Gallant produced by Felix Snow: Manhattan

Forget shows like "The Voice", network producers should instead do a talent show where aspiring producers are put through their paces. Because it's the overall sound of a record that dictate success more than any individual component parts such as vocals or guitar, isn't it? It's definitely the sound of the songs by the artist under inspection today that marks him out, which is rather like saying something because the singing is fantastic, and we don't as a rule give a monkey's behind about the voice. The voice of Gallant, a 21-year-old from Maryland who moved to New York and now lives in Los Angeles, is a spectral warble whose falsetto tremble resembles Michael Jackson if he would've surrendered to his true feelings rather than insisting on pseudo-macho posturing that frankly fooled no one. Without the sonics the singing would be merely arresting. With what Felix Snow does to them and around them, well, it’s one of the best things I've heard all year.