Sexy Summer Choons, Dark Dance, and aaargh Craig David! - It’s Singled Out!

Once again we’re on familiar, storming territory with Nine Black Alps’ ‘Unsatisfied’. The youthful Mancunian lads serve up a bouncy, melodious snippet of a song that will undoubtedly jump right out of your stereo and into your brain – and stay there. A heady cocktail of Sam Forrest's passionate, soaring vocals and penetrating lyrics, and with a riff so damn catchy you'll be humming it at least until Craig David's next release, this is a definite gem. On the flip side, the gorgeous, melodious 'Lost House', with vocals like honey gives us a glimpse into the softer side of the Alps.  It's all fluffy kittens and puppies with the lads really, big softies.

Lifted from their beautiful and newly Mercury Music Prize nominated debut album, this happy, upbeat little track bounces along with all the usual endearing style of The Magic Numbers.  Fresh from an amazing set on the John Peel Stage at this year’s Glasto, proven live favourite 'Love Me Like You' holds harmonies that will melt into your lazy summer days, and hopefully keep that pesky rain away. Steadily building up a classic sound which does not betray their newcomer status, listen and love -and sing along to the instrumental version if you fancy yourself as a bit of a karaoke whiz! Brilliant stuff.

The third single to be taken from No Hope In New Jersey’s forthcoming debut album, 'Steady Diet Of Decline' delivers sloping melodies and crashing riffs, plenty of attitude and angst. Judging by this, the Manchester four piece certainly know how to rock the house down with polish and passion. Heavy, without kicking your head in, there's a certain clarity in this track that sets it apart from the barrage of other rock outfits clogging the music scene today. It seems there’s bucket loads of hope with these boys.

Fresh from raaaawwwking out playing the closing emphatic set at this year's Download festival, System Of A Down release ‘Question’ – a now trademark frantic-come-calm blend of lofty sound. Currently touring their hairy asses off around Europe before whizzing off to the States to tour with The Mars Volta, with tracks as ominous and powerful as this, the eternally-busy band are quickly becoming part of rocks pedigree. This offering truly has menace and vehemence from the opening rumblings to the brilliantly abrupt end.

Any song that name checks Lambrini does trigger certain alarm bells in the head... and Lady Sovereign does little to redeem herself with through the schlep of a song that is ‘9 to 5’. On the bright side the girl has plenty of character and her lyrics are often deftly explore everyday life in post-millennial Britain, but it’s damn hard to find plus points in what is a tedious ditty. All about the hardships of a monotonous existence, this song itself is rather hard and, ahem, monotonous. Apparently this is where 'Ska meets Salsa', but at best it only reminds us of Estelle on a bad day.

British Whale, otherwise known as the shrill voiced, spandex-wearing Justin Hawkins of The Darkness fame, releases his debut solo effort in the form of the old Sparks hit ‘This Town Ain’t Big Enough For The Both of Us’. The cover has, naturally, been totally disco-fied by Hawkins, and the ‘Wise predicts this one featuring heavily in karaoke bars up and down the land. The lavish musical arrangement has been praised by the dudes that are the Sparks brothers, and the ‘Wise has to approve it too…if only for it’s hilarious novelty value…intended or not.

Described by the ethereal Alison Goldfrapp as "sulky, sexual and a bit ambiguous", Gigwise would also hasten to describe 'Ooh La La' as uncanny parody of Norman Greenbaum’s eternally irksome ‘Spirit In The Sky’. Yet, as always with the Frapp, they pull it off with plenty of sultry panache and style. Lifted from the band’s eagerly-anticipated album ‘Supernature’, this vibrant star of a single moves effortlessly through the smooth, seductive and definitely danceable world that is Goldfrapp. First-rate remix from German electronic pioneers Tiefschwarz on the flip side as well. Lovely jubbly

With a career spanning fifteen years plus, who’d have thought the Stereo MCs would still be with us after all this time? Thankfully with ‘Paradise’ they still sound damn fresh and accomplished - dirty, funky and with more than just a touch of burning bass this track proves the MCs are still kings of danceable hip-hop flavoured tunes. Complete with smooth vocals and hypnotic beats, this really is one sexy summer song with anthemic potential around the clubs. Better still the single boasts four storming remixes. Oh how they spoil us!

West Midland dudes McAlister have been hailed as "Birmingham's best kept secret", but now, thanks to the long hard slog of relentless gigging, things are finally beginning to pay off. With 'Smokescreen', contrary to the press release, lead vocalist Danny McAlister is NOT comparable to either Paul Rogers or Bono (more like the fella out of Rooster really) - but he’s nevertheless a firm contender for a more modest running. With a fairly powerful voice, passionate lyrics and twiddley bits in all the right places, the only thing lacking from this forthcoming download-only release is a bit of, well, edge. A likeable enough tune, albeit very drippy and drawn out.

Taken from the hit movie of the same name, The Skeleton Key give us a slab of the darker side of dance with ‘The Conjure’. The track positively bombards the listener with relentless, proggy bass loops courtesy of the much-esteemed DJ and producer Mr Steve Lawler. True, it’s all a bit predictable with not much originality to the sound, but it does serve the purpose of being totally hypnotic, and, the 'Wise can imagine, it would be rather brill when off one’s trolly in a club.

The second single to be taken from Joy Zipper’s much-acclaimed album 'The Heartlight Set', ‘1’ is a sweet little offering with ambiguous poetic lyrics leaning towards a biblical nature. Not a God song, and thankfully thought provoking in a not too strenuous way, it’s all perfect accompaniment for these hazy summer months. Happy, gorgeous little love song with a sweet air of innocence, making it feel light as air as it drifts into your ears. Just as we’ve come to expect from Joy Zipper this is effortlessly sanguine and stunning. Nice.

Turkey of the Week: With the intro of "oooh baby", you know the seemingly ubiquitous Craig David is back....ahhh! Unfortunately, not even a 12 month break seems to have been able to inject some ‘listenability’ into the man’s tediously average music. ‘All The Way’ is armed with smooth vocals, polished to perfection so much it nearly makes you sick. Edging on the sultry throughout, this lame effort remains just too scared of leaving the comfort zone to break any moulds. Same old, same old, which is just fine if you’re a Craig fan with low expectations from your music – but Gigwise is blatantly is not, and sadly this big shiny come back record gives us little reason to change our minds.