Mbongwana Star - Malukayi
Mbwonga Star are in the same general ballpark as Ibibio Sound Machine. They come from System D, a notorious suburb of Kinshasa in the Congo. And they fuse (which is probably too smooth and seamless a word for this angular hodgepodge) traditional Congolese rhythms with postpunk and electronics created from a range of home-made instruments recycled from waste left in the slums – “making magic out of garbage”, to quote their producer, and Tony Allen collaborator, Doctor L. There will be an album on World Circuit in April, followed by a European tour. Bring a bottle – not to drink, to bash along rhythmically.
Fever Dream - Serotonin Hit
Fever Dream are a three-piece from London, although they could be from anywhere: their shoegaze/dreampop is redolent of the Thames Valley bands who used to do this sort of thing in their sleep, and they also recall the American sloth-rock wing (Dinosaur Jr et al), as well as today’s guitar-haze purveyors, who are as likely to come from St Petersburg as they are from Reading. In fact, they have an album out in April, called Moyamoya, on Pinkshinyultrablast’s label Club AC30, so if you like this MBV-ish blur of bass, drowsy drums and serrated guitar, make sure you start saving now.
Thomston - Collarbones
Keep a couple of quid back for another April EP: Backbone, from Thomston. Born in London, raised in Auckland, managed by Saiko, who also looks after Lorde – one of these facts may have a bearing on Thomas Stoneman’s future. Still only 19, the classically trained singer and producer’s 2014 Argonaut EP has been streamed over four million times on Spotify, which augurs well for Backbone. Basically, if you like the idea of Sohn’s slow, sparse moodtronica warbled by Justin Timberlake in a state of quiet nocturnal distress, you’ll love what Thomston does.
The Young Professionals - All Of It But Me
Meet the sometime remixers (Moby, Lana Del Ray, Lady Gaga) who are signed to Cherry Tree Records, the label run by Gaga ally Martin Kierszenbaum. The Young Professionals – TYP to their friends and family in Tel Aviv – comprise producer Johnny Goldstein and Israeli mega-star Ivri Lider, who is currently a judge on Israel’s X-Factor. Their debut single was a version of Ottawan’s D.I.S.C.O. – the original was written by Daniel Bangalter, dad of Daft Punk’s Thomas, which makes sense because TYP peddle a similar kind of electronic quasi-disco to DP, with – if All Of It But Me is any measure – a novelty pop quality that would lend itself quite nicely to Eurovision, should they feel inclined. The guest vocals from Anna F make what was already infectious positively viral: think tATu frolicking with the Pet Shop Boys.
Lung Dart - B.OK
Lung Dart (who recently soundtracked Simone Rocha’s AW15 show at London Fashion Week, so prepare to be awed into trendy submission) are Tim and James – not to be confused with Tim from James – a London duo whose late-night laptop R&B has been described as the missing link between Jon Hopkins and How To Dress Well. They don’t just make warm soultronica – or at least, they do, but it’s created from the least “warm” sources: sounds, recorded on their mobile phones, ranging from wind from a hill in Leicestershire to a broken washing machine. You can hear the results on their new EP, Ebbs (another April release), notably B.OK, which turns a busted Indesit into the beating pulse of a brokenhearted lullaby.
