Apr 22 2010

Monarchy’s ‘The Phoenix Alive’; soon, very soon!

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It’s less than a month now until London SynthPop genii Monarchy’s first proper single is released. We’ve already told you haw great it is, and how awesome the video is but we though you might need reminding with some reMixes and a listen to the B-Side.

The original is a piece of pure Electronic perfection, a beautiful meeting of Disco and Italo topped with gently, heartfelt vocals that weave in and out of the instrumentation effortlessly. You’ll have heard Kris Menace’s arpeggio led Electro-House reMix before which contrasts with Hot City’s glitchy, Garage beats and cut-up vocals. the B-Sire is ‘It Must Be Love’, a track that might not make it to Monarchy’s début album, slated for a June release, is a ballad with a real mid-80’s Scandinavian SynthPop feel to it and a chord progression that tugs at the heart strings.

♫ Monarchy – The Phoenix Alive (zShare) (MediaFire)

♫ Monarchy – The Phoenix Alive (Kris Menace Mix) (zShare) (MediaFire)

♫ Monarchy – The Phoenix Alive (Hot City Mix) (zShare) (MediaFire)

♫ Monarchy – It Must Be Love (zShare) (MediaFire)

‘The Phoenix Alive’ is released 10th May on This Is London.

Monarchy @ Beatport

Monarchy @ Juno

Monarchy @ Amazon

Apr 22 2010

HURTS début single

HURTS

‘Better Than Love’ is a fantastic choice for HURTS’s first proper single (‘Wonderful Life’ bring an EP). I think most people were expecting the Spandau Ballet-esq ‘Blood, Tears & Gold’ but this tune, actually an old Daggers (HURTS previous incarnation) song, is probably a better fit for a breakthrough single.

The coolest band (and most hyped) in ElectroPop right now need to announce themselves with heir début and ‘Better Than Love’ does exactly that. Still sounding authentically 80’s Pop, without parody or cliché. The forthcoming single is, although described by the band as “dance music for depression”, and epic, somewhat uplifting slice of retro PowerPop, (verging on the Simple Minds at times even!). As melancholic as it is it can’t help but sound anthemic with all the drama and passion of the vocals sitting atop flying arpeggios and Italo beats. If the flavour isn’t dancefloor enough for you check out German House masters Tiefschwarz’s deep and dark reMix.

♫ HURTS – Better Than Love (zShare) (MediaFire)

♫ HURTS – Better Than Love (Tiefschwarz Mix) (zShare) (MediaFire)

It is amazing to find a band who really are living up to the hype. I absolutely cannot wait to catch these guys live in May!

HURTS @ Beatport

HURTS @ Juno

HURTS @ Amazon

Apr 21 2010

Simian Mobile Disco @ Smirnoff Experience Berlin

Electro giants Simian Mobile Disco are preparing a completely new live show, their biggest ever, for their show at Smirnoff Experience Berlin. Check this video of their preparations:

Some crazy stuff there. Last time I saw SMD live they absolutely slayed the entire room, wish I was in Berlin.

The Smirnoff Experience takes place 23rd April, unsurprisingly in Berlin. Along with SMD the line up includes WhoMadeWho and Boy 8-Bit.

Simian Mobile Disco @ Beatport

Simian Mobile Disco @ Juno

Simian Mobile Disco @ 7Digital

Simian Mobile Disco @ Amazon

[Via Vice Magazine]

Apr 21 2010

In the studio with Chromeo

FaderTV recently posted this awesome interview with Chromeo on their YouTube channel. It’s a nice little tour of the studio in Brooklyn where they have shipped all their gear to and are recording the new album in. An all too brief insight into how Chromeo work.

Apr 21 2010

Au Revoir Simone + Punches

AuReviourSimone

Brooklyn based DJ trio Punches are making a bit of a stir in blog world with their Trumpet infused Disco reMix of Indie-Electro girl band Au Revoir Simone’s ‘Only You Can Make Me Happy’

Punches, composed of twin brother DJs Finger On The Pulse, Alan Astor & The Kid Robb, create a perfect summertime vibe, completely different from the original, but with a horn riff and Disco bassline that you can’t help but love.

♫ Au Revoir Simone – Only You Can Make You Happy (Punches reMix) (zShare) (MediaFire)

Au Revoir Simone’s recent album ‘Still Night, Still Light’ is out now.

Au Revoir Simone @ Beatport

Au Revoir Simone @ Juno

Au Revoir Simone @ 7Digital

Au Revoir Simone @ Amazon

Apr 21 2010

The Rouge Element

TheRougeElement

The Rogue Element A.K.A. Ben Medcalf returns with a new single after his recent acclaimed album ‘Lumina’.

There’s something almost mid 90’s Seattle Grunge about the vocals in this track which actually work amazingly well in an electronic setting and along with the toyshop synth solo give this ElectroPop track a real rock feel.

♫ The Rogue Element – Mistakes (Edit) (zShare) (MediaFire)

‘Mistakes’ is released 10th May.

The Rouge Element @ Beatport

The Rouge Element @ Juno

The Rouge Element @ 7Digital

The Rouge Element @ Amazon

Apr 21 2010

The Vanish – Beyond Deep reMix

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Do we need to sing the praises of The Vanish and their recent début single ‘Hold On’ one more time? Well, if you haven’t gone out and purchased it then I suppose we do!

Easily one of our favourite single of the year so far, The Vanish seem to make the point where everything we dig, Indie-Electro/ElectroPop/Dreamwave/Electro-House, converge in just the right measures to be something truly special. Along with the likes of Russ Chimes and Gemini Club, Beyond Deep provide one of the reMixes for the single, a deep, sunrise-esq, with some great subtle vocoding.

♫ The Vanish – Hold On (Beyond Deep Mix) (zShare) (MediaFire)

The ‘Hold On’ single is out right now! Go get!

The Vanish @ Beatport

The Vanish @ Juno

The Vanish @ 7Digital

The Vanish @ Amazon

Apr 21 2010

Don’t Wait Animate reMixes

DontWaitAnimate

We posted about Don’t Wait Animate a while back, their post-Nu-Rave Indie-Dub-Electro thing is pretty unique. A jagged inner city mash-up of styles and influences.

The London 5 piece have dropped by the electronic rumors Inbox to big up a couple of reMixes of their début single, ‘6174’. The Dirty Disco deliver something special, completely deconstructing the track and building it back up into a dancefloor ElectroPop smash with some heavy heavy beats and more than a couple of nods to Dubstep as does Coin Operated Boy’s 8-bit noise rave.

♫ Don’t Wait Animate – 6174 (The Dirty Disco reMix) (zShare) (MediaFire)

♫ Don’t Wait Animate – 6174 (Coin Operated Boy reMix) (zShare) (MediaFire)

‘6174’ is our now.

Don’t Wait Animate @ Amazon

Apr 21 2010

Thieves Like Us’ new single

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This week sees the release of Thieves Like Us’ latest offering, the ‘Forget Me Not’ single. This will be the second taste, after the ‘leaked’ track ‘Never Known Love’, of their forthcoming new album ‘Again And Again’

To get you in the mood for the new single try checking out these two remixes, including one by Gomma artiste Cecile who’s dancefloor beats betray the haunting nature of the reMix and the Second Date mix, which is my favourite so far, with a nice modern-retro feel to it. Full of arpeggios and 80’s synth chords without ruining the melancholic nature of the original.

♫ Thieves Like Us – Forget Me Not (Cecile Small Town Girl reMix) (zShare) (MediaFire)

♫ Thieves Like Us – Forget Me Not (Second Date reMix) (zShare) (MediaFire)

‘Forget Me Not’ is released this week and the album drops 7th May.

Thieves Like Me @ Beatport

Thieves Like Me @ Juno

Thieves Like Me @ 7Digital

Thieves Like Me @ Amazon

Apr 16 2010

Crystal Castles’ new singles!

CrystalCastles02

As we mentioned a couple of days ago, Crystal Castles are gearing up to release two new single in the coming weeks and now you can listen to radio rips of both new tracks.

The first, released in a very limited edition quantity of 500 copies, for Record Store Day tomorrow, is ‘Doe Deer’ is chaotic Crystal Castles at their finest, with a maddeningly repetitive riff and Alice screaming like a nutter over distorted drums and synths it is the Crystal Castles we know and love turned up to 11.

The forthcoming single proper is a bit of a (pleasant) surprise though. It’s not like CC haven’t produced melodic tunes before, but ‘Celestica, is pretty slick, ElectroPop. It’s still intricate in it use of electronic sounds but, in general, it’s a really club friendly Pop track with a dreamlike quality. Proper vocals and everything!

Have a listen to this rip from Zane Lowe’s Radio 1 show.

♫ Crystal Castles – Celestica (Radio Rip) (zShare) (MediaFire)

♫ Crystal Castles – Doe Deer (Radio Rip) (zShare) (MediaFire)

Crystal Castles second self titled album is due out on 8th July.

Crystal Castles @ Beatport

Crystal Castles @ Juno

Crystal Castles @ 7Digital

Crystal Castles @ Amazon