Feb 13 2015

[Download] Kids At Midnight’s ‘Survival’

The wonderful Kids At Midnight dropped a brand spanking new track this week for absolutely no money whatsoever. That’s right, this silky slice of electronica can be your for the price of nothing, so you need no reason other than loving this emotional bliss to get involved and let this carry you along in your headphones all day. Jane is really going from strength to strength these days with each track deeper than the last.

Survival is like a blast of warm air. A glowing wrap of sound; resounding chords and sparkling chines, layered over a solid yet laid back beat create a comforting soundscape. But it’s the multi layered atmosphere’s of Jane’s voice that take centre stage here, weaving in and our of each other while she singer her heart on her sleeve. Both melancholic and uplifting, the perfect lazy summer song.

♫ Kids At Midnight – Survival

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Feb 9 2015

[Audio] Tear Council’s ‘Anywhere’

Matt Van Schie sure does know how to pick his musical partners. The Van She mastermind has most recently been kicking around with MiGHty mOUse as the wonderful Du Tonc. While the mOUse is busying himself with some mOUsey stuff (more on that in the near future!) the other Matt isn’t sitting on his laurels. He’s teamed up with one of Australia’s hottest Disco producers, the Pizza Guy himself, Touch Sensitive (which isn’t that surprising, as Touch Sensitive is actually Van She guitarist Michael Di Francesco, formerly Arithmatix!. Are you keeping up?). The new project is called Tear Council, here is their first record, Anywhere.

Unsurprisingly, Anywhere is a strong Van She vibe. Think Van She’s more chilled, introspective moments with a Tropical Disco groove. It feels like these guys are staying true to themselves and their writing style, but incorporating all the influences and musical lessons they’ve learnt from he past few years in various dance music outfits. The song itself is a lush and emotional antipodean croon, a mature evolution of Van She’s carefree Indie that drapes itself over an inviting blend of laid back Disco and infectiously catchy Tropical leads. The ultimate city nights jam?

♫ Tear Council – Anywhere

Tear Council’s Anywhere is released 13th February.

Check out more from Tear Council on SoundCloud.

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Feb 6 2015

[Audio] datA’s ‘Don’t Sing’

Out next week via Ekler’o’shock is the new one from the mighty datA. The Frenchman’s tunes are few and far between, but when he does drop a tune he drops it hard; his tracks are always so big. This latest single features Benny Sings on vocals and is possibly the Poppiest thing he’s ever done. Don;t come here looking for the chainsaw synths of old, but as far as massive Pop tunes go, it;s pretty subversive.

Drawing in influences from afar afield as rough Electro and Gospel. datA and Benny Sings have put together a massive, cinematic tune full of bombast and drama. The main focuses here are Sing’s powerful croon and a hammered melodic piano; these centrepieces driving the tone and the rousing energy of the song. This rides on a solid dance beat, although the floor-friendly qualities of the track take a backseat the the emotional power of Don’t Sing. A strange but utterly compelling combination.

♫ datA (Feat. Benny Sings) – Don’t Sing

datA’s Don’t Sing is released 9th February.

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Feb 5 2015

[Audio] Cosmic Angst’s ‘Mytheme I-IV’

London Italo/SpaceSynth producer Chris Gilbert is taking a break from filling our ears with epic synth soundscapes as Mild Peril for a while to fill our ears with epic synth soundscapes as Cosmic Angst. He’s been drip feeding psychedelic synthesizer jams as Cosmic Angst for a while now, the latest of these being the just released Imbolc EP. The EP is made up for four songs Mytheme I-IV, which are actually one seventeen minute opus. So sit back, headphones on, and sink into the world of Cosmic Angst.

