How I let these talented folk slip by me for something like ten years is utterly beyond me. I’d always hear their name floating around here and there, but I never, ever paid any attention to it for some reason, even when I started getting into music properly (you know, beyond listening to the junk on the radio). Anyhoo, most Aussies would probably be familiar with Something for Kate (I’m hoping). For you international folks (who could very well be scratching your collective heads), this could possibly be the start of something new!

There’s something about this group that just makes me think of pretty things: even the name makes me go all “awww!”. Luckily enough, the music does more than enough to backup this bout of mushiness, with a wonderful blend of chilled out, night-time rock tunes, complemented with a bunch of crazy alternative rock tunes with some electronic hints floating around in the back somewhere. These guys also bring to our musical table some really great lyrics: take, for example, the very first song of theirs that I heard, The Astronaut, from the album Beautiful Sharks:

Ooo, I can hear you
On a clear night
I can see you
Singing circles away

Aww! Anyhoo, starting on the album The Official Fiction is a good start for some more friendlier stuff (their most famous tune, Deja Vu features on it), but if you’re feeling a bit more adventurous, take a look at Beautiful Sharks.

And without further ado, you can find some videos from those albums here.

Pretty ladies are one thing. But pretty ladies who can sing? That’s something else. And who does this poor introduction benefit? Why, Welsh born Jem, singer of many delightful tunes of course! Keeping with my long-running tradition of posting stuff we’ve all heard of before, Jem plays a charming mix of pop with electronic leanings, spliced together with the occasional acoustic-y number. Her singing is reminiscent of Imogen Heap of Frou Frou fame, and Sophie Barker who sings a few tunes for Zero 7. So if you like that kind of mellowed out prettiness, then Jem should suit your pallet. If not, then I guess I didn’t sell this post very well. She’s had a couple of her tunes featured on Long Way Round (yay) and Grey’s Anatomy (not so yay), as well as some other bits and pieces here and there.

Jem only has the one album at the moment: a new one was supposed to be out last year, but it’s kinda disappeared for the time being. Hopefully, it’ll resurface this year! For now, here’s some last.fm approved tunes to listen to.