Conversation - Tell me I'm the one

One of my favourite new synthpop bands is Conversation in Sheffield. They sound like Erasure in the best possible way, and I can't wait to hear more from them. With some good production they could sound incredible.

Floating Death Picnic - Is It Over Yet?

The low budget genius of Floating Death Picnic takes on Christmas. A track filled with a stupidly good melodic hook, and the kind of video that's made OJ and his cohorts the best thing to come out of Sheffield's music scene in a long time.

If you don't get it. You aren't doing it right.

The Drums - Me and the Moon

I know it's been out for a while now, but this track is just brilliant. My favourite from a really good album. The beat is so simple yet totally engrossing. One of my favourite tracks of the whole year.

The Human League - Night People

I love The Human League. I'm not embarrassed to say Dare is one of my favourite albums ever. But even hardened Human League fans would be hard pressed to name a good track from them since about 1993. I am very very happy to say the wait is over. The only sadness is that it could have been even better(it takes a while to get going), but hopefully remixes will explore that.

But as a Human League track it's probably the best thing they have out in nearly two decades. Catchy and full of rythmn, and avoiding the blandness that plagues their later work. Welcome back Mr Oakey.

Coheed and Cambria - Welcome Home

Saw them this weekend supporting Deftones. Both bands were amazing. One track from Coheed and Cambria stood out though, one of those I knew but never listened to in detail. Enjoy.

Late of the Pier - Focker

One of my favourite album of the last few years, this track is a nice reminder of how bands can sound relevant and new yet steeped in the past, to sound exciting and engaging without being one dimensional.

Talvin Singh - Ok

For me, one of the few albums that truly deserved to win their Mercury Music Prize. This track still works, has lost none of its freshness despite being 12 years old. That Talvin Singh has never managed to find major success since is a shame...

The Beatles - Helter Skelter

Probably my favourite Beatles track. I love the Kinks and some Zeppelin stuff, but at the time this must have been amazingly heavy stuff. It still holds up today as a loud noisy track that you could play in a rock club and get a great reaction to.

Floating Death Picnic - I'm having a picnic

A brilliant live act, funny, silly, but with damn good tunes.
OJ is the master of random retro sillyness.

Crystal Castles and Robert Smith - Not in Love

The Cure have always been a patchy band for me. Stretching from some of the best love songs ever written to a few albums worth of bland nothingness. That said, Robert Smith is a legend. He could do a duet with Justin Bieber and I'd still want to listen to it.

This track is from the top drawer. Crystal Castles providing a catchy but eerie sound space that allows Smith to be himself and let the magic of both artists work.

So wonderfully wonderfully wonderfully wonderfully ditty...

LTJ Bukem - Demons Theme

Awesome pre-jungle drum and bass. I once reviewed a rarities album by LTJ Bukem, it was a bit bland and dull. This however is him at his best.

Ou Est Le Swimming Pool - The Key

Music is sadly filled with legends and stars that died far too young. Having listened to the Ou Est Le Swimming Pool album before I heard about the tragic death of their lead singer meant that finding out was a horrible shock. I think their debut album is brilliant, full of catchy yet emotion twinged tracks. This is possibly my favourite track from it, the video all the more poignant for containing footage from the festival at which the singer tragically died.

Rammstein - Sonne

Heard this last night for the first time in ages. I forgot how good a track it was, plus the video is just briliant. The best Disney story never told...

Armin Van Buuren - In and Out of Love

Most chart dance now is so hideously crooked bland uninspired repetitive shite which sells to a dwindling audience of halfwits that buy anything which features a semi-naked woman in the video.

This on the other hand reminds me why I used to love trance music, why when it is made with passion and care, even mainstream dance can be moving and powerful.

Gwen Stefani - Wind it Up

Heard this last night, forgot how much I like it. Her lyrics aren't great but the tune is just brilliant. This one requires biiig bass though...

Discodeine - Synchronize (Feat. Jarvis Cocker)

The man, the legend, Jarvis Cocker helps turn this bit of French disco into something brilliant.
via NME

Kapital KO - Walking in the Air

I came across this via Kapital K-O's twitter feed. It's a great choice of sample, along with some really nice beats and bass. Nicer still that it represents Manchester for music that isn't indie rock.

Man Like Me - Always Find Me In the Kitchen at Parties

Crossing over my two big loves, music and advertising is this track and video. It's brilliant, really really brilliant. However the main question for me is how on earth did I never hear the original before? Any song with the word Rebuffed in the lyrics deserves praise.

The original is awesome, this cover manages to find sounds and production that makes it feel exactly of the same mould but just loud enough to feel modern.

This makes me want a party in my kitchen just so I can play this and dance upside down Lionel Richie style.

Dir En Grey - Child Prey

If you have never heard the amazing Japanese band Dir En Grey I suggest you go have a listen on You Tube now. I say You Tube because a: Spotify don't have their best song (in my opinion, posted below) and b: Because they just have to be seen to be understood.

A band that have got darker and heavier over the years but seem to consistently produce great songs. If you enjoy heavy music, turn your speakers and bass right up. Then a bit higher. Then a notch higher. Then play this.