Danish singer Oh Land has been the source of a mounting blogospheric attention over the past few months, and it's not hard to see why.
Combining the off-kilter Scandopop sensibilities of Robyn and Lykke Li with a voice that reminds me a little of Arklow's finest Roisin Murphy, Oh Land embellishes her live performances with artistic flourishes and is a former student of the Danish Royal Ballet.
She's been releasing music in her homeland of Denmark for the past few years but looks set to go global in 2011 after inking a deal with Epic Records following a rousing set at the SXSW showcase last year.
Two tracks from her recent self-titled EP, 'Wolf & I' and 'Son Of A Gun', have really tickled my fancy, and I look forward to hearing more from her in the new year.
Gorillaz served up a generous Christmas gift to their fans this year when they debuted a new album, 'The Fall', in full on their website.
While everybody was getting their knickers in a twist about this unexpected release, recorded entirely on an Apple iPad, Owen Pallett (the artist formerly known as Final Fantasy) quietly unleashed his own festive treat - a collection of demos & instrumentals from his last album “Heartland”
Although one of the tracks on the 'Export EP' is entitled 'Owen's Voice', none of the tracks feature vocals by Pallett. Even minus his dulcet tones, the tracks are still well worth a listen.
Owen was also recently responsible for scoring the New York Times' excellent 'Fourteen Actors Acting' feature, which paid tribute to the actors that defined cinema in 2010. Among those included are Chloe Moretz, Jesse Eisenberg, Natalie Portman and James Franco, but my favourite is Tilda Swinton, presumably included for her role in the wonderful, 'I Am Love'.
One of the best gigs I had the pleasure of attending this year was when madcap Icelandic troupe FM Belfast played at the ABSOLUT Fringe in Dublin.
During the Summer, I posted this remix by Copenhagen-based producer Brynjar Bjarnfoss of my favourite of their tracks, 'Underwear', and I've been meaning to post about Brynjar's own musical venture the past couple of weeks.
Kúra sees Brynjar teaming up with his cousin, Reykjavik-based vocalist Fanney Ósk Þórisdóttir.
Their names may be a bit of a mouthful but their brand of glacial electropop goes down nice and easy. Their Multicolor EP was released this month and it's provided the perfect soundtrack to my snowy incarceration the past few weeks.
One of my resolutions for the new year is to read a lot more books. Over the past few months, I've dedicated the majority of my reading time to hefty 'lifestyle magazines', so weaning myself off these will be a major coup.
If I'm allowed the occasional concession, I'll more than likely indulge in Wonderland Magazine, who always feature a nice pick'n'mix of emerging musicians in their interviews and photoshoots.
The current issue features Mike Hadreas, aka Perfume Genius and this video of Mike crooning 'Lookout, Lookout', a delicate ballad recounting the Mary Bell murders, was recorded during the shoot.
In other Perfume Genius news, a studio version of 'Dreeem', which I posted about before, has surfaced. It's one of three new tracks that were added to his album 'Learning' for its recent re-release.
Tips for 2011 are flying left, right and centre at the moment but, by virtue of the fact that the BBC's 'Sound of...' list compiles the predictions of over 150 music gurus across the UK, it's inevitably going to hold a bit more weight.
The past few years, the lists have been dominated by female-fronted acts, with Adele, Duffy, Florence and the Machine, Ellie Goulding, La Roux and Marina & The Diamonds all placing in the upper reaches. As such, it's refreshing to see so many great male artists in this year's shortlist.
Jai Paul and James Blake are two acts that I've posted about in the past and, with the right break, could conceivably convert their blogospheric hype to mainstream success.
Another act who, like both Jai Paul and James Blake, teams neo-soul vocals with electronic and post-dub arrangements is Jamie Woon. But whereas James Blake started out a more leftfield artist and has now begun embracing conventional song structures, Jamie Woon began as a singer-songwriter before gradually turning to the dark side.
There are of course the usual crop of indie bands, curveballs in the guise of dubstep-lite act Nero and grime act Wretch 32, and those pesky female fronted outfits.
The wispy Esben and the Witch could be a strong contender for a Top 5 finish, whereas big-voiced Birmingham lass Clare Maguire and spiky power-pop chanteuse Jessie J are also likely to feature in the final reckoning.
The full shortlist is as folows: James Blake, Anna Calvi, Daley, Esben And The Witch, Jessie J, Clare Maguire, Mona, The Naked And Famous, Nero, Jai Paul,The Vaccines, Warpaint, Jamie Woon, Wretch 32 and Yuck.
