Katy B Feat. Ms. Dynamite - Lights On

A: Katy B Feat. Ms. Dynamite
S: Lights On
C: On A Mission (out 28.03.10)

It's dubstep - just saying. If any of you remember Ms. Dynamite, she was THE British R&B and HipHop hope per se. That was before she went off getting pregnant by her bodyguard and arrested for punching a police officer - pausing her career before it reached full potential (I love a drama). Rumor has it this year Lady Trouble is back with an album of her own, before collaborating with the gorgeoulicious Katy B, who I adore - just saying.

Martin Solveig & Dragonette - Hello

A: Martin Solveig & Dragonette
S: Hello
C: Boys & Girls - EP

Somewhere down under is the Australian Open's final today so I figured that on a day like today would be the only reasonable day to post the all-tennis-themed-video of Martin Solveig's collaboration with Dragonette. Although I am well aware that the video is set in Paris and not Melbourne, jeez -who cares about those juicy details. It is still nothing more than tennis, a ball flying over a net, big deal.

Creep Feat. Romy Madley-Croft (The XX) - Days

A: Creep Feat. Romy Madley-Croft (The XX)
S: Days
C: Days - EP

Moving on with fantastic giantastic collaborations: Romy Madley-Croft from The XX is featured by the brooklyn-based-whatever-they-are Creep. By the way, they are singed to a record company called 'Young Turks' - just saying, because I am, half - turk, not brooklyn-based, unfortunately. So anyway, the video is ace as can be and Romy's voice is my last year's favorite discovery anyways.

Patrick Wolf - The City

A: Patrick Wolf
S: The City
C: Lupercalia

Uuh, I was waiting all day yesterday for today to come so I could post Mr. Wolf's newest and latest song which I totally adore. I do recommend that you turn the your speakers on full blast and embrace the weekend! Now, some of you might remember Patrick with a different hair colour, which is probably because he changes it with every new record he releases. But at the dawn of his 5th album, it looks like he run out of colours.

Here We Go Magic - Casual

A: Here We Go Magic
S: Casual
C: Pigeons

Ha, what a coincidence (well maybe not, the two videos were kind of linked together on youtube), Here We Go Magic is another band that is signed to Secretly Canadian, the record company I was going on about yesterday. Anyway, the bands singer is Luke Temple, who some of you might know, just like that, or because a song of his was featured on Grey's Anatomy, which is why I discovered him. So, enjoy.

Windsor For The Derby - After Love

A: Windsor For The Derby
S: After Love
C: Against Love

Here's my piece of advice: Don't concentrate too much on the video, there isn't really much happening. It looks a bit like a fan-made clip, but it says 'official', which is fine with me. Second piece of advice: Since you won't be distracted by the visual aspect of the post, focus on the song and its lyrics completely - because they are gorgeous. Windsor are signed to 'Secretly Canadian' - great name for a record company.

Sun Airway - Put the Days Away

A: Sun Airway
S: Put the Days Away
C: Nocturne of Exploded Crystal Chandelier

Next up in my fantastic tutorial on 'Monotony Is Bliss' - which is still lacking a bit of appreciative euphoria but I am positive we will get there by the end of the year - are Sun Airway. Their singing voice sounds a bit like Chris Martin teamed up with that gorgeous singer from The National, and maybe a dash of Bono - not that I would know what U2 sound like because I'd obviously never put them on my playlist, or blog.

The Tallest Man on Earth - Love Is All

A: The Tallest Man on Earth
S: Love Is All
C: Wild Hunt

The Tallest Man on Earth is Kristian Matsson (nice ambiguity there) and Swedish. His voice might be a hit or miss, but I find it completely stunning, pure, and raw. The former singer of the band Montezumas is influenced by the likes of Bob Dylan, Feist, Velvet Underground and Billie Holiday. He himself has been called the Swedish version or answer of Bob Dylan. Some compliment, I'd say.

Infantree - Mourning Glory

A: Infantree
S: Mourning Glory
C: Food For Thought - EP

There is no relation to the new Diane Keaton/Harrison Ford movie whatsoever, so hold your breath. It's a bout trees, actually: Trees are carbon dioxide reducing, erosion preventing, oxygen producing, majestic, and sturdy life-forms that grow with their environment. Infantree is a symbol for growth. Whether it be intellectual, spiritual, physical, or emotional; growth is growth... that is what the band says.

Lisa Bassenge - Nur fort

A: Lisa Bassenge
S: Nur fort
C: Nur fort

Ok, so it's in German, deal with it. I adored Lisa when she was a member of 'Nylon', some band who made the same kind of sound she does now on her solo thing-y. They weren't exactly popular, which was part what made them so fantastic. The other reason is Lisa's voice, beautiful. As of her nose, it must be the biggest one I've ever seen on a woman, but at least it adds character, not that she's missing any.

