And September is upon us - as summer fades away slowly we get into the last quarter of the year with each of these albums to keep us company. I gave my opinions on last year's list and this year more than ever I'm split on the shortlist choices.

ARCTIC MONKEYS - Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino
Now I was more disappointed than shocked that this was amongst the list of nominees. Arctic Monkey's sixth studio album sounded more to me like Alex Turner (and friends)'s debut album. At several points the album felt lethargic in delivery. Lyrically there are some shining moments, however - perhaps partially on account of my high expectations - this album wasn't able to wow me in the way that I'd hope a Mercury Prize nominee to.

EVERYTHING EVERYTHING - A Fever Dream
THIS ALBUM! I am so over the moon that this has made the shortlist because this is one of the best bodies of work that they have put out since Man Alive and it deserves to be recognised as such. Quite a few of my favourite instrumental performances of last year happened on this album. One thing I will say is that I'm unsure as to whether it will top the list, having only made it to number 15 on my AOTY list last year.

EVERYTHING IS RECORDED - Everything Is Recorded By Richard Russell
This was a name that I had expected to see in the line up as soon as it was released. The calibre of artists featured on this project makes it impossible not to be impressed. The project spans a number of genres, emotions and styles and still manages to mesh them together seamlessly. Richard Russell and co did very well with this and after listening to their latest single "Carry Me" I couldn't be more excited for what might be next. This album is a very strong contender for the top spot.

FLORENCE + THE MACHINE - High As Hope
It's no secret the love and adoration I have in my heart for Florence Welch. What a blessing. And so it comes as no surprise to me that she has made the Mercury Prize shortlist. Now, whilst I don't believe High As Hope to be their best work, there is something exceptionally special and more importantly different here. I was wary of FATM falling into a rut and following a blueprint but smething has switched up ever so slightly here. Another album that has a solid shot at the top spot.

JORJA SMITH - Lost & Found
This is probably my "I wouldn't be surprised but I'd be very disappointed if this album won" this year. I have a lot of strong opinions surrounding this album but the overarching one for me is that this was released far too early. It felt rushed and felt like it was rammed down the public's throats in order to keep interest levels piqued whilst she's still a cash cow. I feel like regardless of how good her voice is - and it really, really is - there were some gaping holes in this album and I felt like she sold herself a bit short here unfortunately.

KING KRULE - The OOZ
The first time I listened to this album it was in the perfect conditions - a long and cold commute in London - and upon first listen I really enjoyed it. However, since then I haven't been in the mood to listen to it all the way through again even once. I know that once winter comes back in full force, it'll be a welcomed soundtrack to those colder nights. Although, I don't think that this is quite enough to win it the Prize. However, his ability to stay original and authentic will always give King Krule major points in my book.

LILY ALLEN - No Shame
Lily Allen back doing what she does best - being witty, ironic and at the same time melodically refreshing. The feature artists were what caught my attention initially as they were unexpected collaborations but they definitely complimented each other well. After her unlikely collaboration with Common years ago, I should have known better. My favourite tracks at the moment are "Higher", "Family Man", and "Apples". This might just be a wild card for me on the list of contenders. 

NADINE SHAH - Holiday Destination
It's been a long time since I heard Nadine Shah's name mentioned if I'm honest. When she first popped up on my radar it was as a unique, fresh, up-and-comer and shortly after I saw her featured on Ghostpoet's album Shedding Skin. Now after three years, she's back in my life and with a Mercury Prize nomination no less! Way to make an entrance. The album itself is perfect for right now - lyrically and sonically this is just what we need to hear. It's instrumentally unpredictable and interesting - Nadine does experimental very well. 

NOEL GALLAGHER'S HIGH FLYING BIRDS - Who Built The Moon?
Another name I hadn't heard a lot from musically in a while until this year. Listening to this album made me miss Kasabian at first if I'm honest. I love that instrumentally Noel has taken quite a few risks throughout and has really expanded his use of sound. The intro "Fort Knox" in particular had my head nodding throughout - there are lots layers to unpack. As a whole it's a very solid piece of work - particularly now that a large amount of Indie Rock tends to fall into one generic pit of rhythmic guitars.

