fy:songoftheweek

Anyway, this song was one of the highlights of the show (and what they closed with before the encore of Knife, On a Neck, On a Spit and All We Ask) and I completely blissed out at 5:53. If you haven't given Shields a listen you really should!

Wut- Le1f

After hearing My Love Is Real and Would That Not Be Nice before the albums release my expectations were a little lowered from what I imagined would be an amazing project, but it turns out the full album is fantastic. It's just what you'd expect from a collaboration between Wolf Parade and Handsome Furs' Dan Boeckner and Spoon's Britt Daniel, they both bring their respective sounds to the table and they blend really well. There are certain tracks where you can tell that one of them had more input into its conception, and this song feels like a new Spoon single. I could really listen to Daniel's 'mms' and 'aah's all day.

All the hit-makers are here, and not just on the hits: How We Do (Party), Hot Right Now and R.I.P. – number one smashes all. She’s worked with Drake, Kanye West and Jay-Z; there are appearances from will.i.am, DJ Fresh, Tinie Tempah; songs are written by Ester Dean, Stargate, Chase & Status.

Polish Girl- Neon Indian

Frank Black- I Heard Ramona Sing

'Billionaires' is the second single from Devon's Your Twenties; the latest band of one time Metronomy frontman, Gabriel Stebbing. It's an infinitely catchy number, and could be just about the most cheery piece of pop you'll lay ears on all year. It's just a shame that they couldn't get it out before summer, because as cheesey as it is to label records this way, it's pure distilled sunshine. Feathery drumming and delicate guitars contrasted with crunchy chorus tones. Maybe a hint of Britpop and the twee, yet charming, vocal harmonies will make this a really strong release.

P.S. They were amazing, and so was Perfume Genius. Look out for Shields, guys!

no want no want no want no speakin at all

Eventually we learned that "Ungirthed" was the work of Megan James (vocals) and Corin Roddick (production), two young musicians from Edmonton, Alberta. Wisely, they didn't rush out an album, but other songs trickled out: "Belispeak" surfaced in the fall and"Obedear" emerged this spring. Along the way, Purity Ring polished up their live show, outfitting the stage with lanterns synchronized to the music, which Roddick triggered via MIDI using drumsticks. They built an audience with very little recorded music to share with it. And now, a year and a half later, they've issued their debut album, Shrines.

Edit: Weirdly enough I ended up eating dinner in a restaurant a couple tables over from him before the show! I thought he looked familiar but didn't realise exactly who he was until he was up on stage right in front of me!!)

I'm just an insect Trying to get out of the night

"This is criminality, pure and simple." Kicking off a Scottish gig with a track that samples David Cameron doesn't seem like a sure-fire recipe for winning local hearts and minds. But if the Temper Trap aren't yet alive to the nuances of devolved regional government – the Melbourne band only relocated to the UK three years ago – they know they've got a belter in London's Burning. Inspired by last year's riots, it's spooky and spiky yet also naggingly melodic.

Hospitality, 2012

Banjos. Violins. Vocals that sound like a man passing a gall stone. The new Mumford & Sons track is here and – as hinted at by the new tracks they’ve been playing live for the past 18 months, there has been no stylistic leap, no dubstep beats added, not so much as an additional electric guitar added to the mix.  The first taste of new album ‘Babel’, which will be released on September 24, ‘I Will Wait’ could quite easily have fitted on the London group’s world-beating debut. This is a barnstormer in the mould of 'Little Lion Man', building up slowly and breaking into a footstomping beat before Winston’s picking fingers go into Mr Tickle mode.  Lyrically, it’s a simple, gooey sentiment – wait for the one you love. Was Mumford inspired by his recent marriage to childhood pen pal Carey Mulligan? Is it for the fans patiently waiting for a follow-up to 'Sigh No More'?  Keyboard player Ben Lovett joking described it as “the worst track on the record - we just thought we'd get it out.” It’s clearly something more – ‘I Will Wait’ is a big comeback tune for a band whose debut album took them from folk clubs to the main stages of festivals around the globe. This track is primed for those mega-crowds right from the off.

Because it's sunny here in the UK.

This was on the soundtrack for Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4 and a track that I went back to the menu to repeat countless times as I played. It was my introduction into hip hop, and though I'm no authority on the genre Gang Starr have made some of the best songs to come from it that I've ever heard.