Mar 4 2011

Chromeo’s ‘Drive Time’…the smallest record ever made!

This week we received, in the post, a copy of ‘Drive Time’, Chromeo’s new record.

And it’s a new record in more ways than one.

First, it is a record. I know I call everything ‘a record’, but that’s just ‘cos I’m old, ‘Drive Time’ is actually a vinyl release and secondly it is a new record in the sense that it has absolutely smashed any and all previous world record holders for the smallest record ever made!

Tiny!

That’s just the promo! The full album will clock in at just over three minutes and a mind boggling 55 tracks. With those kinds of numbers ‘Drive Time’ laughs in the face of the previous smallest record’s length. That of Cattle Decapitation’s ‘Human Jerky’, a yawn inducing 12m36s.

Also, for the first time the album sees Chromeo’s music taking on a political theme in the lead track, the thoughtfully titled ‘Turn Left’, albeit rolled up in their Electro-Disco-Pop-Funk.

Take a look at this video of the guys and legendary producer Dave Bascombe working on the project. Dave and P speak about their motives and inspiration.

So, what does it actually sound like?

Well, it’s good, short, but good. It’s amazing how in, sometimes as short a time as a few seconds (or the lead track, ‘Turn Left’s ONE SECOND!), each track is unmistakably Chromeo.

Each track could have quite easily been a joke. I have never heard the previous record holder but I presume it was some kind of Death Metal album and each track was just a brief noise, well with ’Drive Time’ each track has actually been written. Take ‘Follow’ for example, in it’s seven seconds, there is a distinct bass riff, vocal harmonies, a chord progression and a lead line. In seven seconds!

Have a (brief) listen.

♫ Chromeo – Turn Left

♫ Chromeo – Destination

♫ Chromeo – Follow

See what I mean, it actually sounds like Chromeo!

Mar 4 2011

Girlfriend Records release Le Prix’s new single

You’ve gotta’ love Girlfriend Records, not only are they consistent in putting out some of the finest 80’s inspired Electro around, but they tend to do it for free too!

Their latest release come courtesy of Le Prix, who’s ‘Eyelash OK’ single is full of everything you want from a Dreamwave tune. ‘Eyelash OK’ is all about the melody, a melodic bassline reminiscing of late 80’s Pet Shop Boys rides the Disco drums leaving the rest of the track to be dominated by the interweaving melodies of the lead lines. This is inner-city ElectroPop, the soundtrack to the lives and loves of night dwellers and insomniacs everywhere. Nightdrive Electro, both optimistic and pensive at the same time the combination of FM bass and reverby leads carrying you through your late night adventures.

♫ Le Prix – Eyelash OK

You can get the ‘Eyelash OK’ single here, for free!

Le Prix @ Beatport

Le Prix @ Girlfriend

Mar 4 2011

Yelle’s new double video

Madcap French ElectroPop trio Yelle (‘cos they are a trio really!) have released two music videos in one. ‘Safari Disco Club’ and ‘Que Veux-Tu’ share the eight minute clip, which is really two videos with a little joining montage.

Stall, makes us exited for the release of the new Yelle album!

The video was directed by Jérémie Saindon.

The ‘Safari Disco Club’ album is released 14th March.

Mar 4 2011

Gypsy And The Cat’s ‘Jona Vark’ Video

Gypsy And The Cat’s ‘Jona Vark’ finally gets a video clip!

I looks like they are really pushing this re-release of the single, which is a good thing, it really didn’t get the attention it deserved last summer. Directed by Jemma-Lee the clip the is pretty much a visual representation of what I’d expect the Melbourne duo’s world to be like! Weird, huh?

‘Jona Vark’ single is taken from Gypsy And The Cat’s album ‘Gilgamesh’, out now.

Gypsy And The Cat @ 7Digital

Gypsy And The Cat @ Amazon

Mar 4 2011

Anoraak’s ‘Crazy Eyes’ single

The release of Anoraak’s ‘Crazy Eyes’ single has been a long time coming!

Valerie’s top ElectroPop producer finally drops the third single from his awesome ‘Wherever The Sun Sets’ album. Alongside a nice looking reMix package he lets loose this Disco version of his own. Anoraak will always be here to see in the long, dreamy, nights as we start to hit some warmer weather and ‘Crazy Eyes’ defiantly does the trick. Slick, laidback ElectroPop with a Dreamwave feel from one of the pioneers of the genre.

