Alphabeat // DJ (I Could Be Dancing)

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DJ (I Could Be Dancing) is the third single to be taken from the group's second album, The Beat Is... and for the purpose of this release has been given a single remix.

The track is a tad different from the heavy electronic sounds of previous singles, but still maintains the sounds that the Danish six piece are known for without deviating too far from their sound. It's a catchy little number and certainly one that you'll sound find yourself singing and dancing along to, even if your not a fan. It's maybe not going to be a great hit, but it's certainly one that will get people on the dance floor

Rating: 4/5

Alexandra Burke // All Night Long

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This latest offering from Alexandra might just be the best so far from the album, Overcome. It’s a great little number with a catchy chorus that is bound to have everyone on the floor dancing along and singing along with the chorus, if not the whole song.

It’s quite possibly the first track NOT to sound like a Eurovision reject and even the casual fan will be able to get into this, even if you haven’t heard anything by her except the debut after winning the X-Factor

Rating: 4/5

Sandi Thom // Merchants & Thieves

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2010 heralds the return of Sandi Thom, as she presents her new album to the world as well as a new style. Released via her own record label (Guardian Angels), Thom retains creative freedom allowing her to make an album that reflect who she is. For Merchants & Thieves, the albums takes on a blues/rock style.

The opening track (Maggie McCall) gets the album underway and delves straight into the new style adopted by Thom for the album. The pace is kept by the following tracks until Let It Stay, a beautiful slow tempo ballad before heading into the album title track which turns out to be a instrumental track (a first for Sandi).

From this point, the album becomes a mix of bag of tempos, kicking off with the first single from this album, This Ol’ World featuring the blues/rock guitarist and vocalist Joe Bonamassa before taking the tempo down slightly for The Sadness.  Heart of Stone brings it back up with what has a highlight of the album. Ghost Town hails another first in which Sandi and backing vocalist Lindsey Clearly sing the track acapella, giving it an appropriate haunting feel. Belly Of The Blues is a track that could have either started or finished the album and settles the album beautifully.

Looking back at what Sandi Thom has done before, there is a feeling that this album is more of what she has been wanting to do and by releasing it on her own label, that is exactly what she has achieved. The style and variation in songs suits her voice and has showcased what she really can achieve and makes for a well rounded album. It is an album of firsts: first release on her own label, first blues/rock inspired album, first instrumental and a capella tracks. The difficulty lies in whether or not that the general music public can put aside it’s pre-conceived ideas regarding her music and realise that she is more than a one track pony and that there is much more that we haven’t seen and quite possibly yet to see.

Rating: 5/5

Amy Macdonald // Spark

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Spark is the second single to be lifted from the current album A Curious Thing. Whilst maybe not the strongest of tracks when compared to the rest of the album, on it’s own, it’s not too bad. The song itself is inspired by those who get on with life after coming through tragedy or difficult times in their life and possibly provide some kind of hope that things will be alright.

The song itself isn’t one of the strongest songs when compared to the rest of the album, however, on it’s own it' isn’t just as bad. Maybe the theme of the song is quite appropriate since we are now entering the season of charity events…

Rating: 4/5

Pearl And The Puppets // Because I Do EP

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Pearl and the Puppets is a band from Kirkintilloch and comprise of singer/songwriter Katie Sutherland (vocals/guitar/ukulele), Blair McMillan (drums ), Gordon Turner (guitar), Scott Clark (bass) and Michael Abubakar (keyboards) and this is the first offering for those in the UK to sample (her songs have been used by Vodafone (Australia), Orange (Romania) and Victoria’s Secret (US))

Because I Do is a fun little acoustic guitar driven song which builds into the chorus and bridges. The song provides a mesmerising melody to go with the equally with the vocals. Girlfriend (track 2) continues this mellowed out feeling. Mango Tree (track 3) wakens the EP up a little but you could see this as a closing track to an album or a song you’d listen to just before nodding off to sleep. The last track, Lower Ground is one of those songs that you could imagine playing at the close of the day

Overall, the EP showcases what Pearl is capable of, and giving a possible tease for what to expect from the album (expected later in the year). A wonderful little gem from Scotland that shouldn’t be overlooked and if possible, be heard live.

Rating: 5/5