Jan 16 2009

Depeche Mode new album news

depechemode

Depeche Mode have finally set a date for the new album, now titled ‘Sounds Of The Universe’

“January 15, 2009- Groundbreaking, chart-topping electro legends Depeche Mode are proud to announce the release of their long-anticipated new studio album, Sounds Of The Universe on April 21, 2009 (Mute Records).”

Looks like Dave Gahan is taking more of a prominent role as a second songwriter which, if his last solo effort is anything to go by, isn’t necessarily a bad thing.

This is the quote from the press release that excites me:

“Recorded in Santa Barbara and New York, Depeche Mode returned to using a lot of vintage gear, from analogue synthesizers to drum machines, in order to conjure up the retro-futuristic arrangements featured on the album”

As ever, ‘Sounds Of The Universe’ will be released on Mute Records Ltd.

It looks like the album will actually be available for download on April 20th in Europe.

If we’re going to take about Depeche I can’t help but drop this 2006 reMix of ‘Personal Jesus’ by Boys Noize:

♫ Depeche Mode – Personal Jesus (Boys Noize Rework) (zShare) (MediaFire)

Along with some classic Mode from ’83:

♫ Depeche Mode – Get The Balance Right! (zShare) (MediaFire)

Pick up some of Depeche’s back catalogue in preparation for the new album!

Depeche Mode @ Juno

Depeche Mode @ 7Digital

Depeche Mode @ Amazon

Jan 16 2009

Watchmen still go!

watchmen

Warner Bros. and Fox have apparently reached a settlement in their ongoing legal battle over distribution right for Warner’s forthcoming movie of Watchmen.

There’s some background on the dispute here.

In my opinion Fox have acted more than slyly throughout this whole affair.

I’m not saying that Fox aren’t within their rights to protect property they own, but the fact that they waited until WB has all but completed the movie, spending millions on it, to bring their claim was premeditated. Obviously, in business, you want to get one up on and ‘crush’ your competitors so I understand why they did this, but, whilst not in any way illegal, it’s a really dirty way to conduct your business. …and I know business IS dirty, but it doesn’t make it right.

I still think that if Fox wanted to protect their properties (rather than making ‘free’ cash at the expense of a competitor) they would have been shutting down the production from the start.

Anyhoo, the movie’s March 6th release date seems unaffected (did anyone really think it would be?) and as a fanboy of the comic I have complete faith in Zach Snyder, I even trust him to make his changed ending work.

Roll on March 6th!

Oh, and Fox can defiantly Eat All The Dicks!

Jan 16 2009

Empire Of The Sun – We Are The People video

Check the brand spankin’ new video by Empire Of The Sun for ‘We Are The People’:

Directed by Josh Logue of Mathematics. As crazy as Empire Of The Sun are!

Italio-Electro-Synth-Pop goodness!

Get yourself some mint imperials:

Empire Of The Sun @ Beatport

Empire Of The Sun @ Amazon

Jan 16 2009

OMG!!! BSG!!!

Well, the wait is finally over. Today sees the first instalment of the final 10 episodes of Battlestar Galactica.

So, essentially, today is on hold. All today consists of now is a few hours until BSG is starts.

Who is the final Cylon? What happened to Earth? What happened before? What will happen again? Are we going the wrong waaaaaaaaaay?

All will be revealed.

So say we all…

Jan 15 2009

Heartsrevolution, back…and on Kitsuné

heartsrevolution

This week Heartsrevolution release their first offering on Kitsuné Music (previously having either Self Released or been on Iheartcomix Records or Isomorph Records), ‘Ultraviolence’.

‘Ultraviolence’ is a crazy good tune, and with remixes by Streetlife DJs, Vitalic, Château Marmont and a Spank Rock version, the whole package is well worth your attention.
Like their previous single ,’C.Y.O.A. (Choose Your Own Adventure)’, ‘Ultraviolence’ is a almighty soundclash of melody and…well…funk, with 8-bit noise and Lo’s distorted vocals.

ElectroPunk this is!

I like bands that have got the whole package and Heartsrevolution have certainly got that, from the image to the merchandise to the Heartschallenger, the pink ice cream truck they drive to parties.

Have a butcher’s at a couple of tracks from ‘Ultraviolence’, I know you’re gonna’ want the whole thing!

♫ Heartsrevolution – Ultraviolence (Original) (zShare) (MediaFire)

♫ Heartsrevolution – Ultraviolence (Vitalic reMix) (zShare) (MediaFire)

Bonus points for last years ‘C.O.Y.A. (Choose Your Own Adventure)’.

♫ Heartsrevolution – C.Y.O.A. (Original Mix) (zShare) (MediaFire)

You know your new years resolution was to buy more music?…well start here!

Heartsrevolution @ Beatport

Heartsrevolution @ Juno

Heartsrevolution @ Amazon

Jan 15 2009

New Røyksopp!!!

royksopp

‘Happy Up Here’, that’s the name of the first single from Røyksopp forthcoming album. The album, according to rumours, will feature contributions from the likes of Lykke Li and The Knife.