Grouplove - Colours

A: Grouplove
S: Colours
C: Colours - EP (out 07.02.11)

Here's the trend: I think intros will be massively popular this year, in music videos that is. And this one is massively long, as in it only takes Grouplove one full minute until they start the sound machine - 55 seconds to be exact. Fine with me, an intro adds that special something artistic touch, no? By the way, Grouplove met in Manhattan and kind of tied their band tie on a trip to Crete. Whatever that means.

Suuns - Up Past the Nursery

A: Suuns
S: Up Past the Nursery
C: Zeroes QC

Uuuh, I like. It's like mixing the best of The XX with the greatest of Franz Ferdinand. Something like that - as you might have noticed, I am helpless at describing one musical act with another. But I do know that there is beauty in monotony, and so far there hasn't been another act that proved that so stunningly as this four piece from Montreal. Put it on repeat. Ok, good. Again. And again.

Charles Bradley Feat. Menahan Street Band - The World (Is Going Up In Flames)

A: Charles Bradley Feat. Menahan Street Band
S: The World (Is Going Up In Flames)
C: No Time For Dreaming (out 25.01.11)

Note: This is not some old record but a brand new one, bound to be released next week. I figured that today is the perfect day to put some soul back into January. Not that January is known for its swinging mood swings, I know. Anyways, the lyrics might be a cup too heavy for my liking, but Charles voice makes up for it. The video too: I love the shots on the skyline-ish buildings and the twilight-ish sunlight.

Bright Eyes - Shell Games

A: Bright Eyes
S: Shell Games
C: People's Key (out 15.02.11)

Next month, prepare for greatness to come. Bright Eyes, as in all things band about indie master mind Conor Oberst, are back. Although they never really went away, of course. 'People's Key' will be released on the 15th of February, Conor's birthday. According to Mr. Oberst, Bright Eyes are done with the 'all americana' approach to music, so the new record will be more rocking, and for lack of a better term, modern.

Oh Land - Sun Of A Gun

A: Oh Land
S: Sun Of A Gun
C: Sun Of A Gun - EP

Oh my, Oh Land must be eating artificial colored sugarpops for breakfast, little doses of candy light and inspirational packages, infusing herself to become a little multi-sensory taste or rather sense explosion herself. In case you were wondering, in the real world, Oh Land's real name is Nanna Øland Fabricius. By the way, Colin Firth won a Golden Globe last night for Best Male Drama in 'The King's Speech'.

Young The Giant - Strings

A: Young The Giant
S: Strings
C: Young The Giant (out 25.01.11)

For the record, Young The Giant first caught our attention when they were called The Jakes. Not my attention really, but some other bloggers raved about them. Some even didn't realize it was the same band until, well - I don't know. Apparently The Jakes was some sort of identity that didn't fit the band any longer. So anyway, their self-titled debut album is out on the 25th January.

The Naked And Famous - Punching In A Dream

A: The Naked And Famous
S: Punching In A Dream
C: Punching In A Dream - EP

Right, back to the hype. The Naked And Famous are so going to rock my summer playlist, I won't even listen to the album before the sun starts pumping the thermometer. Back to my new MacBook Air. If you have something a 15" screen like me, going back on a 13" is a difference you are going to notice, like any 2" inches missing, really. Which only proves that size does matter, after all. Up to you, what you prefer.

The Vaccines - Post Break-Up Sex

A: The Vaccines
S: Post Break-Up Sex
C: Post Break-Up Sex - Single (out 21.01.11)

I guess sometimes you just need the right title to make a hit: choose a topic everybody is familiar with, that is somewhat peculiar, make sure the word sex is featured in it (as seen with Kings Of Leon and Sex Is On Fire). That is all there is to it, basically. What to add? Right, today is super exciting, because this is the first ever post I write on my new MacBook Air. Then again, it is just a computer, really.

Gypsy & The Cat - Time To Wander

A: Gypsy & The Cat
S: Time To Wander
C: Gilgamesh

Sweet, it is a mini mikro flash trash smash mob gone music video. As every flash mob of any kind, I obviously like and love it. Although there is no competing with the original t-mobile in Liverpool Street station, of course. Have an idea and run with it, is all that I am saying. If you don't have any ideas of your own, copy a good one and declare it a hommage to the original - to get away with it.

Angus and Julia Stone - Hold On

A: Angus and Julia Stone
S: Hold On
C: Down The Way

Buuhu, poor me. I planned to embed 'Big Jet Plane' which is on the same record as this one, maybe a touch nicer, maybe a bit brighter, but defo much more my cup of tea. Simply because I would love to spend my whole life in a big airplane, first class, of course. Right, no but 'Big Jet Plane' was blocked for embedding - what else is new. So we all stay on the ground and hold on. For today, at least.

