Episode 4: Arctic Monkeys and Malcolm Middleton

Hi, I'm Nate and this is Encoded, bringing you the best in new music. First up we've got the new video from everyone's favourite Sheffield scallywags the Arctic Monkeys.

It's directed by Francis Ford Coppola's son Roman, whose promo credits include work with The Strokes, Daft Punk and Green Day. This video for 'Teddy Picker' captures the band in the studio recording the song live, whilst looking a bit retro, having a bit of a chinwag and generally acting like monkeys in the arctic – so cold... and stuff. The single is released on 3rd December – head over to our music videos channel to see the video in all its faux-vintage glory.

Album news now, and the ever lovely Chan Marshall, (Cat Power to you and me) has a new album complete and ready to release in January next year. It's her second album of cover versions, so it's not really a new album, but it does feature two songs written by her own hand, so it's not strictly a covers album ether. All very confusing I'm sure you'll agree, but no less exciting. Jukebox, as the album is called, will be out on 21st January, with 'Song to Bobby' (a track written by Marshall to and about the legendary Bob Dylan), available on iTunes this week.

Also announced this week is the debut album from twee-indie super-heroes Los Campesinos!, which is produced by David Newfeld of Canadian role-models Broken Social Scene. The album, entitled Hold On Now Youngster, will feature previous singles 'We Throw Parties, You Throw Knives' and 'International Tweecore Underground'. However, it's not known whether last summer's net-phenomenon 'You! Me! Dancing!' will be included. If it is, expect Los Camp to be as massive as the holes in their hand-knitted cardies by Easter. If it's not, they'll probably be just as huge anyway.

Sticking with forthcoming releases, Malcolm Middleton of Full Time Hobby fame has been quoted the longest odds ever to be Christmas number one for his jolly festive number 'We're All Going to Die’.

Taken from Middleton's third solo album, A Brighter Beat, 'We're All Going To Die' is full of electronic arpeggios, a chugging beat and not a sleigh-bell in sight. Pitted against this year's X Factor winner, the evergreen Spice Girls and my half-blind, half-dead pensioner friend Cliff Richard, Middleton is a 1000/1 long-shot to scoop the number one slot.

You can catch him on Colin Murray's Radio One Christmas Special performing the track live on the 17th December, where hopefully the euphoric repetition of the titular chorus-line will brainwash enough people into buying the single, making Christmas great for gamblers across the country.

For those who prefer to keep their money in their pockets rather than the bookies' tills, The Futureheads have provided a free taster from their forthcoming third album to download from www.thefutureheads.com.

'Broke Up The Time' is more reminiscent of the jagged-pop sound that brought them fame on their eponymous debut, and less introspective than their second outing News and Tributes, the poor sales of which saw them dropped from their label, 679, and almost caused them to become the forgotten men of the 2004 indie-rock uprising. Hopefully this will pave the way for somewhat of a comeback for the Sunderland quartet.

The second free download this week comes from French electro-poppers Klanguage and their single 'All This Time'. Klanguage have been called Paris' answer to CSS and Le Tigre, they've gained airplay in the UK with their previous single 'We Are Horse Friends', and get two very enthusiastic thumbs up from me.

With the influx of French electro into the UK in recent months seeing Justice, Uffie, Sebastien and others dominate the dancefloors and begin to bother the charts, expect to hear lots more from Klanguage as 2008 slips into gear. Visit the Kruger Singles Club at www.krugermagazine.com to download for free.

Tour news next, and the line-up has been revealed for next year's NME Awards Tour, so expect to get very familiar with the chosen bands over the next few months as the hype machine cranks up a gear. Headlining the event are mainstream-baiting non-sellouts, The Cribs, who might have to re-evaluate their muso-politics as their stock rises accordingly.

Support comes from Joe Lean and The Jing Jang Jong – the new band of former Pipettes drummer Joe, who are tipped for big, big things next year. Also supporting are Does it Offend You, Yeah? – the 80s-obsessed electroheads and The Ting Tings, whose bubblegum synth-pop has snared them the coveted opening slot, previously occupied by the likes of Coldplay, Kaiser Chiefs and Franz Ferdinand.

The tour kicks off at Mandela Hall in Belfast on the 29th January, and finishes at Brixton Academy on 22nd February. If you'd like to know more, check out the related link for more details.

Also touring are the excellent New Young Pony Club, who embark on a four-city hop with support from Foals, Four Tet and Hot Chip. Tickets are on sale now for the dates in Liverpool, Nottingham, Manchester and Sheffield. The band recently headlined the after-show party at MTV's EMAs, and along with their Mercury Music nomination, it would seem that New Young Pony Club are marked for big things in the coming months.

Finally, a full ten years after they gave us 'Novocaine for the Soul', those beautiful freaks Eels are commemorating a decade in the game with a dual release of a best of and a rarities collection. Meet The EELS: Essential EELS Vol. 1, spans the first decade of Eels with 24 selections on CD and 12 promotional videos on DVD, while EELS Useless Trinkets: B-Sides, Soundtracks, Rarities and Unreleased is a collection of, well, B-Sides, Soundtracks, Rarities and Unreleased tracks. Simple really.

Both albums come out on 21st January, so if you like your geek-rock lo-fi, get down the shops and spend your Christmas vouchers on this.

If you don't know or care who Eels are, keep your cash for the hot new things we'll be telling you about next week. Until then, be good to yourself... and each other.