With us falling deeper and deeper into the mire of the Christmas release schedule (look out for the Flashlight Xmas song appreciation column coming soon), we're having to delve deeper and deeper to bring you anything that hasn't so far been sponsored by X-Factor...

It's unlikely that Animal Collective would get too far on X Factor, although with the judges' recent embracing of Gummo, who knows. However, they're going to be pretty much an essential inclusion in most of the best of 2009 albums lists for Merriweather Post Pavillion, and deservedly so. They close the year with the release of a new EP this week consisting of a few of their live favourites, and yes ladies and gentlemen, a track featuring the first ever Grateful Dead sample....Check out opening track, 'Graze' below.

Rox is a singer from South London who is signed to Rough Trade and doesn't sound anything like The Strokes, Carter USM or Morrissey. Which is pretty weird. She does however have a cracking soul tinged voice and is backed by some lovely gospel choirs on debut single, 'No Going Back'. Definitely more Lauryn Hill than the Libertines but (and I'm sure you'll hear this a lot in the next few weeks) surely a name to watch for 2010...Check her out on Myspace or see her performing at Selfridges below!

Depeche Mode release 'Fragile Tension', the third single from their latest album, Sounds Of The Universe in December and finally the band will make it to the UK as part of their year long world tour. Dave Gahan seems to be fit and healthy again (well, as fit and healthy as someone who once died is going to be) and the shows are reportedly awesome...

The latest track to be taken from the surprisingly ace new Ian Brown album is 'Just Like You', that simply put has a quality beat and a catchy chorus. Oh and a video that looks something like a Liberty X video with Brownie playing a bit of tambourine over the top. What more could you possibly want from your pop music, people?

It really is that quiet at the moment, so I'm going to indulge myself and play a track that I heard on Marc Riley's show the other day that was all new to me. This is The Herd, Peter Frampton's first band and it's a proper good oldie with some nice psychedelic overtones to it. Cheers Marc Riley!

OK, just one more, I promise. Nothing much to say except that this is my song of the week....

Cheers folks - see you soon!