Sounds of 2012 - #1 - Kilto Take

So here we are, again. Kilto Take are our top tip for 2012. The three friends from the Bedford area, they've been featured a few times on the blog in the past year, and they've even been on radar ever since I started blogging about music. They've had an amazing year, headlining the Islington 02 Academy, being written about all over the internet (including Music Week), releasing a live recording of one of their album tracks - 'Mimic' - and even playing for us at our last official "It's All Indie Live Show" back in August of this year.



2012 sets to be bigger and better for them, still receiving massive applause from their fans after the release of their début EP the threesome are set to release their first long play in 2012 on the Medical Records label. You can hear a live recording of their new song 'Mimic' on youtube, or by scrolling down below and clicking. They've drawn on their various influences to generate a sound that is distinctive yet has echoes of stadium anthems all over it! I wouldn't be surprised if they end up supporting Muse or Bloc Party in the next year or so.



I'd just like to say, keep an eye on them, the album is coming! And be sure to check them out in London on the 29th of December, they're playing at the Monto Water Rats in Kings Cross, I'm going, and so should you! Missing this amazing band play live will be a huge disappointed on your part, they've got such a great front-man, and he is always backed up by two great friends of his. 2012 here we come!

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Sounds of 2012 - #2 - Morning Parade

Where to start! It's been a fantastic year for the five friends from deepest Essex, they've recorded their début album, released 2 official singles and one for Record Store Day. While they were in the studio for the album with Dave Kosten (Everything Everything producer) they've managed to squeeze in European support tours with The Wombats, The Kooks and 30 Seconds To Mars, plus playing countless festivals. Steadily building their fan-base over the past year they played one of their last shows of 2011 at The Camden Barfly.



Also they managed to get round to playing The Scala in September of this year, their biggest headline show to date! With the album already in the bag the band are set for a nice cosy Christmas in front of the TV... Steve has said on twitter that they are writing more songs, they just can't keep still, they always "hit the ground and start running" (Steve Sparrow) and without a bad song in sight their success is going to continue in 2012. Expect a BIG show at Heaven (Charing Cross), a few singles and even a UK tour. Stay safe guys, it's been a blast so far!

Morning Parade - On Your Shoulders (7" Version) by It's All Indie (Fred)

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Sounds of 2012 - #3 - Films Of Colour

Films of Colour are: Andy Clutterbuck (vocals), James Hatcher (guitar), Jack Allinson (bass/synths) and James Rees-Flynn (drums). They are one of the best finds in the world of It's All Indie in the past year, with two singles and a David Bowie endorsed track being released they are lapping up all of the pre-album success.



Having played KoKo and Shepherds Bush already this year, I wouldn't be surprised by this time next year they'd be on everyone's lips, with amazing tracks such as 'Capital', 'Circles', 'Actions' and 'Persinette' they've already managed to create four amazing tracks to call their own, also they've covered a Bowie song, 'Slow Burn', which has been promoted on the Bowie official website and by such media sites as NME.com! It is a darn certainty that 2012 will be a big year for the four lads from London, I hope they're ready, because it's going to be a whirlwind. Expect an album and some live dates soon!

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Films Of Colour - Actions (Acoustic)

Sounds of 2012 - #4 - In Golden Tears

It's been one amazing year for these four young men from Germany. Not many bands outside of the UK even get on our radar, and let alone a small band from Hamburg! When they were called 'Secrets.' they won our 'International Band Of The Year' in 2010, and it's just got even better for them in the past year! With the amazing début song 'Urban Emotions' they saw a massive increase in the fans that came to their shows, bought music, and even managed to get some amazing shows.




They've supported the now defunct Indie-Rockers 'Flashguns' and have now even got an amazing support slot with The Vaccines! In the past year they've also played a UK tour supporting Sunberbans and Red Drapes. With Humming Records backing them in 2012 you'll be sure to expect another single and maybe even an album! Check out one of their album demos below while you're here, I honestly can't wait to see this astonishing band play again!

Unique (Rough Demo) by INGOLDENTEARS

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In Golden Tears - Urban Emotions (Radio Edit)

Sounds of 2012 - #5 - Ideals

Need we introduce them to you? We have featured them an awful lot over the past 12 months, and for good reasons too! Ideals have been one of our tips for 2011, and they are now set to be also in our tips for 2012 list no thanks to their astonishing EP! The quartet from London/Ipswich have been holed up on the studio for the past few months and the outcome is this... you can read it here. We gave the EP a 9.1/10, which is one of the best ratings we've ever given away! You need to seriously buy the EP once you get your Christmas money!



I really do hope Ideals become one of those big bands that we all love and follow! I know they deserve the recognition they truly deserve, and it would be a crying shame if they don't become big. You can go on and check out their other songs that we have reviewed simply by clicking this link. Also you can check out a couple of interviews we have done with the band!

Ideals Altar by Ideals

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Sounds of 2012 - #6 - Coasts

So were at 5th post in our countdown of bands that'll define 2012, and today it's the turn of Bristol based Tropical-Indie band Coasts. They've had an amazing year supporting the likes of Trophy Wife and Jonquil only after a few months after they announced that they've signed their record deal with Norwich based label 'Intruder'. We've already heard a few of their demos when they were masquerading under their old name and they sounded great, but not as great as their new tracks, one in particular called 'Echoes', they've already got that recorded and it's now doing the rounds on youtube and on the blogs too!



