May 19 2011

Marsheaux’s new track

Greek SynthPop duo Marsheaux have unleashed a new track on the world.

‘Can You Stop Me?’ is nosier than you’d expect from Marsheaux, with a chainsaw lead line riding the SynthPop goodness. Still, the track is tempered by the girls sultry, breathy vocals that bring the song back from the brink of aggression making a nice juxtaposition of sound. If this is an indication of the sound of their forthcoming new album, due out in November, then we await it with interest.

♫ Marsheaux – Can You Stop Me?

‘Can You Stop Me’?’ will be released as a limited edition double A-side and CD EP in June.

Buy Marsheaux’s music from:

May 11 2011

Depeche Mode’s Stargate reMix video

The Stargate reMix of Depeche Mode’s ‘Personal Jesus’, the lead track on the ‘Personal Jesus 2011’ single (that includes the awesome Alex Metric reMix) now has an official video.

Taken from the ‘reMixes 2: 81-11’ album the track’s video, directed by Andrew Faber, is a dark tale in a witchfinder general style.

‘reMixes 2: 81-11’ is released 6th June on MuteReprise.

Buy Depeche Mode’s music from:

May 11 2011

Heaven 17 take ‘The Luxury Gap’ live

British SynthPop legends Heaven 17 have announced a two day special event at the Roundhouse in Camden, London on 14th-15th October 2011. Day one will see the band following on from their ‘Penthouse and Pavement 30th Anniversary Tour’ (which was awesome!) and performing their 1983 album ‘The Luxury Gap’ in it’s entirety including the singles ‘Let Me Go’, ‘Temptation’, ‘Come Live With Me’, and ‘Crushed By The Wheels of Industry’.

Day two will consist of the first ever live performance by Martyn Ware’s British Electric Foundation (B.E.F.) featuring tracks form ‘Music Of Quality & Distinction Vol. 1 & 2’ and a whole host of guest stars including Elly Jackson (La Roux), Boy George (Culture Club), Green Gartside (Scritti Politti), Sandie Shaw, Kim Wilde, Andy Bell (Erasure), Shingai Shoniwa (Noisettes), Midge Ure (Ultravox), Glenn Gregory (Heaven 17) and Polly Scattergood.

Tickets are on sale now from Ticketmaster.

Buy Heaven 17’s music from:

May 4 2011

Risk Risk

Risk Risk is a mysterious German producer who wants to let his music “speak for itself”, he shuns the internet in favour of being known only by his analog SynthPop sounds. I don’t know about you, but mystery artists who “let the music speak for itself” are getting pretty tired now, it’s not interesting, it’s been done, what’s the matter with you? It’s irritating for the press and it’s irritating for the fans.

Risk Risk’s music, however, is very cool. Stripped down SynthPop with a cold early 80’s feel without going down Minimal Synth territory. Musically quite early Ultravox or Gary Numan but with harsher Germanic tone to the vocals and just a hint of a modern dance music groove. This is neon drenched Sci-Fi stuff that the early Futurists would be proud of. We all miss the early 80’s at some point (I’m assuming if you’re reading this) and Risk Risk can fill that little hole in your life.

♫ Risk Risk – Are We On Air?

Risk Risk’s ‘This Is 1983’ is out now on Astro-Chicken.

Buy Risk Risk’s music from:

May 2 2011

Jules Schimmer’s May Mix

Jules Schimmer – May Mix = A mash-up of huge Electro tracks and some 80’s surprises.

♫ Jules Schimmer – May Mix

May 2 2011

Conzoom release electropop 6

German SynthPop label Conzoom Records have just released the sixth entry in their ‘electropop’ compilation series.

Featuring the likes of Mooger, Northern Mars, Parralox, Vile Electrodes and more it’s an fine example of where the Modern SynthPop scene is heading these days and a great introduction to some of the bands making it happen, If you like your electronic music retro but have been bereft of new music to listen to then Conzoom’s stable of modern takes on the classic SynthPop sound might just be for you. the tracks on this album range for upbeat club tunes to dark ballads.

