Matthew Horton's Blog

When Laura Marling's fourth album Once I Was An Eagle is released on Monday (27 May) it will fire a shot across the bows of British music, confirming what we all should have known already – Marling is the finest UK artist of her generation.

The distressing news that Justin Bieber's Baby has become the highest certified single in US chart history is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to upsetting pop statistics. Read on if you dare.

As the Eurovision Song Contest returns this Saturday (18 May), it's time to consider the old question - Europe hates us, doesn't it? That's the only explanation for our poor Eurovision showing over the last 10 years. It can't be the songs, can it? Can it?

It's been a whole decade since Beyoncé came stomping out of Destiny's Child's smothering embrace with the bolshy, brassy Crazy In Love – has there been a pop song to match it since?

As the thaw sets in at last, the music industry comes out of hibernation and bands and singers stagger blinking into the sun. With any luck, they bring new albums and good intentions of lighting up festivals in what promises to be a bumper summer.

Noah And The Whale have enjoyed a startling rise over the last five years or so, from quirky folk beginnings with Laura Marling on backing vocals to a 2011 album – Last Night On Earth – that established them as one of the most accomplished bands in British pop.