So to the first batch and all singles...

Lost Trades – Down to the River

A traditional song I first heard in the Film O Brother Where are Thou? This is a simple 3 minute acapella track with some gorgeous vocal harmonies - Still hoping to see them live in September

Anchoress – Martha’s Harbour

It  take a brave person to attempt this as a cover. few added strings but not too different from the All About Eve version. The vocal is good but was never going to match Julianne Regan's rendition

Manuela Iwansson – Strangers on a Train

Now this is one of my favourite tracks of the year so far. A sort of homage to the 80's but never a cheap copy. Starting with some spiky post punk bass and synths, there is suddenly a stadium style rock chorus that you just want to shout along to. Oh, and then they end the song with a good old fashion guitar solo circa LA in 1987. The vocals are quite detached and aloof (some Siouxsie in there) but I think its a fantastic song.

Little Red – Apathy

This starts out as a fragile acoustic track but about half way through the refrain of the chorus starts and some booming electric chords swirl around the track - Love the lyric of "Oh is the world on fire? Is it just me that feels the heat?" 

Matthew North – Save Your Kisses…..For Me

Now this is how you do a cover. You take an original and do something different with it, not just a note for note copy. In this case take an upbeat Eurovision song, slow it right down and make it rather sinister (just the right side of creepy stalker). Also there are two great guitar solos so even more reasons to enjoy