Defend Moscow’s perfectly preened pop, colourfully tainted with a quirky electro edge is set to soar the airwaves this year. Like so many artists out there right now – such as Little Boots and Frankmusik – Defend Moscow are passionate about nostalgic 80s electro-pop. They cite everyone from Human League, Kylie and Frankie Goes to Hollywood as just some of their vintage influences. Looking for a more contemporary take on the band? Think chart-frequenters Alphabeat, only with a little more spice.

You only have to read the band’s MySpace blog to realise that Defend Moscow aren’t just your run of the mill, chart-friendly electro-pop group making hits about love and heartache. Lying behind hit track ‘Manifesto’ sits a much more deeper meaning. The song, set to be released next month, is infact about the Bolshevik revolutionary, Leon Trotsky and his downfall in the Soviet Union. Pretty intellectual, huh?

The band, who’s routes lay scattered across Europe (vocalist, Sofie Storaas is from Norway, while other band members call everywhere from London to Paris home), have bagged support slots with Sam Sparro, Sneaky Sound System, Team Waterpolo (who we caught them supporting last October) and The Wombats. This year, Defend Moscow are preparing to embark on their own major tour, but until then, you can currently check them out at a few scattered club dates through January and February. See their MySpace for more details, and while you’re there, check out four super awesome tracks the band have uploaded, including single ‘Manifesto’ I told you about earlier.

The band have recently expressed their hopes to lead an electro-pop revolution. Listening to them – it sounds very much possible that they could achieve just that this 2009.

Disco queen, Victoria Hesketh, better known as Little Boots, is rapidly taking the music scene by storm with her sweet electro beats. She’s been labelled the British Kylie and Little Boots’ synth-based pop is certainly a Minogue chart contender.

Born in Blackpool, Hesketh has quite a colourful music past. She’s been a Pop Idol contestant, a former member of dance band Dead Disco and has recently blagged Joe Goddard of Hot Chip as her new musical producer. In fact Joe – who’s personal hits include Over and Over and and Ready For The Floors – is so fond of Little Boots that he’s hailed Victoria as the future of British pop. Quite a claim – but it’s certainly a worthy one. Little Boots has expressed her love for current chart pop, such as Sugababes and Girls Aloud, but she believes her music is injected with more personality. And Victoria certainly is a glittery character.

A particularly exciting thing about Little Boots is her use of a range of mystical instruments when creating her sparkly sounds – including the Dubreq Stylophone, made popular by the genius that is Rolf Harris, and a Tenori-O, a super cool LED switch based invention allowing for the creation of “visible music”. Check out Little Boots acclaimed kooky performance using said instruments, on Jools Holland, below:

Little Boots is yet to release an album, although one is pretty much guaranteed out this year thanks to the critical acclaim she is currently lapping up – including a BBC Sound of 2009 nomination. In the meantime though, never fear, as you can purchase her digital, 3 track EP over at Amazon now for just £1.69.The EP includes the track you just saw Victoria performing, Meddle, and 2 other tunes – Stuck on Repeat and Love Kills. If you want to learn more about Little Boots in general, check out her MySpace here

MySpace has become astonishingly famous for its music scene and it has given us many great acts. Another one of those acts is Alessi’s Ark who promises to be a fantastic prospect for 2009.  Alessi Laurent-Marke is the singer/guitarist behind the music sensation and she has already been tipped to be the next Laura Marling without even releasing a single.

Her first single ”The Horse” is now out and it is a favourite to take the charts by storm. Her first ever song though “Glendora” started off as a GCSE music project and it easily deserves an A*. Influences like Arcade Fire are at times evident in Alessi’s work but it is simply unique. It is important to remember that this music genius is just 18. Psychedelic folk music is one way to describe her music but it still doesn’t seem to quite sum it up.

The sheer variety and talent that Alessi already has is incredible. Her first album is set to be a big hit and should see her break through with ease but we could be looking at a star for the future as it seems that she is far from a one album wonder. Her vocals are superbly in tune and plenty of character also comes through but it is also great to see some elaborate guitar work as well. Alessi is simply one of a kind and if you think you have already heard the best pop/folk sensation then think again.

Stars and Sons is the creation of Brighton boy wonder Mike Lord. His commitment to the band cannot be questioned as he has sacrificed previous careers such as a refuse disposal coordinator (bin man), telesales drone and ice-cream dude in a zoo located in Essex to make lush pop music on a budget in his bedroom. Like all bands and artists, Stars and Sons have a list of influences longer than an arm and a leg. My Bloody Valentine, Ben Folds Five and the Flaming Lips seemed to of had a big impression on the band and mixing those artists together sounds something like Stars and Sons.

