Feb 11 2013

[Audio] Douglas J. McCarthy’s ‘Kill Your Friends’

It was released last November on CD and Vinyl, so it’s not exactly a new release, but it’s about to see a digital unleashing and it’s was on our playlist toward the end of 2012, so let’s have a little revisit with Kill Your Friends, the début solo album from one of our favourite artists of all time, Douglas J. McCarthy. Doug is, of course, one half of the legendary Nitzer Ebb, of whom we have been fans since we were crazy teens, having first seen them live in 1991. It’s not unconceivable to say that in some mirror universe where we didn’t discover Nitzer Ebb through Bong, the official Depeche Mode fanzine, that electronic rumors, the website, the record label, might not exist. They were, particularly the Showtime and Ebbhead albums, a massive influence.

That said, Douglas’ Kill Your Friends is actually a more satisfying record than Nitzer Ebb’s 2012 comeback album, Industrial Complex. Where Industrial Complex seems to be pandering to the expectations of black clad, stomping fans (something that Nitzer Ebb had never done, just look at Big Hit), Kill Your Friends feels like a much more personal and authentic affair. From the album’s opener, Death Is King, the album deliver what I would have like to hear from Nitzer Ebb, not trying to be Nitzer-Ebb-by-numbers, but producing something with real passion, and musically, making EBM for grown ups. Take The Last Time, one of the albums standouts. Fresh beats and shimmering stabs are paired with the expected synth growl allow McCarthy’s voice, probably one of the most recognisable in electronic music, to shine. And it’s his voice, the Essex-Americana drawl that made Nitzer Ebb so special, that ties the record together. Waxing lyrical on his favourite topics, control, religion, dysfunctional relationships, freedom, Douglas appears as a introspective co-pilot on a road trip through the seedy backstreets of electronic music. Backstreets that lead you through myriad influenced, from the Dubbed-out Evil Love to the Deep Acid House of Taken. Of course, the jackhammer EBM still rears it’s head in the form of All Kinds Of Wrong and Move On, both classic EBB, but on the whole Kill Your Friends is an album for everyone who grew up with, but grew out of, EBM. If you love Nitzer Ebb, but really can’t be bothered with distorted kick drums, arpeggios and shouting anymore then this is definitely the album for you.

♫ Douglas J. McCarthy – The Last Time

♫ Douglas J. McCarthy – Nothing After This

♫ Douglas J. McCarthy – Death Is King

♫ Douglas J. McCarthy – Taken

Douglas J. McCarthy’s Kill Your Friends is out now on CD and Vinyl and released digitally 18th February.

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Feb 11 2013

[Video] Pyramid’s ‘Wolf’

Here’s the video for French SynthWaver Pyramid’s awesome new single, Wolf, and epic slice of SynthWave brilliance.

The video was directed by Etienne Perrin and is an action packed romp loaded with Pyramid’s abstract logo.

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Feb 11 2013

[Mixtape] Awkoder’s latest mixtape

Awkoder – Mixtape #2 = Our SynthWave friend Awkoder has just dropped his latest mixtape. It’s a whole hour of laid back Disco and retro beats to kick off your week with.

♫ Awkoder – Mixtape #2

The tracklist:

01. Chordashian – Illusion
02. Pool – Flex (Aeroplane reMix)
03. Sanza & Phunktastike – Locovox
04. Grizzly Bear – Gun Shy (Lindstrom reMix)
05. Strange Talk – Cast Away (Reflex reMix)
06. Lafayette – Mauvaise Mine (Jupiter reMix)
07. Bufi & La Royale – Paris
08. Charli XCX – You Ha Ha Ha (Goldroom reMix)
09. Plastic Plates (Feat. Simon Lord) – Things I Didn’t Know I Loved (Bufi reMix)
10. Shindu – Just Go (Reflex reMix)

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Feb 11 2013

[Audio] Mitch Murder’s ‘Stages’

Swedish SynthWave master Mitch Murder is getting his groove on, his 80s groove, with his latest offering, Stages. We’re pretty steadily getting about a track a month from Mitch, it’s like being in some awesome music subscription club. We know he’s got a lot of cool stuff coming up, so we’re not sure how long the regular new track schedule will hold up, but for now let’s just enjoy.

Stages is a blindingly funky piece of soundtrack work. Remember how around 1985-86 everyone was rocking the fast-fingered digital basslines in American movies? Well this is that, done with style. The rapid-fire, percussive, FM bassline drives the track ever onward on a journey where the twisting leads feel like passengers. Chirping out their melodic narrative as they flow on top the bassline. Weaving just the right amount of Pop-Funk into his soundtrack style, Mitch delivers both a story, and a pretty infectious dancefloor track too. Also, nice bit of Macross artwork.

♫ Mitch Murder – Stages

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Feb 8 2013

[MP3] Moustache Machine reMixes Madonna

With Classixx’s awesome reMix of Madonna’s Lucky Star nearly two years old now, it’s the perfect time for some fresh blood on the Lucky Star scene. It’s the prefect track for a Disco update, and stepping up for the challenge is French producer Moustache Machine.

