Hype: Don't You Know

In a post-Beyoncé at Glastonbury summer, it's time to break out the sunscreen and put away the umbrellas, to coax the sun out of hiding and tell the clouds that we don't want them anymore. It's time for We Humans.

The Shropshire four-piece have now emerged from months spent hidden away in studios and practice rooms fully formed, armed with an arsenal of pop tunes and a string of live dates. The first of which will be The Slade Rooms in Wolverhampton on 9th July, with further dates in Birmingham, Manchester and London yet to be announced.

Check out the baggy-flavoured One In A Million and head over to their Facebook here, where you can hear two even larger slices of pop music.

We Humans - One In A Million

Hype: Love Driven

Other than some highly credible ramblings about Supermoons and existentialism, there's very little to know about Andrew Smith and Joe Sigee, or their Amusement.

It's too early to determine if this is by choice, circumstance or neccesity but what is important is that their brooding, melody driven electronica instantly caught my ear as I blindly navigated the dimly lit smoke filled corridors of Soundcloud.

Check out the wanton lust of Why Does Nothing Grow below and make sure you shuffle over to their Soundcloud and enjoy the equally dark tones of Take Me Alive.

Amusement - Why Does Nothing Grow

Hype: For Now

Born from the embers of Great Eskimo Hoax and reared in a kitchen in Selly Oak to a soundtrack of Wolfgang Voigt, DJ Koze and Thomas Fehlmann, are Worcestershire duo Pocket House.

Whilst they are no strangers to Oxford's Blessing Force collective - Dom is the drummer for Jonquil and Andrew plays live for our beloved Trophy Wife - of which they will inevitably be compared, it's the delicate little flourishes, samples and electronic touches that I find so endearing.

Exemplified perfectly in the four minutes and thirteen seconds of Pops.

Pocket House - Pops

Hype: The Centre Of My World

It's a marathon, not a sprint she says.

It's a grind I think.

I don't have the puff I think.

With a last gasp I catch Abe, draw it in deep, fill my sails with it.

And the horizon burns bright her finish line.

This is beautiful I think.

Abe - Think Of More

Hype: Forever On The Run

London duo LEAGUE sound like they could have been shipwrecked on an uninhabited island, only to fashion instruments and inspiration from their untouched surroundings and return to civilisation both enlightened and triumphant.

It turns out I'm not that far off, as they tell me that they were two Journalism and Architecture students who decided to shun convention and further education and live in a tent on a beach. It's not known if this primeval experience lasted two days or two years but it certainly had a lasting effect on their music.

I don't know about you, but that's sounding like quite an attractive life choice right now, especially if the outcome sounds this good.

LEAGUE - Golden Maps

Hype: You Don't know Me Anymore

Foolishly, starting a band never even occurred to me when I was sixteen. I'm pretty sure that at that age I spent most of my time listening to commercial house and trance and figuring out how I could get in to nightclubs to meet girls. But some twig on early, like Reading four-piece PEERS.

It might be too soon to go crazy on the hyperbole front but from the charm of the two self-recorded demos that are currently floating around the internet and the fact that I can't get enough of this guy's voice, we might well be hearing a lot more from them come the New Year.

For now though, they're a band still growing in to their own skin and I'm sure that playing a handful of gigs before the end of the year (including a headline slot at BBC Introducing Live in Reading on 3rd November) won't hurt either. Not bad considering half of them can't even apply for a provisional driving license yet.

PEERS - The Pool (Demo)

Hype: I Will Be Another Person

As I write this October caves in around me, and the temperature takes ice-y tumbles outside, the fog of another flu descends and I search for a nook in which to curl up and sleep the day away. A place to sleep to rest my head again...

From little speakers escapes Mozart Parties, gently crooning a comforting lullaby about being a better person and I think yes, I am feeling better. This is better.

Just two months young, Mozart Parties is the work of one James Bennett - newly re-located, now lost amongst the wilderness of the Lake District - and a sampler. His carefully piecied together, harmony-rich pop puzzles are drenched in atmosphere and Wish My Thoughts Away serves as perfect introduction to his self-confessed studied approach to music-making.

Shake off the slumber and share a moment with the maestro and his party below...

Mozart Parties - Wish My Thoughts Away

Hype: If You Found Out

London's Ghost Eyes may be fresh in the game but they're making some really intriguing and distinct beats right from the off.

It's a complete mixed bag in terms of sounds and samples, from what could be a choir of chanting children to sampling Lil Kim's "ode to strong women" Suck My Dick on track Elephant. Another sign of what's still to come is their tribal tinged remix of recent Cymbals single Good Luck, have a gander here.

If all of the above wasn't enough to capture your attention, Ghost Eyes are about to bust loose UK-wide as support for Banjo Or Freakout and "Mr. Album of the Year" contender Gold Panda next month. Check any of their sites or Myspaces for full tour dates. For now, cop Phantom Mountain.

