WHO? WHAT? WHY?
¤ Indie supergroup Brakes rather curiously go all Belle & Sebastian on their new double-A-side single.
¤ Fans of Camera Obscura will certainly swoon along to Sambassadeur's soulful pop.
¤ Former Ash guitarist Charlotte Hatherley shows a mellower side on her latest single.
¤ Smoke Fairies' haunting, almost medieval take on the blues gives it a psychedelic feel that would fit nicely beside the acoustic numbers on Jefferson Airplane's classic Surrealistic Pillow.

THEY ARE
Scottish alt-rockers who you'd swear were American, weren't it for their accents.
SOUNDS LIKE
Their muscular indie rock blend includes elements of pop, prog and emo and recalls the likes of Queens of the Stone Age and Foo Fighters.
RELEASE
Only Revolutions Nov 9
TRIVIA
The guitar solo is actually played by QotSA frontman Josh Homme.

THEY ARE
curly Fratellis frontman Jon Lawler and singer/burlesque dancer Lou Hickey, teaming up to make cinematic big band style rock.
SOUNDS LIKE
this collaboration, just like The Last Shadow Puppets before them, could have made a far better Bond-theme than, say, Jack White & Alica Keys did.
RELEASE
Vanity Kills (single) Nov 23
Codeine Velvet Club Dec 28
TRIVIA
One of Hickey's collegues at the Glasgow burlesque club is Jon Lawler's wife, whose stage name "Chelsea Dagger" gave name to The Fratelli's best known tune to date.

THEY ARE
Welsh trad rockers about to release what will almost certainly be their sixth consecutive UK #1 album.
SOUNDS LIKE
Toploader's monster hit Dancing in the Moonlight. That might not be a good thing.
RELEASE
Keep Calm and Carry On Nov 16
TRIVIA
The album title is taken from A British World War II poster giving good advice.

THEY ARE
Five guys, including three brothers, from London.
SOUNDS LIKE
a more serious Hockey, who in turn of course is trying to relive the dandy eighties.
RELEASE
Widows EP Nov 23

THEY ARE
South-London six-piece partying like it's 1971.
SOUNDS LIKE
A guitar-heavy Sly & the Family Stone.
RELEASE
Breakin' Out Oct 19
TRIVIA
The band is obviously inspired by The Meters, so much they actually released a tribute album to the American funkers four years ago.

THEY ARE
Trio from from Northern Ireland that list their drum machine as their fourth member. Echo, is that you?
SOUNDS LIKE
geeks on the dancefloor, see The Young Knives, The Futureheads or even early Bloc Party.
RELEASE
I Can Talk (single) Nov 23
TBA (album) Feb 2010
CLEVER MOMENT
Two tunes in two days that kicks off with a human synth riff (see also Kent). What are the odds?

THEY ARE
Sweden's biggest rock band, having ditched the plans of world conquering, now singing exclusively in their mother tongue.
SOUNDS LIKE
they have ditched the guitars completely in favour of a hard electronic sound.
RELEASE
Röd Nov 6  
TRIVIA
The song title is of course the famous Beatles tune Swedified, it does NOT mean "The Dachshund Man", as some cheeky Wikipedia writer will have the world believe.

THEY ARE
British lads who has released three singles this year, each one a bit better than the last.
SOUNDS LIKE
Think Doves getting ready for a space trip.
RELEASE
Remains (single) Nov 2
TRIVIA
"White Belt Yellow Tag" is the second lowest grade in Taekwon-Do.

THEY ARE
Swedish synth pop quartet signed to the credible Labrador label.
SOUNDS LIKE
a-ha meets New Order. Obviously as eighties-coloured as a Rubik's Cube, but a bit lighter and softer than, say, Assemblage 23.
RELEASE
Islands Oct 4

THEY ARE
When not playing live, only one Tom Shear from Seattle.
SOUNDS LIKE
This is not exactly my home turf, but the industrial synth sounds and the dramatic, almost gothic eighties vibe makes it hard not to mention Depeche Mode.
RELEASE
Compass Oct 23
TRIVIA
Assemblage 23's first three releases were called Contempt, Failure and Disappoint. Merry fellow, this mr. Shear.

HE IS
The fourth member of The Strokes to go solo during the last two years.
SOUNDS LIKE
Phoenix teaming up with Brendan Benson.
RELEASE
Phrazes for the Young Nov 2  
CLEVER MOMENT
at 4:50, when Julian makes sure you wake up.

THEY ARE
Dork rock veterans currently out with their 7th album, mercifully not called Weezer.
SOUNDS LIKE
A classic power pop take on The Jam's Town Called Malice, and a massive step up from the braindead dross that was Beverly Hills and Pork and Beans.
RELEASE
Raditude Nov 3
CLEVER MOMENT
"We watched Titanic and it didn't make us sad" at 1:10. Anyone else recalling the love montage from The Naked Gun? :D