BIRDY ACOUSTIC AT YOUTUBE PRESENTS

While we've been able to treat ourselves to her beautiful debut album for a good few months now, the US have been only just been hyping with its release across the atlantic last week. (Speaking to all Americans) she's amazing no? During her promotional stay in the US, she performed this acoustic set for YouTube Presents, a quite stunning quartet of piano renditions. Now that she's back in the UK, we eagerly await her original album that has been promised for release this year. It's set to include her hit track "Just A Game" penned specially for the feature film "The Hunger Games", which is a nice taster for what's to come.

LANA DEL REY BLUE JEANS MUSIC VIDEO

The official video for Lana Del Rey's new single "Blue Jeans", the third from her hit debut album, was unveiled today (though it was leaked yesterday as they do). Resembling the low-budget style of the "Video Games" clip, the new video uses black and white pre-shot footage, cut to portray a rather sultry, dark presentation of her story, in which she encounters an alligator apparently portraying an ex. More importantly, she looks super beautiful. It seems that she has turned a few critics to fans since that SNL performance a couple of months back, with more and more praise offered for her conserved sexy style. I think she's a great artist as I've said before, her vocals have a really unique engaging something that I can't get enough of. Her album "Born To Die" has been doing remarkably well too worldwide, and only last week it was sampled against Notorious BIG's "Ready To Die" by Terry Urban and DOPE, which was indeed dope, despite it being quite a surprising choice of mashup. That mixtape is up for free download so check it out.

BEACH HOUSE NEW ALBUM PREVIEW

Beach House, who will return with a new album this year, today unveiled this new track "Myth" on their website. Taken from their upcoming album "Bloom", it's the first taster of their new material since the 2010 album under Sub Pop. Increasing in attention and fans with every album (remember they've been sampled by the likes of The Weeknd), the next one is much anticipated for sure, and this preview track excites us further. I love their sound, similar to M83, which has developed to hold more beat and takes more wholesome influences across the genres to produce some beautiful textures and depth. Touted for release on May 26th, their fourth album is almost here.

THE FRAY SCARS & STORIES

Released today is The Fray's third studio album "Scars & Stories". After two very successful albums, with which they stamped their mark on alternative pop rock music to command the genre. The four-man band 'made it' by working hard, catching widespread attention solely through their earnest music and local gigs. They aim to be in the industry for the long haul and here they are with their widely anticipated new album.

The artwork by The Made Shop has been circulating the web since the latter stages of 2011 with the songs worked and recorded last year too. (The GIF image is a nice collection of drafts for the eventual album artwork.) Upon first listen, the band continue to hit the right melodies that result for easy listening, the uniquely soft yet rugged vocals provided by Isaac Slade fitting perfectly. It's a very wholesome set of tracks as one would expect from The Fray, providing another beautiful journey for the ears and our emotions. I still really want to see them live, where for sure their music comes to life most. For now though, let us enjoy "Scars & Stories", available for download now.

MONKEY MAJIK SOMEWHERE OUT THERE

In just four days, MONKEY MAJIK will be releasing their 7th original studio album "Somewhere Out There", largely built around their emotion and experience of the Great Eastern Japan Earthquake and Tsunami that hit their hometown one year ago. Since the disaster, they've been working hard with the community to rebuild through volunteer work, and only in recent months have they picked up their musical work, releasing two moving singles in the process. Both will be recorded in this upcoming album, and one of which has just had an album version music video unveiled this week, for the track "Headlight", which you can watch below.

The album will be available as a CD and CD+DVD option, including 11 tracks and live footage from their 2010 tour celebrating the band's 10th anniversary. Check out the full details on my brand new MONKEY MAJIK Page. It's been around 13 months since their previous album and I'm absolutely thrilled to hear the new material, sure to be filled with a lot of feeling after what's bound to have been a year of much change. Release date is March 7th in Japan. You know my copy is pre-ordered and on its way.

JOHN MAYER SHADOW DAYS

It's been ages until we've heard something from John Mayer, but what a relief to hear his return is imminent. His new album "Born and Raised" was due for release last year, with material having been prepared since October 2010, until it was delayed for his throat surgery which had us worried for a bit.

A week or so ago, he dropped the first glimpse of this highly anticipated album, with a 60 second preview of its first single "Shadow Days". I'm so glad to hear his voice again, because I fucking love John Mayer. I've been surviving off his past works for a couple of years now, sucking out every bit of new that remains, but with stock getting dry it's about time we heard some fresh sounds. I am clearly very excited. No release date yet, but it's promised for this year. And the track "Shadow Days" airs on radio for the first time tomorrow in the US.

