Hot on the heels of the successful performance of their seminal album ‘Penthouse And Pavement’ in Sheffield (and accompanying BCC documentary), ElectroPop Legends Heaven 17 are taking the show on the road.

Taking in eight cities performing, arguably, their best album in its entirety (plus a few extras), fans in the UK can get a taste of what to expect as the BBC recording of the Sheffield début of the show is available to watch on iPlayer. The tour will expand from that performance to include a six piece band and LED banks showcasing artwork, specially commissioned, from top UK design houses inspired by the classic 1981 album.

Also still available on iPlayer is the documentary screened in conjunction with the gig, ‘Heaven 17: The Story Of Penthouse And Pavement’, it’s a fascinating watch with some great contributions.

To get you in the mood here’s Heaven 17’ 1981 début, and still awesome, ‘(We Don’t Need This) Fascist Groove Thing’:

♫ Heaven 17 – (We Don’t Need This) Fascist Groove Thing

The tour kick off late December in Edinburgh.

22nd Nov – Edinburgh @ Edinburgh Picture House
23rd Nov – Glasgow @ Glasgow ABC
25th Nov – Manchester @ Manchester Ritz
26th Nov – Birmingham @ Birmingham Institute
28th Nov – London @ London Forum
29th Nov – Oxford – Oxford Academy
30th Nov – Brighton @ Brighton Corn Exchange
01st Dec – Bristol @ Bristol Academy

All this to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the album’s release! And there’s more! EMI are putting together a ‘special luxury edition’ of the record for release later in the year!

May 22 2010

Worship

Swiss producer Worship is, not only responsible for some of the best reMixes of the last year or so but also a purveyor of mighty fine Space-Synth tinged Dreamwavey Electro-House.

He recently dropped a new tune, ‘Starcrash’ which, as the name suggests, is a cosmic analog odyssey that soars along at light speed to the timing of a solid House beat. Those retro synth hits and screaming lead lines are irresistible!

♫ Worship – Starcrash

Check out one of his older tracks too, ‘Cosmic Roller Girls’ is an alien Disco jam of the kind that would make Buck Rodgers (in the 80’s) get his groove on!

♫ Worship – Cosmic Roller Girls

You can pick up Worship’s ‘The Dome’ EP now:

May 22 2010

LIGHTS’ new video

LIGHTS had dropped the video for her forthcoming single ‘Second Go’ off of her ‘The Listening’ album.

Apparently filmed all in one take! I gotta’ say, I love the 80’s-esq riff in this track.

She’s touring in the UK right now, next weekend sees her Bristol début at the Dot-To-Dot festival. Good times!

‘The Listening’ is out now.

LIGHTS @ Juno

LIGHTS @ 7Digital

LIGHTS @ Amazon

May 22 2010

10 Rapid’s new single

10Rapid02

We first featured 10 Rapid on electronic rumors way back when, naming him as “one to watch” for his wicked reMix of Cagedbaby’s ‘Forced’.

Now the man is back with a brand new three track single, out this week on Exceptional Records, here’s the title track, it starts off as a disjointed, cut-up Electro track before evolving into a big riffed, big sounding, Electro-House monster guaranteed to get you moving.

♫ 10 Rapid – Not Everything Sounds The Same

The rest of the single is pretty aggressive, in your face Electro that demands your attention.

‘Not Everything Sounds The Same’ is released this week exclusively on Beatport and drops elsewhere in a couple of weeks.

10 Rapid @ Beatport

10 Rapid @ Juno

10 Rapid @ Amazon

May 21 2010

Robyn’s ‘Dancing On My Own’ video

We’re really digging Robyn’s forthcoming single ‘Dancing On My Own’, with its amazing reMix package, the Swedish ElectroPop bundle of insanity (need new Robyn based ‘madness’ adjectives!) has finally débuted the video clip for the track.

It’s Robyn meet’s mid-80’s clips in a head on collision, complete with big hair and not quite dance moves and I swear at one point she attempts the classic James Bond not-so-convincingly-pretending-to-be-making-out-with-someone-by-wrapping-my-arms-round-my-back-and-wobbling-my-head trick!

‘Dancing On My Own’ is an awesome single, be sure to pick it up when it drops.

Robyn @ Beatport

Robyn @ 7Digital

Robyn @ Amazon

May 20 2010

Substatic’s début EP

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Well, they said their début EP would be out in May and, bizarrely for a band, it will be out in May. If nothing else we can, at least, say that Substatic are punctual!

