Model, singer and wife of Jack White, it turns out Karen Elson’s not just a pretty face. The ginger Brit’s bloodsoaked debut album owes a lot to Nick Cave’s Murder Ballads and Bob Dylan’s Time Out of Mind albums as she shoots for that timeless country and folk-tinged song writing. To her credit, a lot of the time she hits the mark with inspired music and lyrics which are are competent tales of murder, loss and love. Read More

Once upon a time, The Black Keys were an American duo who played fantastic blues and life-affirming soul, using nothing but a wonderful voice full of character, a guitar and a drum kit. Then producer-of-the-moment Danger Mouse turned up. He produced an uncharacteristically slick album that introduced them to the iTunes world. Now they’re back and Brothers is a very different beast indeed; it’s an offensive assault on creativity and excitement.

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How topical! Not only have we stumbled upon South Africa’s most interesting group but the country also seems to be hosting some kind of sporting event this month. Dwarfing football is wiry white rapper Ninja, bizarre tiny-fringed female rapper Yo-Landi Vi$$er and chunky beatmaster DJ Hi-Tek.

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Infinite Arms – 2008’s Cease to Begin was a surprise beautiful masterpiece in Americana. Back with the follow-up, the Seattle balladeers with a country chip on their shoulder have decided to walk the same road of dusty quiet epics. Fans of Kings of Leon can learn a thing or two from Band of Horses. Read More

And now for something completely different. The National Trust is a British organisation that looks after areas of historical importance or beauty. They procure castles and forests, that kind of thing. They certainly don’t often release albums. Why, then, are they in the album section? Read More

Dealing in Antiques – For a Finnish band, they sure sound British. Read More

Treats starts off with the sonic blast to the face that is the Brooklyn male/female power-electro duo’s debut single ‘Tell ‘Em’. A rapid-fire blast of drums followed by overdriven guitar shakes you into fun-packed Sleigh Bell action which proves to be the most exciting album of 2010. Read More

A union of defunct indie favourites The Czars’ frontman John Grant and acclaimed band Midlake, Queen of Denmark is a US indieboy’s wet dream. Grant provides the sharp classic songwriting while Midlake back him with blasts of fuzz and noise to stop it becoming just another album that drifts by. Read More

Confidently bursting forth with the same hip-shaking blend of electro and indie that saw We Are Scientists hit the big time, Ireland’s Two Door Cinema Club pedal breezy, catchy and danceable tunes which will move you in a club and sit happily on a home stereo. Read More

MAXIMILLIAN HECKER: I AM NOTHING BUT EMOTION

When given its full name, I Am Nothing But Emotion, No Human Being, No Son, Never Again Son, it’s clear German singer/songwriter Maximillian Hecker is something of a thinker. Luckily, he’s also something of a songwriter. Read More