It's only just hit April, but 2009 has already brought us a slew of big releases from heavy-hitters such as Animal Collective, Röyksopp and the Decemberists. But in our quest to be continually looking ahead for what's new and what's next, here's our forecast of acts who know will leave their mark on 2009.
EMIL & FRIENDS
While the hype swirling hoax that this was Emile Hirsch's musical side project drew initial listeners to New York's Emile & Friends,that audience has stayed for this mysterious band's addictive music. They mix MGMT's electro-fetish with the quirk of the Unicorns and the sample-heavy indie-folk of Animal Collective and Soft Tigers. So it's basically the best thing ever.
BAG RAIDERS
Long seen as the secret weapon in the Australia vs. France electro-war, Sydney's party commanders, Bag Raiders, are hooked-up with the Bang Gang people and A-Trak and destined to shed the 'secret' part of that label this year. We promise.
FENECH-SOLER
Although this three-piece are born and raised in the UK, they've absolutely nailed a French-Touch homage with their snappy indie-with-electronics style. And we're not the only ones who see big things ahead for Fenech-Soler, as Alan Braxe - the French disco icon - has picked up their next single for release on his boutique label, Vulture.
IRAN
Iran's six-years-in-the-making Dissolver, is getting a load of hype because band member Kyp Malone's other group - TV On The Radio - has gotten kind of big in the interim. Fellow TVOTR member and super producer Dave Sitek lends his golden touch and turns Iran's lo-fi freakout rock into a polished indie-meets-classic rock record that would be just as comfortable blasting in a small club as in a stadium.
JONATHAN BOULET
It's crazy to think that Jonathan Boulet's rich, floating folk-pop melodies took form in the Australian troubadour's miniscule garage studio. But I suppose that is Boulet's gift, after all the twenty-year old can turn subtle humble campfire tunes into soaring epics. Next he'll be doing straw into gold and water into wine.
SHAZAM
With Macbooks and Korgs in their hands, bedroom producers are getting younger and better all the time. But the star atthe top of the list is Shazam, a 19 year old disco savant out of Australia's West. His glittering party tunes are pool-side bound and deliriously cool, simply demanding you have some fun.
LOST VALENTINOS
With Ewan Pearson helming their recent singles, Lost Valentinos have been serving up great combinations of angular guitars, dark synths and heavy beats, taking indie rock out for a night on the dancefloor. But it's Lost Valentinos' oppressive and sinister aesthetic and their experimental tendencies that make them shine this bright. Big things are sure to be found ontheir debut album, Cities Of Gold.
SNOB SCRILLA
After a fantastic debut EP in 2008 that featured some of the most exciting hip hop tracks of the year, Snob Scrilla is prepping the release of his Day One LP. Street single 'Houston'boasts the same shout-along, intense choruses and broad, bold production strokes that made the EP enthralling and can mean nothingbut good things for the full-length.
THE ELEPHANTS
Denmark’s The Elephants sound like the long lost children of Brian Wilson, such is the sweet and sandy inspiration that flows through this quintet’s languid popmusic. Currently wrapping their second album, you can expect to be head-over-heels by the time the northern Summer rolls around.
THE HUNDRED IN THE HANDS
With only one single under their belts (the instantaneous joy of Dressed In Dresden), Brooklyn duo The Hundred In The Hands could goanywhere from here. Who knows? Dressed In Dresden could be an enormous fluke and the pair decide they only want to make reggae or black metal or a frightening hybrid of the two. But going on that single's love ofGang of Four guitar-slashes and driving, distorted basslines we think they're a pretty safe bet.
THE TEMPER TRAP
The Temper Trap make music that will break your heart and shake your soul. A steady momentum built on the Australians' shimmering single, Sweet Disposition is now gathering pace (including a spot in the Zooey Deschanel indie-bait movie 500 Hundred Days Of Summer) and getting set to explode with their guaranteed-classic debut.
THE SOUND OF ARROWS
Sweden's finest indie imprint, Labrador, uncovered pop-boffins, The Sound of Arrows last year. With two singles of skewed candy-coated indie-pop under their belts we're expecting things to get even better this year.
WALE
As if releasing one of the most widely-spread,highly-acclaimed and generally entertaining mix tapes of last year wasn't enough, Wale has assembled a dream team of producers for his debut disc (see: Cool & Dre, Green Lantern, will.i.am, Dave Sitek). If the US MC maintains his ear for good beats and knack for great lyrical turns then the hype should translate into a very solid debut.
WILEY
London grime master, Wiley, cuts his skills to record like he has a belt of dynamite strapped about his torso. Having just unleashed the blazing aural onslaught that is See Clear Now, Wiley is now gearing up to global release of anothe rhip-breaking long player, Race Against Time.
No comments:
Post a Comment