The first thing I usually do when reviewing music is visit the MySpace page of the artist or band and listen to the song with the most listens first. The idea behind this is that it must be the most popular song and therefore a great starting point.

No disappointment here with Tom Gee

http://www.myspace.com/tomgeemusic

Tom attends the Leeds College of Music and my impressions of Leeds over the past few months is that it is spawning more musical talent then anywhere else in the country at the moment. I love what I’m hearing and I love Tom’s music. I’m actually nodding my head and I’ve only just realised.

I’m even typing in rhythm – I’m in the groove. The first track I listened to was What’s She Gonna Say and it was a funky soulful song. There is a lot of talent in Tom and he is currently gigging heavily and working with Chris Dawkins who plays guitar and has produced most of Tom’s songs. Chris himself has worked with the likes Jack Johnson and Nightmares on Waxx and his skills lend himself perfectly to these songs.

Tom has an exceptional voice which I could listen to all night. Whilst tapping away at my keyboard two songs have passed Bang Bang and Move a Little and they again display a superb song writing ability. Not just the words, but the melodies and ideas.

However I don’t like to ignore the others that give songs their landscape so big up to Jim “SpaceMan” Jamm on bass, David “Thad” Sudall on drums, David Levi (Smokes) on keyboards and Bridie Burkinshaw & Laura Popperwell providing wonderful complimentary backing vocals.

Wonderful production, wonderful songwriting, superb team of players and something for everyone. If Tom Gee doesn’t get signed to a label soon there’s no justice. He will sell records, sign him and see.

http://www.myspace.com/tomgeemusic

“A Me B” aka Amy Burns is a 16 year old Hip Hop artist from Wigan. She says on her MySpace profile that in 2009 she started taking her music seriously but it sounds to me like she’s been working hard at her sound, writing and production techniques for years.

http://www.myspace.com/ameb1

One of the things that I love about Amy is that despite her American influences she has kept her voice and British accent. There are no pretentions with this girl. I’m blown away that she plays her own instruments and produces her own tracks – something that not many can do as well as write.

I tell you what – it’s not going to be long before A Me B is snapped up by a label, and I reckon we could be looking at a major label.

I’d love to cover every song in this review but her MySpace is full of brilliant tunes so I’ll pick my one’s to watch.:

“Pressure” is currently the first track on her MySpace player and it has a very dystopian sound to it which I love. If early Human League were  Hip Hop this is what their music would sound like I’m sure. There’s a very creative and f**ked up drum pattern to start it all off. One second you think the song is going to have a fast beat, next you think it’s slow – then when you’re not expecting it you’re taken upbeat again…. genius.

“I’ll Be Me” begins with a lovely choir then we’re taken into a haunting beat and synth line. It then breaks and Amy starts with her brilliant pedestrian rapping. If you actually stop and listen to the lyrics they take on a dimension of their own which is a well written blend of story telling and social commentary.

“One By One” has a great hook to it in the chorus and the looped vocal sample that starts the song off adds to this infection. I can see me either waking in the morning with the song running through my mind or I’ll be driving and it’ll pop in there and for a brief moment I’ll wonder where it’s come from.

A Me B is on my “One 2 Watch” list for 2010 and I hope to get to see her live soon. She has performed at the Manchester Academy, Dry Bar (Manchester), The Picket, O2 academy in Liverpool supporting ‘KOF’ and she was also a winner of L.a.c.y P Clubs got talent  and a National Finalist of Open Mic UK last year, falling in the Top 20 out of 8000 people.

http://www.myspace.com/ameb1

This can’t be right… a band that sounds this fantastic when the combined age of their members doesn’t come close to that of Mick Jagger. The Substitutes are four lads from Lincolnshire – Zaine Lamont on vocals (14yrs old), Matt Welsh on guitar (13), Aidan Betts on bass (12) and Connor Whiteley (12) on drums.

http://www.myspace.com/wereonlyyoung

Now if you’ve not yet listened to their MySpace player and you’ve just read the opening paragraph above you’re probably thinking “Come on Chris, I know you like to be positive about bands but surely you’re going too far.” Just have a listen – they really are incredible.

They write their own songs and perform covers too. They also gig and whenever their local station Lincs FM needs live bands for roadshows they’re the first on the list. Lincs FM is the biggest commercial station in the area too so that speaks volumes.

Their first song on their MySpace player is “Media Attraction” and starts off a little like a Joy Division song but it soon becomes apparant that this is very Arctic Monkeys meets The Jam. I actually prefer Zaine’s voice to Alex Turner’s  from the Monkey’s as I feel there is more listenability and for 14 years of age I can only imagine how good he is going to sound in a few years.

There are no pretentions here either. Every member works their part perfectly and with such professionalism that it’s only going to be a matter of time before they’re snapped up by a major indie label – trust me, I can just tell.

There is a great cover of the Undertones classic “Teenage Kicks” on their player as well.

They are well worth checking out. I think we’ll be hearing more from them in the not too distant future.

http://www.myspace.com/wereonlyyoung

http://www.facebook.com/thesubstitutes

As the quest for nostalgia marches on and we immerse ourselves in the retro sounds of Chairlift, Delphic and La Roux I do sometimes wonder when the zeitgesit of the late 80s is going to come into view.

www.myspace.com/holicemusic

Well it seems that new electronic band Holice are intentionally or unintentionally attempting to capture just that, and I for one am glad. With pads, long keyboard chords, strict beats and heart troubling bass their latest single “Tokyo Boy” leaves a flavour in your mouth that, much like a Starburst, makes you want more.

Sarah’s voice compliments the emotive synths and under pinning pads and it sounds like they had a great time recording this single. I’ve had the promo copy in the car for a week and my son loves it and insists I play it over and over and he’s only four so perhaps Holice are set to have a nice wide audience – as long as they play it properly. He does call it the “Pinocchio song” though. He’s just not dedicated enough

“Tokyo Boy” is perfect radio fodder and plain and simple pop music. Don’t look for anything deeper than what you hear and enjoy it for what it is.

It’s available via all the usual routes like iTunes, Napster and Spotify but also free from their website www.holice.co.uk until 31st Jan.

Tokyo Boy (Single) by HOLICE

www.myspace.com/holicemusic