Sounds of 2009

I love this time of year. It's the time of year when all the music critics start talking about who's going to be big in 2009. It's a ridiculous exercise really. Hype often kickstarts a backlash and all the acts that get trumpeted by things like the BBC's Sounds of 2009, or British paper the Daily Telegraph's nice take on it - Not the sound of 2009: the next small things, are in danger of suffering that backlash before they've even released a record. Plus it's all PR generated, with the many critics merely asking record company PRs what they've got coming out in the first quarter of the year and parading the press releases they receive as their own expertise.

But cynicism aside it's hard not to get excited by the fresh-faced musicians and their fresh-sounding tunes. Despite the big PR machine behind them, pushing them into the limelight, there is another reason they're there - they're actually quite good.

I've been lucky living in Australia that I've been living with some of the music acts tipped for greatness in the UK in 2009 throughout 2008. Lady GaGa in particular has been massive here, scoring two No 1s with her first two singles - Just Dance and Poker Face. They've been a dominant part of my soundtrack to 2008, proving big hits on both the radio and the dancefloor here.

Aussie duo Empire Of The Sun as well have been a strong presence on the radio and on my iPod with their debut album Walking On A Dream. It's lush sonic electronica has provides a perfect soundtrack to staring at the always amazing Australian sky.

Then there's Melbourne band The Temper Trap whose single Sweet Disposition has been a regular companion this year. Sounding a bit like U2 but without the earnest vocals and tiresome histrionics, The Temper Trap are an awesome rock band.

Coming from the UK, where we have probably the best music scene in the world, I was a little worried that the Aussie music scene wouldn't keep me interested. I couldn't have been more wrong. It's good enough to keep me from heading home.