this week's post ...

The All New Adventures Of Us
45 Forever new single 4 August
A richly produced melancholic accoustic based tale from Northamptons seven piece The All New Adventures Of Us, and unusually I prefer the 30 second longer album version of the 141bpm '45 Forver' to the single edit. The song is strong enough to take to for four minutes and the softer, longer intro seems to set the tone for this tune and it's reflections on 45rpm vinyl, hence the title '45 Forever'. Radio 2 should have welcomed this with open ears and it whets your appetite for more. Great

The Automatic
Steve McQueen new single 18 August
"I was the teenaged Steve McQueen, my best performance escaped me ..." a new chapter opens for The Automatic with the pulsating 139bpm 'Steve McQueen'. No Penny shouts this time but a chanting footstomping chorus for great dramatic effect - backing vocals by Chris TT and the fearsome Frank Turner, and this first single since the band reconvened should make the Top 10 with ease. Very Dynamic

Cold War Kids
Something Is Not Right With Me single 15 September
A fine 122bpm return by Cold war Kids, the spunky, uneasily titled 'Something Is Not Right With Me' should seek out and satisfy many new fans too

CSS
Move new single 8 September
This is CSS best song since the always requested 'Let's Make Love & Listen To Death From Above'. The 121bpm 'Move' has been made with the dance floor in mind and it's lush rhythm's and melody is irresistable. Excellent

The Delays
Keep It Simple new single 11 August
Another quality offering from Southampton's The Delays, with it's lush harmonies and arrangement it's almost too good to be a hit. Undoubtedly a talented bunch but I'm not sure that The Delays may have got too clever too soon. Nevertheless a fine track

Flobots
Handlebars new single 15 September
From Denver, Colarado come Flobots and ... well this is an awesome record with the type of ironic American humour that defines a way of life. It's uncertain what Flobots mean by some of the lyrics, for instance I feel sure they should be proud of their country, maybe not so much their leaders - as with all countries. 'Handlebars' is a splurge of lyrical ideas melded into a sombre keyboard initiated 70bpm pop jem. Their vid watched three million times on YouTube and for two months a No.1 on the best mainstream indie/alternative station in the world KROQ, Pasadena, Los Angeles there maybe enough humour to cross over the pond and make this the UK hit it deserves to be.

Keane
Spiralling new single 4 August
For me this is Keane's best ever, the chunky anthemic 112bpm 'Spiralling', the first single from their new and third album 'Perfect Symmetry' due on 13 October. With topical words and lines, as leader Tom Chaplin puts it "a chain of thought about human endeavour built on an outrageous groove". !. That'll do for me, great

Mogwai
Batcat new EP 8 September
Difficult to imagine 600 Mogwai fans in one place other than at a Mogwai gig. A few years back xplosure promoted the band at Cardiff University so we know they are there. However it's hard to imagine the sonic warriors will win many new fans with the wonderfully titled instrumental 'Batcat', which at uration 4'30" and a head crunching and relentlessly pounding 37bpm is very much an aquired taste. 'Batcat' is the title of the new EP which also includes wait for it ... 'Stupid Prick Gets Chased By The Police & Loses His Slut Girlfriend' .... ! Look out for their new album 'The Hawk Is Howling' due late September

The Mystery Jets
Half In Love With Elizabeth new single 18 August
Mystery Jets have a hard-core following who really love their material and they're greatly respected by others. The Top thirty hit 'Two Doors Down' was a uniquely English quaintly romantic left field indie anthem and so is this beautiful follow-up, the 147bpm 'Half In Love With Elizabeth', their commitment and persistence should pay off big time. Brilliant

Neimo
Poison The Chalice sampler
Neimo have come up with an uptempo accoustic style selection with succinct 3minute songs and superb lyrics which demands attention. The 'Poison The Chalice' opener is a strong 133bpm 3mins 30second listen and S.PA remixed in an electro stylee. My initial favourite is the 145bpm 'Something In Common' although the 227bpm 'Story Of Your Favourite Song' is well worthy too. An excellent set.

Red Light Company
Meccano new single 11 August
Red Light Company just played an energetic show at our Mad4it night a couple of weeks back, they pulled in 56 punters (of which 23 were guests - so quite a bit of interest). A fine band and the chunky metallic 129bpm 'Meccano' is a strong title and single

Subways
All Or Nothing new album 16 June
I Won't Let You Down new single 25 August
The anthemic 154bpm 'I Won't Let You Down' is a worthy single release from the new Subways album and in fact the entire twelve song set of 'All Or Nothing' kinda harks back to The Subways most requested track 'Rock & Roll Queen'. The American Los Angelino influence is to be heard throughout with pounding Butch Vig produced stompers like the 151bpm opener 'Girls & Boys', the 147bpm 'Kalifornia', the 151bpm 'Alright', the 140bpm 'Shake Shake' uses an interesting Stranglers 'Peaches' like bass on the intro and there are some lush mellow moments like the 101bpm accoustic track 10 'Strawberry Blonde' and the haunting beautfully ironic track five 'Move To Newlyn'. This is a fine collection

White Lies
Death new single 22 September
At four mins plus, the strangely titled 'Death' unnerves a little but turns into a pleasant enough 133+bpm stroll. Well produced, I'm not too sure what the song is about but like I say it is pleasant enough. On The Cure's Fiction Records, White Lies have had a busy year with NME New Noise, Lollapalooza, Latitude, T In The Park, Fuji Rock Japan and will be seen at Reading & Leeds. One to watch