May 11 2012

A.N.D.Y. & Vicente’s ‘Traffic’ EP

a-n-d-y

Today Discotexas release the long awaited début ep from Andy Faisca A.K.A. one half of Belgian analog Disco kings, Mustang A.K.A. A.N.D.Y.. Teaming up with fellow Belgian DJ Vicente (he of the BelgoDisco mixtapes) the duo have dropped the ‘Traffic’ EP containing two storming original tracks and work by a couple of our favourite producers.

‘Traffic’, the lead track is 21st Century Moroder gold. A.N.D.Y. and Vincente’s futuristic take on an Italo and Disco deathmatch, with Italo coming out slightly on top, the track powers long riding the wave of a smooth arpeggiated bassline. This is Sc-Fi Disco at it’s best full of pinpoint laser synths and cosmic sweeps, it;s a track that gently builds and builds upon itself until the finale is total Buck Rodgers bliss. ‘El Barrio’ provides the B-Side, and strangely the source for the reMixes. It’s a steady groover, more the deep analog Disco we’d expect from the ex-Mustang man. Dropping a kinda’ Tropical lead line over the top sets the tone but soon gives was to something a lot more Jarre-esque. ‘El Barrio’ is an emotional robot of a track, that rocks the beach part vibe, it just happens to be a beach on Titan. Our favourite Finnish production team, and rapidly becoming regulars on electronic rumors, Jay Lamar & Jesse Oliver take up the reMix challenge turning ‘El Barrio’ into a slick Nu-Disco floorfiller. Keeping a bit of the Tropical vibe, but then going heavy on the synth bass and wicked Disco licks, give the track a whole new tone, and when the massive synth stab ‘chorus’ drops the floor will go crazy. Bringing up the rear is The Supermen Lovers, who drops pretty standard The Supermen Lovers fare, hypnotic French Disco, you know what you’re getting. We always knew A.N.D.Y.’s début would be pretty stunning, and he’s lived up to every expectation.

♫ A.N.D.Y. & Vicente – Traffic

♫ A.N.D.Y. & Vicente – El Barrio

♫ A.N.D.Y. & Vicente – El Barrio (Jay Lamar & Jesse Oliver reMix)

♫ A.N.D.Y. & Vicente – El Barrio (The Supermen Lovers reMix)

A.N.D.Y. & Vicente’s ‘Traffic’ EP is out today on Discotexas.

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May 11 2012

Anto Greekson

OK, let me just start by sating that, yes I am aware that is the single worst record cover ever made. It’s such a truly terrible peice of misguided marketing that I can’t even bring myself to show you the whole thing. A graphic design and artwork failure so bad that I very nearly didn’t listen to the music at all. But that would have been a mistake, because the music of Greek Swede Anto Greekson is really sublime at times.

Anto makes Electro tunes that swing between full-on bangers and sweet SynthWave tracks. As evidenced on his new EP ‘Fantasy’, his bangers are top quality, EBM tinged cacophonies of chainsaw synths and heavy bass that would kill in any hard Electro set. However, it;s his more melodic peices where Anto really shines. ‘Galaxy’ for example, drops a hard beat and rapid fire Italo basslines, but then layers it with some soaring synth leads that would easily be suited to some futuristic ‘80’s TV show. Still working the buzzsaw sounds, ‘galaxy’ is an altogether more musical offering. As is ‘Naked’, again still in-your-face Electro, but somehow less obnoxious as the more banger-oriented tracks, here there is flying shimmering synth sounds and a sense of melody to the distortion. ‘Streetlights’ is the other standout on the EP, the most Italo of the collection at times sounding, working bit-crunched sounds into a rolling groove and occasionally sounding a bit like Mille. All in all it;s a pretty good début, Anto needs a lot of work on his production (and a new graphic designer!) but this one shows a lot of potentiol, and we’ll definitely be keeping an eye on him.

♫ Anto Greekson – Galaxy

♫ Anto Greekson – Naked

♫ Anto Greekson – Streetlights

Anto Greekson’s ‘Fantasy’ EP is out now.

Buy Anto Greekson’s music from:

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May 10 2012

The return of Saar & Sky

Saar & Sky

A few years ago Saar & Sky were, briefly, one of the best Electro acts in London. A melting pot of Italo, SynthPop and the emerging Dreamwave and SynthWave styles with an energetic live show and some seriously catchy songs. Then distance divided this duo and Saar & Sky were no more. We all mourned. It was dark times.

So it was a pleasant surprise to find a new Saar & Sky EP incoming. Born of late night phonecalls this isn’t really a return for these guys, more of a decision that they had too many good songs on ice not to release them in some form or other. The result is the ‘Maria’ EP, a collection of five of their best unreleased tracks. Much of this you might already know, either from live or from their MySpace page (yes, it was that long ago), which make it doubly nice to now have the good quality studio recordings of these songs available. The great, and unique, thing about Saar & Sky was always their combination of styles. On the one had you have Logan Sky’s very Italo influenced Electro sounds, robotic grooves and big power stabs, and on the other there’s Saar soulful, almost R&B vocals. That combination of machine beats and smooth songs was way ahead of it’s time in terms of the surge of vocal Nu-Disco. The tracks on the EP, surprisingly, haven’t really dated much. ‘Maria’, the lead track is a rich, haunting slice of retro Pop, all dreamlike riffs and electro tom rolls alongside Saar’s impassioned vocals and sets the tone for the EP. Saar & Sky slide from the harder dance tracks like the insanely catchy ‘Confessions’ to to the more eclectic end of Italo found on tracks like ‘Falshback’ throughout the EP, never afraid to try something new within their vocal SynthWave framework. If this is the epilogue to Saar & Sky it’s a fitting tribute, kinda’ hoping it’s not though.

