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TRACK: Rows

WHO: Videotheque.

WHAT: Melancholy theque-nology.

THE HYPE: This act is so undiscovered that there is no hype.

WE SAY: Bright Eyes, Florence And The Machine, Feist… these days so many solo artists take on a professional alter-ego. The latest is Videotheque, otherwise known as London-based singer-songwriter Nick Malena.

The tracks on his MySpace indicate a talented artist with the ability to construct a diverse range of songs. Rows is the more stripped down of the bunch, and that allows a pure, acoustic sound to shine through. The metaphorical lyrics and raw, honest vocals convey the yearning for a new love, aided by a pulsating piano and mesmerisingly minimalistic guitar. Beautiful.

The other songs have a more electro feel, taking their lead from influences as varied as Talking Heads, Devo and Daft Punk. It's hard not to be excited about what these DIY tracks would sound like with a bit of professional studio polish. Watch this space.

IF YOU ONLY NEED TO KNOW ONE THING: This isn't Malena's first shot at the music biz. He was also the singer, bassist and songwriter for Negative For Francis, who gathered critical acclaim a couple of years back before the group went their separate ways. They even caught the eye of Paul Epworth, who produced their double A-side Love Bug/Losing Control.

WHERE CAN I GET MY HANDS ON IT: You can download Rows for free at Videotheque's iLike site (link http://www.ilike.com/artist/Videotheque).

FIND MORE: www.myspace.com/videothequemusic I www.facebook.com/pages/Videotheque/26516619341

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