Category Electro

Aug 7 2012

Alice In Videoland’s ‘Spaceship’ video (sort of)

We really don’t know what’s going on with original ElectroPopPunks Alice In Videoland. They’ve been quite for so long now we had presumed they’d called it a day. We hope that’s not the case, and maybe the fact that they’ve pulled out all the stops to finally the release the video for their 2010 hit Spaceship is a good sign.

We remember seeing stills from this clip a few years ago. From what we can gather the video was filmed then most of the footage was lost in a hard drive crash and the video was scrapped.. Rather than letting it go to waste, it appears that Toril and Anders took it upon themselves to salvage what footage was left, spend some time learning about editing, and finish it themselves. The result is more a bit of fun than anything, mostly made up of outtakes, but it’s good to see it finally put together. We wonder how it would have looked with the real effects, we remember seeing photos of Toril and giant gorilla arms and stuff.

Spaceship is taken from Alice In Videoland’s forth album, A Million Thoughts And They’re All About You. Out now.

Buy Alice In Videoland’s music from:

     

Aug 7 2012

Electric Youth’s ‘The Best Thing’

 

One of the greatest exports to come out of Canada ever, Electric Youth’s new single came out this week. the duo are still riding high on the wave of being featured on the soundtrack to 2011 underground hit movie Drive, milking it for all it’s worth, they’re even currently on a ‘Drive’ tour with fellow Drivers Collage. The release of this new single, The Best Thing, is probably the best thing to happen to Electric Youth, probably best to move on from the whole Drive thing now.

And as a step into a post Drive world for Electric Youth The Best Thing is excellent. Blissful retro Pop, more chilled than Right Back To You and more sophisticated than their Valerie early days, The Best Thing displays a more mature Electric Youth, maybe even a more confident one. Both musically and vocally, The Best Thing is heavy with passion as rich pads and piercing leads dance around the track while Bronwyn delivers a flawless, intimate performance. Proving there are more layers to Electric Youth than we have yet seen, The Best Thing leaves us eager for more of their nostalgic Pop. We hear Mr. Vince Clarke had a hand in it too.

♫ Electric Youth – The Best Thing

Electric Youth’s The Best Thing is out now.

Buy Electric Youth’s music from:

 

Aug 7 2012

Goin’ Old School: Nitzer Ebb, The Shamen, Duran Duran

Goin’ Old School isn’t a trip down music memory lane, it’s a mugging in the dark alleyway of nostalgia:

Nitzer Ebb’s Control, I’m Here from1988. Classic Ebb, before they went a bit funny.

The Shamen 1988 Indie hit Jesus Loves Amerika. Not moving any mountain now are we? The Shamen, post-Industrial, pre-Mr. C.

1981 saw Duran Duran’s chart breakthrough with Planet Earth. It stared a revolution.

You can buy most of this  music from:

 

Aug 7 2012

The C90s’ ‘August Chart Mix’

the-c90s

The C90s – August Chart Mix = Here it is, London’s disco dons, The C90s, monthly mix of all things Disco and House. This months mix takes a particularly cosmic slant, whether big cosmic Disco or space age House, the tunes are always big.

♫ The C90s – August Chart Mix

The Tracklist:

01. Dutch Rhythm Combo – Bonaire (Blackjoy Rough Demo. Mix)
02. Storm Queen – Lets Make Mistakes
03. Moodymann – I Got Werk
04. Zombie Zombie – Rocket Number 9 (Joakim 808 Mix)
05. Incredible Bongo Band – Sharp Nine (Klic reMix)
06. Shiny Objects – Just Fabulous
07. Things Happen – Red Crocodile (John Tejada reMix)
08. Aksel Friberg – To Be With You (Disco Mix)
09. Lindstrøm – Eg-Ged-Osis (Todd Terje Edit)
10. Kris Menace – We Are (Holmes Price reMix)
11. Chinese Flash Mob – Fade 2 Black (Only Children reMix)
12. DJ Kaos – Hands up (Munk reMix)
13. ???? – ???? (????)
14. Rodion & Mammarella – Majella (Edit)
15. Melee – Superheaven

Buy The C90s’ music from:

Aug 6 2012

Diamond Cut reMixes Harts

Harts

The enigmatic Diamond Cut is easily one of the best producers in the world. As well dropping some of the best reMixes of the past few years, on top of one or two (too few) original tracks, he’s also had a hand in so much of the music we love. Everyone from Queen Of Hearts to Visitor have been graced with this Dreamwave guru’s talent. Producing other artists aside, Diamond Cut has been quite quite on recent months when it comes to his own work. Now he’s breaking radio silence with this new reMix of Australian Indie Rocker Harts début single, All Too Real.

