Who's next year?
Mika is one to watch in 2007
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Whether it be Grandfather Frost, Father Winter, Pere Noel, Babbo Natale or Santa Claus, the way people celebrate Christ's birth raises some interesting issues about the world we live in. |  |
Monday, 18, Dec 2006 03:05
Who's Next? As a certain legendary band once asked. We seek to delve into the music industry and come up with a bountiful collection of stars to be. Or is that just wannabes?
This week we take a look at the next nine bands that will be lighting up 2007.
The Good, The Bad & The Queen
Damon Albarn's new 'project' couldn't be more different than its cartoon predecessor. If you can imagine Think Tank, but with a smoother and more imaginative sound, TGTBTQ comes very close to achieving it.
Clash bassist Paul Simonon, former Verve guitarist Simon Tong, Tony Allen on drums and Albarn himself performing piano and vocals makes up this 'super group' which should quite easily be the star attraction of summer 2007.
Herculean, the band's first single, provided a snippet of what we can expect from the full record, which is released in January. Danger Mouse's lucid production, combined with Albarn's now trademark distorted vocal mark out TGTBTQ as being truly unique.
This might also be the final departure for Albarn before he takes up the Blur reins once again; but would Coxon be happy with this new sound? Certainly not.
See more on TGTBTQ
Jamie T
Jamie T, the Thamesbeat skinny MC with a cheeky grin and even cheekier lyrics, has been around for a while now. His debut album will be released in the early part of 2007 and the range of tunes is certain build upon the well-known Sheila and If Ya Got The Money.
Jamie T managed to guest on the Strummerville single recently released by Babyshambles (although if you can point him out you win a gold star) and you can expect a few more 'guest' appearances on the numerous records by the groups he classes as friends.
The young lad from London has every chance of being huge this year, with a whole genre to himself. Whether he can make the most of it is another matter, but it looks likely that you'll hear a great deal more from him in coming months.
See more on Jamie T
Mika
Mika's life is as interesting as his music, born in Lebanon, he suffered the ordeal of his father being held hostage in Kuwait. His family moved to Paris and then London, where Mika dropped out of education and chose to hone is voice at the Royal Opera School.
First single Relax was thudding its way through the Radio 1 airwaves towards the end of the autumn, and second single Grace Kelly boasts the same kind of magic.
Mika's live show demonstrates why he can waltz away with next year all by himself, with a calming hold over the stage and a genuine swagger.
See more on Mika
Yeti
Yeti are far from new and you could almost categorise them as John Hassall's new 'project'. However, such was the nominal part that Hassall played in the unfolding of the Libertines saga that Yeti is showcasing his talents for the first time.
Together with Harmony Williams, Hassall has created a strong body of work that rivals that of most bands currently treading the UK's boards thanks to the NME. Songs like In Like With You, Never Lose Your Sense Of Wonder and Money God stand Yeti apart as an original band with great rock 'n' roll tunes.
The band's One Eye On The Banquet EP was, as its name suggests, aimed at getting the band signed and having the chance to record a full album - something that their song catalogue fully deserves.
"I think the reason we've been kicking around for such a long time is because we write such different songs," Williams told InTheNews earlier this year.
Only time will tell whether or not someone is willing to take a chance on this band, but it seems clear that Hassall is the final Libertine who deserves another crack.
See more on Yeti
The Maccabees
Zane Lowe loves the Maccabees and the band's place on the NME rock 'n' roll riot tour looks set to catapult them into guaranteed indie greatness.
The band's single, First Love, is a sprightly piece of guitar pop that is notable for its aggressiveness and 'whole band' sound.
See more on the Maccabees
Mads Langer
Young Mads is something of an angelic demigod to one member of the InTheNews team, his Scandinavian tinged Americanised vocal is perfect for long and dreary ballads, however, Mads surprises everyone when he becomes overtly political on Breaking News.
If you imagine that Abba had taken a young lad from the streets, given him a packet of fags and trained him to sing pop songs, you'd come close to picturing Mads. Definitely one to watch.
See more on Mads Langer
The View
The View could quite easily be the biggest band of 2007 if they manage to produce a record that lives up to their early singles.
Superstar Tradesman and Wasted Little DJs are both established indie anthems and manage to sound utterly unique, if somewhat influenced by everything the Libertines ever produced.
The View's album, Hats Off To The Buskers, is released on January 22nd.
Peter, Bjorn and John
The NME gave Peter, Bjorn and John track of the week for Young Folks, which was a killer slice of jingly pop.
Their record Falling Out is available on import and Writers Block can be bought on Vinyl.
The Horrors
It's official, bands can get huge purely based on hype. So to finish this list we're going to add to this masquerade of false promises.
Other than the couple of singles they've releases, the Horrors have no substance to back up their crazed hairdos and eclectic dress sense.
Counting Fives, which I heard on vinyl, sounds like a muffled wall of sound generated by the cast of Stomp chasing a beggar down the road. It's not good, but they're going to big. Apparently.
Karl Pike