Ben Khan

There’s not a great deal of information about Ben Khan available online at the moment, but I’m sure that will change in time. You can’t headline Wembley Arena if no-one knows who you are (although you could probably sell out the Lexington).

There are three songs on his soundcloud and they have a pretty similar sound to those early Jamie Woon tunes which in my humble opinion were fucking great. Authentic, soulful and other words like that. Listen below:

Ben Khan – Fear

Ben Khan – Writer

Ben Khan – These Walls

Maker (Cave Painting remix)

Maker are a new band from Brighton who have popped up on a few UK blogs in recent weeks, and they’re a band with real promise. It’s difficult to pull off this brand of guitar pop without sounding cheesy, but they do it really well.

The most recent instalment is the Cave Painting remix of their song ‘Missing’. Cave Painting have taken an already very strong original, stripped it back, gone all xx on it and then stuck some wicked percussion over the second half. It’s brilliant and you can download it below:

 

Maker – Missing (Cave Painting remix)

And the original:

Maker – Missing

Their first London show is at the Bull & Gate in Kentish Town tonight.

Eliot Grace

Eliot Grace are a Swedish pop collective. One of them, Andreas, has previously worked with Jonna Lee of iamamiwhoami fame.

A few tunes went online recently and they sound great. Not a million miles from the sound of Ms Mr, sink your teeth into these:

Eliot Grace – Rebecka

Eliot Grace – Oh No [download from soundcloud]

Eliot Grace – I Will Never Leave Your Heart Alone [download from soundcloud]

Strangers (Draper remix)

I featured Strangers a little while back, and since first coming across them I think it’s fair to say their releases have continued to improve. Their latest tune, ‘Shine On You’, is certainly the best effort to date.

What has really caught my attention, however, is the remix that Draper has done of the single. He’s one of those electronic artists that picks up about 36k soundcloud plays within 19 minutes of uploading a song, and it’s not hard to see why:

Strangers – Shine On You (Draper remix)

And the original, which is coming out on Killing Moon Limited/Beatwolf Records:

Strangers – Shine On You

The Other Tribe

This must be the third or fourth time I’ve featured The Other Tribe, but that’s hardly a surprise as they just keep getting better. Their latest single, ‘Skirts’, is as energetic as you’d expect from this band, and also contains one of the biggest hooks you’ll hear all summer.

 

‘Skirts’ is released on Black Butter Records in April.

Milano Sun

Milano Sun are a three-piece from Sweden and their debut offering, ‘Already Gone’, is making me yearn for summer like you wouldn’t believe. Watch and download below:

 

Milano Sun – Already Gone (download from soundcloud)

Safari

Safari are a 5-piece from Hertfordshire and they’re releasing a very strong double A-side on 27th Feb through Sons of Stereo Recordings.

The first track, ‘Doubt’, abandons traditional pop structure but remains full of excellent hooks. The second, ‘Are We Ready’, is more of a slow-burner which proves well worth the wait as the saxophone kicks in in the final minute to great effect (so summer 2k11 rite?).

Watch and stream below, I think these are fantastic:

 

Safari – Doubt

Safari – Are We Ready

BUILDINGS

BUILDINGS are from London and I like them a lot. Their first single ‘Eyes On Sunrise’ is a well-structured and understated introduction to a band who for me show some real promise. I found the live show impressive and this first single has got me very keen to hear more. Stream and download below:

BUILDINGS – Eyes On Sunrise

The band play Notting Hill Arts Club tonight.

Adam Russell

Adam Russell is a 22-year-old from Kent who, when he’s not busy doing accounts, is putting his time to much better use and making some really interesting music.

There is no-one else on my radar at the minute writing songs like these, which is probably why I like it so much. It’s had some good coverage on BBC Kent Introducing, and in between writing this post and actually posting it I have just heard the single ‘Piety’ on the latest Huw Stephens podcast.

Adam is self-releasing his debut album ‘Zing Dreams’ on 12th February. ‘Piety’ and another of my favourites, ‘Nazareth’, are available to stream below.

Adam Russell – Piety

Adam Russell – Nazareth

Belgrade

If you’ve been following Belgrade then you will have heard the new track ‘Olympic Heights’ that was uploaded last month, and probably noticed that it sounds bigger and better than what we’ve heard previously. Another one, ‘Whitecaps’, went up last night and for me it’s their best yet. I’m really enjoying these:

Belgrade – Whitecaps

Belgrade – Olympic Heights