UK Critics Album Chart Of Charts 2009

We wondered what would a top 25 albums of 2009 chart look like, if all the UK critics charts were compiled. So, here's the first draft, which takes its information from the best of 2009 album charts by the NME, MusicOMH, Drowned In Sound, Uncut, The Guardian, The Quietus, God Is In The TV and Gigwise. More will be added soon.

How it works is easy - if an album is at the top of a publications chart, it gets 50 points, if it is in second it gets 49 points and so on. At the moment, on quite a large Excel spreadsheet, there are 191 albums. Probably loads of vaguely interesting stats to be pulled from this. The first is that the current winner only topped one of the best of charts listed above. Ooh fancy.

So here it is so far, the 2009 UK Critics Chart Of Charts;

1. Wild Beasts "Two Dancers" (374)
2. Animal Collective "Merriweather Post Pavilion" (362)
3. The XX "The XX" (323)
4. Fever Ray "Fever Ray" (301)
5. The Horrors "Primary Colours" (300)
6. Grizzly Bear "Veckatimest" (288)
7. Dirty Projectors "Bitte Orca" (272)
8. Yeah Yeah Yeahs "It's Blitz!" (270)
9. Manic Street Preachers "Journal For Plague Lovers" (269)
10. Fuck Buttons "Tarot Sport" (265)
11. The Flaming Lips "Embryonic" (183)
12. Florence And The Machine "Lungs" (173)
13. Arctic Monkeys "Humbug" (171)
14. Phoenix "Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix" (168)
15. Mumford And Sons "Sign No More" (148)
16. Future Of The Left "Travels With Myself And Another" (142)
17. Micachu & The Shapes "Jewellery" (136)
18. Noah And The Whale "The First Days Of Spring" (133)
19. Bat For Lashes "Two Suns" (129)
20. The Maccabees "Wall Of Arms" (126)
21. Health "Get Color" (120)
22. The Big Pink "A Brief History Of Love" (115)
23. PJ Harvey And John Parish "A Woman A Man Walked By" (114)
24. Jamie T "Kings & Queens" (113)

And lastly, currently on the same amount of points;
25. La Roux "La Roux" (98)
25. Lady Gaga "The Fame Monster" (98)

KCAT featured on Arjan Writes

"Inspired by artists like Blondie, Queen, Donna Summer, Pink and Gwen Stefani, up and coming London singer KCAT is planning to conquer the dance floor with her instantly infectious disco-pop stomper "Boys & Girls."

You may remember KCAT from her vocals Delinquent's "My Destiny" and "I Got U" that garnered over 4 million views on YouTube.

Her solo debut "Boys & Girls" is nothing lofty or serious. It's sassy, sparkly and totally fun. Just the stuff that dance floor gems are made of. The song will be released in the U.K. early 2010. Preview the song in the player below."

Click here to see the feature on Arjan Writes

The Dirty Disco featured on Arjan Writes!

"The Dirty Disco's cover of Florence & The Machine's "Rabbit Heart" demonstrates how these London newcomers strike a perfect balance between emo-fueled pop rock and '80s inspired synth pop with a theatrical twist. Their music is a bit like Shiny Toy Guns meets David Bowie meets Dead Or Alive. Combine this sound with "more-than-slightly subversive live shows" and what you have is potent package of both style and substance.

The Dirty Disco are Adam K (vocals), Kyle Mackenzie (keyboard), Olly Dexter (bass) Andrew Ignatius (guitar) and Kyle Langley (drums). The London-based group is currently working on their debut LP together with mixer Dylan Dresdow who mostly recently engineered Black Eyed Peas' GRAMMY-nominated "The E.N.D." The Dirty Disco's debut single, titled "Sista!," will drop in the U.K. early 2010."

Click here to see the feature on Arjan Writes, click here to download the track

ElectroQueer Interview Example

Last week I got to have a chat with rising pop sensation Example (real name Elliot) on the back of his tour bus with Lily Allen. To be honest, his debut single "Watch The Sun Come Up" was a bit of a slow grower for me in terms of the song, but the video itself was pretty phenomenal in all it's "I'm In London, look now I'm in Ibiza" animated glory. It wasn't until I heard his new electro-pop song "Won't Go Quietly" that I really "clicked" with his music and I'm really looking forward to his new album coming out in 2010.

