Palma Violets

It seems that the Palma Violets have been on the tip of every music-savvy tongue for the past month or so and considering I'll be seeing them perform for Teenage Cancer Trust in March, I decided it was about time to give them a listen. Certain expectations sprang to mind knowing that they were supporting Paul Weller, but when it came to the band's image and sound I was quite shocked.

Instead of working class kids clad in boater jackets and bowling shoes, I was confronted with a bunch of rather soggy looking guys frolicking about a field. It was a pleasant surprise, mind. The monotone vocals of Last of the Summer Wine are charmingly reminiscent of Ian Curtis and the music has a rather ethereal feel to it.

However, I don't feel the band are bringing anything all too new to the plate. If I was none the wiser and had to guess I'd probably consider the singles to be new releases from The Horrors, White Lies or maybe even The Vaccines.

Still, not everything has to be completely original and I've actually really enjoyed listening to their other singles Best of Friends and Step Up for the Cool Cats.

The band's debut album 108 is due to be released on the 25th February and will be available on iTunes.

The Strypes

I'm afraid I'm going to have to eat my own words from my review of Jake Bugg and confess that sometimes great music coming from a young source can be entirely impressive. The Strypes are an up and coming rhythm and blues band from Cavan (Ireland) aged 14-16; up until now I would've thought it impossible for a group of school boys to exhude such style. Whilst most kids their age are sat at home playing computer games, these guys are out recording original material and undergoing their own UK tour.

A list of the band's tour dates is visible here.

If you're in London on the 29th March, I'd highly recommend getting a hold of tickets for their show at 229 - it's part of the Le Beat Bespoke Weekender so should be a good crowd in a nice intimate venue.

Pop Charts Britannia

Pop Charts Britannia: 60 Years of the Top 10. BBC 4.

Tonight BBC 4 aired a 90 minute documentary on the evolution of the official singles chart over the past 60 years - from the NME Top 30, through to Top of the Pops and the Radio One Official Chart Show that still runs today.

We are taken on a journey from a time when the consumption of music was relevant to its placement in the charts to the official charts becoming almost entirely irrelevant due to the introduction of illegal downloads and physical sales consequently going through the floor. Some comfort is found in the conclusion, however, as Reggie Yates (Radio 1 DJ) asserts that there has been a revival of the charts. He notes that increasing numbers of people are choosing to legally download through iTunes and though the majority may not be buying hard copies of albums, music is still being consumed in a way that supports both the artists and industry.

The show is still available to view on the BBC iPlayer, here.

The Desert Boot

£79. A (questionable) range of colours available.

A surprising amount of people seem to have quite hard feelings concerning the desert boot. I never really understood why - they look pretty neat and the thick sole ensure they won't fall apart after a few months of running back and forth from A to B. That was until I ventured into Clarks' sale and came across such monstrosities as the Union Jack version, the rhinestone version and whatever these are supposed to be. No wonder the thought of the classic boots can bring expressions of such disgust into fashion conscious faces. I think the lesson to be learnt here is that desert boots have the potential to be a brilliant pair of everyday shoes, as long as you wear them the right way. Traditional sand, brown or black paired with a pair of 501s and a decent polo shirt? Wonderful. A pair of Union-Jack-plastered boots with a suit? Not quite so.

King L

King L, Free Entry, Jacob's Ladder (Falmouth).

If you happen to be in the South West and are a fan of ska and reggae, you might fancy giving King L a listen. Just as I was beginning to lose faith in the Cornish music scene, I came across the band as they filled the intimate venue Jacob's Ladder to the brim. A range of songs, from classics such as 54-46 (Toots & the Maytals) to the less expected Brimful of Asha by 90s band Cornershop, kept the crowd happy throughout the entire set. They already have a small following, with lyrics to the band's own single Caroline being yelled back to them and, as you can see from the video, they don't take themselves too seriously - pretty refreshing in a group of young, talented guys. Worth keeping an eye on, we'll be hearing a lot more about them once they start writing more of their own material.