A few weeks ago, disgusted at what much of the BBC Sound of 2012 was promising, I and several other blogs were approached by Andy Von Pip of the Von Pip Musical Express and asked to put forward our own nominations for the alternative sound of 2012.
Now only one of my five nominated acts got through – but democracy has achieved far worse things than that so here they are:
1. Friends
Straight outta Brooklyn, Friends released two singles last year, ‘Friend Crush’ and ‘I’m His Girl.’ Now they may have chosen a name that is going to make Googling them very hard, but I think the two singles so far are great. Check out ‘I’m His Girl’:
Friends – I’m His Girl by LuckyNumberMusic
2. Theme Park hail from London. So far they have released two singles ‘A Mountain We Love’/’Wax’ and ‘Ghosts’/’Milk’.
Ghosts by Theme Park
3. Beth Jeans Houghton was someone I was aware of for much of last year – but when I finally heard her I was very pleasantly stunned by what I heard. Having released a number of singles over the last few years, her debut album Yours Truly, Cellophane Nose (yes, you did read that right) is out on February 6.
Beth Jeans Houghton – Dodecahedron by Mute UK
4. French Wives I have long championed on this blog. They have released four singles so far – of which ‘Numbers’ is the latest and according to their website is the first track to be taken from their album Dream of the In Between. They have been working with producer Tony Doogan, in summer 2011 at Castle of Doom studios in Glasgow, and it is released in March 2012.
5. Daughter, led by Elena Tonra, released two EPs in 2011. Again, I have to put my hand up and say this was a name I reognised (I just get so much stuff sent to my inbox I have to gamble and it doens’t always pay off), but I’m glad I have listened now.
Remember folks, you can stream these artists above and go and buy their music. And it would be good to know what you think.
The Blog Sound of 2012 was masterminded by Andy Von Pip (as I said above – were you paying attention?), and as well as yours truly, the following blogs were involved:
Breaking More Waves
My Band Is Better Than Your Band
God Is In the TV
Sweeping The Nation
The Recommender
Faded Glamour
Drunken Werewolf
Flying With Anna
Not Many Experts
Under-classed Idle Ideas
Sonic Masala
Mudkiss
The Ring Master
Both Bars On
Music From A Green Window
Dots and Dashes
The Daily Growl
And Everyone’s A DJ
Kowalskiy
Just Music I Like
Cruel Rhythm
The Blue Walrus
Music Fans Mic
Eaten By Monsters
Seven Sevens
Unpeeled
Nu Rave Brain Wave
Peenko
Music Liberation, and last but not least…
Song, By Toad