Apr 14 2011

Funerals

There doesn’t appear to be anything minimal about Columbus, Ohio based Minimal Synth duo Funerals. Their tracks are thick, multi-layered, atmospheric synthesizer odysseys.

Musically, Funerals actually remind me a lot of really early Beep House tracks, the first few releases on Warp Records (think the first thee LFO 12”s), which defiantly endears them to me. The drums are harsh but dancey, the synths sound ice cold but seem to collaborate together to create an addictive robotic groove.

They’ve just dropped a new EP, ‘Marae’, and the title track is a relentless Industrial dance track which brings to mind some of the more Techno influenced Cabaret Voltaire (more Sheffield comparisons!) tracks or that period between New Beat and EBM. ‘AITU (LQD Live Edit)’ is pure Beep House/Minimal Synth crossover. Sounding like Fan Death reMixed by LFO in 1993, the raw analog drums and hollow synth melodies create a dark warehouse atmosphere with Mollie’s vocals just tipping the track over the edge into slightly scary territory.

♫ Funerals – Marae

♫ Funerals – AITU (LQD Live Edit)

I hate copying and pasting press releases, and hate blogs that do it, but I just have to share this piece of their EPK ‘cos it made me chuckle: “Producers Casey Immel-Brown and Mollie Wells are married, but listen: that means nothing. These songs don’t sound like matrimony; they sound like gray oceans and the terrible waiting for sun.”

Funerals’ ‘Marae’ EP is out now and features reMix work from Jokers Of The Scene! The duo also have just completed a reMix for electronic rumors favourite Minimal Synth ladies Violet Tremors, which we hope to bring you soon.

Funerals @ Amazon

Apr 14 2011

It’s She’s The Queen Thursday!

Sorry, I couldn’t resist!

There is legitimate news from the She’s The Queen camp though. Emily and Drew have released their début EP to the public. it’s four tracks of the slickly produce ElectroPop that has so enamoured us this month. They’ve just dropped the third track ‘Plead To The DJ’ on SoundCloud and while it may not be as catchy as ‘Waiting Game’, the EP’s lead track, it is probably the best example to date of how technically impressive the duo are, both in terms of programming and vocal ability. The track shows Drew to be just as talented outside of the straight-up DancePop arena as he brings in some Hip-Hop beats and intricate melodies and shows off a new, deep, level of passion and soul in Emily’s voice.

♫ She’s The Queen – Plead to the DJ

She’s the Queen’s ‘EP’ is available now on iTunes, or for the slightly more discerning independent shopper on CD Baby

She’s The Queen @ CD Baby

Apr 14 2011

Beastie Boys & Passion Pit!

So, unless you;’ve been living under a rock this week you’ll be aware that the almighty Beastie Boys are returning with a new single and brand new album. Produced by Beastie Boys and Cassius’ Philippe Zdar, the album was announced with a hilarious video which you can catch here.

I’m absolutely lovin’ this reMix of the lead single, ‘Make Some Noise’ by Passion Pit. Who give the track a Dreamwave going over! Dreamwave Hip-Hop? DreamHop? Whole new genre anyone? (LexiconDon, are you listening?). Passion Pit give the track that smooth LA vibe and cover it in lush synths.

♫ Beastie Boys – Make Some Noise (Passion Pit reMix)

‘Hot Sauce Committee Part Two’ is released 2nd May.

Beastie Boys @ Beatport

Beastie Boys @ Juno

Beastie Boys @ 7Digital

Beastie Boys @ Amazon

Apr 13 2011

Monarchy’s ‘I Won’t Let Go’ video

Space age ElectroPoppers Monarchy’s new single, featuring Rokhsan, ‘ I Won’t Let Go’ has got itself a video.

Premiering yesterday, the day of release, the video , directed by Roy Raz, is suitably Sci-Fi and mysterious.

‘I Won’t Go’ was released this week on Moda with Bag Raiders, Mustang and Sam Tiba reMixes.

Apr 13 2011

Ed Banger Presents ‘The Bee Sides’

I love Record Store Day. I just love the fact that Record Stores have a day! I practically grew up flicking through vinyl in dimly lit, smokey, emporiums so it fills my heart with good vibes when the record store is appreciated.

