Surfacing: JOSEPH [New Act]

Words: Jack Thomson

A song’s dynamic is without doubt one of its most important features. There is real skill in being able to craft a song that builds every step of the way. London-based JOSEPH has managed to achieve just such a feat with debut track ‘Swim Darker’, and it really is something special.

Surfacing: Zen Mantra [New Artist]

Words: Jack Thomson

Eighteen-year-old New Zealand-based musician and producer Sam Perry, otherwise known as Zen Mantra, spent the majority of 2012 writing and recording songs in his bedroom. His grand vision of wanting to create music with the energy of punk and the atmospheric qualities of psychedelia has left him with a very distinct sound that’s a perfect fit for the summer.

Surfacing: Blaue Blume [New Band]

Words: Jack Thomson

Hailing from Copenhagen, Denmark, this interesting new four piece first crafted their sound during a road trip across the US and Canada in a van that served as both their studio and home. It was there that Blaue Blume mapped out the ideas for a number of songs before returning to Denmark and settling into a house by the coast to further develop them.

Surfacing: F.U.R.S [New Band]

Words: Jack Thomson

There appears to be a number of bands coming through at the moment with real garage guitar pop influences, and F.U.R.S are no exception. Led by brother and sister Liam and Elle Wade and featuring drummer Olly Bets, the London-based band have announced details of the release of their debut single 'Striptease'.

Listen: The Neighbourhood - Let It Go [New Single]

Words: Jack Thomson

The Neighbourhood are a mysterious LA quintet that look set to have a promising 2013 ahead of them. With the release of their debut EP, 'I’m Sorry...', back in May, the blog world almost universally turned their heads. At the start of last week, the band put up a video for new single 'Let It Go'.

Listen: CHVRCHES - The Mother We Share [Debut Single]

Words: Jack Thomson

CHVRCHES are Iain Cook, Martin Doherty and vocalist Lauren Mayberry - who have appeared as members of the likes of Aerogramme, The Twilight Sad, and Blue Sky Archives. This female-fronted electro pop act hail from Glasgow and make music not too dissimilar in sound to The Knife, and more recently, MS MR, Charli XCX and Polica, to name but a few.

Listen: Arthur Beatrice - Charity/Not Without Thinking [New Single]

Words: Jack Thomson

Orlando Leopard (lead vocals, guitar, keyboards, organ), Ella Girardot (lead vocals, keyboards, organ), Elliot Barnes (drums, backing vocals) and Hamish Barnes (bass, backing vocals) are Arthur Beatrice. Having gained a fair amount of blog exposure with the release of their debut single 'Midland' back in March, the London-based band are back with their new single 'Charity'. Listen to it below, along with b-side 'Not Without Thinking'.

Download: Erika Spring - Hidden [New EP Preview]

Words: Jack Thomson

Some of you may remember us featuring the debut single from Erika Spring last year. '6 More Weeks' was a beautifully constructed, joyful pop song that was a strong first outing for Spring as a solo artist. Having had formidable success as one-third of Au Revoir Simone, a Brooklyn based dream-pop outfit playing upbeat keyboard-based electronic music, Spring returns with the launch of her self-titled debut solo EP.

Album Review: Alt-J - An Awesome Wave

∆ (Alt-J) - 'An Awesome Wave' (UK Release: 28 May '12) // Words: Jack Thomson

In 2005, The Maccabees released their debut single 'X-Ray', in 2006, Wild Beasts released their first single 'Brave Bulging Buoyant Clairvoyants', and in 2007, Foals released their debut single 'Hummer'. What excited me about all three of these bands was their ability to make every note count in writing very well thought out songs. It felt like a new breed of more intelligent music. A trend Alt-J are continuing in 2012.

Listen: Cold Specks - Blank Maps [New Single]

Words: Jack Thomson

Cold Specks is the stage name of Londoner Al Spx, originally from Ontario, Canada, who has been making the most beautiful music, describing it in her own words as "doom soul". In listening to her songs, it’s clear that she’s been heavily influenced by American gospel from the Deep South, and this is very apparent in her latest single 'Blank Maps'.

Surfacing: Emma Louise [New Act]

Words: Jack Thomson

It’s not often you find such a delicate voice that effortlessly draws you in as a listener and fills you with such strong emotion from the word go, but that’s exactly what Emma Louise has achieved. Hailing from Brisbane, she creates music with an incredibly mature sound which helps drive it’s emotive power, yet there is an underlying fragility at it’s core that makes it seem effortless and real.

