It’s a reverb drenched electronic dream. Synth melodies and tones intertwine and fade in and out while mere snatches of the original vocal are used to ethereal effect. It’s a dark and moody track, as you’d expect from RD, but with chord progressions and melodies that suggest some underlying hope. I think it’s my favourite Radiant Dragon piece to date, I think maybe ‘cos amongst the darkness there is some really beautiful synth work and an, almost, 80’s fantasy/Sci-Fi soundtrack vibe going on.
When Sarah McIntosh A.K.A. The Good Natured first came to our attention last year we could tell something special was going on. Not flash-in-the-pan, overhyped, special, but something of substance. The kind of special that grows and lasts.
The young singer/songwriter creates something that appeals, not only to a love of electronic dance music, but also to the intimate and atmospheric. Her introspective and heartfelt presentation on record is complimented with a live show that sees Sarah commanding the stage with eclectic outfits and a passionate performance that is only increasing as her confidence grows. Set apart from her contemporary left-field popsetresses, such as Marina or Ellie, by a uniqueness and individuality that can only come from an honesty in everything she does, The Good Natured sprinkles a hint of darkness over female fronted ElectroPop and makes the genre a more interesting place.
The lead track on her début EP of last year, ‘Your Body Is A Machine’, gets a full single release next month with the backing of the mighty Kitsuné Music .With a beautifully shot video and reMixes that are already setting the blogs on fire it’s sure to be a summer hit. Sarah took some time out of her busy schedule promoting the single to drop a little knowledge on us:
ER: We’ve featured you on our website a few times but although there are many electronic elements to your music, I wouldn’t strictly call you an Electro or ElectroPop artist. How would you *like* your music described and (gun to the head) what genre do you feel most comfortable being associated with?
SM: That’s quite a hard question, I don’t really think about what genre I am, I just consider my music a form of self expression and art. I guess it is electronic pop, but I like to think its got a darker side.
ER: Who, musically, has been an inspiration on you and who inspires you out of your contemporaries?
SM: David Slyvian, Robert Smith, Siouxsie Soux.
ER: You must be exited about the re-release of Your Body Is A Machine on Kitsuné, having one of the world hippest labels champion you must be flattering?
SM: Yes, it is very flattering!
ER: How did you approach the re-recording of the track, was there stuff you weren’t happy with on the EP recording?
SM: It wasn’t that I wasn’t happy with the EP recording, it was great, but I felt it could be better, and we have made it sound bigger and more epic, so I am really pleased.
ER: You’ve done quite a bit of solid gigging in the past few months, have you found anywhere you really enjoy playing? (Kudos points for saying Bristol!)
SM: Well Start the Bus in Bristol was really fun actually! There was free cake so that was a mega plus. We all really enjoyed playing the great escape in Brighton, there was a great atmosphere there and it was packed.
ER: Do you prefer songwriting/recording or playing live?
SM: I don’t think you can compare the two. I love them both in different ways, performing is so much fun, but songwriting more emotional, depends what you are in the mood for!
ER: Any crazy rock ‘n’ roll tour stories?
SM: Yes actually! One time we got chucked out of our own gig in Reading because we were too young! Another time in Brighton the soundman bottled the promoter. Nice.
ER: You’ve been known to wear some pretty eye-catching outfits and put on some pretty crazy performances, is that the real Sarah or is The Good Natured a persona?
SM: Its me!
ER: From the backcombed black hair to the atmospheric videos there’s quite a bit of Goth going on ’round your way, are you a secret Goth?
SM: Yes I think so. My skins pale enough isn’t it?
ER: Now for the gear geek question! What’s in Sarah’s studio? Do you have a favourite bit of kit. I’ve heard there is a particular Yamaha keyboard you’re very fond of?
SM: Yes, my beloved Yamaha my Grandma gave me, a few of the keys have stopped working it’s so old but I love it dearly. Apart from that there’s a couple of synths and many fairy lights.
ER: How does the average The Good Natured song take shape, lyrics or music first?
SM: Depends,sometimes words sometimes music! What generally happens is I get a musical idea, then I open my lyric book and chose some words to go over the top!
ER: Cereal or Full English Breakfast? Would your answer change the day after a gig?
SM: Coco-Pops or Crunchy Nut. Deffo a Full English after a gig!
ER:Cheers Sarah!
While you’re waiting for the single release check out the mega talented Baby Monster’s new reMix of ‘Your Body Is A Machine’ which drags Sarah squarely into the middle of the dancefloor!
Andrew Verner A.K.A. Short Circuit is fast becoming the king of Robo-Pop. Coming out of L.A.’s Binary family, the go-to gang for forward thinking cotemporary ElectroPop, Short Circuit has been responsible for some awesomereMixes of late, but the time has come for him to release some original material into the wild.
