Glastonbury 2016 - The Ones To Watch - T-24 Days: Years & Years

This is undoubtedly the most 'pop' and/or 'popular' act I'm going to recommend in the countdown to Glastonbury. I make no apologies for that - there's always been a place on my shelf got the sort of top quality synth-pop that these guys make, from Bronski Beat and Erasure to Royksopp, Robyn and beyond, I've always been a sucker for a great melody with an electronic background.

On top of that I've got a lot of time and respect for frontman Olly Alexander. he's outspoken 9for the right reasons), good to his fans, and seems like a genuinely decent human being.

Just imagine some of these hits being pumped out in the sunshine on the Pyramid stage - it's going to be one of those feel-good Glastonbury moment that you remember for years (& years).

Recommended music: 'Loop The Loop' by Bullion

Releasing your records on your own label can sometimes spell danger - self-indulgence and lack of quality control are things that spring to mind. Fortunately that's not the case here - Nathan Jenkins' debut full-length record on his own Deek label is full of quality from the get-go. You know that you're in for something a bit special when the violin on opener 'Dip Your Foot' swoops in, an instrument that again is used to good effect on 'My Lar'. Is there such a genre as 'pastoral electronica'? If there wasn't already then I think Bullion may just have invented it.

Throughout the album there's a whole heap of lovely sounds, and hints of music from countries far and wide - one minute you're on a retreat in mystical India, the next you're on a yacht in Nice. The vocals gently form part of the music, allowing the whole tracks to envelope you. This is not grim, industrial electronica that makes you think of concrete and despair - don't get me wrong, there's a place for that, but here we have melodic, pop-tinged electronica with room for you to breathe and explore the open air.If you're partial to the likes of Metronomy, Hot Chip, NZCA Lines or Night Works then you'll certainly be taken with this.

Guests on the record include Sampha, Laura Groves, and Sarah Anderson (from Chrome Hoof) amongst others, who all help add to the depth and quality of the work here.

'Loop The Loop' is out now - you can buy it direct from the label here.

Video of the Day: 'Breakdown' by Peaking Lights

The first track from Peaking Lights forthcoming album 'Cosmic Logic' now comes with a clever and amusing video about how someone's obsession with a smart phone ruins their life. It's a cautionary tale for sure so make sure you take the message on board my friends.



The album comes out on October 6th via Weird World Records, and the band will be playing a few dates in Paris, Glasgow, Liverpool & London between 21st and 28th November, so go see 'em.

New podcast - Austerity Audio vol. 9

Another instalment in my semi-regular series of free music podcasts. As usual there's a massive range of genres covered in the 10 tracks, proving that there really are only two sorts of music - good music and bad music. Hopefully you'll agree we've got the good stuff here.

Each of these 10 tracks has been legally downloaded for free over the past couple of weeks. The idea of these podcasts it to highlight new music to you, so that if you like it you'll go out and buy a track or two from some of the artists - you get good music, they get some money, and the world's a better place to be. To download the podcast just right-click on the picture above. Here's this week's tracklist:

1. Lomaji - The Show
2. Sidi Toure - Ay Hora : My Dance
3. This Frontier Needs Heroes - No More War
4. Samantha Crain - For The Miner
5. Cuushe - Butterfly (Kidsuke Remix)
6. Date Palms - Sky Trails
7. Cloud Boat - Amber Road (The Haxan Cloak Remix)
8. Dustin Wong - Liberal Christian Youth Ministry
9. The Superman Revenge Squad Band - A Funny Thing You Said
10. Sisters - Clearhead

Track of the Day: 'It All Feels Right' by Washed Out

Perfect for the summer (if we ever see it in the UK) this slice of dreamy, gently psychedelic pop marks a change of style for Washed Out. The new album 'Paracosm' is out on August, and hopefully it'll be full of this sort of quality, melodic music.

New music: 'Everything Is Embarrassing (Unknown Mortal Orchestra Remix)' by Sky Ferreira

Two of the hottest names around at the moment combine on this shimmery, summery track. You only have to hear the chorus once and it gets completely stuck in your brain. I guarantee you'll find yourself singing along.

New music: 'Demon To Lean On' by Wavves

The first track from the new album 'Afraid Of Heights' which is out on March, this grunge-pop song is upbeat and sounds like the noughties never happened. Nathan Williams is definitely developing as both a singer and a songwriter and (whisper it) might even be growing up.