Following on from their, frankly amazing, ‘time Will Crawl’ EP, here is the first preview of Canadian ElectroPop geniuses Parallels new album ‘XII’. They will be showcasing a brand new track everyday on their SoundCloud every day for the next seven days, leading up to the albums 26th June release, and while we won’t be featuring every track, daily (that would be too much) we’ll kick you off with this first one and urge you to keep and eye out for the next seven days of tunes until we get our hands on the album for review.
If ‘Days Of Summer’ is supposed to be an indication of what ‘XII’ holds then we are more excited about this release than ever (and we were pretty excited as it was). It’s a track that covers you in a wash of nostalgia, both musically and lyrically. Shimmering synths reverberate around the track, warm basses and sparkling lead lines weave in and out of one another creating a modern ElectroPop sound that still reflects SynthPop of the past. A contemporary sound that still wears it’s retro influences in it;s sleeve. There’s even a slight Italo quality to it. Holly’s vocals integrate with the track perfectly, at times acting as part of the instrumentation, but all the time weaving a tale of innocence lost, in a good way, and better times. Right now ‘XI’ is out most anticipated album of they year, the end of the month can;t come quick enough.
So, if you’ve been at all an ElectroPop or Indie-Electro fan in London, or the UK, or Europe in the past ten years you’ll know the name of Scarlet Soho, and probably seen them live a few times. Like troopers they have held the line for ElectroPop and Indie-electro through some of the genre’s dark times. Scarlet, Jim and Stu are that rare breed, a British ElectroPop band that gigs, a lot. With some pretty high profile tour supports under their belt, including Zoot Woman, Razorlight, IAMX and A Flock Of Seagulls, these guys have honed their skills in the live arena, and that translates to energy in their records.
Take their new release. ‘When The Lights Go Out’ is one of the catchiest, slickest ElectroPop tracks you’ll hear all year and sees Scarlet Soho right at the top of their game and making their comeback in a Pop climate that could be really welcoming. So after years as one of the top underground ElectroPop acts in Europe, it looks like 2012 could be the year Scarlet Soho gain that wider recognition they so deserve.
The lovely Scarlet, keyboard player and bassist extraordinaire, took some time out of their busy promotional schedule to chat with us about the past, present and futures of Scarlet Soho.
ER: We were quite surprised (in a good way) when ‘When The Lights Go Out’ hit the electronic rumors inbox. We weren’t sure whether you were still going. So what have you been up to since ‘Warpaint’ and what makes now the perfect time to return to people’s consciousnesses?
SS: It feels like we’ve not been away! Despite the lengthy gap between ‘Warpaint’ and ‘When The Lights Go Out’ we’ve been gigging sporadically, breaking new ground and working hard on the new material. Lots of stuff has been written, rewritten, reworked, scrapped and revived in the last couple of years. We probably have enough tracks for some kind of triple album, but decided to bite the bullet and drip-feed the new tracks to the world in a series of EPs. And get back on the road where we belong!
ER: How does it feel to be back promoting a record again? As an ElectroPop webzine we’ve definitely seen a change in the musical landscape in the past three years, HURTS’ success has suddenly made ElectroPop with a shot of melancholy, and a bit more intelligence, more of a commercially viable option. This must make it a pretty exciting time for you guys to be releasing a new record?
SS: Yes, we’ve been chomping at the bit for so long now it’s a huge relief to be pushing something new. In the meantime I’ve grown to love ‘Warpaint’ again and the new songs fit nicely into the set and are being received well. Having not toured for a little while you have a slight concern that maybe you’ve forgotten how to do it. But the recent tour to promote the EP has been our best to date!
HURTS look distinctly like Bros to me… Which I find slightly (very) off-putting. When I first saw their video I thought they were a joke band… But a gazillion Germans can’t be wrong. Can they?
I’m a huge fan of Robyn and Ronika and the more out-and-out Pop acts that are about at the moment. HURTS have always seemed a little smug and po-faced.
But yes, exciting times for music at the moment I think.
When The Lights Go Out (2012)
ER: So, tell us about the new EP. It seems polished compared to the ‘Warpaint’, which now seems quite raw and gritty in comparison. How, and why, would you say your sound has evolved?
SS: As I mentioned we have been working and reworking the tracks for a long time. And came to realise that less is more. It’s the Ramones effect I think – the less going on, the more it hits home. The same can be said for AC/DC, the more simple you go, the louder it allows you to be. I like loud.
ER: For us, listening to the ‘When The Lights Go Out’ EP, we felt like this was the point ‘Divisions Of Decency‘ and ‘Warpaint’ were leading to? Do you feel like this is the ultimate incarnation of Scarlet Soho?
SS: I believe we are now the band we always wanted to be. In the beginning we were a little cautious of being “too Pop” and often whilst writing the songs would wonder if we could actually get away with some of the stuff we were coming out with. Being a little older and wiser now you just do what you want to do. People go to watch bands to have a good time. They don’t want to be stood around gazing at the floor being miserable. There’s a time and a place for that – at home. We love touring and like to see people drinking and dancing.
