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

Since the release of ‘Your Drums, Your Love’, AlunaGeorge have rapidly established themselves as one of the UK’s brightest prospects. The London duo’s latest offering has arrived in the form of ‘Attracting Flies’, available now on iTunes , via Island Records. Amidst a flurry of hyped shows and putting the finishing touches to their highly anticipated debut album Body Music, due on July 8 th , the duo have been picking up fans left, right and centre. Alongside their own incredible achievements AlunaGeorge’s recent collaboration with Disclosure on ‘White Noise’ quickly racked up over a million plays online and reached number two in the UK charts. Also nominated for the prestigious BRITs Critic’s Choice Award, another accolade to add to their number two spot in BBC’s Sound of 2013 poll, and their achievement of being the UK’s most blogged about artist at the clo se of 2012. AlunaGeorge recently played yet another sold out show, at London’s XOYO, and only a handful of tickets to their b

Matt Costa, the self-titled fourth album from the acclaimed, eclectic singer/songwriter is set for April 22nd via Brushfire Records. “Good Times”, the lead single from the album, was released on April 4th. Matt Costa is a 10-song collection of new songs recorded in Scotland with long-time Belle & Sebastian/Mogwai collaborator Tony Doogan. On the new release, Costa thoughtfully mines elements of the past, while exploring new territory. His penchant for melodic exploration is on full display throughout the new offering. The songs, sounds, lyrics and overall vibe of the album have elevated Costa to a new artistic plane. Matt Costa initially set out to make an album of folk/roots-inspired songs, but when he arrived in Glasgow, something else transpired and changed the direction of the recording. Perhaps it was the magic of Scotland, the studio (Castle of Doom), Doogan or the incredible musicians he collaborated with, which include Belle & Sebastian’s Stevie Jackson, Chris Geddes

Hot on the heels of supporting US star Trey Songz on his sell out Hammersmith Apollo shows (at his request), the UK’s new R&B pop prince Angel released his sensational new single ‘The World’ on April 8th ahead of the release of his debut album ‘About Time’ on April 15th. 2012 saw Angel rise from underground producer and songwriter (penning songs for the likes of Pixie Lott, Jason Derulo and Roll Deep among others) to R&B Renaissance man and artist in his own right. Earmarked as one to watch by MTV and HMV and crowned ‘the new face of UK R&B’ by Radio 1 at the top of the year, Angel went on to release top-10 summer anthem ‘Wonderful’, support One Direction at the iTunes Festival, and receive two nominations for the 2012 MOBO Awards (Best Newcomer and Best R&B/Soul Act). Having rapidly become the name on everyone’s lips, Angel has been asked to write for Rihanna, been in the studio with Dizzee Rascal and Lewis Hamilton, and collaborated with the likes of Ed Sheeran, Gig