Porta's Eyes...Music Forecast 09

14 Artists You Should Know

-It's only just hit April, but 2009 has already brought us a slew of bigreleases from heavy-hitters such as Animal Collective, Röyksopp and theDecemberists. But in our quest to be continually looking ahead forwhat's new and what's next, here's our forecast of acts who know willleave their mark on 2009.

BAG RAIDERS

Long seen as the secret weapon in the Australia vs. France electro-war, Sydney's party commanders, Bag Raiders, are hooked-up with the Bang Gang people and A-Trak and destined to shed the 'secret' part of that label this year. We promise.

EMIL & FRIENDS

While the hype swirling hoax that this was Emile Hirsch's musical side project drew initial listeners to New York's Emile & Friends,thataudience has stayed for this mysterious band's addictive music.They mixMGMT's electro-fetish with the quirk of the Unicorns andthesample-heavy indie-folk of Animal Collective and Soft Tigers. Soit'sbasically the best thing ever.

FENCH-SOLER

Although this three-piece are bornand raised in the UK, they'veabsolutely nailed a French-Touch homagewith their snappyindie-with-electronics style. And we're not the onlyones who see bigthings ahead for Fench-Soler, as Alan Braxe - the French disco icon -has picked up their next single for release on his boutique label, Vulture.

IRAN

Iran'ssix-years-in-the-making Dissolver, is getting a load of hype becauseband member Kyp Malone's other group - TV On The Radio - has gottenkind of big in the interim. Fellow TVOTR member and super producer DaveSitek lends his golden touch and turns Iran's lo-fi freakout rock intoa polished indie-meets-classic rock record that would be just ascomfortable blasting in a small club as in a stadium.

JONATHAN BOULET

It's crazy to think that Jonathan Boulet'srich, floating folk-popmelodies took form in the Australiantroubadour's miniscule garagestudio. But I suppose that is Boulet'sgift, after all the twenty-yearold can turn subtle what would seem likehumble campfire tunes intosoaring epics. Next he'll be doing straw intogold and water into wine.

LOST VALENTINOS

With Ewan Pearson helming their recentsingles, Lost Valentinos have been serving up great combinations ofangular guitars, dark synths and heavy beats, taking indie rock out fora night on the dancefloor. But it's Lost Valentinos'oppressive and sinister aesthetic and their experimental tendenciesthat make them shine this bright. Big things are sure to be found ontheir debut album, Cities Of Gold.

SHAZAM

With Macbooks and Korgs in their hands, bedroomproducers are getting younger and better all the time. But the star atthe top of the list is Shazam, a 19 year old disco savant out of Australia's West. His glitteringparty tunes are pool-side bound and deliriously cool, simply demandingyou have some fun.

SNOB SCRILLA

After a fantastic debut EP in 2008 that featured some of the most exciting hip hop tracks of the year, Snob Scrillais prepping the release of his Day One LP. Street single 'Houston'boasts the same shout-along, intense choruses and broad, boldproduction strokes that made the EP enthralling and can mean nothingbut good things for the full-length.

THE ELEPHANTS

Denmark’s The Elephantssound like the long lost children of Brian Wilson, such is the sweetand sandy inspiration that flows through this quintet’s languid popmusic. Currently wrapping their second album, you can expect to behead-over-heels by the time the northern Summer rolls around.

THE HUNDRED IN THE HANDS

With only one single under their belts (the instantaneous joy ofDressed In Dresden), Brooklyn duo The Hundred In The Handscould goanywhere from here. Who knows? Dressed In Dresden could be anenormousfluke and the pair decide they only want to make reggae orblack metalor a frightening hybrid of the two. But going on thatsingle's love ofGang of Four guitar-slashes and driving, distorted basslines we thinkthey're a pretty safe bet.

THE SOUND OF ARROWS

Sweden's finest indie imprint, Labrador, uncovered pop-boffins, The Sound of Arrowslast year. With two singles of skewed candy-coated indie-pop undertheir belts we're expecting things to get even better this year.

THE TEMPER TRAP

The Temper Trapmake music that will break your heart and shake your soul. A steadymomentum built on the Australians' shimmering single, Sweet Dispositionis now gathering pace (including a spot in the Zooey Deschanelindie-bait movie 500 Hundred Days Of Summer) and getting set to explodewith their guaranteed-classic debut.

WALE

As if releasing one of the most widely-spread,highly-acclaimed and generally entertaining mix tapes of last yearwasn't enough, Walehas assembled a dream team of producers for his debut disc (see: Cool& Dre, Green Lantern, will.i.am, Dave Sitek). If the US MCmaintains his ear for good beats and knack for great lyrical turns thenthe hype should translate into a very solid debut.

WILEY

London grime master, Wiley,cuts his skills to record like he has a belt of dynamite strapped abouthis torso. Having just unleashed the blazing aural onslaught that isSee Clear Now, Wiley is now gearing up to global release of anotherhip-breaking long player, Race Against Time.