NOVELIST - Novelist Guy
I didn't know too much about Novelist before this shortlist came around. Of course I'd seen his name littering the mainstream charts, however I'd never taken the time to do a deep dive. Knowing that he is a Grime artist, I was surprised at how experimental and unique his songs are. The lyrics let him down a little bit and because of this I wouldn't put his hat in the ring to win but he deserves notice for attempting to do something different within Grime.

SONS OF KEMET  - Your Queen Is A Reptile
A new discovery for me. I'd heard the name "Sons Of Kemet" before, but hadn't heard one note or word until this shortlist was released. After hearing the name, I was expecting more of a Metal group so the Jazz caught me off guard. A very welcomed surprise though. After reading the tracklist and realising its connection with the title I was already invested and so the intricate beats and standout percussion were just the icing on the whole cake. Really enjoyed this record. Only qualm is that this hasn't adequately represented each of the quality Jazz albums of this year.

WOLF ALICE - A Vision Of Life
If you'd have given me a crystal ball in 2015 after they released My Love Is Cool and I'd seen their name on this shortlist I would've sighed... heavily. However, seeing their name on the list now, I'm actually not too perturbed. I was super disappointed with their debut because I'd expected something significantly different. A Vision Of Life is much closer to what I'd previously envisioned from them and you can hear the improvement from each member - still not sure that it's a contender but I'm much more satisfied with their entry now.

Happy October folks! It's been an incredibly busy summer and now that we've made it to October I can comfortably say that we're finally edging into autumn weather. Along with a new season and a new month; comes new music. I've had a scout through the interwebs and found some gems I'd like to start the month with...


QUIÑ - Sticky Situation (feat. SYD)
Not the newest track itself but a newbie for me - a new song and a new artist. After finding the new EP Dreamgirl on Spotify, I think that "Sticky Situation" is the track that will most likely get the most repeats this month. Also, of course, Syd's voice is also always a sure fire way to elevate a song.

BANKS - Underdog
Now I've heard a lot of mixed things about Banks over the past few years and if I'm honest, the bad ones did carry a little more weight than they should've and I haven't paid too much attention to her album progress but this song is a banger. "Underdog" was a pleasant surprise for me and I'd like to take this month to build a fresh opinion on Banks - starting with this song.

CAN'T SWIM - God Awful 
Another very pleasant surprise - after their great debut album earlier this year, I wasn't expecting any more music from them before 2018, but here we are. A new single from Can't Swim that could've easily been a strong addition to the debut but works just as well as a standalone track. I'm hoping to see more big things from this band, October and beyond, because "God Awful" is anything but.
 
THE YOUNG HEARTS - Bloom
The Young Hearts are another new discovery for me recommended to me via email. After opening up the EP Honestly, I'm Just Thinking in Spotify and listening to the first 30 seconds of "Bloom" I could hear the potential, and after the last 30 seconds I was looking up their gigging schedule.
 
WOLF ALICE - Heavenward 
An amazing live band but since their debut I've not been the most excited to hear any new studio recordings. I may have built up my expectations for the debut a bit too much after seeing them live in 2013; so now returning with a fresh pair of ears, I think I can appreciate this new one better."Heavenward" is a great stepping stone for me because not only is it a solid song, it gives me the best of what I saw in them live.


MOSES SUMNEY - Don't Bother Calling 
I slightly new discovery this year for me but it seems that I haven't missed too much as this awesome track "Don't Bother Calling", comes from his debut album Aromanticism. I reckon the more I listen to this album, the more I'll enjoy it. For now, this song definitely stood out to me and the concepts surrounding it catch my attention even more.

ZAK ABEL - The River
I feel like I've been waiting for this album to drop for an age now! I need Zak's voice for a minimum of 10-12 tracks asap. "The River" came just in time for me to hold out for one more week. I'm hoping this will be one of my standout albums of the next 30 days, with some silky guitars and soulful vocals.

JORDAN RAKEI - Goodbyes
The basslines on this album are to die for. Although this is my favourite song from the album, it's not an easy choice at all. Even the first track "Eye To Eye" rips the blanket right from underneath you with its silky transitions. I think the opening strings on "Goodbyes" just win the song for me. Already on the verge of overplaying this one but I can't stop.

IBEYI - Deathless (feat. Kamasi Washington) 
Two artists that I've really been appreciating over the year, together in one special track. Ibeyi's new album Ash is just as layered and thought provoking as imagined with so many intricate little details that open it up to new discoveries with each listen. "Deathless" displays that perfectly. Keep your eyes on this one for this year's "top 50 ___" lists.