I’ve always been in awe of comedians, because making people laugh is an incredibly difficult task, but so is getting people to dance.
It feels good to know that you’ve contributed to people having an amazing night.
ER: What’s been your influences writing the new material? And what are you guys listening to these days?
SS: When we toured with Zoot Woman it was the first time we had toured with a band that were that mainstream. And around that time we also started listening to a lot more commercial music. James loves his Italo. I think that has figured in the studio more this time round. When writing he has a in-depth vision of exactly how he wants the songs to sound (which often is miles away from the original demo he comes up with). I’d love to tell you the inner workings of that man’s brain but thankfully I’m not privy to that.
ER: How’s The promotion of the EP going? It looks like you’ve been pretty busy hopping back and forth from Europe for shows.
SS: It’s going well thank you! We’ve had some amazing reviews and great support from the Electro scene. We were a little worried that we’d be starting from scratch, but the EP and shows have been well-received from fans old and new.
Speak Your Mind (2009)
ER: So, what’s in Scarlet Soho’s studio? Any favourite or go-to bits of kit?
SS: We’re not really a ‘gear’ band. We used to own a lot of old synths, I had a couple of CZ5000s and a CZ1000 but we ditched them when we started playing abroad more often. I worry enough flying with the guitars, let alone a big old synthesizer rattling around in the hold! I love the vintage kit, but it’s so unreliable. I had shows where I had 2 synths and had to program sounds mid-set because the memory was faulty.
We’ve streamlined everything down to make travelling easier, and in the writing process the less options the quicker things get finished. I watched an amazing recent interview with Giorgio Moroder and he remarked that making all of those classic songs was easy due to the lack of variables. You had a kick. A snare. A bass sound. A string sound. Boom. Done.
For years James has preferred to manually program drums on a shitty drum-machine rather than using Logic or anything fancy. We’re luddites where that is concerned.
ER: And how does the writing and recording process work?
SS: We try to mix things up a bit. If you rehearse or write in the same place all of the time I think it’s very easy to get stuck in a rut.
James writes whilst walking. He has a Dictaphone and puts ideas directly into that. Writes snippets of lyrics on his phone. He knows how he wants things to sound so the rest is relatively easy. We use a variety of studios to keep it interesting. We’ve done bits recently in Hamburg, London, Southampton and Winchester. The studio isn’t that important in terms of getting things done. The wonder of the internet means you can achieve whatever you want wherever you are. The real work happens in the writing and mixing.
ER: If money was no object, what synth (or bit of studio kit) would you love to own?
SS: Ha! Well… It’s more about space than money! I’d love to have my CZs back. I love Vince Clarke’s Cabin. He has this amazing Cabin with all of his gear in. It’s like an Aladdin’s cave of nerdiness.
I fucking hate my Korg. It’s a piece of shit. The sooner that bites the dust the better. Every time I see a band with a fucking microKorg I want to kill myself. Sadly I think they are probably indestructible. I may put that to the test in the not too distant future.
City Behaviour (2004)
ER: When can we expect a new Scarlet Soho full length album? And what can we expect from it?
SS: We’re in the midst of doing EP2 at the moment. Vague release date for Sept/Oct 2012. It’s a little moodier than WTLGO. People that have heard the lead track have said it’s the best thing we’ve ever written. So, happy with that!
After that we’re going to do a full length album that completes the series of releases. My lips are sealed on what it’s going to sound like.
EP: Are you a cereal for full English breakfast kinda’ band? Would that change the night after a big show?
SS: I can happily speak for James and Stu in saying that “they like meat”.
We work hard on stage so probably sweat out a lot of calories.
I’m not particularly fussy, a like a bit of porridge. But often a beer will suffice 🙂
ER: Thanks for taking to time to share with out readers Scarlet.
SS: Thank you! This interview was brought to you by Scarlet from Scarlet Soho and a pot of Chai tea.
Go check out their new EP, ‘When The Lights Go Out’, and it’s awesome reMixes.
‘When The Lights Go Out’ is released 21st May, you can pre-order here.
Canada’s finest power ElectroPop export Dragonette have just dropped their latest single, the follow up to April’s ‘Let it Go’. It’s just the kind of slinky electronic Pop that made our attention turn to Dragonette in the first place.
‘Rocket Ship’ is in-your-face Pop music, but we’d expect no less from these guys. Anthemic and quirky in equal doses is what Dragonette does best. Bouncy and fun verses slide effortlessly into big rocky choruses without either blinking an eye or asking permission. As with most Dragonette tracks it’s probably best not to worry about it too much and just let the track carry you in whatever direction it wants to. Dragonette are ready to become global overlords, just go with it. With densely layered, juggernaut Pop tracks like this, it’s best not to argue.
In the second of today’s surprise new Plastic Plates reMixes he takes on the second single from Australian Indie-Electro legends Van She awesome forthcoming second album, ‘Jamaica’. Plastic Plates really outdoes himself this time.
