New Music: Brookes Brothers

Good British drum & bass that doesn’t dive in too dark like others- it’s pretty uplifting actually. The album’s out in June. Check out here.

Live: Ollie Wride at Monto Water Rats London

I featured Ollie Wride a few days ago on here, and I’ve been looking forward to this gig since. There was definitely some Freddie Mercury in his show tonight and it was fantastic. It’s obvious there was a lot of planning for tonight, and I even found the soundcheck a bit entertaining… His sound (mix a bit of glam rock with some synth) is unique enough to give him an edge without being gimmicky, and the way he carried his set worked really good! Headrush was song of the night for me. Tons of fun, and a pop star in the making for sure!

Live: Two Wounded Birds at Rough Trade East

Two different gigs in two different parts of London tonight. First band. These guys are causing a crazy stir right now. Previously featured on here a little while ago, Two Wounded Birds played Rough Trade East (the iconic record shop in London’s Shoreditch). They rocked good. Their raw take on that surf sound made you feel nice and jumpy inside.

The singer reminds me of someone I used to work with who was a bit quiet and dorky but ridiculously cool. As it happens, where I stood tonight, as I stared at the music on the shelves, staring right back at me was said ex-colleague’s band’s debut single (only available in cassette format, obvs). Anyway. You must see Two Wounded Birds live if you can.

Now off to Kings Cross to see Ollie Wride…

New Music: Berri Farley

Sometimes the classics are the best – from the Motown of the Isley Brothers and Smokey Robinson to soul legends like Gladys Knight and Etta James, there is a timeless appeal to beautifully crafted songs performed with soul, verve and above all, honesty – Berri Farley is a singer who clearly understands this power.

Already hailed by the likes of industry barometer Music Week and declared as ‘one to watch for 2011’ by the Irish Times alongside the likes of James Blake and The Vaccines, Berri Farley is set to conquer ears and hearts with her remarkable debut E.P, available from June 6th. Check out here.

New Music: Young Galaxy

Hotly tipped Canadian trio, Young Galaxy, have toured with Arcade Fire, been nominated for a Polaris Prize (the Canadian Mercury Prize), dominated the music blogosphere – number 1 on Hype Machine – and now release their third album‘Shapeshifting’ on May 23rd (in the UK) through Smalltown Supersound, the label that brought you Annie and Lindstrom.

Young Galaxy completed ‘Shapeshifting’ at home and then sent it away, across the ocean, to one of the world’s most acclaimed and secretive producers. For nine months, Dan Lissvik, half of the Swedish duo Studio, curved and refashioned these tracks; he made and remade them.

In October 2010, Lissvik sat down at his computer in Gothenburg. Stephen Ramsayand Catherine McCandless (of Young Galaxy) sat down at theirs in Montreal. And across 3,500 miles, Skype-ing with a friend they have never met, Young Galaxy heard their third album for the first time. Check out here.

New Music: Downside

With a sound that mixes dirty beats with a catchy chorus, Downside have created the perfect sound that has seen them perform to fans all over the UK including supporting 50 Cent at Birmingham NEC to a crowd of over 30,000. Made up of Dean Moxam and Sean Mcleod, Downside made their mark on the music scene in 2006 with their underground classic Moneyman featuring on MTV Base and reaching number one on the Channel U charts, staying in the top 20 for 3 consecutive months. Since then they have received airplay on national radio stations Kiss FM and Radio 1 xtra as well as being broadcast on stations in the US, Germany and France.  Check out here.

New Music: Ollie Wride

One of the most talented and charismatic young men in pop today, Oliver Wride will be hitting the Kings Cross Water Rats on April 19th to showcase his unique brand of effervescent and deliriously uplifting music. This show follows on from a sold out spot at Koko’s club NME where he wowed a packed crowd. He has already been the recipient of ‘next big thing’ press clamour and is set to blow up in 2011. Check out here.

Live: Lykke Li at O2 Shepherds Bush Empire

Despite living 10 minutes away from the Shepherds Bush Empire where Lykke Li played tonight, I still managed to get there late enough to only find space to stand on the top tier of this bigger-than-it-seems venue. I wish I came earlier. First I heard of Lykke Li’s music a few years ago I found her a bit scary- just because it was a bit dark and intense for me. But then I saw her live some time ago and saw the vulnerability of her songs and fell in love.

Tonight was mostly stuff from her new record (Wounded Rhymes), and there was some serious attention to detail with the staging of this gig… Very good.