Public Service Broadcasting - Elfstedentocht (Parts 1 & 2)

Having already brought out one of the best albums of 2013 so far with "Inform - Educate - Entertain", it is a welcome surprise to see some new music from Public Service Broadcasting mere months after its release.

It is particularly welcome to see PSB taking a new approach to their sample-led formula. Because for the first time, they have based their music around samples not in the English language. "Elfstedentocht" takes its name and samples from a 200km speed skating event that takes place in the Netherlands on an infrequent basis depending upon local weather conditions. Seemingly spurred on by the Dutch samples they had at their disposal, PSB decided not to just make one song, but two based around the event, both of which show off the two distinct sides of the group which have been apparent over the past few years.

"Elfstedentocht Part 1" is a driving rock track which seems to highlight the competitive side to the event, with heavy guitars juxtaposed alongside glacial synths. Part 2 on the other hand is, for lack of a better phrase, more of a chill-out track which seems to highlight the extreme weather conditions that the skaters find themselves in during the race.

It's great to hear some new music coming from the guys at Public Service Broadcasting, especially seeing them experimenting with new ideas whilst still staying true to the vision that made the group so beloved in the first place. Could this be the precursor to a new body of work for the duo outside of the English language? If it is, then on the strength of "Elfstedentocht", it cannot come soon enough.

Public Service Broadcasting will be touring the UK in November, including dates at the Stiff Kitten, Belfast on 15th November, and The Glassworks, Derry on 17th November.

Public Service Broadcasting - Night Mail

So the Mercury Prize has come around again, and like clockwork there's the inevitable backlash against the albums that have made the shortlist. With hundreds of albums from the UK and Ireland released every year and only 12 albums making the shortlist, it goes without saying that not everyone is going to be happy with the albums on the list. However, it appears that this year, the judging panel have released a 'bubblewrap' shortlist - going for the safest possible list in order to deflect themselves from criticism and the inevitable cries of "who's that?" whenever someone who's barely sold 100 albums makes the list. Don't get me wrong, there are some great albums on this year's list. I definitely wouldn't begrudge the inclusion of Foals, Jake Bugg & Arctic Monkeys. But when the biggest surprise nomination is Jon Hopkins, a man who has produced for Coldplay, then they have quite possibly got it wrong.

There have been so many great albums from less established or more interesting artists like Melt Yourself Down, Outfit & Girls Names who would have made worthy additions to the list, and it seems a shame that the Mercury Prize has played it incredibly safe this year. Some people are claiming that it is time to put the prize itself to sleep as it is no longer meeting its initial purpose to allow more niche artists to compete on level terms with more established artists. I still see the merit in the Mercury Prize - after all, I would never have discovered one of my favourite albums of all time, "We Can Create" by Maps, without the list. What I do hope happens is that as a result of this year's criticisms, next year's list with have a little bit more of an 'edge' to it.

After all, how the heck did this year's voting panel miss out on "Inform - Educate - Entertain", the stunning debut album by Public Service Broadcasting? The album seems to fit the essential criteria for appearing on the list - the album sounds like nothing else that has been released this year, it shows an amount of innovation which will lead it to being influential, there is not a single bad track on it, and it is an album that could be revisited several years down the line and still hold up as a great work of art. I don't know the reason why it didn't make the shortlist, although the two most logical reasons I can think of for its exclusion are a) The band themselves didn't put it forward for consideration, or b) The Mercury Prize judging panel do not have ears.

At least fans of Public Service Broadcasting can be happy in the knowledge that the band themselves will continue to pick up even more steam over the next few months. They are going on tour of the UK in November (including a return to Belfast on November 15th), and later this month they are going to be supporting Manic Street Preachers on a number of dates (which is rather apt, giving that the use of samples on "The Holy Bible" was one of the inspirations for PSB). In addition to this, they are releasing a new single from the album, "Night Mail" to coincide with their dates. The song takes its title and samples from the 1936 documentary of the same name, which incorporates a poem by W.H Auden in a rap-like fashion and overlays it with PSB's own brand of electronic rock production. It's one of the best songs on the album which hasn't been released as a single yet (alongside "The Now Generation"), so it's great to see it getting some more promotion.