The tracks got all the elements for a massive Italo-Disco workout, pumping synth bass, bright keys, evil little Disco licks and Madge’s big vocal. Moustache Machine handles these elements with ease, reworking them into his own version of dancefloor gold. With just the right amount of added driving synth goodness, and the occasional B-Boy breakdown, this is easily one of the best reMixes of this track we’ve heard.

♫ Madonna – Lucky Star (Moustache Machine reMix)

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Feb 8 2013

[MP3] Alison Valentine’s ‘Warm Winter’s Day’

You may remember New York songstress Alison Valentine from her track Peanut Butter, and Moon Boots stunning reMix of it. She’s back this month with a new single, Warm Winter’s Day, and this looks like the one to gain the talented singer the wider attention she deserves.

Warm Winter’s Day, is a perfect example of inviting R&B flavoured ElectroPop. Imbued with that Chillwavey air so often found in New York’s ElectroPop output, reverby beats and toy town synths dance playfully about the track while Alison provides an intimate, personal performance. This would have made an awesome X-Mas single, but a month later it still delivers a warming electronic cheer.

♫ Alison Valentine – Warm Winter’s Day

Alison Valentine’s Warm Winter’s Day is out now.

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Feb 8 2013

[MP3] Kisses reMix Haim

Hot on the heels of their new single and new album announcement, LA ElectroPop duo Kisses, a name soon to be on everybody’s lips, have dropped this reMix of the name that is currently on everybody’s lips, Indie-Girl trio Haim and their track Send Me Down.

Kisses turn the track into an indescribably warm six minutes of lush DiscoPop. With a nod to the poolside and hot LA nights, Kisses manage to keep the quirky Indie feel to the tune whist adding heaps of sexy summer groove. With those smokey vocals to work with, Kisses deliver a suitably odd-ball version of Disco, with enough eccentricities to stay true to the original, but enough of a dancefloor vibe to keep crowds moving.

♫ Haim- Send Me Down (Kisses reMix)

Send Me Down is the B-side of Haim’s current single, Don’t Save Me, out now.

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Feb 8 2013

[Video] Ursa Minor (Little Bear)’s ‘Ha!’

Here’s the video for London based ElectroPop/House act Ursa Minor (Little Bear)’s 909 fuelled new single Ha!.

It’s a hunting, imposing, track with 90s House overtones, and the clip is suitably retro, laden with vintage video effects.

Ha! features on Ursa Minor (Little Bear)’s Shell EP, out now.

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Feb 8 2013

[Mixtape] Ali Jamieson’s ‘February 2013 Mix’

Ali Jamieson – February 2013 Mix = Are you sitting comfortably? Well, if you are, get up and put your dancing shoes on ‘cos Ali Jamieson has delivers a whopping two hours of upfront Disco and House that runs from the frantic, to the smooth and back again.

♫ Ali Jamieson – February 2013 Mix

The tracklist:

01. Jeremy Glenn – New Life (Perseus ‘Summer of 83’ reMix)
02. Dumb Dan – Ele (Jesper Samuelson 2013 Remix)
03. Ali Jamieson – Four Thirty
04. Rotkraft – Love Lights
05. Satin Jackets feat. Eric Cozier – Boys & Girls
06. Moon Boots – No One
07. Breakbot – Break Of Dawn (Dimitri From Paris Boogie Dawn reMix)
08. Strange Talk – Cast Away (Plastic Plates reMix)
09. alloapm – Gorilla Slighly (Keenhouse Rework)
10. Moodymann – Mahogany Brown
11. Jazzanova – Glow & Glare (Ame reMix)
12. Mario Basanov – Move On
13. Crazy P – Changes (Mario Basanov reMix)
14. Art Of Tones – Too Much
15. Slope – Mousse (Get Down Mix)
16. Miguel Campbell – Not That Kind Of Girl
17. Terranova (Feat. Tomas Høffding) – Question Mark (KiNK Mix)
18. Last Magpie – (Who Knows) Where Love Goes
19. Young Marco – Video Days
20. Rodriguez Jr. – Satellite
21. Sub Focus (Feat. Alpines) – Tidal Wave (Shadow Child reMix)
22. BICEP – $tripper (Mary Boki Edit)
23. Duke Dumont (Feat. A*M*E) – Need You (100%) (Feeboy Rework)
24. James Holden – Lump
25. Oliver – Control
26. Pále – Winder
27. T&K – Line of Light (Canblaster reMix (Dreamy Version))
28. Bobby Tank – Cybo

Ali Jamieson’s Four Thirty single is out now and available for free here.

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Feb 8 2013

[Audio] Logan Sky’s new album

London based SynthWave artist Logan Sky is gearing up for the release of his brand new album, Face The Flames. Previously part of ElectroPop duo Saar & Sky, one of our favourite acts of the past few years, Logan has been steadily carving out a name for himself as a solo artist producing some of the most interesting Italo influenced sounds around.

Right now we can have a listen to the first track from the album to be revealed, Blonde Cobra. It’s a rich slice of futuristic Italo. An edgy BladeRunner mood is countered with bright, shining melodies as an ominous arpeggiated bassline powers the track onward amidst waves of Sci-Fi synths. Haunting and atmospheric whist still being a solid Italo floorfiller, Blonde Cobra has us eager to hear more from the soon-to-be released new record.