Oh My! & Britt Love - Live at The Hoxton Pony, 21st July 2011

All the trendy people come out to play in Hoxton. Whether it's the snazzy-dressed indie types eagerly drinking away Daddy's money or the smart bankers letting loose after a long day in the City, three things fuel this little corner of London - money, booze and good times.

And tonight was all about the good times. In the packed basement level of the Hoxton Pony, something exciting was happening.

Oh My! are a delightful duo, consisting of Alex and Jade, still buzzing with the youthful energy of their teen years. Their punky, angular synth-pop is ready made for club settings like this, their witty rapped dialogues the perfect accompaniment to a good spot of partying. You couldn't get more London if you tried.

Whistling through four or five songs, the Oh My! girls whipped the crowd up into a frenzy with their super-catchy tunes, including Example-penned Kicking & Screaming, which can be downloaded for free from their website.

Up next was the ever-charming Britt Love - now, I've been keeping an eye on Britt since her days as one half of the amazing Mini Viva, and I can safely say that her new solo material is just as gloriously brilliant.

Full of fire and feistyness, her set was a storming showcase of hi-energy electro-disco; one particular highlight saw Britt sampling both Kylie's Speakerphone and ABBA's Gimme Gimme Gimme in a blistering shot of Pure Pop Awesome.

Much has been said about how now is the time for the British female - well, Oh My! and Britt Love certainly subscribe to that theory - keep an eye and an ear out for them, you definitely don't want to miss pop this exciting.

New releases round-up - 18th July 2011

Snoop Dogg - Boom

Just like The Saturdays before him, Snoop Dogg turns to a classic Yazoo track for his latest single - the merits of which being that you can't really go wrong with it in there. While not quite up there with Sweat/Wet for levels of sheer sleaze, this remains a big summer anthem.

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Red Hot Chili Peppers - The Adventures Of Rain Dance Maggie

I wanted so much for the Chili's new single to be absolutely amazing, but truth be told, I wasn't convinced on first listen. While all the trademark sounds in place - the only thing missing is a big chorus, and Adventures... just feels lacking. The band's landmark Stadium Arcadium album defined 2006 with its endless stream of catchy hits, and five years on from that, you can't help but feel the band could have delivered something a little more dynamic for their big comeback. Still, with a band of their calibre, there remains a benchmark of quality - and Adventures... remains quite capable of holding its own against singles from groups half the Chili Pepper's age.

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Chase & Status feat. Tinie Tempah – Hitz

The sixth (Yes, sixth!) single from the production duo's massive album, this one's a goody - Tinie Tempah is something of the man of the moment right now and his 'The only thing bigger, blacker, slicker... is a Taxi' rap in this is brilliant. Moving away from the synth-heavy behemoths of Let You Go and Blind Faith, Hitz is instead all vocal samples and low, menacing stabs of brass. Great stuff once again from the Chase & Status lads.

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Kylie Minogue - The Albums (2000-2010)

A timely box set release collecting together her last five studio albums to celebrate Kylie's remarkable decade as the Princess of Pop. It's amazing to think that a song like Spinning Around is over ten years old now, a calling card from another age. Yet it's indelible pop charm remains, as does the vigour and breezy sense of fun Kylie injects all these albums with. Whether its the likes of Light Years and Fever which rejuvenated her career or the fan favourites Body Language and X, there's one thing you can be assured of with this collection - some of the best pop music ever made.

Purchase

New releases round-up - 4th July 2011

Nicki Minaj - Super Bass

It feels like this track has been banging around for ages, but it never gets old - one of the best track's from Minaj's inspired Pink Friday, it's great to see this track getting the mass radio airplay it deserves. Frothy, fizzy milkshake pop with a good dash of Nicki's trademark raps, we also have this track to thank for Selena Gomez's immeasurably cute cover version of it.

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Loick Essien - How We Roll

As I write this, How We Roll has already surged up into the UK Top 10 - and it sounds like a Top 10 record for sure. There's something about its transatlantic gloss that suggest some big US star crossing over into the UK market, but Essien in fact hails from these shores; previously collaborating with artists like Chipmink and N-Dubz. His debut album Identity is released later this year.

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Guillemots - I Must Be A Lover

A strong return for the Guillemots after Fyfe Dangerfield's advert soundtracking solo record. Channeling that rich, baroque quality the band have always done so well, when it comes to a lush, involving tale of devotion, you don't get much better than this.

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Adele - Set Fire To The Rain

What could be more a summation of heartbreak and tears in your eyes at a ruined relationship than Adele's Someone Like You? Perhaps her new single Set Fire To The Rain. If anything, he latest track is even more packed with anguish and raw emotion. More upbeat, more passionate, and packing a catchy little piano hook; this has always been one of my favourites from her mind-bogglingly successful 21 album.

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