Here's a final thought to leave you with - because "Inform - Educate - Entertain" charted within the top 40, Public Service Broadcasting are eligible for nomination for the 2014 Brit Awards. Does anybody have a list of phone numbers for the judging panel?

"Night Mail" will be released on November 4th.

Wonder Villains - 33

With every post that this blog makes about Derry band Wonder Villains (and we've sure made a lot of them since 2011), there's always the worry that we'll run out of superlatives, or exciting Wonder Villains related events to mention. Thankfully, the band sure do like to make things easy for us all. Since the release of their last single, "Blonde", the group has enjoyed quite a lot of airplay on Radio 1, they played a storming set that the final Glasgowbury Festival, and recently held a semi-exclusive 'rock party' at the Sunflower Bar, playing more or less every single one of their songs they had written to date.

And to top things off, the band are now lining up to release their next single. Fans of Wonder Villains will already be familiar with "33" - it was originally released as the b-side of their first official single "Zola", and it is the song that the band normally kick off their set with. The song has since been re-recorded for inclusion on their upcoming debut album "Rocky" (which I have been told on good authority is fully recorded, release date to be confirmed), and is a corkingly fantastic pop song, complete with all the band's trademarks - stonkingly big pop hooks, a slight punk-y style, pop-culture infused lyrics (this time referencing both Jorge Garcia and one of the band's key influences, Weezer), and most crucially, a smile inducing sense of fun that no band could possible match. Not even Katrina & The Waves, and they flipping walked on sunshine.

It's good to see that like their last single, "33" has picked up a bit of support on Radio 1 and a few other stations. Wonder Villains are a band that need to be heard. With so much bad things in the world, it's great to have a group who can make everything sound 100% better.

"33" will be released on September 9th.

Public Service Broadcasting - Theme From PSB

Public Service Broadcasting are now hit makers.

Yes, it's true. Last month the band released their debut album "Inform - Educate - Entertain" (to find out why buying a copy is as important as buying your morning coffee, click here). That album went on to smash into the UK album chart at #21. A wonderful achievement for any artist, it's even more impressive given that the album itself was self released. In another piece of chart geekery, it's worth pointing out that the album matched the #21 peak of Boards of Canada's "Music Has The Rights To Children". Both albums feature a song called "ROYGBIV".

I've also had the supreme pleasure of catching the band live since that release, and it really is an experience to behold. Whilst there are some groups that incorporate visuals into their performances, I don't think there's any group that have synthesized this to their performances as nostalgically, as effortlessly, and as one friend described it, hypnotically, as Public Service Broadcasting. And of course, the tunes are quite fantastic, so if the opportunity arises, you have no excuse not to go, especially as they're playing a smorgasbord of festivals over the summer, including Glastonbury. Be sure to check out their website to see when you can have the privilege of seeing them. 

And to top off all things PSB related, the band have now announced the release of the next song to be released from their hit album, and given that it's being promoted to coincide with their raft of festival appearances, where many of those in attendance might be curious newcomers, they really couldn't have chosen a better song than their own theme tune. "Theme From PSB" is a song that sees the duo cast the mirror back on themselves, examining those people who first pioneered the use of public information films. Musically, the song finds itself somewhere in the centre ground of the band's retro-futuristic sound. One the one hand, its one of the most electronic songs on the album. On the other, the song wouldn't have the same enjoyment if it wasn't for the nifty banjolele playing of J. Wilgooose Esq.