That's just a few of the tracks I have on my recently played for this week and for the month going forward. Keep an eye out for a Spotify playlist with these tracks and more, to be announced via my Instagram. And for your information...

Some of these aren't such new discoveries, but as I've been away from the blog a while I thought it only right to back track and chat about the people who've caught my attention since I last posted. 


FALSE ADVERTISING
I got the heads up about this band via email and quickly had a listen to their promo material. I'm not so sure what I was expecting but within 30 seconds I was more than convinced. HUGE live show potential. Their debut self-titled record is actually set to drop on the 4th of September so get your hands on that and get down to a show, because even with similar bands like Wolf Alice and Yuck around blowing our minds right now, I think False Advertising will have a lot to bring to the table once this hits shelves! Particularly, check out their tracks "Dozer" and "Wasted Away".


B A D P L A C E S
This Bristol based collective have come about really under the radar. 100% home-grown - no Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or even Bandcamp... just a simple Soundcloud with minimal information on what they're about. Hate to be cliche - but their music certainly does the talking for them. On their debut EP These Aren't Hits, hip-hop influences really come through on the instrumentals with these influences carrying over to their debut album - Isolacious (released just 3 months later!!!). Especially love tracks like "Confessions" and "Pillow Talk" while both abundantly different - both display huge levels of versatility, making it impossible to pin Bad Places down in just one genre. Get your hands on their music for free on their soundcloud. I'd definitely say - watch this space.



HYENA
To this day I can't remember what drew me to this band, but whatever it was, thank God! For a while I was worried that music (especially rock/indie rock) was becoming far too bland and generic. Hyena, whilst not doing anything particularly groundbreaking, have finally given me something energetic and not just the standard 4 by 4, cookie cutter, indie, "woop woop" music we're becoming far too content with. Love their track "Mental Home" - Royal Blood/QOTSA beat with Interpol vocals - yes per-lease. I predict that big things are due for these guys.






BLOOD YOUTH
There's a lot of potential for this band. I don't feel like they're where they could be just yet, but with only a debut EP out - Inside My Head - they've got plenty of room to grow! They've got a lot of push behind them, already landing a support gig with Architects so I'm excited to see how much they improve between now and their debut album! Until then get the new EP in your ears (sweet track - "Failure"). Expect to see Rocksound and Kerrang mentioning these guys quite a bit in the months to come so keep an eye out.






WINTERS END
Last but not least, only right that I feature some new music that I've discovered since I've been in Australia. This duo might have come about at just the perfect time - with Haim sort of off the map and London Grammar too, there aren't many bands in the spotlight that sound like them (and I'm still waiting on The Night VI's record). I digress, Winters End have huge potential and the kind of sound that could fill arenas! Their single "Mayfair" is an anthem - thumping drums and soaring vocals, it's definitely not the kind of song you could just ignore. I really hope that this makes a mark over across the Atlantic.

A couple of days ago we caught up on half of the music news that's been going on around the world these past few days here. But now it's time for the other half of interesting news coming our way...

CHARLOTTE OC NEW SINGLE "ON & ON"
Along with this new single, Charlotte has also announced the release of her new EP - Burning - available on iTunes right now. As always, I love what Charlotte's done - her vocals sounding stellar as always. However, this wasn't as exciting as I thought it would be.

 
WOLF ALICE NEW SINGLE "I SAW YOU (IN A CORRIDOR)"
Speaking of exciting, Wolf Alice have recently announced their debut album, My Love Is Cool, coming out on the 22nd of June. Ahead of its release, they put out a 7" with the songs "Giant Peach" and "I Saw You (In A Corridor)" on it. Both songs are completely different but equally good listens.


RIHANNA NEW SINGLE "DANCING IN THE DARK"
As well as her new single "As Real As You And Me" which I mentioned in the first of these posts, Rihanna has released another single that will appear on the new motion picture Home's official soundtrack. This one is a little bit more upbeat but I really prefer the first of the two.


WARPAINT NEW SINGLES "NWO/I'LL START BELIEVING"
I love getting new music form Warpaint, especially when it's so unexpected and obviously when it's just this good! They've given us, not one, but two tracks to have a listen to. The first of the two "No Way Out" is 7 minutes and 21 seconds of goodness accompanied by the gold that is "I'll Start Believing". I know they gave us a new album just last year but another one would not go amiss.