Around this time of year, music bloggers start squabbling about two things: who made the bloggiest albums of the year gone by, and who will yield the bloggiest albums of the year to come.
Three years ago, top of the list in the latter category was 19-year-old singer Adele, whose brand of 'blue eyed soul' was deemed most likely to be the next big thing. Sure enough, her debut album was met with critical acclaim and went on to shift millions of copies before earning her two Grammy awards, including the highly coveted Best New Artist award.
I never quite understood the hype and, although could appreciate that she was obviously talented, had her earmarked as 'not my thing'. These past few weeks, however, as morsels of her forthcoming sophomore album, 21, have been surfacing, I've found myself completely gripped by her music.
First came 'Rolling In The Deep', which the singer herself has described as a “dark bluesy gospel disco tune”. Pounding drumbeats and handclaps underscore the almighty vocal delivery and repeat listens draw you further and further in.
Next came the startling 'Someone Like You', a heartwrenching ode to lost love that sent shivers running down the back of my neck when I first heard her pitch-perfect performance on Later... With Jools Holland.
I've been fortunate enough to snatch a sneak preview of the album in full and can happily report that it is one of the first truly great albums of 2011.
The unsung hero of The xx, Jamie xx, put together this incredible remix of 'Rolling In The Deep', which although apparently will never see the light of day other than this poor quality rip, adds another dimension to my appreciation of the track.
Continuing to deliver music every bit as intriguing as his name, producer and singer Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs has just unveiled the video for his latest track, 'Household Goods'.
I think I actually prefer the track to Garden, which has been a fixture on my playlists the past few months.
At one point sampling a Scottish gaelic choir, 'Household Goods' positively wreaks of 2011 and comes accompanied by a suitably bizarre video.
Ok, here we go. I've invested a vast sum of money (about 9 euro) in obtaining the sphericalnotions.com domain name and I'm determined to resuscitate my poor neglected plot of cyber-real estate.
A band whose debut album I've been meaning to rave about the past few months is Fenech Soler, who I first encountered via their remix of Marina and the Diamonds' 'Hollywood' this time last year.
Occupying a point on the musical spectrum somewhere between Klaxons and Friendly Fires, the band's eponymous debut is laden with glittering electropop gems, doused in shimmering synths and spluttering drumbeats.
Opening track Battlefields begins with choral-like vocals before breaking into a frenetic dance-beat tailor-made to set toes tapping. Anthemic ode to self-doubt Demons sounds like the most likely candidate to grant Fenech Soler chart success, while contemplative piano-led track Stone Bridge offers a rare reprieve from the frantic pace upheld for most of the album.
The band's trump card is undoubtedly frontman Ben Duffy's powerful vocals, which is especially impressive in the upper register and sets the band apart from the slew of keyboard-toting electropop acts currently clambering for our attention. In truth though, it's hard to fault any aspect of this package and Fenech Soler is one of the most impressive debuts of the year.
Self-proclaimed teen witch Sky Ferreira and her band of merry producer-type men are busy applying the final gloss to her debut album, which, if all goes to plan, will be one of the big pop records of 2011.
In the meantime, we can make do with her contribution to the recent Aeroplane album - a sultry disco-tinged number called 'Without Lies', with provocative innuendo-laden lyrics about how deceit helps keep life interesting.
I haven't really been able to keep tabs on developments in the world of music these past few weeks, but one source of mild blogospheric hysteria that hasn't escaped my notice is London synthpop duo Labyrinth Ear.
Breaking More Waves posted one of their tracks, Snow White, a while back, which cleverly transforms a sample from Disney's film of the same name into a blissed-out electro track. Just as good is laconic lovesong Navy Light.
Their debut EP is available as a free download here.
While we're (sort of) on the subject of Snow White, have you seen Pogo's latest Disney mash-up, Wishery? Apparently The Little Mermaid is next on his hitlist...
In light of the fact that I once forced a little known track called 'Tik Tok' on anybody that crossed my path, insisting it represented the future of pop, I'm a little more conscious about jumping the gun when hailing pop princesses-in-waiting these days.
However, with the gurning expressions of Nicki Minaj, styling that teams Rihanna's ghetto princess with the obligatory Gaga-esque flourishes, provocative lyrics á la Katy Perry, and a writing credit for Miley Cyrus's 'Party In The U.S.A.' under her belt, Jessie J certainly seems pretty perfect on paper.
