Monthly Archives: January 2011
Tareq
Greek ElectroPop artist Tareq recently dropped his début album, ‘Cocoon’, on Undo Records (home to Marsheaux) and is about to unleash his premier single from the album, ‘Cold’.
Tareq brings a little Vocal House flavour to the Modern SynthPop scene. As well as mixing in his retro influences he’s not adverse to adding some Disco bass or House pads into the traditional Modern SynthPop sound. While musically ‘Cold’ lives up to it’s name with layers of icy synths, the presence of a slap bass groove and Tareq’s emotive vocals warms things up a bit. The reMix package is quite impressive, the standout being d-tek’s Italo mix which is just begging for Club play as it mixes up an Italo bassline with layers of Nu-Disco synths.
♫ Tareq – Cold (d-tek Italo Mix)
If you want to check out how the Modern SynthPop scene is evolving the Tareq’s ‘Cold’ is recommended.
Evokateur
Evokateur are a London based ElectroPop duo who are gearing up for the release of their début single ‘Wolf Girl’.
Set for release in March the single sees this Mexican/English twosome walk the thin line between a strong 80’s European SynthPop influence and contemporary production techniques. Too rich sounding and Poppy to be ColdWave, yet too dark and brooding lumped in with any kind of Electro-House or Dreamwave styles of ElectroPop, this is what I imagine the true inheritance of the original SynthPop Futurists’ sounds like (ignoring the 90’s Modern SynthPop scene). Full, thick, electronic production that maintains a slightly cold edge, tempered by Sarah Villaraus’ smokey vocals, make the single instantly accessible, but with a hint of danger. Check it out, and the Idiotech reMix which ups the EBM quota but seems to strip the song of some of it’s charm.
♫ Evokateur – Wolf Girl
♫ Evokateur – Wolf Girl (Idiotech reMix (Radio edit))
‘Wolf Girl’ is released 14th March.
Gossip Culture’s ‘Whispers In My Ear’
It’s been a while since we featured Gossip Culture here on electronic rumors, but the Cleveland based one-man Indie-ElectroPop project from Cleveland is about to release a new EP, so let’s check out what we can expect.
‘Whispers In My Ear’ is a laid back, soulful slice of Funky Indie-Electro/Nu-Disco hybrid. With a deep Disco groove and introspective, intimate vocals this is a perfect tune to chill in the sunshine too. So if you’re lucky enough to be in a part of the world that isn’t frosty and miserable (as I am) then whack this in your stereo, grab a beer and get yourself out in the sun.
♫ Gossip Culture – Whispers In My Ear
‘Whispers In My Ear’ is taken from Gossip Culture’s forthcoming ‘People Talk’ EP on Girlfriend Records, also featured will be reMixes from Deniz, You Need It! and Girlfriend head honcho Sferro. Keep an eye on his Facebook page for news.
MNDR’s new single
MNDR, New Yorks ElectroPop heroes, have just dropped a brand new single from free.
The duo, made up of Amanda Warner & Peter Wade, are just staring out on a US tour supporting Chromeo (what a show that will be!) and have released ‘Cut Me Out’ to celebrate, Starting off with some moody synth burbling, the track quickly kick into it’s spikey, yet fun, main. Not many acts could take icy, ColdWave-esq, synths and make them sound , well, pretty bouncy, but I think that’s what gives MNDR their charm. The ability to sound both edgy and accessible.
You can pick up the full quality version of ‘Cut Me Out’ for free over at Green Label Sound.
Evan Voytas’, Kate Moss starring, new video
Here we have a video made by Jamie Harley has made for LA pop guy Evan Voytas’ track ‘Tomorrow Night We’ll Go Anywhere’.
The video stars Kate Moss and was filmed during Nick Knight’s editorial shoot for the December 2010 issue of Vogue Italia as part of the Editing Kate project. Whatever it was for, it looks nice and the track is a pretty cool slice of Lo-Fi DiscoPop.
Evan Voytas’ ‘Tomorrow We’ll Go Anywhere’ EP is out now on Cascine.
Avril Lavigne gets ElectroPopped-up by Robots With Rayguns
Well, when I started electronic rumors I never really had it in mind that one day Avril Lavigne would be gracing our little publication, but thanks to Mr. Smith, A.K.A. Robots With Rayguns, and his thinking-outside-of-the-box reMix choices here we go!
