FISCHERSPOONER - JUST LET GO
new single released 21 March

This is how I reviewed the 7 minute 12" dance mix - "This is a cool new tune from Fisher Spooner, served up in a 12" dance mix stylee and more than that it's rather difficult to say except - it's got a good beat and should go Top Twenty." On hearing the single edit and accompanying instrumental I'd go further, this is a fine with a great rhythm track and could possibly go Top 5. XXXx www.fischerspooner.com

FISCHERSPOONER - ODYSSEY
new album released 4 April

Yet another mix of the single Just Let Go and this is good stuff, solid depthy lyrics, great arrangement, very dancefloor, very now - this will be a big hit album for Warren & Casey. I'd just been sampling LCD Soundsystem when this arrived, I think this is probably where LCD are heading, Odyssey has a very atmospheric and mesmerizing appeal, it's a fine listen. XXXx www.fischerspooner.com

HAL - PLAY THE HITS
new single released 4 April

This is a fine pop tune from their Hal's album, now due for release a couple of weeks after this single. With lush Beach Boy-esque harmonies, a sublime mystifying lyric and great pop sensibility this should be a massive hit. The only thing against it's chances are, they weren't on Pop Idol and this is more pop than rock, but I love it. XXXXX www.halmusic.com

THE DEAD 60's - THE LAST RESORT
new single released 28 March

Liverpool band The Dead 60's recently supported Kasabian, The Zutons, The Thrills and Morrissey and their single Riot Radio is quite often requested, a minor chart hit and The Last Resort should progress upon that. Atmospheric bass, "wired-up punk" even - reggae and dub influences abound, and a hauntingly sad lyric. You can catch the Dead 60's at Cardiff Barfly on Saturday 19th March, before this goes Top 20 on the 3rd April, there how's that for a prediction. XXXX www.thedead60s.com

ARCADE FIRE - NEIGHBOURHOOD
new album FUNERAL released 28 February

This four piece have produced something almost unique in 05, a David Byrne-esque where does this fit album. Neighbourhood is frightening, a mad desperate delivery on the vox, and an oblique arrangement. Neighbourhood is so different it is completely refreshing and on repeated plays becomes more so. Neighbourhood Power Out is not a remix but a completely different song to the opener Neighbourhood Laika, well who would think of doing that? This is excellent material. XXXX www.arcadefire.com

RILO KILEY - PORTIONS FOR FOXES
new single release to be confirmed

Rilo Kiley, you have a minute to introduce yourselves - guitar harmonic for 7", enter standard indie medium paced guitar intro, vocals in on 20" - "There's blood in my mouth cos I been biting my tongue all week, I keep on talkin' trash but I never say anything, and the talking leads to touching, and the touching leads to sex, and then there is no mystery left, and it's bad news, baby I'm bad news ...." Wow what is this? 10 seconds to spare - tantalizing, catchy 4'20" and somehow quite unusual - if this is a single it should be on top of everything, check their website. XXXXx www.rilokiley.com

BRENDAN BENSON - SPIT IT OUT
new single 21 March

If Brendan Benson doesn't crack the UK Top 40 with this, he probably never will. Spit It Out is the tightest most commercial track from BB todate and there's a couple more quality tracks included on this CD. Brendan's on a short UK tour again to promote the single, he played Cardiff Barfly a couple of years back, and he's here again on Saturday 26 Feb - catch him while you can. XXXx www.brendanbenson.com

THE DONNAS - I DON'T WANT TO KNOW (IF YOU DON'T WANT ME)
new single 7 March

Where do The Donas come from? "40 Boys In 40 Days" is rocket fuel. This second single from their Gold Medal album is more highly charged rock in the Girlschool, Runaways vein rather than Blondie. Perrhaps a little more controlled but nevertheless rockin. Three UK dates in Glasgow, Manchester & London in March to promote the single and I hope they go Top Ten. XXXx www.thedonnas.com

BRITISH SEA POWER -
IT ENDED ON AN OILY STAGE
new single 14 March

British Sea Power's second album 'Open Season will be released on 4 April, and Oily Stage is the first taste. This is pretty impressive stuff, there is a dark side to BSP and it was a little hard to take in some of the longer tracks on their debut, however this is just right It's title could suggest any subject matter, possibly a little current affair's who knows? This is far more accessible, commercial even and will be quite at home in the Top Twenty. XXXx www.britishseapower.co.uk

BECK - E-PRO
new single 14 March

The Man is back, the King Of Cool. Whatever it or the X factor is, Beck has it in abundance. 'E-Pro' is the first single to be released from 'Guero', the new Beck album out on March 28, and it even has a Nah-nah-nah-nah chorus, along with pounding drums and guitar riff - all set to hit No.1 and push Elvis into 2nd Position with whatever the other King's label is pushing that week. XXXXx www.beck.com Check out this very special link for a cool remix by 'Bad Cartridge', www.bandbuilder.com/beck/index.php