DJANGO DJANGO NEW SINGLE "REFLECTIONS" 
The second single from the new Django Django album and I actually didn't really like it on first listen but now that I've listened a few more times I like it much more. However, I still feel like I might not like this upcoming album as much as the debut. The novelty may have worn of a little bit for me. Anyway, have to listen to the latest track here.


ALL TIME LOW NEW MUSIC VIDEO "KIDS IN THE DARK"
These guys just seem to be on tour 24/7 this year. First their joint tour with YMAS and now I see them playing at Wembley Arena with Neck Deep and all sorts. It's a wonder that they had time to drop a new single and music video. I've never been a big ATL fan but I must admit, I really like this song/video. Check them both out here.


WIZ KHALIFA NEW MUSIC VIDEO "DECISIONS"
As looney as Wiz is, I must admit, he is incredibly entertaining - he just makes me laugh. This song however, is definitely not even close to being one of his best. Very lazy bars but already at 2 million+ views, I know this will still be big. Have a listen here.


BRAIDS NEW SINGLE "TASTE"
Heard about BRAIDS last year and have been keeping an eye out for any new material that they were bringing out. I may have missed some stuff but I'm glad I caught this new single here. The intro sounded to me a little bit like something Lxury would put out but the addition of vocals really switched it up a little - cool tune.


EAVES NEW MUSIC VIDEO "PYLONS"
Another artist that I heard about late last year/earlier this year and have been meaning to check out. This new video is super interesting, I'm very excited to get my hands on the new album out on the 27th of April. Similar sounding to Ben Howard and Nick Mulvey - have a listen to Eaves' new track here.


FUTURE NEW SINGLE "MARCH MADNESS"
Future is really coming up these days! After his last record Honest a lot of people really started to take notice. This new track here, is a cool tune and with trap music blowing up these days, I know that this will be played by quite a lot of people in the coming weeks.


MIA NEW SINGLE "CAN SEE CAN DO"
MIA has hinted at a new record coming our way this summer and I am stoked. The last record Matangi was LONG awaited and even though it was worth the wait, it'd be great to have this one in my possession asap. One of the most entertaining and real artists out at the minute - get involved here.

ELLA HENDERSON NEW MUSIC VIDEO "MIRROR MAN"
Fast blowing up after that track "Ghost" and Ella Henderson is back with some more pop goodness for us. I must admit that I thought she'd be sort of a one-hit wonder with that first track but she is fast proving me wrong. This song is quite the banger.


THE VAN T'S NEW SINGLE "FUN GARCON"
I just happened upon this band by chance a few days ago and had a listen to this track here and the first 30 seconds alone sealed the deal for me. This is a BIG tune. They remind me of several bands but are so unique that I still can't put my finger on just one. I will definitely be keeping an eye out for live shows! The Van T's are ones to watch.


JILL SCOTT NEW MUSIC VIDEO "YOU DON'T KNOW"
This is Jill Scott's first official release in about 4 years! And it's just as soulful as I'd expect. Hopefully this means a new album from the amazing songstress but I have yet to hear confirmation. Bless your ears here.


FLORENCE + THE MACHINE NEW MUSIC VIDEO "ST. JUDE"
I am so unbelievably excited for this new album! Florence is just so intriguing and passionate, there has never been one thing that she's released that I've felt was half-hearted or even sub-par. Everything she puts out makes it's way to my iTunes, just like this new single here will - beautiful.


MAJOR LAZER & DJ SNAKE NEW MUSIC VIDEO "LEAN ON (FEAT. MØ)"
I've been keeping up with MØ for ages now and it's really good to see her collaborating with bigger artists like Major Lazer and DJ Snake now. I'm sure I'll hear this playing in every department store, radio station, gym, local supermarket, etc, etc for the next few weeks. Great tune and equally interesting video. Be ahead of the game here.

I first took notice of St. Vincent last year when she performed "Lithium" with Nirvana at the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame induction ceremony. After that I said I had to check her out someday and find out more about her as an artist. Last Friday the day actually came! This was a weird weird show, but mostly weird in a good way. I'm not going to pretend to 'get' art rock or even really be into it but this was a fun and interesting experience nonetheless. I'll start from the top...

