As is the case every week, our inbox was bursting at the seams with excellent new music. The following tracks are those we collectively deemed to be ‘the cream of the crop’. By sheer coincidence, whilst catching up with an old friend last night, we got into a discussion about discovering new music. He lamented the lack of new talent and the state of the industry at the moment. My reply was simple.

‘You just need to know where to look’.

3 POTATO 4 – Special

An interesting song from the London group which, though ostensibly inspired by the 1970s psychedelic rock era, also has a freshness (no pun intended) about it. Well worth a listen, in our view. This is their first-ever recording and you’ll find them on Facebook here.

JAMES HAMPTON – Coconut Soap

Taken from the album ‘Decent People‘ (released on Suburbia Records), Melbourne musician James Hampton‘s track can’t help but make you smile. A thoroughly pleasant and polished pop-jazz record. The internet also reliably informs us that James was a finalist in a UK Songwriting competition.

KICK UP THE FIRE – Spiders

This South East London band were previously guests on Tom’s Introducing show. Taken from their second EP ‘Money Men‘ (out July 30th), this song coneys that classic indie-rock ‘anti-establishment’ sentiment. The band describes the EP as a statement against the ‘corporate greed that really gets our goat’; you can catch them at the Camden Wheelbarrow on July 8th. Facebook.

LÉON PEARCE – Anna

A fan of country-folk? Even if you’re not, Jersey based Léon Pearce’s song beautifully describes a tale of unrequited love that we can all identify with. The track was previously featured on Merseyside’s Introducing show, and (if you like what you hear), a link to the accompanying acoustic session is available on Léon’s Facebook page.

LES BICYCLETTES DE BELSIZE – Beatnik My Guest

From the album ‘The Ballad of Charlie Darling’, this song sounds like it belongs on a soundtrack to a charming indie film. Intelligent pop (literally, listen to the references in Charlie Darling’s lyrics!), the 60’s flute and dreampop strings make this pop-song song accessible to all. Facebook.

MISHAPED PEARLS – Fledgeling

Independent Music Awards nominees and Introducing alumni, Mishaped Pearls produce a hauting, rich track thanks to the use of unusal instruments (their EP features the Chinese Guzheng Zither, Turkish Oud to Erhu Violin) and Manu Schütte’s wistful-yet-powerful vocal. As Ged points out below, their main Soundcloud page is here.

SNORKEL – Dead Skin [Crewdson remix]

Described as Slowfoot Records‘ ‘Resident Band’, this track features on a remix EP of tracks from the band’s ‘Stop Machine‘ LP. Just when you think you have this left-field jazz-dub track figured out, it takes an interesting turn (at around 2.40). Excellently remixed by Crewdson (aka Hugh Jones), whose Soundcloud page also deserves a visit.

SOUTHERN – Where the Wild Are

One of The Fly magazine’s ‘Ones to Watch’, the strength of this track ultimately lies in the impeccable vocal of Belfast brother and sister duo Thom and Lucy. The band has already toured with Pete Doherty, Francois & the Atlas Mountain and Willy Mason, and (if this track is anything to go by), they are destined for big things. Facebook.

CENTREFOLDS – Release The Hounds

Bristol has enjoyed a resurgence in reputation as a ‘taste making city’; it was in no small part responsible for the resurgence in Bass Music this year (with talent such as producer/DJ Julio Bashmore). It’s interesting, therefore, that Avon natives Centrefolds from nearby Bath have produced the antithesis of the current ‘Bristol’ sound. This track is unapologetic, artfully crafted, hook-laden indie-pop.

UMA – Drop Your Soul.

UMA are a Berlin based experimental electro-bass duo. This track, quite simply, is amazing (and remarkably current). The duo (Red Bull Music Academy alumni) is currently working on its debut full length LP (due for release in early 2013). If you can’t wait until then, the 5 track EP ‘Drop Your Soul‘, released on Austria’s Seayou Records, is available now.

Emma Segal