Jul 9 2012

The League Unlimited Orchestra edited by Aeroplane

The League Unlimited Orchestra

The League Unlimited Orchestra’s Love And Dancing is, of course, a The Human League album and not for the first time have the worlds of Nu-Disco legend Aeroplane and The Human League come together. Exciting stuff. So who’s that cheeky chappy in the photo? Well, that (for the 1% of readers of this site who wouldn’t know, but really should) is the late, great, Martin Rushent. He, basically, was The League Unlimited Orchestra. He’s the man who produced the greatest album ever made, The Human League’s Dare from 1981. Pressured by their Record Label for more released Rushent came up with the idea of releasing an record of Dub and Mixes of tracks from Dare, thus inventing the reMix album. A selection of Instrumentals to the untrained ear Love And Dancing is actually full of pretty complex and divergent reMixes. And mostly the work of Rushent.

So, for a long time Vito’s personal edit of the Love And Dancing version of Don’t You Want Me? was a staple of his set, originally put together for a BBC Radio 1 Essential Mix. Vito leaves the track largely intact, which is why it’s an edit not a reMix, subtly bring out it’s dancefloor qualities and stripping everything that’s not needed in a set. I think Martin would be proud that even now, in 2012, people are still crazy for his tunes.

♫ The League Unlimited Orchestra – Don’t You Want Me? (Aeropop Edit)

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Jul 9 2012

Big C reMixes Alex Metric & Charli XCX

charlie_xcx2

Yes, we are still obsessed with Charli XCX’s new single, You’re The One. No, we don’t really need an excuse to post about her, but it doesn’t hurt that the man Big C has dropped a new reMix of XCX & Alex Metric‘s End Of The World. Careful now, it’s not what you’re expecting.

What we have here is probably the cream of Big C’s productions so far. What it is also is a big Dub tune. Coming from Bristol I have a massive soft spot for Dub, especially electronic Dub, it’s kinda’ in my blood, and Big C works it here to pretty stunning effect. Not only is the reMix innovative, it’s pretty slickly produced too. It’s a reMix that isn’t just going through the motions, it really understands the original and works with it in a completely organic way. In retrospect the original totally opens itself up to a Dub mix, but it’s taken Big C jumping on that to see it to it’s fullest potential.

♫ Alex Metric (Feat. Charli XCX) – End Of The World (Big C reMix)

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Jul 9 2012

Pyramid’s ‘The Frontier’

pyramid

A new track from France’s Pyramid is always something to get excited about. Always delivering the very best Sci-Fi synth music, Pyramid’s musical narrative and ability to combine the atmospheric and the funky makes every one of his tunes a killer. Hot on the heels of his ‘Rising Day reMixes’ EP come this new track, the driving The Frontier.

The Frontier brings all Pyramid’s talents together. There’s the epic, cinematic quality to Pyramid’s tracks, a solid Disco groove, a hint of French Touch and some of the most rousing solo work we have heard in a while. Add to this a big euphoric breakdown and you’ve got a track that ticks all the boxes.  An airy journey though a futuristic soundscape, The Frontier is such an intricately crafted track, there’s so much going on and so much of it is really subtle, like half heard bass flourishes, or blended textures. Pyramid really is a master when it comes to creating musically rich, SynthWave and Nu-Disco. Roll on the album.

♫ Pyramid – The Frontier

The ‘Rising Day reMixes’ EP is out now on Beatport.

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Jul 9 2012

The Knocks & Fred Falke reMixed by Louis La Roché

The Knocks & Fred Falke

The Knocks & Fred Falke forthcoming Kitsuné released collaboration, Geronimo, is going to be huge. Released next month the entire single, the original and three reMixes, is packed with danceflor destroying work. Our favourite is probably the Lenno reMix, but coming a very close second would be this mix from Louis La Roché that premiered last weekend on Annie Mac’s BBC Radio 1 show.

La Roché’s mix heads straight into robo Disco territory. Bringing the Funk to the tune with intricate cut up chords and booming basslines. He really brought his A-Game to the reMix, and also got more into a big Electro frame of mind that we would expect from La Roché. The result being a three-way combination between La Roché’s funky Disco, Big room Electro and the original tracks epic, anthemic, qualities. This one’s going to be huge, but then the whole singe is!

♫ The Knocks & Fred Falke – Geronimo (Louis La Roché reMix) (Radio Rip)

Geronimo is out today on Beatport and available everywhere else on 23rd July.