♫ Saar & Sky – Maria

Saar & Sky’s ‘Maria’ EP is released 15th May.

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May 10 2012

Pelifics, Miss Plug In & JD Samson

Pelifics

With the release of the second part of Sweedish synthmeister Pelifics two part ‘Lifetime’ EP series imminent Brilliantine are giving us out first listen to the second track off the EP. The first part featured the awesome Electric Youth and Human Life, and we’ve already been treated to the second part’s lead track, featuring AXXE, now it’s time for German Italo darling Miss Plug Inn and Le Tigre’s JD Samson to jump on board for some Smooth Euro DiscoPop and party Disco.

‘The Beach Tonight’ is a laid back combination of Italo and Beach Disco. With that slight streak of melancholy found in the best Italo and some spacy synths Pelifics conjures up a nice Mediterranean sunset track. Deep and warm digital bass and floaty arpeggios create a familiar, comfortable sound that draws you in and envelopes you. Miss Plug Inn’s Germanic vocal adds that touch of Euro class. ‘Spray-Painted Knuckles’ on the other hand is a rowdy, jump-up, Disco, the combination of Pelifics frictionless Disco and Samson’s rough and ready vocals make for a track that has groove, but balls too (girl-balls that is).

♫ Pelifics (Feat. Miss Plug Inn) – The Beach Tonight

♫ Pelifics (Feat. JD Samson) – Spray-Painted Knuckles

The ‘Lifetime Pt 1’ EP is out now with part 2 coming in later in April on Brilliantine.

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May 9 2012

The Golden Filter reMix Saint Etienne

Saint Etienne

It’s been a while since we heard from The Golden Filter, always one of the most innovative and interesting Disco acts around, since their soundtrack second album and accompanying film ‘Syndromes’, so for them to be breaking back into our consciousness reMixing one of our all time favourites, Saint Etienne, it a thing of pure awesome.

The New York duo’s version of ‘I’ve Got Your Music’ is a stripped down, moody, dancefloor tune built up on Moroder-esque basslines, warm synths and ‘70’s electronic toms. Completely changing the mood of the track, from euphoric ode to DancePop into something more mysterious, more enigmatic, The Golden Filter leave their calling cards all over these six minutes. Just check out the drop mid-way, the silence only broken by an eerie held note leading to tribal drums and magical arpeggios before dropping right back into to the groove. Drawing on vintage Disco and Italo, this reMix is more reminiscent of the likes of ‘Solid Gold’ than The Golden Filter’s newer output, I wonder what this bodes for the future of the twosome?

♫ Saint Etienne – I’ve Got Your Music (The Golden Filter reMix)

‘Words And Music By Saint Etienne’ is released 21st May.

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May 9 2012

Futurecop! new compilation album and launch party

Basic RGB

On 5th June Kiez Beats and Futurecop! will be releasing ‘We Are The Future’, an 18 track compilation album featuring the best in contemporary SynthWave and Dreamwave around. Featuring the likes of datA, Lifelike, Phonat, Anoraak, Fear Of Tigers, Mille, StardonE, Worship and Follow Me alongside Futurecop! themselves. Check the MiniMix for a taste of what to expect and feast your eyes on that stellar tracklisting.

♫ Futurecop! – We Are The Future MiniMix

The tracklist:

01. Lazerhawk – Shoulder Of Orion
02. Car Clova – Farletched
03. StardonE – Lovedays
04. Mille – Afterski
05. Worship – Horizon
06. Lifelike (Feat. Namebrand And Yota) – Love Emulator
07. Follow Me – A Mission Noctural
08. datA – Electric Fever
09. Anoraak – Above Your Head
10. Fear Of Tigers – Hidup
11. Robots With Rayguns – Fever
12. Phonat – The Microwave FX
13. Power Glove – Night Force
14. Maethelvin – Delight
15. Futurecop! – Forever: Dreams (beaumont reMix)
16. Young Digerati – The Dauphin (Ride The Universe reMix)
17. Futurecop! – Far Away (Leisure Council reMix)
18. NeonFlashDrive – Previously On X-Men

Just before the album drops, on 26th May, the guys are putting together a launch party at The Nest in Dalston, London. It look like it;s going to be a one-of-a-kind night featuring Futurecop!, The C90s, Edwin Van Cleef, Fear Of Tigers and I’ll be there too spinning some tunes. Details here.

we are the future flyer - A4 with 3mm bleed @ 200dpi (1)

It’s going to be a pretty unmissable night! Stay tuned for more information, and tracklist, about the album.

