Freelance Whales
Imagine a banjo-led, Mogwai-influenced band with a singer who has a Sufjan Stevens-esque timbre and you’re almost there. The New York band’s debut Weather Vanes was quietly released in August but has been gathering pace ever since.
http://www.myspace.com/thefreelancewhales

Hurts
A UK electro-pop duo who hark back to the ’80s unconditionally (including semi-dodgy sax solo) and have been championed by the likes of PopJustice. Wonderful Life is their debut single.
http://www.myspace.com/ithurts


Best Coast
Bethany Cosentino’s lo-fi project inspired by her hometown of California has already gifted those who were paying attention with the 3 minute headrush of When I’m With You.
http://www.myspace.com/bestycoasty

BBC Sound of 2010
The BBC’s annual most-promising bands has an air of inevitability to it since many of these bands have been on music blogs and elsewhere this year but the list includes some surprise inclusions in Joy Orbision, Gold Panda and Two Door Cinema Club.
http://short.ie/bbcsound2010