Oct 23 2013

[Audio] Say Lou Lou’s ‘Better In The Dark’

Sounding like a high-octane Julian, Better In The Dark is the new single from Australian/Swedish sisters Say Lou Lou. who seem to have settled down with Say Lou Lou, I think this is the longest they’ve ever been called on think, so it looks like it’s definitely Say Lou Lou to stay then. Out toward the end of next month, we predict Better In The Dark to do big things over the holiday, it’s got that wintery vibe.

An orchestral cacophony of screeching synths, hammered piano and gentle melodies, Better In The Dark is rush of emotion Pop. Say Lou Lou have got the knack of making big energetic track sound like they have the intimacy of a ballad, and they work that skill to it’s full effect right here. Better In The Dark has winter anthem written all over it, expect to hear this a lot, and not even get sick of it. Good stuff.

♫ Say Lou Lou – Better In The Dark

Say Lou Lou Better In The Dark is released 25th November.

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Oct 23 2013

[Audio] Scarlet Soho release ‘Hit The Floor’ retrospective

In the past year we’ve given a fair bit of attention to the selection of new singles from British ElectroPop outfit Scarlet Soho, but if you at all a follower of SynthPop in the UK then you’ll know the Southampton based outfit have had had a long and prolific career spanning over a decade. Now, with the latest era of Scarlet Soho earning critical acclaim, the band are releasing a retrospective, Hit The Floor: Favorites And Rarities, of some of their finest moments from their first two albums, 2004’s Divisions Of Decency and 2009’s Warpaint, and a host of never-before-heard material. The album is being released as a strictly limited edition CD the comes equipped with a packed 16 page booklet that serves as a visual history of Scarlet Soho. It;s released at the end of the month, but you can pre-order here.

Scarlet Soho’s sound has evolved significantly over the years, and that’s perfectly reflected on Hit The Floor. From the post-ElectroClash Indie-Electro of Divisions Of Decency to the more guitar oriented Electro Rock of Warpaint, Scarlet Soho’s experimentalism with different styles and strict adherence to decent songwriting above all else had always delivered an interesting listening experience regardless if they are currently playing a sound you dig or not. There’s something for everyone on this compilation, whether it’s the raw electronics of Disconnected and Modern Radio or the polished Indie of This Nausea and Analogue Dialogue (Kill The Beat) you’re bound to find something that will be stuck in your head for the rest of the week. For a taster of what to expect, check out the insanely catchy (if a little overly Rocky) Speak Your Mind for a fine example of Scarlet Soho’s big catchy choruses and waves of lush synths, or this stripped back EBM reMix of What You Need, by Canadian EBM legends Psyche who deliver a nice combination of Piano and unprocessed electronics. That’s just one of the exclusive tracks appearing of this album including a reMix from Kosheen and live material.

♫ Scarlet Soho – Speak You Mind

♫ Scarlet Soho – What You Need (Psyche reMix)

Scarlet Soho’s Hit The Floor: Favorites And Rarities is released 25th October and available to pre-order here.

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Oct 23 2013

[Audio] Cut Copy’s ‘We Are Explorers’

Modular have just released another new track from Australian ElectroPop outfit Cut Copy’s forthcoming new album, Free Your Mind. Alongside recent singles Free Your Mind and Let Me Show You, album track We Are Explorers helps give us a full picture of what to expect form their long awaited fourth album.

We Are Explorers is pretty classic Cut Copy. Shockingly infectious ElectroPop, all buzzing synths and crazy purcussion. With a nice hint of the 80s, over some rocking power Indie-Electro. As you’d expect from Cut Copy, the song itself is whimsical, anthemic and ridiculously catchy. Which tempers the abrasive synths, synths that drop moments of chainsaw grind and Acidic burbling amongst the retro chords. We are definitely looking forward to this record. Cut Copy are off on a world tour for the rest of this year, you can find your nearest date here.

♫ Cut Copy – We Are Explorers

Cut Copy’s Free Your Mind is released 5th November.

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Oct 22 2013

[Audio] Katy B’s ‘5am’ reMixed by Route94

There’s was a lot is speculation as to just who Route94 is. It was apparently a well known Dubstep producer’s House alter-ego, names like Skream and Boddika were tossed around in the past twelve months until it turned out to be Dream, now gone full time as Route94. His latest tune is this storming reMix of Katy B’s infectious new single, 5am.

Reining the energy levels in a little, Route94 takes the tune in a deep and hypnotic direction. With a smooth UK House groove and a shuffling Garage-y beat at it’s core, the track serves up playful synths and ominous basslines as a new futuristic, dystopian, backing for Katy B instantly catchy vocals. We were a bit worried about reMixes of this track not being able to live up to the original, but Route94 has put our fears to rest.

♫ Katy B – 5am (Route94 reMix)

Katy B’s 5am is released 28th October.

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Oct 22 2013

[Audio] Strangeheart’s ‘How To Feel Right’

The steady advance of ex-Young Digerati-ers Strangeheart toward the release of their début EP ploughs ever onward. The few tracks that have trickled out so far have really impressed, as does this new tune, How To Feel Right. The prefect blend of Indie Electro and LA Dreamwave, How To Feel Right has got that Young Digerati anthemic quality but injects a little West Coast Disco into the mix.

Decked out with buzzing synth stabs and a burbling arpeggiated bassline, How To Feel Right wears it’s influences on it’s sleeve, with the vocals being part summery Indie and part 80s Pop hit, and the music being pure retro synth goodness. At times the track dips into Electric Soul before sweeping back into the Dreamwave arenas. Every track we’ve heard from Strangeheart so far has had us looking forward to their first proper release, and How To Feel Right just makes us even more eager to hear it.

