Bokito - Better At Getting Worse

The first time I came across the name of the band Bokito, I automatically assumed they were Japanese. I saw their name on the website for The Great Escape, and based on my incredibly rudimentary knowledge of the syllable structure of the Japanese language, assumed that was where they were from.

However, it turns out that I am wrong, as Bokito are in fact based in London, with their lead singer hailing from Kilkenny. In fact, I am now even less sure that bokito is in fact a Japanese word still in use. I've found a dictionary that seems to suggest that it's an onomatopoeic word for the snapping of fingers or a radish. However, as that dictionary dates from 1892, I cannot be sure if it is still in use in contemporary Japan. If you know better than me as to whether that is indeed the case, please let me know, for I am genuinely curious.

But back to Bokito the band. They describe their sound as a "tropical indie", which straight away means you're likely to get instant Vampire Weekend comparisons. "Better At Getting Worse" is the first track to come across our radar, and it's a decent introduction to the band, filled with organ sounds , unconventional Afro-beat rhythms, and vocals that sound surprisingly close to those of Marcus Mumford. It sounds like they'd be great fun to see live, which hopefully we'll get the chance to do at The Great Escape in May, now than I know who they are.

"Better at Getting Worse" is out now.

Ibibio Sound Machine - Let's Dance

Has the critical success of Melt Yourself Down led to a greater public awareness of more artists with a more cosmopolitan musical outlook, or is it just that I'm noticing it more because of how much I enjoyed MYD? Either way, it's great to see more artists coming through with such genre-defying sounds, such as London based Ibibio Sound Machine.

Fronted by British/Nigerian singer Eno Williams, the 8-piece group's new single "Let's Dance" has already enjoyed some success, having graced the BBC 6music playlist before it's even been officially released. It's not hard to see why it's gone down so well, with a sound that mixes modern electronica with exotic rhythms, great brassy lines, and the half sung/half rapped vocals of Eno, which are sung in both English and Ibibio (hence the band's name). It's one of the danciest new songs you're likely to hear this January, so let your inhibitions go and just move to the rhythm.

"Let's Dance" will be released of 27th January. Ibibio Sound Machine's self-titled debut album will be released on 17th March.

Francois & The Atlas Mountains - Les Plus Beaux

On their latest single, "Les Plus Beaux" (which according to Google, can be translated as either "The Best" or "The Most Beautiful), Francois & The Atlas Mountains mix African percussive rhythms with indie-pop vocals, sung in a sensual French accent. It's a gorgeous piece of work, which goes to show that the French are the undoubted musical kings of sexy.

"Les Plus Beaux" is taken from the group's album "E Volo Love" (absolutely no idea what that translates as), which is out on 23rd January

Sharliza Jelita - Breaks My Heart in Two

Don't you just love unrequited love? One such person who does is Sharliza Jelita, who wrote "Breaks My Heart In Two" about her crush on the Duke of Downbeat himself, Radiohead's Thom Yorke.

In comparison to the dizzy-pop sound heard on her last single, "No Go Pogo", "Breaks My Heart in Two" is an afro-beat inspired piece of subdued infatuation-pop, whose dark heart is hidden by the overall loveliness of Sharliza.

"Breaks My Heart In Two" is available as a free download to commemorate Thom Yorke's birthday, and will feature of Sharliza Jelita's album "Strange Things", out in February next year.

Delicate Steve - The Ballad of Speck and Pebble

If I were to describe the music of New Jersey based quintet Delicate Steve as concisely as possible, based upon their song "The Ballad of Speck and Pebble", it would be thusly: "It as if someone has taken the Afro-pop blue-print of Vampire Weekend, lost said blueprints, attempted to re-write said blueprints, got bored and thrown attempted blueprints in the trash, and just did their own re-imagining of it, with all of the fun yet none of the constraints." (N.B - learn what the word "concisely means").

Despite what the various Oompa-Loompas of Jersey Shore might seem to suggest, there actually is a lot of genuine talent in that little state, if Delicate Steve are anything to go by.

"The Ballad of Speck and Pebble" (which curiously, is not a ballad, nor does it seem to mention a Speck, nor a Pebble), features on the band's debut album "Wondervisions", which is available to buy now across various formats.