The Sound Of Confusion: Singles Out This Week

The best 5 new single releases:

Frankie & The Heartstrings - Hunger

Sunderland's 'next big thing' come good with a rerecording of early track 'Hunger'. Expect more spikey, quintessetially British guitar tunes when the album of the same name arrives next week. Check out the video.

Frankie & The Heartstrings website

Buy the single

Mirrors - Into The Heart

Another rerecording of a previous release, this time from Brighton quartet Mirrors. Their album has been recieving many plaudits, and this single is what Hurts would sound like if they were any good. Check out the video.

Mirrors website

Buy the single

Maps & Atlases - Living Decorations

Album 'Perch Patchwork' was one of 2010's unsung heroes. Inventive, solid and unlike much else out there (the closest reference point might be TV On The Radio). New single 'Living Decorations' can't sum up the band in 3 minutes, so have a listen - then check out the album.

Stream: Living Decorations

Maps & Atlases on Myspace

Buy the single

Alex Winston - Sister Wife EP

Alex Winston should be the pop sensation of the year. This debut EP shows why, positioning her as a more chart friendly Kate Bush. Slightly saccharine yet sophisticated and mature folk inflected pop. Includes last year's excellent US only 7" single 'Choice Notes'.

'Locomotive' video:

Free download: Choice Notes

Free download: Sister Wife

Alex Winston on Myspace

Buy the EP

OBLIGATORY RECORD OF THE WEEK

The High Wire - Pump Your Little Heart

Single review by KevW

This article also appears on http://www.soundsxp.com/

The High Wire wrap up latest album 'The Sleep Tape' with the release of this yearning, life affirming dreamscape. The band claim this to be their favourite song on the album and it's hard to disagree (although they might like to listen to 'It's No Secret' again, just to be sure). 'Pump Your Little Heart' evokes the feeling of twilight optimism, the time where the reality of everyday life gets brushed aside temporarily and all appears warm and cosy. 'The Sleep Tape' may have conjured up a lush, drowsy hinterland, but what we can expect next remains a mystery following this tweet from the band recently:
"the high wire in the studio trying to combine tinie tempah with spacemen 3. actually sounds v mighty boosh!?"
Intriguing, we await the results!

Stream: Pump Your Little Heart

'It's No Secret':