In my opinion, the best track these guys have produced is “In the Ocean” which displays everything the band stand for. Upbeat vocal melodies and chirpy guitar chords make it hard to hate while songs like “It’s good for me” and “Out of view” show the band has a solid foundation of hits to build on.

The reason I love this band most is the blend of rocky guitars, intellectual lyrics and elegant piano licks. Yes it is an odd formula but it works extremely well alongside the odd crazy electronic synthesizer sound.

It’s hard for these guys not to grab your attention; whether it’s that weird mask they often hide behind (pictured right), or just the unique music they produce. Whether you like them or not you have got to give them credit for the innovation and freshness they seem to emit with ease.

I for one hope these guys go on to get their riches and you yourself can donate money to them on the bands MySpace.

If you have not heard of The Pipettes then where have you been? The Pipettes are an all girl pop group with a difference. They are supported by a talented band called The Cassettes and their stylish pop feels like it has been tele-ported from the 1950’s pop scene with the odd modern synth here and there. They sound like they could be the beach boys sisters and they’re certainly as talented.

The Pipettes’ music is ridiculously catchy and jolly and normally this type of music puts a cringe on my face but there is something about it that makes it captivating. The girls talent has been widely recognised and tracks like “Dirty Mind” have featured on Grey’s Anatomy. The girls harmonize beautifully well on tracks like “A Winters Sky”, but it’s clear that the girls strength is with upbeat pop songs rather than slower and softer tracks like this one. Still semi-ballads like “Tell Me What You Want” work pretty well and displays the groups variety and depth.

Gwenno is currently taking time out of the band to work on a solo album and the material I’ve heard suggests that the genre will be modern synthy pop. Personally, I’m not bothered about this album, I just want lots more drops of lovely music from The Pipettes.

I promise you that visiting their MySpace is the best way to brighten up your day.

What’s that cool song in the iPod touch commercial? This is what I have been asking myself for weeks. If you’ve seen the ad (click here to check it out), you know what we’re talking about: a grooving drum beat, bopping bass, funky horns, the all-important cowbell, and a female voice that assures us there are some “good, good times around the bend.”

They call themselves The Asteroids Galaxy Tour and their song ‘Around the Bend’ is catching on mighty quick. “It’s a song about sexual energy,” band member Lars Iversen explains, “An energy that you want so bad from someone, and you’d do whatever it takes to get it.” Fair enough I say. Actually I don’t care what the song is about because the fact that music is so chirpy and vibrant is good enough for me.

We are to remember the bands founders (Lars Iversen and Mette Lindberg) because the energy they produce is exceptional, even when without a band backing them up. It seems that they are not here for the short term and are far from a one hit wonder. Just check out their MySpace to have this proven. The band was once a support act for Amy Winehouse but I am sure it should have been the other way around. The bands alternative tone does not sound like music for the future or music from the past. This is music for now!

You can catch the band at the London Barfly on the 26^th November. It won’t be one to miss.

Punchy melodies coupled with infectious lyrics are bound to make Farewell a hit in the UK; especially with fans of Cute Is What We Aim For and Say Anything. Originating from North Carolina, Farewell are here to take the UK by storm with their debut tour, supporting none other than YouMeAtSix.

The tour will also help to promote their first album: “Isn’t This Supposed To Be Fun?” released earlier this year. The album contains 13 full length tracks of power pop goodness. It bears reminiscence to Motion City Soundtrack with the occasional negativity in the lyrics; but when coupled with the lively guitar and keyboard melodies, it turns it into what every screaming teenage girl loves: a fabulous collection of catchy tunes they can sing along to.

The album opens with “Start it Up”, a song that’s guaranteed to push away any flickers of doubts about the band, and pull in every power pop lover to listen further. Lead singer, Marshall Davies, brings this song, along with the others, the right edge to match the lyrics to the catchy tunes bound to make every teenager want to get up and move.

Stand out tracks on the album include “War”, “September Brought the Fall”, “Hey Heather” and up-coming single “Eighty-Eights” released 20th October.

This 5 piece band from America are definitely a band to keep your eye on, and in for big things over here if they can give as good a performance on stage as they do on their record.

