Sep 16 2013

[Audio] Chvrches’ ‘The Bones Of What You Believe’ album

We’ve had a niggling question in the back of our minds this past year since Glaswegian ElectroPop trio Chvrches burst onto the scene. First coming to our attention early summer last year with Lies, we were immediately pretty enamoured. Chvrches are the kind of band we live for here on electronic rumors, but they’re not, however, the kind of thing that tends to get much mainstream attention. As the last year and a half have progressed, and Chvrches have released a string of singles and we’ve fallen hopelessly in love with everything they’ve released, but all the while had the concern in the periphery of our consciousness that (as has happened so often in the last five years) Chvrches were merely using ElectroPop to get attention and any day now would release an ‘authentic’ Indie-Rock record (they didn’t), or that their hype, mass press immersion and supersonic rise to fame was just the result of slick management and media manipulation. The question that has been tickling our consciousness is why were Chvrches getting all this attention over the countless other equally amazing ElectroPop acts we write about daily? Well we’ve been listing to Chvrches’ forthcoming début album, The Bones Of What You Believe, for the past week and we’ve pretty conclusively had that question answered.

Chvrches’ album is fucking stunning!

Seriously, nothing we write here can come close to conveying just how good this record is, but let’s have a crack at it anyway. There are many reasons Chvrches are so special and it’s not all that hard to pinpoint what they are. For a start the music seems to work on two levels constantly. There’s an immediate rush of breezy Pop vibes from a Chvrches tune that belies more complex musicianship. Catchy hooks and melodies rub shoulders with glitchy programming and twisted use of sound. Icy synths stack up to create something warm and cinematic in what seems like a contradiction, but feels so comfortable..

And then there’s Lauren’s vocals, which are some of the most brutal we’ve heard since the late 80s. Using this sweet, innocent voice to expose raw emotional wounds, the lyrical content of the songs contained within The Bones Of What You Believe are bitter and full of venom. It’s so refreshing, in this day-and-age of homogenised Pop tunes, to hear a vocalist really, truly, wear their heart on their sleeve and it makes the journey through The Bones Of What You Believe a much more personal, engrossing and ultimately enjoyable experience.

All the singles are present and correct on the album, their première track Lies (which sounds re-recorded for the album version), it’s follow up (and still our favourite Chvrches track) The Mother We Share, and the two proper singles, Recover and Gun. As we said, we’ve swiftly fallen for each of the single, particularly the album’s opener, the sweeping The Mother We Share, but to our surprise, and relief, Chvrches haven’t played all their trump cards on the singles. The album’s new tracks keep up the same level of quality, at times even exceeding it. We Sink’s energetic, distorted arpeggios serve as the soundtrack the The Bones Of What You Believe’s finest chorus. Cutting as much as it is anthemic, We Sink balances uplifting, infectious ElectroPop with a razor-sharp-wit vocals perfectly. It’s not all bubbly poison though, more pensive tracks like Tether, Lungs, You Caught The Light deliver an enigmatic beauty and atmospheric respite amongst the pounding beats. Under The Tide seems to inject to album with a healthy dose of optimism set to a euphoric dancefloor backing whilst elsewhere, Science/Visions is the closest Chvrches get to actual Industrial music, the track bordering on old school EBM at times. The bright Pop returns for By The Throat and epic Night Sky, a track that sums up all of Chvrches’ exposed emotional energy. There’s also a surprising amount of Martin Doherty singing on The Bones Of What You Believe. Surprising but not unwelcome, it only adds to the albums variety and the man can hold an impassioned Indie vocal line adequately.

In a year of awesome album release from the likes of Tesla Boy, Little Boots, Bastille, AlunaGeorge, Maya Jane Coles, Classixx, Pet Shop Boys, Marnie, Kisses, Charli XCX and Daft Punk, just to name a few, Chvrches’ The Bones Of What You Believe is easily our favourite full length record of the year. If we gave scores out of ten, The Bones Of What You Believe would have to be a ten. The record is released next Monday, buy it or you’re an idiot, simple as that.

♫ Chvrches – The Mother We Share

♫ Chvrches – Gun

♫ Chvrches – Lies

♫ Chvrches – Recover

Chvrches début full length record, The Bones Of What You Believe, is released 23rd September.

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Sep 16 2013

[Audio] Frankmusik reMixes Ride The Universe’s ‘You And I’

We unleashed the new tune from Dreamwave superheroes Ride The Universe a couple of weeks ago. You And I is definitely one of the funkier and more entertaining slabs of Nu-Disco released this summer, like a rush of good times. The track has been given the reMix treatment by Mr. Frankmusik, and the result it typically quirky and typically dancefloor destroying. Check it out.

In the same vein as many of his recent reMixes, Frankmusik delivers a huge sound, stuffed full of complex patterns and musical bait & switches. Keeping the funk intact the whole time, Frankmusik infuses the track with stuttering hook and layers of buzzing synth lines. In his element with the vocal snatches, Vincent chops and pastes various elements, rearranging them in to fresh new melodies to ride his staggered dancefloor beats. A more aggressive, but perfectly complimentary, companion to the original.

