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Xfm's Ones To Watch In 2009

added 05 January 2009 at 16.32

1. WHITE LIES
WHO ARE THEY?
A moody threepiece from West London, well versed in the ways of Editors and Interpol, but with a sprinkling of shimmering synths.

WHAT SHOULD I DOWNLOAD?
'Death' was a big tune of 2008, glam yet intense.
Download Death from iTunes

WHAT TO SAY ABOUT THEM
"They're the 80s revivalists it's OK to like."

WANT MORE INFO?
www.xfm.co.uk/artists/white-lies

Listen To: Steve Harris's Interview With White Lies

 Watch: White Lies at Xfm's Winter Wonderland

2. KID BRITISH
WHO ARE THEY?
Four lads from Manchester - Adio Marchant, James Mayer, Sean Mbaya and Simeon McLean - who mix up ska, reggae, electro pop and and good old fashioned indie.

WHAT SHOULD I DOWNLOAD?
The 'Leave London' EP, particularly the lead track, 'She Will Leave'.
Download She Will Leave from iTunes

WHAT TO SAY ABOUT THEM
"They put on a bloody great live show - you really should catch them."

WANT MORE INFO?
http://www.xfm.co.uk/artists/kid-british

Listen To: Steve Harris's Interview With Kid British

Watch: Kid British At Xfm's Winter Wonderland

3. LA ROUX
WHO ARE THEY?
La Roux is 20-year-old Elly Jackson and her synth-playing partner Ben Langmaid. They're managed by the same people behind the Klaxons and are set to support Lily Allen on her Spring tour, bringing their luciously retro synth-pop to the masses.

WHAT SHOULD I DOWNLOAD?
The debut single 'Quicksand' - it'll be everywhere come summer.
Download Quicksand from iTunes

WHAT TO SAY ABOUT THEM
"Elly's the essential red-haired synth-pop diva for 2009"

WANT MORE INFO?
http://www.xfm.co.uk/artists/la-roux

 
4. LITTLE BOOTS
WHO ARE THEY?
Little Boots is former member of Dead Disco, Victoria Hesketh, who's gone solo with a keyboard and some killer tunes. Thanks to the patronage of Hot Chip's Joe Goddard, she's set to be one of the prime movers behind 2009's electro renaissance.

WHAT SHOULD I DOWNLOAD?
You can't go wrong with the debut single from last year, 'Stuck On Repeat'.
Download Stuck On Repeat (Edit) from iTunes

WHAT TO SAY ABOUT THEM
"Vicky's the essential blonde synth-pop diva for 2009"

WANT MORE INFO?
http://www.xfm.co.uk/artists/little-boots

5. AIRBORNE TOXIC EVENT
WHO ARE THEY?
Epic, emotional indie rock from Los Angeles. Violins, swooping choruses, the lot.

WHAT SHOULD I DOWNLOAD?
The new single, 'Sometime Around Midnight' - if this doesn't move you, you're obviously an android or something.

WHAT TO SAY ABOUT THEM
"They're the American Elbow, don't you know."

WANT MORE INFO?
http://www.xfm.co.uk/artists/airborne-toxic-event

 
6. THE TEMPER TRAP
WHO ARE THEY?
Four boys from Melbourne at the head of the Australian indie scene with an ear for the sorta magical guitar lines Johnny Marr might conjure up.

WHAT SHOULD I DOWNLOAD?
‘Sweet Disposition’. Not just cause it’s the only one on their MySpace page, but an instantly loveable example of their forthcoming debut album, out this year.

WHAT TO SAY ABOUT THEM
“Glowing powerpop that could heal a sick puppy.”

WANT MORE INFO?
http://www.xfm.co.uk/artists/the-temper-trap

Listen To: Steve Harris's Interview With The Temper Trap

7. HOCKEY
WHO ARE THEY?
Pop-glazed quartet straight outta Portland, Oregon, looped someplace between Lizzie McGuire and The Wombats.

WHAT SHOULD I DOWNLOAD?
‘Song Away’. The second it hit the blogospohere late last summer it caused a frenzy of deserted indie geeks brutally scrapping for more.

WHAT TO SAY ABOUT THEM
“Sweet guitar-gold that could pack a dancefloor in a flash.”

WANT MORE INFO?
http://www.xfm.co.uk/artists/hockey

8. TRIP
WHO ARE THEY?
North London-based indie-grime-punk live wire spitting beats along the lines of Hadouken!

WHAT SHOULD I DOWNLOAD?
‘Summer Sundays’ swindles in many a head-whacking direction, like Jamie T with the amp pushed up to 11.

WHAT TO SAY ABOUT THEM
“The music equivalent to The Sopranos. Or something.”

WANT MORE INFO?
http://www.xfm.co.uk/artists/trip

Listen To: Steve Harris's Interview With Trip

 
9. DETROIT SOCIAL CLUB
WHO ARE THEY?
Psych’d out proper rock music that’s from Newcastle, not Detroit. And they’re a six-piece dare-devilish band, not a social club.

WHAT SHOULD I DOWNLOAD?
‘Sunshine People’ doesn’t have 30-odd thousand MySpace plays for nothing. Think Kelly Jones sunken by The Black Keys. Effing great.

WHAT TO SAY ABOUT THEM
“Geordie right-thinkers who should run for the general election.”

WANT MORE INFO?
http://www.xfm.co.uk/artists/detroit-social-club

10. MUMFORD AND SONS
WHO ARE THEY?
Four alt.folkers who make pulpy, rousing bluegrass from within the capital’s newfangled anti-folk scene.

WHAT SHOULD I DOWNLOAD?
Does Jeff Buckley’s croak twinkling atop chilled-out Beirut strings all for the good of pop sensibility sound any good? Check out ‘White Blank Page’ then.

WHAT TO SAY ABOUT THEM
“West London’s anti-folk scene has just found four new heroes.”

WANT MORE INFO?
http://www.xfm.co.uk/artists/mumford-sons

Tagged as White Lies, Kid British, La Roux, Little Boots, Airborne Toxic Event, The Temper Trap, Hockey, Trip, Mumford & Sons

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comments

1. Saw the Temper Trap in Sydney last year... believe me when I say that they are truly awful... can XFm start playing some Whiskey Go Go's who are also from Melbourne... The Fumes are also amazing, another Australian band formed, a la White Stripes, of singer/guitarist and drummer... dare I say they're better though!!!

   Posted by Paul Fensom on 16/01/2009 22:20:38 | report abuse

2. Not a bad little list :D will check out the ones i don't know...
   
   personally i think a band called the rileys are going to become massive! they're playing at the islington academy in feb... they're a great live band, who i think the media will start to notice this year
   
   gems
   x

   Posted by gemma rose on 09/01/2009 14:41:54 | report abuse

3. Loving Mumford and Sons but do agree where are No Flash?

   Posted by Michael on 09/01/2009 14:13:40 | report abuse

4. Is this in no particular order? Liking White Lies and Little Boots.
   
   Where's No Flash????

   Posted by Clive on 09/01/2009 10:28:28 | report abuse

5. Some quality acts here - let's get them on the bill at ATP! If you like Little Boots and La Roux check out c*cknbullkid.

   Posted by patricia on 09/01/2009 10:15:45 | report abuse