Mar 18 2011

The Human League’s ‘Credo’

This coming Monday it’s finally here! The Human League’s ninth studio album, and the first since 2001’s ‘Secrets’, is released. It’s been a long time coming for League fans, and it’s been worth the wait.

In 1981 The Human League released ‘Dare’, the single greatest SynthPop album ever recorded, that was three decades ago. Three Decades! And in their generation spanning career, Phil, Susan & Joanne have never strayed from the path, never pandered to fashion (were they making Brit Pop album in the mid 90’s? No!), they are an ElectroPop act. They evolve as electronic music evolves, they can experiment with electronic music and songwriting, they can collaborate with contemporary artists, but they remain ambassadors for ElectroPop. While Depeche Mode were trying to be a Blues Rock band and Gary Numan was saying a prayer before every bedtime that he would wake up being Trent Reznor. The Human League stand proud as The Human League, the worlds greatest SynthPop band.

So, to ‘Credo’. The ElectroPop landscape is vastly different from the last time The League released an album, the last five years have been an amazing time to be an ElectroPop fan. From the explosion of Indie-Electro, the return of intelligent Electronic Pop to our charts to the awesomeness that is Dreamwave and the Minimal Synth scene growing and growing, there is so many talented ElectroPop artists pushing the boundaries of the genre these days how does ‘Credo’ compare?

Very well actually. ‘Credo, is probably the most ‘The Human League’ sounding album The Human League have made since the mid-80’s. Phil Oakey is as his droll finest. As with the best League tracks there are strong narratives that run throughout many of the tracks and, from a purely songwriting style point of view, this album is really close to ‘Dare’. But it’s not just in Oakey’s vocals that ‘Credo’ harkens back to THL of old, the synth sounds used over the whole eleven tracks conjure imaginations of early 80’s TOTP. The middle section of the album, tracks like ‘Into The Night’, ‘Egomaniac’, ‘Single Minded’ and ‘Electric Shock particularly have classic analog lead lines very reminiscant of the singles of The League’s pop explosion

♫ The Human League – Never Let Me Go

So, if the songwriting sounds like classic League and the sounds on the album are 1981 approved then does ‘Credo’ sound dated? Well, not really, and that’s down to the production, and the drums. Imagine The Human League of old with contemporary dance drums and modern, slick, production techniques and that’s pretty much ‘Credo’. To be honest I couldn’t ask for anything else from THL

♫ The Human League – Night People (Single Edit)

Highlights of the album, for me, include the new single ‘Never Let Me Go’, the closest The Human League are going to get to DiscoPop, which I think should have been the lead single over ‘Night People’. If ‘Egomaniac’ isn’t the next single I will eat my Pork Pie hat, it’s classic League, call and response vocals between Phil and the girls, a dry wit and a silky smooth sing-along chorus. ‘Electric Shock’ is another definite winner, pure Synthetic Pop that kicks into Acid craziness in the chorus.

If loved The Human League, but hated it when they tried to be R&B, or Trance, ‘Credo’ is 100% for you!

‘Credo’ is released 21st March on Wall Of Sound.

The Human League @ Beatport

The Human League @ Juno

The Human League @ 7Digital

The Human League @ Amazon

Mar 17 2011

Cosmonaut Grechko reMixes Joywave

Joywave are a five piece New York act born from the ashes of PopPunk band The Hoodies. Their recent track ‘Traveling At The Speed Of Light’ has had a stunning DiscoPop work over by the constantly badass Cosmonaut Grechko.

Taking the original and running it through his Nu-Disco machine CG presents to the world an amazing and dreamlike slice of ElectroPop in it’s place. Catchy and upbeat, yet smooth enough for lazy summer evenings, this reMix is infectious as hell.

♫ Joywave – Traveling At The Speed Of Light (Cosmonaut Grechko Version)

Check out Joywave on their Facebook page:

Joywave @ Facebook

Mar 17 2011

NiteGOLD

NiteGOLD is the soundclash of three producers based in (as will become apparent) California.

Their début track ‘A City In California’ is a stomping, chant along, ElectroPop megalith. A pure party anthem, from three apparent party animals, that basically says “fuck you” to anything except having a good time. The production on this track is strong, it’s a massive tune with a massive sound and a massive Electro breakdown. Hands in the air peeps!

♫ NiteGOLD – A City In California (Radio Edit)

‘A City In California’ is released this week, check the bands Facebook page for info.

NiteGOLD @ Facebook

Mar 16 2011

Fenech-Soler’s ‘Stop And Stare’ video

Fenech-Soler aren’t gonna’ let a paltry thing like cancer stop their ElectroPop juggernaut! While’s Ben is getting himself back to good health the team Fenech-Soler are re-releasing my favourite single of theirs, ‘Stop And Stare’.

