Focus Music Notes. "Out of the Blues". Popular music through the decades

Late last year, Noisy released their first ever singles ‘So What,’ and ‘Do It Like That’, which introduced a plucky, high octane British band who take the spin-the-bottle sensibility of the playlist generation, and make explosive, no boundary music. Today the trio from Worthing break dry Jan and release their debut EP ‘Press Space To Play’, featuring new single ‘Bring The Drums Back,’ an ode to homegrown dance styles in the UK. Noisy also announce their first headline show at Camden Assembly on 11 March, before an extensive run of live dates including Annie Mac Presents, Live at Leeds, The Great Escape & Neighbourhood festival. “Everyone at some point in their lives has gone out on a Friday and made a mistake… Got way too drunk and started on your mate, pulled a roll through and gone to work on no sleep, sent a text that you’ll definitely regret in the morning... Bring The Drums Back is about doing all these things. It’s about our generation. Making mistakes and thinking fuc...

It’s October and it’s time for Annie Mac’s annual review of the hottest dance records of the year that she has been instrumental in introducing to the nation’s pleasure-synapses through her groundbreaking Radio 1 Friday show and packed DJ schedule. Since her first Annie Mac Presents compilation in 2009, Annie has supported acts that have gone from being favourites on her show to national stars ( Magnetic Man , Plan B , Nero, Katy B ) and helped define the dance music zeitgeist. On this comp, 2011’s finest moments are represented. Azari & III ‘Reckless For Your Love’, Toddla T’s ‘Take It Back’, SBTRKT’s ‘Wildfire’ Jamie XX’s remix of Adele’s ‘Rolling In The Deep’. If you’ve been out clubbing this year this neat comp brings together the highlights as well as pointing to some names likely to be lighting up 2012 ( Jai Paul ). Annie has continued to take her signature sound worldwide in 2011; continuing what Diplo has called his ‘favourite party on the island’ in Ib...