Right this second, the biggest buzz band in the UK is probably Northampton’s Maps, who are making some of the most exciting noise I’ve heard since The Radio Dept. (and that’s saying alot). James Chapman, the man behind the band, started making music in his bedroom while listening to the great ancestors like My Bloody Valentine; now, a couple of years down the line, he’s releasing his debut album, We Can Create, on Mute; it was recorded in Iceland (always … →

Pascale and Michaël are Watoo Watoo, a wonderful pop project from Bordeaux, France. They are also husband and wife, and have been making songs together for 10 years now. Michaël makes the music, plays the instruments and creates the cover-artwork, and Pascale adds the sweet vocals when she has the time. According to their label, Letterbox records (same label as Eardrums-favourites California Snow story), Pascale is always busy doing something else, so Michaël needs to ask her some time in … →

I’m highly addicted to the music of Emma Pollock these days. I’m not sure what it is with her music that touches me so deeply, but it does, and maybe it is ok not to try to define the reasons here? Emma might be better known as the singer of Glasgow’s The Delgados, and her solo-music makes me wonder if there was something I missed when I listened to her old band. The Delgados never made a huge impression on … →