Ed Banger Records will be releasing a collectors boxset for this years Record Store Day, on 16th April, called ‘The Bee Sides’. Featuring five unreleased tracks from five of French Electro’s biggest names, the set will be five etched 7”s and limited to 500 copies worldwide. The Line up involves Justice, SebastiAn, Breakbot, Carte Blanche and Busy P, who offers this banging Hey Today! reMix of ‘Procrastinator’.

♫ Busy P – Procrastinator (Hey Today! reMix)

Record Store Day is 16th April, you can pick up this boxset (if you can find it!) then.

Ed Banger @ Beatport

Ed Banger @ Juno

Ed Banger @ Amazon

Apr 13 2011

Ruben & Ra’s new EP

Mysterious Disco edit monsters Ruben & Ra return this month with a new EP and a new label, Retrospective Records.

The British duo have become pretty known in the last couple of months for their storming, sample heavy Disco sounds. Bringing back the real Nu-Disco edit sound with their EP ‘Retrospective 001’ and the forthcoming ‘RETRO002’ these guys are relentlessly pumping out smooth summer jams to get you dancing in the sunshine.

♫ Ruben & Ra – Newer Shooz

♫ Ruben & Ra – The Beat Reaction

‘RETRO002’ drops this May.

Ruben & Ra @ Juno

Ruben & Ra @ Amazon

Apr 12 2011

Binary welcomes Joypopp into the fold

Barely a week goes by, recently, with out something exciting happening over at Binary HQ.

This week sees the announcement of another new signing, French duo Joypopp. Releasing their début EP, titled ‘Ecstatic’, in May Joypopp have dropped the first track to give you a taster of what to expect. ‘Volupté’ is very French, in the best possible way. Musically it’s a Jarre-esq Sci-Fi synth epic. A mid-tempo ElectroPop groove provides backing for layers of intertwining analog melodies that would make Jarre, Vangelis or Tangerine Dream proud. Top that with the sweetest female vocals and you have something both futuristically ethereal and summer sexy.

I love the solo in this track!

♫ Joypopp – Volupté

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

Joypopp @ Facebook

Apr 12 2011

Johan Agebjörn & Le Prix

Swedish producer Johan Agebjörn (Sally Shapiro) is looking forward to the release of his début full length album, ‘Casablanca Nights’, this May.

The album sees Johan collaborating with a stunning list of artists including CFCF, Steve More (lovelock/Zombie) Sally Shapiro and this track, the first single, with Girlfriend Records’ Le Prix. The track, ‘Watch The World Go By’, features vocal work by Janne Kask from Lake Heartbeat and is prefect Scandinavian DiscoPop. Light and Airy, ‘Watch The World Go By’ carries you along in it’s rich synth wake. Skatebård bring this a bit deeper with their Disco/House reMix for darker dancefloor moments.

♫ Johan Agebjörn & Le Prix (Feat. Lake Heartbeat) – Watch The World Go By

♫ Johan Agebjörn & Le Prix (Feat. Lake Heartbeat) – Watch The World Go By (Skatebård Extended reMix)

‘Watch The World Go By’ is out today on Lo Recordings, Johan’s ‘Casablanca Nights’ album drops 10th May on Paper Bag

Johan Agebjörn & Le Prix@ Juno

Johan Agebjörn & Le Prix@ 7Digital

Johan Agebjörn & Le Prix@ Amazon

Apr 12 2011

Chromeo reMixed by Sonic Soul

To say the world was inundated with reMixes of Chromeo’s ‘Hot Mess’ right now would be an understatement, so standing out it quite a job!

Sonic Soul are up for that challenge. Their reMix of ‘Hot Mess’ has more Funk than a dump truck full of Funk driving up to Bootsy Collins house and dumped in his driveway. The duo of Andrew Napoleon and Leon Watson from the North East UK put the whole package into their reMix, a nice build, some awesome layered 80’s synth Funk with some real smooth riffs and our beloved electro toms, all of this working seamlessly with Dave 1’s vocals. They’ve added a sweet call-and-response vocoded finale too.

♫ Chromeo – Hot Mess (Sonic Soul reMix)

Chromeo’s ‘Hot Mess’ is out now.

Apr 12 2011

Mightyfools’ ‘World Tour’

Kicking electronic rumors into party mode are Mightyfools, who’s new single ‘World Tour’ is out now.

The Dutch duo have really knocked the banger out of the park this time. Their mashup of ChipTune and full throttle Electro-House is seriously body rockin’ stuff, this tracks is going to be killing dancefloors this summer. The drop and build is worthy of a post on it’s own!

Go mental peeps!