So after the release of this single, and their upcoming summer touring schedule, what's next for Public Service Broadcasting? Well, in September, the Mercury Music Prize shortlist will be announced. If I was a betting captain, I wouldn't be surprised to see "Inform - Educate - Entertain" on that list. After all, how many other groups, either in the UK, or elsewhere in the world are making music as original and entertaining as these gentlemen?

"Theme from PSB" will be released on August 12th as a limited edition pink vinyl.

Album Review: Public Service Broadcasting - "Inform - Educate - Entertain"

(Test Card)

Who would have thought this last time last year that many people's most anticipated album of 2013 would be from an artist that turns public information films into sleek, enjoyable tunes? Yet that is exactly what London duo Public Service Broadcasting have done with their debut album "Inform - Educate - Entertain".

For those not immediately familiar with PSB- it consists of J Wilgoose Esq. and his drumming amigo Wrigglesworth, who use vocal samples from archive films as a springboard for their musical excursions into the past. Over the 11 tracks, these include films covering the fashion industry, climbing mountains, car safety and the birth of colour TV.

What is particularly striking about the album is its sheer variety. When an album is centred primarily around vocal samples, it is possible that the music could end up very samey and repetitive. Thankfully, that is not the case on "Inform - Educate - Entertain." If it had to be pigeonholed into one genre, it would be electronic-rock, although even that would be inaccurate, with some songs being more rock-orientated and vice versa.

It is the more rock-orientated songs that end up being the strongest tracks on the album. Their most recent single, the car safety inspired "Signal 30", is a thundering rock track that wouldn't be out of place on a Queens of the Stone Age album, whilst "Spitfire" has one of the best guitar hooks that you're likely to hear on an album all year. There's also a playfully dark sense of humour to be found on these tracks - some of the vocal samples on "Signal 30" are hilarious when taken in isolation ("no drinking and driving...not even water"), and there's something profoundly ironic about the Krautrock influences on "Spitfire".

Of the more electronic-orientated songs, the highlight is "ROYGBIV", the Lemon Jelly-esque track that acted as an introduction to Public Service Broadcasting for many people last year. Slightly re-recorded for the album, the track is  the most freeform tracks on the album, with the track evolving and moving in new directions at a whim. The introduction of the banjo line 50 seconds into the song is a particular highlight. Also of note is triumphant "Everest", which mixes Jan Hammer sounding electronics with a wonderful brass section, and the fashion inspired "Now Generation", which mixes a Prince-esque strutter with keyboards that wouldn't sound out of place on a Sega Megadrive game. 

It also seems that one track on the album has opened the door to a new genre altogether. "Night Mail" is a track based around the Post Office, yet the way that the samples have been manipulated, it appears that the track is being "rapped" by the presenter, in what might just be the first recorded example of "Post-rap". 

If the album has one weakness, it's that it's a rather short album. Although it has 11 tracks, one of these, "Qomolangma", is a short instrumental companion piece to "Everest" (Qomolangma being the Tibetan name for the mountain), whilst the title track is a megamix of the album's remaining songs. Even so, these are minor quibbles that don't detract from the enjoyment of the album.

"Inform - Educate - Entertain" by Public Service Broadcasting is definitely an early contender for album of the year. For an album based on such a narrow premise, it is a richly diverse album, a highly enjoyable one, and one which is very much unique.

Released: 5th May 2013

Highlights: "Signal 30", "Spitfire", "ROYGBIV", "Night Mail".

Seasfire - Oh...Lucifer

Bristol based quartet Seasfire have built up a loyal following over the past 12 months, and have become something of a darling for music blogs through their nomination for the Blog Sound of 2013. Following a low-key re-release of "Falling" earlier this year, the band have announced the release of "Oh...Lucifer"

The song continues the band's penchant for taking a contemporary rock structure and augmenting it with electronic beats and production. It is perhaps their most accessible track to date, with a clear verse/chorus structure and some trance inspired synths. Stylistically, it is a song which isn't a million miles away from the sound that Hurts have moved into recently, albeit one which is a lot rougher around the edges.

