Apr 22 2011

Site News: Oooo it looks all different!

Yeah, I got bored last night and look! All change. I’m not in any way a graphic designer but I’m pretty busy the next two weeks so you’re stuck with this until at least them!

Anyway, it’s a long weekend here in the UK so I’m not sure how much posting there will be over the next four days, which is a pity ‘cos something tasty just landed in our inbox, but it will have to wait as we’re shutting up shop in twenty minutes to enjoy the sunshine. Might be able to squeeze it in tomorrow.

Have a good weekend y’all!

Apr 21 2011

Edwin Van Cleef’s cover of ‘Lisztomania’

Ever since it was premiered on this week’s episode of Fear Of Tigers’ ‘The Guestlist’ (which also featured yours truly!) discerning music lovers everywhere have been buzzing about Edwin Van Cleef’s cover of Phoenix’s much loved ‘Lisztomania’. Now it’s here!

Featuring the vocal skills of Jane Hanley from Kids At Midnight, Edwin’s cover is more laid back that we are used to from the man. Favouring a solid groove over frantic Nu-Disco Van Cleef proves his ability to handle, with equal ease, smooth DiscoPop. Jane’s vocals work amazingly well with the track, lending a smokey, sultry quality to the track.

Tomorrow’s supposed to be just as hot as today, I intend to throw this track on and turn it up.

♫ Edwin Van Cleef (Feat. Jane Hanley) – Lisztomania

I’ll make no excuses of thinking this is 100% better than the original!

Edwin Van Cleef @ Beatport

Edwin Van Cleef @ Juno

Edwin Van Cleef @ 7Digital

Edwin Van Cleef @ Amazon

Apr 21 2011

More new Joypopp!

Another fresh track from Joypopp’s forthcoming EP!

Joypopp are Binary’s latest signing, a French duo who create wonderfully atmospheric, yet danceable, ElectroPop music. ‘Desire’ proves that the EP’s lead track, ‘Volupté’ which came to light at the beginning of the month, wasn’t a fluke. A marvellous futuristic love story wrapped up in soaring analog synths and emotional vocals. It’s easy to see why Binary snapped up these two, there is something special about the Joypop tracks that have surfaced so far, a real depth of feeling and some real musicianship. Great sounds too.

♫ Joypopp – Desire

Joypopp’s ‘Ecstatic’ EP is out 9th May on Binary and features reMixes from Binary’s own Short Circuit, Night Drugs and Sferro.

Joypopp @ Facebook

Apr 21 2011

Shine 2009’s début album

Ever since Cascine’s latest signing Shine 2009 dropped their Paula Abdul featuring single ‘So Free’ we have been dying to hear the album, ‘Realism’ and now we have and can report that it’s good. Very good.

If you have missed Pop music, particularly British Pop music circa 1989-1993 then buy this album as soon as it comes out. This is pure early-90’s Pop, the kind that just makes you smile. The early dance 909 beat or Hip Hop breaks, the M1 piano, the square wave bass sounds, the synth sax, it’s all there and perfectly executed with some catchy songs. The Soul II Soul beats and digital woodwind of ‘New Rules’ are a perfect example. Smooth and laidback, as much dance music was back then, the track both takes you back in time and makes you wanna’ dance. I cant stress enough, if you like early 90’s dace Pop, how much you will love this album!

♫ Shine 2009 – New Rules

‘Realism’ is out 3rd May on Cascine.

Shine 2009 @ 7Digital

Shine 2009 @ Amazon

Apr 21 2011

Lightwaves

Lightwaves just happens to be the solo project of Jan Rosenfeld, front-man of the awesome Boston Indie-Electropoppers Yes Giantess, getting his Electro Disco groove on.

His first track ‘Working All Day’ is an amalgamation of Electro styles, mixing up a bit of Robo Disco, a bit of French Touch, a bit of ElectroPop into a happy summer hit. Jan’s got a strong ear for how to rock the dancefloor and ‘Working All Day’ dips and peaks just where it’s supposed to, carrying you along with the cut-up vocoder vocals.

♫ Lightwaves – Working All Day

Check out Lightwaves official website for news of his forthcoming EP.

