UK acts to watch out for in 2006

Maximo Park
See interview
The Automatic
Self-proclaimed exponents of ‘gonzo disco-hardcore’, this South Wales four-piece offer a skuzzy twist on the new-wave/ electro blueprint, with songs that bring to mind such retro-futurists as The Rapture and Bloc Party.
An acclaimed first single, ‘Recover’, meshed lo-rent electro beats and skinny guitars. The result was a fusion of turn-of-the ‘80s hauteur and post-modern eclecticism. An LCD Soundystem from the valleys? It could just be true.
Dirty Pretty Things
From the ashes of The Libertines rise Carl Barât’s new outfit, Dirty Pretty Things.
Reverting to the Clash-flavoured avant-punk of The Libertine’s early work, the band is Barât’s attempt to distance himself from the media circus that has enveloped former bandmate Pete Doherty (he used to be a musician you know).
Following a series of secret gigs around the continent last year, Dirty Pretty Things, which includes ex-Cooper Temple Clause bassist Didz Hammond, are currently recording their debut album in Italy.
¡Forward, Russia!
Popular music and punctuation marks share a tragic history together (with the exception, possibly, of Therapy?). Plunging in where most fear to tip-toe, Leeds band ¡Forward, Russia! have gamely sought to rehabilitate the exclamation mark.
Their music is as striking as their moniker, trading in brittle new wave hooks and falsetto vocals that remind you of Bloc Party while not sounding quite like anything you’ve heard before.
The Guillemots
Plinky Hammonds and wailing goth guitars are not usually encountered in the same record store let alone on the same song.
However, that hasn’t prevented The Guillemots, a UK based British/Brazilian/Canadian quartet attempting some far-fetched shoe-horning. What comes out the other end may just be the saddest indie-pop you’ll hear all year.
Released last month, single ‘Trains To Brazil’ is already desperately sought after, with the limited edition pressing selling out within days.
The Guillemots could be huge, but don’t expect to catch them smiling about it.
The Infadels
Latest in a string of bands to make a point singing in a regional accent, The Infadels draw on familiar influences (they would seem to like their Clash records), while also nodding in the direction of ska and dancehall. Imagine Hard-Fi sharing a cab-ride home with Maxïmo Park, stopping off at provincial disco-tech on the way. With stonking tunes obviously.
Mystery Jets
When Mystery Jets first surfaced in late 2005, most of the attention focused on the fact that the band contained a father and son.
Yet, with a list of influences that runs from Gregorian chanting to Talking Heads, the parent/child combination is possibly the least bizarre thing about the London outfit.
Plying an off-beam, folk-infused psychedelia, Mystery Jets take all of your assumptions about what a pop song should sound like and filter it through a blender of good-humoured weirdness.
Will probably be the strangest band to appear on Top Of The Pops this year.
Field Music
Field Music delve into pastoral pop-rock that seems to forever stray on the edge of something darker.
Swooping bass motifs recall hippie noiseniks God Speed You Black Emperor! while loose-limbed harmonies suggest a debt to Super Furry Animals.
With songs that evoke hazy sunsets on the prairie, one might expect Field Music to hail from some dust-bowl Nowheresville. In fact, they come from the profoundly un-epic surroundings of Sunderland.
The Feeling
While the easy-listening revolution sputtered out about 18 months ago (we blame Ryan Tubridy) nobody appears to have informed The Feeling, a lounge lovin’ six piece proud to cite Abba and The Darkness as influences.
In fact, they are closer in spirit to Scissor Sisters, combining lush irony free ‘70s harmonies with glittering chill-out beats. Likely to be your coffee table’s favourite newcomers of the year.