Nov 9 2011

Human Error week: The Sound Of Arrows speak wonders

This Friday (11th November) London’s 93 Feet East play’s host to one of the best ElectroPop line-ups of the year. Brought to us by Human Error, Friday’s event will see Fear Of Tigers, Visitor, The Sound Of Arrows and Queen Of Hearts share the stage in one amazing night of the best electronic music London has to offer. This week, to build your anticipation, electronic rumors will be talking to each of the four acts involved…

The Sound Of Arrows are currently riding high on the critical success of the just released début album ‘Voyage’. With the album, new singe and new video we’ve featured them quite a lot in the last month, and for fans of pure electronic Pop it doesn’t come any better than The Sound Of Arrows. Clean, crisp production in their music allows the big , euphoric lead lines to shine through. Their approach to seeing everything with eyes full of wonder permeates every track, lending it an innocence but at the same time an insight. It’s this, as well as some seriously catchy melodies, that has seen The Sound Of Arrows rise to the top of the ElectroPop pack in the last couple of years, and now their album is finally out, world domination can’t be too far behind.

But we’ve talked about them enough in the last few weeks, time for them to talk about themselves:

ER: So, The Sound Of Arrows, where did it all begin? What’s your background with music? How did you get into it, were you in other bands and was it always this style of music?

TSOA: It all started with us becoming the best of friends and wanting to do creative things together. First we wanted both to work in films and started collaborating on music videos and such things. Then we stumbled across a Yamaha SK20 and the rest is history. We’ve both been in pretty horrible bands, doing all kinds of genres before. I am happy to say that TSOA the first mom-approved act. A definite sign of quality!

ER: And where did The Sound Of Arrows name come from? What’s the meaning?

TSOA:The fancy explanation would include some vague rambling about forward-movement and adventure but the truth is that we liked the word ‘Arrows’ in a purely aesthetical point of view. The sound of was tacked on to make it a bit more broad.

ER: What influences you and your sound, not just musically?

TSOA: To us we’re equally influenced by films as we are music. In our world these both elements are 50/50. Sometimes a song starts with an idea of a scene or a picture rather than a melody. The films that has meant the most to this album are; Stand by Me, Last Picture Show, Lost Boys, Legend, My Summer of Love, Mad Max, When The Wind Blows, Star Wars and Close Encounters Of The Third Kind. Music-wise the acts we’ve listen to the most during the birth of the album are Vangelis, Enya, Boards of Canada, MGMT, Cut Copy (2nd album) and Niki And The Dove.

♫ The Sound Of Arrows – Wonders

ER: You new album ‘Voyage’ is released this week, how proud are you now it’s finally out? If you just met someone on the street, how would you describe the album?

TSOA: We would describe it as grand, melancholic and euphoric widescreen Pop. With a touch of Dreamrave thrown in for good measure.

ER: The album, as a whole, seems very optimistic, very hopeful. Would you say that this was your outlook on life personally or is the album an attempt to make, what can be a shitty world, seem a bit better.

TSOA: First and foremost the latter. But truly, the album to us is quite melancholic. Escapism and nostalgia is very much a bittersweet thing. Magic, for example, was originally written from a fatalistic POV – everything is going to shit so you might as well try to have fun while it lasts.
There is Still Hope is about looking past obstacles and dark times and never surrender.

ER: Was the move from Stockholm to London purely a music industry thing? Has working on The Sound Of Arrows changed now you are here?

TSOA: Of course it’s changed us! All experiences in life shapes who you are.. This album has been such a journey for us, mostly for better but also at times for worse, and our lives will never be the same. London is a great place but we truly belong on the countryside. Big, open landscapes, that’s where our hearts at.

♫ The Sound Of Arrows – M.A.G.I.C.

ER: We have to talk about the MAGIC video? How epic was that? How did it come about? How did you feel when you first watched it?

TSOA: Bah! We did it ourselves together with our good friend Andreas Ohman. No surprises there when watching the finished thing! 😉

ER: Any crazy rock ‘n’ roll stories from your adventures from giging as The Sound Of Arrows?

TSOA: We’re not a very rock n’ rolling band to tell you the truth but there’s been some crazy-crazy nights.. Especially in Spain – our fans there are crazy, in the best, most fun possible way!
Another, less party-based story would be when we were in Austria this summer my voice just died on me after coming down The Alps. It was completely gone! I had every treatment imaginable. Acupuncture, herb-medicine, proper hard-core medicine, massage, alcohol and two needle-shots of something really, really strong. It barely worked.

♫ The Sound Of Arrows – Into The Clouds (Fear Of Tigers reMix)

ER: So what’s in The Sound Of Arrows’ studio? Do you have a favourite bit of kit?

TSOA: Our synths man. It’s what we live for. We love them all like they were our own spawn but the absolute favorite is our Yamaha SK20, such an underrated piece of equipment. There Is Still Hope is 70% SK20.

ER: If money was no object, what piece of studio gear would be your dream to own?

TSOA: Easy. A Yamaha CS80 – the classic monster of a synth that Vangelis made famous.

ER: How does The Sound Of Arrows live setup work?

TSOA: Me and Oskar and two of our very best friends have loads of fun together. And lotta’ video-stuff. Projections and TVs etc…

♫ The Sound Of Arrows – Nova (II Figures reMix)

ER: How Friday’s show going to be? Who else are you most looking forward to seeing?

TSOA: Friday’s show is not a proper show. We’re doing a weird mashup-DJ-medley together with our friends. You should come down to Cargo on the 16th when we and Niki and the Dove are playing together at a Neon Gold club event.

ER: Is The Sound Of Arrows a Cereal or a Full English Breakfast kinda’ band? Would your answer change the day after a show?

TSOA: Def cereal. No doubt about it. With Soy milk. We’re a bit twee that way.

Many thanks to the guys for taking the time to talk to us.

The Sound Of Arrows will be playing as part of this Fridays phenomenal Human Error line up at 93 Feet East in London. Full details can be found here.

Human Error

The Sound Of Arrows’ ‘Voyage’ is out now.

Buy The Sound Of Arrows’ music from:

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Nov 9 2011

Fabian’s ‘The Jack’

fabian

Fabian is riding the wave of success right now. His ‘Last Flight’ single blew up, his reMix for The Magician blew up & his début album blew up. That’s a lot of blowing up, and I’m sure it puts a guy in a good mood.

Apparently so as Fabian decided to celebrate all the explosions by dropping a new free tune, ‘The Jack’. Joining the dots between Fabian’s LA Nu-Disco, Chicago House, and Rave, ‘The Jack’ is proper jackin’ indeed. In-fact, pairing a ‘90’s Chicago House feel with sun-drenched LA Dreamwave production has got such a groove and such a unique flavour that it could easily be the sound of next summer.

♫ Fabian – The Jack

Fabian’s ‘Say Goodbye’ album is out now.

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Nov 9 2011

Clubfeet’s ‘Lost Words’ video

Here is the new video for Clubfeet’s ElectroPop single ‘Lost Words’.

Director Alex Goddard worked with graphic designer Margaux Fraisse to create those lyric spelling bike wheel LEDs, they actually worked!

‘Lost Words’ is out now with reMixes from Dimitri in Paris, Andrew Maury of RAC, and The C90s.

Buy Clubfeet’s music from:

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Nov 9 2011

Electric Youth’s ‘Right Back To You’ full EP

electric-youth

We featured Electric Youth’s new single ‘Right Back To You’ a couple of weeks ago, now the whole reMix package is available to buy.

‘Right Back To You’ is an amazing return for the Canadian duo after what feels like a period away from releasing. Everything we fell in love with about Electric Youth back in 2009 is present, it’s epic ‘80’s movie Pop, with an uplifting quality, that has obviously been crafted with such love for it’s influences and the passion which Bronwyn and Austin have put into getting it just right is evident. It’ll be stuck in your head all week! the flip-side ‘Fade Away’ is sparkly ElectroPop which shows off a different side to Bronwyn vocals. The track is more introspective, both vocally and musically, it’s smooth retro Pop that shows off Electric Youth’s range. reMixes come from fellow Canadians DVAS with a laid back Nu-Disco take on the tune and Jacques L. Dorsey, who’s ‘Sarah Sarah’ reMix turns the track into a classic SynthPop track with pulsating synths and stripped back, roomy, production. Welcome back Electric Youth!

♫ Electric Youth – Right Back To You

♫ Electric Youth – Fade Away

♫ Electric Youth – Right Back To You (DVAS reMix)

♫ Electric Youth – Right Back To You (Sarah Sarah reMix)

The whole ‘Right Back To You’ EP is out now and also includes reMix work from Royski & Watts.

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Nov 9 2011

Goin’ Old School: Vangelis – Pulstar

Today, in honour of the late, great, Carl Sagan’s birthday we are posting ‘Pulstar’. Vangelis’ 1975 synth wizardry, and the music from the exciting bits from Cosmos. Here is the man himself preforming the track in 1991.

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Nov 9 2011

Futurecop! & Codebreaker

futurecop

So, you all know Futurecop!’s ‘N.A.S.A.’, right? It’s been a Futurecop! ElectroPop classic for a couple of years. Well here’s a brand new, old, version featuring and ElectroPop sheen from Codebreaker.

The two acts collaborated on this tune some time ago but for one reason or another it never saw the light of day. Until now. Released as a single on Disco Demolition Records this version of ‘N.A.S.A.’ sees the familiar arpeggio and riff of the original layers with some equally Poppy vocals from Codebreaker. The absence of the vocals from the album is a little jarring, but Codebreaker really make the track their own. I swear, with so many version of the same songs with different collaborates and different releases for different territories, Futurecop! have the most complicated back catalogue ever!

♫ Futurecop! (Feat. Codebreaker) – N.A.S.A.

‘N.A.S.A.’ is available now.

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Nov 8 2011

Human Error week: Visitor drop some science

Visitor are the band that keeps us wanting, unlike many of their contemporaries this Australian born, London based duo have resisted the temptation to flood the internet with their latest productions. Choosing instead to release tracks and choice reMixes only when they are absolutely perfect. A year ago they released their first, and only to date, release, the ‘Los Felling’ single on Alan Braxe’s Vulture Music label. So good was it, and such an impact it made, that twelve months later we are still gagging for their forthcoming début album. On the basis of one release, a year ago. That’s quality music!

Their combination of classic SynthPop songwriting, contemporary dance production and and Indie sensibility has made their music, to date, exciting with a feel that is nostalgic, but at the same time fresh. We’re definitely looking forward to catching them live this Friday.

Anyhoo, enough of me waffling on, let’s see what Visitor have to say for themselves…

ER: So, what’s Visitor’s history, where did it come from and have you always been into making this sort of music?

V: We met in Australia in high school, and were involved in a series of bands until we formed Visitor as a way of embodying everything that we wanted to create.

ER: Who influenced you to make music of your own, and who influences you now?

V: There are a lot of influences, but the ones which would best help describe our sound would be:

Alan Braxe, Stuart Price, Röyksopp, M83, Lifelike.

♫ Visitor – Los Feeling

ER: How did Diamond Cut become involved?

V: He did a remix for a band we were both involved in, and it made us realise that that was what we really wanted to be doing. He loved the idea, and we’ve been working together ever since.

ER: How does it work, working with someone the other side of the world and in a nearly opposite timezone?

V: We write the songs up until a point before we all collaborate on it. The final pass is done by DC where he adds his signature sound. We all have a good understanding of what we’re trying to achieve, so somehow it all comes together.

♫ Visitor – Love (Club Edit)

ER: When’s the album coming out and what can we expect from it?

V: The album is written and we’re just dealing with the final stages of production and mixing now. As soon as that’s done we’ll be ready for the world to hear it. We’ve worked extremely hard to make it as amazing as it can possibly be.

ER: If you could support anyone live, living or dead, who would it be?

V: Queen. Roxy Music. David Bowie. Daft Punk.

♫ Monsieur Adi – Fire Fire Fire (Visitor reMix)

ER: So what’s in Visitor’s studio? Do you have a favourite bit of kit?

