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word + pics tom and andy BATTLE OF THE MADE UP BANDS 
RACHEL MOLAR Rachel Molar's debut Album "Bi-molar" is an intriguing mix of snatches of folk ,snatches of electronica and snatches of folktronica. Includes "Under the Sea" her remake of the Disney calypso classic re-recorded from samples of the real "singing" noises of actual crustaceans, and "Isadora" - sounds of an ivory toothcomb plucked over the playing of a melted chris rhea cassette pulled from a burnt out car "FUTURESHOCK ANTIQUITY " The Buff Times "SPRIGHTLY MELENCHOLIA " The Tramp "BUCOLIC DYSTOPIAN " The Card "TAUTOLOGOUS OXYMORON!" The Nart Review 
THE RAP BETTIES Three degrees- if those degrees are sociology masters. described as Kathleen Hanna meets The Jungle Brothers, the Rap Betties attack the male hegemony over rap with a lightness of touch and obsessional referencing of C20 socio-political discourse and American television. The very definition of the word "newyorksassy" Featuring the songs "Realpolitik/Realfresh" "Hip hop Sh'ma", "Chomsky is dope" and "Whachu talking 'bout Willis" 
"DUTCH" ARKHAMFOLD This years brightest hope in the burgeoning "field" of NuCountry.com Attracts you like a "tractor" beam. Refuses to talk to journalists but "Hay!"- we don't care! A notorious trickster and occasional film-maker, this is his boldest, most AmericanGothicFolk effort yet. Sings songs about, I dunno, Kissing Horses and the Civil war and stuff. 
PANDAHEAD He's back with his new album "middle class white boy blues" 26 songs over 43 minutes- all recorded on a fisher price tapedeck in his bedsit in Dulwich. fucking mental or what! glockenspiel, speak and spell, toy guitar and a soundeffects keyring all get a look in as this one man band for the new century (TM) covers a range of quirky subjects from failed love, bad public transport and an imagined date with the rapper L'il Kim. 
SHORTY Battersea born Shortie describes her sound as "Blint- its like when you bling, but skint. Its like conscious lyrics but glam as well. Its like I hear what Miss Dynamite's saying and all but she just an't street level no more. I mean has she ever taken her own moet into burger king or done two months night shifts to get new rims for her beemer? Featuring the hit song "you don need no Lexus (but i ain't chasing no bus in my Blahniks)" "IF YOU ONLY BUY ONE ALBUM THIS YEAR...." then you're undoubtably a twat and it will inevitably be this one as it got the token "urban" nomination in the mercurys. and is bound to impress the new girl as you give her a lift "home" 
ORLANDO K. Bewildering mixture of early eighties Italo-Disco and incongruous literary allusion. Featuring the club hits "Atari Cocaine Nights", "Atrocity Discoteque" "Lanzarote"and "Robot-fucky-wet-little-friend" 
DARREN ZOLGA The Male Slut, King's cross's Darren Zolga is the missing link between Buckley and Marriot- alternately chirpy, laconic, plaintive and damaged. With needle sharp observations, and a healthy injection of wit, this man is headed for big things. watch him shoot up in the charts. featuring the songs "Brown is the colour of my love" "Went into the woods (but couldn't find the horse)" "Capuchin Rucksack" and "I fucking love smack me" | 
