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

D.A.I.S.Y. Age . The concept first introduced by the legendary De La Soul, it stands for “Da inner sound ya’ll”. Welcome to the sound of Rizzle Kicks, the duo that are here to provide 2011’s “inner sound”. At 19 years-old, Jordan and Harley are two of the UK’s most exciting young talents. Having known each other since they were little kids, they’ve grown up together, shared the same friends, same experiences, same schools and above all a passion and taste for music that’s taken over both their lives. Having already turned heads (and made many a crowd bounce) with the recently released ‘Prophet’ – a track that was instantly embraced by Radio 1 who booked the duo to play at the Big Weekender as soon as they heard it – Jordan and Harley are now ready to drop their summer “anvil”, the brilliant ‘ Down With The Trumpets ’. With the single already a huge favourite with their fanbase – the original version was first posted on their ever-active YouTube profile last year – it’s now getting it’

After such brilliant across the board reactions to her first ever full length album, Miss Blay has undoubtedly proved her worth and cemented her status as one of this year’s most talented and refreshing UK pop prospects. ‘Yellow’ is the next single to be released on August 8 and is the perfect soundtrack to the summer as Anita embarks on her festival appearances at Glastonbury, headlining the Lake Stage at Latitude, Underage, Field Day and Reading & Leeds. CocknBullKid has also been busying herself with her inspired Covered Off series of videos in which she joins forces with fellow musicians to record their version of a favourite track. The first Covered Off saw Clare Maguire singing Plan B’s She Said over a cuppa, the second was with Anita’s part collaborator on the album Gonzales, and the third sees Eliza Doolittle and Anita smashing Destiny’s Child’s Bills Bills Bills in a hair salon.  WHAT'S THE WORD “We are obsessed!!! Easily the best and most exciting new artist we

Jon Fratelli’s debut solo album Psycho Jukebox will be released on the Island label on July 25th ’11. Like any jukebox worth its salt it’s chock full of the kind of solid gold easy action that makes you want to smile, chant, dance, sing, drum, shout, and throw the windows wide to annoy the neighbours. Psycho Jukebox marks something of a new beginning for one of Scotland’s most prolific and talented songwriters. Psycho Jukebox was recorded in Los Angeles with producer Tony Hoffer (Beck , Air, Depeche Mode), who first worked with Jon in 2006 on The Fratellis’ debut album, Costello Music, which spawned the rousing, witty hits ‘Chelsea Dagger’, ‘Henrietta’ and ‘Flathead’ which established The Fratellis’ reputation as a band with crunching, dynamic rock songs, clever lyrics populated with intriguing, Kinks-y characters, and an uncommonly sharp ear for melody. When touring for second Frats album Here We Stand ended in 2008, the band took a much-needed break, and Jon threw himself into Cod