Apr 16 2011

Computers Want Me Dead

Computers Want Me Dead are a New Zealand duo who build upon the Antipodean Indie-ElectroPop sound to create and exciting, upbeat sound of their own. They released their début EP last month.

Their self titled EP contains four tracks, two reMixes and an instrumental that will leave you wanting more. The duo consisting of Sam Harvey and Damien Daniels take elements of the Modular strain of Indie-Electro and put their own retro inspired spin on it. With really catchy songs, like ‘In Your Blood’, some dangerously powerful synth sounds working in harmony with a smoother Disco backing, and a cool that oozes from every song CWMD are certainly destined for great things.

This is pretty much what I’m listening to for the rest of the day, the sun is out and this is the prefect soundtrack.

♫ Computers Want Me Dead – In Your Blood

Computers Want Me Dead’s self titled EP is out now.

Computers Want Me Dead @ Beatport

Computers Want Me Dead @ Amazon

Apr 16 2011

Vanbot’s début album

It’s been quite the week for Sweden’s Vanbot. Her first album was finally released after a couple of months of build up.

Vanbot’s self titled début is a pretty stunning entrance. The internet has been full of comparisons to Robyn, but I swear if you compare Vanbot to Robyn, then I expect Robyn is probably the only other female ElectroPop artist you’ve ever heard ‘cos other than being Swedish, Female and producing ElectroPop the comparison ends there.

Vanbot (A.K.A. Ester Isdekog)’s tunes are smooth Dancefloor Pop, replacing Robyn’s edgy cool with DiscoPop savvy and a sound that owes more to Sweden’s ElectroPop heritage than her fellow Scandinavian’s. Packed with direct 80’s musical references the record reminds me so much of all those excellent late 90’s/early 00’s Swedish Pop acts that flooded the SynthPop scene, but with a distinct understanding of contemporary Electro music. Top that with Ester’s sweet sweet vocals and you’ve got a winning combination.

♫ Vanbot – Make Me, Break Me

♫ Vanbot – Lost Without You

‘Vanbot’ is out now.

Vanbot @ 7Digital

Vanbot @ Amazon

Apr 15 2011

What have Substatic been up to?

Well…holed up in some kind of Substatic bunker writing tunes, that’s what.

After extensive gigging their highly recommended début EP for the past year (and, I presume, taking a couple of months to get over making it into electronic rumors’ top 5 tracks of 2011!) it was time for Bristol’s finest Electro trio to get their groove on and look to their next release. They have let two demos form their next release into the wild via their SoundCloud page. The first to see the light of day was ‘Bloodlust’, a laidback, slightly Dubsteppy, tune with an air of tension running throughout, but in instrumentation and Colleen’s borderline lamentation vocal delivery. Then there is ‘Gold’, a track that deserves to be played loud. ‘Gold’ is an in-your-face Electro beast, Substatic have assimilated both Dubstep and Electro-House’s synth work and sprinkled it with an ElectroPop sheen. ‘Gold’ will defiantly be one of this summers anthems.

Bearing in mind that these are both still works-in-progress, it seems Substatic’s next release will be something to get excited about.

♫ Substatic – Gold (Demo.)

♫ Substatic – Bloodlust (Demo.)

Substatic’s ‘Days Go On’ EP and ‘Days Go On: the_reMixes’ are both available now.

Substatic @ Juno

Substatic @ 7Digital

Substatic @ Amazon

Apr 15 2011

Johan Agebjörn & Le Prix reMix DW

In our second post this week featuring Johan Agebjörn & Le Prix’s team-up is this reMix they have dropped of Stockholm Italo Pop duo DW.

Their reMix of ‘Nine Lives’ hits all the right ElectroPop spots. It’s a futuristic jam that favours mighty layered synths over the originals more stripped down analog vibe. This is rocketship Pop, real leaving Earth stuff with an amazing, and haunting, cosmic solo for it’s finale.

♫ DW – Nine Lives (Johan Agebjörn & Le Prix reMix)

DW are about to release their début EP ‘Pink Shades’.

DW @ Beatport

DW @ Juno

Apr 14 2011

Funerals

There doesn’t appear to be anything minimal about Columbus, Ohio based Minimal Synth duo Funerals. Their tracks are thick, multi-layered, atmospheric synthesizer odysseys.

Musically, Funerals actually remind me a lot of really early Beep House tracks, the first few releases on Warp Records (think the first thee LFO 12”s), which defiantly endears them to me. The drums are harsh but dancey, the synths sound ice cold but seem to collaborate together to create an addictive robotic groove.

They’ve just dropped a new EP, ‘Marae’, and the title track is a relentless Industrial dance track which brings to mind some of the more Techno influenced Cabaret Voltaire (more Sheffield comparisons!) tracks or that period between New Beat and EBM. ‘AITU (LQD Live Edit)’ is pure Beep House/Minimal Synth crossover. Sounding like Fan Death reMixed by LFO in 1993, the raw analog drums and hollow synth melodies create a dark warehouse atmosphere with Mollie’s vocals just tipping the track over the edge into slightly scary territory.

