Monthly Archives: April 2012

Apr 30 2012

Daroc’s ‘Wonder’

daroc

One of France’s best kept SynthWave secrets Daroc is proving that after his long absence his recent ‘Destination’ EP wasn’t a one off. He’s back for good and gearing up to be part of brand new release. ‘Additional Wonders’, a collection of 12 artists reMixing and covering classic tracks from French noisemongers WAT.

Taken from that record is his new song, a cover of ‘Wonder’, I’m guessing the lead track, and it’s truly beautiful. Transcending Disco or SynthWave, even ElectroPop, it’s distant, passionate, vocals hovers ethereally over otherworldly melodic synthwork. This is no dancefloor banger, this is Dreamwave for the mind. transporting the listener to distant planets of sound with cosmic pads and almost baroque keys and a vocal line that lends itself to the epicness and brings a slightly Bowie-esque quality in the second half of the track. This sounds like an  intro, at least that’s what it feels like from an audio narrative point of view, or an interlude. Whichever, it makes us excited to hear the rest of the album.

♫ Daroc – Wonder

Daroc’s ‘Destination’ EP is out now, ‘Additional Wonders’ is released 7th May.

Buy Daroc’s music from:

Apr 30 2012

New track from Silenx

Silenx

Our favourite Portuguese producer off all things Funky and SynthWavey, Silenx, is back with a brand new tune, ‘Sun Express’. And it does exactly what it says on the tin. You want a smooth, feel good track loaded with retch synths and delicate piano?

‘Sun Express’ really is a sunrise in musical form. Silenx has captured the calm majesty, the understated awesomeness of a sunrise and reflected that in his synth work. Lush sounds played with gentle precision, echoing around the track lending a slightly magical quality to this Funky retro SynthWave track. There’s enough Disco in here to keep most people happy, but the track’s real strengths lie in it’s relaxed, Balearic groove, it’s synth nostalgia and it’s carefree vibe.

♫ Silenx – Sun Express

Buy Silenx’s music from:

Apr 30 2012

seipä’s new tune

sepia

We’ve been keeping out eye on Norway’s seipä for a while now, and his new tune ‘Sunset Highway’ is just one more if his full on SynthWave monsters.

‘Sunset Highway’ has all the right elements in the right places. a sprawling , majestic track with a B-Boy beat. Loaded with thick, lush synths that flow over an rapid fire Italo bassline. This track is like a juggernaut, relentless in it’s synthetic assault. Frantic it may be, but harsh it is not, the soloing that rides the track is slick as hell, and with a solid groove. When the synth horns kick in for the finale you are so swept up in the track it just carries you away. The playing off of the aggressive bassline against the emotional leads is what makes this track. ‘Sunset Highway’ is a two headed creature, and works both those two elements perfectly.

♫ seipä – Sunset Highway

Check out more from seipä on SoundCloud.

Apr 30 2012

Reflex’s new mixtape

Reflex

Reflex – Mixtape #13 = This is a storming new mix from the French duo, just check out that tracklisting. Everything that’s good and great in ElectroPop and Disco right now. Phew!

♫ Reflex – Mixtape #13

The tracklist:

01. Joakim – Nothing Gold (Todd Terje reMix)
02. Birkii – Holy War (Reflex reMix)
03. Sailor & I – Tough Love (Poindexter reMix)
04. Trésors – Scarface (Juveniles reMix)
05. Museum – Afraid (Reflex reMix)
06. Lana Del Rey – Born To Die (G. Vump reMix)
07. Jupiter – One O Six (A.N.D.Y. reMix)
08. Cosmonauts – Stardust (Kolombo reMix)
09. Chateaubriand – The Sunset
10. Aeroplane – Caramellas (Joakim reMix)
11. Oh Land – Sun Of A Gun (Yuksek reMix)
12. Gigamesh – Your Body
13. Citizens “Reptile” Attar! reMix)
14. Reflex – Wavering
15. Hey Today – ‘83
16. Black Strobe – Italian Fireflies (Reflex reMix)
17. Punks Jump Up (Feat. Dave1) – Mr. Overtime (Mickey reMix)
18. Sebastien Tellier – Cochon Ville (The Magician reMix + Dimitri From Paris ‘Erodisco’ mix)
19. Ladyhawke – Sunday Drive (Gigamesh reMix)
20. Foster The People – Don’t Stop (Oliver reMix)

Buy Reflex’s music from:

     

Apr 30 2012

Tubetops’ Warmer Still’ video

Do you like dogs? It seems Brooklyn based funky Indie-Electro troupe Tubetops do, as evidenced in their new video.

