Hockey

I'm finally going to be able to go and see these guys next month and I'm excited. They came to the awareness of the British ears earlier this year with "Too Fake" receiving a fair bit of air-time on XFM and 6Music. I'm curious to see how it works in a live setting but with songs like "Song Away" and "3 AM Spanish" are top drawer and are taken from their debut album Mind Chaos which is, quite frankly, pretty ace. Think LCD Soundsytem morphed with The Strokes on Valium.

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Wolf Gang

These guys are pretty new on the scene but seem to be gaining popularity and kudos at pace. The London collective are jumping on the 80s revival and producing some exciting stuff. Their also set to play Dot-to-Dot and the Stab and Dagger Festivals this year.

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Telekinesis

Telekinesis is one guy who likes to create songs. Happily he brings some friends along to help and the first thing that strikes you watching them live is the big f-off drum kit at the front. Singing drummers (except Phil Collins) pique my interest. Not only must it be terribly difficult it's also a bit mad. Their self-titled debut is a real gem. Mixing 60s and 70s pop with indie to create free flowing songs songs that usher the summer in.

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Rogues

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Described as "like Foals, but darker, and more electro" they certainly embrace the 80s. Not So Pretty is their debut release and it puts a marker down for future prospects. Insanely catchy. They're traveling down to Brighton for the Great Escape this year and will also be playing Hinterland. The FEED ME remix is pretty scorching too.

The XX

There seem to be a lot of bands around using X & Ys liberally and it does get a tad confusing. The XX are a London bands who pen beautifully swirling melodies which would fit nicely into any dark Gothic church near you. Their debut album is out later in the year and their debut single Crystalised is set to be released later in this month. Best listened to in a darkened room. Imagine Robert Smith on opium.

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Dirty Projectors

As usual it's all about Brooklyn. These guys have been around for a while with ever-changing line-ups. Their new album Bitte Orca is no less than a masterpiece. With interchanging male and female vocals and painfully beautiful strings it could relax the fiercest gerbil and melt the coldest heart. It's a work of extreme craft and joy. At times it vears towards Anthony and the Johsons and others towards the weird Icelnadic one. Truly a work of wonder and Domino are on to a real winner.

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Fight Like Apes

This Irish band are what I'm listening to over and over again. The album is amazing. Jake Summers, Something Global and Lend me Your Face are tunes. They're meant to be amazing live as well. They're a cross between BYOP and an Irish pub brawl. They were nominated for 2 Meteor awards this year and did the festival rounds. Think these will be selling out bigger venues very very soon.

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