Playlist: Record Store Day 2012 [Recommended Releases]

Words: Saam Das (with Jack Thomson and Emily Solan)

Record Store Day, dedicated to independent music shops and celebrated with exclusive releases and instore performances, is now an annual rite of passage for many music aficionados. Lustful collectors and everyday fans come together to show their support for record shops and perhaps get their hands on a special limited edition release. We've collated some of our favourite releases which are coming out today. Listen to the playlist below.

Remixed: Alt-J - Fitzpleasure (BretonLABS Remix)

Remixed is a column that will highlight remixes we actually think are worthy of praise, be they old or new. Because most remixes are rubbish.// Words: Jack Thomson

Art pop architects Breton have released another brilliant remix under their BretonLABS incarnation, this time reworking FG 2012 tip Alt-J’s latest outing 'Fitzpleasure'. The original is a dark, brooding electronic track driven by a very heavy bass line with plenty of vocal harmonies, giving it an incredibly dense sound. It’s been one of my favourite tracks of the year so far and Breton’s reimagination doesn’t disappoint. Download below.

Listen: Alt-J - Matilda / Fitzpleasure [New Single]

Words: Jack Thomson

Being a big fan of Alt-J and having tipped them for big things in 2012, it won’t surprise many of you that I’m backing their latest AA release 'Matilda'/'Fitzpleasure'. That said, you’ve got to give credit where it’s due and this band is definitely something special. With a few demos online and one other AA 7” release of 'Bloodflood'/'Tessellate' already under their belt, it is 'Matilda'/'Fitzpleasure' that really shows the depth and variety Alt-J have to offer.

Futuresounds: 2012 Tips / Ones To Watch [Full List]

Words: Saam Das

For the lazy/organised among us, you may wish to sample our list of twelve tips for 2012 all in one ago. In which case, you're actually in the right place for once. Honourable mentions appear after the jump. And if you wanted to check last year's for comparision, then here's our Futuresounds of 2011.

Part 1 - Alabama Shakes, Alt-J, BASTILLE
Part 2 - Charli XCX, Daughter, Friends
Part 3 - Michael Kiwanuka, Niki & The Dove, Oliver Tank
Part 4 - Spector, The Staves, Team Me

Tips / Ones To Watch 2012: Michael Kiwanuka, Niki & The Dove + Oliver Tank

Words: Saam Das (unless otherwise stated)

Part three of our four part series of bands to watch/tips for 2012. In this post, myself, Jack Thomson and Rajan Lakhani all offer a tip. The final part arrives in due course.

2012 Tips / Ones To Watch: Alabama Shakes, Alt-J + BASTILLE

Words: Saam Das (unless otherwise stated)

It's coming up to the end of February and I know what you're thinking - what's the point in doing your tips for 2012 now? Well, we'd like to think that this means that the hype has died down on certain bands while prominent others are emerging. We did much the same last year, although this time around, FG writers have chipped in too. To such an extent that I'll be splitting the tips up into four separate posts. Here be part one....

Playlist: Jack's Top Ten Tracks Of 2011

Words: Jack Thomson

Most music outlets have already gone and forgotten 2011 but we wanted to share some of our individual favourite tracks of the year after giving it some considered thoughts. Listen to my top ten tracks of 2011 in YouTube playlist below, featuring everything from hot tips for 2012 Zulu Winter and Alt-J to new rap "sensation" Azealia Banks.

Top 50 Albums Of 2011: 10-1 [Part Four]

Words: Saam Das

And lo, our list of the fifty most stupendous albums of 2011 finally comes to a close. Thanks to all our contributing writers, namely: Rajan Lakhani, Simon Opie, Emily Arc, Jon Sidwell, Emily Solan, Jack Thomson, Raman Kamboh and Kieran Toms. Some honourable mentions which didn't quite make the list include efforts by: Laura Marling, Oneida, Oneohtrix Point Never, The Antlers, Low and Metronomy. Feel free to add any others we missed out in the comments below.

Links to the other parts: 50-31 // 30-21 // 20-11 // 10-1

Top 50 Albums Of 2011: 30-21 [Part Two]

Words: Saam Das

Our top 50 albums of 2011 list continues....

Links to the other parts: 50-31 // 30-21 // 20-11 // 10-1