Build up your music collection #3

Another selection of music you really should be listening to now – don’t take my word for it, check out the links to listen to these essential tunes…

• XX by The XX – Hotly tipped band, vaguely reminiscent of Interpol. Intense and epic sounding music from south-West London.
• Trueloves Gutter by Richard Hawley – Memerising songs by one of Britains true national treasures. Truly a beautiful thing.
• Blueprint 3 by Jay-Z – Kanye, Jeezy, Rhianna and Drake amongst the collaborations on this, doesn’t detract that he is still the king of rap.
• Splitting the Atom EP by Massive Attack – a taste of things to come as Bristol’s finest  ready themselves for LP5. Features Guy Garvey, Tunde and Horace Andy.
• Declaration of Dependence by Kings of Convenience – it feels like ages since we heard new material from Erlend Oye and Eirik Glambek Boe, but business is as usual – gentle vocals, delicate plucked guitars, and a great sense of humour.