Music: November Playlist

The candle of new musical talent is still burning bright. Despite the persistance of Westlife to release the same song for the fifteenth time. Wait for the key change, then they'll get of their stools and walk forward. Watch...watch...THERE IT IS!!!

1) KAT FRANKIE - Love Me (from the album entitled 'The Dance Of A Stranger Heart')



A truly sumptuous and stirring album by this Australian-born, Berlin-based songstress reminded me of PJ Harvey, of St Vincent, and of other fantastic female musicians. The guitar work is exemplary; brooding and sparse put complimentary of her powerful vocals, and the song-writing gives her ample room to be both delicate and explosive at the same time. Lovely jubbly.

2) ERIC LINDELL - That's Why I'm Crying (from the album entitled 'Between Motion & Rest')



Delicious jazz-inflicted blues from this smooth-voiced Californian. The album is short but sweet, and reminds one of John Mayer (if you don't hate him).

3) SEAN HAYES - Garden (from the album entitled 'Run Wolves Run')



Stunning song from this excellent album. Sean Hayes has a fantastically throaty and pained voice that will burrow into your head and stay for a while. Very very nice indeed.

4) RYAN BINGHAM AND THE DEAD HORSES - Depression (from the album entitled 'Junky Star')



Hard-nosed country from the man who is best known to me for having written Academy Award winning song 'The Weary Kind' for 2009 film Crazy Heart. Somewhat traditional, but with a contemporary weight to its production, Junky Star is a great album that rouses even the weariest country fan.

5) FRANCIS INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT - Monsters (from the album entitled 'In The Woods')



Euphoric choruses and upbeat, soaring chords abound in this standout single from this Austrian (I think...) band whose press release compares them, predictably and, frankly, lazilly, to indie darlings Grizzly Bear and Beach House. This is so, but I would urge any band not to try too hard to match these good, but highly overrated bands, lest they become self-important and a magnet for music snobs. Animal Collective? Best band ever? So much more intelligent than normal indie bands? Yeah, great, see you later.

6) GYPSY AND THE CAT - Time To Wander (from the album entitled 'Gilgamesh')



This Australian electro outfit are channeling an EXTREMELY 80s sound, but to reasonable effect. The album has shades of Duran Duran, some Human League, some Wham!, and a splurge of that epic dance ballad that you might hear on a Dirty Dancing soundtrack. Very tacky and camp, and this track is BY FAR the standout track, as it reminds me of a certain Yeasayer.

7) TANG IN THE ATTIC - Leftside (from the album entitled 'Bank Place Locomotive Society')



Scottish rockers do little harm with some twangy choons aboot not much. Fine.

8) JAVELIN - Vibrationz (from the album entitled 'No Mas')



Funky sounds of summer from Javelin, whose album was released in the summer and is a good little LP for those who like their music electronic, chilled and seamless.

9) SMOKE FAIRIES - Hotel Room (from the album entitled 'Through Low Light And Trees')



Beautiful, hypnotic, haunting folk landscapes from this much-hyped band come thick and fast on their debut. This track is more structured, more punchy than some of the other stuff on the album, and I would actually sell them as a better version of Warpaint, who I think lack a certain something to make them stand out. These guys, though, seem to have an edge that I cannot ignore. Very marvellous indeed.

10) SHARON VAN ETTEN - One Day (from the album/EP entitled 'Epic')



This singer songwriter is fast becoming a cult favourite, such is the power of her voice and songs. Here she shows off her majestic and heart-breaking sound to full effect. Watch the space.

11) MUDDY WATERS - Got My Mojo Working



A fantastic documentary about Chess Records brought me back to Muddy Waters, who almost single-handedly launched the label back in the late 1950s with his fresh and exciting brand of full-band blues that had Chicago, the windy city, in a fever. This is one of his most recognisable records, one a few sex-driven, upbeat hit singles that made him the toast of the town, and this recording, if you ignore the strangely-goateed guy that seems to be on acid doing the introduction, shows just how energetic and unstoppable the first full electric blues bands were, just when the harmonica was being introduced as a leading instrument by players like Little Walter. Absolutely, positively, finger-clickingly brilliant.