Apr 25 2011

Oliver reMixes Penguin Prison

Oliver, the duo consisting of U-Tern & Oligee, are playing a prefect game. Not a bad release so far, making them one of the most exciting production teams of the year. Their new reMix of Penguin Prison’s ‘Fair Warning’ is jaw-droppingly good!

This track is so 80’s, Oliver have taken the Indie-Electro of Penguin Prison and tuned him into Nik Kershaw, and I mean that in the best way possible. With Olvier’s slick contemporary production this could quite easily be a modern remaster of an 80’s 12” extended version. The prefect meeting of 80’s songwriting and Dreamwave studio skills.

I love a bit of Penguin Prison, both live and recorded, so keep that in mind when I say Penguin Prison has never sounded so good!

♫ Penguin Prison – Fair Warning (Oliver reMix)

No idea of a release date for the ‘Fair Warning’ single yet, we’ll let you know when we do.

Penguin Prison @ Neon Gold

Penguin Prison @ 7Digital

Penguin Prison @ Amazon

Apr 25 2011

The Sanfernando Sound

Jason Sieu Persad A.K.A. The Sanfernando Sound is representing for Manchester in this thing we call Electro.

You may thing already know Jason’s sound from tracks like ‘Wonky Girl’ and ‘Dominatrix’ in the last couple of years, a hard Electro-House sound with killer basslines and chainsaw leads, but, although his tunes have lost none of their balls, these days The Sanfernando Sound is an altogether smoother and groovier beast. ‘On The Catwalk’ was actually written for a fashion show and is a meeting of TSS’s funkier and harder edged sides with a strong mid-80’s Art Of Noise-esq vibe to it. ‘Disconnect U’ is a slick slick of Electro-Disco. Raw Digital funk with an 80’s Electro Soul vocal. Two tracks at the opposite ends of The Sanfernando Sound’s spectrum but proving the man is apt at both.

♫ The Sanfernando Sound – On The Catwalk

♫ The Sanfernando Sound – Disconnect U

Jason has devoted a lot of his time recently to pumping out some top quality reMixes. This reMix of Plastic Operator’s ‘Singing All The Time’ is apparently three years old but only recently got an official single release, it’s a bass heavy Electro track loaded with 8-bit noises. It does kinda’ sound three years old but it’s still banging. For a more recent sample of The Sanfernando Sound’s sound check his reMix of Anoraak’s ’Crazy Eyes’, an deep ElectroPop track with a rolling analog bass like tunder.

♫ Plastic Operator – Singing All The Time (The Sanfernando Sound reMix)

♫ Anoraak – Crazy Eyes (The Sanfernando Sound reMix)

The Sanfernando Sound has released the odd single and EP over the last couple of years, worth investigating:

The Sanfernando Sound @ Bandcamp

The Sanfernando Sound @ Beatport

The Sanfernando Sound @ Juno

The Sanfernando Sound @ 7Digital

The Sanfernando Sound @ Amazon

Apr 25 2011

Final DJs

Stuttgart’s Final DJs are slowly but surely gaining some recognition for their French Touch productions and reMixes.

The duo of Sebastian S. and Thomas D. obviously have a strong love of 80’s lead synths, their productions are awash with sweeping sounds riding atop the cool beats. Add in some big filter drops and you’ve got a package of top quality Nu-Disco. ‘Journey In Separate Ways’ is an epic retro-future jam with a Italo backing while new track K.I.D. has more of a space Funk vibe to rock the Nu-Disco dancefloors.

♫ Final DJs – Journey In Separate Ways

♫ Final DJs – K.I.D.

The duo have also recently reMixed Adrian Lux’s ‘Teenage Crime’ into a massive Filter-House/ElectroPop crossover monster!

♫ Adrian Lux – Teenage Crime (Final DJs ‘We Are’ Edit)

Check out Final DJs on Facebook for more tunes and updates.

Final DJs @ Facebook

Apr 24 2011

Beaumont’s ‘Wings Like The Sun’

Mr. Beaumont dropped a new tune a couple of days ago, a laid back summery groove for this blistering Easter holiday weekend.

This track is exactly what I needed to drop into the electronic rumors inbox in time for the weekend, a synthesizer slow-jam, a Dreamwave love song, this track revels in, and is a celebration of, synths sounds. Beaumont listed the genre, on SoundCloud, as ‘Love song’, I would call it a ‘love song to the synthesizer’! Bits of Vangellis and bits of Moroder spring to mind when listening to ‘Wings Like The Sun’, it’s a dreamy Disco vibe that really is making me question what I am doing indoors writing this?!?!

See ya!

♫ Beaumont – Wings Like The Sun

Also, check out this reMix Beaumont has done that I really can’t talk about or the gods of journalism will strike me down, but it’s awesomely good with a cool Van She Tech vibe that is just badass.