Buy Futurecop!’s music from:

May 8 2012

Kelek; new tune and reMix for Pretty Boy Makes Rave

kelek

German SynthWave producer Kelek is back with a couple of new tracks. We’ve been keeping an eye on Kelek for a while now, ever since his standout entry in Fear Of Tigers’ ‘The Adventures Of Pippi Longstrump’ reMix competition last year he’s been impressing us. This week he drops a brand new original and a new reMix.

Kelek’s new tune, ‘Alaska’, as a laid back slick of smooth Dreamwave. A retro synthed bouncer that is made for cruisin’. Rolling along on a synth Funk bassline the track a slightly a lot of things. Slightly Italo, slightly Electro Boogie, slightly Tropical, and massively more of a chilled groove than Kelek’s previous works. It’s nice to see this smoother side to his productions, and to discover that he can work more than one sound. ‘Alaska’ is there for hot lazy days and good times. Kelek has also tackled Pretty Boy Makes Rave’s ‘Change’, bringing out his Italo side for the challenge. And it works too, his reMix of ‘Change’ is classic Italo with a bit of ‘90’s House piano thrown in for good measure and a twisting, infectious lead line. Kelek is really starting to step up his game, exciting things ahead!

♫ Kelek – Alaska

♫ Pretty Boy Makes Rave – Change (Kelek reMix)

Check out more from Kelek on SoundCloud.

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May 4 2012

Parallels new EP

parallels

This week Toronto’s greatest SynthPop export Parallels, released their new EP, Time Will Crawl, as a pre-cursor to the release of their new album ‘XII’. We already checked out the new track ‘Moonlight Desires’, a cover of Canadian artist Gowen. Time for a peak at the rest of the EP.

‘Time Will Tell’, the lead track is am amazing slice of what ElectroPop that rest heavily on Italo roots. Like the best, epic, European ItaloPop in the mid ‘80’s, ‘Time Will Crawl’ flows along on bouncing digital bass and rich synth chords with Holly Dodson’s vocals proving to be both dramatic and uplifting, sweeping across the track taking it to new heights. A wash of stings over the Disco groove just makes it perfect. ‘Time Will Crawl’ really is a stunning track, probably the best thing I have heard from Parallels since ‘Ultralight’, and seeing as how I have loved everything they’ve done that’s really saying something. The final track on the EP is ‘Ritual Dancer’ is unmistakable Parallels and works the contrast between Holly’s sweet vocals and a hard beat and bassline to create a track that is both catchy and edgy. No-one does analog sounding ElectroPop like Parallels, they’ve been away far too long.

♫ Parallels – Time Will Crawl

♫ Parallels – Ritual Dancer

‘Time Will Crawl’ is out now, ‘XII’ is due out 26th June.

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May 1 2012

Punks Jump Up’s ‘The (Wrong) ‘80’s Mix 2’

Punks Jump Up

Punks Jump Up – The (Wrong) ‘80’s Mix 2 = Well this is just awesome. In celebration of the release of the amazing Mr. overtime single, Punks jump up have put together this hour long mix after my own heart crammed full of obscure ‘80’s dance mixes. Enjoy!”

♫ Punks Jump Up – The (Wrong) ‘80’s Mix 2

The tracklist:

01. The Service – Dance Up
02. Ironic Remark – Rebirth Of An Anti-Christ (Instrumental)
03. Flirts – All You Ever Think About Is Sex
04. Glam – More Than Ever (Fashion Mix)
05. Lefturno – Out Of Sight
06. Steel Mind – Boss Man
07. Gaz Nevada – Ticket To Los Angeles
08. The Earons – Land Of Hunger (Dub)
09. Ministry – I Wanted To Tell Her
10. Temper – No Favors
11. Pete Shelley – Witness The Change
12. Propaganda – Frozen Faces
13. Yes – Leave It (Re-Mix)
14. Queen – Invisible Man (12″ Mix)
15. Gino Soccio – Remember
16. Patrick Cowley – Going Home (Re-Mix)
17. Secret Service – Night City
18. Macho – Not Tonight (Re-Mix)
19. Gary’s Gang – Makin’ Music (Dub)
20. Giorgio Moroder – Night Drive
21. Gina & The Flexix – Believe

Buy Punks Jump Up’s music from:

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Apr 30 2012

seipä’s new tune

sepia

We’ve been keeping out eye on Norway’s seipä for a while now, and his new tune ‘Sunset Highway’ is just one more if his full on SynthWave monsters.

‘Sunset Highway’ has all the right elements in the right places. a sprawling , majestic track with a B-Boy beat. Loaded with thick, lush synths that flow over an rapid fire Italo bassline. This track is like a juggernaut, relentless in it’s synthetic assault. Frantic it may be, but harsh it is not, the soloing that rides the track is slick as hell, and with a solid groove. When the synth horns kick in for the finale you are so swept up in the track it just carries you away. The playing off of the aggressive bassline against the emotional leads is what makes this track. ‘Sunset Highway’ is a two headed creature, and works both those two elements perfectly.