Sound of 2011

At the beginning of this year, I was asked to write a summary of a few bands/people that I thought would do big things in 2011. These are mine... There are more, but I ran out of space!

James Blake
Since the release of his first EP back in 2009, Blake’s work has been praised by many well-respected DJs, including Gilles Peterson and Zane Lowe. His cover of Feist’s ‘Limit to your Love’ has already stormed the Radio 1 playlist, gaining him the second place slot in the BBC Sound of 2011 poll. Not only can he produce stunning vocals like this, but listen to his other work, and you hear his talents as a dub-step producer.

Hailing from London, his experimentation with different sounds knows no bounds, making his work somewhat unique, especially as he adds more and more of his own vocals. This is shown on two tracks which feature on the BBC’s website [http://www.bbc.co.uk/music/soundof/2011/artists/jamesblake/#p00d4900], namely ‘Lindisfarne’ and ‘Wilheim’s Scream.’ As he recreates this tracks as somewhat calmer versions of their dubstep originals, the true quality of his voice shines through, as it proves to be a pleasure to listen to whether used acoustically or in a more produced manner. ‘Air and Lack Thereof,’ available on his MySpace, is perhaps a more laid-back dub-step creation, particularly when compared to ‘CMYK,’ also available on MySpace, and a track which has already gained glimmering reviews. Again, this showcases his ability to manipulate electronics, and anything else for that matter, to their full potential.  

With EPs already available, he is set to storm the charts with the release of his album in February. 2011 is set to be a good year for James Blake.

The naked and Famous

Formed in 2008, this quintet have already received recurring radio play from both Fearne Cotton and nick Grimshaw to name just two. Having also recently been nominated for the BBC’s Sound of 2011 poll, as well as being compared to MGMT and Passion Pit, this new Zealand group are in no bad place. They’ve already achieved a number single in their home country, which also won them the APRA Silver Scroll for being the new Zealand band to achieve this in 16 years. A reworked version of studio album ‘Passive Me Aggressive You’ is set for in March, which, judging by their previous singles and success, is an album that will hopefully bring some of their new Zealand magic- and sun- into the UK.

Funeral Party

This four-piece LA-based band have been making their mark on the music industry since early-2009, but with the release of their album set for later this January, Funeral Party are set to storm 2011. Formed from boredom of their hometown –Whittier-, Funeral Party set about to make the sort of high-energy music that instantly evokes partying and often mayhem. Just the way they like it. ‘new York City Moves to the Sound of LA’ was an instant radio hit, spurring on support for later singles ‘Finale’ and ‘Just Because.’ Having already supported Julian Casablancas, leading him to announce them as “the future,”  Funeral Party should have no doubts as to the success of forthcoming album ‘Golden Age of Knowhere.’