Regular readers, do not be alarmed…  Mark is not on holiday again.  He has just been experiencing some technical difficulties so he has passed the task on to me once more to bring you four new tunes to set you up for the week ahead.

ONLY REAL – “Can’t get happy”

Here’s a 22-year old West Londoner looking to get some stateside attention with a new US released EP, One for the Road.  This video is a must watch for its weird psychedelic visuals and curious cast of animated characters.  It’s a fun song too, surprisingly upbeat despite the title and with a slight 90s flavour.  Only Real (real name Niall Galvin) seems to be in a world of his own and it’s a good place to be on a Monday.  http://onlyrealreal.com/

LAYNE – “Somebody”

Here’s LA pop-rocker, Layne with a new song taken from her third EP, Warriors.  It’s a driving pop hit which sounds like how Ellie Goulding might have sounded in the late 80s.  Of course, the production is as crisp and as polished as you’d expect but there is the suggestion of a little more attitude if you decide to dig further.  You can catch her at shows in the US in April and May. http://laynemusic.us/

HINTS – “Benediction”

Here’s another video with animation, this time from Brooklyn four-piece Hints.  Their sound is heavily influenced by UK indie guitar bands from the 80s, so think of groups like Echo & the Bunnymen and The Smiths.  “Benediction” is a seductive number which still sounds contemporary due to similarly influenced artists like Girls Names and The Horrors.  If you are quick you can catch them on Thursday at a show in New York.   http://hints.bandcamp.com/

AXEL FLÓVENT – “Forest Fires”

Artists like Fleet Foxes and Bon Iver defined the sound of 2008 and paved the way for a lot of delicate, folk music but how do we take this genre seven years down the line?  It is obvious but harsh to compare the romantic Icelandic singer-songwriter, Axel Flóvent with these acts.  With a reliance on an acoustic atmosphere and harmonies the Scandinavian link will naturally draw comparisons with Kings of Convenience but this has a modern sound.   Taken from the forthcoming EP of the same name, this is “Forest Fires” axelflovent.bandcamp.com/