It’s for ’Warmer Still’ the title track of their new EP, a collection of four garage ElectroPop tunes with a nice chilled vibe and a quirky attitude. Oh yeah, and dogs.

Check out more from Tubetops on SoundCloud.

Apr 30 2012

Kool Bandits’ ‘I Want You’

kool bandits

This kinda’ got buried in out Inbox, it happens sometimes. we had a big clear-out this weekend and this mail from France’s Kool Bandits from a couple of weeks ago floated to the top. I don’t know how we could have missed it, it’s totally awesome growling French Touch. Time to make up for the oversight!

With an unashamedly Poppy hook and some nice, hypnotic vocodered vocals it’s clear that Kool Bandits are aiming for something that will worm it’s way into your heart and mind. You won’t be able to get this massive chunk of Disco our of your head. With groove laden basslines playing off against chainsaw synth riffs it’s the prefect mid-point between Funky Nu-Disco and euphoric Electro-House. Apparently there’s a full vocal version coming soon, we can’t wait!

♫ Kool Bandits – I Want You (Original Mix)

Check out more from Kool Bandits on SoundCloud.

Apr 27 2012

Karin Park & Ladytron

Karin Park

Following last years ‘Tiger Dreams’ EP Karin Park has announced the release of her new album ‘Highwire Poetry’ next month, kicking things off with this lead-in, crazy good single ‘Restless’.

Her PR likes to call Karin ‘Electro-Goth’, really, take it from me, she’s not, not in the slightest, she is so far above that if she looked down she could barely see the tiny Electro-Goths running around like ants. What Karin actually is, is an incredible talented, interesting, unique ElectroPop artist who makes songs that are equally quirky, emotionally resonant and catchy. ‘Restless’ is one of those songs, a rousing, majestic slice of Icy Scandinavian analog Pop with an infections synth line and impassioned vocals. the single has been reMixes by Ladytron’s Reuben Wu, who apparently heard the track live and ran with it. Ruben delivers something surprisingly funky considering Ladytron’s recent work. recalling Ladytron of old, it’s a raw synth-fest that revels in Rubens electronic genius with layers and layers of sonic elements. Prefer the original though….

♫ Karin Park – Restless (Ladytron reMix)

♫ Karin Park – Restless (Radio Edit)

The ‘Restless’ single is out via State Of The Eye Recordings on 21st May with her début album ‘Highwire Poetry’ coming 28th May.

Buy Karin Park’s music from:

Apr 27 2012

Cusax’s new track

cusax

Cusax is, of course, 80’s Stallone’s Chris Stallone  and Chris Faccone from Savage House who, last year, dropped their very impressive Poppy SynthWave ‘Got That Feeling’ EP. The duo are back together for more soundtrack inspired goodness in the form of the perfectly titled ‘Crash’.

With a name like that, it’s hard to imagine how the track can be anything less than prefect. Luckily the track more than lives up to the lofty expectations bestowed by it’s moniker. ‘Crash’ is a beautiful mid-tempo builder. Full of lush synths, rife with an emotion prescience and Cusax combine a burbling Italo bassline with layers of rich pads and chords, rising and falling, carving out a mood. Sprinkled, liberally, with shimmering, echoey leads ‘Crash’ takes us through a nostalgic, introspective electronic journey. More please!

♫ Cusax – Crash

Buy Cusax’s music from:

Apr 27 2012

Mr. Mæn’s ‘Just Don’t Turn It Off’

mr-mn

Norwegian producer of fine Synth & Disco Mr. Mæn is back with a brand new track, and this time he’s getting his SynthWave on. Mr. Mæn is showing us there’s versatility in there as well as talent.

So, keeping the faith with the current trend in SynthWave to push their Italo basslines so hard they boarder on EBM, Mæn powers ‘Just Don’t Turn It Off’ along with machine gun arpeggio basslines that are counterbalanced nicely with an almost baroque harpsichord sound that really sets the tone. a Driving, cinematic track, ‘Just Don’t Turn It Off’ hits the ground running and carries you along through and exciting, emotional, dramatic set peice. This track is all about the mounting tension, played out on vintage synths and beats. Mr. Mæn’s got the sound once more.

♫ Mr. Mæn – Just Don’t Turn It Off

Check out more from Mr. Mæn on SoundCloud.