Diamond Cut turns it into a slick dance track. Creating a smooth hybrid of Dreamwave and 90’s House, DC whips up the best of both worlds in this mix. Using the originals guitar riff in a way reminiscant of a bit of Daft Punk brings a little Disco touch to the tune. The result of this melting pot of styles is a cool, deep, groove with a retro synth sheen topped off with some impassioned Indie vocals. Hopefully this will see a return to a more active (in the release arena at least) Diamond Cut, more of these late night summer jams please. Diamond Cut leading the pack once more. The reMix will be released on limited edition 7” via Far Land.

♫ Harts – All Too Real (Diamond Cut reMix)

You can pick up the All Too Real 7” here.

Check out more from Harts on SoundCloud.

Aug 6 2012

Karin Park: the interview

karinpark

If they were to make a movie based on electronic chanteuse Karin Park , it should be titled Karin Park: International Woman Of Mystery. This Swedish born ElectroPop star might have only recently entered your consciousness, but she’s had a world-hopping life that’s seen her go from Sweden’s deepest forests to schooling in Japan, to the icy tundra’s of Norway and a Scandinavian Pop career to match including Norwegian Grammys and massive hits.

Now she’s breaking out onto the international music scene with the highly acclaimed Highwire Poetry album. A dark, icy, yet ultimately welcoming collection of beat and synth driven Pop tracks holding songs that both, create an emotional connection with the listener, and are pretty darn catchy too. Drawing on all manner of influences from British Industrial to ScandiPop, Karin crafts a beautiful synthetic atmosphere, otherwordly and strange, whist drawing us into her world of lamentations and  impassioned, and sometimes sultry, refrains.

David Bowie and Massive Attack count themselves amongst Karin Park’s fans, maybe it’s about time you should too? See what Karin had to say as she took some time out from promoting Highwire Poetry to fill us in on a few things that make Karin Park tick.

ER: So, you had quite a multicultural upbringing, being a Swedish girl in a Japanese convent school. Do you think this influenced both your music now, and how you came to music in the first place? how did that happen?

KP: Everything we have experienced makes us who we are I guess, so yes, my upbringing influences my music and the way I see things. I always feel like an outsider everywhere I go. That hasn’t always been the best feeling but I accept it now and try to make the most out of it.

I knew from when I was very little that I was gonna’ be an artist. It has never been anything else for me and it came very natural. My brother got his first drum-kit at the age of 3 after hammering away at pots and pans everyday so it was the same for him.

ER: And it was moving to Norway that facilitated you rise to Scandinavian fame, bagging two Norwegian Grammys. Does Norway influence your music in a way Sweden wouldn’t?

KP: Not really. Releasing a record in Norway instead of Sweden was a random set of coincidences and one thing led to another. Living in Bergen for some years though, a city that has 250 rainy days per year, makes you stay inside the studio quite a lot. I think you can hear the rain in a lot of music that comes from Bergen like Røyksopp, Annie and Kings of Convenience.

♫ Karin Park – Thousand Loaded Guns

ER: What did you listen to growing up, was it electronic music or did you come to that later?

KP: My first proper encounter with music was Depeche mode and Whitney Houston. I like them both for different reasons. But the love for the whole electronic music genre came later when I discovered analogue synthesizers and the whole world around that. I’ve also had a love for metal music for a long time.

ER: You’ve collaborated a lot with your brother David on your latest album Highwire Poetry and performed live with him for most of the last decade. How do you prevent sibling rivalries and arguments from interfering with the music, or does that just not happen at all?

KP: David is one of a kind and very talented. We do argue sometimes, but we keep it short and pretty straight forward. We are both pretty outspoken so it can sound a bit harsh some times but there is not much confusion that way. And we can read each others mind, so that helps.