I managed to catch the last couple of songs from Coves who were supporting, and I just wish I hadn't missed the beginning because they sounded great and the audience were loving them! They reminded me a little of Wolf Alice actually. Either way, I'll definitely be keeping an ear out for them after this show and I'll start by listening to their debut album Soft Friday here.

Before coming to see St. Vincent I had actually heard a few of her songs and of the ones I'd listened to, there was only one that I wasn't too keen on - "Digital Witness". She played it pretty much straight away and of course I sighed internally (and maybe a bit externally too) but it honestly sounded much better live. After that turn around I think she finally had my full attention. As the show went on there were a few bursts of strangeness, a few awkward soliloquies and what seemed like excerpts from an exorcism BUT in amongst the theatrics there were some awesome pieces of music. "Cheerleader" and "Birth In Reverse" in particular sounded great but what really blow me away and in a sense won me over was "Bring Me Your Loves". What a fantastic musical performance! One of the things I loved most about the whole evening was actually the routines and general comradery between St Vincent and her guitarist/synth/keyboardist Toko Yasuda. That really made me smile and the two are a huge power duo together. I mean these women can really really play their instruments, my goodness!

After this frenetic finale, the band stepped back on stage for the encore but before it ended, St Vincent leapt on one of the bodyguards shoulders and had him carry her to the crowd where she then bravely let the audience play (or rather hit) her guitar as the rest of her band continued the song on stage. If she couldn't get more audacious, she then put down her guitar and got back into the crowd but this time in order to hoist herself onto the balcony, where she then proceeded to walk through the crowd in the balcony chatting to each of her fans casually as the song played. In that moment, she had all of my respect. She just does not stop! Whilst walking to the door it looked like she fainted and security carried her out and after a few nervous glances she reappeared on stage. Cheers were raucous as she sang her closing song "Your Lips Are Red". This was an event I won't be forgetting any time soon!

Overall Rating - 7.5/10


Here are some pictures from the night...

I don't know about anyone else but, Christmas is coming soon and I'm trying to save my money. So what better way to start than to get awesome new (and old) music for FREE?!



LAYLA - I've actually written about LAYLA a bunch of times before (here and here) but now she's about to release a new EP - Weightless - and has kindly given us the single "For You" for free here! I've had this on repeat since it graced my iTunes - fabulous song.








SPRING OFFENSIVE - Following their split earlier this month, Spring Offensive have now released every single thing they've put out to date all for FREE!! What kind of madness?! I'd advise that you jump on it while it's there. Here you go.








SKIES COLLIDE - I saw this band pop up on Twitter and was obviously drawn to the whole "female fronted pop rock band" so I gave them a listen. Their song "Fade (Only If You Let It)" was instrumentally very good. The vocals were a bit weak at points BUT I like them nonetheless. Download the free EP - Tomorrow's Too Far - here.






ARIZONA - I found this band a few days ago. I can't actually remember how but I heard their song "Black Hart" and it was awesome!! Love the video, and they have huge potential. I look forward to hearing more from them but until then get their EP - The Hunter, The Gatherer - for free here.





WOLF ALICE - Yay! I've made my love for Wolf Alice no secret and I also happen to love their latest EP - Creature Songs. Luckily for everyone, they've made the song "Storms" from it, available for free! If you haven't already listened to the EP download this song here.





NOTHING BUT THIEVES - This band popped up on Facebook in the "Sponsored" section recently a few times. When I finally decided to click on it I was actually shocked. They sounded very different to what I'd expected them to sound like. However, they still sound great. I'm happy with this new discovery. Have a listen to "Last Orders" for free here.

There have been so many new video/single releases over the past few days (as you can see from the last few posts) so I thought it'd be easy to rave about them all in just one post...

HORSE THIEF - Little Dust
I wrote about Horse Thief a while ago as a new discovery here and clearly with good reason. This is a great song and an entertaining video and despite their upcoming appearance at End Of The Road Festival this year, I'm really surprised they don't get more recognition. Help them out and tell others about this single from their new record Fear In Bliss.

VENTURA LIGHTS - Find Rest
After releasing their debut record together last year they've been slowly releasing the singles from it and this one is very different from the last few. Quite a slow song for them, interesting that it's mainly piano dominated too, but I like change and this is a good one.

