High Voltage

Having once lived in the room next door to Foals’ Yannis Philipakkis, and making music that shares a similar flavour to that of their neighbour’s newest album, Trophy Wife might well be assumed to be copycats. But in fact it was Yannis who wound up taking an interest in (and maybe even an influence from) the noise from next door.

Right from the off their sound is intriguing, as clattering percussion and jangling xylophones merge to create an almost haunting sound....

Having an amusing little name like Just Handshakes (We’re British) is a sure fire way to get people to listen to your band. But to keep them hooked, you’ve got to have the substance to back it up.

And that is where this band achieve the ideal combination to clinch the deal.

The retro and slightly Motown vocal of lead singer, Clara, sings soothing melodies that give tracks like ‘Brass Knuckles’ a summery charm.

Her words float, almost...

As if it wasn’t immediately obvious from the moment you hit play on their first track, Vinyl Jacket describe themselves as “five young Geordies with a background in musical theatre”. This is definitely a band you’ll either love or loathe, but that’s just part of the fun.

Vinyl Jacket are all about harmony – to an almost Glee-like level. But these are not irritating covers of already awful 80s hits. This is proper music.

Their...

Polarsets are for people who can’t decide whether they’re in the mood for an indie disco or an Ibiza rave. These three lads from Newcastle have blown Glastonbury Festival organiser, Micheal Eavis, away and appear to have no intention of following the crowd, as they manage to clash guitars with synths without sounding anywhere close to the likes of Pendulum.

‘Leave Argentina’ is written with guitar band aesthetics and lined with the kinds of samba rhythms...

The Good Natured is one of those ultra-hyped up artists who’s only ever actually released about eight tracks – so you’re probably going to try not to like her. Unfortunately in this case, that is difficult to do.

First track on their Myspace, ‘Your Body Is A Machine’, has strong drum beats and a beautiful, airy vocal that provides an instant hook. It’s a sound almost theatrically dramatic and passionate, but clinging tightly to a good sense of...

Trying to pin down what Manchester-based trio Books are all about is no easy task. With layers of literary-based smoke and mirrors shrouding the band’s inner workings, all we really have to go on is a series of truly electric performances across Manchester in the past few months and the following statement: “You are the stringless puppets of my own screen and you are performing very well indeed. Play on! Play on! Touchstones, play on”. Well, quite. Arcade Fire severity, Joy...

The choppy guitar parts and calculated post-punk rhythms of Mammal Club come together brilliantly on 'Put Your Fears in Order'. The North-Easterns have existed in various line-ups in the past, but they're finally on track and making waves in 2010 with songs like this,

The have a massive home-coming show at the Evolution Festival on Monday 31st May, so their appearance at the HV stage at Eurocultured will be an appropriate warm up.

They have kindred spirits in Everything...

We Hate Shotput are a brand new band from Harrow who make music with a youthful glint in its eye. Their style is reminiscent of a Los Campesinos! brand of fun, with an added touch of rock n’ roll vigour.

‘Three Blind Mice’ is a sweet little love song that kicks off with a drum roll, packs in plenty of sing-along vocal harmonies and ends in a three chord climax that is begging for a ‘smash up your instruments’ onstage finale.

‘Backs To...

Friendship are two guys from London who play music designed to deceive and surprise.

Their tracks bolt from being indie-pop summer tunes filled with tropical-style guitar licks and infectious choruses one minute, to being sheer walls of distorted noise the next.

But this noise is amazingly comprehensible. The heavy guitars, thrashing symbols and clashing rhythms somehow merge to create what might even be described as songs, held together by an undercurrent of strong...

i said yes are from all over the place – with members living everywhere from Bristol to Edinburgh, via Wiltshire. They’ve been described by Noel Gallagher as “Just so annoying,” and take influence from London’s folk scene. But if you forget the tags and look to the music behind the strictly-lowercase name a different and, indeed much more flattering, picture emerges.

‘When The Night Comes In’ is a deliciously warm tangle of melodies, sung...