♫ Ride The Universe – You And I (FuckFrankmusik reMix)

Ride The Universe invite you to have a crack at reMixing You And I and have provided the stems here.

Ride The Universe’s current single, A Little Better, is out now.

Buy Ride The Universe’s music from:

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Sep 16 2013

[Audio] Tiga Vs. Audion’s ‘Let’s Go Dancing’

The new single from ElectroClash pioneer and Techno legend Tiga hit the internet this weekend in it’s full form. Let’s Go Dancing is a collaboration with Audition (an alter ego of Matthew Dear) that first appeared in clip for in August that got a lot of tongues wagging. This past weekend Annie Mac premiered the full eight minutes of the finished mastered track immediately before it’s SoundCloud and iTunes releases.

The tune is nearly ten minutes of hypnotic Techno. Deep House influenced vibes wash the tune, that is build nor nothing less than hours under a strobe light. A slow creeping juggernaut of pulsating synth sounds and vintage drum machine beats. Utterly intoxicating, the track draws you in with each bar as it ever so gradually builds and builds it;s abrasive groove. We don;t think you’re going to be able to escape this tune in the club over the coming months. Let’s Go Dancing will also be available as a full reMix package in November, with work from the likes of Solomun, Maya Jane Coles and Breach.

♫ Tiga Vs. Audion – Let’s Go Dancing

Tiga Vs. Audion’s Let’s Go Dancing is out now with the reMix package coming 10th November.

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Sep 16 2013

[Audio] Sunglasses Kid’s ‘Unpredictable’ EP

London SynthWave producer Sunglasses Kid released a new EP this past weekend. He’s released some really cool tunes, over the past few months, that have seen him push himself to the front of the SynthWave pack. With a real grasp on authentic 80s Pop sounds, and a good handle on arrangement too, he’s done nothing but impress. The new EP, Unpredictable, is a slick six tracks of classic ElectroPop collaborations.

The highlight of the EP has to be a team-up with Leon Monroe and Highway Superstar titled, Summer Nights. Summer Nights is an easy going slice of summertime Pop with an almost Tropical groove. Monroe’s breezy vocal and Highway Superstar’s sax work really set the tune apart, the sax particularly capturing the mid-80s beach party mood of the tune and drawing you into it. The track show’s off Sunglasses Kids deftness with 80s SynthPop, never heavy-handed or pastiche with it, the Kid just seems to ‘get’ how 80s Pop worked. Greek retro Power Pop vocalist Kristine put in an appearance on Time In Time, an exotic track that layers it’s enigmatic atmosphere with some nice orchestral hits and a Boogie laden beat. The Boy & Sister Alma’s turn at the mic sees them taking part in a moody soundtrack piece, full off evocative chords and a racing beat ripe for a montage.

Elsewhere on the EP your find contributions from the likes of D/A/D and Bret Grace. It’s a confident release that shows off Sunglasses Kid as a true talent on the scene, and one that effortlessly moves beyond the confines of the genre. Well worth checking out.

♫ Sunglasses Kid (Feat. Leon Monroe & Highway Superstar) – Summer Nights

♫ Sunglasses Kid (Feat. Kristine) – Time In Time

♫ Sunglasses Kid (Feat. The Boy & Sister Alma) – Come Back To Me

Sunglasses Kid’s Unpredictable EP is out now.

Buy Sunglasses Kid’s music from:

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Sep 13 2013

[Audio] Anna Lunoe’s ‘Breathe’

After a rash of awesome releases on Future Classic, including collaboration with Flume and Touch Sensitive, Australian producer Anna Lunoe has just dropped a huge tune via Fool’s Gold/Ultra Music. The track, Breathe, was co-producer by Vaughn Oliver, A.K.A. U-Tern (or as he’s probably better know these days, one half of Oliver). Smouldering Deep House vibes for the weekend.

With one foot in the early 90s, Lunoe delivers a futuristic floorfiller that listens like a record of early dance music production techniques . Amongst the stuttered sampling and sinewave bassline, Lunoe serves up an intoxicating and catchy ElectroPop tune. Utterly irresistible, Breathe delivers everything you want right in the middle of the night, on the middle of the dancefloor. A sure-fire hit, just you wait and see,

♫ Anna Lunoe – Breathe

Anna Lunoe Breathe is out now.

Buy Anna Lunoe’s music from:

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Sep 13 2013

[Audio] FM Attack’s ‘Deja Vu’ album

This week, SynthWave innovator and one of the most underrated producers around, Vancouver’s FM Attack, released his long awaited new album. As one of the producers on-board with the Dreamwave sound in it’s infancy, FM Attack has been a constant staple of the scene who’s releases are always looked forward to with anticipation. Clocking up some pretty high profile reMixes in-between albums just goes to show the regard Shawn Ward is held in amongst dance music producers. This new records, Deja Vu, sees FM Attack lean more in a traditional song direction, and the results are well worth your attention.