"Oh...Lucifer" is the sound of a band who are trying to win over new fans simultaneously attempting to please those people who have already fallen under their spell. Only time will tell if this pays off.

"Oh...Lucifer" will be released on 1st July.

The 1975 - The City

Well, knock me down with a feather. I knew that Manchester based quartet The 1975 would have a rather fine 2013 indeed, but if you'd have told me after playing in Belfast to just a handful of people that within three months they would have a UK Top 40 hit single with "Chocolate", a track which hasn't seemed to have left the airwaves since February, as well as selling over 150,000 copies of said single, I would have been very sceptical indeed. Now it looks like the band are well on their way to being the most successful new band of the year so far. The members of the group also seem to be becoming something of a pin-up favourite for their growing teenage fanbase, which isn't surprising given how photogenic the boys are.

Of course, this blog cares more about great songs than image, and The 1975 have announced the re-release of "The City", a song which originally surfaced on their debut E.P "Facedown" last year. The track is a much darker affair than "Chocolate", with impossibly deep drums (last seen on "Sex"), sinister keyboards, and lyrics about the dark underbelly of inner city life. It's a rather brave choice of follow-up single after their last radio-friendly affair, but so far it seems that people are really warming to it, as well as to the band itself. Let's hope the next time they visit Belfast, they'll be playing it to an audience of hundreds. Mandela Hall, anyone?

"The City" is the lead single from their E.P "IV", which is released on May 20th.

Public Service Broadcasting - Signal 30

I've extolled the virtues of London duo Public Service Broadcasting for the best part of a year now, so I will just assume that you know that the group consists of J. Wilgoose Esq. and his drumming buddy Wrigglesworth, who use samples from old public information films to create new electronic-rock tracks. Their debut album is one of the most anticipated debut albums of 2013, and they are lining up their biggest UK tour to date to usher its arrival (including a date in Belfast in May). Before their album drops, they are releasing their latest single, one which has become something of a live favourite in recent months - "Signal 30".

The song takes its name and vocal samples from a 1959 American road safety film of the same name, as well as interpolating elements from other road safety films such as The Bottle and The Throttle and None For the Road. Somewhat surprisingly, the track is a straight-up rock track, one that wouldn't sound out of place on Queens of The Stone Age's "Songs For The Deaf" album. Ever since the release of "Spitfire", there has always been the feeling that Public Service Broadcasting were secret metalheads, and the release of "Signal 30" confirms that suspicion.

And if there's one thing that rock really needs, then it's a song that reminds people of the dangers of drink-driving. It's a lot more fun than the road safety campaigns used in Northern Ireland, that's for sure.

"Signal 30" will be released as a limited edition 7" vinyl on April 20th. Their debut album, "Inform - Educate -   Entertain" follows on May 6th.

Wonder Villains - Blonde

Last month, I was chuffed to bits to see this very blog profiled in The Guardian as part of its Blog Jam feature. One of the reasons why I started this blog was to cast a light on some of the great music that comes out of the north of Ireland, so I was glad to see some of our artists getting some added recognition as a result of that. However, when they asked me what song I most enjoyed, it was quite a challenge to choose just one, but in the end, I had to go with "TV" by Derry's finest Wonder Villains. As well as being a fantastic song in its own right, they are perhaps the artist that I've written about the most on this blog, so in a roundabout way, they were responsible for me getting featured in The Guardian in the first place. Thanks a lot, guys!

But anyway, what's important now is that Wonder Villains are finally putting the final touches to their upcoming debut album, which is due for release in the early summer. As predicted by yours truly in November, their new single is one that has become a live favourite for the group in recent months, "Blonde". The song is their slowest , and somewhat counter-intuitively, their shorted song to date, it still ranks as one of their most infectious pop songs to date. Not anti, indie or alternative, just pure, unadulterated pop. And I wouldn't want it any other way.

