Tuesday 1 January 2013

The Sound Of 2013

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Yes it's time once again to look at a few of the new bands we're looking forward to hearing more from in the coming year. The only criteria is that the acts must not have released a debut album in their current guise, and of course they have to be good. We're not trying to predict fame, fortune and appearances on Strictly Come Dancing, simply ten bands who we're expecting to be sound-tracking the next twelve months and getting us all excited. So here's who we're hoping to get to know a bit better in alphabetical order.


Big Wave


This bunch from Torquay deal in sunkissed-indiepop that's a little fuzzy around the edges. So far they have an EP, a single and a free download available, so we can be pretty safe here. We've heard plenty by them and there's not a bad song to be found. They're just the sort of band that are likely to capture hearts and build a word-of-mouth buzz that could see them steadily become stars of the underground.



Big Wave's website

Buy their music





Eliza & The Bear


Aiming for something a little grander are London's Eliza & The Bear who create quietly anthemic guitar-pop with a penchant for the odd epic flourish or two. Free single 'Brother's Boat' was startling in the way it steadily ambled along before bursting into a chorus of voices and brass. Next track 'Upon The North' will be part of a double A-side in February and is no less impressive.





Eliza & The Bear's website





Embers


If you really want to know why we're majorly excited about Manchester's Embers then you need look no further than the two live videos we featured in our recent Band To Check Out feature. The power and force they create is quite incredible. We don't have news of an album yet, but there are a handful of tracks available to buy already so we're guessing (and hoping) something's in the pipeline.



Embers' website

Buy their music





HUSH!


OK we're sticking our necks out a bit on this one. South-west trio HUSH! have very little material available to listen to online. Aside from a couple of brief snippets there's only one full song entitled 'There's Something In The Stars Tonight', but that's good enough to mark them out as a band to watch. If you like The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart or Being There then these guys might be right up your street.



HUSH! Album Preview from HUSH! on Vimeo.

HUSH!'s website





Knocking Ghost


Tipping great things for Knocking Ghost is also a bit of a punt. Their debut EP is scheduled for release in January so all that's available to listen to currently is a trio of songs posted on their SoundCloud page. A two-piece in the studio, fleshed-out to a quartet for live duties, they've already caught our ears with some exceptionally good synth-pop, particularly the awesome 'Independent Girl'.





Knocking Ghost's website





Izzy Lindqwister


Swedish singer-songwriter (now based in Paris) Izzy Lindqwister isn't a total newcomer, she formed the band Rodeo Massacre and has worked with Cornershop in the past. Now a solo artist, she released a single and EP in 2012 which showed an incredible versatility, taking in blues, soul, ye-ye, blue beat, ska, baroque-pop and much more. A brilliantly enticing prospect.





Izzy Lindqwister's website

Buy the EP





Line & Circle


As debut singles go, 'Roman Ruins' by Californians Line & Circle is one of the best we've heard in a long time, even making the top 10 of our tracks of the year list. Surely there's no way that a band with a song as good as that haven't gt something else up their sleeves. With just that song and excellent B-side 'Carelessness' to listen to we're eager to hear more.





To download 'Roman Ruins' for free head here

Line & Circle's website





PEACE


The press are always looking for the next big British indie-guitar band; the next Libertines, Arctic Monkeys or Vaccines. An alternative act to make a dent into the upper reaches of the charts. This year's hopefuls include Palma Violets and Savages, but we think PEACE could be better, having a less traditional, more experimental sound and the tunes to back it up. New single 'Wraith' is out on January 13th.





PEACE's website

Buy their music





Temples 


Taking us on a psychedelic trip in 2013 will be Kettering group Temples who are signed to Heavenly (the label that brought us recent psych favourites TOY) and purely and simply they have great songs. The fact that they turn these songs into sparkling, booming, acid-fried pop monsters is the icing on the cake. Their debut single is out now and we can't wait for more.





Temples' website

Buy the single





The Strypes


This Irish quartet are, as far as we know, not even old enough to legally buy a beer yet and they're already making R&B/garage sounds like seasoned pros. They have an impressive EP available and also nail it live. At such a young age The Strypes musical ability and understanding is phenomenal. Could this refreshing take on 60s beat groups make an impression on the charts? Don't bet against it.





The Strypes' website

Buy the EP





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