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

R&B and Pop’s newest sensation Angel (aka Sirach Charles) will be releasing ‘Time AfterTime’ through on 19th November 2012. Produced by Parallel Music, (Angel’s production company) and Tommy Hittz (Chris Brown), ‘Time After Time’ is the follow up single to summer anthem ‘Wonderful’ which has recently spent 8 weeks in the top 20, 2 weeks in the top 10 and has sold over 250,000 copies to date thereby cementing Angel’s position as one of the top 5 highest selling breakthrough acts of 2012. At just 24 years old, this young West Londoner has risen from underground producer and songwriter to R&B Renaissance man within one year. Having previously penned hits for the likes of Pixie Lott, Jason Derulo and Roll Deep, Angel is set to make his mark as an artist his own right. Earmarked as a one to watch in 2012 by MTV and HMV, Angel has been dubbed by The Guardian as ‘Britain’s first all singing, all writing and producing urban boy wonder’, while Radio 1 crowned him ‘the new face of UK

Alt-J are a British alternative indie band. Their debut album An Awesome Wave, was recorded in Brixton, released in May 2012, and has just won  the 2012 British Barclaycard Mercury Prize . Gwil Sainsbury (guitarist/bassist), Joe Newman (guitar/vocals), Gus Unger-Hamilton (keyboards) and Thom Green (drums) formed the band when they met at Leeds University in 2007. http://altjband.com/ Check out Top Tracks for Alt-J here

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Ben Howard releases a brand new EP of material, the Burgh Island EP, through Island Records on 10 December 2012. Since the release of Ben’s platinum-selling, Mercury Music Prize nominated debut album, Every Kingdom back in October 2011, he has mindfully kept himself firmly routed to the motorways and freeways of each corner of the globe. A gruelling schedule of relentless touring across the UK, Europe, America and Australia. Devon is home to Ben, but it has become a rare occasion when he can settle back there for any longer than a couple of days before the touring process kicks back in. Having performed at many of the major summer festivals across the UK and Europe this year to huge audiences, Ben retreated to Devon and to a remote studio on the Start Point peninsula to lay down The Burgh Island EP, an entirely new record that finds him ditching his acoustic guitar and taking things electric. The four tracks that form Burgh Island EP are united in their dark, menacing, and brood

I just love this. Beneath Your Beautiful by Labrinth feat. Emeli Sande. A guy with real musical talent. Enjoy...

Grammy award winning, 15 million album selling, singer-songwriter Macy Gray, one of the most unique and original artists operating in music today, returns with her brand new album, Talking Book on October 29th. The album is Macy’s love letter to its creator Stevie Wonder and is released in time for the 40th Anniversary of this timeless masterpiece. Gray says, “Talking Book is one of my top five favourite albums of all time, and Stevie is my favourite. This is my own personal gift to Stevie Wonder, for all that I learned from him and for his miraculous songs that change my life every time I hear them. This is not a tribute album or concert, it’s a love letter and a big thank you card on record and on stage.” Track Listing: 1. You Are The Sunshine Of My Life 2. Maybe Your Baby 3. You And I (We Can Conquer The World) 4. Tuesday Heartbreak 5. You’ve Got It Bad Girl 6. Superstition 7. Big Brother 8. Blame It On The Sun 9. Looking For

Icelandic alternative folk sensation Of Monsters and Men have emerged as the breakthrough international act of 2012.The bands debut album ‘My Head is An Animal’ reached #3 in the UK album charts, #1 on iTunes and topped charts in Iceland, Ireland, Germany, Canada and America. Of Monsters and Men are pleased to announce new single ‘Mountain Sound’ coming out 5th November on Island Records. Crafting epic songs inspired by their amazing homeland, fairy tales and personal history, Of Monsters and Men have gone from battle of the bands winners and a must-see act at SXSW to internationally and critically acclaimed superstars. The bands first single ‘ Little Talks ’ to date has received over 22 million views on YouTube. New single ‘Mountain Sound’ is full of spirited harmonies and insatiable energy, which will undoubtedly captivate fans in the same way ‘Little Talks’ has done. Emotional lyrics, lush and diverse instrumentation are all powered by hand claps and sing-a-long hooks.Of Mon