Apr 21 2011

Shine 2009’s début album

Ever since Cascine’s latest signing Shine 2009 dropped their Paula Abdul featuring single ‘So Free’ we have been dying to hear the album, ‘Realism’ and now we have and can report that it’s good. Very good.

If you have missed Pop music, particularly British Pop music circa 1989-1993 then buy this album as soon as it comes out. This is pure early-90’s Pop, the kind that just makes you smile. The early dance 909 beat or Hip Hop breaks, the M1 piano, the square wave bass sounds, the synth sax, it’s all there and perfectly executed with some catchy songs. The Soul II Soul beats and digital woodwind of ‘New Rules’ are a perfect example. Smooth and laidback, as much dance music was back then, the track both takes you back in time and makes you wanna’ dance. I cant stress enough, if you like early 90’s dace Pop, how much you will love this album!

♫ Shine 2009 – New Rules

‘Realism’ is out 3rd May on Cascine.

Shine 2009 @ 7Digital

Shine 2009 @ Amazon

Apr 21 2011

Lightwaves

Lightwaves just happens to be the solo project of Jan Rosenfeld, front-man of the awesome Boston Indie-Electropoppers Yes Giantess, getting his Electro Disco groove on.

His first track ‘Working All Day’ is an amalgamation of Electro styles, mixing up a bit of Robo Disco, a bit of French Touch, a bit of ElectroPop into a happy summer hit. Jan’s got a strong ear for how to rock the dancefloor and ‘Working All Day’ dips and peaks just where it’s supposed to, carrying you along with the cut-up vocoder vocals.

♫ Lightwaves – Working All Day

Check out Lightwaves official website for news of his forthcoming EP.

Lightwaves @ Official Website

Apr 21 2011

Violet Tremors reMixed by Funerals

We mentioned in our feature on them that Ohio Dark Synth act Funerals would be lending their skills to a reMix of our favourite Minimal Synth girls Violet Tremors. Well, here it is.

Mixing up Violet Tremors’ ‘Violet Trance’ with this dark 90’s house sound results in an evil industrial groove. I do love how Funerals can sound uncomfortable and atmospheric and funky at the same time. The machine rhythms, scrapyard percussion and relentless synth bass in this track owes much to New Beat but is tempered with a haunting lead line. I feel like in in a dark EBM club in 1989 all over again!

♫ Violet Tremors – Violet Trance (Funerals reMix)

Violet Tremors’ début album is out on Mannequin later this year.

Violet Tremors @ Facebook

Apr 21 2011

FM Belfast re-release ‘Underwear’

Some crazy ElectroPop now from Icelandic act FM Belfast.

Having just signed to Morr Music their first single, a re-release from their album ‘How To Make Friends’, is ‘Underwear’. It’s a prime example of the bands quirky sense of humour and analog heavy sound which appears to be about running about in your pants ‘cos your bored. FM Belfast’s sound is very Icelandic, if that makes sense, it’s strongly ElectroPop in structure but seems not to care whatsoever about what anyone else is doing, and in FM Belfast’s case that is a very good thing.

♫ FM Belfast – Underwear (Single Version)

‘Underwear’ is out now digitally limited edition 7” with additional versions.

FM Belfast @ Beatport

FM Belfast @ Juno

FM Belfast @ Amazon

Apr 21 2011

Uffie covers Tom Tom Club

Uffie (yes Uffie, remember Uffie?) this week dropped this Medhi produced cover of Tom Tom Club’s hit ‘Wordy rappinghood’, and it’s good!

I’ve always had a soft spot for Uffie, she’s worked with some of the biggest Electro innovators in the Ed Banger stable and has a vocal delivery which is pretty unique and while this cover might at first seem odd, after listening to it you realise it was the cover she’s was always destined for, and with Medhi bringing an Old School flavour to the track, it just works.

♫ Uffie – Wordy Rappinghood (Tom Tom Club Cover) (Evian Mix)

the track comes from Evian ‘s latest ‘Live Young’ campaign.

Apr 20 2011

Purity Ring

I don’t know much about Purity Ring beyond what was contained in the email we received, they seem to have a few fans on Facebook so maybe I’ve been missing out on something.