Mona - Listen To Your Love

A: Mona
S: Listen To Your Love
C: Listen To Your Love - EP

NME said that somebody else said that Mona were called 'Princess Of Leon', which is kind of a compliment, I guess, and offers a great outlook on a successfull future to come. Mona are bound to smash their own distinctive furrow of southern-tinged rock and roll out of your headphones this summer. Listen to the intro of the video: This film should be played loud! The music too, by the way.

Wolf Gang - Lions In Cages

A: Wolf Gang
S: Lions In Cages
C: Lions In Cages - EP

Ok, back to bitchness today. Ehrm business, that is. Literally. Funny, I never even noticed the twist in the bands name until I tried to find their homepage with the help of a web search engine which shall not be named: if you connect the the two words you end up with the german first name Woflgang. Anyway, who started the whole 'dress up in animals costume' trend? They are everywhere these days
!

Wanda Jackson - Shakin' All Over

A: Wanda Jackson
S: Shakin' All Over
C: The Party Ain't Over (out 25.01.11)

Jack White producing Wanda Jackson, sounds a bit like the Jacksons, really. Fresh out of NME's ad page of the week comes this probably most funky collab of the new year to be. Not that I have any clue on any other duets and features and produsets (a mix between productions and sets - don't look it up in the dictionary, I just made it up). It's just that anything Jack does usually turns into right rotten gold.

James Blake - Limit To Your Love

A: James Blake
S: Limit To Your Love
C: James Blake (out 04.02.2011)

Right, it's been posted about everywhere else so I make sure I'll spread it as well. For me, personally, it sounds a bit too much like Antony from the Johnsons who is a bird and has a sister, to be completely originally. But, however, there is obviously room for more than just one artist of the same kind in this world wide music industry... and who am I to judge anybody anyway. Exactly.

Cocknbullkid - I'm Not Sorry

A: Cocknbullkid
S: I'm Not Sorry
C: Querelle

Uuuh, released in 2009. How did I miss this one? Shame on me on the 'new to do' list. For everybody else who hasn't discovered Cocknbullkid yet: here we go. For people who are a tad more up to date than humble me: just watch it again and bare with me. Loving the styling, loving the beat and l-o-v-i-n-g the husky tone of a female voice, like this one, like always, like massively.

Jamie Woon - Night Air

A: Jamie Woon
S: Night Air
C: Night Air - EP

Kind of goes without saying, 2011 will take us to a slightly darker and twisted side of pop music, I predict. The Guardian tried quite successfully to put Mister Wood's sound into words, which goes something like this: Jamie is one of those new male artists showing what can happen when you combine conventionally strong soulful vocals with dubstep's eerie spaciousness and resonant production techniques.

Niki & The Dove - DJ Ease My Mind

A: Niki & The Dove
S: DJ Ease My Mind
C: Mother Protect

Moving on to bands and acts to watch this year comes quite rightly the probably most haunting and captivating voice of all, Scandinavian Niki & The Dove. Watch the trapeze artist as they perform some randomly contextless tricks to a set of lyrics that sounds like a re-interpretation of a lyrics smash-up somewhere between 'last night a DJ saved my life' and 'don't play that song again' - I like!

Ian Axel - This Is The New Year

A: Ian Axel
S: This Is The New Year

Better late than never, and better now than in July. It's not my fault that January is such a lame month when it comes to new music. Last year's top artists were all celebrated to sickness in December, and the 2011 top hot list of artists to watch all don't have a video out yet. So stick with this one for now, and I'll keep you posted for the months to come. As long as it's worth watching, you'll find it on here.

The Joy Formidable - Austere

A: The Joy Formidable
S: Austere
C: The Big Roar (out 21.02.11)

Send your speakers on a much needed acid trip, turn the volume up and let them rip. I figured quite rightly that starting the new year about the same way as we ended the last one can't be a bad thing: in all things black and white when it comes to videos. Anyway, my Mac is once again slow as can be, so let me just add that The Joy Formidable are a three-piece Indie Rock band from North Wales. Done.

The Radio Dept. - Pulling Our Weight

A: The Radio Dept.
S: Pulling Our Weight
C: Passive Aggressive: Singles 2002-2010 (out 25.01.11)

I never even knew this gorgeous song any other way than having been featured on the gorgeous movie called Marie Antoinette or Why Don't You Bang My Head Off. Anyway, The Radio Dept. will have their first kind of Best Of Cd out at the end of the month called 'Passive Aggressive: Singles 2002-2010'. I always wonder if a single collection is better than a best of, kind of sounds more artistic and less commercial, I guess.

Dusty Springfield - The Windmills Of Your Mind

A: Dusty Springfield
S: The Windmills Of Your Mind
C: Dusty In Memphis

Windmills by Dusty is probably my most favorite song of all times, so so cleverly written. Anyway, welcome to 2011. I figured if your life is most probably still the same today as yesterday, there might be a windmill or two turning in your head. Which is why I never take any resolutions when a new year begins: Couldn't think of a more depressing way to start all over again without my beloved Luckies.