Agent Blue, Cherry Falls and Elena By Steve Rudd

Agent Blue - Something Else (single/ UNIVERSAL)

Brazenly busting out of Stoke-on-Trent, this punk-spirited rock 'n' roll bunch of boys means business. This is their second single, and although it is only 2 minutes 20 seconds in length, the quality of the music more than outweighs the accompanying quantity. Armed with a good old-fashioned punk-rock sneer, coupled with a penchant for being ultra-melodic and effortlessly cool at the same time, Something Else is a zest-packed anthem teeming with exhilarating energy.

With a July tour to help promote the single preceding sets at the summer's Leeds and Reading festivals, keep as many eyes and ears out as you can possibly muster for these geezers - for they are hot, and they show it.. Release Date: August 9th 2004.

Cherry Falls - Standing Watching (single/ ISLAND)

The story goes that this refreshing melodic rock quartet was signed after having played just three gigs, and before they had even decided upon a name for the band. Given the type of epic guitar-based songs that these guys are producing, there is little wonder, after their astonishing For All My Sins debut single caught the imagination of plenty of people and set Cherry Falls on a speedy enough trail to fame.

This single is much the same in spirit and tone, being majestically melodic and passionately soulful, with frontman Joe McAdams' capabilities truly shining like a beacon of emotional sanctuary. He sings his lyrics with panache, and means every word, the charm of their songs sharing much in common with Snow Patrol's sweet-natured magic. Support slots with the likes of Ooberman and OK GO!, along with a cracking set played at T in The Park, will have drawn even more fans into their realm. Such fans might start out 'standing watching,' but will surely walk away from the music of Cherry Falls utterly entranced and rejuvenated. www.cherryfalls.co.uk Release Date: July 26th 2004.

Elena - With Those Eyes (single/ DELICIOUS)

You might not have heard of this Italian-born beauty yet, but you will. Having relocated from Italy to London both to help further her musical career and to indulge in the 'weirdness' of England's mad-capital, Elena is bringing with her style and substance in equal abundance. Her sensual and sexy vocals are pitted against some mid-paced rock theatrics, the net effect being sublimely melodic and wholesomely anthemic come the catchy chorus to With Those Eyes.

Elena is pretty much in a league of her own. She isn't in the Alanis Morissette club of angst-rock, and - as of yet - she cannot be lumped with the brash and punk-spirited likes of Brody Dalle and female rock icons of her captivating caliber. Instead, Elena is letting her music do the talking, with her voice being silky smooth one minute and coolly gruff the next. Hmm, somehow she sounds a little like Catatonia's Cerys Matthews. The B-side to this single is IB, which is similarly styled, being melancholic yet uplifting: in fact, beautifully haunting. So, with those eyes and that distinctive voice of hers, Elena will hopefully turn heads and make her mark in the rock world, admitting that her music is part-inspired by the work of PJ Harvey and The Velvet Underground. Whatever you do, be sure to look out for her debut album - Glimpse - because if the quality of this single release is anything to go by, then it's sure to be genuinely dazzling. www.elenaonline.com Release Date: August 23rd 2004.

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