Monthly Archives: April 2012

Apr 18 2012

Hot Chip’s ‘Night And Day’

Hot Chip

So after the preview we got of new of long awaited new Hot Chip material in the form of ‘Flutes’ the first proper single from their forthcoming ‘In Our Heads’ album has surfaced. On thing I can say for sure, Hot Chip are going to own festival season 2012.

It Hot Chip weird, you just gotta’ deal with it. You either like Hot Chip or you don’t, but their popularity would suggest that most people do ‘get it’. It’s been a while since Hot Chip had anything fresh out and it’s been a while since they were regularly playlisted here, so it takes a while to get back into a Hot Chip state of mind. But if you let yourself slip back into that feeling when you bought the last Hot Chip record, all those moons ago, you’ll soon realise how amazing ‘Night And Day’ is. Its’ got the nervous energy typical of Hot Chip tunes and a bassline that can be described as both creepy and insanely infectious. The bassline is so addictively funky I got a little concerned I might be a guinea pig in a government mind control experiment. This, coupled with Alexis trademark lament and vintage synth sounds is going to rule outdoor parties all summer. Peter Serafinowicz had directed the video again…I’m scared!

♫ Hot Chip – Night And Day

‘Night And Day’ is released 4th June on 12” and digital with reMixes from The 2 Bears (natch) and the B-Side, ‘Jelly Babies’.

Hot Chip’s new album, ‘In Our Heads’ is released 11th June.

Buy Hot Chip’s music from:

Apr 18 2012

Televisor’s new tune

Televisor

This new tune from British/Dutch collaboration Televisor is a prime example of why they are seriously one to keep an eye on. If you like Moog Funking Sax laden Disco that is. And if you don’t, you’re probably a little dead inside. I’d see to that if I were you.

‘Closer’ is the name if this new excursion and that’s exactly what it does, brings you one step close to the good times. The coolest of cool beach parties in musical form, this orchestrated Disco is pure retro bliss. It’s hard to explain in writing just how rad the moment the sax comes in is and there’s just no point even trying with the guitar solo. It’s a smoothly produced tune, pounding beats, slick guitar riffs and a catchy ElectroPop vocal over the good vibes. The instrumentation in this track, though, is where it really shines. Sit back and listen to all the elemental going on here, it;s a genius peice of Disco and one guaranteed to get the party started.

♫ Televisor – Closer

Check out more from Televisor on SoundCloud.

Apr 18 2012

The Sanfernando Sound reMixes Matthew Duffy, again

Matthew Duffy

In the second of his reMixes for New York singer Matthew Duffy, Manchester’s  The Sanfernando Sound turns his power ElectroPop production up to 11. TSS has been getting increasingly dark and abrasive in his tracks, and his reMix here may be the epitome of his direction.

I mean, this isn’t ‘a bit like an EBM’ track anymore, this is just flat out EBM, albeit with an Italo influence. The burbling arpeggios and juggernaut beats are straight from the darkest German dancefloors and work as a nice juxtaposition to Duffy’s emotive vocals. Military cyborg beats against the human fragility of the vocal. Well, that’s until the track hits 2m46s, then we are treated to a whole new beast, a ear melting, passionate, soaring solo drops, as does a new cut-up version of the chorus vocal that elevates the song high above the moody robot-factory grind.

♫ Matthew Duffy – Clever Lover (The Sanfernando Sound reMix)

‘Clever Lover ‘ is out soon.

Buy Matthew Duffy’s music from:

  

Apr 18 2012

Anniversary compilation from La Bombe

la bombe

Awww, isn’t it sweet. London’s La Bombe Recordings is turning the ripe old age of two. But rather than crying a lot and soiling themselves like most respectable two year olds, La Bombe is going to be releasing a compilation album to proudly show off what they’ve achieved since their inception and to give you a glimpse into the future.

The ten track record will feature five classics from the La Bombe back catalogue and five brand new tunes. We’ve feature quite a lot of La Bombe output in the past twenty four months here on electronic rumors, mostly from the funkier or more eclectic end of their roster, such as Blende and Douze who always give us something powerful and groovy. But when you want a flat out Electro banger La Bombe is definitely the place to go. Check out some of what to expect from this collection, including ‘Girls’ the new killer from Les Tronchiennes,  pleasingly titled ‘A Fistful of Boom’.

♫ Blende – One Sided (Louis La Roché Innovation)

♫ Douze – Go’

♫ Blende – Egypto

♫ Douze – Get Over You

♫ Les Tronchiennes – Girls

Buy La Bombe’s music from:

 

Apr 18 2012

Ultravox’s new single

Ultravox

What can you say about Ultravox? Electronic music legends. Whether you’re on Team Foxx or Team Ure there can be no doubt the contribution Ultravox, in whatever incarnation, have made to both Electronic music and Pop music, influencing a generation that would go on to lay the building blocks for all forms of Dance music and bringing a certain majestic quality to early 80’s SynthPop.

Having reformed the classic Ure line up in 2008 for reunion tours it was always claimed that the band wouldn’t be writing new material, turns out that was a bluff and there’s a new album waiting to be released in May. Before that we can have our first listen to the new single, and album title track, ‘Brilliant’, a huge slice of PowerPop that retains the Epic quality of the early Ure years and has a surprising edge to it. Also, how Italo is that bassline? Bodes well for the album.

♫ Ultravox – Brilliant (Radio Rip)

‘Brilliant’ is released 28th May.

Buy Ultravox’s music from:

       

Apr 18 2012

Going Old School: Sweet Exorcist, Squash Gang & Curiosity Killed The Cat

Goin’ Old School isn’t a trip down music memory lane, it’s a mugging in the dark alleyway of nostalgia:

Early Warp goodness from Richard H Kirk’s Sweet Exorcist moniker with some ace Bleep House in 1989’s ‘Testone’. Jarvis Cocker directed the video!

Try Squash Gang’s ‘I Want An Illusion’ from 1986 for some pure Euro Italo goodness.

Don’t ask me why Curiosity Killed The Cat’s 1986 hit ‘Down To Earth’ is here, I was just in the mood.

You can buy most of this  music from:

 

Apr 18 2012

Viceroy reMix St. Lucia

St. Lucia

St. Lucia’s  ‘Closer Than This’ has it’s fair share of reMixes to it’s name but this reMix from San Francisco’s Nu-Disco pusher Viceroy has two things going for it (other than sounding awesome). First, it’s official, second it’s free. Official and free you say? Why yes!

‘Closer Than This’ was the lead track on St. Lucia’s recently released self-titled EP on Neon Gold which I believe is getting re-released with reMixes soon. Viceroy’s take on the track is totally reMix package material, changing up the vibe into a slightly Tropical Disco groove. When you have horns and steel drums together you know the party is being taken to the beach.  There’s even what sounds like Seagulls at the end! If this is what being stuck on a desert island sounds like, count me in! Viceroy generally has nailed every one of his productions to date and I’m expecting to hear a lot more from him this summer, at a lot of parties.

♫ St. Lucia – Closer Than This (Viceroy reMix)

Like Viceroy on Facebook to download their reMix for free. St. Lucia’s self-titled EP is out now.

Buy St. Lucia’s music from:

Apr 17 2012

L’Equipe Du Son’s new single

L'Equipe Du Son

Later this month Dutch vintage Disco and synth outfit L’Equipe Du Son release their new single ‘Playground Rebels’ on Silhouette Music. I’ve really loved L’Equipe Du Son’s releases so far, but this may just be the best one yet. Strap in for some 80’s awesomeness.

‘Playground Rebels’ is a bright shiny slab of Electro Boogie that nicely mixes up a retro ElectroPop flavour with an undercurrent of B-Boy Electro (and a nice Wild Style sample). The track rests an a Breakin; beat and some positively huge synth stabs that have just the tiniest bit of swing. A killer, nostalgic, track. The reMixes are hot too. There a slow Disco jam from Alphabet City that feed of the swing and goes deep and dark with it along with Dynamicron. The pick of the reMixes though is 80s Stallone, who brings an Italo vibe to the track with an arpeggiated bassline Moroder would have been proud of. Interestingly, Mr. Stallone mixes up the lead line a bit, to twist the mood and let’s his own leads weave in and out of the track organic way.