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Jul 9 2012

Arcade High’s ‘On The Edge Of Summer’

Arcade High

Late last month we reviewed Pittsburgh SynthWave producer Arcade High’s début album The Art Of Youth and was very impressed. The man must be a workaholic, the album is only just out and he’s already dropping new tunes.

On The Edge Of Summer picks up the pace and injects some feel good vibes into Arcade Highs work. Just from the title you can infer what to expect here. Sunshine nostalgia in synthesizer form, this is a track with a slight Dreamwave feel to it and a carefree attitude that come across in playful melodies and a smooth, laid back, rhythm section. Stick this track on, lie back, and relax.

♫ Arcade High – On The Edge Of Summer

Archade High’s The Art Of Youth is out now, for free!

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Jul 9 2012

Stellar Dreams

Stellar Dreams

Wow, Malaysia is really knocking out some seriously good synth music these days, not the first country that springs to mind when thinking about Nu-Disco and SynthWave, but if Dizkopolis have taught us anything, it;s not to underestimate the the epic synth power of Kuala Lumpur.

Joining their fellow countrymen comes Stellar Dreams. This duo cite Kavinsky and Daft Punk as influences but also seem to have a lot in common with the SynthWave scene. Their début track, Nightvoid is a brooding slice of post-Italo atmospherics. The sounds in this tune are really piercing, a densely layered track where each sound still cuts through the mix. Iqwan Ridzuwan and Khairil Shah cook up a thoroughly emotive track, conjuring the loneliness of the open road, a true night driving anthem.

♫ Stellar Dreams – Nightvoid

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Jul 9 2012

Synth Records team up with Nooka for compilation

noozik

Brooklyn based SynthWave producer TEEEL is hooking up with New York design house Nooka, and bringing Aimes and the rest of the Synth Records crew along for the ride. They are all bringing you a free 13 track album, to be released three tracks at a time over the next few weeks.

I’ll be honest, I didn’t know what, or who, a Nooka was. Apparently they are a fashion design company that mostly does watches and accessories. They do some nice stuff to, retro futuristic style. Which makes the the perfect brand partners for Synth Records, who continue that retro future vibe into their music. The 13 track compilation, Noozik, kicks off this week with the first three tunes including these two from TEEEL and Aimes, who both offer up suitably Sci-Fi slices of SynthWave and Chillwave respectively. All of Synth Records output tends to fall in the ‘pretty awesome’ category, so a 13 track compilation should be a treat. The three tracks a week thing is a bit annoying though.

♫ TEEEL – Nooka Radio

♫ Aimes – Nooka Theme

You can find all the downloads here, a page to keep an eye on for the rest of the album.

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Jul 9 2012

L’Étranger reMixes Alan Braxe & Fred Falke

Alan Braxe & Fred Falke

UK French Touch producer L’Étranger is back in the place with a new reMix. Just a little something to get your mouth watering for his forthcoming two new EPs. This time it’s Alan Braxe & Fred Falke who get the reMix treatment as L’Étranger taken of the Running classic Most Wanted.

It’s pretty weird to think that Running is over a decade old now, both Intro. and Most Wanted are seminal French Touch tunes that still sound as exciting now as they did back then. L’Étranger takes the bouncy French groove and feeds it through some kind of bastard Disco machine. The track has a real ‘70’s Disco vibe, loaded with electro toms and slick piano, but then layers that with a chainsaw synth lead from some in-your-face dancefloor action. Also, don’t they look young in that photo! Hehe.

♫ Alan Braxe & Fred Falke – Most Wanted (L’Étranger Rework)

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Jul 6 2012

Anoraak reMixed by Les Loups

Anoraak

Yesterday we unveiled a brand new track from French Valerie staple Anoraak, Made-Up. Well the band have already dropped a reMix of the track, just a day later. Leading us to believe this isn’t just to promote their US tour with College and Electric Youth. and a new single is in the works.

The reMix comes from German Nu-Disco outfit Les Loups, who take the summery Indie-Electro of Made-Up and drag it kicking and screaming straight to the dancefloor. I say kicking and screaming because amongst the squelchy synths, lush pads and shuffling Electro beats the song still holds on to it’s Indie guitars will all it’s might. The result being the best of both worlds. There something about this Indie-Dance track that makes us nostalgic for 2007.

♫ Anoraak – Made-Up (Les Loups Mix)

Anoraak are about to embark on a Us tour with College and Electric Youth, get ‘The Drive Tour’ tourdates here.

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