Bispatial’s ‘We just Got It Wrong’ is one of the standout tracks on the album, setting itself apart from the majority of 80’s influenced acts on the compilation with a big (and pretty hip right now) 90’s sound. Heavy 909 beats and House piano rock this track.

♫ Bispatial (Feat. Vista) – We Just Got It Wrong (Electropop reMix)

You can pick up electropop 6 in the stores of from Conzoom’s web store.

May 2 2011

Howard Jones reMix project

Following the release of his “12” Album/Action Replay” box set SynthPop legend Howard Jones is now embarking on a project to open up the stems to many of his classic track to the public.

Starting with ‘Automaton’ from 1985’s ‘Dream Into Action’ album the Rework Howard Jones website will be offering the audio parts to a succession of Howard’s hits for any-one to reMix. If it takes your fancy you can reMix the tracks for your own usage or submit them for inclusion on a forthcoming Howard Jones reMix album.

Could you out synth-Fuck ‘Things Can Only Get Better’ though?

♫ Howard Jones – Things Can Only Get Better

Buy Howard Jones’s music from:

Apr 28 2011

She’s The Queen & Jules Schimmer

It’s Thursday! You know what that means!

I swear I’m not doing this deliberately, people keep sending me sweet She’s The Queen reMixes on a Wednesday!

Today’s action comes courtesy of UK producer and DJ Jules Schimmer who lays down a deep arpeggiated retro bassline and some shimmering synths for She’s The Queen’s ‘As We Run’. Taking the original to an early 80’s place with his drum patterns, rapid fire claps and electro toms give it a authentic Electro flavour and creates a nice juxtaposition between Emily’s soulful vocals and Jules’ almost B-Boy beats.

♫ She’s The Queen – As We Run (Jules Schimmer reMix)

She’s The Queen’s début EP is out now!

Apr 27 2011

Maighréad

Maighréad is a London based ElectroPop artist who recently released her début EP, ‘In the Beginning’ alongside Disco Damage.

The Irish-born singer is currently hard at work on the video for ‘In The Beginning’, until then check out some of what she has on offer. The single is a pounding Electro track that displays Maighréad’s vocals to have a lot more soul than I would have expected. With something of an Irish Billie Ray Martin quality to her voice I can imagine Maighréad is a fantastic singer live (I hope to find out in the future). There’s a bit of Annie Lennox in there too, albeit with a Limerick twang that gives the vocals a unique twist on the classic huge pop delivery. All this juxtaposes quite nicely with the Maxi Jazz-esq rhyming on ‘In The Beginning’. ‘Sea’, one of Maighréad’s previous tracks, is actually my favourite. It’s pure Eurythmics (and seeing as how Eurythmics haven’t been Eurythmics for years, there is a need for someone to be making this kind of music). Cold, harsh synths are perfectly tempered by Maighréad’s warm vocals giving the track an light-in-the-darkness- feel to it.

♫ Maighréad & Disco Damage – In The Beginning

♫ Maighréad – Sea

Maighréad’s ‘In The Beginning’ EP is out now.

Buy Maighréad’s music from:

Apr 26 2011

Depeche Mode reMixed by Røyksopp

I’m a massive Depeche Mode fan but have always been disappointed by their reMixes, or rather their choice of reMixers. From about 1990 onward they just seemed to pick self-indulgent Techno artists who wouldn’t know a tune if it hit them in the face. But after the blisteringly good ‘Personal Jesus 2011’, especially the Alex Metric reMix, I am very excited about the forthcoming ‘reMixes 2: 81-11’ album.

Just looking at the line-up of talent is like a breath of fresh air as far as Depeche Mode reMixes are concerned. We have the likes of M83, Eric Prydz, Jacques Lu Cont, Digitalism, UNKLE, Karlsson & Winnberg (Bloodshy and Avant from Miike Snow) and this track from Røyksopp.

The Norwegian duo have chosen to rework ‘Puppets’, from 1981’s ‘Speak & Spell’ and really have made it their own. It’s got that Røyksopp, cute SynthPop, sound which seems to fit the original’s vocals more than the original track, if that’s possible. If this, alongside the Personal Jesus 2011 tracks, is the standard of reMixes on the album than we are in for a treat indeed!