She’s been tipped, constantly I should add, throughout this year as being the best thing since slice bread. Sliced bread aside, Florence’s talent for a melody is one thing that puts her a few rungs further than quite a few “tipped” artists emerging this year.

With this in mind I thought I would skip the opportunity to tell you “how good she is” and let you just hear the song and decide for yourself if she warrants the hype.

The single “Dog Days Are Over” will be be out on December 2nd via IAMSOUND Recordings. I suggest you buy it!

myspace: myspace.com/florenceandthemachinemusic

This is Tunbridge Wells singer/songer Klaus Says Buy The Record performing live infront of the judges for Channel 4’s ‘Orange Unsigned Act’.

Tonight you can hear Producer Jacob presenting what would have been my last show for More Than Just Radio. Jacob’s prepared a cracking show for you tonight from 7pm @ www.mtjr.co.uk.

Jacob would like you to send him song requests, send them to requests-via@likesounds.com.

Over in the US, the Copyright Board Of America decided that the amount publishers and writers get from each download is to stay at 9cents. The board discussed raising the royalties rate to 15c per download, a move that forced Apple to state they would scrap their market leading iTunes store if it stopped making a profit. iTunes serves 85% of the market making it doubtful that any increase to their 99c rate would damage their business.

London Record Store To Remain Open
Meanwhile, my favourite CD shop in the west end has been sold. Sister Ray went into administration back in July but has now been rescued by an unnamed independent individual who has “music retail experience”. The W1 premises will apparently stay put and all staff will keep their jobs. The new owner has a lot to do to keep this business floating amid strong competition for the last remaining hard-copy music buyers.

Dirty Pretty Split

Dirty Pretty Things have announced their split, after completing their tour this month.

Read it all..

I found my self in the same room as a billionaire, and his daughter, this week. I felt like I ought to plead my case for debt relief- but then thought better of it.

The people I work for amaze me. To be able to give your daughter an apartment in Chelsea worth £10m, just like that, and to make a £25m profit on a house you’ve never lived in. Some amaze me for different reasons. An estate in London with property on their list totalling at least £2bn arguing over the cost of the most basic of things. I suppose spending money doesn’t make you rich.

Without music to soundtrack all this too I’d be lost. I’d probably worry about deadlines a whole lot more than I do currently and I’d probably meet them less than I do.

Everyone owns music that can completely change our mood. I have lots, here’s three:

The Rascals - People Watching.mp3 - [buy it]
The Maccabees - Lego.mp3 - [buy it]
Florence And The Machine - Postcards From Italy.mp3

… you see what I mean?

I’ve also taken a look at the figures for this month so far (visitors etc) and found that over 13,000 people have looked at likesounds.com since September 1st. Amazing. Thanks so much for reading this blog.

Firstly, good morning if your viewing this on hypem.com! Yesterday the blog aggregator accepted our site onto their list meaning that even more people can now enjoy our reviews and music (for sampling purposes of course).

Secondly, the show worked quite well last night. Here are some highlights:

Tom Williams & The Boat - Bumble Bee.mp3 (from the Got Fuel EP, www.wireboatrecordings.co.uk)
Iglu & Hartley - Jump Out Of Your Car.mp3
Little Boots - Meddle.mp3

We found out that producer Jacob would “go gay” and choose Yannis Philippakis (Foals) if he had to fall in love with someone from his iTunes. You’d think, since she’s posted on his bedroom wall, that he’d choose Hayley Williams from Paramore.

There were “bugs” in the system - Spongebob, Homer & Simon Cowell were found to be lurking between songs.

Catch the whole thing every Sunday night from 7pm (GMT) @ www.mtjr.co.uk.

The elder Oasis brother was last assaulted by a man who breached security to run onstage and push Noel & his guitar straight off the stage.

The second the assault took place the house lights went up and the intruder was bundled and removed by security. Liam Gallagher didn’t seem to keen on the guy and tried to grab the guy as he was dragged off stage.

Here’s the full video (the assault is 1:31 in)

The Ting Tings finished their US tour with a memorable performance in Los Angeles. The duo entertained a sold out crowd by playing the majority of the songs featured on “We Started Nothing.” Katie got the audience singing to songs such as “That’s Not My Name”, “Great Dj”, and “Shut Up and Let Me Go” which got big buzz after being featured in Apple’s Ipod commercial.

During “Shut Up and Let Me Go” the crowd cheered as Katie began to play the bass drum. Fortunately enough we were able to get hold of the set list right after the performance: We Walk, Great Dj, Fruit Machine, Keep Your Head, Traffic Light, That’s Not My Name, Be the One, Shut Up and Let Me Go, and We Started Nothing.

Some members of the audience tried to get the Manchester band to do an encore, but their voices eventually faded away after the rest of the crowd left the building. While some of the crowd stayed inside to say hello to the opening act (SilentArmy), buy merchandise, or have a drink at the bar, the rest of the crowd headed outside and left the once packed theatre.

Even though this was the last US gig for the Ting Tings, the LA crowd is anticipating their arrival back.
Jasmine

Ting Tings: last.fm // myspace
Listen to: The Ting Tings - Shut Up And Let Me Go.mp3

Jasmine is our LA blogger.

In support of their albums being released in the US, Noah and The Whale and Laura Marling this week announced US tour dates.

The two folk-ish outfits have worked together in the past with Laura Marling guesting on Noah’s tracks and singer Charlie Fink produced Laura’s Mercury nominated album Alas, I Cannot Swim. Maybe a live collaboration will be possible at some point although it doesn’t seem too likely looking at the dates below.

Laura Marling’s “Fee Fie Foe Fum” tour kicks off in Boston on September 13th with support from Johnny Flynn and Mumford & Sons.

Noah and The Whale will play tracks from their debut album Peaceful, the World Lays Me Down starting in Brooklyn on September 17th.

Myspacers:
www.myspace.com/lauramarling
www.myspace.com/noahandthewhale
www.myspace.com/johnnyflynn
www.myspace.com/mumfordandsons

Songs:
Laura Marling - Your No Good.mp3
Noah and the Whale - Jocasta.mp3

In June this year ‘I Was A Cub Scout’ announced their split via myspace due to many re-occuring problems they were facing they decided to call it a day.

Both Todd & William have moved on from ‘IWACS’ and are now pushing forward with their new projects.

Todd has formed new band ‘Omes’ of which has some definate ‘IWACS-esque’ to it (but then Todd was the voice of IWACS so why wouldn’t it?).

“Omes was set in my mind over a year and a half ago, it finally came to pass around april 2008. This is a fresh start with what i’m doing as an individual and musically. I have nothing to disclose with what the song ‘Give Blood’ is – it can be whatever you want it to be.” - Todd Marriott.

Williams’ new band ‘Brontide’ sounds like a completely fresh start for him, the band is vocal-free and they have described themselves as “The low rumble of distant thunder”.

Omes - Give Blood(demo).mp3

Myspacers:
www.myspace.com/omesband
www.myspace.com/brontidetheband

JLP