Willy Moon

Willy Moon certainly knows how to make an entrance. From the crooner cool of the cover of his debut, Here's Willy Moon, to the swathes of strings and Hip Hop beats on opening track 'Get Up', he's not a afraid to show his cards. But, thankfully, the 23-year-old isn't a case of style over substance. For just under 30 minutes he proves himself to be equal parts superstar producer in the making, and a rather catchy songwriter to boot. It's difficult to think of a more assured, confident and unique debut in recent years, and I'm sure that's the reaction he was going for.

That's not to say that there aren't moments where you question his judgement, 'Railroad Track' for example is perhaps a little too reminiscent of Kanye West's 'Jesus Walks'. But for the most part this doesn't sound like an album made by an unknown New Zealander. At its heart the record is pure fun, with a dark undercurrent piercing the heady mix of Pop hooks, Rock n' Roll attitude, bass heavy beats, and slick production.

While Moon is vocal about his short attention span, in many ways his predilection for compositions that last a lean 3 minutes gives the whole album a certain sense of pace. Lead single 'Yeah Yeah' samples the Wu Tang Clan and along the way he covers the likes of Screamin' Jay Hawkins. But rather than feeling like he's trying to pad out his debut with quirky familiarity, these choices don't overshadow or distract from his own material. In fact, much of the record is geared towards being so anthemic, that it's difficult not to get carried away with Moon's enthusiasm. 'Working For The Company' for example sounds like a Broadway production of a mash up between a 1940's big band and Pink Floyd's 'Money'. It shouldn't work, or at the very least should sound like a gimmick, but put simply it does work, and surprisingly well.

Continue reading: Willy Moon - Here's Willy Moon Album Review

Music In the News...Jack White has been awarded an honor for musical excellence, from University College Dublin. The James Joyce Award was presented to the former White Stripes frontman, who is currently touring with Willy Moon, by the university's Literary and Historical Society.

Cat Power has informed her fans, that her European tour will still go ahead, despite the news that she is suffering financial and health difficulties. She told her fans "European Tour Is On. Without Stage Presentation. Hard Money Wasted." It is thought that she is planning a stripped-down version of her show for the tour, which will include her first London show in four years.

Katy Perry has been accused of 'sexualising children' by the indie-dance band Crystal Castles. The band's singer, Alice Glass, told NME magazine "I think a lot of (pop stars) sell sex to children. I think a lot of kids are more sexualised now than they were years ago and I'm not sure it's a coincidence. Like f**king Katy Perry spraying people with her f**king d**k, her f**king c** gun c**ming on f**king children. And little girls, like six-year-old girls wearing a shirt with 'I wanna see your (pea) cock' on it."

Continue reading: A Week In Music Featuring: Jack White, DJ Shadow, Rita Ora, Aerosmith, Alt-J, Willy Moon And Much More!