Taking the listener through soundtrack moods, Industrial percussive moments and soaring crescendos Mytheme I-IV is an immersive experience. Throughout the four movements hints of Jarre can be found amongst the SpaceSynth warbling. For a seven minute musical journey Mytheme I-IV is amazingly tight, each section flowing into the next seamlessly with it’s underlying themes providing stability to the audio narrative. Reviewing either Mild Peril or Cosmic Angst’s electro odysseys sometimes feels more like reviewing a movie, as there’s definite plot or character moments that unmistakable inform the listen of what’s supposed to be going on as the story unfolds in the imagination, played out by burbling apreggios and stratospheric solos. Without wanting to drop any spoilers, it’s fair to say if you love synths you will love this

♫ Cosmic Angst – Mytheme I-IV

Mild Peril’s Imbolc is out now on Bandcamp.

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Feb 4 2015

[Audio] Apache Darling’s ‘Firebird’

Fresh Glasgow duo Apache Darling’s first tune, More Than Me, had a string of praise from some seriously important commentators. Now, with the release of their second tune it’s down to the like of us to add to the heap. Firebird is scarily good. If we were betting people we would put money on hearing a lot more from these two in 2015. We feel their festival season may be a tad busy.

Firebird is a sparse, yet, cinematic ElectroPop tune that combines warm, rousing synths with abrasive electronic effects to deliver something that’s both catchy and edgy. Singer Stefanie Lawrence’s vocals have an earnest quality to them that draws you in. The song itself feels, quite oddly, somewhat stadium rock; like if you took a stadium rock tune and recreated it on vintage synths in a suburban garage. It retains the majesty but makes it more personal and intimate. It’s hard to describe, just listen.

♫ Apache Darling – Firebird

Check out more from Apache Darling on SoundCloud.

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Feb 4 2015

[Audio] Scarlet Soho’s ‘In Cold Blood’

Next month sees the release of the third studio album from UK SynthPoppers Scarlet Soho. If fair to say that this duo are one of this country’s hidden gems. Them being largely unrecognized and tucked away on the stale Goth/Industrial end of the SynthPop scene is a massive shame as these guys, particularly in the last couple of years, are producing some of the catchiest and most relatable electronic Pop music around. They would easily be able to be high flyers on the Indie-Elector scene, or the proper SynthPop scene with the consistent quality they put out. Hopefully this new full length offering, In Cold Blood, will get them out to the wider audience they definitely deserve.

Waiting no time in pulling on your heartstrings, In Cold Blood launches with it’s title track; a dramatic and rousing slice of vintage Pop that set a tone for the rest of the album, delivering something a little more epic and rich than past Scarlet Soho albums. When The Lights Go Out is the first of the last couple of year’s EP’s lead track to feature on the album, Solo KO and Two Steps From Heartache are also represented and are amongst In Cold Blood’s highlights. When the Light Go Out was featured as one of our top twenty songs of 2012, and amongst it’s album contemporaries sounds as fresh and exciting as ever. What You Need is a nice combination of retro songwriting and modern production, a synergy you’ll find in numerous places on the record, and one of the qualities that make it a standout release. The majority of the listening experience you’ll get on In Cold Blood is an upbeat, nostalgic one; there’s a thread of energy and emotionality running through it’s nine track that is hard to resist, although you will also find quieter moments like the downtempo Depeche Mode of This Town Is Mine that sees James channelling a soloing Martin Gore and surprises such as 2015, a tune best described as ‘Scarlet Soho go full SynthWave’. If we had to guess at the next single, we’d probably pick Gigolo, a song that takes it;s time to grow on you, but soon it’s racing apreggios and utterly epic chorus draw you in and stick in your head. In Cold Blood isn’t a perfect release, Make The Final particularly feels like a mis-step, it’s muddy production doesn’t seem to sit right with it’s peers, but on the whole Scarlet Soho’s third offering is confident, classy and thoroughly deserving of your attention. Also, hidden track!

♫ Scarlet Soho – When The Lights Go Out

♫ Scarlet Soho – Two Steps From Heartache

♫ Scarlet Soho – Solo KO

Scarlet Soho’s In Cold Blood is released 13th February.