Being exam season, May is never really a great time to write blog posts for me but before we reach the half way point of the month I thought that I'd better find some time to let you all know what new albums you could expect to hear in the coming weeks...

ONES WE'VE MISSED:


THE HORRORS - LUMINOUS
I've been interested in The Horrors since hearing their last album Skying and particularly the song "Still Life" from it. Now they've got this new album out and a bunch of summer festival appearances announced and I think I'm ready to call myself a fan. If you haven't already heard this album (out on the 5th of May), give it a listen.





LYKKE LI - I NEVER LEARN
I have heard a number of good things about Lykke Li, this year especially but have never been so moved to listen to her material. However, with the release of this new album, I feel like it may be time to jump on the band wagon so to speak. It's been available on iTunes and Spotify since the 5th of May so there are no excuses now.






AS ELEPHANTS ARE - HAND PRINTS EP
The boys made all of the songs from this EP available on their soundcloud prior to its' release but it will be nice to hear it as a whole finally. From the songs that I've already heard from it, I can tell that it is something that I'll have playing quite a bit this summer. It's also been out since the 5th of May, check it out here.




ONES TO LOOK OUT FOR:


LITTLE DRAGON - NABUMA RUBBERBAND
I am lucky enough to have received an advanced copy of this album already and so I can definitely vouch and say that it is worth the listen - especially if you've not heard any of their material prior to this. I feel like this album is the most commercial of the four but still has a classic Little Dragon feel. Great listen - keep an eye out on the 12th of May.





BO NINGEN - III
Another band that I've been meaning to check out but just haven't gotten around to it yet. Judging by the title I assume that this is their third album so before I miss the rest of their career, I'd better do my research while I can. If their song "Henkan" is anything to go by, it'll be a very interesting listen. The album hits shelves on the 12th of May.





THE BLACK KEYS - TURN BLUE
I've developed a bad habit of overplaying all of The Black Keys' albums thus far so it'll be a nice treat to have something new of theirs to listen to. It's also perfectly in time for me to learn all the words ahead of their Glastonbury appearance in June. Their recent single "Fever" from it is a corker. Another album to add to the list on the 12th of May.




COLDPLAY - GHOST STORIES
And Coldplay are back with the follow up to Mylo Xyloto the album received huge critical acclaim but I thought it was kind of overrated here. Either way, this new album seems to have taken a completely different turn with more ambient songs like "Midnight" and "Magic". Will be interesting to hear what this sounds like on the 19th of May.





SBTRKT - TRANSITIONS
SBTRKT is releasing the album Transitions in 3 different parts available for digital download or on vinyl here. I'm completely in the dark as to what it might sound like especially in contrast to the 2011 self-titled record. I guess I'll just have to wait and be surprised on the 19th of May.





WOLF ALICE - CREATURE SONGS EP
I have been excited about this EP since hearing their absolute banger from it "Moaning Lisa Smile". Wolf Alice are such an explosive and exciting band and I can't wait for their debut album (it will not disappoint). Until then I have their fantastic EP's to tide me over and they just seem to be getting better and better. Get your hands on Creature Songs on the 26th of May.




ECHO & THE BUNNYMEN - METEORITES
Echo & The Bunnymen haven't released an album in five years, and with this release it will be a twelfth album to add to the already fabulous collection! Safe to say - I AM EXCITED! The 26th of May is looking like a great day of music for me right now.





SAM SMITH - IN THE LONELY HOUR
I'm in two minds about Sam Smith right now to be honest. While he has fantastic vocals and very catchy songs, whenever I see a live performance by him I'm just not impressed, be it with his vocals or (mainly) his stage presence. Either way, those things will develop with time - for now, I just know that he'll put out an enjoyable record on the 26th of May.

There've been quite a few pretty cool releases since I last wrote, so I thought I'd write about some of them here. Even though new music comes out every hour, I really feel like I need something new to overplay so some of these tracks are definitely a good shout...

LOOM - Yosoko
I haven't heard a lot from this band since seeing them here in December but I'm hoping that this new single release is a sign of a debut album because it's tough to keep up with a band that only has singles. Either way, as far as singles go, this is a good'un for sure - check it out HERE.


MR SCRUFF - We Are Coming
I've been seeing a few things dotted around the interwebs about Mr. Scruff putting out a new record (Friendly Bacteria) and a couple of days ago he put out this song as his latest single from it which you can hear HERE. It's seriously gotten me excited for the full record. 