♫ Karin Park – Restless (Radio Edit)

ER: Is it strange going from being pretty successful in Scandinavia to essentially starting from scratch with the international audience?

KP: It’s refreshing. This record is a bit like starting from scratch for me everywhere, cause it’s quite different from my earlier records. And it’s nice when people listen to it with fresh ears and no presumptions.

ER: How has the reception Highwire Poetry received struck you?

KP: It’s an honest record and people get it, it seems. The fact that it was well received makes it easier to work and I’m just happy to be able to perform the songs live now as they deserve to be.

ER: Industrial influences aside, why do you thing so much Scandinavian ElectroPop has that icy, dark edge we love so much?

KP: Scandinavian nature and the fact that it’s cold and dark most of the year gives the music a melancholic vibe that shines through in Scandinavian music, books and film. At dinner at my house today, everyone around the table had to tell the others their 3 biggest complains in life. Typical Scando-conversation, I guess.

♫ Karin Park – Tiger Dreams

ER: So what’s the Karin Park’s studio? Do you have a favourite bit of studio kit? Any favourite synths?

KP: In my studio there is a Moog Taurus 1 , Juno 106, a Korg MS 20, a Roland Drumatix 606 , a Casio MT-65 and many other small keyboards and synthesizers. There’s a drum kit, oil barrels, pipes and bells to hit, Hiwatt guitar amps and cabinets, Tandberg tape-recorder amps and my Yamaha silver flute that I bought when we lived in Japan at the age of 8. I live in a big church so I have a lot of stuff there and there’s more to come. My favourite is the Korg MS 20 though. I use it when I play live.

ER: If money was no object, what piece of studio gear would be your dream to own?

KP: An ARP 2600. And an engineer to go with it who can fix it every weekend.

ER: Do you prefer songwriting/studio work or playing live?

KP: Sometimes I feel like writing is a curse because when I write I feel an urge to go somewhere I haven’t been or where it’s painful to go emotionally. But when I’ve written a song and I know it’s really good, I think about performing it. Then it comes to life for real and can’t live without that feeling. Can’t have one without the other.

♫ Karin Park – New Era

ER: Now Highwire Poetry has been so well received, what next in the plan for Karin Park world domination?

KP: I want to go and play live in loads of places and meet cool people in every country. I love to travel and want to see everything in this crazy world.

ER: What’s your breakfast preference? Cereal or cooked breakfast? Would your answer change the day after a show?

KP: My breakfast preference? It depends on what kind of day it is, I guess. Greek yoghurt and honey is cool when it’s sunny but maybe I’d go for a rooibosh cup of tea and a tuna melt with jalapenos and applewood cheese if I wake up and the wind is howling outside. No wait, no jalapenos in the morning….. But definitely applewood cheese.

Many thanks to Karin for giving us a few moments to give you lot an insight into the life of a Scandinavian ElectroPop jet setter.

While you’re hear, check out this reMix of Karin’s new single, Thousand Loaded Guns, but our favourite deep House DJ Maya Jane Coles.

♫ Karin Park – Thousand Loaded Guns (Nocturnal Sunshine reMix By Maya Jane Coles)

The Thousand Loaded Guns single is released 10th September, Karin Park’s début album Highwire Poetry is out now.

Buy Karin Park’s music from:

Aug 6 2012

Casio Social Club’s ‘Crush’

When is a reMix not a reMix? How much of the original needs to remain intact for it to be a reMix, or how little should be there before you can claim it as an original tune, and sell it as such? It’s a debate we had on Twitter this weekend. Honestly we’re not sure, if the entire vocal of a track, verse, chorus, verse, chorus is present with a new backing, is that a reMix or an original? For now, we’re on the fence, but it is something that crosses our minds from time to time. A pertinent discussion as it turns out, as one of our favourite UK producers Casio Social Club, Mullet Records head honcho Justin Winks,  soon releases his track Crush.

The Jets 1985 hit Crush On You is one of our guilty pleasures, it always puts us in a good mood. It has graced these pages on more than one occasion, and reMix or not, we do love a good updating of the tune. Casio Social Club’s new version of the track, Crush,  is pure Electro Boogie joy with a Piano House injection. It’s got that Casio Social Club style we love so much, those retro beats and funky as hell digital bassline, here complimented by an infectious piano line and the sing-along catchiness that is Crush On You. Ahead of the release, Mullet are kindly giving away the Radio Edit of the track. This track is the epitome of summer DiscoPop fun, don’t worry about it, just enjoy.

