Lewi White (ft Ed Sheeran, Devlin, Griminal, Yasmin) - Young Guns

If your ears know what's good for them, they should have a listen to this. The four rising stars of London - Rapper Devlin, the man of the moment Ed Sheeran, Yasmin and Griminal join forces with Lewi White to produce this smash hit. Putting a bit of grime back in the UK charts, with Yasmin’s deep hook and Devlin’s and Griminal hard hitting rhymes. Showcasing some of the new faces to emerge from the London streets, no doubt we’ll see some more collabs in the future.

The Future's Bright, The Future's Sunburn

So you have done your seventeen years or so of education, been kicked out the doors of university with the sealed approval that you're kind of clever by the standards of some old fart, and now you have some letters after your name. But is that really enough these days?

I'm not really one for writing these insightful posts, but recently I have come to the end of my education so I guess this rant was coming. It has left me asking the question "what next?" Which is rather a common (I hope) thought that crosses many twenty some-thing fresh faced, cocky 'I am going to take over the world' university types. But it turns out it is as hard as everyone says it is.

The common option is to pack up and go travelling, thus drowning in more debt, but on the upside you may come back with a tan and a new hot Spanish fella. Others go back home or try out graduate schemes, but do you actually know what you want to do yet?

I'm writing this in my student house, in which I'm clinging to as the last part of student life drains away into the harsh reality that is real life. However, in a months time the tenancy will run out and I'll be back home with my tail between my legs back to mother…well for two months, as I’ve booked a flight….

On the 14^th of September I will be flying off to Australia, and no, I’m not doing the whole backpack thing, this is a new beginning in the era of my new cultured spontaneous self (translation: I don’t know what to do with myself, so sod it) It’s going to be one step for the Wilson’s, one HUGE step for the rest of my life. Since last year was my first trip on a plane and abroad for that matter, this is by far the biggest thing I have ever done. On Google maps it's only about 2 inches away, so I'm already questioning the 22 hour flight I have to endure. To be given the opportunity to live with two of my mates just outside Sydney, with their support and guidance, I would have been a ruddy fool to turn this down wouldn't I?

So now I’m just thinking what the hell is it going to be like? As I am as cultured as a brick. My narrow mindness has already led me to fears of getting eaten by a crocodile from paddling. So for this and for other reasons such as job prospects etc, is why I’ve decided I have to do this, and to see if the Google images match real life. I see it not as some ‘travellers backpack holiday’, more another door opening, a second go at life if you will? Not that I hate my life here in rainy old England, just want to see some of the world and see how I cope. Stay there long enough and I will no doubt be so crispy that Walker's Crisps would sponsor me. Another big reason is the family, since announcing my big move a lot of relatives have come out the wood work that I didn't know existed, so I'm so excited to meet them. As well as this I would love for my parents and brothers to come out at some point, my mum has been abroad once in her life so I hope this will be a good reason to now.

Who knows after a year I’ll be back to Hemingby, all worldly and cultured and at one with animals that I’ve turned into some Steve Irwin/Ace Venture type. But I’m all for the now and what happens will happen, you’ve got to take the shit with the shite and treat everyday like your last. So here's to Oz and the future.

Ellie Goulding // Covers Heartbeats by Jose Gonzalez

Beautiful. Inspired. Golden...

Rediscovered: UNKLE // Heavy Drug remix (Surrender Sounds Mix)

I can't really express what this song does to me. It's one of those tracks that just creates some kind of euphoria every time I listen to it, which is probably why it's called heavy drug...

The video compliments it so well. Stunning.

Rediscovered: Kelpe // Quick Broken Harp

Too sexy. Too cool. When 4Music was good, creative and less...poncy.



There's a rather sexy remix of Quick Broken Harp find it here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dwt_3C31nyE&feature=fvwk

Funeral Party // The Golden Age of Knowhere

Voted one of the best new bands of 2010, finally the LA five piece release their highly anticipated debut ‘The Golden Age of Knowhere’.

Teasing us with the highly charged ‘NYC Moves to the Sound of LA’ and the catchy ‘Carwars’ last year, finally we get a full album. But does it live up to the hype?, it sort of feels like it’s trying to hard to be an indie floor filler. This isn’t the second coming of ‘The Rapture,’ I’m afraid – as some of us may have hoped. However, the band still pack an impressive punch, with heaps of energy and a charismatic front man aka All the ingredients you’d expect to find – but it just lacks a bit of substance, a bit of commitment, that something extra, that you can get your teeth into.

They carry that certain swagger of The Strokes, but Chad Elliott is no Casablancas and although I said they weren’t the second coming, they still have that Rapture-Esq vibe. They certainly show this with their cowbells clanging in such tracks as ‘Carwars’, but they are a long way from the pioneers of dance-punk rock.

There’s some gems on this album, such as the fast paced ‘Just Because’ a poppy-upbeat-driven number, a nice little summer jam. The ‘Finale’ is THE anthem on the album that best showcases the bands raw punk attitude. With the majority of the album being shouted/screamed at you from Chad Elliott, it finally slows down and chills out a bit with ‘Relics to Ruins’, which shows a more toned down emotional side to the band, something that is painfully lacking across the rest of the album, which seems to adopt more of a “who cares” attitude.

I’m not overly impressed with this debut from all the hype it gathered, however there’s potential and just because they haven’t lived up to their hype just yet, doesn’t mean they wont eventually line up their ducks properly and produce a blinding sophomore effort.

The Joy Formidable // The Big Roar

The best thing to come out of Wales since The Stereophonics I reckon, erm yeah lets just not mention Lostprophets shall we. 'The Big Roar' - couldn't be more fitting name for this debut from the new Welsh rockers on the block.

I've been craving for a new 'Garbage' kind of band for ages (the Scottish rock band, not rubbish). All you need is a hardcore front woman and a bellowing guitar riff, throbbing bass and a pinch of 'I don't give a fuck' attitude – and you have yourself the next big thing. In early 2009 we were treated to the band’s mini album, A Balloon Called Moaning ', as ‘Austere' and 'the Whirring' have been around since 2008, and now finally we have a full album (which sounds like it's had a bit more money thrown at it.)

‘The Whirring’ is my personal favourite, which to my delight they have strung out to nearly seven minutes – awesome build up and a powerful hook. With only three members to this band, they sure know how to give out a big roar, like Muse they ooze quality in sound. You can tell the bands influences are Nirvana and the Pixies in this album, and they're heading in the right way to join these classic groups of this genre.

The opening track ‘The Everchanging Spectrum of a Lie’ is like an early Arcade Fire track, which is an emotive and positively energetic build up to the rest of the album. With darker tracks balancing the feel of the album, such as ‘Buoy’ – that has a more grungy vibe. As is 'Llaw=Wall', which sees Rhydian Dafydd on the mic - it has a slow beginning to it like a Sigur Ros track but then two minutes in it thumps you in the face to remind you this is rock n' roll. Ritzy’s voice was made for this as 'Chapter 2' is just pure brilliance, rhythmic and hard rocking riffs that's just addictive to listen too, and I’m going to enjoy hearing more of it in the coming years.

The album is out now, so do the right thing and buy it.