KASABIAN - CLUB FOOT
new single 21 March

Playlisted at 40 plus American Radio Stations, big UK tour in April - Ally Pally on the 28th. Club Foot - much requested and second time around ... this will be Top Five in 05 XXXX www.kasabian.co.uk

THE KILLS - NO WOW
new album released 21 February

Just got this, I really like the idea of The Kills, very minimalistic and powerful - very in your face. The Good Ones was so close to Top Twenty, this will consolidate that success. The opening and title track 'No Wow' has a superb intro, a teasing percussion/drum beat leads you into an 'Angie Baby' but far more gruesome 'There ain't no wow now - they all been put down!" type song (Angie Baby? - mad girl who did who knows what to her lover in a 1975 hit for Helen Reddy). I frequently get requests for their earlier material like 'Fu** The People', it's good stuff and 'No Wow' sets the tone. XXX www.thekills.tv

JIM NOIR - MY PATCH EP
new single 21 March

God Bless Jim Noir and anyone else who dares to break with any idea of conforming. Jim is quite simply ... charming! This latest batch of songs sound so deceptively naive and innocent you could be forgiven for thinking they were recorded in the 1960's. But woah look at the titles - Computer Song, Turn Your Frown Into A Smile, My Patch, and How To Be So Real. Accoustic based innovatory and lyrically unique-ish XXXX www.jimnoir.com

STEREOPHONICS -
LANGUAGE SEX VIOLENCE OTHER
new album 14 March DAKOTA new single out 28 February

The pressure's on - an undoubtedly popular band but big headed member has been despatched, get it right it's a fourth straight Number One Album, get it wrong and the fans are left behind.
I've always had a soft spot for Kelly even though he never gave me the lyric sheet for A Thousand Trees he promised he would. He doesn't say much but every word is measured and has maximum impact. A former Market Trader, he is an astute businessman and this record even before you put it on is obviously special.
A lot of thought must have gone into the unique construction of this album, it's title taken from DVD and film classification, only one word song titles are used, the sleeve artistry by Graham Routhwaite is superb, the completely overhauled website is fascinating.

'Dakota' the first single out on Feb 28, is this album's 'Have A Nice Day' and could be the band's first No.1 single.
The Album opener 'Superman' (the first song written for this album), has another sound effect-ual intro, an appetizer to open and then the power riffs begin.
If Kelly were to be reincarnate, he'd probably come back as AC/DC. And there lies the conundrum, are these songs to hard for the pop audience and too soft for the rock audience? I don't know, time will tell.
It could be Kelly has reached perfection. All the songs are again well written and sung in the best 'Rod Stewart' vocal rock 'stylee' and there are some very powerful riffs. Very often the test of a song, a true classic is whether you grow to love it more or dispense with it - these songs are definate grower's because the melodies are so strong. Try Deadhead or Lolita.
And I can't wait to see Kelly Jones being interviewed on Cable TV, surely it's gonna happen one day! XXXX www.stereophonics.com

QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE -
LITTLE SISTER new single out 14 March

No One Knows was such a massive hit, cutting accross various audiences, it pretty well guarantees massive success for the follw up album 'Lullabies To Paralyse' out on 21 March. Little Sister is the first single from the album and it's fast and furious, pulling in at 2'47". This is designed to stomp, Top 5 I'd say! XXXx www.qotsa.com

OPEN HAND - TOUGH GIRL
new single 7 March

This is a fine single from one of Hollywood CA's finest underground bands. Tough Girl is being championed right now by one of my favourite radio stations KROQ Passadena. Open Hand do sound a little different although very at home with Foo Fighters, Queens and Soulwax, hard rock and worth watching out for! XXXX www.openhandrocks.com

SYSTEM OF A DOWN - CIGARO
taster from new album MESMERIZE 18 April

Storming stuff from the greatly loved and requested System Of A Down, same quality as Chop Suey and Toxicity etc, if not better! Stark and aggresive, perhaps a little more mainstream than Slipknot, but equally challenging. This new song Cigaro is not due for single release although it will sit happily with their definitive song Chop Suey. Link to their yet to be updated website, that's how new this promo is! XXXX www.systemofadown.com

LOUIS XIV - ILLEGAL TENDER EP
new single 7 March

Zane Lowe's turned on by these San Diego's guys - playing the frenetic 'Finding Out True Love Is Blind' and sampling 'Paper Doll' to create a music bed! You may have seen them support the Killers in 04, this year they'll be at SXSW in March with Hot Hot Heat, Futureheads and The Doves. This is rude stuff, and unusual too - a very edgy stripped sound which could go further especially as they've got sex on their side! XXXx www.louisxiv.net

HOOD - THE NEGATIVES
new single 21 March

I rather like the lush arrangement of this single 'The Negatives'. Like Jim Noir, Hood are very on their own patch, like a Bolan-esque vocal, is that a hand-clap effect, and a semi-stringlike arrangement of a mellow yet uplifting song. Some more interesting effects can be heard on Tracks 2 & 3, 'Squint In The First Light Of Da' and 'The Sad Decline Of Home' XXX www.hoodmusic.net