Mar 20 2015

[Audio] Parallels cover New Order’s ‘Age Of Consent’

Amazing Torontonian SynthPop outfit Parallels are back after quite a hiatus. Things have been quite on the Parallels front since their sophomore album XII in 2012 and we feared we’d seen the last of them. But fear not, they’ve just announced that they are hard at work on their third studio record and in the meantime you should check out their new cover of New Order’s Age Of Consent.

It’s a pretty flat out cover with a raw garage feel. It’s nice to hear Holly back in action with some sweet synths. If we’re honest we don’t think the guitar does a good job of standing in for Hooky’s classic bass sound and it’s a bit overpowering in the mix. We’re hoping for a lot less of that on the new original material, but it does give this cover a raw, live feel. That aside it’s an energetic and driving cover of a song we all love and anything that lays the path for Parallels return is awesome by us.

♫ Parallels – Age Of Consent (New Order Cover)

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Mar 19 2015

[Audio] The Penelopes reMix Monarchy’s ‘Dancing In The Corner’

We’ve been itching all week to drop this one. A true meeting of genius. Two of London’s finest SynthPop outfits. The epic and enigmatic Monarchy and our favourite Capital based Frenchmen The Penelopes together on one track. The Penelopes’ have stepped up to the plate to serve up this fantastic reMix of Monarchy’s single of earlier this year, Dancing In The Corner. Here we have the end result of four of the most talented people working in electronic Pop music in one six minute bite; and boy, it does not disappoint.

The Penelopes hit the ground running with the rapid fire arpeggio that the track is driven by. Whipping up some big room sounds, the Parisian Londoner’s delver an almost EBM take on hands-in-the-air euphoria with a twisted web of musical DNA that takes in everything from Enola Gay, through 90s Trance, French Electro to contemporary Tropical tinged House in one powerhouse melting pot that Ra’s vocals glide over like silk. This is one big tune!

♫ Monarchy-Dancing In The Corner (The Penelopes reMix)

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Mar 19 2015

[Audio] Years & Years’ ‘Worship’

Having scored a UK number one single with King, London ElectroPoppers Years & Years can;t really be called up-and-coming or hotly tipped anymore. They have pretty much delivered what was expected of them with a storming round of festival shows last year and a string of acclaimed singles (including said #1). Earlier than we had expected, the band have just announced the forthcoming release of their début album. To be titled Communion, the LP is due to drop in June’ check out the first new album track, Worship.

Worship continues with Years & Years’ trend for mixing up ElectroPop and Indie-Electro with R&B tinged vocals from singer Olly Alexander. The track rolls on skippy beats and pseudo-Tropical keys that set a laid back, but dancefloor friendly mood for the intensely passionate track. It’s heartfelt dancy ElectroPop at it’s finest.

♫ Years & Years – Worship

Years & Years’ Communion is released 22ndf June.

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Mar 18 2015

[Audio] Damian Lazarus & The Ancient Moons’ ‘Vermillion’

Next up on Crosstown Rebels is the new single from label head honcho Damian Lazarus. We’ve never really been too sure who The Ancient Moons are, but the track features the soulful vocals of new LA based singer Moses Sumney. Having already ranked up the honour of being one of Pete Tong’s Essential New Tunes, Vermillion is due out next month. Give it a listen below.

Kicking off in tribal fashion Vermillion is soon dousing you ears in a warm House groove. There’s an interesting combination of world percussion and twisting arpeggios that keep the tune high energy in contrast to Sumney’s breezy, laid back vocals. This is hypnotic House pulled into a Poppier arena, and it really works.

♫ Damian Lazarus & The Ancient Moons (Feat. Moses Sumney) – Vermillion

Damian Lazarus & The Ancient Moons’ Vermillion is released 27th April.

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Mar 18 2015

[Audio] Shyvonne’s ‘Give Into Love’

Having collaborated with the likes of Bremnar and Sammy Banannas, New York based House singer/songwriter Shyvonne is gearing up for the release of her début EP. The release was co-produced with Chuck Wild and sees her taking on a UK Deep House sound whilst keeping a classic late 80s/early 90s House vibe. Listen up.

Give Into Love is smooth and slinky with a comfortable House groove. Paying respects to the history of House, from Chicago through UK Bass, Shyvonne delivers a soulful performance and has a classic voice that when paired with Chuck Wild’s production mixing both the retro and the new presents a timeless dance music sound.

♫ Shyvonne – Give Into Love

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Mar 17 2015

[Audio] Du Tonc’s ‘Animals’

MiGHty mOUse and Matt Van Schie are back in their Du Tonc guise with the eagerly awaited follow up to January’s Every Song. Written on the radio in the US, Animals marks the start of the journey toward the duo’s début album, of which they are putting the finishing touched to right now. These guys have made a big impact on the Nu-Disco and Indie-Electro scenes since the start of their collaboration back in 2013 and we are pretty pleased they are going the album route (it’s a format we, unlike a lot of people, feel is still very important. It;s gonna’ be a big year for Du Tonc.