In this EQ interview with Example, you get to read all about touring life with Lily Allen, the making of "Watch The Sun Come Up", the real meaning behind "Won't Go Quietly" and why his music is described as "dysfunctional electro-pop" - enjoy!

If you haven't discovered Example yet - make sure you check out his MySpace.

EQ: Well hello Elliot - how are you today?
Example: Alright dude!

Congratulations on your success with "Watch The Sun Come Up". Are you happy with how well the single was received?
Yeah yeah definitely - it was certainly got attention in all the right places. I've been waiting for that attention for about four or five years now so yeah, it's as good as it gets!

So tell me what was the inspiration for the video? I love the whole live action/animation feel to it - it's very a-ha.
Yeah a lot of people have said that. We weren't actually going for that. To be honest, I think that the animation was black and white is what tied it to a-ha. For it's time that a-ha video was amazing and everybody remembers that video. People will always compare my video to it, but I think my video has a different scope and story behind it.

How long did it take to concept and make that video?
Well the guy who directed it is a good mate of mine. We basically met up (he's done about five videos for me before) and discussed all the ideas. I told him all the things I wanted - there needed to be a beautiful girl in it and we wanted to shot it in Ibiza or Majorca. It took about a month to plan and two days shooting in Ibiza, one day in London and then a week of post-production - there was a lot going on for that video!

It certainly turned out pretty well - so congrats on that! So how did you come up with the name Example anyways?
Well it's my initials - EG. It says so on Wikipedia as well...I don't know if you read a lot of stuff on Wikipedia, but on there is a lot of fake stuff...

Well you know, wikipedia doesn't have a good reputation, so I try to avoid it when possible...
Fair enough, fair enough [laughs]

Continue reading the full interview on Electroqueer by clicking here

Bertie Blackman Featured on My Chemical Toilet

"Bertie Blackman's brain is like mush

Hey, she said it. But to be fair to her, Bertie was a tad tired at the time. BUT NOT TOO TIRED TO CHAT TO JANE BRADLEY FOR THIS HERE BLOGAZINESITE.

Yes, since I asked “Who is this Bertie Blackman person, then?” a couple of months back after encountering her splendid single “Thump”, Jane went along to have a mouthwag and find out ‘first-hand’.

They talked about Bertie’s ARIA-winning album Secrets and Lies (which is vay good), crushes on Fronch pop stars and, um, “nanimals”. BEHOLDIFY:

I became a bit smitten with Bertie Blackman while I was interviewing her. Not only is she infuriatingly talented, she’s also disarmingly charming; whimsical but self-assured, and a pleasure to natter to. By the time we meet, jetlag, exhaustion and a gruelling schedule of interviews and photoshoots have taken their toll, and I’m gobsmacked she’s still able string a slurred sentence together.

“My brain is like mush,” she explains. “This feels like it’s all a dream.” Guessing that I best take advantage of her whilst she’s still awake, and better still, amiable and articulate, we press on in all haste.

In swotting up about her before the interview, I read about an art exhibition she’s having in her native Australia comprising weird and wonderful large-scale ink illustrations of deformed woodland animals. Thinking this is a suitably abstract opening gambit, I ask her for an explanation:

“The exhibition came about unintentionally, after I designed the stage set for the Australian Secrets and Lies tour. I’d been drawing these ‘nanimals,’ which is my word for creatures that are not quite animals. And then I painted them onto plywood and made them into a giant mobile hung from fishing wire around the stage."

Continue reading the interview on My Chemical Toilet here

Archangel "Loud And Clear"

Example Featured On Arjan Writes

"Example's new single "Won't Go Quietly" is another fresh new hybrid of pop, dance and rap, which will be released through Data Records in the U.K. on January 11, 2010. The song is taken from Example's sophomore album that drops in April. Count yourself in the know early.

"Won't Go Quietly" combines Example's talk-sing lyrics with a punchy dance beat that is spun around a catchy pop melody. Very well done and it is a lot more radio-friendly than the everyday storytelling on his debut LP. Example's new poppy hooks are courtesy of Brian Rawlings who, of course, is known for his work with Britney Spears and Mizz Kylie. Love the the artwork for the single too. Very flower power.

