- The Observer, Sunday 10 December 2006
1 December 1.29pm Pity the poor music industry moguls. No sooner have they busted a gut in the pre-Christmas rush to place their wares before us than the new year looms. If January was once a quiet time for new releases, it's now one of the busiest months of the year, perhaps because labels are eager to exploit a perceived lack of competition, or perhaps to capitalise on the media's thirst to identify the next big thing. So in order to avoid that competition, and following a series of gigs, launches and lunches, here's a peek at what 2007 promises. And for whatever reason (nothing to do with the free booze) things do seem to be shaping up nicely.
A first prediction: Mika will be huge next year. OMM devoted its Flash-Forward space to the 22-year-old singer/songwriter back in August and the other week this unlikely heir to Freddie Mercury was the recipient of a glitzy launch at Ronnie Scott's club. The head of Universal UK had his Rolls kept waiting outside; and the controller of Radio 2 said she could see the boy's a star. The album is due on 5 February.
The week before has Jamie T's long-awaited debut LP, which should see him pick up where Mike Skinner left off. Other boys in the frame include Pop Levi, Jamie Woon and just possibly Just Jack. Much is expected of new XL signing Adele, as well as Remi Nicole, subject of a heated label bidding war. Bands? Cajun Dance Party, the Aliens and the View for starters.
It's not all youth. Anyone who witnessed the Good, the Bad and the Queen's first-ever performance at the Electric Proms will know that Damon Albarn has a new band to die for (their debut LP arrives January). And Nick Cave has put together a new group, called Grinderman, whose album (due March) is a thing of stunning power.
Likewise the third album from Tinariwen, the Tuareg blues group. Watch, too, for an act called Adjagas, who put a spin on the ancient song of the Sami, from arctic Scandinavia.
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