Lightwaves @ Official Website

Apr 21 2011

Violet Tremors reMixed by Funerals

We mentioned in our feature on them that Ohio Dark Synth act Funerals would be lending their skills to a reMix of our favourite Minimal Synth girls Violet Tremors. Well, here it is.

Mixing up Violet Tremors’ ‘Violet Trance’ with this dark 90’s house sound results in an evil industrial groove. I do love how Funerals can sound uncomfortable and atmospheric and funky at the same time. The machine rhythms, scrapyard percussion and relentless synth bass in this track owes much to New Beat but is tempered with a haunting lead line. I feel like in in a dark EBM club in 1989 all over again!

♫ Violet Tremors – Violet Trance (Funerals reMix)

Violet Tremors’ début album is out on Mannequin later this year.

Violet Tremors @ Facebook

Apr 21 2011

FM Belfast re-release ‘Underwear’

Some crazy ElectroPop now from Icelandic act FM Belfast.

Having just signed to Morr Music their first single, a re-release from their album ‘How To Make Friends’, is ‘Underwear’. It’s a prime example of the bands quirky sense of humour and analog heavy sound which appears to be about running about in your pants ‘cos your bored. FM Belfast’s sound is very Icelandic, if that makes sense, it’s strongly ElectroPop in structure but seems not to care whatsoever about what anyone else is doing, and in FM Belfast’s case that is a very good thing.

♫ FM Belfast – Underwear (Single Version)

‘Underwear’ is out now digitally limited edition 7” with additional versions.

FM Belfast @ Beatport

FM Belfast @ Juno

FM Belfast @ Amazon

Apr 21 2011

Uffie covers Tom Tom Club

Uffie (yes Uffie, remember Uffie?) this week dropped this Medhi produced cover of Tom Tom Club’s hit ‘Wordy rappinghood’, and it’s good!

I’ve always had a soft spot for Uffie, she’s worked with some of the biggest Electro innovators in the Ed Banger stable and has a vocal delivery which is pretty unique and while this cover might at first seem odd, after listening to it you realise it was the cover she’s was always destined for, and with Medhi bringing an Old School flavour to the track, it just works.

♫ Uffie – Wordy Rappinghood (Tom Tom Club Cover) (Evian Mix)

the track comes from Evian ‘s latest ‘Live Young’ campaign.

Apr 20 2011

Tape Warm

Tape Warm describe them selves as “new school disco analog”, how cool is that?

This new Brazilian duo have just released their début single, ‘Silver Copy’ and it’s full of heavy synth bass and a solid analog groove. I gotta’ say, I have a real love for analog sounding instrumental electronic music, especially if it sounds recorded on tape too, it reminds me of the electronic music I grew up with and manages to sound synthesized and robotic yet warm and organic at the same time. Tape Warm totally fits the bill here and wrap it all up in a rad cosmic Disco package. This is what the future sounded like in the late 70’s, and it can still take you away now!

♫ Tape Warm – Silver Copy (Original Mix)

Check out their reMix of Anoraak’s ‘Crazy eyes’ too, they really give it the 70’s Disco vibe!

♫ Anoraak – Crazy Eyes (Tape Warm reMix)

Tape Warm’s ‘Silver Copy’ is out now.

Tape Warm @ Beatport

Tape Warm @ Juno

Tape Warm @ 7Digital

Apr 20 2011

Purity Ring

I don’t know much about Purity Ring beyond what was contained in the email we received, they seem to have a few fans on Facebook so maybe I’ve been missing out on something.

I know they are a duo composed of Corin Roddick and Megan James, I know they are Canadian, and I know the music a completely enchanting. Mixing up BedroomPop and Dubstep on their début single ‘Ungirthed’. There might, at first glance, be a contradiction between the deep , spooky heavy bass and the cute, quaint, vocals and melodies, but the the two halves of the track combine to form a whole greater than the sum of it’s parts. Like a kitten with a switchblade you don’t know whether to be scared of ‘Ungirthed’ or embrace it, but what you will do is nod your head and become enveloped in Purity Ring’s soundscape.