This week I’ve been very busy producing and presenting the drive time slot on Stroud FM. It’s very different to making my own music shows, where essentially I compile a playlist of brilliant music and then witter on about how much I love each track, throwing in some fascinating facts (usually found on that ever reliable source of true information-Wikipedia).Drive time is a more current affairs and local interest based show intended to serve the community-not just the fringe of muso geeks I aim my usual shows at. It’s been a real challenge and great fun. In the last week I’ve interviewed the winner of the Chinese X-factor, the Oscar and Bafta nominated filmmakers behind ‘Mugabe and the White Africa’, some graffiti Artists, a bird specialist, an environmental expert and many others. I’ve also played some terrible (and some great) songs thanks to the specially compiled ‘drive-time mix cd’s’ . I actually played Disco Inferno twice in one show-aargh the shame! I also have to admit I accidently played the Kooks-I hang my head in shame. And so it is with great pleasure I return home put my feet up and listen to some music that I actually like.
And so we return to the list of bands I’m getting excited about this year. I’ll be playing tracks from these bands on my new show next week-it’s my show and I’ll play what I jolly well want!
Delorean
Big in Barcelona apparently, which is where they’re from. I don’t know much else about them other than I like what I hear. They remind me of ‘Cut Copy’ or a less annoying ‘Friendly Fires’. It’s that fusion of indie rock influences (particularly in the vocal) with euphoric piano house inspired riffs. Beat driven, synth pop with a dreamy quality. Made for festival sunsets in some muddy field, far away.
Delphic
The future sound of Manchester (I read somewhere). They are everywhere at the moment-I challenge you to find a “predictions for 2010” list 
that doesn’t contain Delphic (along with Ellie Goulding). So the question is should you believe the hype? I would say probably, yes. It’s right up my proverbial street. It’s yet another “indie-dance” outfit, but done with originality and style. It’s got me thinking when is there going to be a satisfactory name for this genre of music? It started out being called Nu-rave,a slightly derogatory term that became synonymous with asymmetric hairstyles, colourful skinny jeans and style over substance. There’s indie-dance, indietronic(!),electro rock, dance/ rock fusion and many other silly and irritating labels being bandied about(I do it too). What about post dance? I just don’t know. It’s quite important to me as most of the music I listen to falls into this bracket. I feel like a tosser when people ask me what sort of music I like or play. I usually just say-“everything really” after fumbling about with some awkward adjectives for ten minutes “You know, funky, electro-ish type indie/rocky-esque, sort of like…”.Pathetic really.
We Have band
They describe themselves as “a disco-rock trio”, claim they “wear their influences like a flak jacket” and reckon they sound like elephants. Elephants? Well they sound immense ,that’s true. If elephants are fans of funkily fervoured melodies and butt kicking basslines ,then yes elephants. Using not one but three diverse vocalists (boy/girl/boy) they have a new album in the wings called ‘WHB’ released on April 5, the album was produced by Depeche Mode and These New Puritans producer Gareth Jones. I’m excited . I feel a pre-order coming on.
Fan Death
So I’ve already declared my love for this brightly coloured funk/disco/electro duo.They have a new album out this year and it looks set to build
on their previous (somewhat quiet) success. I hope so. They have all the oddball angularity of The Knife with the irresistible catchiness of say ABBA. That’s a good thing.
Let’s Wrestle
Lo-fi indie rocky stuff,with a post-punk feel to it .They are very young but you wouldn’t know it from their song writing. Without fancy production polish to persuade you they simply rely on witty lyrics and well played notes that form good songs. What could be more straightforward?
