Mark my words like they are a target, South African band the Parlatones are about to shake things up on a global scale.  And having recently seen them perform at a small little pub in Kings Cross, Water Rats Theatre, I can vouch that they are not only great on record but even better to see live.

Things have really been moving for this band recently.  The Parlatones will no doubt look back at the years of 2006 and 2007 as groundbreaking.  Scoring a record deal with Universal Music is no mean feat.  Doubling it up with an agency deal with Primary UK is also impressive.  Having also finished recording their album, "A World Next Door to Yours", and also recently releasing the single, "Beautiful", it is an understatement to say that The Parlatones have been busy in recent times.

When you see The Parlatones play live, it is clear who their influences are.  In the cosy, intimate and pubby Water Rats environment, I depicted a range of influences from Radiohead and Travis to Coldplay.  But underpinning The Parlatones' slightly commercial sound is an indie edge.  They are not quite Kings Of Leon, but they are certainly not Creed.

The Parlatones play like music is theatre, which is probably how it should be treated all the time with live performances.  They have a number of stand-out tunes, including "Louder Than Bombs" and "Dragonflies and Astronauts", and both these videos are available to the public to watch on their official website. For me though, it is "Beautiful" that really makes an impact and it is no wonder that it was chosen by the band as a single.  The video clip is also strangely compelling, and even features exciting special effects.

Definitely a band to watch out for in the coming months, I recommend that you either sample The Parlatones at a live concert or by buying one of their records.