The Barometer: Dirty Hands, M.I.A. Pete and the Pirates, Smith Westerns, Fixers, Tribes, Pandit, Kyla La Grange, Lil Wayne ft Cory Gunz

What's hot on our playlist

Dirty Hands

Baby, Life's Too Short

The Strokes-meets-tough Fifties rock'n'roll. As angsty and heartfelt as a James Dean movie. Expect big things. ( http://www.thisisdirtyhands.com )

M.I.A.

Bad Girls

Spiralling synths and a beat produced by the Timbaland protégé Danja. This is M.I.A. back at her very best.

Pete and the Pirates

Winter 1

A drum- and bass-driven effort from Reading-based indie-pop heroes returning to under-appreciated form. File next to Mystery Jets.

Smith Westerns

All Die Young

Finally, these scuzzy punksters reveal their sing-along glam-rock influences. This could be an outtake from Bowie's 'Hunky Dory'.

Fixers

Iron Deer Dream

Hazy, Beach Boys-influenced surf pop from, erm, Oxfordshire? The nasal, dual vocals are perhaps more Blink-182 than the intended Jan and Dean, though.

Tribes

Whenever

Hotly tipped grunge revivalists. Fans say Nirvana, critics say Feeder. We're hearing post-'Pinkerton' Weezer.

Pandit

Pack Your Bags

A beautifully fragile song with waves of melody, not a million miles away from early Coldplay.

Kyla La Grange

Walk Through Walls

Dramatic indie-rock with an Arcade Fire influence.

Lil Wayne ft Cory Gunz

6 Foot 7 Foot

Weezy is back with the first single from his forthcoming 'Tha Carter IV'. Is that a UK grime influence we're hearing?