I've been thrashing about my room to the Labrinth remix of her sass-heavy track 'Do It Like A Dude' the past few weeks and a video has now surfaced, which should secure Jessie plenty of airtime on music television.
Absolut Vodka's fervent endorsement of all things artsy is something I've always found a little... suspicious. Seemingly though, it's been going on for decades and is all above aboard. If you say so.
This 30 minute film movie, 'I'm Here', directed by Spike Jonze and (sort of) starring the dashing Andrew Garfield, was sponsored by the firm and makes for a pretty strong argument in defence of corporate sponsorship of the arts.
Dragonette are one of those acts, like Robyn and Girls Aloud, credited with restoring the good name of pop music in the latter part of the last decade, after the boyband/girlband explosion that coincided with the turn of the millenium led to stigma so severe that pop purveyors were practically driven into hiding.
Even so, I never really 'got' Dragonette myself. Recently, however, a couple of their collaborations have caught my attention. First of all there was a track called 'Hello' with French producer Martin Solvieg and now comes a guest-spot on Don Diablo's latest release, 'Animale', which is 'right up my street'.
The track is accompanied by a brilliantly bizarre video about a young boy's toxic relationship with oranges. Behold:
I also came across this rather potent dubstep remix over on Sheena Beaston, which I suspect I'd rather enjoy after an orange segment or two.
"We are a lost generation, desperately clinging to anything that feels real, but too afraid to become it ourselves. We are a defeated generation, resigned to the hypocrisy of those before us, who once sang songs of rebellion and now sell them back to us.
We are the last generation, a culmination of all previous things, destroyed by the vapidity that surrounds us. The hipster represents the end of Western civilization – a culture so detached and disconnected that it has stopped giving birth to anything new.
Dawn breaks and the last of the after-after-parties begin to spill into the streets. The hipsters are falling out, rubbing their eyes and scanning the surrounding landscape for the way back from which they came. I take a look at one of the girls wearing a bright pink keffiyah and carrying a Polaroid camera and think, "If only we carried rocks instead of cameras, we’d look like revolutionaries.""
Perfume Genius's beautiful if slightly harrowing album 'Learning' has been a staple on my headsets ever since a friend recommended it a few months back.
Singer Mike Hadreas is currently touring the album and drawing all manner of superlatives wherever he stops off. He hasn't made it quite as far as Ireland yet but, rumour has it, he's due here early next year.
To tide us over, he's been debuting some new material on tour, including this characteristically heart-wrenching number, 'Dreem'.
Also worth a listen is 'Helpless', a beguiling cover of a track made famous by Mammy Kavanagh's favourite, Mr. Neil Young.
The new Lykke Li EP hit the web less that 48 hours ago but, already, it's totally permeated the blogosphere.
The Swedish singer's stunning debut, 'Youth Novels', had critics fawning over her lovelorn lullabies back in 2008 but radio stations and the record-buying public were less enthused by the material.
No harm though because, based on the initial reaction to these first two cuts from her sophomore album, Lykke seems set to make more of an impact this time around.
While heart-wrenching ballad 'Paris Blue' treads familiar territory, 'Get Some' marks a change of pace with its rhythmic drums and racy lyrics and makes for a more intriguing listen.
Although she has yet to release an album, 26-year-old rapper Nicki Minaj is the music industry's worst kept secret, recently breaking a record by being featured on a total of seven different tracks in the U.S. Billboard Top 200.
She hasn't quite permeated the public consciousness in the same way over here yet but I suspect that when her debut record, Pink Friday, is released next month, she'll be pretty inescapable.
I'm slightly in love with these Soviet-style posters for Darren Aronofsky's forthcoming ballet-based feature, 'Black Swan'. If you haven't seen the trailer yet, I'd suggest you get acquainted. Unfortunately the film isn't due for release her 'til February 2011.
It's been fairly slow progress for Penguin Prison. His debut album, which was shaping up to be one of the best of 2010, is now destined to be among the cream of 2011 instead.
However, on the plus side, the New York-based singer has inked a deal with Wall of Sound to release his album in both Europe and Australia.
He's also premiered another track called 'Golden Train', which is up to his usual standards of brilliance and should tide diehard fans like myself over for the time being.
For over a year now, Heineken Green Spheres have been hosting kickass free gigs in various spots around Ireland, with the likes of Foals, Marina and the Diamonds, 2 Many DJs, White Lies and Passion Pit having performed.
