2 turntables and a microphone

Weirdly I remember initially intrigued by Ruarri Joseph around the time of his debut album - the exotic name and likenings to a new Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly as Q told me - however anyone who didnt see those initial reviews through to actually listening could be rather suprised by listening to Josephs new album - (especially if the aforemention q-ers were using DUckworths own ill advised electronic forays).

Recalling rustic folk stalwarts like David Rord and Josh Ritter, the album Shoulder to the wheel, turns in a seriously classy set of country tinged folk pop; all wheezing harmonica and shuffling acoustic guitars mingling with twinking pianos and softly plucked banjos.

Highlight ‘For The Love of Grace’ is an epic mid album highlight - emphatically charming woohoos falesttoed about a radio friendly groove - its an album that quickly ingranes itself with its subtle charms - such summery tunefulness is perfect for gloomy September evenings.

Northampton based country pop four piece MY FIRST TOOTH unleash their debut album “Territories” this month and seem sure to capitalise on the unending goodwill that seems to  be feted upon these cutesy boys and girls.

Lead off single ORCHARDS brilliantly demonstrates everything that is good about MFT - the intertwining boy girl vocals through a deliberately understated chorus - all topped off with lavish layers of hoedowning fiddle.

Its out now on Alcopop records and is well worth £8 of your heard earned.

Oslo based indie poppers My Little POny return with a new single HARD TO BE GOOD out now on Spoon Train Audio. The bands trademark blend of Camera Obscura, Belle & Sebastian and The Concretes in resolutley intact as te band rip roar through a three minute disco floor filler with a big ol brass section front and centre.

As an opening salvo to the bands upcoming second album its one that marks them out as one to watch in 2011.

Oslos Youth Pictures of Florence Henderson are currently part way through a big European tour and they finally arrive in the UK this week. The band play a show at The Fighting Cocks in Kingston on September 11th.

If you like your post rock kinda Mogqai tinged then this is a band that is definitely relevant to your interests!

check em out on myspace at www.myspace.com/youthpicures

Hailing from Oslo and owing as much to the gloomy murk of The Smiths as they do the epic pop of the billboard top 100, I SEE HORSES are an interesting mix of disparate elements coming together to create a very “now” flavour of indie pop. Of course having a Scot thrown in with three norwegians brings a veritable smorgasbord of Postcard Records and jangly scottish indie into the mix and its clear this creative frission is having something of an effect already. The band have played a number of high profile festival slots this summer already - I wouldnt bet against seeing them on a decent festival stage near you come summer 2011 

The bands ep is available to download for free from their website (or myspace more to the point - www.myspace.com/iseehorses)

Joyously epic pop overloaded with harmonies and coming on like what Fleet Foxes might have done had they been based out of Jakarta and not San Francisco. Besides which who can resist a video with a panda in it?

Indonesia isnt the first place youd think to look for indie folk pop awesomeness but id strongly suggest you check these guys out www.myspace.com/sajamacut

Southampton based Ulsterman Luke Leighfield plays a piano and has a knack of crafting everyman pop choruses. So far so Ben Folds. Where Leighfield does pique the interest however is the way - unlike the aforementioned Folds - he does so whilst still retaining a sense of imtimacy to a set of songs whose sense of fun and sheer rock n roll glee could well undermime the whole thing.

The album “Have you got heart” is available now on Bandcamp (free download) and its well worth a listen - by turns sensitive and whimsical and cocky and carefree - its a genuinely unique listen in lots of ways - There arent many records arriving through my door as unafraid of their Billy Joel-y influences, but when presented with such conviction and enjoyment you just cant resist being swept along in the geek chich euphoria. It should be stated meanwhile that the attention to detail throughout however reassures us that there is a serious hand at work here and with songs like these - long may it continue to do so.

www.lukeleighfield.bandcamp.com

Flashback Alert: By this point, we all know that the Thamesbeat scene was a journalistic creation, but it can’t be denied that there were a handful of loosely associated bands that were knocking about with similar ideas.

Some of these acts are still going strong, like Good Shoes, Mystery Jets, and Jamie T. On the other hand, Larrikin Love flamed out quickly, releasing a handful of singles and a solid album entitled The Freedom Spark.

 Their early singles on Transgressive and Young and Lost Club hinted at a band with a laundry list of influences – everything from Libertines-esque indie, folk, reggae, calypso, and bluegrass. Coupled with literary influences like Rimbaud and Wilde, the band was able to create a wholly unique sound and image.

“Downing Street Kindling” was released as a single on 6 June 2006, and while not the best song on the album, it’s one of their finest lyrical moments.

The band called it quits just under a year later on 4 May. Frontman Edward Larrikin has a solo project called Pan I Am, while guitarist Micko Larkin is (seriously) now part of Courtney Love’s band.

Blood Red Shoes on their new single:

“We took the energy and simplicity of that four to the floor beat and

layered it with a guitar sound as aggressive and industrial as possible. We

never want to make anything too easy to get into, it’d be boring. It’s a pop

song that we tried to destroy from the inside out basically”

Erm… ok.

I love this band.