♫ Strangeheart – How To Feel Right

Strangeheart’s début EP is out soon.

Check out more from Strangeheart on SoundCloud.

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Oct 17 2013

[Audio] Clancy reMixes The Magician’s ‘When The Night Is Over’

If we’re completely honest, we found the new single from Belgian mixtaper The Magician a little disappointing. That seemed to be an general reaction to the tune, When The Night Is Over. The track feat Newtimers was a tad generic what-cool-right-now House. Have no fear though, like some kind of musical first responder, Clancy is here to save the day with this reMix that features on the official single package.

Clancy’s reMix has the perfect hypnotic groove. Layering the track with brooding, pulsating synths he delivers a Deep House concoction that reaches into your core and compels you to move. Like a robot uprising, the reMix is electronically ominous but never lets it’s imposing Sci-Fi synths overshadow it’s irresistible boogie. Definitely one DJs should have in their crates, for peak time, when you’ve got them in the palm of your hand, this will keep them there.

♫ The Magician (Feat. Newtimers) – When The Night Is Over (Clancy reMix)

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Oct 17 2013

[Audio] Bright Light Bright Light’s ‘In Your Care’

Phase two Bright Light Bright Light material is coming thick and fast now. Only recently we were treated to An Open Heart, taken from the SynthPop rising star’s first post-début album EP, In Your Care. Now we can have a listen to the EP’s title track, due out next month. This might be our favourite track from the EP so far.

Co-produced by The Invisible Men, In Your Care is both a classy and classic slice of ElectroPop goodness. Resonant with an emotional heart, In Your Care layers an anthemic, passionate vocal performance over a solid dancefloor core. There’s been a piano version of this tune knocking around for a while now, but paired up with warping synths and a relentless kick, In Your Care released a whole new energy. Let Bright Light Bright Light’s latest slab of power Pop wash over you.

♫ Bright Light Bright Light – In Your Care

Bright Light Bright Light’s In Your Care EP is released 24th November.

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Oct 17 2013

[Audio] Final DJs reMix Kovary’s ‘Black And Green’

Out this week is the new release from Hungarian producer Kovary. Teaming up with vocalist Tamas Morocz he’s released Black And Green, a big Disco-House tune that comes equipped with a loaded reMix package. In amongst that package you’ll find this gem from Germany’s Final DJs, who give the tack a 80s Buck Rogers Sci-Fi sheen.

Turning their SynthWave machine up to 11, Final DJs really deliver the huge, powerful, futuristic Disco grooves. Rocking along on an insanely funky synth bassline, the track is loaded to bursting point with lush sweeping synths, Disco pops and gritty leads. Balancing tough and funky nicely, Final DJs have delivered another storming tune.

♫ Kovary (Feat. Tamas Morocz) – Black And Green (Final DJs reMix)

Kovary’s Black And Green is out now.

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Oct 14 2013

[Audio] The Crystal Method’s ‘Emulator’

America’s involvement with dance music, in general, can probably be condensed into two distinct eras. Firstly America invents modern dance music (Disco, Hip Hop, House, Techno) before mainstream white male America decide that dancing with other guys is ‘a bit gay’ and kills dance music in a way that would effect the US market for decades. Then, in recent years, some amazingly cleaver marketers and major label board members figure out how to package up various strands of electronic music, add in a little testosterone, and call it ‘EDM’ to sell to mainstream white male America on the grounds that it’s no longer ‘a bt gay’. However, during the bleak, dark years for electronic music in America (the 90s and 00s) there were small strongholds of resistance. One of the biggest names to come out of this resistance was The Crystal Method. American main-room big-beat Techno at it’s finest. And now they’re back.

We were pretty trepidations about the new The Crystal Method tune, it would have been so easy for them just to play on being a big name in US dance music and turn-in an uninspired ‘EDM’ track, a lowest common denominator crowd pleaser, and packed areas. Emulator is a massive Electro-House tune, and definitely a crowd pleaser, but the duo managed to deftly avoid the ‘EDM’ pitfalls, the cheese or the clichés. Sounding, a surprising amount, like The Crystal Method of old Emulator sports layers of dirty, chainsaw synth riffs, vocal snatches and a juggernaut bassline. Body shaking powerhouse Electro.

♫ The Crystal Method – Emulator

The Crystal Method’s Emulator appears on their new, self-titled album, due out 14th January 2014.

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Oct 14 2013

[Audio] Trevor Something’s ‘All Night’

Mancunian artist Trevor Something is something of an cypher. A SynthPop singer/songwriter who’s bio if loaded with 80s references, to an overpowering extent. Mr. Something really want’s you to know he’s all about the greatest decade. But on listening to the music, whilst there is an obvious and distinct Futurist and Post-Punk influence, we can’t help but feel that Trevor Something has more in common with the Chillwavers of this world than the SynthWave/Dreamwave or 80s revivalist crowds. Not that that is, at all, a bad thing.

Take is tune All Night, it’s a lush, swirling, reverb drenched electronic dream. Obviously, the 80s references are all there, the Dave Gahan tone to the vocals, the B-Boy beats in the breakdown, the melancholy harmonies playing against a catchy chorus, but there’s an overall vibe that would see Trevor Something sitting more comfortably on a label like Cascine than Rosso Corsa. All Night is a hypnotic and intoxicating track that demands repeated listening. The pairing of the deep pulsating bass and the hazy synths and machine beat deliver an odd combination of the robotic and the soulful, with the vocals playing a big part in the latter. Trevor Something is definitely a name to keep an eye on.