♫ Goteki – Shoot Me Dead (Beaumont reMix)

Beaumont is a reMix machine, loads more on the way and a début EP very close to completion!

Beaumont @ Beatport

Apr 20 2011

Madeon

What can we say about Madeon that hasn’t already been said in recent months, the dude is 16. 16! It’s ridiculous, 16 years old and already up there with some of the best ElectroPop/Nu-Disco/Dreamwave producers around. What’s he gonna’ have done by the time he’s 20????

Talented beyond his years this young French producer shows not only production skill but serious musicianship in his tunes. His stuff is serious Nu-Disco excellence with an ear for a retro melodies and some insane bass programming. With a knack for solid grooves and heart stopping drops underpinning his sparkling, soaring lead lines Madeon is defiantly on his way to the top. Check out his reMixes of Yelle and Alphabeat too, pure gold.

♫ Madeon – For You

♫ Madeon – Shuriken

♫ Yelle – Que Veux Tu (Madeon reMix)

♫ Alphabeat – DJ (Madeon reMix)

What can we say? Can’t wait for Madeon’s début EP.

Madeon @ Amazon

Apr 19 2011

Fear Of Tigers’ latest ‘The Guestlist’ show: brand new Edwin Van Cleef + an interview with yours truly!

Fear Of Tigers recently started hosting a weekly look at everything going on in the world of ElectroPop, Nu-Disco and Dreamwave. Called ‘The Guestlist’ you can check out his pick of the best of current electronic music over on his SoundCloud page.

This weeks show, not only drops a storming brand new track from Edwin Van Cleef, but also features an interview with yours truly a plays a couple of my recent faves.

Yes, I am that Bristolian!

♫ Fear Of Tigers’ ‘The Guestlist’ 19/04/2011

As you probably know Ben from Fear Of Tigers ran the London marathon last weekend to raise money for WSPA (World Society for the Protection of Animals). We’d like to extend our congratulations to Ben for an amazing job, you can read about it in this blog post, and there’s still time to get in with a quick sponsorship if you’re feeling charitable, check out his Just Giving page.

Fear Of Tigers @ Just Giving

Fear Of Tigers @ Beatport

Fear Of Tigers @ Amazon

Apr 16 2011

Silenx

Silenx is Joel Azevedo, a Portuguese producer and relative newcomer to this thing we call Electro.

His music is heavily 80’s Synthsizer Funk influenced Dreamwave. One minute you are treated to a slap bass frenzy and squelchy Moog lead lines, the next it’s dark, deep synth soundtrack stuff. Complex and analog sounding, Silenx’s productions are the perfect 80’s soundtrack tunes, but teen movie fodder this ain’t! With a dark undercurrent the tracks have a driving, exciting edge to them. ‘Midnight Dreamer’ especially shows Joel to have an awesome knack for layering sounds in just the right places.

♫ Silenx – Nightwalker

♫ Silenx – Midnight Dreamer

Silenx’s début EP, ‘Kaleidoscope’ is out soon on Boombar Music.

Silenx @ Facebook

Apr 15 2011

SaiR

Like Dreamwave? You will probably love this track!

Portugal’s SaiR (A.K.A. Ruben Allen) is proving himself to be an upcoming producer to keep an eye on. With his new track, ‘Clockwise’ is displays an awesome talent for creating synth sounds, I literally adore every patch used in this track, and SaiR rides those sounds with ease. From the Electro-Funk bassline to the sweeping retro chords and the Funk lead that runs throughout Ruben handles intricate and intertwining melodies like a master.

Keeping a strong 80’s vibe with the leads and a driving rhythm section ‘Clockwise’ is Dreamwave with a solid groove. Fans of the Valerie crew’s output wanting to put some Funk in their lives should defiantly check out SaiR.

♫ SaiR – Clockwise

‘Like’ Sair On Facebook to keep up with all his tunes:

SaiR @ Facebook

Apr 14 2011

Beastie Boys & Passion Pit!

So, unless you;’ve been living under a rock this week you’ll be aware that the almighty Beastie Boys are returning with a new single and brand new album. Produced by Beastie Boys and Cassius’ Philippe Zdar, the album was announced with a hilarious video which you can catch here.

I’m absolutely lovin’ this reMix of the lead single, ‘Make Some Noise’ by Passion Pit. Who give the track a Dreamwave going over! Dreamwave Hip-Hop? DreamHop? Whole new genre anyone? (LexiconDon, are you listening?). Passion Pit give the track that smooth LA vibe and cover it in lush synths.

♫ Beastie Boys – Make Some Noise (Passion Pit reMix)

‘Hot Sauce Committee Part Two’ is released 2nd May.

Beastie Boys @ Beatport

Beastie Boys @ Juno

Beastie Boys @ 7Digital

Beastie Boys @ Amazon

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!