Animals serves up generous helpings of, what is now, Du Tonc’s trademark sound; blissful Topical-tinged Indie-Electro with a solid Disco backing. Blissful it may be, but don’t mistake it for shallow. Animals, as with the rest of Du Tonc’s output, is wildly more cerebral than it’s contemporaries, with Matt Van Schie giving an emotional and intelligent performance over a intricately crafted combination of summery ElectroPop and retro-futuristic Cosmic Disco. As ever, Du Tonc deliver something for both the head and the feet.

♫ Du Tonc – Animals

Du Tonc’s Animals is released 30th March.

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Mar 17 2015

[Audio] Jupiter’s ‘Do It’

One of our favourite French SynthPop duos, Jupiter, are back after a couple of year’s hiatus. they’ve just announced the impending release of their second album; Bandana Republic. The follow up to 2012’s incredibly well received Juicy Lucy, Bandana Republic is due to drop in May. Recorded between Paris and Los Angeles, the album is informed by a Californian road trip vibe that injects some interesting new 70s influences into Jupiter’s Parisian DiscoPop. Check out the first hint of what’s to come, the track Do It.

From the offset, Do It hits you with thick, bassy synths and an irresistible hook (if your head doesn’t start immediately nodding you may want to see a doctor about that neck problem you have!). Any doubts that Jupiter couldn’t recreate the bottled lightning of Juicy Lucy are rapidly swept away; Do It is as good a DiscoPop track as you could ask for. Steady beats, funky apreggios, heavy synth bass and Amélie sounding as sweet and catchy as ever. Ladies and gentlemen, Jupiter are back.

♫ Jupiter – Do It

Jupiter’s Bandana Republic, is released 4th May.

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Mar 17 2015

[Audio] Ambassadeurs’ ‘Can’t You See?’

Up and coming British producer Mark Dobson, A.K.A. Ambassadeurs, started his adventure in electronic music production with OctaMED on the Amiga; this immediately endears him to us as we are old school MED fans. Fast forward to the present day and he’s been slowly but surely making a name for himself with a succession of well received reMixes and steady touring. He’s just released his new EP, Can’t You See?, as a Beatport exclusive and we can give the title track a listen right now.

Can’t You See? neatly bridges the gap between dreamy Chillwave atmospherics and bassy, Future R&B styled UK Deep House. Ambassadeurs lays on waves of lush Synths and haunting samples over a shuffling beat. For such a spacious track, Can’t You See? is pretty upbeat as Ambassadeurs stabs and a twisting lead line into a frenzy as the song progresses. There’s even a little Dub in the mix too. A complex and intricately crafted epic.

♫ Ambassadeurs – Can’t You See?

Ambassadeurs’ Can’t You See? is out now.

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Mar 17 2015

[Audio] Happiness Cage’s ‘Image Crystal’

There’s a new tune from Happiness Cage, the more experimental alter-ego of Irish SynthWaver Ciarán Byrne A.K.A. Adeyhawke. We always eagerly await the next Adeyhawke tune, but in the meantime Happiness Cage serves up something a bit more cerebral, giving you something to think about while you’re resting your feet from dancing to Adeyhawke tunes. This latest one is called Image Crystal.

With patterns built on field recordings Ciarán made on his travels Image Crystal creates an organic soundscape peppered with lilting synths that drift through the sonic landscape. Calling to mind some of Autechre’s more emotive moments, Image Crystal is a beautiful and evocative four minute experience.

♫ Happiness Cage – Image Crystal

Check out more from Happiness Cage on SoundCloud.

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Mar 16 2015

[Audio] Kero Kero Bonito’s ‘Picture This’

South Londoners Kero Kero Bonito have been mixing up a bit of J-Pop, quirky SynthPop and Indie-Electro and repackaging in it a way that appeals to both Pop pickers and Hype following websites alike. Their latest single is titled Picture This, an ode to both selfies and Instagramming your life which manages to combine bubblegum Japanese Pop and a wry English sense of humour.

So, you’re either going to love this, or hate it. We’re falling firmly in the love camp (yup, we like Marmite too). It kinda’ feels like a contemporary Saint Etienne, in that way it celebrates mundanity in a very English way. Of course, Saint Etienne never sung half in Japanese, or mixed up ChipTune chaos into their songs as Kero Kero Bonito do, but the there a similar swing here. So, if it’s your kind of thing you’ll probably be pretty enamoured with the buoyant a synths, rapid fire rhythms and Sarah’s half sung, half rapped, half Japanese (yes, that’s three halves) vocals.