"Blonde" will be released on April 22nd, and will feature on their debut album "Rocky".

The 1975 - Chocolate

Having charmed me in 2012 with their single "Sex", as well as impressed me with their live performance in Belfast last month, Manchester quartet The 1975 are gearing up to make 2013 their year. Ahead of their debut album planned for later this year, as well as a trailer for their 3rd E.P, the band have released their latest song, "Chocolate", which is a delicious little ditty indeed.

From the sound of it, the group have been taking a few cues from label mates Little Comets, given the adoption of syncopated rhythms and a similar vocal pattern to Robert Coles. The sound is still distinctively The 1975 though, even if the track sees them abandoning the incredibly deep drums that I had taken to be the band's trademark. With its sophisticated production, and its appealing pop aesthetic, "Chocolate" should be the track that firmly silences the band's naysayers, and should give the group's core followers something else to cherish.

"Chocolate" is taken from their upcoming E.P "Music For Cars", which will be released on 4th March

B>E>A>K - Night Owls

What a great way to offset a dreary Monday. Everyone's favourite Sunderland based avian-rock collective B>E>A>K have released their first new tune of 2013. As if that wasn't exciting enough, the band have released a stop-motion music video to coincide with the release, which premiered on Kyeo.tv earlier today.

The song, "Night Owls", sees the group incorporating vocals into their sound for the first time, as well as featuring prominent synth lines as well. The music video is an incredibly strange beast indeed, featuring a twig-based raven doing battle with an apple-birth beast, all whilst an old radio tries to dance along in the most appropriate fashion.

And I've managed to write about B>E>A>K without resorting to bird puns. What a lark.

"Night Owls" is taken from "The Blue Edition", which will be released on February 18th.

EDIT 25th January: it appears that the original video for "Night Owls" has been taken off the internet due to copyright issues, as the footage was re-edited from a 2010 short film. However, the song itself is still available to listen to on YouTube:

Caught Live - The 1975/Go Wolf

Venue: The Oh Yeah Centre, Belfast

Date: 12th December 2012

There is something of a sparse crowd in attendance for the gig this evening at the Oh Yeah Centre. A combination of terrible weather and flag related tomfoolery around the city means that the crowd for The 1975 only number about thirty people.Yet those that have braved into Belfast city centre are in for a treat in the form of the music on offer.

The support act for this evening is Belfast pop four-piece Go Wolf. The first half of their set consists of some competent, if somewhat pedestrian, tunes. However, at the halfway point the band suddenly come into their own and step things up a gear. The tune which marks this change is "Visions", a song that mixes synthesized vocal keyboard samples with a funky, French touch bassline and a rhythm not too dissimilar to the sound that got people dancing to Franz Ferdinand all those years ago.

They then follow this up with two fantastic songs in a row - "All Good Things", with its soaring guitars and impressive rhythm section, current single "Voices", which shows off the great boy/girl harmonies that the group have to offer. They conclude their set with the thundering sound of "Oceans", and leave the stage to a decent reception. The band still have a good bit to go before they become a must-see band locally, but if the second half of the set is anything to go by, then Go Wolf have absolute heaps of potential.

Go Wolf, doing their thing.

Before they get up on stage, Matt Healey, the lead singer of The 1975 approaches us to advise us to bring seats up to the dance floor during their upcoming performance. It's probably a wise move - throughout Go Wolf's set, the entire audience loitered at the back of the venue in typical Belfast fashion, so having the crowd closer, albeit seated, makes for a better show. After being seated for about five minutes, the band enter the stage and burst into their first song, the soaring sound scape of "The City", much to the excitement of the crowd.

