Apr 21 2011

FM Belfast re-release ‘Underwear’

Some crazy ElectroPop now from Icelandic act FM Belfast.

Having just signed to Morr Music their first single, a re-release from their album ‘How To Make Friends’, is ‘Underwear’. It’s a prime example of the bands quirky sense of humour and analog heavy sound which appears to be about running about in your pants ‘cos your bored. FM Belfast’s sound is very Icelandic, if that makes sense, it’s strongly ElectroPop in structure but seems not to care whatsoever about what anyone else is doing, and in FM Belfast’s case that is a very good thing.

♫ FM Belfast – Underwear (Single Version)

‘Underwear’ is out now digitally limited edition 7” with additional versions.

FM Belfast @ Beatport

FM Belfast @ Juno

FM Belfast @ Amazon

Apr 21 2011

Uffie covers Tom Tom Club

Uffie (yes Uffie, remember Uffie?) this week dropped this Medhi produced cover of Tom Tom Club’s hit ‘Wordy rappinghood’, and it’s good!

I’ve always had a soft spot for Uffie, she’s worked with some of the biggest Electro innovators in the Ed Banger stable and has a vocal delivery which is pretty unique and while this cover might at first seem odd, after listening to it you realise it was the cover she’s was always destined for, and with Medhi bringing an Old School flavour to the track, it just works.

♫ Uffie – Wordy Rappinghood (Tom Tom Club Cover) (Evian Mix)

the track comes from Evian ‘s latest ‘Live Young’ campaign.

Apr 20 2011

Purity Ring

I don’t know much about Purity Ring beyond what was contained in the email we received, they seem to have a few fans on Facebook so maybe I’ve been missing out on something.

I know they are a duo composed of Corin Roddick and Megan James, I know they are Canadian, and I know the music a completely enchanting. Mixing up BedroomPop and Dubstep on their début single ‘Ungirthed’. There might, at first glance, be a contradiction between the deep , spooky heavy bass and the cute, quaint, vocals and melodies, but the the two halves of the track combine to form a whole greater than the sum of it’s parts. Like a kitten with a switchblade you don’t know whether to be scared of ‘Ungirthed’ or embrace it, but what you will do is nod your head and become enveloped in Purity Ring’s soundscape.

♫ Purity Ring – Ungirthed

‘Ungirthed’ is released this month on 7”.

Purity Ring @ Pure Groove

Purity Ring @ Plastic In Paper

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 19 2011

Mason and Róisín Murphy’s ‘Boadicea’ Video

Mason and Róisín Murphy’s ‘Boadicea’ now has a video.

We’ve already raved about the track a few times. I love a video with a narrative, this one stars off pretty harsh and then just gets badass. Really cool clip.

It was directed by Ron Scalpello.

‘Boadicea’ is out now and taken from the album ’They Are among Us’.

Apr 18 2011

Sophie Ellis-Bextor’s new album

Just a quick one today, lot’s going on, but most of the day I’ve been listening to Sophie Ellis-Bextor’s forthcoming album and I have to say it’s sounding pretty damn good.

‘Make A Scene’, Sophie’s forth album will be released in June and in amongst the tracklisting are most of her singles from the past two years (including the collaborations with the likes of Freemasons, Armin van Buuren and Junior Caldera) and a whole host of new tracks. Working with not only the aforementioned producers and writers but names such as Richard X, Metronomy, Calvin Harris, Cathy Dennis, and Greg Kurstin the album seems to swing from massive Pop-Trance tracks to cooler DiscoPop and classic ElectroPop tunes. The first lead single from the album will be ‘Starlight’, I tend to almost universally disagree with labels choices for lead in singles from albums, but in this case I think ‘Starlight’ is the perfect choice. Not as hands-in-the-air Trance as a couple of the album tracks (the only tracks on the album that are slightly dated) ‘Starlight’ has got more of a DiscoPop groove. And you’ve got to love Sophie’s voice, that posh-with-a-slight-cockney-twang thing just slays me.

♫ Sophie Ellis-Bextor – Starlight

‘Make A Scene’ is released 6th June. You can stream the album here.

Sophie Ellis-Bextor @ Beatport

Sophie Ellis-Bextor @ Juno

Sophie Ellis-Bextor @ 7Digital

Sophie Ellis-Bextor @ Amazon

Apr 16 2011

Computers Want Me Dead

Computers Want Me Dead are a New Zealand duo who build upon the Antipodean Indie-ElectroPop sound to create and exciting, upbeat sound of their own. They released their début EP last month.

Their self titled EP contains four tracks, two reMixes and an instrumental that will leave you wanting more. The duo consisting of Sam Harvey and Damien Daniels take elements of the Modular strain of Indie-Electro and put their own retro inspired spin on it. With really catchy songs, like ‘In Your Blood’, some dangerously powerful synth sounds working in harmony with a smoother Disco backing, and a cool that oozes from every song CWMD are certainly destined for great things.

This is pretty much what I’m listening to for the rest of the day, the sun is out and this is the prefect soundtrack.

♫ Computers Want Me Dead – In Your Blood

Computers Want Me Dead’s self titled EP is out now.

Computers Want Me Dead @ Beatport

Computers Want Me Dead @ Amazon

Apr 16 2011

Vanbot’s début album

It’s been quite the week for Sweden’s Vanbot. Her first album was finally released after a couple of months of build up.

Vanbot’s self titled début is a pretty stunning entrance. The internet has been full of comparisons to Robyn, but I swear if you compare Vanbot to Robyn, then I expect Robyn is probably the only other female ElectroPop artist you’ve ever heard ‘cos other than being Swedish, Female and producing ElectroPop the comparison ends there.

Vanbot (A.K.A. Ester Isdekog)’s tunes are smooth Dancefloor Pop, replacing Robyn’s edgy cool with DiscoPop savvy and a sound that owes more to Sweden’s ElectroPop heritage than her fellow Scandinavian’s. Packed with direct 80’s musical references the record reminds me so much of all those excellent late 90’s/early 00’s Swedish Pop acts that flooded the SynthPop scene, but with a distinct understanding of contemporary Electro music. Top that with Ester’s sweet sweet vocals and you’ve got a winning combination.

♫ Vanbot – Make Me, Break Me

♫ Vanbot – Lost Without You

‘Vanbot’ is out now.

Vanbot @ 7Digital

Vanbot @ Amazon

Apr 15 2011

What have Substatic been up to?

Well…holed up in some kind of Substatic bunker writing tunes, that’s what.

After extensive gigging their highly recommended début EP for the past year (and, I presume, taking a couple of months to get over making it into electronic rumors’ top 5 tracks of 2011!) it was time for Bristol’s finest Electro trio to get their groove on and look to their next release. They have let two demos form their next release into the wild via their SoundCloud page. The first to see the light of day was ‘Bloodlust’, a laidback, slightly Dubsteppy, tune with an air of tension running throughout, but in instrumentation and Colleen’s borderline lamentation vocal delivery. Then there is ‘Gold’, a track that deserves to be played loud. ‘Gold’ is an in-your-face Electro beast, Substatic have assimilated both Dubstep and Electro-House’s synth work and sprinkled it with an ElectroPop sheen. ‘Gold’ will defiantly be one of this summers anthems.

Bearing in mind that these are both still works-in-progress, it seems Substatic’s next release will be something to get excited about.