Listen to the radio edit of "Won't Go Quietly" in the player below.

The single EP will come with a bunch of remixes including a revamp by DFA hipsters The Juan MacClean (aka John MacLean and Nancy Whang). The two add an athmospherric disco glaze the the original. More than eight minutes of dancefloor goodness."

Click here to see the full feature and download the track on Arjan Writes

BBC Chartblog Feature Basshunter "I Promised Myself"

"Poor poor Jonas. He's only just found out his new girlfriend has been taken to hospital after what must have been some type of horrific accident [in his new music vid - see his old music vid for details] . He can't believe it. After all his fooling around with countless women, he thought he'd turned a corner, he thought he'd finally found the woman he wants to spend the rest of life with, but now his new love may not be around to experience it with him... He promised himself, he promised he'd wait for her. As he rushes to the hospital a solitary tear begins to slowly run down his cheek... and then... THE BASS KICKS IN! DUM DUM DUM, Du Du, DUM DUM DUM.

Sensitive Jonas transforms into the Basshunter with a swift drop of his trademark dance beat, and you know what? I love him for it!

(Here's the video. Hurry Jonas, Hurry!)


Yes, so everything about this song shouldn't work, and most would argue it doesn't. The song has no sign of a verse, and it sounds like everything else he's done, and I know a song with this sentiment really shouldn't have a sniff of a dance backing, but you can't take the bass away from the Basshunter can you? Otherwise he'd just be Hunter, which is okay for a Gladiator but not a pop star.

What you've got to admire about this track is Jonas really does try to sing, and he kind of pulls it off. Unlike other Basshunter tunes, this doesn't annoy me and will make a half decent Christmas track. I can imagine myself dancing along to it on Christmas Eve, slightly intoxicated, at some random club and feeling quite fulfilled.

I realise as I'm writing this, I'm trying to make the glass half full by eeking out sayings like 'half-decent' and 'it doesn't annoy me'*, but for a Basshunter song I'd call that a success. This isn't exactly the type of song where you analyse its musicality, you either like it or you don't, and I like it.

*It would be awesome if he quoted this on his album cover."

See the feature on the BBC Chart Blog by clicking here

Gurrumul Live - Subba Cultcha Review

"Telling stories of his native Yolngu people and his culture; Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu sings in such a manner that is captivatingly haunting yet warmly arousing. A small shy figure on stage, he refuses to talk to the crowd, leaving all the talking to his friend and translator Michael Hohnen; but in spite of this, his performance was no less endearing. From the very first note you're left mesmerised. Whatever your conceptions of such music, he creates blissfully subtle acoustic melodies, which are made all the better by his other worldly voice. It’s an awe inspiring listen that’s full of emotion and deeply insightful.

Keeping the crowd’s attention for the entirety, it didn’t matter that no one understood what he was saying because you could feel the emotion and sincerity running through his soulful and enchanting voice. Educating as well as entertaining, he was accompanied by a stringed quartet, double bassist and a guitarist; it’s simple yet highly charged music that penetrates to your heart. Made all the better by the awesome visuals of his family and homeland, particular mention had to go to his ode to his father ‘Bapa’, my personal favourite 'Wiyathhul’, which was just as beautiful live and a reggae version of Marwurrumburr.

A true hidden treasure, he certainly wasn't lost on the shepherds bush crowd; he’s a true talent that needs to be heard."

See the review on Subba Cultcha here

Basshunter Featured On Sugarscape

SugarScape get an exclusive interview with Basshunter;

"Basshunter's Back! Do You Care? We just can't decide what we make of this guy...

So we're leaving it up to you! Do you think he is a cheesy wotsit, or is he a smokey Pringle (once you pop you just can't stop!)
Take a look at this video of Basshunter telling us all about his new single, I Promised Myself out on the 30 November!"

See the feature and the comments from SugarScapes readers here

Basshunter - Exclusive I Promised Myself Interview from Hard2beat Records on Vimeo.

YouTube Homepage : Bertie Blackman AND Gurrumul!

As part of YouTube's Music Tuesday celebrating the Australian Record Industry Association Awards which take place on Thursday 26th November. Bertie Blackman is nominated for Best Independent Release, The Temper Trap for Breakthrough Artist and Empire Of The Sun for Album Of The Year. Gurrumul was the surprise winner of Best Independent Release last year, and has gone on to tour the world.

