If you’re looking for visual music – something that paints pictures in your mind, then Memoryhouse have got a gallery of sound to stimulate your imagination. Where the sonic soundscapes of Sigur Ros have been hijacked by the advertising industry and documentary makers to bring their images to life, Memoryhouse are a clean slate for you to fix your own soundtrack of people, places and memories. The band is a collaboration between composer Evan Abeele and photographer Denise Nouvion. They start each composition with one of Nouvion’s photographs as inspiration, and take it from there. Originally intended as an instrumental project, Denise has stepped up to the mic and adds her subtle and exquisite voice to the layers of sound inspired by the wide open spaces of their native Canada. The Slideshow Effect is the title track from their new album, and like the rest of their work, is a beautiful and fragile thing.

We love The Casanova Wave and this joyous and upbeat take on electronica. Brian McCartan is a one-man – man machine with a fantastic ear for deliriously happy hooks, childlike melodies and  infectious beats. This track (also called The Casanova Wave) is brought together over an intoxicating groove that could effortlessly fill a dance floor – and if the pillow fight video is anything to go by, would probably go down a storm at children’s parties too. The Casanova Wave – dance music in touch with its inner child.

Often when a band wears influences on it’s collective sleeves the results veer too much towards pastiche. While Saturday Sun are clearly influenced by Nick Drake, they’ve borrowed all the best elements from the great man’s music and channel his spirit through their deeply passionate, deftly woven and heartfelt pastoral folk. Heart wrenching vocals, superb musicianship and brilliant song crafting mean that if you’re looking for something real in a world of lightweights and scensters, then Saturday Sun is your band.

Gotye and Someone That I Used To Know may just be the greatest break up song ever. Which is quite a statement given the fair amount of competition there is for that particular accolade. Maybe some of the other great break up songs have just been overplayed or maybe, just maybe I’m right. I defy even the most cold hearted person to keep it together as Gotye’s earth shattering disappointment and bitterness is unveiled in this nursery rhyme confessional. Oh and you’ll totally switch sides when co-vocalist Kimbra chips in with her side of the story. Gotye, he’s written a future classic and is definitely someone that you’ll need to know next time disappointment strikes.

Wales is our new favourite centre of the musical universe right now, and we’re coming across new stuff that we love every day. Whether its Gruff Rhys and his whimsical sonic experiments, the psychedelic rock of Howl Griff or our current favourites Y Niwl. This West Coast surf pop meets the Shadows on Undegpedwar is way more than mere pastiche and Y Niwl have carved out a sound all of their own. Even though Y Niwl translates as ‘The Fog’, Undegpedwar will lift you out of any sodden January blues and straight into mid July and a day trip to Llandudno. What could be nicer?

PS. That was a rhetorical question, I realise the answer is – quite a lot.