DRY THE RIVER DEBUT ALBUM

Tipped for breakthrough in 2012, London-based band Dry The River have a debut album lined up for release next month. The band originates from Norwegian-born frontman Peter Liddle and his successful summer tour in 2009, afterwhich the band officially formed and went on to play at Glastonbury, iTunes Festival and South by South West.

Anyway, it always comes back to the music right, and I say Dry The River are pretty cool. What makes their sound so interesting is that it's folk acoustica, influenced by their punk rock emo backgrounds. The quintet even includes a violinist, but lyrically it's so much more than the average folk, speaking volumes in emotions and fragility. It's a really wholesome sound, enhanced by their persistence to work mainly in analogue and choosing to record on tape. And the result is great, certainly very original with a lot for the listener to take out in terms of feeling and power. Dry The River currently have a couple of EPs out, with the next one on its way on February 26th, to be followed by the highly anticipated debut album "Shallow Bed" on March 5th. I'm rather excited.

M-FLO NEW ALBUM SQUARE ONE

m-flo are one of the world's leading musical talents, working from the far east in Japan. The duo of rapper VERBAL and DJ Taku Takahashi have been around for a long time, contributing so much to today's uprising Asian music industry, and this year they return with their long-awaited 6th original studio album. The build-up is well on its way with more and more fans across the globe spreading the word, myself included, and just today this teaser movie was dropped along with the album artwork.

The clip claims that m-flo have been foreseeing 2012 since making their debut in 1999, and that's not wrong, with their material always being a game changer, always looking to shape their industry and lead. The concept of this album is that they are back, back to square one. And while their production is inspirationally good, their collaboration vocalists are also big hype too. They've worked with pretty much everyone out there, varying from Japanese artists, stars from across Asia and massive western names too. Despite the full tracklist being unveiled, the artists have been kept hidden and I presume will stay hidden until much nearer the album release date, which is March 14th. I cannot wait.

BON IVER LIVE SESSION AT AIR STUDIOS

THE WEEKEND PRODUCED BY CHIDULY

Dropped today is the remix set of The Weekend by ChiDuly. Featuring remixed tracks from all three of the Canadian's 2011 mixtapes, "Haus Of Balloons" brings a new feeling to the often solemn sound of The Weeknd with strong beats and tempo, literally making them come alive. I still prefer the original music, of course, but the remixes serve as a refreshing twist to transform the dark vibe they held to something more alive. It also fills the gap nicely until The Weeknd releases his promised 'remastered' trilogy later this year.

SUMMER SONIC 2012

Summer Sonic, the most epic of Japan's music festivals, today announced the first batch of confirmed artists for this year's weekend event. In recent years, we've seen the likes of Jay-Z, Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Tinie Tempah, A Tribe Called Quest, MONKEY MAJIK, and so so many more headline-worthy megastars of the world's music scene take to the famous stages in Tokyo and Osaka. Hype for 2012 is up and running now with the first glimpse of acts, with my excitement for SBTRKT, Sigur Rós and Gym Class Heroes. Can't wait to find out the rest, because it's set to be epic again.

JAY-Z AND KANYE WEST NI**AS IN PARIS MUSIC VIDEO

HD it. Full screen and volume up. Epic.

BON IVER SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE

They don't do many public appearances, so this has been heavily anticipated, and it is indeed breathtaking. This is their performance of "Holocene" live on SNL last night. An exceptionally well-groomed ensemble of visionary musicians playing music together, that is all. The textures of each instrument, the build up of its layers, the beautifully harmonious melody. Sure I've never used these words before, but that's because my ears have never heard anything like this before. I must go see them live. You must. It's just real music and I am blown away.

BIRDY 1901 LIVE VERSION

Released ahead of its official music video, this is Birdy's live piano acoustic version of French band Phoenix's song "1901", recorded in London. It's the first track on her self-titled cover album released last year and one of my favourites. This live performance clip warms us to her soulful voice for 2012 and serves as a reminder of how beautiful it is. "1901" will be her next single, it has been announced, with the album itself to be released across the Atlantic on March 20th. For UK fans, we can expect her first original album later in the year too, which is great to hear.

LANA DEL REY BORN TO DIE

Having made her name known through her beautiful track "Video Games" last year, Lana Del Rey today releases her debut album "Born To Die". The American artist has interestingly been widely hailed over here in the UK, whilst keeping quiet in her home country, until her controversial SNL appearance which according to the media backlash hasn't quite worked in her favour. Which is a shame because I think she has huge talent.

