New releases round-up - 20th June 2011

Soundgirl - Don't Know Why

The first single proper from fesity new threesome Soundgirl, Don't Know Why is the kind of ingenious urban-tinted pop track that everyone wishes the Sugababes were still making. These girls are ones to keep an eye on.

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Parade - Perfume

One of the hottest new groups on the scene, Parade follow up debut Top 10 hit Louder with this deliciously catchy slice of R&B tinged pop.  A real summer anthem if ever there was them, Perfume feels wonderfully British, and with its chanty chorus vocals, it’s one holiday essential you definitely need to buy before jetting off on your holidays.

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Hard-Fi - Good For Nothing

Hard-Fi have been away for a while - but they sure announce their return with a bang on Good For Nothing. With it's Jay-Z inspired guitar riffs and rough, angled Stone Roses delivery, it's good old-fashioned Brit-rock - we like. A lot.

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Patrick Wolf - Lupercalia

Previous album The Bachelor was met with mixed reviews, but Wolf's latest effort sees a triumphant return to the pop sensibilities he showcased on The Magic Position. A new, refined, more comfortable sound sees the enigmatic musician at his very best.

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Soundgirl - Price Tag (Jessie J cover)

I love new girlband Soundgirl. And I also really like Jessie J's mega-hit Price Tag (even after hearing it played for what seems like the millionth time on Radio 1).

So putting the two together sounds like a very good prospect indeed - which is exactly what you get with this delightful little acoustic performance.

Soundgirl's take on Price Tag is ace - and not to take anything away from Jessie J, but she has a very distinct vocal style, and it's nice to hear the song sung differently.

Soundgirl's version is far softer, a gentle lullaby-like ballad that really shows off the girls' vocals to their best.

Soundgirl's properly amazing single Don't Know Why is released on the 19th June.

Soundgirl - Don't Know Why

Soundgirl are the super-cool threesome about to blaze a trail of awesomeness across the UK - They've even worked with songwriting royalty in the form of Xenomania's Miranda Cooper, so there's a lot to get excited about. Their new single Don't Know Why represents a more straight-forward brand of pop than 'out there' taster track I'm The Fool, it wears its pop credentials on its sleeve and is all the more iinfectious for it. With its bouncy reggae feel and vibes of early Sugababes and All Saints' Rock Steady, its a revitalising shot of summery fun. There's even a little of Lily Allen's debut album to it too - remember that glorious time in 2006 where she came along and reminded us all that the UK stars could stand head and shoulders in the UK charts with their American cousins? Well Soundgirl channel that same essence and boy does it work for them - there's a refreshing confidence to their songs.

With its street-smart attitude and cutesy lyrics like 'I've been dreaming about the way you make me smile', Don't Know Why presents Soundgirl as instantly approachable and relatable to that crucial teen market. We've seen boy bands like The Wanted ride straight to the top of the charts of a tide of fan-power, and if Soundgirl can capture that same kind of audience and passion, they could quite easily do likewise. What's more, Don't Know Why is the perfect track to do it.

If all this has whetted your appetite, I'm The Fool is available as a free download from Soundgirl's official site.

Don't Know Why is released on the 20th June.