Another spurt from the Aur-Dys crucible

If James Blunt was whiter, and had been raised by Jamie T and Mike Skinner on a diet of fluoxetine and warm milk, you may come close to the pop cheer that Steve Appleton has been spreading across the globe.

A catholicon to the contemporary over-riding wave of depression, he has been cresting the peak and enjoying a stratospheric career for one so young.

Incredibly televised, although mostly abroad, in Singapore he was seen by over a billion people, and he's also supported The Saturdays and the Pussycat Dolls, although I'm unsure if he managed all ten at once, split them in half (ahem) or gave a more dedicated service.

The smile gained through listening to his songs seems to enter the hind-brain and creep up through your face, no doubt originating upon his own Charlie Simpson-ish features.

I may be sounding bitter, but cheery pop tends to not be my thing, as it messes up my ascerbic pH balance, but Appleton I likes, and he perks my corners, if you know what I mean.

And if you don't, click play, have a listen, and watch your face in a mirror.




An incredible force, The Cast of Cheers have sprang up out of nowhere with an unbelievably mature sound and ethic. Sounding like a mash-up of the Foo Fighters and Blood Red Shoes, they'll be bringing pop music back to the edge and riffing into the wind.

With music that seem purpose-built for back-bar gigs and pop-mosh crowds, their fan-base is already huge and still growing.

Be wary, as a simple click may very well start a new addiction in your life.




Returning home to my more sepulchral nature, Zambri are a new-ish band with the choral, electronic goth-grunge taint of the 80s. Calling up Kate Bush and Siouxsie Sioux, the Cocteau Twins-headed (well, they're fronted by two sisters, but I wanted the reference) 5-piece are keeping it pure and simple - which isn't just Hearsay (ouch, sorry, that was terrible) - with their sweeping backings and vocally-charged songs. There has been some interesting re-interpretations of their work however, most notably a remix by Does It Offend You, Yeah?, which is more than worth a look.