After teasing us on Twitter, London SynthPop masters Monarchy have finally dropped their reMix of Kelis recent smash ‘Acapella’!
From the offset you can tell it’s something special, instantly transporting you to Planet Monarchy as the duo effortlessly work their futuristic synth magic for their take on the track. Actually, ‘Acapella’ is a really fitting song for Monarchy to reMix, the vocal track itself has a kinda’ 80’s space-age Disco feel to it so when combined with the music of these two stargazing ElectroPoppers it becomes this amazing soundtrack to the best 80’s Sci-Fi movie you never saw.
I’d love to see a video for this cut out of bits from ‘Battle Beyond The Stars’ or something!
Another classic ElectroPop act hitting the road this year is Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark who will, in last October and November, take in most of the UK and a big chunk of Europe.
The ‘History Of Modern’ tour will feature the classic line up of Andy McCluskey, Paul Humphreys, Martin Cooper and Malcolm Holmes and will showcase the bands forthcoming new album, again, titled ‘History Of Modern’ which Andy McCluskey has called “our best album since ‘Architecture And Morality’”.
Here’s one of our favourite OMD tunes, ‘Electricity’:
The tour will take in a gruelling 17 nights in November across Europe.
UK
29th Oct – Brighton @ Dome
31st Oct – Bristol @ Colston Hall
01st Nov – Nottingham @ Royal Centre
02nd Nov – Glasgow @ Concert Hall
04th Nov – Liverpool @ Arena
05th Nov – Ipswich @ Regent
07th Nov 11 – London @ Hammersmith Apollo
08th Nov – Birmingham @ Symphony Hall
EUROPE
11th Nov – Cologne @ E-Work
12th Nov – Hannover @ Capitol
13th Nov – Leipzig @ Haus Auensee
15th Nov – Stuttgart @ Theatrehaus
16th Nov – Munich @ Tonhalle
18th Nov – Berlin @ Tempoddrom
19th Nov – Hamburg @ Docks
21st Nov – Luxembourg @ (venue TBC)
22nd Nov – Brussels @ Ancienne Belgique
23rd Nov – Amsterdam @ Paradiso
25th Nov – Casino De Paris
It’s not Lady GaGa’s best song, but it is her new single, and it is elevated to the lofty heights of ‘fucking awesome’ by Swedish SynthPop masters The Sound of Arrows.
‘Alejandro’ is given a complete, smooth SynthPop makeover the way only The Sound Of Arrows can becoming a slice of pure 80’s Pop with the lightest touch of Nu-Disco!
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’:
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!
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!
I’m really getting into this track, it’s Plushgun’s effort, as reMixed by the Buffetlibre DJs, from their PEACEproject 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.
Is it time for a new La Roux album yet? Or are Elly and Ben still gallivanting ‘round the world promoting the last one?
Oh well, it’s gonna’ be while before they’re back in the studio I expect so the occasional trawl of the internet for unheard reMixes may sometimes be in order, sometimes you can find some real gems like these two!
No Roux No, out of nowhere, has dropped what may be one of my favourite reMixes of ‘Bulletproof’, like a stripped down Nu-Disco track the whole song revolves around the ever evolving lead line, it’s well worth a listen. Mr. TinoForever, however, drops a dubstep reMix of ‘In For The Kill’ to rival Skream’s, with some heavy, heavy synths.
Interestingly, La Roux were on BB2’s documentary about Heaven 17 last night and Elly was joined by Ben for the interview, does this mean he’s stepping out of the shadows? (he probably just has a lot to say about Heaven 17, but who wouldn’t?).
Fotonovela stopped by the electronic rumors inbox to drop off their latest reMix, of Groove Armada’s recent single featuring the vocals of Ben from Fenech-Soler and SaintSaviour, ‘Paper Romance’.
Fotonovela are a Greek duo who hail from the Undo stable alongside Marsheaux, and as with their label-mates they are masters of ElectroPop.
The reMix a pretty awesome retro synth workout. It’s a good song anyway but the pair add a cool arpeggiated late-80’s SynthPop vibe to it. The more I listen to it the more I’m digging it, the chords in the chorus and the sparkling lead lines remind me so much of the Pop I grew up with without sounding dated at all. I’ll defiantly be keeping my eye on Fotonovela.
HURTS were recently featured on Channel4’s 4Play with an 11 minute insight into how the guys approach both the music and the visuals of HURTS, also commenting on how risky it was to release HURTS into the wild via big ‘events’ (both the EP and live show) rather than the usual oversaturation.
It’s a good watch for anyone interested in the band.
And here’s the full version of ‘Better Than Love’ from the show.
HURTS’ ‘Better Than Love’ single drops on the 24th.
DMX Krew are easily one of my favourite artists of all time. At one time or other Ed DMX has covered most of my personal preferences in electronic music, from Electro Hip-Hop to retro SynthPop, from Experimental to Space Synth.
it’s been a while since we’ve had and of DMX Krew’s Pop material, recent releases have been Experimental electronic odysseys and his latest album, ‘The March To the Stars’, builds upon this while adding a touch of an electronic soundtrack vibe. At times sounding like Jean-Michel Jarre by way of Kraftwerk this is a record that can take to away with it on a robotic journey.
It’s an odd comment for a website that deals with electronic music to make, but this album is just so damn electronic!