We caught up with them at The Nest in Dalston (London) last month and we were clearly blew away with their musicianship, you can read the review here. Every song is unique in it's own way, with the commanding vocals echoing off the walls and making everyone in the venue turn and admire their skills. With an EP in the pipeline and maybe an album too be sure to give them a listen before they get too big!

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Coasts - Breathe
Coasts - Drum Song

Sounds of 2012 - #7 - AUX Innocent

AUX Innocent is an electro collective from somewhere near the old steel city of Sheffield. They are a chemical balance of colour and sound with melodies and a bass-drum that floods the room. Twinkling layers of electronica surge towards a cacophony of beautiful noise. We etch our insignia on today and tomorrow. We've been keeping a close eye on this band, and with a track called 'Indigo' already doing the rounds on the blogs I'm sure they'll make an amazing album in 2012.



They have Intruder records backing them in 2012 and with the members once being in Dance-Rock band The Spires. They've transferred their abilities into a magical combination of danceable Indie-Rock to aspire to in so many ways. Check out 'Indigo' on their facebook site now! It's also free to download!

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Sounds of 2012 - #8 - New Ivory

So number 8 on the 'Sounds of 2012' list is New Ivory. A London based Post-Punk Revival band who are signed on to the Dim Mak label, that alone gets them into the top 10! The label is renowned for unearthing talented bands such as Bloc Party before the other labels even know of their existence.



We've reviewed their latest single 'Something You Should Know' and it got 9/10 from us, also their début track- 'A Knight' - was a track of the week back in June, and the track is even in the final for 'Track of the year'. Back to the list, with an album that is eagerly awaited by me and a few of my friends - and not forgetting the rest of the music industry - 2012 will see them rise up the 'Indie' ladder and produce a massive début album that'll have the big labels swarming all over them!

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New Ivory - A Knight (Acoustic Version)

Sounds of 2012 - #9 - Fixers

After getting the free download of their début track 'Amsterdam' around March time of this year I've been really intrigued by this band. Their psychedelic and experimental take on Tropical-Indie guitar based music is a niche that had not been explored until this funky Oxford based band came into being.



So far this year they've released two 7" singles and two 10" EPs, with lots of music already out there to listen to you'd be hard pressed not to find some of their tracks catchy. The latest offering is one of their oldest tracks 'Majesties Ranch' which has been re-reocrded for the latest EP, and it sounds amazing! And even their older music is amazing, they re-released their old 3 track EP that was sold at their gigs in 2010 free, and it's available just at the bottom of the post. With a début album coming at last in 2012, they hype is already starting to gain some momentum, especially since the last EP has got so many rave reviews. Keep a close eye on this band, we'll be following them very closely in the coming year!

Swimmhaus Johannesburg by Fixers.

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Fixers - Surf Wax E.P (March 2010/Self Released)

Sounds of 2012 - #10 - Safari

We've heavily featured this band since we first heard them in July, and for good reasons too! I suspect a highlight of their year would be playing 'Rhythms Of The World' Festival in Hitchin in their home county. I heard about the masses of young fans ramming the small stage and people bouncing along to the grooves!



They've had a wonderful year and with the début album just round the corner the band released a double A-Side single 'Are We Ready/Doubt' on their website just a few days ago. They only released 'Doubt' on YouTube a few weeks ago, but this is what we though of 'Are We Ready' ... Trumpets open the song with high pitched vocals accompanying it, then bass hit. The tension is broken when the drums and guitar drop. Great bass riffs and brilliant synth samples are used throughout the song. Safari have really crafted a song to be a big hit in the future, what is for sure is it suits the summer well! I wonder if it is them that has supplied this Indian summer we have been having as of late, hmm. What is for certain is this track is a killer.

So with an album out in 2012 they'll be one to keep an eye on for sure, be sure to like their page and to check back every few days because I'm sure they'll announce a show near you soon!

Are We Ready by this is SAFARI

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Safari - So I See

Sounds of 2012 - Shortlist 15th to 11th

With all 15 bands this year providing us with great tracks to remember for life, amazing live shows and brilliant musicianship. We've narrowed it down a bit more. 15th place



15th - Pilots
14th - Polarsets
13th - Vows
12th - Theme Park
11th - Dive Bella Dive

Every day until we will be unveiling another band that'll define 2012! Come back every day to see the latest band to make 2012 their year!

Sounds of 2012 - Shortlist

We have drawn up a short-list of talented bands that are going to take 2012 by storm, all of these bands are yet to release a full length album and are due to release one at some point in 2012.

The bands are...



AUX Innocent

Coasts

Dive Bella Dive

Films Of Colour

Fixers

Ideals

In Golden Tears

Kilto Take

Morning Parade

New Ivory

Pilots

Polarsets

Safari

Theme Park

Vows


We will devour them some more and release the 'Top 10' of 'Sounds Of 2012' in the coming weeks