The unique thing about her is the feeling behind her voice. Very noticeable in this album is her ability to portray the voice of an innocent angel to a wicked queen in one line, strong to vulnerable, rebel to sweetheart. It's an emotional range that I've not heard before, which makes it such an engaging album throughout. Perhaps the songs don't quite match the greatness of "Video Games" but the journey is gorgeously recorded and something about her hauntingly beautiful sound is addictive. For me, it's superb. And she looks stunning in this cover artwork.

MONKEY MAJIK NEW SINGLE HERO

MONKEY MAJIK have today released their eagerly anticipated first single of 2012. Entitled "HERO", it comes as their second release since the devastating Tohoku disaster of March last year, which affected heavily the band's hometown of Sendai. It struck them hard and their music has reflected this strongly, aiming to look forward, stay positive and rebuild. After releasing their beautiful single "Headlight" in October, they enter 2012 hoping to make it a better year than the last for all, and "HERO" is the first step. The new single includes an all-English version too, drawing out the hero in all of us, with the song fittingly tied up with the Japanese Red Cross' blood donation campaign. Featuring not much more than the mellow sounds of the piano and acoustic guitar, it's a touching track which encapsulates their feelings as a band very powerfully.

Through the year, they will continue their volunteering work, reach out further through their SEND-AI project, as well as going on a Japan tour running from May to July. Plus, it was revealed yesterday that their next album, the 7th original LP, is now completed and will be given the name "Somewhere Out There", with its release set for March 7th - a now significant week for the nation. There's also news about Blaise's next solo album from The Alphabet Project, which can be expected later this year too. Stay tuned for the latest information first on my MONKEY MAJIK Page.

ASHER ROTH PABST AND JAZZ

I just downloaded Asher Roth's on-the-house mixtape, or "project" as he prefers to call it, which was released this week. It makes me so happy to hear real hip hop making it back into today's music, following on from Common's heavily anticipated 9th studio album, this mixtape vibes goodness throughout. It's quite a treat for the festive season. Keeping this "project" separate from the mainstream market, he raps freely and truly, showing clearly his love for making music, which is something that always gets felt by the listener. He has an upcoming album with Def Jam and Loud Records, "Is This Too Orange?", in which he reunites with "Asleep in the Bread Isle"producer Oren Yoel, which is set for release in March 2012.

THE WEEKND ECHOES OF SILENCE

It's the second to last Thursday of the calendar year, and Canadian mystery-man The Weeknd has dropped his highly anticipated mixtape "Echoes Of Silence". This is the third set of the 2011 trilogy and as expected, it is huge.

Opening with a surprise cover of one of my personal favourites by Michael Jackson, Dirty Diana, "D.D." is as good as any I have ever heard. With his now infamous unique sound, he transforms this super song into a killer twin. The mixtape has a general trend of substantial drums, which we may have expected having heard the early preview track "Initiation", which adds a new authoritative texture to his original take of R&B. And undeniably, it is incredible. "House Of Balloons" introduced his beliefs and changed the genre, and "Thursday" took us deeper into his world, but "Echoes Of Silence" is a whole new game-changer for me. Love it.

Abel Tesfaye ends what has been a highlight year with a true gift, and I hope there's more greatness to come next year, after making a massive mark on the world's music scene. As always, it's a free download through his website, available now. XO indeed.

JAMES BLAKE x REBECCA HALL MUSIC VIDEO

James Blake today put out the official video for his song "A Case Of You", previously known in my mind as 'that ballad-like song after the Bon Iver one'. The track is listed on his EP "Enough Thunder", of course preceded by the excellent collaboration number with Bon Iver songwriter Justin Vernon.

It's a beautiful song, somehow playing with heartfelt ballad effects whilst keeping within his brilliantly original sounds, and the video is suitably just as good. It features English actress Rebecca Hall, most famous for "The Prestige", who looks amazing in this video as she displays the emotion throughout a relationship, and nails it. I reckon I could drink a case of her.. I promised myself I wouldn't write that.

COMMON ALBUM THE DREAMER/THE BELIEVER

American rapper Common finally released his 9th studio album "The Dreamer/The Believer" today, after initially being scheduled for a spring date. But either way, I'm glad it's arrived, and it seems that opinion is shared worldwide by all. Hooking up with his longtime friend, and incidentally Kanye's mentor, No ID produced and co-wrote the entire 12 track album, which speaks volumes in itself in terms of how massive this release is.

For me, it's great to hear an old skool vibe fitting in with the current hip hop genre, complementing each other's sounds to produce something magical and quite unique in today's market. Almost ten years on from his debut, Common's roots stand tall but has evolved to a thing of beauty, music that I am loving. Lyrically too, he shows his time in the game with wisdom that you can't not respect, keeping positive to make this a proper feel-good LP. For sure, this is an album I'll be looping for a little while.