Jaques Brel is one of my all-time heroes and perhaps even the greatest thing to come out of Belgium ever. Young whippersnappers 'How to Dress Well' used one of Jaques' legendary performances as the background for "Lover's Start". Approved.

Blackbird Blackbird "Pure" unofficial video, made by some film student who you, marketing official at *BLANK* Records will be hunting down to 'start a conversation' on the internet about the next band on your 'to hype' list.

Light Asylum "Shallow Tears". Spooky stuff by an unisgned new band from Brooklynite Shannon Funchess (ties to TV On The Radio and !!!). Very excited about this. They sound like Massive Attack being gently but firmly pinned down by members of The Knife. Be sure to check out the mixtape they made for No Conclusion. That baby! Aaaargh! Can't watch.... Can't look away. By far the saddest, most gripping video I've seen this year.

I don't know much about Anika, except that her debut album is out on Stones Throw, features an excellent choice of covers (the original of the video above is by Yoko Ono) and is produced by Geoff Barrow of Portishead. I might also add that her album is the only album in 2010 I've played two times in a row, back to back, when it came out. I don't know what that means. But it can't be bad. Listen to the whole thing right here.

Some fun to close:

Mr. Soreng Santi, the floor is all yours.