♫ L’Equipe Du Son – Playground Rebels

♫ L’Equipe Du Son – Playground Rebels (80s Stallone reMix)

Buy L’Equipe Du Son’s music from:

Apr 17 2012

Shook & Ronika

shook

How long have we been waiting for this? Both Shook and Ronika have been teasing this track for months. If this was service in a restaurant I would be asking to speak to the manager. But was it worth the wait? It;s Shook and Ronika…what do you think?

Shooks Moogy Disco is perfectly in-tune with the Ronika ethos. To be honest I can only think of a handful of other Nu-Disco producers who could do Ronika justice, and shook would probably be top of that list. Shook leaning toward ‘70’s Funk in his particular brand of Disco lines up well with Ronika’s late ‘70’s/early ‘80’s New York Disco vibe. It’s a match made in heaven basically. The track ‘Distorted Love’ is a slick, sexy little groover that is a great showcase both for Shooks lightning fingered synth playing that Herbie Hancock would be proud of and Ronika’s smokey, soulful voice. there’s some ace ‘70’s Disco drops in here too. That’s how you do a drop, not like these Brostep kids these days.

♫ Shook (Feat. Ronika) – Distorted Love

‘Distorted Love’’s B-Side, ‘Love For You’ should be dropping soon and expect some pretty special things from Ronika in the coming months.

Buy Shook’s music from:

Apr 17 2012

Johan Agebjörn’s ‘Casablanca Nights’ revisited

Johan Agebjörn

Swedish purveyor of all things ElectroPop and Disco Johan Agebjörn’s ‘Casablanca Nights’ album was one of our top records of last year, a series of collaboration with some of the best electronic artists and SynthPop singers in the world and some cracking songs. Now two of those cracking songs are getting repackaged in some new and interesting ways.

First up, ‘Watch The World Go By ‘ is finally seeing the release of it’s reMix package. We’ve been waiting for it for a while since it was originally going to be released under the name Plexi Grace. Now, a change of label to Paper Bag Records and it’s back to plain old Johan Agebjörn & Le Prix and a whole host of awesome reMixes. You should all be intimately familiar with the, Lake Heartbeat featuring, slice of ElectroPop bliss by now, and if you’re not what have you been doing with the last year? The reMix package kicks off with German DJ Jam El Mar’s ‘Tripomatic Fairytale’ mix, and pulsating crossover between Nu-Disco and Deep House with some nice eclectic percussion. The track is basically an audio sunrise and sets up the EP perfectly. Along side a majestic workout by Young Galaxy and a couple of smooth reMixes from SynthPoppers Lindberg Palace (a name we haven’t heard for a while) you’ll find Nicolas Makelberge’s version which melds a few frantic elements and tempers them into a chilled Balearic retro Pop track. In addition to this release we also have 80’s Disco legend Alan Cook with an Agebjörn &  Lovelock (Steve Moore) produced cover of ‘Casablanca Nights’ title track, and the three of them go full on Italo amazingness here. I cannot stress how good this track is, it’s not even 80’s Italo influenced, it just is pure 80’s Italo. The track’s tempo has been increased, the arpeggios fly and the both the music and vocals are majestic and shot through with that dramatic darkness that calls for a video shot in a dark, neon lit, alleyway that’s inexplicable full of smoke, but it;s in a studio anyway.  Amazing Stuff.

♫ Alan Cook – Casablanca Nights (Original Mix) (Produced By Johan Agebjörn & Lovelock)

♫ Johan Agebjörn & Le Prix (Feat. Lake Heartbeat) – Watch The World Go By (Jam El Mar Tripomatic Fairytale reMix)

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

Alan Cook’s ‘Casablanca Nights’ is released 26th April on 12” and Download on Disco Evolution/Flashback Records. Paper Bag release ‘Watch The World Go By’ today!

Buy Johan Agebjörn’s music from: