this week's post ...

The Automatic
This Is A Fix new album 25 August
Five superb tracks on this album sampler demonstrate a growing strength and maturity from The Automatic. 'Monster' was such a massive hit with it's populist chant it has been an interesting ponder over how they'd follow it up. So strong was the demo of 'Monster' it was picked out by their manager Martin Bowen a couple of years before they were signed. So impressed was Mr. Bowen I well remember his spontaneous exemplar of the song by impressively singing it to me. Well worry not Automatic fans there's five great trax on this sampler starting with the superb 137bp 'Steve McQueen', then the 148bpm four minute pounder 'This Ship', the medium paced 102bpm 'Magazines', the slow 59bpm 'MakeThe Mistakes' and the 138bpm superbly titled 'Secret Police' pulling in at 3'00" maybe the next single. A brilliant return

Eric Prydz
Pjanoo new single 25 August
Another uplifting dance track from Eric Prydz comes with eight mixes all of which are mighty fine. Two great radio edit's the 125bpm original and the 125bpm Afterlife remix at 2'50" should pick up plenty of airplay. Also well worthy are the two 174bpm drum and bass High Contrast mix's at 3'00" and extended to 6'30". No vocals for a 'Call On Me' type number one but a definite dancefloor filler.

The Feeling
Join With Us new single 15 September
The 95bpm title track and a fourth single from The Feeling's number one album should easily pick up airplay on radio 2 and as the vid was shot on Johnny Vaughan & Denise Van Outen's Capital Radio Breakfast Show on Capital Radio, Heart and all GCap station's too! It's a pop-sensible 95bpm medium paced chugger which alas will probably miss single chart action. Not that The Feeling should be too worried by that!

Glasvegas
Go Square Go - Badlands Remix
Glasvegas are cool, new single 'Daddy's Gone' should be helped along by big interest in the Badlands (i.e. Does It Offend You Yeah) 151bpm remix of 'Go Square Go'. Hey there's a catchy hook in here and at just 4'13" this should see some action.

Infadels
A Million Pieces new single
Infadels have I feel been unlucky not to smash the top ten a couple of times with their excellent 2006 singles 'Love Like Semtex' and 'Can't Get Enough'. Much requested and here comes another single from their 'Universe In Reverse' album. The 148bpm 'A Million Pieces' is another impressive outing, also included here with edgy, dirty bass and distorted vocals is the 132bpm 'Shanghai Melissa', the raucous 165bpm 'Change My Colours' and the atmospheric, spooky offbeat dub-style Orb Remix of 'Circus Of The Mad'. Great band deserve success

John Legend with Andre 3000
Greenlight new single 6 October
A superb hook, "Gimme the greenlight, I'm ready to go right now ..." and John Legend is about to launch his second album 'Evolver'. The quite brilliant chugging 155bpm nightclub anthem 'Greenlight' features Outkast's Andre 3000 - "Do I have a girlfriend technically no, gimme the greenlight". 10 great and thoroughly useful mixes here - the Johnny Douglas original, club remix, the radio re-edit without rap, instrumental - then Tom Neville adds a 128bpm remix and dub followed by a superb 129bpm Kings Of Tomorrow remix. Thrown in for good measure there's the 83bpm reggae-fied Afroganic remix with the song possibly sounding a little uneasy, in fact too fast for the riff on this. Nevertheless, Number One? ... Yep it could be

Kings Of Leon
Sex On Fire new single 15 September
Another 154bpm guitar ringing groove from Kings Of Leon. 'Sex On Fire' the first taste of their new album 'Only By The Night' due on 22 September. I'm constantly surprised by the growth of KOL's fanbase and this new LP will be supported by a major tour which should mega clean-up.

Ladyhawke
Dusk Til Dawn new single 15 September
Here's another fine single from New Zealander Pip Brown now monikered as Ladyhawke. Just 2mins 50secs with a catchy moany hookline and some tasty mixes. The Linus Loves Mix at 123bpm starts really sexy and then puts some strange effect on Pip's vocal which I'm not sure is a good idea, I think he should re-mix it with the single vocal in edited form for another chance at radio play. Simon & Shaker's Mix is reminiscent of Lil Louis' 1989 'French Kiss' floorfiller, The Shoes mix is fine if you like a 128bpm stoccato choppy kinda track and then there's the slowed down Canyons mix - very atmospheric. Hit potential again

Neil Halstead
Oh Mighty Engine new album 8 September
The title track opener sets the tone for another fine acoustic set from Brushfire Records, home of Jack Johnson. Neil Halstead, song-writer with Slowdive and Mojave 3 now in his solo artist incarnation has created a wonderful warm soundtrack. Intriguing titles 'Baby I Grew I Beard For You', 'Witless Or Wise', 'Spinning For Spoonie' and 'No Mercy For The Muse' give you a good idea where the man is coming from. Mellow moments for late night listening

Primal Scream
Beautiful Future new album 4 August
Packed full of Primal goodies the title track leads the way, then the brilliant single 'can't go back' (with it's disturbing vid) leads into possibly a future single 'Uptown'. Already issued in a nine minute atmos remix by Wetherall the album version could easily go top 40. Titles like 'Suicide Bomb', 'Zombie Man', 'Necro Hex Blues' and 'The Glory Of Love (Single Version)' are produced by Bjorn Yttling of Peter, Bjorn & John and Paul Epworth of Bloc Party credit. Guest appearances from CSS's Lovefoxx ('I Love To Hurt, You Love To Hurt'), QOTSA's Josh Homme ('Necro Hex Blues') and British folk legend Linda Thompson on a duet of Fleetwood Mac's 'Over & Over' make this a treasure chest of an album.

Sergeant
Sunshine from the 'Swings & Roundabouts' EP 1 September
Sergeant are heralded by Alan McGee as the saviour of Scottish music, a strong recommendation and their debut album is being finalized right now with John Leckie (of Radiohead and Verve credit) at the Abbey Road producers helm. Sergeant have been busy honing their live act supporting Courteeners, Fratellis, Supergrass and Pigeon Detectives. The 184bpm 'Sunshine' is a bright, breezy Summery production and will be the follow-up to their sold out limited edition first single 'K'ok'. At ease

Underground Railroad
Kill Me Now (Or You Never Will)
Underground Railroad played at a Mad4it Saturday Night in Newport a couple of years back (check the pics here). Although not greatly attended this talented three-some embarked on a set rich with aplomb and irreverence. The grungy three minute 'Kill Me Now (Or You Never Will)' is perfect indie radio pop .. edgy title, edgy lyrics, off kilter sound and the bizarre title as chorus. Track two "What you gonna do for a job, what you gonna have for breakfast" a short and sharp 1'00". On One Little Indian, a band to watch out for

Weezer
Troublemaker new single 29 September
Weezer bossman Rivers Cuomo's had a busy year what with his essential home demos album and Weezer's bettering return. We loved the 'Pork & Beans' top 40 single and vid and here comes the lead track from the bands sixth album. Recorded in Malibu and Santa Monica with producer Jacknife Lee the 132bpm 'Troublemaker' is another strong American rock pop chune and should do well.

Xpress 2 & David Byrne
Lazy Remixes new single
The original was a bit of a lazy lob so to speak but here comes five powered up remixes. 15 years into their career Xpress 2 have hooked in Mowgli for a chunky broken up rewound effected Mr Ozio styled thang, there's the 129bpm original, a stormin' Norman Fatboy slim pounder of a 129bpm mix and the 7 minute 127bpm Moto Blanco remix which is fine in it's three minute radio edit form too. Hit pick