Foals - Balloons

Transgressive

The earlier singles have all been stellar, and the buzz has been steadily building for these Oxford-based rising stars through 2007, so we’re expecting Foals to break the surface big time in 2008. This is the first glimpse of what their Dave Sitek (TV On The Radio) produced debut album will sound like. An intricate and multi-layered slice of dance-punk, this is a very good sign indeed.

Young Galaxy - Outside The City

Arts & Crafts

We are now convinced that there is some magical Canadian fount from which their native musicians drink to ensure high quality output. Yet another lush and ethereal band emerges from Montreal, courtesy of the Toronto-based Arts & Crafts label, giving even more weight to our secret elixir theory. We’ve only got one question on our minds - do the Canucks know no bounds?

Metronomy – Radio Ladio

Need Now Future

The latest single from the acclaimed remixer and electropop producer extraordinaire has a wonderful percussive arrangement, drawling vocal and other thoughtfully random bits gelled together to create a track that sounds like N*E*R*D and Hot Chip being mashed through a weird-mill. Funky, bizarre and brilliant, we can’t wait will the new album descends on our desks.

BEST OF 2007: Jack Peñate

LDN wideboy and dead sound geezer extraordinaire Jack sprung from the traps earlier this year with a bundle of musical gifts in debut offering ‘Matinee’. We sat him down for five minutes with a big steaming cup of questionnaire and sought answers to our reflective, end of 2007 mind boggler.

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BEST OF 2007: The Answer

It’s been another mammoth year for the hard rocking Downpatrick four-piece. Sharing the stage with a host of your idols, selling a ton of records in Japan, playing festivals all over Europe – the list of achievements goes on. Frontman Cormac Neeson relives some of the prime moments…

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BEST OF 2007: Jetplane Landing

‘Backlash Cop’ was without a doubt the comeback album of the year. It was also a straight up dose of rocking funk, killer hooks and endless invention. Sadly, there were no live shows to promote it but that just gives us something to look forward to in 2008. In the meantime, Jamie Burchell dishes the goss on his 2007.

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BEST OF 2007: Duke Special

Duke Special, aka Peter Wilson, has been having an amazing time lately. ‘Songs From The Deep Forest’, AU’s number one album of 2006, has continued its upward momentum and he’s enjoyed a series of sold out tours and special shows. Here he reveals some of the key moments in his year.

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BEST OF 2007: Idlewild

Everyone’s favourite Scottish indie veterans burst back onto the scene this year with a flurry of releases and activity in 2007 – a new album, a ‘best of’ compilation and a live DVD, not to mention a flipping great big tour. Here Roddy Woomble shines light on their welcome return to form.

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BEST OF 2007: Fight Like Apes

2007 was a meteoric year for these synth-pop superstars. A load of storming live shows, some brilliant releases and an appearance at number two in the AU Hot 40 propelled FLA to the higher echelons of the Irish music scene. Here Adrian reflects on the tumultuous twelve months just passed.

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BEST OF 2007: Editors


Sophomore effort ‘An End Has A Start’ proved that the band were no one-time wonders, and further built upon the epic and atmospheric rock template they work so well. Drummer Ed Lay filled AU in as to just what 2007 had in store for them.

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BEST OF 2007: Gallows

Justice

The word ‘incendiary’ gets overused as an adjective to describe live performances, but in Gallows case it is a perfect fit. Arguably the best and most ferocious live band of the year, they stormed their way across the globe, leaving a trail of stunned and excited fans in the wake of each show. Guitarist Lags took some time out to talk with AU to reflect on a year of fun, frolics and Tony Hawk.

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Issue #51 - I Told You This Would Be A Good Issue

Featuring Biffy Clyro, Of Montreal, Duke Special, Frightened Rabbit, Cold War Kids, Jay Reatard, Pat Mills, and more.