V: Mostly it’s just soft synths and samples on our laptop. Apart from guitars and vocals. DC has a lot of outboard stuff he uses. Due to the long distance nature of the project, it works a lot better being able to email each other whole projects without relying on hardware.

ER: If money was no object, what piece of studio gear would be your dream to own?

V: Akai MPC3000, E-mu SP-1200, Yamaha CS80.

♫ Amy Meredith – Young at Heart (Visitor reMix)

ER: How does Visitor’s live setup work?

V: It’s a very electronic set at the moment. It’s getting bigger every time we play. Eventually it will be a full blown production, but for the moment people can expect an intimate and energetic set up.

ER: How Fridays show going to be? Who else are you most looking forward to seeing?

V: I can’t wait to see Ben. Apparently he is hiring some sort of costume, which I think will top things off nicely. If he doesn’t, I’ll be very disappointed. We’re all joining together at the end of the night, so it’s definitely going to be something that hasn’t been seen before!

We’re especially excited about this show.

ER:. Does this see the start of Visitor playing live a lot more?

V: Absolutely. We haven’t wanted to do anything but make a great album. Now we feel like we’ve reached that point, we’re going to be playing a lot more.

ER: .Is Visitor a Cereal or a Full English Breakfast kinda’ act? Would your answer change the day after a show?

V: We don’t eat meat. In fact, neither do Sound Of Arrows or Fear Of Tigers. So… It’d have to be cereal I guess. Maybe a croissant?

Many thanks to Visitor for taking the time to chat to you lot.

Visitor will be playing as part of this Fridays phenomenal Human Error line up at 93 Feet East in London. Full details can be found here.

Human Error

Buy Visitor’s music from:

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Nov 8 2011

Fear Of Tigers’ reMix round up part II

tigers

Fear Of Tigers– The reMixes Part II = Following on from part I, here is Mr. Tigers second collection of reMixes, this time covering 2010-2011, and there’s some seriously huge tracks in here! his Ronika reMix is currently battling it out for the title of our favourite reMix of the year and his reMix of Ellie’s ‘Lights’ is easily the best out there. There’s some new treats in the mix too.

♫ Fear Of Tigers – The reMixes Part II

The tracklist:

01. Vanbot – Lost Without You (Fear Of Tigers reMix)
02. Studio Killers – Ode To The Bouncer (Fear Of Tigers reMix)
03. Ronika – Only Only (Fear Of Tigers reMix)
04. Ellie Goulding – Lights (Fear Of Tigers reMix)
05. The Sound of Arrows – There Is Still Hope (Fear Of Tigers reMix)
06. Kylie Minogue – All The Lovers (Fear Of Tigers reMix)
07. Rosanna – Waterfall (Fear Of Tigers reMix)
08. Bright Light Bright Light – Disco Moment (Fear Of Tigers reMix)
09. Queen of Hearts – Where Are You Now? (Fear Of Tigers reMix)
10. Artist Unknown – Burn (Fear Of Tigers reMix)

Buy Fear Of Tigers’ music from:

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Nov 8 2011

047 ‘Keep It To Yourself’

047

047 are a Swedish duo in a classic ElectroPop style. They’ve just released their new single ‘Keep It To Yourself’.

This is pure SynthPop in that Sweedish tradition, sounding slightly like a more retro Universal Poplab ‘Keep It To Yourself’ with solid beats and a lush, full, synthetic sound characterised by the kinds of lilting melodies that the Scandinavians do best. Alongside you’ll find emotive and beautifully harmonised vocals.

♫ 047 (Feat. Gustaf Spetz) – Keep It To Yourself

‘Keep It To Yourself’ is out now in Killing Music.

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Nov 8 2011

The Sound Of Arrows’ new video

The Sound Of Arrows’ new single, ‘Wonders’, the third from their début album ‘Voyage’ and the lead in track to the album’s release, has premiered in video form.

A pretty literal clip, a visual mix of nostalgia and, well, wonderment. I think The Sound Of Arrows just want you to appreciate stuff more.