Ghost Eyes - Phantom Mountain (YSI)

Hype: The Way Home

There are times when I come across a band and within seconds I can tell if I'm going to like, love or loathe them. Sometimes it's not quite there yet or there's something missing and sometimes it just feels right, like it did when I first listened to YAAKS.

Based in Eastbourne, they're being relatively coy with information for the moment but what I do know is that in their own words they are "six minds playing music to best portray the thoughts of Jean-Jacques Rousseau", what more could you want from a band?

Obviously, it's extremely early days and whilst there are already flashes of greatness in the tracks that I've heard so far, this is a band who should be given time and space to flourish and build upon the depth of ideas on show, not get caught up in the trappings of being the buzz de jour.

For now, I'll quieten down and let the music do the talking. Wrap your listening gear around this and also make sure to check out BRKYLN // Fig. 1 on their Myspace too.

YAAKS - HRHRHYTHM

Hype: He's The One I Love

The French are AWSM. I'm down with French. No idea if manatees are AWSM but this particular Manatee is madd AWSM and I am well down with it. AWSM.

I can't tell you loads about Manatee so I thought I'd tell you a little more about manatees: the name manatí comes from the Taíno, a pre-Columbian people of the Caribbean, meaning 'breast'. Cheers.

What I can tell you is that this track from these French avant electro-ers is all sorts of spectacular. Quite literally The One, this final mix is a sugar rush of a pop Iced Gem - tune sounds like the first time you hold hands with a new One; the euphoria that fills you like a balloon and the gale of emotion that sweeps you away.

Wonderfully simple then, and simply wonderful. Magical. You will love it hard.

Manatee - The One (YSI)

Hype: Reset Myself

This month has mainly consisted of:

Being k-kinda bizzay.
Working more hours than is probably legal.
Swanning off on holiday (I'm scowling at you Tom).
Other questionable activities like trying to figure out how to put a pussy in a sarcophagus.
Listening to Jacob And The Appleblossom.

Jacob And The Appleblossom is the new project of German duo Jacob Vetter (of Wagner Love) and producer Afrit, who over the past year have amalgamated elements of pop, jazz, soul and thrown in some analogue synths to produce their as yet untitled debut album.

I've been lucky enough to have a peek behind the electronic curtain and there are some absolute gems in there. One of which is the mercurial Computertruth, which I haven't been able to stop singing for the past week and a half.

Jacob And The Appleblossom - Computertruth (YSI)

Labels, where you at? Get on it before I release it myself.

Hype: In Good Hands

Whilst the British weather is being its usual bipolar self this week, it's essential to take what little pleasures that we can and South London trio Talkers are currently improving my rain soaked day tenfold.

Harnessing enough charm to part the clouds and persuade the sun to come out, they are currently gearing up to announce their debut shows in the coming weeks and have a single already on the cards for early next year.

If that was not enough, it seems that they also have an excellent taste in literature if the below track is in fact referencing the collection of short stories by J. G. Ballard that share its name. Surely even more reason to fall in love with them?

Talkers - Vermillion Sands (Demo) (stream only)

Hype: It's True What They Say

Welcome to the weird and wonderful world of EVRYONE.

I know that they are a three piece, consisting of Chris Banner, Tom Andrews and Nicholas Bovill and that is about your lot as regards solid details for the moment.

The unabashed theatricality of their music grips me in a way that has eluded me for quite some time. This is partly down to the sheer scope of the songs, which encompass a ridiculous amount of ideas within 3-4 minutes bursts, but done without sounding like there's a loss of direction.

Well, that and the guy's voice is incredible.

EVRYONE - Flamingos (YSI)

If they are playing near you in coming months (I'm looking at you people of Reading, London and Bristol!) then please do the honourable thing and get to a show, even if it's for the sole purpose of telling me what they're like live. Full dates can be found on their Myspace here.

Hype: You Look Beautiful

Laid on a sand strewn beach, watching the sun set on one of the best days of your life whilst safe in the knowledge that there's still the night ahead. Perfectly relaxed in the company of a total babe, beverage in hand and basking in that moment for as long as the sun will allow.

Unfortunately, the chances of me going on holiday or to a festival abroad this year are slim-to-none, but if I were to escape the rat race and head to the sun then the above scenario would be pretty ideal.

Until then I guess I should be grateful for the consolation of listening to Liverpool based trio On Cruise and being able to daydream about it.

On Cruise - Roar (YSI)

On Cruise - Isle Of Nowhere (YSI)

For an added bonus, or perhaps the cherry on the cake - here's one of my tracks of the Summer.

Caribou - Sun (On Cruise Remix) (YSI)

Hype: Covered In Roses

It's all about... Timing. Having happened across San Diegan synth-dreamers LES∆NDS but a few weeks ago, it was only a matter of minutes before we'd fallen totally for their sun-kissed blend of East Coast electronics and West Coast synth-pyschodelia, and a only day or two later that we agreed it was like, probably a good idea to have them appear here, all up in your face an' ears an' that.

A recent name-change has reinvigorated the Californians - currently amassing both an enviable list of live shows and Stateside label interest - and blessed us with beautifully blissed-out beach hymns such as Pretenders, the first taste of many good things to come from their forthcoming debut EP.

I can't quite believe I made it all the way through this post without saying something like, 'I hate sand in my eyes... But I love LES∆NDS in my ears!'

TIMING.

LES∆NDS - Pretenders (YSI) EXCLUSIVE

Hype: These Fine Days Are Numbered

Get People - Deity

Busy week this week. Lots of little trees finally bearing fruit, 'From tiny acorns...' and all that.

We're rounding it out with a video for the rather fine, rather dandy Get People; London's very own harbingers of uniquely exquisite and excellently eclectic tropical pop, bursting on to the scene like an over-ripe Opal Fruit with Deity, a tribal treat of a track that takes influences from as wide-a-range of places as it take you to, IN YOUR MIND.

Be advised that their sprightly re-working of New Island's new single Cold is the first taste of a particularly fruity bunch of remixes waiting to be offered up to the (blo)Gods, so expect to hear more soon.

This shit actually is bananas, don't sleep daydream believers.

Hype: It Was Only A Dream

Has there been a more divisive band in recent times than The Drums? I don't know. I'm not even sure I care. Oh no, hang on...'Probably', and, 'I don't'... I do know that, while they write a mean tune, they are perhaps a little too arch for my palette, which may account for French Films tasting a little sweeter on my tongue.

What we have here is five friends hailing from the well known surf-mecca of Finland, knocking out weird electronic surf-pop with a heavingly heavy Joy Division influence, but who manage to remain on the right side of all things FUN.

We've been waiting for the finished mix of first single Golden Sea - taken from their forthcoming EP - since January, so I'm gonna stop waffling and let you get amongst it.

p.s. Look out for their track Cathedral - sounds a bit like LoTP covering the aforementioned Aussiemericans. In another word: BANGORZ.

French Films - Golden Sea (YSI)

Hype: How To Find Ourselves

So the World Cup (yeah that's right, I'm smashing this post out on a topical-tip) is now well underway, and inevitably, as thoughts turn to trophies, so too dawns the realisation that chances are - unless you're visiting these parts from Brazil, Spain or possibly Honduras - you'll end the tournament sans trophy.

Fortunately, we've got the sweetly disarming dance of Oxford's Trophy Wife to restore your faith in summer...

The trio of long-time friends are quickly (and currently secretly) amassing a collection of desirably down-tempo disco. Constructing noose-tight rhythms hung from a hundred hooks, the concept is simple: restraint. Their ethos of avoiding any unnecessary embellishment that may detract from the hook might sound bold, and it does - bold and brave and fucking sick.

It's an approach that may best be demonstrated on the wonderful Take This Night - download below yo - all at once somehow oh-so-simple yet oh-so-technical too, but it's Microlite, our personal fave, with it's lush string arrangements, that hints at just how amazing this band could be.

Trophy Wife - Take This Night (YSI)

Hype: The Bliss We've Created

It's a hot and humid sunny summer day, which means ice cold lemonade, deck chairs and... four online playas with a penchant for Tom Tom Club, Go West and "the greatest actor of our generation" Brendan Fraser - obviously.

Manchester-based Slow Motion Shoes clearly have an ironic chip on their shoulder the size of an iceberg, but in this weather that's something of a necessity.

There's only one track floating around in the ethereal plane right now; named after the star of The Mummy, Bedazzled and the frankly seminal George Of The Jungle - the aforementioned Bredan Fraser, a floaty and subtle melancholic slice of chill the fuck out. Perfect.

Slow Motion Shoes - Brendan Fraser (YSI)

Hype: Lost A Love Deep Inside

We've been enjoying a run of what can only be described as 'not-actually-that-warm-with-a-faint-chance-of-sun' weather recently, which is clearly more than enough reason to ditch the duffel coat and sensible shoes for string vest and flip-flops, right? Perhaps not.

But whatever the weather, it's always important to team any look with a couple of cheeky new pop songs, and it's at this point London's Sensual Sports step out from the sartorial shadows to lend you a fresh pair of silky-smooth briefs.

Taking their name (kind of) and their musical cue from Sexuality-era Tellier, Thomas Deakon and Vincent Ullens are new to the scene, but bonded by a love of Kitsune compilations are already producing some lovely laidback sounds all their own.

Through a combination of their generosity and our harassment, we have two early-days demos for you to sample; the light and floaty Lost Love and the bright and breezy Japanese Beach Girls. Both ready wear to Sir, natch.

(Edit: Turns out it's actually quite hot in London today, who knew?)

Sensual Sports - Lost Love (YSI)

Sensual Sports - Japanese Beach Girls (YSI)