Ciaran Steward

I’m talking about the latest track from Belgian quintet Balthazar, a deliciously bouncing track going by the name of ‘Wrong Vibration‘. A luscious state of affairs, that warming bass will mean you don’t need to bother putting your thermal underwear on this morning despite weather warnings of snow. Vocals are delivered with a Lou Reed-esque swagger, though with a far greater awareness of the fun they’re having than Mr Reed ever seemed to let on. It’s not anything over-complicated, just a simple song featuring melodies that’ll grind away joyously at your brain until you find yourself accidentally whistling along while on a conference call with a room of confused businessmen.

While the title of this track might cut any music blogger to the core as they acknowledge it’s a problem they’re never likely to have, it would be rude not to tell you Come on, you knew it was coming) when it comes to telling you stories and keeping your eyes firmly gazing upon them as if transfixed by some powerful spell. Definitely one for fans of The National, Ross Patrizio’s voice is captivating and sits atop a gentle wash of haze provided by the rest of the band. There’s no doubting that this has a bewitching effect thanks to the gravitas shown by a group of grown men who appear to not have seen the ‘Keep off the grass’ signs when posing for their press photo.

but there’s every chance too many Christmas crackers were pulled over Christmas that my brain went on the fritz. Tessa Rose Jackson) together and produced a gloriously fuzzy new one, filled with luxurious melodies and an underlying layer of psychedelia that’ll make you wonder just exactly what your gran laced that pudding with. It’s that perfect blend of far out sounds that gives you goosebumps with choral melodies made for an a capella version that surely needs to be recorded with a gospel choir in a church somewhere. but it seems to be laced with talent for writing songs that turn your memories to mush thanks to the way they just seem to start right at the good bit without any kind of

If there was ever a song that best matched the all-round mess and disorganisation of this failing music blog, it’s this absolutely stupid track from London sextet Famous. It’s an assault on the senses, an attack on everything prim and proper music and – above all else – the most unique song I’ve heard all year. You’re going to spend half of this track dealing with an anxiety attack and the other half laughing as though The Joker has sprayed you with his deadly laughing gas. The extended pauses reeeeeally freak you out, the vocals sound like a deranged lunatic who is making demands of the mayor and if you were to tell me they were all wearing masks of old school Halloween characters