Bertie Blackman "Byrds Of Prey"


Gurrumul "Bapa"

Geeks.co.uk chat to Jem!

"Singer Jemma Griffiths is a lady on the move. The Welsh native, who resides in LA, has just entered a competition to ‘Crash the Superbowl’. She’s also developing a string of iPhone Apps, writing a screenplay and teaching herself how to direct and edit films.

All this as her third studio album lies complete sans vocal tracks and her side project – a piano album – is ready to go.

How she allotted an hour with geeks.co.uk to chat about gadgets, technology and computer games is beyond me.

Her first album Finally Woken shifted over 700,000 copies in the UK and US alone and was a top ten hit along with single They, whilst irritatingly catchy Just a Ride made the top 20 in the UK singles charts.

Cited quite wrongly as the next Dido when she broke through, Jem’s debut album drew on a number of influences with the press struggling to pitch her genre.

The inability to pigeonhole Jem’s creative works seems a fitting testament to the artist herself; diverse and ambidextrous.

The qualified lawyer had to travel Stateside to get her big break. She’s still mobilised by music but is finding sweeter satisfaction by laboriously crafting new skills; an undying passion for film is now top of the pecking order."

Continue reading the interview with Jem on Geeks.co.uk here

All Gigs 4 out of 5 Review for Bertie Blackman's "Secrets And Lies"

"It was with some trepidation that I started listening to Bertie Blackman's new album 'Secrets and Lies'. Probably for the most part because of that stereotypical idea I (did) have of Australian musicians. Don't get me wrong I'm one of Nick Caves biggest fans and I have plenty of Triffids and Go Between's records from the day, but apart from that I'm stuck in the mind set of Men at Work, Savage Garden and Kylie. I know, time to stop being so narrow minded!

A brief trip through Blackman's biography revels that at 25 years of age, this is her third album release following 'Headway' and 'Black'. She is a self-thought multi-instrumentalist, singer songwriter, the daughter of the famous Australian artist Charles Blackman (check him out, he's done some good stuff!). Her original pre 'Secrets and Lies' work was one of an alt-rock persona but she now appears to have come down on the electro side.

Within only a couple of three plays the album grows and I'm already feeling guilty for the Australian pigeon holing comment!"

Continue reading the review on All Gigs here

Archangel "Loud And Clear"

New single and video from Archangel, this is "Loud And Clear" coming out in February 2010. It was directed by Henry Schofield who also directed the 2009 Music Video Award nominated "Do It Again" and was commissioned through Radar Music Videos

Bertie Blackman"Thump" (The Dirty Disco Remix) Featured on MySpace Homepage

Bertie Blackman is featured on the MySpace Music Homepage for a second week, with an exclusive download of "Thump" remixed by The Dirty Disco. Listen and download here;

Archangel LIVE - Death Disco @ Notting Hill Arts Club

Archangel will be performing at Alan McGee and Danny Watson's Death Disco at the Notting Hill Arts Club - if you'd like to come along please get in touch.

“Inventive heartfelt electro pop” The Guardian, critics gig of the day

“brooding, tetchy art-rock – it’s warm and infectious” NME’s “10 Tracks You Must Hear This Week”

“Do It Again. Indie, electro and funk elements thrown together into a shiny package of dance-friendly sound.” The Sun Something For The Weekend

"Eleven magnificently overwrought and dramatically fashioned songs that explore the lexicon of love with an epic sweep and neon glow that will remind you of all your favourite 70s and 80s groups while sounding utterly contemporary." The Guardian

“the sound made by a young man with a serious record collection having monstrous amounts of fun, and almost bafflingly, it works” Word Magazine

Bertie Blackman Featured On I Like Music Homepage

"25 year old Australia singer-songwriter Bertie Blackman releases her new single Thump, taken from her third studio album Secrets and Lies. Already hailed as an independent musical star in her own country, her unconventional initial steps in music are mirrored by her diverse musical style, with comparisons to Karen O, Bat For Lashes and PJ Harvey all justified."

