Tips for 2011 - Fifteen Bands Who've Caught My Eye (Part Two)

Here is the second part of my hopes for 2011. Part One is here.

6. Kitten

www.kittentheband.com/

One of the newest discoveries on this list, I came across Kitten just a few days before I saw them play at Camden Barfly back in October where they completely blew me away with a dazzling performance.

This young band from Los Angeles have produced a fine EP this year named 'Sunday School' which highlights a wonderful indie-rock sound. Lead singer Chloe channelling a serious Karen O vibe, "Kill the Light" especially shows some incredible potential. Can't what to see them live again, they were relentless, energetic and most importantly of all, fucking brilliant. "Kitten With a Whip" was pretty insane live.

Check out the acoustic video below to see that as well as their energetic rock performances, they can just as easily produce a gorgeous mellow sound too, Chloe's voice is exceptional.

Make sure you get their 'Sunday School EP', looking forward to what comes next. Hopefully a UK return before too long.

Listen:
Kitten - Kill The Light

Watch:

Kitten » Cat Power from The Voice Project on Vimeo.

7. Let’s Buy Happiness

http://letsbuyhappiness.bandcamp.com/

If you come here often then hope won't be much of a surprise. I've mentioned Let's Buy Happiness on numerous occasions over the past six months.

Jangly, swirling indie-pop tunes are the Newcastle bands hallmark and their debut EP 'No Hot Ashes' highlighted them to be a band with excellent potential, single 'Six Wolves' cemented that before a couple of radio sessions since (with two exceptional new tracks "Clean Mistake" and "Fast Fast") have made me stupidly excited to hear the new material.

"Six Wolves" combines a flurry of percussion and shimmering guitar lines making a wonderful texture and combined with Sarah's beautiful ethereal vocal make it an absolute gem. LBH are one of my favourite new bands. So far, I've seen them twice, both festival slots (The Great Escape and Glastonbury). I'm looking forward to seeing live again soon and as the headlining slot this time, thankfully I don't have to wait too long as they are playing London early next year (January 27th 2011 in Hoxton).
Book them as tour support TJF please!

Listen:
Let's Buy Happiness - Works Better on Paper by letsbuyhappiness

Watch:


8. Terror Bird

www.myspace.com/xterrorbirdx

Terror Bird's music hit me like a big truck towards the end of the summer, their single "Shadows in the Halls" started me off, followed by the simply amazing B-Side "We Were Monsters". Further delving into the duo's archive uncovered the equally wonderful "Shame is on Your Side EP".

Terror Bird is Vancouver duo Nikki Never and Jeremiah Haywood. Their ghostly synths and Nikki's melodic voice are perfect for their dark electro-pop tracks.

2011 will bring some new releases (an LP on the Night People label and a EP on a label I may or may not have something to do with - more to come on that soon!). There is a European tour in Feb / March. UK dates are as yet unannounced but will be in early March. So, so excited for those dates. Listen below...

Listen:
Terror Bird - Shame Is On Your Side by morrisday

Watch:


9. Summer Camp

www.myspace.com/summercampmusic

Summer Camp are Jeremy Warmsley and Elizabeth Sankey. Their Nostalgia filled, sugar-sweet synth laden pop songs are pretty infectious, they are signed to Moshi Moshi label home to Slow Club and Florence. This years 'Young EP' gave us a great introduction to the band, hopefully a full-length will follow next year and build on the potential shown .

Their music comes across as effortless, it's upbeat approach, beautiful vocals and twee harmonies that makes for an easy and enjoyable listen, best highlighted for me on "Was it Worth it?", "Ghost Train" and the unreleased "88".

Listen:
Summer Camp - Christmas Wrapping

Watch:



10. I Break Horses

www.myspace.com/ibreakhorsesmusic

Signed to Bella Union in the middle of 2010, they teased with a three songs on their myspace and since then we've heard absolutely zilch.

Those songs however were so good that I have every faith that I Break Horses will be a major player next year under the management of the always reliable label.
I Break Horses is Maria Linden from Stockholm, her songs are dreamy shoegaze-pop songs which by the early demos promise an awful, awful lot. The 'Terminator' style synth beat in "Hearts" is killer with a hushed, whispered vocal and "Wired" a more traditional distorted shoegaze song is also well worth your time.

Yeah, I'm looking forward to hearing what this Swedish act has in store for us in 2011.

Listen:
 Removed until the launch of I Break Horses, coming soon.