I loved you from the very start, even though I knew you would break my heart

Further from the "no way! Me actually writing about songs that are released in the U.S.?!" files comes Brick & Lace. This Jamaican duo (made up of two sisters) was featured on iTunes a while ago with a free download of their song "Never Never," but that song didn't do much for me. It was also a lot more R&B than the song I'm posting today. Given Akon's popularity over the past year, the group is probably his success will rub off on acts signed to his record label, as they're signed to it and have worked with him, and I hope they at least get to one-minor-hit status; the following song would be a great one to hear coming out of radios this summer.

Love Is Wicked--infinitely better than "Never Never" or really anything else I've heard by them, though, to be fair, I haven't heard much else. Faint whistling effects and handclaps, reggae or maybe dancehall influence (though don't expect a dance song like Kat DeLuna's "Whine Up" or even something as in-your-face as "Pon De Replay"), a sweet voice and a deeper sing-talking voice--they all add up to a somewhat hypnotizing track. It's not the sort of song that's sounds like it's out to change the world, but it's deceptively clever--clever in its simplicity. It's actually surprisingly sweet, in a way, even if sad as well. And, though it's got it's R&B influences and that's probably the radio it'll be aimed at, it's very pop as well.

Brick & Lace's debut album isn't out yet, but you can buy their single "Love Is Wicked" from iTunes in some countries; for example, if you live in the U.S., go here.

Next up: maybe a British singer.