The 1975 (centre). Joe Strummer quote (bottom left)

Whilst the sound for the majority of the set is soaring, with guitars very much in My Bloody Valentine territory, the band display quite a bit of variation in their sound, something that hasn't really come across on their E.Ps. Throughout their set, they display elements of afro-rock (not too dissimilar to their label-mates Little Comets), ambient music, and at one point even U2-esque stadium rock. At one point, Matt plays the song "Woman" on his own and reveals that it was written in Belfast after meeting someone during a stay in the city last year. So if your name is Eileen and you worked at Malmaison Hotel in Belfast city centre last year - congratulations! There is a song about you being played across the UK by a Manchester band.

The group finish the set with their two loudest, most crowd pleasing songs - "Sex", which evokes the loudest reaction from the crowd and leads to some awkward 'chair dancing' among some crowd members, and "You", which concludes with singer Matt jumping off the stage, then destroying the microphone on his way back up. It's a memorable finish to a great set, and the band leave the stage to a great applause from the small, but dedicated crowd.

When a band such as The 1975 receives such massive hype, there is always the chance that it could easily deflate if they are unable to live up to the buzz live. However, in the case of The 1975, the hype is very much deserved. They have a great stage presence, a wonderful energy, and perhaps most importantly, some fantastic songs. Let's just hope that the next time they come back to Belfast, they play to a slightly bigger crowd. 

'Oh Yeah' indeed.

The Metaphorical Boat's Tips for 2013 - Part II

After looking at artists from Northern Ireland that are worth looking out for in 2013, it is time for The Metaphorical Boat to cast its net further afield to see which artists from the rest of the world are worth keeping an eye on next year.

And we begin with:

 6. Public Service Broadcasting

It's safe to say that J. Willgoose Esq., aided and abetted by his companion Wriggleworth, have had a wonderful year recording as Public Service Broadcasting. Having started the year with a low profile and a name which made them incredibly difficult to search for on Google, they ended it with a sold-out tour of the UK.

The public have been won over with their combination of old public information films and forward thinking electro-rock production. Whether it's tackling the dawn of coloured television on "Roygbiv", the pinnacle of human achievement on "Everest", or the truths of World War II on their E.P "The War Room" (which has sold over 10,000 copies to date), Public Service Broadcasting have set out their stall as one of the most consistently original musical concepts. With their first album scheduled for May, there will surely be countless people who will be educated and entertained by the group.

7. The 1975

Manchester based quartet The 1975 have been around for some time now under different guises, first coming to people's attention under the names Drive Like I Do and B I G S L E E P. Since adopting their current guise, they have built up a considerable buzz through two well-received E.Ps, "The City" in July and "Sex" this month. Their heavy Britpop influenced styling and their lovely, deep drums have slowly won me over to their side. Having already received major support from Radio 1, and with their debut album scheduled for next year, things do look like they'll go The 1975's way, backlash aside.

8. Seasfire

Bristol based Seasfire have won over the hearts of many bloggers with their forward-thinking approach to rock music.Their self-titled E.P, including the wonderful "Heartbeat", got under our skin, whilst their upcoming E.P, "We Will Wake", seems to take on a more pop orientated sound. Given their seemingly endless spells at the top of The Hype Machine's chart, I imagine that 2013 will see the beginning of Seasfire's journey into the mainstream consciousness.

9. Ottilia

Born in Sweden but currently based in London, Ottilia first came to my attention through her self-posted quirky pop numbers at the end of last year. Since then, she has hooked up with producer Ed Harcourt, and altered her style into a timeless, Lana Del Rey-esque chanteuse. It's somewhat different from the artist I originally fell in love with just under a year ago, but with strong songs like "The Sonic" and "Heartless" in her arsenal, it's hard for me to complain.

With a tour supporting Willy Mason upcoming, and a debut album on the horizon, 2013 should be a positive year for Miss Kjulsten. 

10. B>E>A>K

And I conclude this year's tips with something of an oddball offering. North-east avian supergroup B>E>A>K probably won't go on to worldwide mega-stardom in 2013, but at the very least, they will have copious amounts of fun next year. Their instrumental 'bird-rock' has gone down a tweet with me, and with a devoted live local following, and an upcoming release, "The Blue Edition", due to hatch in January, 2013 will most definitely not be a fowl year for the sextet. 

