[Official Video] Vanquish - The Harder You Love

It's their debut single and we love it. Fresh from adorable new girl-group Vanquish comes The Harder You Love, a big wedge of perky, colourful pop so uplifting it could probably knock the planet off its axis. The video throws in some cute colour-coded dresses into the mix and spritzes it up with pure feel-good factor. We like to think of the track as a cocktail buzzing with energy, and to tell you truth, we're a little bit hooked on it already.

The Harder You Love is released on the 22nd April - for more on Vanquish, check out their Facebook page.

Parade cover Cher Lloyd's 'Swagger Jagger'

It's the Number One single in the UK, and now hot new girlband Parade have done a cover of it!

I'm a big fan of the acapella versions the girls in the past; everyone will know their take on Born This Way that they frequently perform at live shows, and their Chris Brown cover is spot-on too.

What I like best about their version of Cher Lloyd's hit is that it really shows off their vocals - proper harmonies, transforming the track into a chilled out, soulful little number with real charm to it.

The girls are lining up for the release of their debut album in October and going by top pop tunes Louder and Perfume, it looks set to be a mega-success.

(There's a brilliant little style feature with the Parade girls in today's Sunday Mirror too - like The Saturdays before them, the tabloids and glossy mags have totally taken to the girls' street-smart glamour, a win-win situation for everyone!)

Parade's debut album (check out the cover shot above!) can be pre-ordered here.

(Video) Parade - Perfume

What a lovely day for a trip down the Thames! If you've ever wanted to see a music video where a hot new girl band gets on a boat and takes it on a ride down a river, all the while dancing with pinpoint precision, then Parade's Perfume is most definitely the video for you.

I read a recent interview with the band where they said far more akin to the Spice Girls than they did to contemporaries Girls Aloud or The Saturdays, and I can see where they're coming from. There's a real up-and-at-'em girl power attitude to Parade, a relatability that their fans can tap into. They look cool, their style is distinctly street-smart and you feel like you could be their best friend.

Perfume is one of those classic songs that shout 'summer anthem' louder than the sun itself. From the first few bars of those glorious, buzzing synths in the intro you can already imagine getting the shades out and strolling down to your local park; kicking back and escaping the daily grind.

The chanty 'If you wanna get it, get it...' vocals in the chorus again radiate the whole girl-power ethic - you feel like it's not just them chanting away, but each and every one of their fans too. And it's also so wonderfully British too - a fitting sound for a song that so casually places the Houses of Parliament in the background of its video.

Maybe it's because I'm a Londoner myself... (resists temptation to burst out into song), but there's such an inherent beauty in the shots of the Thames, all dreamy pink and gold. And when you add that to someone as effortlessly stunning as Parade's Jessica singing Perfume's middle-eight, you're onto a winner for sure.

Every year there are a handful of tracks that rise above the rest and enter the hallowed halls of genuine pop classics, and Perfume, for me, is easily one of those.

Now, where's that ball-pond? We want to jump in too... here we go... here we go...

Perfume is released on the 20th June.

Parade - Perfume

Darling girlband Parade have treated us to another new track, and Perfume is most definitely a winner! A delightful, sugary R&B laced slice of pop, it strides the perfect balance between sultry and sweet. A perfect track to put a spring in your step, the catchy gang vocals in the chorus are a brilliant hook.

Listen to Perfume on Soundcloud here, or watch them perform it live at the IndigO2 in London.

Wonderland - Rolling In The Deep (Adele cover)

Wonderland's brilliant debut EP was released this week, but if that wasn't enough, they've also treated us to a brilliant acoustic session for The Sun. I love how they inject some really grit and soul into this cover of Adele's smash hit Rolling In The Deep. It's an inspired version and really shows the best of what the girls have to offer as a band. Great stuff!

Parade - Rokstar

I have a big soft spot for piano ballads sung by girl bands, and the brilliant acoustic version of Rokstar by newcomers Parade are currently offering as a free download is one of the very best. The harmonies are spot on, beautiful and powerful in the chorus; which is just the way it should be. Here, the vocals feel real, the lyrics heartfelt and genuine. I love the 'I'm in love with a Rolling Stone' reference too.

There's something distinctly British about Parade and the energy and enthusiasm Emily, Jessica, Lauren, Sian and Bianca give off is undeniable. I can't wait for their album and going on the strength of songs like Rokstar and the amazing Louder - currently soundtracking the Rimmel adverts - it's going to be awesome.

Wonderland - Only Girl In The World (Rihanna cover)

Wonderland are one of the most exciting things in pop music right now. They're gearing up to release their debut single very, very soon - but in the mean time they've treated us to this amazing cover of Rihanna's Only Girl In The World. It shows off the girl group's vocals perfectly and it's nice to see the song work so well in an acoustic setting, so far removed from the all out floorfiller that is Rihanna's original.

Check out the girls' website here.

Brother - Time Machine

Hailing from Slough and signed to Geffen Records, Brother are being touted as one of the hottest new things in music at the moment. With coverage in The Sun (featuring some amazing caricatures drawn by the band’s front-man Leonard Newell), they are on a swift rise to fame and their song Time Machine, available as a free download from their website certainly backs up the hype.

There chorus’s are pure Oasis, all ‘Love is a time machine, bringing you back to me...’, epic and anthemic. It’s fair to say Brother definitely have some of that magic Gallagher swagger to them and they use every scrap of it available to them to pack into their music. They’re also their own distinct band though, the verses in particular marking out their own particular identity. It’s still full of classic rock n’ roll vibes but injected with a hip sense of the here and now. With the Brit-pop legends of the past behind us, Brother strive to create something new and exciting. And with Time Machine, they’re most definitely succeeding.

Introducing... Wonderland

When a new girlband makes their first tentative steps into the world of pop, things will always be a little shaky. Expectations – there are a lot to live up to. The pressure to step up to the gauntlet laid down by the hallowed girl group icons of the past. But having a look at Wonderland, they look all set to kick-start their assault on the charts with considerable ease. Take a listen to their brilliant first single Not A Love Song and you’ll hear what I mean. They have the confidence and shine of a group who’s been around for years; that experience and cool edge that really mark them out.

The track itself is something very different too. Think girl bands and you’re bound to jump straight to images of high-tempo, synth-heavy, dance numbers. But not Wonderland, they front up a more guitar-flavoured approach; well-written, modern pop rock that artists like Amy McDonald and The Script have made a career out of. There’s even a slight country vibe to it, but it’s never overpoweringly so – think more Taylor Swift or Miley Cyrus – the country flavours always paired with a keen pop sensibility.

Oh, and did I mention how stunning the band are too? They’re properly gorgeous. Many have commented on their uncanny resemblance to Girls Aloud (there’s the short-haired blonde, a red-head, etc.) but it’s a very different kind of look they have.

So, there we have it – Leigh, Corrina, Sharon, Jodi and Kasey. Remember those names well because this hot five-piece look set to be making it big in 2011. You can download their track Nothing Moves Me Anymore for free on their website and their debut single Not A Love Song is released on the 6^th March.