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Feb 4 2015

[Audio] Richard X reMixes Susanne Sundfør’s ‘Delirious’

Scandinavian SynthPop chanteuse and frequent Röyksopp collaborator Susanne Sundfør’s new album, Ten Love Songs, is released later this month. Ahead of the release cam the single Delirious, and now following that comes this massive reMix from Richard X, who we really don’t hear enough from these days. Check out what the ElectroPop producer extraordinaire coxes out of the Norwegian singer below.

Richard delivers his particular brand of playful and experimental, but absolutely Pop, electronic music with this one. Sundfør’s epic and dramatic tale is soundtracked perfectly with a particularly majestic brand of SynthPop; spikey bass rubbing shoulder with rising stings and electro zaps to build and incredibly funky nervous tension.

♫ Susanne Sundfør – Delirious (Richard X reMix)

Susanne Sundfør’s Ten Love Songs album is released 16th February.

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Feb 3 2015

[Audio] PJU & Earl Grey’s ‘Call Me Up’

In what must be one of the most exciting collaborations in recent years, London club giants Punks Jump Up have teamed up with one half of The C90s Danny Ashenden A.K.A. Earl Grey. The fruits of this meeting of minds is to be the début release on new Exploited sub-label, Exploited Ghetto, a single titled Call Me Up. These guys have known each other for a while and share a deep love of early Chicago House and analog synths; and if you a fan of either of their musics, or a fan of raw, synthesizer dance music, you’re in for a treat here.

Call Me Up kicks off with a low filtered bass playing a pattern that immediately let’s you know what you’re in for. Channelling warehouse sounds with a hint of Acid; Call Me Up is actually as Detroit as it is Chicago, with a strong Juan Atkins feel to some elements. The hard Roland beats, the robotic vocals, the utterly infections bassline; all this adds up to a track made for strobe lights in dingy clubs and sweaty dancefloors. Only time will tell if a track is classic, but Call Me Up has the chops to stand shoulder to shoulder with the tunes that influenced it; and that’s high praise indeed.

♫ PJU & Earl Grey – Call Me Up

PJU & Earl Grey’s Call Me Up is out 16th March.

Check out more from Punks Jump Up on SoundCloud.
Check out more from Earl Grey on SoundCloud.

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Feb 3 2015

[Audio] Julio Bashmore’s ‘Kong’

The new one from Bristol House guru Julio Bashmore is a awesome taster of what to expect from his forthcoming album. The long player is due sometime later this month, but until then the man has dropped an exceedingly classy slick of West Country House that features vocals from London based singer Bixby (from synth funk juggernaut Arkon Fly) providing some silky tones. This is Kong.

Kong is a deep and involving tune that it’s easy to sink into. Warm tones with a warehouse vibe thread throughout the track, riding a cowbell heavy rhythm, lending Kong a comfortable, kinda’ summer nights, groove. Bixby’s vocals are reminiscent of 80s Soul singers and the mood works perfectly with the relaxed sounds. At one exhilarating and laid back, this bodes well for the album.

♫ Julio Bashmore (Feat. Bixby) – Kong

Julio Bashmore’s new album is due to drop this month on Broadwalk Records.

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Feb 3 2015

[Audio] Let Em Riot’s ‘The Manual’

Although he’s been busy recently with his new band Moderns, Dreamwave genius Alan Oakes hasn’t forgot about the moniker that made us fall in love with his music. Let Em Riot is back with a brand new EP, which is pretty damn exciting news! Lines will be available in March, but here’s a taste of what’s to come in the form of the EP’s lead track, The Manual. Get involved!

The Manual clearly shows off why Let Em Riot stands head and shoulders above his contemporaries. Rich and involving retro SynthPop, loaded with buoyant synths and skippy beats, carries the song; spiky synth bass and sparking chines flowing in that organic way Let Em Riot coaxes from his machines while Alan puts in one of his top emotional vocal performances. A very welcome return indeed.