Here’s the title track of the single:

♫ Røyksopp – Happy Up Here (zShare) (MediaFire)

I like it, it’s got that ‘Eple’ vibe. Røyksopp always sound like “summer in Camden” to me. I might buy the album when it comes out in March but not listen to it for a few months, ’til the sun comes out.

But you lot should buy stuff now!

Jan 15 2009

Fan Death on ‘da bill!

fandeath

Don’t you just love it when you’ve got tickets to see a band you want to see (in this case Simian Mobile Disco) and they just keep piling other bands, you also want to see, onto the bill!

I found out yesterday that Fan Death are supporting!!!

Last year Fan Death released their début single ‘Veronica’s Veil’, a heady mix of dark Indie-Electro, Disco strings and Pop melodies.

I hope their live performace is as interesting as they seem to be, it should be a cool night.

Check Erol Alkan‘s extended version of the singe:

♫ Fan Death – Veronica’s Veil (Erol Alkan’s Extended Rework) (zShare) (MediaFire)

I stongly suggest you indulge in some SynthPop wierdness:

Jan 14 2009

Rex The Dog

The video for Rex The Dog‘s, Yazoo sampling, ‘Bubblicious’ has started knocking round the web.

I do like Rex The Dog videos, always something interesting.

It’s a cool track, and off of a wicked album ‘The Rex The Dog Show’, but I don’t think anything on the album touches the greatness that was ‘Circulate’.

Still, I like that he makes quite complex, deep Electro-House injected with a Pop edge, and I love the all the merchandising and stuff. That’s a serious vision of how to get on in the post 2K music biz.

The ‘Bubblicious’ single is released Feb 23rd.

♫ Rex The Dog – Bubblicious (zShare) (MediaFire)

I just can’t sign off without dropping ‘Circulate’!

♫ Rex The Dog – Circulate (zShare) (MediaFire)

Remember kids, a dog is for life, not just X-mas!

Rex The Dog @ Beatport

Rex The Dog @ Juno

Rex The Dog @ 7Digital

Rex The Dog @ Amazon

Jan 14 2009

Little Boots (+Designer Drugs)

littleboots

Hey, another post topic decided on by gig tickets!

I just managed to get hold of tickets for Mystery Jets as part of the NME tour, I had thought they were sold out but after a bit of digging I managed to get hold of some. I’m not at all bothered about Mystery Jets, I want to see the support act, Little Boots.

So now seems a good time to blog about Little Boots because soon she is going to be huge and blogging about her will be far too passé 😉 .

Little Boots is Victoria Hesketh, ex of Dead Disco, (with a little help from Hot Chip‘s Joe Goddard) who is fast on her way to becoming one of the finest electronic songwriters this country has ever produced.

The focus of a recent article in The Guardian about women in electro, Little Boots connects with her fans by uploading videos to YouTube of her performing covers suggested to her by her channels viewers. The cover versions proove just how talented she is, she’ll just sit there with her piano, a Stylophone and her Tenori-on and knock them out! And, boy!, what this girl can do with a Tenori-On…completely made me change my mind about the device!

Little Boots covering Hot Chip’s ‘Ready For The Floor‘

Little Boot’s ‘acoustic’ version of her own track ‘Meddle’

Anyway, the forthcoming album is eagerly anticipated! Here’s something to keep you going:

♫ Little Boots – Stuck On Repeat (zShare) (MediaFire)

♫ Little Boots – Meddle (Designer Drugs 80’s Coke Jame reMix) (zShare) (MediaFire)

While we’re on the subject of Designer Drugs…

♫ Designer Drugs – ZOMBIES! (zShare) (MediaFire)

C’mon people…Little Boots gotta’ eat!!!

Little Boots @ Beatport

Little Boots @ 7Digital

Little Boots @ Juno

Little Boots @ Amazon

Designer Drugs @ Beatport

Jan 13 2009

Birdy Nam Nam

birdynamnam1

The bizzarley named Birdy Nam Nam are releasing their album, ‘Manual For Sucessful Rioting’, in the next 10 days or so. I’m pretty interested to hear it as this French act are that most rare of things, an an Electro Turntablist group, which is a genre we could do with hearing more from!

With tracks produced by Justice and Yuksek I’m expecting great things indeed!

There are some tasters of what to expect on their recent EP ‘Worried’.

The title track…

♫ Birdy Nam Nam – Worried (Album Version) (zShare) (MediaFire)

…and a new version of their 2007 tune…

♫ Birdy Nam Nam – Trans-Boulogne Express (Album Version) (zShare) (MediaFire)

If you like what you hear, send some of that ‘hard earned’ Birdy Nam Nam’s way, you won’t regret it!

Birdy Nam Nam @ Beatport

Birdy Nam Nam @ Juno

Birdy Nam Nam @Amazon