They've just announced a free Goldfrapp gig on November 25th in Drogheda (find out how to register for tickets here). Before then though there's the small matter of Mark Ronson and the Business Intl at The Clarence Hotel in Sligo on Wednesday, October 27th.
The lovely folk at Heineken Music have kindly given me two pairs of tickets to give away. To enter, simply e-mail thebubbleboyblog@gmail.com with your name and the name of Mark's younger sister, famed for her rocky relationship with Lindsay Lohan.
If you haven't already seen it, check out the great video for Mark's collaboration with Boy George, Somebody To Love Me.
Come As Soon As You Hear have teamed up with the Forward/Slash boys for a night of mayhem at The Bernard Shaw, this Thursday the 21st as part of the Beatyard Weekender.
From 8 o' clock, we'll have a selection of New Volta Film Club shorts, curated by Bob Gallagher, as well as CASAYH's interactive performance, which features flower crafts, fortune-telling and Facebook photography.
DJs Frankie Grimes, James McLoughlin, Haido, Eimear Fitzmaurice and kDamo will be soundtracking the evening with all manner of blissed-out beats.
Hip-hopper Bob Glynn will be playing some tunes, the enigmatic Lobster Boy will be putting his claws to use by whipping up some visual delights and, to top it all off, we'll be marking International Day of the Nacho.
Bernard Shaw drinks promos? Check. Free admission? Czech. Go getcha some.
If you can't make it along to this, fret not. There's plenty more fun to be had over the weekend. A full listing of what's happening for The Beatyard Weekender can be seen here. I'm hoping to make it down to the all-new Toejam Mini Mall, a compact edition of their renowned Carboot Sale, to see if I can gleam some bargains.
Press play. There's a handsome white man, walking around an apartment, plagued by gravity-defying fruit. He's crooning Feist's 'Limit To Your Love' against a backdrop of syncopated piano chords. His voice is pleasantly soulful and unmistakably English.
So far, so James Morrison.
But wait. Thirty seconds in, things take a turn for the brilliant.
This is James Blake, a London-based singer and producer. This fusion of indie, neo-soul and elements of dub is one of the best pieces of music I've come across this year, flooring me in the same way that The xx's 'Crystalised' did the first time I heard it.
It's the first track to be released from James's forthcoming album and, based on the unpredictable genre-hopping nature of his previous work, it's going to make for an interesting listen.
Spark has debuted the video for her excellent single, 'Revolving', which is being released on Neon Gold on November 15th.
The fact that the video's makers haven't done more with the lyrics about wind-up toys and mechanics strikes me as something of a missed opportunity but, simple as the treatment they've opted for might be, it works reasonably well.
Real name George Lewis Jr, Twin Shadow produces tuneful retro-sounding ballads, with fuzzy synths and sturdy drumbeats serving as a backdrop to his winsome wailing.
His album, 'Forget', is ideal for soundtracking the more peaceful moments in the day and 'Castles In The Snow' is probably my favourite track right now.
As if naming his child after himself wasn't vain enough, Will Smith now seems to be grooming his nine-year-old daughter Willow to follow his career-path. With her brother Jaden (presumably named after their monther Jada) already a successful actor, Willow is now set to embark on a music career with the release of her debut single, 'Whip My Hair'.
The track is a delicious slice of pop/r'n'b with a snazzy futuristic video to boot. If she must be deprived of her childhood, I guess at least it's for a decent cause:
If you still can't shake the feeling that Willow is but a puppet in her parents' grand scheme for global domination, then this mash-up of the song with a Sesame Street video called 'I Love My Hair' might seem more fitting.
I Blame Coco has been garnering some pretty harsh reviews for her debut album 'The Constant', with The Independent offering an especially scathing critique.
Having heard a preview of the album, I disagree with the majority of the criticism. Granted, there's nothing quite as earth-shattering as Caesar but it's an accomplished debut with scarcely a dud track.
One thing I do take issue with though is the choice of the next single. Initially, the excellent 'Quicker' was scheduled for release but, even after an accompanying video surfaced, a decision was made to release 'In Spirit Golden' instead.
One consolation for the last-minute single change is that we get some nice souped-up remixes of both tracks, with remix artist RackNRuin being made work overtime:
Danish singer Oh Land has been the source of a mounting blogospheric attention over the past few months, and it's not hard to see why.
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