A Little Taste of Hollywood

Another of the BBC's Sound of 2010, Welsh born, half Greek songstress Marina Diamandis, otherwise known as Marina and the Diamonds, ended up coming second overall. Now we get to sample 'Hollwood' her second major single from the forthcoming album 'The Family Jewels.

The first thing that strikes you is her deceptively low voice in the opening verse. It's a voice that has drawn comparisons with Kate Bush, Florence and the Machine and I even detected a slight similarity to Imogen Heap in parts and it's perhaps this unconventionality that really draws you in to the song. This soon gives way to a higher tone in a slightly, but not overpoweringly so, bubblegummy chorus, which has an ability to stick around in your head long after the song has finished. The good news is that we only have a couple of weeks to wait to see what the album has in store.

Two Door Cinema Club, Undercover Martyn

Two Door Cinema Club, hailing from Ireland, were included on the BBC's Sound of 2010 longlist but there has been a buzz about this three-piece for quite some time. I first wrote about them for Culturedeluxe way back in March last year (my original review can be found here) and it's been a steady climb to success ever since.

Now the boys are back to give us our final taster before the release of their debut album in late February, early March. 'Undercover Martyn' is another irresistible slice of danceable electro-pop with a great opening hook that sounds like a chillout Ibiza hook sped up and helps to carry the momentum throughout the rest of the song. The amount of energy that these three lads manage to put in to the song is incredible and if the rest of the album is filled with more wonderfully crafted three minute songs then we should be in for a treat.

Daisy Dares to Dream

Daisy Coburn, otherwise known as Daisy Dares You, has been making significant ripples in the music industry over the past month or two. At only sixteen years of age she's already been named on just about every 'Sound of 2010' list going, notably the BBC's and The Times'. Now the rest of the general public gets to hear her brand of pop-punk with the release of debut single 'Number One Enemy', which features recent chart-topping act Chipmunk.

Now, it's great for her that she's been able to attract a number one scoring artist but, for me, his segment completely spoils the track. Firsly, it's completely out of tone with the rest of the song, which is a very radio friendly and infectious blend of spunky power pop, rock. Secondly, I believe that music, like theatre should have a 'Fourth Wall' and that we don't need to be reminded of who's done the track whilst we're still listening to it. It's one of the reasons that I'm not too fond of rap and hip hop, too many egos, though at least most of them have had enough success to have earned the right to big themselves up.

And it's a shame because, like I said, it's otherwise a great little song. However this collaboration will get her more recognition and it's likely to score high in the charts. Here's hoping that her next offering will keep the same standard...just without the chipmunk.