L.A. Times - Pop & Hiss — After spending much of 2012 out of the spotlight, Bruno Mars re-emerged Monday night with a YouTube video chat during which he answered fans' questions and premiered his new single, "Locked Out of Heaven." It's a lean, bouncy soul-rock cut that quick... more info

Guardian Music — Forget the are-they-aren't-they thing – Child Actor are cousins. But the melodies and concentration on affairs of the heart place them in the Dare/Rumours lineage, with an added R&B twistReading on mobile? Listen hereHometown: Boston.The lineup: Se... more info

Here Comes The Flood — Watch the new Mantle Sound Core video for About Me . Once again the San Francisco outfit with a soft spot for analog synthesizers, invited Russian singer Anastasia Gera to take care of the vocals. Slower than their previous single Ghetto House Mu... more info

Discobelle.net — Recently I’ve spent some time re-visiting old favorites – New Order, Fleetwood Mac, Hall & Oates, Talking Heads, Human League, etcetc. They’re all groups with a distinctive sound, synth line, or style that have turned them into icons. A current... more info

Guardian Music — Michael Quattlebaum's female rapper alter ego suggests some kind of cross between Diamanda Galas and Marilyn MansonReading on mobile? Listen hereHometown: New York.The lineup: Michael Quattlebaum (voice).The background: Mykki Blanco is the "teenage f... more info

Guardian Music — The city's famous Guild Week is about to start, and it's going to see the launch of a 20-year epic which could change the lingering legacy of Charles Dickens' Hard TimesIt's got an ace bus station and was immortalised very one-sidedly in Charles Dick... more info

Guardian Music — From Shameless to Shakespeare, the TV actor has always done her own thing, and now that means a concept album about 17th-century magicLancashire's witch country lies a few miles north of Burnley. St Mary's Church is one of its premier attractions, ju... more info

Guardian Music — Twice a week we invite independent bloggers to tell us about what they do. Today, a site looking at the best box sets aroundWho are you and what's your blog called?I'm Paul Sinclair and my blog is called SuperDeluxeEdition.Where are you based?London.... more info

Guardian Music — Summoning the spirit of Spandau Ballet and Talk Talk, Shannon Fields has set all controls to replicate the sound of 1982Reading on mobile? Listen hereHometown: Missouri.The lineup: Shannon Fields (vocals), Jeff Gretz (drums, percussion), Anthony LaMa... more info

The Independent — Martyn Ware, who made his name with bands Heaven 17 and Human League, is to transform the Millennium Bridge into a “sound installation” designed to tell the story of London and its people. He urged the authorities to invest in more projects to ma... more info