I’m not going to go on again about how impressed I was with this Bristol based Electro act, you can read what I wrote about them in my previous post, but I will say how they managed to improve on tracks that didn’t need improving for the release of the ‘Days Go On’ EP. Listening to the original, demo, versions (check the prior post for mp3s) I would have said they were easily of release quality but, production wise, Substatic have really outdone themselves this time around. The sound is more separated, everything sits together better. the drums kick, the basses rumble and there are some additional synth and guitar flourishes that are now allowed room in the mix, but it’s the vocal production that really stands out from the demos. Again, I wouldn’t have said there was anything wrong with the vocal production first time round, but now the vocals really shine. All-in-all these new recording really showcase Substatic’s unique blend of modern Electro, Breakbeat and songwriting talent.

There are four tracks on the EP. New versions of ‘Wild Horses’ and ‘Triplet’, which we featured formerly. Both tracks have had some radio play, ‘Wild Horses’ being a Electro Breakbeat epic and ‘Triplet’ being an edgy, bass laden, Indie-electro tune with some Dubstep overtones. Either would be worthy of a single release. My personal favourite track on ‘Days Go On’ is ‘Edge Of Your Love’, an Electro-House/Nu-Disco stomper with a touch of (a more ballsy) Goldfrapp about it. As with tracks one and two, ‘Edge Of Your Love’ could easily carry a single release on it’s own. The EP draws to a close with ‘Closer’, a deep, bass heavy , emotional journey and a perfect end to the EP with a finale that layers strings and sparkling synths to almost spine-tingling effect. I know I mentioned it in my previous write up, but there really is something of the dramatic to Substatic’s songs. Whether it is in Alex and Steve’s intricate, driving, music or Colleen’s passionate vocal delivery, as a listener you really do feel a depth of emotion and a sense of urgency to the tracks.

♫ Substatic – Edge Of Your Love

If you want to pick up the full quality release (and you do!), ‘Days Go On’ drops 31st May but can be pre-ordered right now!

Substatic @ 7Digital

Substatic @ Amazon

May 20 2010

Muffin

Australian Dreamwaver Muffin has dropped a couple of new tracks on an eager internet.

‘Sunkissed’ and ‘Astronaut Candy’ are two, amazingly produced, retro synth monsters. Chilled grooves and sparking synths are the order of the day, pinned down with rolling FM basslines. ‘Astronaut Candy’ is a laidback jam perfect for summer nights in the city whereas ‘Sunkissed’ is a little harder with an awesome synth lead.

♫ Muffin – Sunkissed (zShare) (MediaFire)

♫ Muffin – Astronaut Candy (zShare) (MediaFire)

Go show this up and coming producer some MySpace love!

Muffin @ MySpace

May 20 2010

Plushgun + Buffetlibre for PEACE

Plushgun

I’m really getting into this track, it’s Plushgun’s effort, as reMixed by the Buffetlibre DJs, from their PEACE project in association with Amnesty International.

‘Mixtapes’ a good song with a killer reMix, a brilliant slice of ElectroPop. Buffetlibre have taken the guitar based Indie original and created a high energy track reminiscent of early 90’s SynthPop.

♫ Plushgun – Mixtapes (Buffetlibre reMix) (zShare) (MediaFire)

Buffetlibre and Amnesty International’s PEACE album is out now, you can pick it up, and make your all important donation, here.

May 20 2010

TRW72

TWR72

This one almost slipped past me! TRW72 (The Walk and Rogerseventytwo) are a duo consisting of, friends for over ten years, Roger and Tom, Dutch DJs turned Producers.

They are about to release their début EP on Instant Reply, the title track of which is ‘Shock’, a Electro-House banger with a unique groove. Cut-up and disjointed it still a manages to make you feel like dancing. TRW72 tracks are gaining support from the likes of Zombie Nation, Mehdi, Laidback Luke, Tommie Sunshine and The Mightyfools. You too?

♫ TWR72 – Shock (zShare) (MediaFire)

TRW72’s début EP drops late May, until then check out their MySpace:

TRW72 @ MySpace

May 19 2010

electronic rumours mixtape: Pop-Fu 06

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With the weather getting better it seems like no better time to drop an upbeat Mixtape of smooth ElectroPop and Dreamwave:

01 The Good Natured – Your Body Is A Machine (Zebra & Snake reMix)
02 Crystal Castles – Celestica (Album Mix)
03 Monarchy – The Phoenix Alive (Original Version)
04 The Vanish – Hold On (Russ Chimes Mix)
05 Yes Giantess – The Ruins (Fear Of Tigers reMix)
06 Cassette Kids – Lying Around (Diamond Cut reMix)
07 Shy Child – Disconnected (Anoraak reMix)
08 Ellie Goulding – Starry Eyed (Russ Chimes reMix)
09 Fenech-Soler – Stop And Stare (Original)
10 Barretso – We Won’t Stop (Redial reMix)
11 Penguin Prison – The Worse It Gets (Starsmith reMix)
12 HURTS – Better Than Love (LightsOverLA reMix)

If the weather isn’t getting better where you are, stick this on and pretend it is!