First up, Plastic Plates wisely keeps hold of the Caribbean, Tropical flavour to the track, it what makes the track what it is and the song probably wouldn’t make sense without it. What Plastic Plates felt it did need, however, was a bouncy synthetic Disco groove. And that’s exactly what he did. Loaded with lush synths and off beat chords the track is summer dancefloor gold, but it’s amazingly subtle too, never overpowering the laid back vibe of the original. which all results in a track that’ll compel you to dance, but in a chilled way. Enjoy.
Apparently, Felix Bloxsom A.K.A. Plastic Plates takes much of his inspiration from busses. You wait for a Plastic Plates track for ages then two come along at once. In the first of two Electro groovin’ reMixes from the La based Australian, he takes on fellow Aussies, ElectroPop heroes Sneaky Sound System.
reMixing their ‘Friends’, Plastic Plates bring a synthetic Funk to the track. The original already has a pretty solid Disco groove, but PP ramps up an analog sounding cosmic vibe that has a raw quality to it that works brilliantly with the lovely Connie Mitchell’s smooth a silk vocals delivery. Hopefully this sudden glut of Plastic Plates reMixes hints at something new coming from the man on the horizon. Definitely more like this reMix would be appreciated.
♫ Sneaky Sound System – Friends (Plastic Plates reMix)
A Girl Called Ruth is a, sort of Welsh, multi-national singer/songwriter from London just starting her big push. A lot of young female singers have passed through these pages on their was to the charts, or the bin, and we’d like to think we have developed a knack for spotting the ones who have a fair chance of ‘making it’. We’d say A Girl Called Ruth has a better chance than most, her début single ‘You I See’ is catchy and slick. It’s got that standard mid-tempo safe Pop feel, but is youthful enough not to get lost in the noise.
You can catch the video for ‘You I See’ here, it’s good track that has really grown on us, but it’s a bit too Folk Pop for these column inches (yes, we do occasionally like music that falls outside this webzine’s remit), however there are two pretty dope reMixes we think out reader will dig. Our favourite is a smooth Disco-House mix from Young Favourite, who works the vocal perfectly, switching the mood from introspection to out-and-out anthem and alongside Young Favourites dance groove A Girl Called Ruth, or Ruth as we are going to be calling her from now on, starts to sound a bit Sophie Ellis-Bextor, no bad thing. Nixon offers up a warp bassed breakbeat track with an ominous tone. Whilst, obviously, we’d be secretly hoping that A Girl Called Ruth busts out some ElectroPop for her next single, in general, A Webzine Called Electronic Rumors quite likes this.
Still love Simian Mobile Disco, despite it not being 2007 anymore, the new stuff is really underrated.
Here’s the new video for ‘Your Love Ain’t Fair’ A hypnotic tune with a slight Garage vibe and an equally hypnotic video for light going on and off, directed by Laurence Stephens.
Germany’s finest Nu-Disco and Dreamwave producer digitalfoxglove needs your help!
He’s got a big stack of tracks, all in very early demo form, and he just can’t choose what to finish for his new release. Obviously he loves them all, but he want’s your help to decide what gets priority to be finished and morphed into a funky Nu-Disco monsters in the very near future. You can listen to all of his works in progress in one set below and favourite the ones you like. whatever has the most favourites by 30th June get the digitalfoxglove treatment. We’ve got out favourites, but we wouldn’t want to colour your judgement by telling you.
Waze & Odyssey (revealed to be Retro/Grade’s Serge Santiago and Firas Waez from Caze Nova), ‘mystery’ Disco-House producers who exactly no people cared about the identity of, have had their pretty awesome track, ‘Love That (Burns Hot Enough)’, kicking around the internet for a while now. It’s a nice mix of Garage, Disco and House that could, with the right promotion, blow up this Autumn when it is released. The single is dropping on Waze & Odyssey’s own new label W&O Street Tracks, a vinyl only operation to keep an eye on.
To celebrate the launching of their imprint, Waze & Odyssey are giving away this brand new tune, How It’s Gotta’ Be’. It’s a tune that continues this duos mission to merge some of the funkier styles. There;s not much Disco in there, but it’s a beautiful combination of Chicago House and Garage. Waze & Odyssey have laid down a solid Garage rhythm section, a House groove and then just let some rich strings lush things up a bit. A hypnotic and involving track that has us celebrating W&O Street Tracks’ launch with them.
This week Indie-Electro outfit Polarsets returned for the summer with a new EP of Tropical Indie flavours. The ‘Exotica’ EP contains more of the kinda’ of summery, feel good, Indie grooves we’ve come to expect from Polarsets and includes a bunch of nice reMixes, including one from an outfit we haven;t featured in a while, Mausi.
Mausi deliver the standout track of the EP, upping the summery feel and introducing the track to a little piano House and beach party Disco. Playing around with the vocals in pretty innovative ways and coupling that with a smooth, piano led Tropical Disco tune. Most of all, however, the track rules for the shimmering lead line that runs throughout. It’s like pure sunshine in a synth.
electronic rumors 