Big In 2009.

So, with most of the best of 2008 lists finished and soon forgotten, it's time to look forward to what new talent is going to emerge in 2009. In no particular order, here are some of my predictions for the year ahead.

1. White Lies.
White Lies are a London 3 piece consisting of Harry Mcveigh (singer/guitarist), Charles Cave (Bassist/Lyricist) and Drummer Jack Brown. They formed from the ashes of A Fear Of Flying, who had modest success supporting The Maccabees, Jack Penate and Laura Marling in 2007. They make shadowy post-punk along the lines of Joy Division and Echo & The Bunnymen but with an ultimately uplifting dance-punk LCD Soundsystem edge. Their feel is characterized by a strong bassy sound with a reverbial, distant-sounding lead guitar, and an urgent voice often compared to Ian Curtis or Tom Smith of Editors. The band have headlined BBC Introducing at Radio 1's Big Weekend, and played at Oxegen, T In The Park and Reading and Leeds Festivals.
They have been announced as part of 2009 ShockWaves NME Awards Tour, alongside Friendly Fires, Florence and The Machine, and Glasvegas. They also came in second place on BBC's sound of 2009 poll. The single 'From The Stars' was Itunes single of the week before the release of the debut album 'To Lose My Life' on January 19th 2009.
The first single from the album was 'Unfinished Business' before signing to Fiction Records and releasing 'Death' and the latest - 'To Lose My Life' available on January 12th.

Unfinished Business (mp3)
Preorder (Amazon)

2. La Roux
La Roux is 20 Year old Elly Jackson from Brixton, UK who makes keyboard synthpop music with an emotional, down to earth side to it. She sings about real life things, with emotion to the point that she has actually shed tears between her vocal takes, despite the music underneath them being ecstatic 80s dance/disco music at its finest. She has spent her recent years, like so many others, lost in the London club culture with the likes of Justice, Boys Noize and Digitalism, but also takes a definite influence from the old-boys of British synthpop Depeche Mode and Eurythmics. It is this influence, tied with the meaningful lyrics and honest expression from the 20 year old, which make for an interesting and concise debut and sign of excellent things to come. She is spending the first half of her 2009 on tour with Lily Allen, but definitely does not deserve to be judged on this odd decision. All in all, La Roux, her ginger hair and her keyboard certainly have the potential to be huge in 2009.

Quicksand (mp3)

3. Empire Of The Sun
Empire Of The Sun are a flamboyant electronic music duo from the home of electropop, Australia, consisting of Luke Steele of The Sleepy Jackson and Nick Littlemore of PNAU. They make psychedelic, MGMT inspired synthpop music accompanied by exotic videos from global cities such as Shanghai, Mexico and Iceland which they visited prior to their album's release. Their sound is characterised by sunny electronica with concise vocals over a laid back dance rhythm. They are effortlessly catchy and eccentric to the point that noone knows what to expect in 2009.

Walking On A Dream (mp3)