TOURIST - Patterns (feat. Lianne La Havas)
I've been following Tourist on Facebook for quite a while now and I can never remember why I started following him. Whenever I see him post new music, I do mean to check it out so I can jog my memory but it wasn't until I saw Lianne featuring that I actually got around to it. Definitely need to invest in the EP, but first - HERE. 


WOLF ALICE - Storms
Another new EP that I'll need to acquire when it drops. Wolf Alice's Creature Songs is sounding like a winner with every single track I hear from it. First "Moaning Lisa Smile" and now THIS?! I am excited to say the least - another band that really really needs to release a full length album.


WAYWARD DAUGHTER - Out Of The Black (Royal Blood Cover)
Always nice to hear something new from the YouTube's favourite musical duo. I have to admit that as soon as I read that they were covering Royal Blood, I was pretty giddy. I love it when two awesome bands come together. Treat your eardrums HERE.

Check out some other great tracks you might have missed a couple of months ago here.

Now that my deadlines are pretty much behind me, I thought it time I get back to the music world! Well in fact, I've been pretty involved in the music world these past weeks (expect 4 gig reviews and quite a few more things coming your way), but I thought I'd just catch you up on what I've come across these past couple weeks...

TONIGHT ALIVE NEW MUSIC VIDEO "THE EDGE"
It's official, Tonight Alive are my favourite female fronted pop punk band right now by a mile (sorry Paramore). I've been overplaying their more recent album The Other Side a lot more lately and now this single has made me love them even more. I'm also pretty excited for the new Spiderman Movie which this features in - win:win! Watch and listen here.


CITIZEN NEW UNOFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO "THE SUMMER"
A pop punk band that I was introduced to late last year and will hopefully be seeing on their upcoming tour later this year. Citizen have actually really blown up recently, once I was introduced to these guys last year, everyone seemed to know who they were! Either way, I love this song and even though the video is unofficial it's cool - check it out here.


GARDEN HEART LIVE SESSION "CURE"
I actually spoke about Garden Heart after seeing them live at the Wayward Daughter EP launch last year here and have been looking out for their movements ever since. They've posted a few cool covers and some snippets of things coming up, but this is the best thing they've put up so far in my opinion - really brilliant. Click here to listen.


WOLF ALICE NEW SINGLE "MOANING LISA SMILE"
The first thing that made me think I'd like this song was the title. Whilst being witty, Wolf Alice also always put out awesome tunes and I look forward to hearing this as part of their next EP Creature Songs. Another band that I'd love to see on their tour later this year. Have a listen to the track here.


LAYLA NEW SINGLE "SMOKESTACKS"
SPOILER ALERT: One of the gig reviews coming up this week is for Bipolar Sunshine. Layla actually supported this gig in Birmingham and being my first ever impression of her, she really caught my attention! I'm absolutely loving this new single of her's which she performed - here.


FESTIVAL MADNESS
I've always known that there are a lot of festivals that happen in England but I have severely underestimated just how many. Moving to Birmingham has definitely opened my eyes to a lot more in the music industry. T in the Park have just announced some acts for their weekend and of course Glastonbury. However, here are some smaller Brummy and London festivals to look out for this summer: Birmingham & Beyond, MADE, Revitalised and One Beat Weekender.


JAMIE XX NEW SINGLE "SLEEP SOUND"
Just in time for the Glasto line-up announcement which he features on. I'm sure that every festival goer that will get to see him, is excited to hear this live. I could never really decide whether I liked Jamie xx's solo material or his remixes more, but this song might just tip the scale.


DRAKE'S REPLY TO JAY Z IN "DRAFT DAY"
Now I haven't really been paying too much attention to this whole rap industry beef between what seems to be the whole world and Drake but apparently Jay Z has said something offensive about Drake in a rap and so this is his response to that. If you are following this whole drama here is the reply. If you aren't following it, here's an enjoyable rap song sampling Lauryn Hill.


Check out the music news that you might have missed a few weeks ago here. This obviously isn't everything that has happened over the past couple of weeks so do keep an eye out for whatever else may pop out. Whilst you're supporting music - feel free to follow and support this Rock spotify playlist for a UK-wide university society competition, here.