Guardian Music — This pop polymath offers a bold, sometimes brassy, but always classy collection of tunes that recall Prince and George MichaelHometown: San Francisco.The lineup: Jhameel (vocals, instruments).The background: Jhameel (it means "beautiful" in Arabic) i... more info

Altsounds — PHIL OAKEY (THE HUMAN LEAGUE): 'John Foxx's Metamatic is one of the few essential albums of the movement I call the Alienated Synthesists. And I like his newer material a lot.' LONELADY: 'I live in a high-rise right next to a dual carriageway, s... more info

BBC 6 Music — Martyn Ware is keen to work with former bandmate Phil Oakey again more info

Guardian Music — A prolific cyber-dreamer with a laptop cooing prettily to early-80s synth-pop – love it or loathe it?Hometown: Brooklyn.The lineup: Danielle Johnson (vocals, keyboards), James Morley (guitar), Justin Coles (bass), Chris Egan (drums).The background:... more info

ContactMusic — The duo who sparked the synth-pop revolution in Sheffield, England in the late 1970s is considering a reunion. Former Human League bandmates Phil Oakey and Martyn Ware haven't worked together for 30 years - but they're planning... more info

Guardian Music — Stuart Heritage plots to bid for Justin Bieber's hair, extract his DNA and clone an army of BiebersaursThere was something magical about Justin Bieber's old hairstyle. Equal parts Peter Beale, Velma Dinkley and Bobby Charlton, it almost single-handed... more info

Pop Bytes — † FROM DJ PAUL V. Happy 2011, all! Aren't you glad the holidays are over? I am, but I'm also happy to report that this usually-slow time for new music has not slowed down our beloved mashmakers one bit! In fact, hitting my inbox right awa... more info

Guardian Music — Like the xx, this trio make music for the early hours after the devastating night before – and their dark, drained sound could also be a contender for next year's Mercury prizeHometown: London.The lineup: James Buttery (vocals), James Young (music,... more info

Guardian Music — Like the lovechild of Neil Young and Neil Tennant, this newbie's songs are part grunge, part laptop popHometown: Toronto, Canada.The lineup: John O'Regan (vocals, laptop, guitar)The background: Don't know what it says about us, but we love a man in e... more info

Guardian Music — Goldfrapp has gone straight down the middle of the road for her latest. Alexis Petridis gets tired of the viewThere has been much recent debate as to whether or not record companies still have a role to play in the gleaming, internet-driven 21st cent... more info