Album Review : Richard Youngs

On a Monday morning, what more would you need to get revved up for the day than a bit of miserable minimal free-folk? Well, luckily for you Richard Youngs has released his new record Amplifying Host to allow you to start the day in the best way possible.

Youngs is a Glasgow-based musician, a challenging listen with just about everything he's ever produced, and you can read all about it over at TLOBF.

Readers of Wire magazine, step this way.

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.