New Album from Soko

It's hard to believe that Soko hasn't had an actual album out yet. She's been the poster girl for the French singer songwriter movement for a while now (see the playful angst of I'll Kill Her and the almost heartbreakingly sweet If You Break My Heart) but amazingly enough, she's yet to release a full album of her own. So after so much buzz about her on teh interwebz over the past few years, it's about time she show us all what she can do. Just as well she's (allegedly) bringing one out in February then.

After taking a break from music due to her self-proclaimed "death,"it appears that Soko is set to be resurrected with new album I Thought I Was an Alien. I think I speak for all of us when I say yay!

From the sounds of the teaser track which goes by the same name, I Thought.. is going to be a much more dreamy, whimsical incarnation of the Soko we (vaguely) know and love. I've got a good feeling that this album will be worth the wait and will give her the success she deserves- definitely one to watch out for.

Feeling Christmassy yet? No? Me neither. Infact, I'd probably be silently judging you if you were; it's early November for goodness sake, let's not wish the year away quite yet shall we? Nevertheless, I think we can all agree that this time of year has no other redeeming qualities. We can all gush about the falling leaves and the festive glow but when it comes down to it it's still bloody cold and everything feels like far too much effort. So, after one of those days, I've decided to start Christmas that little bit earlier, just this once.

As far as collaborations go, I wasn't expecting the likes of Tim Wheeler to team up with Emmy the Great, but it kind of works. Although 'Home for the Holidays' is almost nauseatingly sweet, it's definitely a grower. Perhaps by the time Christmas rolls around you'll be ready to forgive the sleighbells and find something to relish about winter, even if it's still miserable outside.

Music matters- as if we needed reminding...

http://www.whymusicmatters.org/

Time for my annual 'sorry I've neglected you' post it seems. Whenever the school year starts again my priorities tend to go out of the window and everything musical gets put on the backburner- ridiculous I know. I mean really, what's more important than blathering on about the veritable cornucopia of new releases and hype bands that's out there? So naturally, with 3 essays due in the space of a fortnight, I've done the sensible thing and returned to where

I belong for those extra few minutes of procrastination. Ah, it's good to be back.

Anyway, narcissism aside, over the past few weeks I've been collecting new music with the same vigour of a nerdy 90's kid collecting Pokemon cards. Over the next few days I'll be showcasing some of the spoils of my quest in the hopes of forgetting about the imminent coldness and melancholy that is winter.

First up is London based 'goth' quartet Veronica Falls.

Cool, simplistic and very very hipster, Veronica Falls make music designed to charm. Despite suicide, stalkers and all manner of bleak things featuring on their debut self titled record, the group's naive harmony and 80's inspired swirling guitar leaves one feeling more chilled than creeped out.

While there isn't much in the way of diversity here, it doesn't seem to be entirely a bad thing. Each song effortlessly drifts into the next to ensure maximum mellowness; not great if you're looking for something to awaken your senses and get you on the dancefloor, but perfect for the morning after the night before.

If you're planning on donning some black rimmed glasses and dipping your toe into the pool of hipster, Veronica Falls is a great place to start.

Veronica Falls is out now