Setting himself apart from the pack with his heavy use of vocodered vocals, his début single, ‘Let Go’, is a robotic love letter set to a soundtrack of warm synth leads and burbling basses. The single is backed by the kind of reMix package that has fans of electronic Pop music grinning like idiots all day after hearing it. Fellow Binary act, the reliably amazing, NightWaves bring a bit more of a Dreamwave flavour to the track, although heavier than you’d expect from these guys They bring the robot to the Disco with some thick bass sounds and screaming synths. Small Pyramids take ‘Let Go’ to a more chilled, atmospheric, place with a deep electronic groove while Popskarr reveal themselves as one to watch after turning in a blinding, funky, late night House mix.
Indie-Popsters The Drums‘ new single is released later this year with the catchy title of ‘Forever And Ever Amen’ and has been given the reMix treatment by the almighty Saint Etienne.
Turning the jangly Indie declaration of love into a brilliant piece of dreamy electronic Pop Saint Etienne have done what they do best. Forget all the trends, forget Dreamwave or hip retro synth, forget French House or Nu-Disco, this is pure synthesizer Pop put to it’s best use.
Member of the Valerie posse and Dreamwave pioneer Anoraak has been quiet of late but today dropped a new track on the public via his Facebook page.
It’s a welcome return from Frédéric, I still listen to 2008’s ‘Nightdrive With You’ all the time and this new tune, ‘Above Your Head’ has the same vibe going on. This is the prefect way to make emotional electronic music with a smooth, chilled summer vibe. If you were looking for some ElectroPop to while away these warm nights we’re getting recently to, then look no further:
SynthPop legends Heaven 17 are continuing their current busy schedule, adding to the recently announced tour dates and DJ appearances with a bunch of radio slots.
First up, yesterday they performed alive session, consisting of two tracks from ‘Penthouse And Pavement’ and ‘Temptation’, for Absolute Radio. you can check out a podcast of the session here. Then, on 12th June Glenn Gregory will be the special guest on The Liz Kershaw Show on BBC 6 Music speaking about the 30th anniversary of ‘Penthouse And Pavement’. Finally, on Absolute Radio’s sister station, Absolute 80’s, both Martyn Ware and Glenn Gregory will be hosting the Happy Hour show between 12:00 – 13:00, Monday 31st May to Friday 4th June. the guys will be picking their favourite songs from the electronic 80’s, you can listen in here.
Earlier this month, after featuring a few of their reMixes, we showcased Friends Electric’s debut single ‘Wall Of Arms’, and an wicked Indie-Electro anthem it is to! The official video for the single has just been premiered by the band, it’s a really nicely shot, intimate, performance clip.
Also, the Welsh Indie-ElectroPoppers have dropped their own reMix of the single and it’s a stormer! Combining elements of French House and Dreamwave for maximum effect.
1) Cassette Club’s new single on Eye Industries, ‘4 me’, is pretty awesome. 2) The reMix package is even awesomer. 3) The fact that Eye Industries is allowing us to share four storming reMixes with you is the awesomest!
You can check out the original on SoundCloud, it’s a smooth and soulful Nu-Disco affair with a late night vibe and the reMixes just knock it out of the park! I gotta’ begin with a shout out to our friend Beaumont, not only is it great to see so many of his reMixes getting official releases these days but the man keeps getting better and better. This reMix, I reckon, is my favourite of his tracks to days. It’s a sweet Dreamwave track that is easily equal to, or better than, most of the Valerie crew’s output. Bestrack keep the Nu-Disco groove going but deliver a slightly harder vibe while Quinten 909 & Livian go crazy with the deep funky House thang. Algeronics wrap up the single with a Wonky bass Fidget tune thick with rave synths. A truly impressive line up of reMixes!
A little Electro-Indie-Pop aside for you right now as we find Operator Please, those Australian blog darlings releasing their new single ‘Back And Forth’ next week, and giving it away for free too!
The second single from their sophomore album ‘Gloves’ is a pretty infections slice of jangly Indie awash with Lo-Fi sounding synths. It’s so catchy it almost makes you ashamed for liking it, but you’ll like it none the less!
The time is nearly upon is, Midnight Juggernauts new album ‘the Crystal Axis’ drops at the end of this month.
In anticipation check out this deep and strange reMix of the first single from the album, ‘Vital Signs’ by K I M, who is, of course. one half of The Presets. Filtering and shifting the vocals makes for an atmospheric vibe over the top of a burbling, 303, backing that sound not unlike The Presets themselves.
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