♫ Anoraak – Crazy Eyes (Disco Version)

The single will feature reMixes from Russ Chimes, Julien Meyer (who won the reMix competition) and Pacific! and is released on 14th March.

Mar 2 2011

AlunaGeorge

You really could be looking at the ‘next big thing’ here.

Quirky ElectroPop act AlunaGeorge have all the qualities needed to see them in a double page spread in NEM in six months time. Deep Electronic music that takes queues from Indie, BedroomPop, Electro & Dubstep perfectly compliments some of the sweetest vocals you’ve heard in a while. On first listen their forthcoming double A-side 7” ‘Analyser’/’We Are Chosen’ comes across like Crystal Castles, but without all that tedious shouting and some actual songs. That may seem a strange comparison to make after hearing AlunaGeorge, but the duo have the same kind of edge, and could be massive with the same kind of crowd, but with the added bonus of having songs you can actually sing along to.

Both ‘Analyser’, an Indie-ElectroPop track awash with 16-bit sounds and the deep Garagey ‘We Are Chosen’ show the duo have a diverse repertoire of electronic music to draw from while remaining uniquely AlunaGeorge sounding. We’re going to hearing a lot more from these two in the coming year.

♫ AlunaGeorge – Analyser

♫ AlunagGorge – We Are Chosen

‘Analyser’/’We Are Chosen’ is released on limited edition white 7” and digital on 18th April. Until then, be the first of your friends to ‘like’ AlunaGeorge on Facebook, then in six months time cash those cred chips in!

AlunaGeorge @ Facebook

Mar 2 2011

Icona Pop’s ‘Manners’

Big things have been happening for Icona Pop since we last wrote about them.

The Swedish duo have been championed by Kitsuné and are now releasing their new single on Neon Gold. If those two labels like you , you know you’re doing something right!

The new single, ‘Manners’ is more of the rough and ready SynthPop we love Icona Pop for. Débuted on Kitsuné Maison 10, the single is an anthemic power Pop track that is given an edge by a raw drum track the vitriol hidden within the sweet, sing-along, vocals.

♫ Icona Pop – Manners

Neon Gold release ‘Manners’ on 21st March.

Icona Pop @ Neon Gold

Icona Pop @ Puregroove

Icona Pop @ Beatport

Icona Pop @ Amazon

Mar 2 2011

Display

Display are an ElectroPop outfit from Poland who are gearing up for the release of their début EP.

Light on information but heavy on sound, Display attack ElectroPop from a driving, big dirty synth sounds, angle. Like a head on collision between Front 242 and The Teenagers, that is to say, Old School EBM and French Indie-Electro. Display stack up kicking beats and bass and chainsaw synths with vocals and melody full of swagger to make something pretty unique.

Defiantly one to keen an eye on.

♫ Display – Level Up

♫ Display – Play This

Display’s first EP is out soon.

Display @ Beatport

Feb 28 2011

Frankmusik…’Safety Dance’…awesome!

I really can’t find the words.

Here is Frankmusik covering Men Without Hats’ ‘The Safety Dance’. This is the most amazing thing I have heard in my life!

Pure genius!

♫ Frankmusik – The Safety Dance (Men Without Hats Cover)

This, and many other tracks Frankmusik has decided to give away are available here.

Frankmusik @ Juno

Frankmusik @ 7Digital

Frankmusik @ Amazon

Feb 28 2011

Kate Bush and Echoes create beautiful music

It sounds like exciting things are brewing over at Echoes HQ. Rumours (yes, I spell ‘rumours’ the English way when it’s not the website’s title…it’s a long story) of label interest, new singles, and live shows. All very hush hush, to quote them, they “need to get it right”, which is the best attitude to have. Still, doesn’t leave us any less eager for new tracks.

So, to tide you over in your wait for news check this epic reMix of Kate Bush’s ‘This Woman’s Work’. There are a lot of reMixes of this tune that get it so wrong. I have heard Trance versions that just make me angry and sad. Echoes treat the song with exactly the right balance of respect and innovation. They have made it sound contemporary and relevant without butchering it, and what emerges on the other side is a beautiful, majestic slice of ElectroPop.