"Apple Bobbing" - Joe Goddard

The first single from ex-Hot Chip Joe Goddard’s debut solo album, “Apple Bobbing” is an eclectic, blissful skydive through a kaleidoscope spectrum. Or, it sounds like the original Donkey Kong theme tune – depends how cynical you are, really.

“Apple Bobbing” bears all the hallmarks of Hot Chip’s easy-going repetitiveness – all hooks and lines; rarely a sinker. Goddard has created truly kineticised electro pop here and the beats and keyboard-riffs vibrate like atoms colliding in an audible chain reaction - the burning heart of a musical star.

Genius Reccomends: Bibio, Hot Chip, Capacara, Fuckpony, Zomby

"Some Misunderstanding ft Mark Lanegan" - Soulsavers

"Some Misunderstanding" is a resurrected antique from times past. With a delicious guitar that could have been lifted from a Neil Young song, and searingly emotive vocals, Soulsavers have created a gorgeously listenable track. Their third album shows a marked departure from previous efforts, and this new direction adds gravity and authority to Lanegan's rough-edged sound.

A slow-burning, flame grilled epic of a song, "Some Misunderstanding" could be likened to O.A.R., early Stereophonics or even late Oasis - filled with grinding voices, raging guitars and classic rock/folk/americana influences. Overall, it's a sturdy, heart-rending track, tinged with melancholy, a reverbrating rock soliloquy.

Genius reccomends: Pissed Jeans, Star Club West, Graham Coxon, Theoretical Girl

"Living The Life Of A Dreamer - Mr Scruff Remix" - Alice Russel

"Living The Life of a Dreamer" is pretty rubbish. Even the description on the iTunes store doesen't sound very enthused, instead pointing out the rather ambigious fact that Alice Russel has been featured on Free Single before.

However, aside from the initial bad impressions, Russel sounds a lot like Laura Izibor or even Belleruche, with clear influences of Stevie Wonder and 70's funk/soul. Skillful vocals mix in with a toe-tapping beat and in general is a fun party song. But seven minutes of slipping in and out of soul, jazz and dubstep gives a haphazard, haywire feeling. The song lacks focus and direction, having no clear themes and lacking any sense of collection - a winding, unexciting and self-indulgent track that could be from a bad 90's Pringles commercial.

Genius reccomends: Kylie Auldist, HardKandy, Diplomats of Solid Sound, Uptown Funk Empire and The Boogoos.

"Airplanes" - Local Natives

Part of me really likes this song; the part of me that loved Mumford & Sons and the part of me that can listen to Belle & Sebastian for hours and hours on end. The odd honky-tonk piano intro, with the addition of bar-brawler cheering, is reminiscent somewhat of The Drums, though the meat and potatoes of this song bears a signature resemblence with New Orleans-esque Cold War Kids (who are actually from California). The low-key nature of the verse compared with the louder, soul-raising chorus is particularily common to their first album, Robbers & Cowards.

Another artist that "Airplanes" evoked memories of was Hot Club de Paris; not so much the happy-happy, polka-dot sunshine riffs of Live At Dead Lake but the internal, post-it note songs like "Hello, I Wrote A Song For You Called 'Welcome to the Jungle'". So yeah, I like this. It's sweet, laid back and pared down, following the wider movement carved out by minimalist mystery kids The xx. Enjoy.

Genius reccomends; Fitz & the Tantrums, Wild Beasts, Django Django, Michachu and Gold Teeth.

"Edith" - The Hot Melts

Slamming into fifth gear this week are The Hot Melts, with chart-ready single "Edith". With a air-guitarist's riff and a bassline to match, the Hot Melt's sound like post-How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb U2, and it's not just the guitarwork that's similar; the singer has a discernably Bono-ish inclination to jump off of the vocal high board. Other reference points could be Nine Black Alps' song Cosmopolitan or a non-emo Lostprophets (whose video for Rooftops appears to actually be about misunderstood middle-class kids with piercings. And then one screams and plates explode. Obviously we need to take care to not insult Urbis).

Anyway, overall, "Edith" is a fun, jumpy, track - a fist-pumping gig-favourite. I liked it, but I wouldn't plumb the depths for any serious substance. A modern pop-punk, indie-rock hybrid for fans of The Big Pink or Theoretical Girl.

Genius reccomends: Blakfish, Glamour of the Kill, Die! Die! Die!, Proceed, The Subways.

"Burst its Banks" - Kill it Kid

Kill It Kid seem to be an amalgamated version of Anthony (of the Johnsons) and the Raconteurs. I'll be frank and cruel, and say that the lead singer sounds a bit like cape guy from Britain's Got Talent. Maybe that's an odd reference, but the song just doesen't seem suited to this sort of voice; the first minute, and then pre-chorus with the female backing singer could have been lifted from a Los Campesinos! song, yet it seems ruined by the presence of this totally uninspiring, unkooky vocalist.

I should be more objective about "Burst its Banks", and on the whole, it isn't terrible. There's a nice riff and the addition of strings gives it a unique, folkish sound; Kill it Kid are like a more rock & roll rendition of The Mummers.

Genius reccomends; Anthony and the Johnsons; Tom Waits; Nick Cave.

"Let's Go Surfing" - The Drums

Beach party, anyone? Following the recent trend of blending 80's revival, indie guitar beats and minimal beauty, The Drums have created a song that sounds like a DJ battle between the Beach Boys and Peter Bjorn and John. "Let's Go Surfing" is not just a joyful clichéd twirl through caspardrillo-nostalgia; the echo-ey vocals and repeted lyrics add a somewhat stolen, rogueish element to the track. With chamber-rock authenticity along the same lines as Belle & Sebastian's "The Blues Are Still Blue" evolving alongside summerside Coral-like reminiscings, "Let's Go Surfing" is a catchy yet fleeting song.

The clapping and whistling present throughout the track gives it an amalgamated sepiatone; this is the musical equivalent of watching home videos of your childhood seaside holidays. The whole song eminates this sense that it was recorded on the sand, amongst the spray and salt of a rare sunny day in June (or that there wasn't that big a recording budget). The harmonic-vocals remind the listener of Hot Club de Paris' 2007 album, Pop Till It Drops but the shadowy riffs and stripped-down melodies present on "Let's Go Surfing" hark of 2009-chic.

Genius reccomends; The Big Pink, Bombay Bicycle Club, Wild Beasts, The Pains of Being Pure At Heart, The Rumble Strips