Welcome To The Room... Haim

The cynic inside of me wonders if Haim, the new hotly-tipped 3-piece sister act from L.A., really deserved to win the BBC Sound of 2013 competition. In the Autumn, adverts for their Don't Save Me video were popping up all over Youtube, and that sort of exposure doesn't come without a foot in the door and the backing of a major label. 

Besides, being nominated for the Sound of... prize is somewhat of a poison chalice - Marina & The Diamonds anyone? - and Haim appeared to be well on their way to success already. That said, their debut single proper is the definition of an earworm, with a vibe so quintessentially Californian that it gives Fleetwood Mac a run for their money and leaves Katy Perry in the shade. The video (this decade's answer to Fragma's Toca's Miracle) completes the energetic atmosphere:

Notwithstanding the track's surprisingly poor performance (#32 UK, a low-charting first outing is seemingly par for the course for Sound of... selections), Haim have clearly got a knack for a good tune, and lead singer Danielle's Michael Jackson-esque vocal tics complete their Summery, familiar vibe. Just like their similarly infectious label-mates The Pierces, Polydor are bound to give their career more life than their tragic teen idol namesake, starting with their next single Falling:

Tove Styrke | Call My Name

Following the moody, chic High & Low from earlier on in the year, Swedish Idol 2009 finalist Tove Styrke is taking another stab at UK chart success with Call My Name. Think Robyn's pulsating beats making friends with Sky Ferreira's effervescent charm. The best bits are the echo segments, and there's something strangely reminiscent of Seven Wonders by Fleetwood Mac in the electronic bleeps and bloops of the chorus. Frolicking on with the 80s feel, I'll be two steps over the water is a cheeky reference to Hounds Of Love by Kate Bush. There's no video as yet, but you can satisfy your ears at least: