Avenue61 is a leading indie music site that specialises in album and gig reviews, breaking new bands, publicising events, and exclusive interviews with the leading cutting edge acts in the alternative music scene. Avenue61 covers a wide range of artists – some you would have heard of, some you won’t. Artists the site has reviewed recently include the Fleet Foxes, MGMT, Noisettes and Ladyhawke. The site is updated regularly so come back to catch up the latest news and reviews from the bleeding edge of the alternative music scene.

Ok, so first off I must iterate the fact that this particular run down is in no particular order, nor is it a definitive list of the best British record labels of all time (as if such a breakdown could ever be truly quantified). It is simply a list of some personal favourites within the British...MORE>>

To add to the numerous bands emerging who merge unconventional genres (e.g. Enter Shikari, Gym Class Heroes, etc) we have The Anomalies. These guys have chosen to brew a pot filled with a healthy dollop of jazz, occasional dashes of mild rap, a pinch of

electro, and a spray of ‘ska’. On BML recording label, the boys have an album out now containing dancey tunes of this unusual nature. And I must admit they’re incredibly intriguing.

Their latest concoction comes under the name Margarita, and starts with a few seconds of electronic alarm sounds followed swiftly by comforting ska backing music. Sounds a bit like Madness – the band, not the adjective. Alarm bells ring at the very beginning (quite literally) and give Margarita a proper kick.

The vocals mainly reside under the aforementioned rap term with the style being of a generic rap accent, i.e. uses “fink” instead of think, “free” instead of

three, and “breeve” instead of breathe. This works well with the boys, as when the chorus of singing enters there’s a definitive difference between genres. This variation helps to keep us listeners interested and maybe even intrigued. The end of the song tails off into a short but delicate and quiet chorus.

Their other adventures are equally vibrant and addictive: “Oldschool” has a heavier focus on hip-hop lyrics, and “Bamboo Beats” brings back comforting memories of Gorillaz-style songs with The Anomalies’ trademark ska-rap edge. “Kid Riot” runs the path of general indie-pop-rock too, so there’s something for everyone.

Over the summer they’re supporting Kid British at a couple of shows in England, and they’re playing at a good few small-scale festivals in Wales and England where they’ll no doubt impress the majority of onlookers. Their name has been thrown around various music channels and websites accompanied by phrases such as “it’s impossible not to love them”, “the next big thing to happen to music” and “genre defying tunes”, which gives a slight hint to the way they will be appreciated in the near future.