James Canty - Strangers

"For the past year I've been writing, recording and fighting off disillusionment with a sword of fire and after countless set backs, cock ups, let downs, dead ends, blow outs, whiskies, take-aways and existential debates, I am happy to say the north wall has fallen. So here is a song I'm very proud of, consigned to the depths of the abyss, a tear drop in the ocean baby yeah."

After receiving such a powerful email, there was no way that I couldn't listen to "Strangers", the debut single from Essex born, Liverpool based singer-songwriter James Canty, and it's quite lucky I did, for it's a rather interesting listen indeed. It's hard to describe exactly what genre it would be, but odd-folk would probably be the best approximation. It mixes some decidedly un-folky banjo with luscious string arrangements and wraps it up in a tale of heartbreak to create something that is both rather unique, yet also somewhat timeless at the same time. 

Eliza & The Bear - It Gets Cold

Although they didn't make our own Tips for 2014 lists, it's fair to say that Essex 5-piece Eliza & The Bear are shaping up to have a monumental 12 months. They've been much loved by our favourite blogs for nearly 2 years now (including Breaking More Waves & The Mad Mackerel), and in the past year they've picked up extensive support from Radio 1 and landed supporting slots for both Paramore and Imagine Dragons. Shamefully, this blog has only just now starting to take notice of the band, but it terms of songs designed to capture one's attention, "It Gets Cold" does a brilliant job.

Their press describe them as a cross between Beirut and Two Door Cinema Club, a comparison that I can hardly disagree with, given that "It Gets Cold" mixes an expansive folk sensibility with sprightly guitar riffs and an indie-centric image. Given that Mumford & Sons and TDCC have been so incredibly popular over the past few years, it's seems amiss that not many acts have thought to combine the the sound of the two, and it is this combining of the familiar into something that is completely their own that will win people over to Eliza & The Bear in the future. The song's already picked up tens of thousands of streams in about a week since the track went live, and if they can keep up the momentum they're riding, 2014 will surely be a magical year.

"It Gets Cold" will be released on January 26th.