And here’s the video, it’s post-apocalyptic LDN TV trash chiqé, very 80’s, very blue tinged Max Headroom, very cool.

Enjoy:

All here at electronic rumors towers continue to wish Ben a speedy recovery.

‘Stop And Stare’ is out soon, Fenech-Soler’s self titled début album is out now.

Fenech-Soler @ Beatport

Fenech-Soler @ Juno

Fenech-Soler @ 7Digital

Fenech-Soler @ Amazon

Mar 16 2011

Echoes’ ‘Love Won’t Save You Now’

Things are shifting into overdrive at camp Echoes, the guys are putting the finishing touches to a very special début single release. Exciting stuff indeed.

In the meantime they have dropped a brand new track, ‘Love Won’t Save You Now’. An awesome compelling track, in itself single material, reminiscant of early 2000’s Swedish SynthPop with more contemporary Indie-Electro overtones. That’s right, there’s an Indie flavour to ‘Love Won’t Save You Now’ that gives the track an driving energy, propelling the track onward. This track is going to be amazing live!

You’ll notice there’s a few bands we feature fairly regularly here on electronic rumors, we love them all but there is probably a handful that I would be willing to bet my hard earned cash on that they are actually going to be big. Echoes are defiantly one of them.

♫ Echoes – Love Won’t Save You Now

But it doesn’t stop there (I’m starting to wonder if Echoes ever sleep?), check this reMix they put together of Martin Solveig & Dragonette’s ‘Hello’, that’s how they get their bass heavy SynthPop on!

♫ Martin Solveig & Dragonette – Hello (Echoes reMix)

Echoes are playing their début live show alongside Penguin Prison and Matt & Kim on 23rd March at the Garage, London. Keep informed about Echoes happenings by ‘Likeing’ them on Facebook!

Echoes @ Facebook

Mar 16 2011

The Aikiu & The Magician

More reMix greatness from ex-Aeroplane man The Magician! this time he’s taking on Kitsuné’s Indie-Electro duo The Aikiu and I reckon this is my favourite The Magician reMix to date.

This reMix of ‘The Red Kiss’ is radically 80’s. Unashamedly and unapologetically retro. And it’s awesome.

This is pure 80’s Pop, hints of late 80’s Pop R&B and some mid-80’s SynthPop in the bass and drums and some plucked strings work that takes us back in time so much that this track could have easily been on TOTP in 1984.

The Magician really seems to be living up to his name these past few months!

♫ The Aikiu – The Red Kiss (The Magician Precious 80’s reMix)

The Aikiu’s ‘The Red’ Kiss EP is out now:

Mar 16 2011

Black Light Dinner Party’s ‘Older Together’

4 Producers, 3 cities and 2 years of sonic collaboration went into the début single from Boston’s Black Light Dinner Party.

‘Older Together’ is an impressive piece of Noise Pop, buzzing bass synths and live drumming from the rock of the song on with lush chords and American Indie-boy vocals growing organically on top. Indie-Electro will certainly get a shot in the arm when BLDP get round to dropping their album.

♫ Black Light Dinner Party – Older Together

‘Older Together’ is out soon, until them catch them of Facebook:

Black Light Dinner Party @ Facebook

Mar 16 2011

Beni Vs. The Magician

Beni is finally getting around to releasing his début album on Modular. ‘House Of Beni’ will feature collaboration with such artists as Sam Sparro, Mattie Safer (The Rapture), Nomi from Hercules and Love Affair, and Via Tania.

In the run up to the release we have this reMix of album track ‘It’s A Bubble’ but awesome Belgian producer The Magician who crafts a cosy slice of DiscoPop, that sparkles and shines all the way.

♫ Beni – It’s A Bubble (The Magician reMix)

Beni’s ‘House Of Beni’ is out soon.

Mar 16 2011

The New Division

The New Division are a Southern Californian four piece who make some deep deep ElectroPop.

They released their début EP, ‘The Rookie’ earlier this year and plan to follow that with a new single ‘True Lies’ in April. With all the bright Dreamwave and cold Minimal Synth going on in California is surprising to find this band located there, they have a sound I would associate with the UK a lot more. I would say that The New Division tackle ElectroPop from a PostPunk flavoured SynthPop angle, even going so far as to say there are hints of Joy Division in there. Deep synths and reverb washed vocals characterise the band’s sound, although there is a little of that Californian warmth in the tracks. Maybe these guys are the bridge between Minimal Synth and Dreamwave?