this week's post ...

Little Boots
Stuck On Repeat new single 2 June
This is a storming creation, an instant hit... I can't believe it's tha gal from Dead Disco. The electro intro is absolutely compellingly awesome, the songs fine, production's brilliant - Foxy Minx Vics totally addicted to bass, deserves Top Five with this

Ill Nino
March Against Me from the new album 'Enigma' out 7 April
From New Jersey, USA, Ill Nino have created a unique blend of metal meets Santana which gave us a classy fave 'My Pleasant Torture' from their 2005 album 'One Nation Underground'. A beguiling heady mix af rich tasty accoustic guitar combined melodically with a crunching grunge of metal for emphasis on a seering pleading vocal... Not such a love song this time but nevertheless that trademark mix works to good effect again... Ill Nino are where metal and grunge can crossover into the mainstream - Superb!

The Script
We Cry new single 28 April
Well look out Westlife, here comes another great new bunch of Irish creative genius. This single 'We Cry' does have a little goosebump factor which is not an easy mood to create - Timbaland meets U2 is an apt reference. These guys have obviously got substantial talent, I hope their luckier than the brilliant Kharma 45 who with equal commitment to rock and dancefloor seem to have missed the boat.

Hoosiers
Cops & Robbers new single 21 April
Another fine variation on a theme from The Hoosiers, who are currently doing some big ticket business!
After the success and longevity of 'Worried About Ray' and 'Goodbye Mr A', 'Cops' should hit the Ten Ten without too much trouble

The Envy Corps
Dwell new album 14 April
Not the prettiest bunch of guys, Iowa's Envy Corps have played our Mad4it night a couple of times and I give them a nine out of ten for the awesome 'Wires & Wool' alone. A pleading vocal with a brilliant guitar and drum riff - brilliant. Envy Corps have a somewhat a unique approach to their music, it is a rather unusual blend to my ears akin to Arcade Fire and yet U2 also, thoughtful lyrics and melodies with a powerful arrangement exemplified on 'Sylvia (the Beekeeper)', the mellow 'Keys To Good Living'', I thought 'Rhinemaidens' a weak single but an interesting composition (the lyric 'free for the time-being' sounds ominous). The more accoustic/strings of 'Befor The Goldrush' is short sweet three minutes before a very mellow 'Walls' kicks in. The upbeat '99,100' and 'Rooftop's another mellow accosutic two minute tune. 'Party Dress' would make a good single, 'Story Problem' just missed and then the pleading 'Baby teeth' to close an intriguing set of songs - good

Portishead
Machine Gun new single 14 April
Stunning, just like it's title. Beth Gibbons haunting vocal set against a minimally noisy banging clanging backdrop of sound, rather different to how you may remember this mellow Bristolian trio from their mid nineties hits. I just heard Beth, Geoff & Adrian on Radio 4 explaining how they do their own thang on their own timetable, for which they should be commended. 'Machine Gun' is a stand out track, a hit? I think not really

White Denim
Let's Talk About It new single 14 April
At just over two minutes 'Let's Talk About It' is a strong upbeat release which bodes well for the debut 'Workout Holiday' album due in June. These White Denim guys from Austin, Texas kinda leaves you wanting more which can't be a bad thing