorable tracks on the record.

‘Armour Love’, ‘As if by Magic’ and ‘Cover My Eyes’, however, are proof that when the tempo and simplicity of the record is brought down a little – Jackson can become a genuine pleasure to listen to. ‘Armour Love’ sees Elly calmly coat the trippy synths and slowly pulsating drumbeat with her velvety vocals, while the electro-psychedelic ‘As if by Magic’s’ only flaw is the “oooh oh oh oh” screeches Miss. Roux is noticeably fond of using throughout the record. Meanwhile, tear-jerker, ‘Cover My Eyes’, is perhaps one of the album highlights. Considering the track’s touching lyrics(“So would you hold me please? I’m trying hard to breath. Stop me from crying.”), it’s unsurprising to learn Jackson broke down in tears amid recording. Add to that the warming harmonies as provided by London Community Gospel Choir, and this particular track really becomes quite outstandingly heart-warming amid the overly-robotic material of the rest of the album.

So, judging by their opinion-splitting debut, it’s not unsurprising that La Roux continue to recieve such a mixed-bag reception. Some love the duo’s revival of edgy synth-pop, while others find the band’s super-cool electro, well, just plain annoying. Still, either way, there has been an undeniable amount of buzz surrounding Miss. Jackson these past few weeks, and I’m glad to say that ‘La Roux’ just about justifies the hype.