Click here to read the full feature on I Like Music

Gurrumul Live - Music News Review

"There was a tangible air of anticipation in the Shepherd’s Bush Empire as the masses meandered into the former BBC theatre to take their seats for this Aboriginal artist, now starting to make strong headway into the vast landscape of mainstream music.

Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu’s debut album, 'I Was Born Blind’, seems to explain an important part of Gurrumul’s history but the rich tapestry of ancestral heritage that forms his make-up can only be fully appreciated when hearing him play live.

With the background screens showing filmed clips of his family back in their native land, it was easy to see how Gurrumul’s connection to his native land is at the heart of his very essence. He was led onto the stage by Michael Hohnen, his producer and double bass player and the man he relies on to communicate with the audience as he himself will not utter a word of English."

Continue reading the full 4 out of 5 review on Music-News here

Gayday feature Basshunter's "I Promised Myself" Pete Hammond Remix

Gaydar Nation feature the exclusive of the Pete Hammond remix of the forthcoming single "I Promised Myself" on their homepage!!

Basshunter - I Promised Myself (Pete Hammond Remix) from Hard2beat Records on Vimeo.

Example Featured On Bebo Music Homepage!

Red Blooded Women Featured on Arjan Writes

"The last time I blogged about Brit pop girl band Red Blooded Women was when they released a cover of Depeche Mode's "Enjoy The Silence" earlier this year. It's been quiet since then, but the group has been working in the studio on their full-length LP. Slated as the next Sugababes (or Atomic Kitten for that matter), the trio of Candy, Carly and Li puts out sleek and synthy girl power pop that is a pleasure of the guiltiest kind. I love this kind of stuff. Superfraiche! Check out a guilt-free MP3 of JM's remix of brand-new track "Halo."

Click here to see the feature on Arjan Writes

Red Blooded Women : Halo (JM Remix) by TomorrowNeverKnows

Red Blooded Women Featured on ElectroQueer

"They are not your average girls, they'll make you work!

EQ faves RBW have a new remix of "Halo" which is available to download right now in the newly launched EQ Facebook Fan Page. Make sure you join the fan page to get your hands on this hot little 90's tinged diddy. Because as they say, this beat is "Technotronic"...

RBW are also appearing at EQ Live on November 21st as well if you want to catch them rocking their latest tracks! I personally cannot wait. Be there or be, well, you get the drill..."

Click here to get the free download through ElectroQueer's Facebook page!

War Child's Young Soul Rebels "I Got Soul"

Here's a selection of the coverage we've gained for War Child's Young Soul Rebels single "I Got Soul" - OUT NOW! (And doing rather well in the midweeks - click here to get your copy)

Popjustice "Its structure is somewhat 'cavalier' and one or two parts are downright shit charity or not but there's something very nearly brilliant about this Young Soul Rebels (ie War Child) 'I Got Soul' track. The best bits come from Vincemusik (near the end), Chipmunk and - who'd have thought? - Tula N-Dubz." Click here to see the feature

ITN.co.uk "Tinchy Stryder, N-Dubz, Chipmunk and Ironik are ready to do chart battle. They are not going up against each other though, instead they are releasing a new single together. The biggest names in British urban music have teamed up to record as The Young Soul Rebels, supporting charity War Child." Read the full piece here

Drowned In Sound (!!) "But let's be entirely - and I mean entirely - serious for a second. War Child are shockingly useful sorts who do practical things for children what are almost guaranteed to have had a shitter time than you. So rather than buy this single, have a think about donating the three quid you might have spent on that final, unnecessary pint that sendsyouovertheedgeintotheboozechasmofdoom. You can do that here." Read the full review here

Digital Spy "it's all for such a worthy cause, you'd have to be a real grump to knock their efforts"

NME.com "Girls Aloud's Cheryl Cole releases her debut solo single 'Fight For This Love' today (October 19), though she's up against the Young Soul Rebels' version of The Killers' 'All These Things That I've Done'(which has been re-titled 'I Got Soul'). Young Soul Rebels feature the likes of Pixie Lott, Tinchy Stryderand Frankmusik, and the track is raising money for War Child."

