Monthly Archives: November 2010
Robortom & Au Revoir Simone get classical
Robortom is classical composer Tom Hodge, Sunday Best head honcho Rob Da Bank and electronica legend Tom Middleton with vocal stylings from ElectroPop girls Au Revoir Simone.
Their single ‘Paganini Rocks’ is a 21st century reworking of Paganini’s ‘24th Caprice’, originally written in 1819 and will be instantly recognisable to even the most uncultured. This new take on the melody sounds fresh and is sure to hit the charts. The video for the track premiered this week, check it out:
The name might be a mistake though, the track’s actually really good and ‘Paganini Rocks’ makes it sound gimmicky.
‘Paganini Rocks’ is out 5th December and will feature reMixes from Mighty Mouse, Louis La Roche, James Talk, and Digital Soundboy.
Kid Kasio
Remember The Modern (nee Matinee Club)? The UK’s bright hopes for proper ElectroPop success back in the mid-90’s. Who were, let’s face it, slightly ahead of their time. Had they been releasing the singles they did a few years later, to a Little Boots & La Roux obsessed public, dominance would have been theirs. What are they up to now?
Well, founder and producer/songwriter Nathan Cooper is back to bring a some electronic Power Pop into your grey little lives as Kid Kasio. The early to mid 80’s, the last time our country was in financial meltdown, produced some of the best uplifting, yet socially aware, Pop music in history and as we weather the current economic storm it’s not surprising that we are hearing more and more Pop-in-the-face-of-adversity. Although easily contemporary with the likes of Penguin Prison, Bright Light Bright Light and Frankmusik, Kid Kasio carves out a sound all of his own mixing 80’s synthesizer Pop-Funk with New Wave songwriting. Working both as danceable throwaway pop (and round these parts that’s not meant as an insult!) and as razor-wit poetry there’s something for every lover of electronic Pop here and with the right backing 2011 could see Kid Kasio propelled straight up the charts.
There’s an album on the way, but until the go show Kid Kasio some MySpace lovin’
Robyn + A-Track!!!
Swedish queen of all things ElectroPop Robyn’s new single, ‘Indestructible’ (first heard in acoustic form on ‘Body Talk Pt.2’, then in dancefloor form on ‘Body Talk (Pt. 3)’) as reMixed by DJ prodigy, Chromeo brother and Producer/Label Boss extraordinairé A-Trak.
There’s not much more I can say….
Amazing!
♫ Robyn – Indestructible (A-Trak Radio Edit)
Body Talk (the third one) is out at the end of this month with the ‘Indestructible’ single dropping this week!
The Vanity Clause
There’s some soulful ElectroPop going down in Southend-On-Sea in the form of The Vanity Clause, a band who’s name may be familiar to live music lovers in the south east of England and a band who have just released their début album.
Titled ‘Fractured’, the record is 12 tracks of pure SynthPop with an, almost, Motown twist courtesy of Louisa Strachan, who’s ballsy vocals ride the wave of analog synthesis in a way that hasn’t been heard since the days of Alison and Vince (Yazoo).
Formed by Russell Harris, David Woods and a collection of vintage synth gear (Russ has a white Moog Liberation (who’s control panel makes up electronic rumors banner)! Jealous!), the band gigged around a bit for a few years before recruiting Lou, last year, to complete the sound laid out on their new album. The music is entirely Sci-Fi electronics, with a raw edge. This is possibly due to Russ and David’s rock background which seems, in combination with the vintage equipment, to give the machine-music a live, slightly garage, vibe. It walks the line between slick SynthPop and something a bit more grungy. Which, in turn, makes Lou’s powerful voice so much sweeter as the glue that hold everything together. There’s even hints of New York Disco and Italo as the album progresses.
Check ‘Mr. Fairweathered’ for those vocals at their ‘Aretha’ best over some moody and shuffling ElectroPop.
♫ The Vanity Clause – Mr. Fairweathered
The Vanity Clause’s ‘Fractured’ is our now:
Too soon Lola Dutronic!, too soon!
Only joking!…Or am I?
I suppose it is nearly December, and it is freezing outside.
Oh, go on then! Multi-national ElectroPop Lounge duo Lola Dutronic have reworked their X-mas tune for this year’s holidays and wrapped it up in a nice wintery Anime Music Video.
Time for some festive cheer with ‘(Another) Christmas Without Snow’.
Lola Dutronic’s three albums are available now:
New track from Echoes!
The awesome Echoes have dropped a new track! Already showing a progression in their songwriting the London mystery newcomers.
‘It Goes On’ is powerful as hell. A sweeping epic of a song that is slick and well produced far beyond what you’d expect from a band just starting out. Mid-tempo, without ever truly becoming a ballad, yet wearing it’s 80’s Pop influence on it’s sleeve (‘It Goes On’ is the kind of thing Nik Kershaw would do in a ‘quieter moment’ (and I mean that positively!)) the track defiantly makes Echoes as one to watch, alongside the likes of Bright Light Bright Light and Monarchy, as the next generation of successful British electronic Pop.
The video for the track, a nice contrasting journey between inner city living and a simpler life, was made by Astray Films.
Keep it locked to electronic rumors for a special reMix from Echoes soon, and while your waiting show them some of your very finest MySpace love.
Logo, ‘La Vie Moderne’, video
Kitsuné Music have just premiered the video for the A-side of Logo’s awesome double A-side single ‘La Vie Moderne’/’Juniocide’.
Directed by French crew AB/CD/CD the ‘La Vie Moderne’ kinda’ captures the tension of the track, as well as the humour.
Logo are appearing live in Paris on 2nd December at La Maroquinerie with Holy Ghost!, Housse De Racket & Moscow for Petit Bateau x Kitsuné Maison En Vrai! #8.
‘La Vie Moderne’/’Juniocide’ is out not on Kitsuné.
David E. Sugar’s ‘Flea Market’ video
David E. Sugar had just dropped the video for his latest single ‘Flea Market’.
David is kinda’ quietly making some of the best ElectroPop in the country and this single is no exception with an added Folktronica flavour. The video, directed by Thomas Knights, continues his tradition of making simple but effective clips.
The ‘Flea Market; single is out now.
The Mystic Underground’s new single
New York based ElectroPop act The Mystic Underground return this week with a brand new single, ‘Pride Of St. Marks.
Produced by Super Buddha (Debbie Harry, Rufus Wainwright, Franz Ferdinand) the track is pretty anthemic for TMU with it’s bouncing bassline and chant along chorus, defiantly worth checking out and a welcome comeback for the duo. ElectroPop with huge production, this is one track you can’t help but nod along to. The reMix package includes this mix by fellow New Yorker and THISISNOTANEXIT artist The Dark Esquire who brings the track to a slightly darker, slightly more minimal place with the lightest of sprinklings of Post-Punk guitar.
♫ The Mystic Underground – Pride Of St. Mark’s (Radio Edit)
♫ The Mystic Underground – Pride Of St. Mark’s (The Dark Esquire Re-Version)
‘Pride Of St. Mark’s’ is released this week.
The Mystic Underground @ 7Digital
The Mystic Underground @ Amazon
Monarchy reMix Kylie Minogue
It was only yesterday that it was announced that the ElectroPop mystery men Monarchy would be reMixing Kylie Minogue’s next single, ‘Better Than Love’ and already we have the reMix so you lot can listen to it!
In true Monarchy style, the London Cosmic SynthPoppers have taking Kylie into space. If Kylie’s music is the sound of a Disco down on Earth, then Monarchy create the soundtrack to the Disco in the orbiting space station. Floating, zero-G, synths wash over Miss Minogue’s dreamlike vocals all held together by the their machine beats. With a pulsing bassline acting as the heartbeat of the tune this is one of the most innovative Disco or ElectroPop reMixes that I have heard in a while. Or maybe I’m just reading too much into it? It’s pretty rad either way!
This is the track that should make first contact!
♫ Kylie Minogue – Better Than Today (Monarchy’s Kylie Through The Wormhole reMix)
‘Better Than Today’ will be released on December 6.