You can catch Farewell supporting YouMeAtSix at the below tour dates:

Wednesday 15th October – Middlesbrough Empire
Thursday 16th October – Norwich Waterfront
Friday 17th October – Nottingham Rescue Rooms
Saturday 18th October – Wolverhampton Wulfrun
Sunday 19th October – Northampton Roadmender
Tuesday 21st October – Leeds Met University
Wednesday 22nd October – Glasgow ABC1
Thursday 23rd October – Manchester Academy 2
Friday 24th October – Liverpool Carling Academy
Saturday 25th October – Southampton University
Sunday 26th October – Oxford Carling Academy
Monday 27th October – London Astoria
Tuesday 28th October – Cardiff Solus
Wednesday 29th October – Brighton Komedia
Thursday 30th October – Exeter Phoenix

With the end of the world nearing fast and the future of humanity staring into a Swedish black hole, I thought it would be a great opportunity to sing the praises of a band I’ve really enjoyed listening to over the last few months!

In the mix of this wonderful feel good indie summer, the superb Liverpudlians, Wave Machines, have been spilling their beautifully melodic, electro pop charm all over the UK.  As well as a jammed packed summer, the boys still managed to release their ultra catchy debut single, ‘I Go, I Go, I Go’.

It’s hard to describe the exact sound this band where intending when they first got together in January 2007, but what they have come up with is a perfect mix of dancable rhythm and soft electric melody that will sink into your brain along with the comforting vocals on first listen.

The boys have already been crowned winners of Zane Lowe’s ‘Fresh Meet’ slot on Radio 1 and described by NME as “Liverpool’s best kept secret”.  Don’t be suprised if you soon find yourself throwing uncontrolable shapes to the hypnotic sounds of the Wave Machines on every indie dance floor!

This review originally appeared on Londonist.

On Monday night I caught US indie supremos Death Cab for Cutie at Koko in Camden as they played as part of the month long iTunes festival at the venue. Needless to say, after having a number one US album, appearing on the OC back when it was good, having a platinum selling big-label debut and selling out two nights at Brixton Academy in the past two years, getting to see them at the relatively intimate Koko was an amazing opportunity that we just couldn’t pass up.

The tricky task of supporting Death Cab went to Das Pop. Normally if you play the hottest pop band to come out of Belgium in a few years to a room full of indie Death Cab fans you’d be seeing a mass exodus for the bar. Somehow though, they managed to win just about the whole auditorium around, with their catchy tunes that sound like Alphabeat songs done by Iggy Pop. Led by Bent Van Looy who looks like Alex Kapranos (of Franz Ferdinand), but with the energy of Mika, the four piece hurtled through 45 minutes of pure pop bliss. Culminating in a mass sing along at the end to “I can’t get enough of your love” and then current single “Underground”, we realised that although we’d come to see Death Cab for Cutie, they’d got a tough act to follow.

Bursting onto the stage from behind a very plush red velvet curtain, Death Cab for Cutie arrived and plunged through a mixture of old favourites and newer tracks from their massive selling “Narrow Stairs”. The new songs such as “Cath”, “No Sunlight” and “Long Division” fit just perfectly next to old classics such as “New Year”, “Crooked Teeth” and “Soul Meets Body”. A few technical troubles blighted the band throughout the set, prompting lead singer and chief songwriter Ben Gibbard to joke “I feel like I’m in a movie and I don’t know what’s going to happen next!” as he introduced “Movie Script Ending”. One of the biggest cheers of the evening came for the epic “I will Possess Your Heart”, an 8 minute rock out that looks set to be one of the best things the band have done, and a chance for them to stretch their legs musically.

Closing out the main set with “Sound of Settling”, Ben came back on his own to do an enchanting version of “I will follow you into the dark”, featuring everyone singing along for a proper hairs-on-the-back-of-your-neck moment. To finish was the classic “Transatlanticism”, a slow builder that builds into a frenzy, a fitting ending to an evening with some of US indie rock’s biggest stars of today.

It seems that Scandanavians currently have one of the best music scenes around at the moment, managing to have some of the most diverse, and interesting, acts around at the moment. Denmark’s Alphabeat are set to take over the airwaves in 2008 with their unique brand of camp, over-the-top pop which makes the Scissor Sisters look tame.

Perfectly danceable, lyrically strong, and quintessentially Danish in sound, they have some of the best tunes since the Scissor Sisters with a much more European feel, and a hint of flashbacks from the 90’s too. Their self-titled debut came out last summer in Denmark, and is out this May in the UK, but is one of the most varied collections of music I’ve heard in a while – a really great album.

Fans include the Sun, the NME, and a fair few blogs and online news sites, and they have the same management as Mika – and we all know how big Mika has become, love it or hate it.

They’re currently on tour with Palladium around the UK, and I’ll be going to see them on Monday night in Oxford – expect a full review on Tuesday.