Foals - Holy Fire
11th February on Transgressive Records

Yannis Philippakis, frontman for Oxford five-piece Foals, grew up as a massive admirer of the Smashing Pumpkins so when long-time Pumpkins collaborators Flood and Alan Moulder agreed to work on the band's third record Holy Fire, they were welcomed into the fold with open arms. "They're a great combination", Phlilppakis told Spinner. "We grew up listening to Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness and Downward Spiral. Flood has produced some of our favourite music".

The first two cuts from Holy Fire, 'Inhaler' and 'My Number', have both been on the receiving end of high praise since they debuted online indicating that Holy Fire will serve as notice that Foals are back with a bang. Colour us excited about this one.

Azealia Banks - Broke With Expensive Taste
12th February on Polydor

Azealia Banks was the talk of the town when her bombastic hit '212' dropped in the latter part of 2011. A sweaty, blisteringly quick gig 20 minute performance in Whelan's seemed to crystallise all the hype. Banks looked like a superstar on stage - and she knew it.

Fast forward a year: a couple of extra singles and an EP have been released but two cancelled Irish festival performances and a delayed album has meant that interest in Banks has gone off the boil. Broke With Expensive Taste, the New Yorker's first long player, should reignite the interest but her label bosses will be keeping a close eye on whether Banks can hit the heights of '212' again.

Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds - Push The Sky Away
18th February on Bad Seed Ltd.

The fifteenth album from Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds claims to be the most "subtly beautiful" of all the Bad Seeds albums to date, or at least so the press information claims. In typical Cave-esque boho fashion, the record was laid down in La Fabrique, a studio contained within a 19th century mansion in southern France.

Cave claims the album is a continuation of previous themes but retains an identity of being "new in an old school kind of way." That's enough for us, we're looking forward to this one.

Johnny Marr - The Messenger
25th February on Warner Bros Music

The Messenger is the debut solo offering from Smiths guitar guru Johnny Marr, a player held in regard as one of the most influential guitarists of the 80's - or any other era. Rumours were abound late last year that Morrissey and Marr were considering a Smiths reunion but this has since been completely scotched by both parties. No matter, though. Marr's debut record is getting great reviews from those who've heard it and all signs point to it going some way to filling that Smiths-sized hole in your heart.

Atoms For Peace - Amok
25th February on XL Recordings

You may not have yet heard of Atoms For Peace but you've heard of the band's members. Radiohead's Thom Yorke, Flea from Red Hot Chili Peppers, longtime Radiohead producer Nigel Godrich, as well as Joey Waronker of Beck and (occasionally) R.E.M. and multi-instrumentalist Mauro Refosco all call Atoms For Peace home at the moment. The supergroup have been playing together (admittedly sparingly) since October 2009 but it was only recently that their collective schedules allowed time for recording, which was done in a three day jamming session.

The band's first single 'Default' is online and it's well worth checking out.