From the opening beats of With You Tonight, you know you’re in for an Italo infused SynthPop treat. It;s a breezy, romantic tune, full of musical nostalgia and human vocals, and sets the scene for Deja Vu. The Greek voice of retro Pop Kristine makes her first of two appearances on the album on Magic which, like it’s counterpart Runaway, is a emotionally charged slick of authentic 80s Pop laden with icy synths played against a warm bassline and Kristine’s powerful Pop-Rock vocal style. It’s a classic Pop tune, as opposed to Runaway’s more infectious Electro Boogie stylings. Elsewhere on the album you’ll fine the compelling Robo Disco of Corazon, otherworldly and machine-like rub shoulders with the finger snapping, soulful Italo groove of Activate, a vocoder fuelled android’s lament. Tears Don’t Lie and Lost Angeles bring something a little more traditionally SynthWave to the table, showing of their 80s soundtrack music DNA in two very different ways, energetic & Poppy and pensive & resonant. In the middle of the release sits the Julian Sanza featuring Fade Away, an unusual excursion into Balearic Italo with 90s euphoric Trance leads. Deja Vu definitely lives up to what we hope for with a new FM Attack release. Shawn has outdone himself again, we suggest you check it out.

♫ FM Attack (Feat. Kristine) – Magic

♫ FM Attack – Activate

♫ FM Attack (Feat. Kristine) – Runaway

♫ FM Attack – With You Tonight

FM Attack’s Deja Vu is out now.

Buy FM Attack’s music from:

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Sep 12 2013

[Audio] St. Lucia’s ‘Too Close’

New York based ElectroPopper St. Lucia’s long long long awaited début album is finally almost upon us. And, as is customary these days, this revelation comes with a title, a release date, and a brand new track taken for the forthcoming record. The title, When The Night. The release date, 8th October. The brand new track, Too Close. Check it out.

If Too Close is anything to go buy we’ll be in for a treat come October. A buoyant and uplifting slice of complex ElectroPop but a seriously massive middle-eight. While the vocals sections of the tune are the most epic of emotion SynthPop, all rolling arpeggios and Jean-Philip Grobler belting out heartfelt lyrics, the meat of the track comes in the form of it;s instrumental section. Borrowing slightly from synth based prog rock, it’s a cosmic wig out full of soaring solos, LFO powered sweeps, and juggernaut drum fills. Impressive stuff.

♫ St. Lucia’s – Too Close

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Sep 12 2013

[Audio] autoKratz’s ‘Midnight Hearts’

There a new single from London Techno loving ElectroPop duo autoKratz! It’s been 16 months since their last record, and we always worry that they are going to disappear into Techno obscurity when they don;t release new tune, but fear not, this new single has enough ElectroPop at it;s heart, and amongst the machine beats, to keep us all happy.

The A-side, Midnight Hearts, works a prober Deep House groove and sweeping 80s SynthPop vocals. Strange bedfellows? Maybe, but autoKratz make it work perfectly, combing the best of nostalgia and London’s current club scene, with a dash of Tropical, for a serious floorfiller. That bassline alone is infectious as hell. The B-side, takes things even deeper. Mysterious synths and retro-futuristic beats couple with whispered vocals to deliver an early Detroit, by way of Gary Numan, vibe. An excellent return to form for these two.

♫ autoKratz – Midnight Hearts

♫ autoKratz – Cracked City

autoKratz’s ‘Midnight Hearts is out soon.

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Sep 12 2013

[Audio] Figure Of 8 reMixes Hylo’s ‘Never Be Lonely’

Dublin’s finest, Figure Of 8, is back with a brand new reMix! this time the bearded-one is turning his attention to fellow Irishmen Hylo and their Our Krypton Son featuring Never Be Lonely. Released as part of a mixed media art project called Dreamscape, for the time being the track will only be downloadable through scanning a QR code that is part of the accompanying artwork at the Culturetech Festival in Derry between 9/11 and 17/11, to be released on Figure Of 8’s DreamQuest label at a later date.

Musically, their reMixes DNA can be tracked right back through Techno to early EBM and electronic experimentalists such as Test Dept. and Cabaret Voltaire. Abrasive percussive synths and growling, hypnotic arpeggios serve as a nice counterpoint to the stomping dance beat and haunting, yet soulful, vocals. This is one for darken rooms with the strobe light on just a little too long. Intense stuff.

♫ Hylo (Feat. Our Krypton Son) – Never Be Lonely (Figure of 8 reMix)

Check out more from Hylo on SoundCloud.

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Sep 12 2013

[Audio] Bastille’s ‘Things We Lost In The Fire’ reMixed by Ryan Riot

Switzerland’s finest purveyor of Nu-Disco and House, Ryan Riot continues on his quest to reMix the biggest Indie-Dance tracks of the moment by tackling the current single from London based ElectroPop outfit Bastille (who played an absolutely blinding set at Bestival this past weekend BTW!) and their ode to insurance claims, Things We Lost In The Fire.

Ryan’s reMix leans quite heavily in the direction of the big room. Taking the anthemic chorus from the original, Riot swamps the track in big synth riffs and an Italo rhythm section. Driving and uplifting, this tune works the vocals to create some awesome breakdowns and build to completely control the dancefloor. Ryan has been knocking it out of the park recently, and this huge tune is no different.