BBC Chartblog "The people who get to have a go at the singing bits do a good job, by and large. Keep an ear out for Dappy N-Dubz inserting some much-needed grammatical correctness when he sings "all these things that I HAVE done", and Pixie Lott lisping a bit at the beginning. Oh, and VV Brown's bit is good too. And if we still can't handle a bit of rapping, some 30 years after hip hop started, we're not really evolving quickly enough, culturally speaking. There again, if you don't like it, but you support the cause, why not donate the cost of the single and then whack the Killers version up dead loud? That's the gentleman's way out." Read the full feature here

The Guardian "Despite having a name that references one of the finest albums of the 1980s, Young Soul Rebels actually include Tinchy Stryder, Pixie Lott and VV Brown. Which means two things: a) the definition of rebel has been rewritten to mean "mediocre music proffered by personality voids" and b) it's charity-single time. Just when you think it couldn't get any worse, the chorus – "I've got soul, but I'm not a solider" – samples the Killers, presumably to reference the fact the single is in aid of War Child. It's enough to make Dexy's Kevin Rowland turn in his grave. If he was dead, that is, and not busy maintaining his MySpace page and DJing at the Big Chill."

Bebo - Music Homepage for the Making Of video
MySpace Video Exclusive - featured on Homepage and Music Homepage - Young Soul Rebels rehearsing at the Shepherds Bush Empire
YouTube Homepage - Spotlight Music Tuesday - Young Soul Rebels Mobo Performance, and Ashley Walters
Habbo - Ironik visited Habbo for a VIP chat about War Child
BBC 5:19 Show - Ironik visited the show to talk about War Child

My Chemical Toilet : The evolution of Digga/McLean’s “Broken”

"I’m not one for R&B ballads, really. They tend to be syrupy and over-emotive, which is obviously a generalisation but, you know, given the choice between a ballad and a club “banger” it’s the bangful one that wins me over 85% of the time.

However, like the very best pop songs, Brit soul type McLean’s “Broken” manages to transcend the genre with which it would be most closely associated. It’s a heartbroken, overwrought fist-clencher which, in a landscape of overproduced, autotuned pop spaff with half an eye on ringtone sales, actually makes you believe the singer is properly, hair-tearingly lovewrecked. Marvellous.

It also has a very interesting history, having first surfaced way back in 2006, when McLean went by the name of Digga (since changed because an American artist went by the same name). Unbeknownst to me, it became an online sensation, racking up millions of plays on YouTube and prompting, seemingly, everyone with a webcam to produce their own version."

Continue reading and watching the 15 video versions of the track found by My Chemical Toilet here!

Example Q&A Featured On The Londonist

Fulham rapper Example has been knocking about for a few years, first releasing records on Mike Skinner's The Beats label, before returning this Autumn with a new label and a new sound. The Ibiza sounds of first single 'Watch The Sun Come Up' have propelled him straight into the Top 20 and have Radio 1 playing him at every possible moment. With an album to follow that sounds just as full of big pop songs and collaborations with Calvin Harris, we're sure this London boy has a bright future ahead of him. Tonight he plays Club NME at Koko so we caught up for a quick chinwag before…

Hello Example. Congrats on your first top 20! Can you tell us a little bit about who you are?
Er, I'm male, I'm 27, about 6'2" and I enjoy writing songs, performing them and celebrating with a Nandos and a rum & coke. That ok??

Sounds like a winning combo. Whereabouts in London are you based? What's brilliant and what's totally horrible about it?
I live in Fulham. Born and bred. Its brilliant cos Im right next to the river so it doesnt actually feel like I'm in a dirty noisy city. Whats totally horrible? Not much, maybe the queues at Tescos Express

If we had five hours in Fulham, what's the one thing we should make sure we do without leaving?
Watching Fulham Football Club I reckon.

What London location has been the most significant in your life so far?
Probably the river Thames. I run along by the side of the Thames almost every day to clear my mind and think creatively.

A lot of the current famous UK rap scene seems to be coming out of East London - is there secretly a West London massive?
Well I wouldn't say that. Grime comes out of East but rappers are from all over London. I'm the only person I know from Fulham who raps although Taio Cruz grew up down the road apparently.

What's your favourite London venue and why?
I quite like Koko, but I'd say Hoxton Bar & Kitchen - we've done about 5 sold out shows there over the last 4 years and their food is amazing.

