New sounds for 2011: Lia Ices

Sometimes all you need are ace pop songs sung by someone with a cracking voice.

Although she had a record out in 2008, this year sees the release of Brooklyn-based singer Lia Ices' second album, Grown Unknown, and it promises to be a very good album indeed. Blessed with an aching, emotional voice that goes from a caress to a shout, and lyrics that read wonderfully well as poetry (and not sixth form doodlings at that), this is the perfect release for the cold month of January: an album that's icily (sorry) cool, but has a warm heart.

Grown Unknown will be released on the always-reliable Jagjaguwar label, and you can hear two songs, 'Grown Unknown' and 'Daphne', by clicking on this here link.