♫ Funerals – Marae

♫ Funerals – AITU (LQD Live Edit)

I hate copying and pasting press releases, and hate blogs that do it, but I just have to share this piece of their EPK ‘cos it made me chuckle: “Producers Casey Immel-Brown and Mollie Wells are married, but listen: that means nothing. These songs don’t sound like matrimony; they sound like gray oceans and the terrible waiting for sun.”

Funerals’ ‘Marae’ EP is out now and features reMix work from Jokers Of The Scene! The duo also have just completed a reMix for electronic rumors favourite Minimal Synth ladies Violet Tremors, which we hope to bring you soon.

Funerals @ Amazon

Apr 14 2011

It’s She’s The Queen Thursday!

Sorry, I couldn’t resist!

There is legitimate news from the She’s The Queen camp though. Emily and Drew have released their début EP to the public. it’s four tracks of the slickly produce ElectroPop that has so enamoured us this month. They’ve just dropped the third track ‘Plead To The DJ’ on SoundCloud and while it may not be as catchy as ‘Waiting Game’, the EP’s lead track, it is probably the best example to date of how technically impressive the duo are, both in terms of programming and vocal ability. The track shows Drew to be just as talented outside of the straight-up DancePop arena as he brings in some Hip-Hop beats and intricate melodies and shows off a new, deep, level of passion and soul in Emily’s voice.

♫ She’s The Queen – Plead to the DJ

She’s the Queen’s ‘EP’ is available now on iTunes, or for the slightly more discerning independent shopper on CD Baby

She’s The Queen @ CD Baby

Apr 13 2011

Monarchy’s ‘I Won’t Let Go’ video

Space age ElectroPoppers Monarchy’s new single, featuring Rokhsan, ‘ I Won’t Let Go’ has got itself a video.

Premiering yesterday, the day of release, the video , directed by Roy Raz, is suitably Sci-Fi and mysterious.

‘I Won’t Go’ was released this week on Moda with Bag Raiders, Mustang and Sam Tiba reMixes.

Apr 12 2011

Binary welcomes Joypopp into the fold

Barely a week goes by, recently, with out something exciting happening over at Binary HQ.

This week sees the announcement of another new signing, French duo Joypopp. Releasing their début EP, titled ‘Ecstatic’, in May Joypopp have dropped the first track to give you a taster of what to expect. ‘Volupté’ is very French, in the best possible way. Musically it’s a Jarre-esq Sci-Fi synth epic. A mid-tempo ElectroPop groove provides backing for layers of intertwining analog melodies that would make Jarre, Vangelis or Tangerine Dream proud. Top that with the sweetest female vocals and you have something both futuristically ethereal and summer sexy.

I love the solo in this track!

♫ Joypopp – Volupté

Joypopp’s ‘Ecstatic’ EP is out 9th May on Binary with reMixes from Binary’s own Short Circuit, Night Drugs and Girlfriend Records head honcho Sferro.

Joypopp @ Facebook

Apr 12 2011

Johan Agebjörn & Le Prix

Swedish producer Johan Agebjörn (Sally Shapiro) is looking forward to the release of his début full length album, ‘Casablanca Nights’, this May.

The album sees Johan collaborating with a stunning list of artists including CFCF, Steve More (lovelock/Zombie) Sally Shapiro and this track, the first single, with Girlfriend Records’ Le Prix. The track, ‘Watch The World Go By’, features vocal work by Janne Kask from Lake Heartbeat and is prefect Scandinavian DiscoPop. Light and Airy, ‘Watch The World Go By’ carries you along in it’s rich synth wake. Skatebård bring this a bit deeper with their Disco/House reMix for darker dancefloor moments.

♫ Johan Agebjörn & Le Prix (Feat. Lake Heartbeat) – Watch The World Go By

♫ Johan Agebjörn & Le Prix (Feat. Lake Heartbeat) – Watch The World Go By (Skatebård Extended reMix)

‘Watch The World Go By’ is out today on Lo Recordings, Johan’s ‘Casablanca Nights’ album drops 10th May on Paper Bag

Johan Agebjörn & Le Prix@ Juno

Johan Agebjörn & Le Prix@ 7Digital

Johan Agebjörn & Le Prix@ Amazon

Apr 12 2011

Chromeo reMixed by Sonic Soul

To say the world was inundated with reMixes of Chromeo’s ‘Hot Mess’ right now would be an understatement, so standing out it quite a job!

Sonic Soul are up for that challenge. Their reMix of ‘Hot Mess’ has more Funk than a dump truck full of Funk driving up to Bootsy Collins house and dumped in his driveway. The duo of Andrew Napoleon and Leon Watson from the North East UK put the whole package into their reMix, a nice build, some awesome layered 80’s synth Funk with some real smooth riffs and our beloved electro toms, all of this working seamlessly with Dave 1’s vocals. They’ve added a sweet call-and-response vocoded finale too.