I know they are a duo composed of Corin Roddick and Megan James, I know they are Canadian, and I know the music a completely enchanting. Mixing up BedroomPop and Dubstep on their début single ‘Ungirthed’. There might, at first glance, be a contradiction between the deep , spooky heavy bass and the cute, quaint, vocals and melodies, but the the two halves of the track combine to form a whole greater than the sum of it’s parts. Like a kitten with a switchblade you don’t know whether to be scared of ‘Ungirthed’ or embrace it, but what you will do is nod your head and become enveloped in Purity Ring’s soundscape.

♫ Purity Ring – Ungirthed

‘Ungirthed’ is released this month on 7”.

Purity Ring @ Pure Groove

Purity Ring @ Plastic In Paper

Apr 20 2011

Madeon

What can we say about Madeon that hasn’t already been said in recent months, the dude is 16. 16! It’s ridiculous, 16 years old and already up there with some of the best ElectroPop/Nu-Disco/Dreamwave producers around. What’s he gonna’ have done by the time he’s 20????

Talented beyond his years this young French producer shows not only production skill but serious musicianship in his tunes. His stuff is serious Nu-Disco excellence with an ear for a retro melodies and some insane bass programming. With a knack for solid grooves and heart stopping drops underpinning his sparkling, soaring lead lines Madeon is defiantly on his way to the top. Check out his reMixes of Yelle and Alphabeat too, pure gold.

♫ Madeon – For You

♫ Madeon – Shuriken

♫ Yelle – Que Veux Tu (Madeon reMix)

♫ Alphabeat – DJ (Madeon reMix)

What can we say? Can’t wait for Madeon’s début EP.

Madeon @ Amazon

Apr 19 2011

Fear Of Tigers’ latest ‘The Guestlist’ show: brand new Edwin Van Cleef + an interview with yours truly!

Fear Of Tigers recently started hosting a weekly look at everything going on in the world of ElectroPop, Nu-Disco and Dreamwave. Called ‘The Guestlist’ you can check out his pick of the best of current electronic music over on his SoundCloud page.

This weeks show, not only drops a storming brand new track from Edwin Van Cleef, but also features an interview with yours truly a plays a couple of my recent faves.

Yes, I am that Bristolian!

♫ Fear Of Tigers’ ‘The Guestlist’ 19/04/2011

As you probably know Ben from Fear Of Tigers ran the London marathon last weekend to raise money for WSPA (World Society for the Protection of Animals). We’d like to extend our congratulations to Ben for an amazing job, you can read about it in this blog post, and there’s still time to get in with a quick sponsorship if you’re feeling charitable, check out his Just Giving page.

Fear Of Tigers @ Just Giving

Fear Of Tigers @ Beatport

Fear Of Tigers @ Amazon

Apr 19 2011

Mason and Róisín Murphy’s ‘Boadicea’ Video

Mason and Róisín Murphy’s ‘Boadicea’ now has a video.

We’ve already raved about the track a few times. I love a video with a narrative, this one stars off pretty harsh and then just gets badass. Really cool clip.

It was directed by Ron Scalpello.

‘Boadicea’ is out now and taken from the album ’They Are among Us’.

Apr 18 2011

Sophie Ellis-Bextor’s new album

Just a quick one today, lot’s going on, but most of the day I’ve been listening to Sophie Ellis-Bextor’s forthcoming album and I have to say it’s sounding pretty damn good.

‘Make A Scene’, Sophie’s forth album will be released in June and in amongst the tracklisting are most of her singles from the past two years (including the collaborations with the likes of Freemasons, Armin van Buuren and Junior Caldera) and a whole host of new tracks. Working with not only the aforementioned producers and writers but names such as Richard X, Metronomy, Calvin Harris, Cathy Dennis, and Greg Kurstin the album seems to swing from massive Pop-Trance tracks to cooler DiscoPop and classic ElectroPop tunes. The first lead single from the album will be ‘Starlight’, I tend to almost universally disagree with labels choices for lead in singles from albums, but in this case I think ‘Starlight’ is the perfect choice. Not as hands-in-the-air Trance as a couple of the album tracks (the only tracks on the album that are slightly dated) ‘Starlight’ has got more of a DiscoPop groove. And you’ve got to love Sophie’s voice, that posh-with-a-slight-cockney-twang thing just slays me.