Introducing... Alt-J

Until 24 hours ago I wasn't even aware of Alt-J's existence, now, I'm convinced that the Leeds outfit's possess in their debut release, One Awesome Wave, one of this year's more interesting listens.

Packaged in an elaborate, origami-styled sleeve, their album grabbed my attention as soon as it arrived on my  desk. Emblazoned with photography contributed by a space program, and sleek minimalist liner notes, it telegraphed something interesting about the band even as it revealed little detail about them.

Introducing... Eliza Hull

Ms. Hull is ready for her proverbial close-up.

Though she's been toiling away at her craft for nearly three years now, the arrival of Eliza Hull's forthcoming EP Dawn heralds her formal arrival on the music scene. First coming to my attention as a founding member of local music blog Large Noises, a music website that films original clips of local and international acts, Eliza Hull herself was later showcased on the site.

Introducing... Lowlakes

Until their press release popped up in my (rather crowded) inbox, I had no inkling who Lowlakes were. Of course, that's the whole point of the 'Introducing...' series, but still, there's usually some buzz, some ring of the bell at a group's name - a fact made all the more surprising when you listen to these lads. This is good stuff, and it deserves to be heard.

Originally hailing from Alice Springs, childhood friends Thomas Snowdon (vocals/guitar), Bill Guerin (bass) and Jack Talbot (drums) shook off the red dust and relocated to Melbourne where the inclusion of Brent Monaghan's atmospheric influence transformed a group formerly called The Moxie into Lowlakes. 

The aural result is a tasteful union between ambitious mood-setting and the more earthly approach of an indie guitar band. Inspired by the celestial atmospherics of Sigur Ros but with a more grounded approach to their arrangements, there's an ambience in their dreamy sounds as well as a darker rhythmic undertow.

Introducing... Outfit

Though they hail from the birthplace of The Beatles, you won't find Liverpudlian quintet Outfit mimicking much of their musical legacy, well... except for maybe channelling the surreal side of pop. Having met through a Merseyside mansion that housed a collective of outsider artists, the five members of Outfit have since debunked for the band buzz utopia of London, but the solidarity of their creative commune still lingers in their music. 

Introducing... I, A Man

Apologies to Al's Music Rant purists, but I've actually already introduced Melbourne quartet I, A Man's deliciously atmospheric guitar rock to the wider masses. After hearing their sophomore EP You're Boring Us All, I was instantly smitten with their textural approach to songwriting, a deft sequencing of their striking guitar sounds, dreamy vibes and beautifully rendered songcraft. What followed was a quick turnaround on a review of the same EP for Beat magazine, and spotlighting as the second act ever for a new column for the wonderful folks over at Everguide, entitled 'You Need To Know.'

Introducing... The Dead Leaves

I've actually been tracking The Dead Leaves' progress for a little while now, having first heard their polished, brooding sonics at a set at  The Workers' Club last year; but now that their debut album, Cities On the Sea, receives an official release this month it seems appropriate to formally introduce them.

Introducing... Grimes

If there's one thing the music world loves, it's a kook (cue: Bowie's Kooks) and in more recent times none more-so than the female variant. Enter Canadian Claire Boucher, a performance and visual artist whose time in a bourgeoning DIY scene resulted in the birth of Grimes. A solo musical project she describes as "a quest for the ultimate sensual, mystical and cathartic experience and the vehicle for my psychic purging." You don't get that with Rihanna.

Introducing... Oliver Tank

A 22-year old wünderkid who produces his own music with a mix of live insrumentation and electronic elements best touted as 'post-dubstep.' No, it's not James Blake - though comparisons to the English artist are tempting... we're talking about Sydney musican Oliver Tank. With an ear for minimalist arrangement, he fuses warm flushes of electronica with his own, gently affecting voice.

Though he first came to the attention of the blogosphere with an unlikely chilled out cover of Snoop Dogg's Beautiful, it was through the triple J Unearthed spotlighted Last Night I Heard Everything In Slow Motion that he confirmed himself as an emerging talent. With subtly manipulated vocal harmonies over a bed of gently chattering beats and some stirring string arrangements, it demonstrated his music possessed an inherent emotional breadth. A sting made all the more potenet when it was chosen to score Get Up's successful marriage equality ad campaign.

Introducing... Dry The River

Introducing... is a new segment for AMR, over the next few weeks, I'll be commiting to spotlighting a series of artists, bands and musicians to watch for 2012. To kick us off for the year is...

Dry The River

Already pinned with BBC's Sound of 2012 stamp of approval, and already selling out shows in their native UK before their debut LP is even available, Dry The River are touted to do what Mumford & Sons did for searingly epic folk-rock two years ago.

In fact, everything that's great about the East London five-piece is contained within Weights & Measures, a song that - since I discovered it laste last December - has been on permanent rotation since.