Continue reading the Q&A on the Londonist here

Basshunter Same Six Questions featured on CMU Daily

Basshunter, aka Jonas Altberg, is - whether you like it or not - currently one of the biggest selling dance producers in the UK. With a little help from music software Fruity Loops, he began making music in 1999, self-releasing two albums before signing his first record deal in 2006 with Warner Music, releasing his first single, 'Boten Anna', the same year. Now signed to Ministry Of Sound's Hard2Beat label, he has just released new single, 'Every Morning', as well as his fifth studio album, 'Bass Generation', and began a UK tour this week. We spoke to Basshunter to ask our Same Six Questions.

Q1 How did you start out making music?
I was at a LAN party when I was seventeen, and I downloaded a folder from my friend's computer containing the music program Fruity Loops 3. I installed it and realised very quickly that this [making music] was something that I wanted to do for the rest of my life.

Q2 What inspired your latest single?
I had a two month break earlier this year in which to produce the new album and rest my legs for a while, after three years on tour. So, I had plenty of time to meet my friends and people in general, and during this period I met a really sweet girl. The feelings and emotions grew strong very fast and that inspired me to write 'Every Morning'. Because every morning she got up from bed before me and made me a cup of coffee, and she was always happy with a big smile on her face... tada: "Every Morning she makes me a cup of coffee with a smile on her face. I'm a man in love". But it didn't work out though, so as soon as I was done with the album I was back on tour.

Q3 What process do you go through in creating a track?
I usually begin with the riff and the chorus, because if I can't get that to work it's just a waste of time producing the rest of it. Regarding inspiration, hmm, well if I need inspiration I usually go to a busy bar or pub, have a beer and just watch people enjoying themselves, listening to their conversations etc.

Q4 Which artists influence your work?
Why would you think that any other artists influence my way of producing or writing? I'm better than that.

Q5 What would you say to someone experiencing your music for the first time?
Hold on to your hat mate, because we are going on a wild ride packed full with wicked bass lines, awesome riffs and a powerful chorus!

Q6 What are your ambitions for your latest single, and for the future?
My ambitions? Well, I always do the best I can, I can't do any more than that. But the most important thing for me are my fans, as long as they like my new stuff I'm happy. Without them, I would be just like a fart in the wind. That kinda speaks for itself, doesn't it?

To subscribe to CMU Daily click here

The Dirty Disco "Sista!"

Basshunter "I Promised Myself"

Red Blooded Women Popjustice's Song Of The Day! Again!

"Red Blooded Women received their first Popjustice Song Of The Day about a year and a half ago. There have been some limited single releases and a couple of changes to the band's look and sound since then but the 'v decent pop music' remit still seems to be in effect and 'Halo', one of the band's brand new tunes, should open some new doors."

Click here to see the piece on Popjustice and hear the clip of new song "Halo"

BBC Chartblog Review Young Soul Rebels "I Got Soul"

"Even before I put fingertip to keypad, the feeling of walking a tightrope starts to tingle and fizz in the back of my mind, and here's a quick checklist of reasons why:

'All These Things That I've Done' by the Killers is a great song.
This is a charity cover version, for charity.
It takes phenomenal liberties with the original song.
Most of the people who are singing (or rapping) do not make indie-type rock music.
And indeed, this is not indie-type rock music in any way.
This is a journey outside of The Safety Zone for hardcore indie-type rock fans, that's for sure.
It probably does not count as real music.
Or surreal music, despite Ironik reading his lines from his mobile while rapping.

Therefore, if one is to say that it's rubbish, it has to be rubbish in a way which transcends its charitable status, or you're mocking the noble cause that War Child supports. And if it's great, it has to be so great that it drowns out the tutting of Killers fans who object to someone rapping on one of the key musical experiences of their life.

The full list of contributors is as follows: Tinchy Stryder, Pixie Lott, N-Dubz, Frankmusik, Chipmunk, VV Brown, Ironik, Bashy, MPHO, McLean, Kid British, Egypt, Domino Go and the London Community Gospel Choir.

Most of them spend their time singing that "I've got soul but I'm not a soldier" refrain in bits of the song where it did not originally appear. This, and the modern dance production, will probably be the bitterest pills for Johnny Rocksnob to swallow, once he's got those prickly rap thorns past his epiglottis."

Continue reading the review on the BBC Chartblog here