I do love the man’s mixes and this reMix right here is truly inspired. I’ll be honest, I’m not really familiar with the original, but I assume it is Avril’s typical band of PopPunk which RwR has brilliant translated into a seriously quality ElectroPop tune. When her Avril’s vocals are partnered with electronic music there emerges a hint of Katy Perry about her performance, but without being one of the most irritating people on the planet (well, slightly less irritating than Ms. Perry) and it works. Don’t ask me how but it just works. Love the synths in the chorus!
The more I listen to it the more I like it!
♫ Avril Lavigne – What The Hell (Robots With Rayguns Mix)
I have decided, Avril Lavigne needs to morph into an ElectroPop artist!
Chad Valley reMixes The Go! Team
Chad Valley is defiantly shaping up to be an artist to keep and ear on this year.
The latest reMix from the Indie-ElectroPopper is of Brighton sextet The Go! Team latest track ‘Buy Nothing Day’ which features vocals from Bethany Cosentino of Best Coast. Chad turns the track into a sweeping synth epic, his Bedroom pop sounding slightly more grandiose than usual. Densely layered and perfectly mixed this reMix is guaranteed to uplift anyone’s day. Alongside the likes of I Am Noxious, Chad Valley is showing that the UK can easily compete with the current crop of Us BedroomPop artists. Penguin Prison watch out!
♫ The Go! Team – Buy Nothing Day (Chad Valley reMix)
The Go! Team’s 3rd album ‘Rolling Blackouts’, which features ‘Buy Nothing Day’, is out 31st January.
DMX Krew’s ‘The Game’ EP
EDMX A.K.A the almighty DMX Krew had to rank as one of my all time favourite artists, whether he is rocking his experimental tracks, his B-Boy Electro or his ElectroPop he always drops something pretty special.
His latest EP release, ‘The Game’ is a return to something a little more ElectroPoppy for DMX Krew, with a hint of Moog Disco thrown in for good measure. The title track is the kind of deep analog ElectroPop with the observational, and slight introverted lyrics that made us fall in love with DMX Krew in the first place. The best way to describe EDMX’s Pop tunes is if a quality BedroomPop artists had been brought up spinning on his back on some lino down the subway in the 80’s. With ‘Disco Theme’ he turns his talents to some solid electronic groove for three minutes of arpeggio driven 70’s synth funk. Pure genius, and a welcome return to the popper side of EDMX.
That right there is 128kbps, you can purchase the full quality release when the EP drops on 29th January on Permanent Vacation. Do it!
autoKratz get reMixed by North Lights
London’s noisy ElectroPop kings autoKratz’s new single is pretty eagerly awaited round these parts, everything we hear from it is sounding awesome.
Like this reMix from North Lights, which is Junior Thibaut, ex-one third of Disco trio Perseus, who turn in an awesome Dreamwavey Nu-Disco take on the track. Pumping up both the Electro and the Pop aspects of the track with a big slice of Disco in the breakdown. This was actually the last track that Perseus, as a trio, produced together before going their separate ways. I’m sure we can expect great things from both Perseus (as it is now) and North Lights.
♫ autoKratz – Opposite Of Love (North Lights (Feat. Perseus) reMix)
24th January is the street date for ‘Opposite Of Love’
Gemini Club reMixes Chilly Gonzales
Chicago’s Gemini Club are going from strength to strength, their latest production, a reMix of Electro Piano-man Chilly Gonzales forthcoming single ‘You Can Dance’, is pure gold.
Taking on a Gonzales track must be pretty daunting, the mans ‘Ivory Tower’ album is an incredible piece of work, but Gemini Club have risen to the challenge in a laid back Disco style. Interweaving electric piano with synth burbling the trio make the track slightly more urgent and include the best drop and build I’ve heard all year that kicks back into a screaming synth solo.
♫ Chilly Gonzales – You Can Dance (Gemini Club reMix)
‘You Can Dance’ will be available from 1st March with a reMix package including work from Robotaki, Max Tundra, Shadow Dancer, Edwin Van Cleef and Popular Computer.
