BAT FOR LASHES - Two Suns

Bat For Lashes will release Two Suns on April 7th via Astralwerks. The LP serves as the follow-up to her Mercury Music Prize nominated debut. I'm totally in love with the first single "Daniel". Listen to a stream of the new track here.

Also, here's a special preview of the new album, shot entirely in Joshua Tree, California.

LOU RHODES - 'The Rain'

Lou Rhodes, the lead singer of Lamb, recently released her second solo album "Bloom". Her first solo effort, "Beloved One" was nominated for the Mercrury Music Prize last year, and her latest effort is possbly even better. I may be biased, as Lamb is one of my favorite trip-hop acts of all time. Lou solo is a slightly different affair, but her unique, honest voice remains. The first single, 'The Rain', comes accompanied with a stellar video, check it out here.

STREAM - Lou Rhodes - The Rain

Lou Rhodes - The Rain (music video)


-Scot Bowman

MAPS - 'To the Sky'

I've written about MAPS before, but this weekend marks the NYC debut of James Chapman's live incarnation. And timely is such, that a new single and video have emerged from the Mercury Music Prize nominated album "We Can Create". 'To the Sky' will be released via Mute Records in the UK on October 8th, with a US release to follow shortly after.



Maps - To the Sky (music video)


Maps will be playing a pair of live shows in NYC this weekend - Mercury Lounge on Friday (early show) and Luna Lounge in Brooklyn on Saturday.

As I mentioned, "We Can Create" was shortlisted for the Mercury Music Prize this year. Here is their performance of 'It Will Find You' from the awards show, with Jools Holland introducing them...

Maps - It Will Find You (live at the Mercury Music Prize Awards)

KLAXONS Win Mercury Music Prize

My bets were on BAT FOR LASHES, but KLAXONS have officially taken the coveted Nationwide Mercury Music Prize. Past winners have been Arctic Monkeys, Antony and the Johnsons, Franz Ferdinand, Dizee Rascal, Ms. Dynamite, PJ Harvey, Badly Drawn Boy, Talvin Singh, Gomez, Roni Size/Reprazent, Pulp, Portishead, M People, Suede, and Primal Scream.

Klaxons - It's Not Over Yet (music video)