Lisa Alma #2 - Fine

Facebook

I fell hard for Lisa Alma earlier this year when I discovered the Danish artist through her EP Oh Darling, Let’s Be Adventurers, the releases' stand-out track "Bittersweet" soon becoming one of my favourite tracks of the year, a devastating marriage seduction and longing...

Lisa returns to these pages now with "Fine", a soulful gem where sparse electronic pulses and subtle beats guide a truly incredible vocal, emitting as many emotions as you can count over four wonderful minutes, at times melancholic, rousing, haunting and always, always beauty.

The track is availble November 3rd and cements Lisa Alma as an artist you should be keeping you eye on.

September Girls #10 - "Veneer"

Facebook

Joining the ever-expanding, increasingly brilliant bands at Kanine Records (Fear of Men, Beach Day, Beverly) are September Girls with a new track "Veneer" (they're still on Fortuna Pop here). The first song taken from a four song EP of the same name due November 24th in the UK and the next day in the US.

Split label releases are something I can see increasingly happening,.. I know from first hand experience that postage price is killing off mail-order due to high costs - it costs £7.50 to ship a single LP from the UK to the US. Crikey!

Back to the music, "Veneer" is harder and darker than anything we've heard from the quintet before, taking their signature feedback soaked, distorted fuzz pop to the next level with aggressive guitars swirling and continually building around a furious rhythm section whilst sinister doo-wop harmonies and equally ominous vocals keep you firmly on the edge. Don't listen to this one in dimly lit alleyways folks...

Faye Rogers #2 - "Wallpaper"

Facebook

I discovered Swindon based singer-songwriter Faye Rogers back in early spring with a gorgeous and pure debut EP Thunder, she comes back to my attention with her follow up track "Wallpaper", a track shared on her facebook / soundcloud pages with a note about taking a break from gigging to work on 'a transition in sound and style'.

Hopefully the said change will be nothing too dramatic because "Wallpaper" is just lovely. Faye is blessed with a soft, gentle voice that wraps around you with a warming glow and here her lyrics are intimate and beautiful amongst shimmering guitars and swooning strings. It's the sort of track that you can't help but fall in love with.

The Night VI #5 - Heroine

Facebook / thenightvi.com

The last time I talked about London sextet The Night VI I said 'they have quickly put together a group of tracks capable of sending shivers down your spine or making you smile with pleasure every time you hear them, they deserve to be one of 2014's break-out acts', It seems I'm not the only one who agrees...

New track "Heroine" has catapulted them straight into the upper regions of the Hype Machine Chart less than 24 hours after its appearance online, with good reason too, a silky, polished beauty that will only add to their increased admirers (as a recent twitter follow by chart toppers Disclosure can only verify).

Much like the tracks subject, perhaps a friend of "Sienna's?", you're soon hooked within the tracks spell as smooth, shimmering instrumentation glides impeccably amongst Sophia Rose's deliciously smooth vocals, a refined, irresistible, ear-worm listen awaits below.

"Heroine" comes coupled with the news of a new EP DIY, collecting five of the band’s recordings (track-listing also includes the aforementioned "Sienna" and "Wonderlust"). It will be available on limited edition CD available exclusively at the band’s shows (first). One of which takes place at Madame Jojo's, Tuesday November 18th - tickets. A US vinyl edition of "Heroine" is also in the works.

The Staves #6 - Open

Facebook

The opening line of this had me weak at the knees, such is its haunting power, "Open", the second track we've heard from The Staves forthcoming Blood I Bled EP is an absolute beauty.

Intricate acoustic plucks and pure harmonies is what The Staves have become renowned for and here, you're not let one down one bit, here though, there's more strength and maturity in their production and writing on evidence too.

From that smoldering beginning "Open" progresses with twinkling keys and purposely slow electronic beats as the trio's harmonies grow together, entwining in unison with the most majestic of results.

I'm glad I snapped up tickets to their quickly sold out London gig at the end of the month, the same day as the EP is released - if you weren't so lucky, you can pre-order it here.

Kid Wave #4 - Gloom

Facebook

I had to miss Kid Wave's headlining set at Birthdays on Monday for family reasons but the pain is eased by the release of new song "Gloom", the title track from a forthcoming EP of the same name, due via Heavenly Records on November 24th. A release which will also include their last single "All I Want".

"Gloom", contrary to its name, is a bright continuation of the quartet's powerhouse riffs and swirling pysche hooks, a glorious wide-open rock number with catchy choruses, juggernaut guitars and shimmering keys set off perfectly by Lea's breathy, magnetic harmonies. Fuzz pop with an infectious, melodic accessibility - yes please.