The Metaphorical Boat's Tips for 2013 - Northern Ireland

It's that time of the year again where it's time to look into the blog's crystal ball to see which artists I am tipping for big things in 2013. As is customary for The Metaphorical Boat, the tips will be split into two different parts - the first five artists will be from my home turf, Northern Ireland, whilst the five in the second part will be from the rest of the world.

And we begin with:

1. Wonder Villains

It does feel like a cheat to include an artist on this list who featured last year, but in the case of Derry group Wonder Villains, I feel that it is richly deserved. Throughout 2012, the group have continued to impress with their incredibly fun, popular culture infused pop music. They have released two wonderful E.Ps this year. "Ferrari" and "TV", which have seen them gain heavy airplay on BBC 6music and Radio 1. They have made several television appearances, including performing on RTE's Late Late Show. On top of this, they have come into their own as a live act. I have had the pleasure of seeing them live four times in the past 12 months, and every time I've seen them I have came away with a massive grin on my face.

Next year will see the release of their long awaiting debut album "Rocky", a release that should establish the group firmly as Europe's most fun pop group, albeit one who are unmistakable from our wee province. After all, how many bands do you know that dress up as the Harland and Wolff Shipyard for Halloween?

2. SOAK

In all my time obsessing over local music, I haven't seen an artist that have been so beloved by Northern Irish broadcasters from all sides of the spectrum than 16-year-old Derry singer/songwriter Bridie Monds-Watson, who records under the name SOAK. Having been unknown at the start of the year, she's received support from Across The Line,  Electric Mainline through to Stuart Baillie and even mid-morning legend Gerry Anderson himself in 2012. I don't think I've ever seen such fervor for one artist from our neck of the woods, but in SOAK's case, the attention has been very much deserved.

The music of SOAK is like the echoes of a soul, something both deeply personal and vulnerable yet engaging at the same time, with wonderful songs like "Sea Creatures" and the Radio 1 playlisted "Fingers Crossed" showing off her emotive sound. I think that she's got a lot of room to grow as a songwriter, but in terms of raw talent, there's very few artist of her age who can match her. With continued national radio support, as well as an upcoming support slot for Snow Patrol, 2013 is going to be a glorious year for Bridie.

3. Rainy Boy Sleep

And our final Derry based tip is Stevie Martin, who records under the name Rainy Boy Sleep. 2012 has been a good year for the artist, having been on tour with both James Morrison and Ray Davies. He also released the fantastic "Shopping Centre Song" EP, which combines his earnest singer/songwriter sound with  interesting production techniques, to critical acclaim. He even found time to out in a guest appearances with fellow county dwellers Ruairi & The Owls.

With his debut album "Vantage Points" penciled in for release early next year, 2013 looks likely to be just as promising for Rainy Boy Sleep.

4. Eatenbybears

The best way to really make an impact on the local scene is to ensure that you sound nothing like other bands in your city. This is why Belfast based shifty-pop group Eatenbybears have really shone through in 2012. Having already introduced their signature mixture of unusual rhythms, loud guitars, keyboard noodling and occasional fiddle breakdowns in 2011, the band furthered their sound with two solid singles - the summery bounce of "Simple As Hell" and the darker, more introverted "Your Pet Is Dead." If the group can keep up this onslaught of effective material, then 2013 will well and truly be their year.

5. Amateur Historians

And concluding these NI centric tips is Belfast based alt-rock poppers Amateur Historians. The group first grabbed me with the short, sharp "These Cities Are Stealing My Soul", a song that instantly brought up comparisons to Ash. The subsequent release of their debut E.P "New Homes/New Hopes" helped to showcase an added depth to their sound. With a few new tracks in the pipeline for next year, it will be interesting to see if the group can keep up this spiky energy in 2013.