♫ Casio Social Club – Crush (Radio Edit)

Casio Social Club’s Crush is released 7th August as a Juno exclusive followed by worldwide release on the 14th via Mullet Records.

Buy Casio Social Club’s music from:

Aug 6 2012

Sébastien Tellier reMixed by Tommy

Sébastien Tellier

So, as we heave shut the storm door against the lashing out inbox will undoubtedly get from the flood of reMixes of Sébastien Tellier’s Russian Attractions, we’re pretty sure this is the last post we’ll do on these mixes. We’ll probably do a round-up of the best toward the end of the reMix competition, but before that there is just time to sneak in a look at French SynthWave merchant Tommy’s excellent, atmospheric, mix of the track.

Tommy outdoes himself with this one, putting himself way up in the competition rankings. His reMix flows along with a subtle brilliance. With a space age 80’s moody, this mid-paced mix envelopes itself in swirls of warm, thick retro synth sounds and sparking lead lines that perfectly compliment Tellier’s romantic croon. Tommy grasp on brining his SynthWave sound to a Pop song is flawless, with harmonious verses that soar into the lush chords of the chorus with the confidence of the best ElectroPop. Stunning work from Tommy.

♫ Sébastien Tellier – Russian Attractions (Tommy reMix)

Russian Attractions is taken from Sébastien Tellier‘s new album My God Is Blue available now via Record Makers.

Buy Sébastien Tellier’s music from:

Aug 3 2012

MiGHty mOUse reMixes Future Unlimited

future-unlimited

We do love a bit of Nashville ElectroPop duo Future Unlimited ‘round these parts. Particularly their track Golden, which, having graced these pages more than once, is one of our tunes of the year so far. So imagine our excitement then, when, from out of no-where, our favourite London cosmic Disco peddler MiGHty mOUse drops this massive new reMix of the tune. There may have been a “get in!” fist pump.

MiGHty mOUse’s take on the track is dancefloor gold. Mixing up a little Tropical percussion with some Sci-Fi synths and House piano kinda’ covers all the basses, and as he covers all the bases, he does it with style and flair. You can always tell a MiGHty mOUse tune over most Nu-Disco productions. Aside from the obvious studio skill, there’s a lot more going on in an MM track than you’d normally find, a lot more eclectic elements too. MiGHty mOUse seems to write what feels right, rather than what the scene demands, and whereas most producers would claim a similar notion, MM’s track always feel refreshing. Take this tune, there’s actually quite a Dubby sound going on in the background, a few echoes, deep basses, that give it another unique twist, along with an infectious as hell percussive lead line. MiGHty mOUse’s intelligent Disco in combination with Golden’s anthemic vocals works even better than we’d hoped.

♫ Future Unlimited – Golden (MiGHty mOUse Vocal reMix)

Golden is taken from Future Unlimited’s EP, out now.

Buy Future Unlimited’s music from:

Aug 3 2012

Jonas Rathsman’s new single

Jonas Rathsman

We’ve been hearing hints for a while but now Jonas Rathsman is back with his third single. Following on from he Tropical flavoured Disco House of his last single, Tobago, Rathsman moves into more of a let night dancefloor mode, with slick, sexy, Chicago influenced sounds. Prepare to be hypnotised.

Since I Don’t Have You is apparently a love song that with resonate with lots of electronic rumors readers. It’s “a track encapsulating the love story between Jonas and his lost microKORG. He spent the summer with other synthesizers creating these healing melodies, but really he just misses his KORG.” We all know how it is when you find that one synth you just flow with, programming becomes like second nature and you do miss it when you’re working with other bits of kit. So what better way to apologise to your favourite synth that to rite a booming 90’s House jam for it. A pulsating House bassline and bell-like sounds capture the Chicago vibe perfectly while the ethereal lament over the top provides a soulful anchor for the track.

♫ Jonas Rathsman – Since I Don’t Have You

Buy Jonas Rathsman’s music from: