Dec 10 2012

[MP3] Kristine’s X-mas present

Here’s an early X-mas present from our favourite Greek 80s girl Kristine. It’s a cover of Vaneese Thomas’ 1987 album track Rockin’ & Lovin’ and it’s pitch perfect retro Pop. Maybe it’s just that time of year, but even though Rockin’ & Lovin’ isn’t really an X-Mas some, it still feels like it’s got a holiday vibe.

It could be the upbeat, feel-good groove, could be the nostalgic New Wave beat and digital bassline, could be Kristine’s husky voice that slips between soulful and rocks, in that was the best 80s signers always did. Whatever it is, Kristine’s cover of Rockin’ & Lovin’ just makes me think of good times with friends, and you don’t get more X-Massy than that. Just wait for the sax!

♫ Kristine – Rocking’ & Lovin’ (Vaneese Thomas Cover)

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Dec 7 2012

[MP3] New Arcades

New Arcades are a London based SynthPop duo who are making some delicious retro Pop noise. Dean Canty and Adam Sullivan released a single a few months back and are now dropping a brand new track in anticipation of an EP in the coming months. Expect some sweeping, emotional, synth tunes.

Sitting just a tad too far into SynthPop to be SynthWave, New Arcades still retain some of SynthWave’s nostalgic optimism in their shimmering melodies, but layer that with a particularly British vocal and Pop structure. Remember The Nights, their new tune, counterpoints it’s anthemic sing-a-long vocal and bouncy lead line with some deep vintage electronics. The result being an all-round winner, catchy and upbeat with an underlying richness. That’s some impressive SynthPop right there. Their previous single, Echoes Of A City, strikes the same note with a little more of an Italo drive that would sit better with the Outrun crowd. these guys are definitely a name to keep an eye on in the SynthPop world.

♫ New Arcades – Remember The Nights

♫ New Arcades – Echoes Of A City

New Arcades’ Echoes Of A City is out now.

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Dec 7 2012

[Video] Parralox’s ‘Sharper Than a Knife’

Here’s the video for Australian SynthPop outfit Parralox’s Sharper Than A Knife, a tune that’s been around for a while now. The track has been reworked slightly for a new 2012 release.

In all honesty, we kinda’ prefer the original version, it’s a lot warner and more original. No-one needs to add circa 2007 Pop-Electro sounds to a track these days. Still, it’s awesome to see the track in video form.

The original of Sharper Than a Knife can be found on Parralox’s 2008 album Electricity.

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Dec 6 2012

[Audio] Ronika & Mylo!

If there’s a bunch of tracks in the past few months we’ve been dying to hear it’s the fruits of the collaboration between Ronika and Mylo. As soon as we heard these two would be working together, Dance legend Mylo has personally chosen our girl Ron to ‘mentor’ as part of Bacardi’s Bacardi Beginnings project that teams up-and-coming artists with veterans, we’ve been itching to check out the result. We know there’s more than one track incoming, and here is the first Dance (The Modern Way).

Weirdly enough, it does actually sound like Ronika And Mylo working together. It’s essentially very much a Ronika track, but in some respects swaps her jagged retro DiscoPop for Mylo’s warmer, more rounded Dance sound. So, without mentioning Ron or Mylo anymore, the track itself is pretty awesome and despite sounding like a stripped down, hypnotic track, has a hell of a lot going on in it. A long, rich, string and vocal led intro lays down a sense of drama as the tune gradually introduces pulsating arpeggios and a classic House riff, winding up the listener like a rubber band until, just before you snap, launches you into a deep House groove. Loaded with Italo overtones, Dance (The Modern Way) juggles Robo-Pop slickness and euphoric 90s House with ease topped of with Ron sounding sultrier than ever. Ronika and Mylo in the same room is definitely not disappointing so far, can’t wait to hear what’s next.

♫ Ronika Vs. Mylo – Dance (The Modern Way)

No word yet about release dates or when the other tracks will surface. We’ll keep out ears to the ground. If you;re in London this weekend you can catch Ronika DJing at the launch of new Disco clubnight West 54th Street.

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Dec 6 2012

[Audio] Only You’s ‘The Starchild’

A couple of months ago we featured New Jersey retro Pop artist Only You, who came from nowhere, with just one song, but impressed the hell out of us with his slick, personal, take on vintage Pop music. Now here comes track number two which is, dare we say it, even more catchy and a hint more anthemic.

The Starchild continues Only You’s quest to capture the best of 80s American SynthPop. It’s got everything you’d want in a retro Pop track, punchy drums, appreciated bass, shimmering lead lines and razor sharp chords, with Only You’s vocals, this time round, taking on a big, stadium Pop, quality. You can just imaging rows of screaming teens in big hair singing along on old VHS concert footage. There’s only really a handful of artist who get 80s Pop completely right. Kid Kasio, Patrick Barker and the like, Only You has definitely joined their ranks.

♫ Only You – The Starchild

Check out more from Only You on SoundCloud.

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Dec 6 2012

[Video] Chela’s ‘Full Moon’

We wrote about Chela’s beach funky tune Full Moon last month. Well now there’s a video too, and excusing one.

Directed by By Chela & Chase Burns it features the Fifteen singer getting her groove on all over Melbourne.

Check out more from Chela on SoundCloud.

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Dec 5 2012

[Video] Sally Shapiro’s ‘What Can I Do?’

Sally Shapiro’s easy-breezy, 60s sounding, new single What Can I Do? has not got itself an equally whimsical video.

Jarett Sitter put together this animated clip, looking just as dreamlike and the song sounds.

Sally Shapiro’s What Can I Do? is released out now on Paper Bag Records followed by the new album, Somewhere Else 26th February next year with contributions from Anoraak, Le Prix and Electric Youth.

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Dec 5 2012

[Video] Goin’ Old School: A-Ha

Goin’ Old School isn’t a trip down music memory lane, it’s a mugging in the dark alleyway of nostalgia:

Norwegian SynthPop legends A-Ha decided to call it quits this week, leaving a farewell message for their fans on their official website, so today let’s check out three of their best, starting with 1985’ The Sun Always Shines On TV.

One of the best Bond themes ever recorded, The Living Daylights from 1987.

And from 1986, ease yourself out with Hunting High And Low.

You can buy most of this music from:

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Nov 30 2012

[Audio] The Other Tribe’s ‘Sing With Your Feet’

Bristolian rabble rousers The Other Tribe, who played a couple of absolutely blinding sets at Bestival this year, are swiftly following up the summer anthem Skirts, with a brand new single that comes loaded with Tropical House vibes. Sing With Your Feet is released this weekend.

Our hometown six-piece have already has the Dub version of this tune featured on The Magician’s last Magic Tape, but the vocal version takes things to the next level. It’s a deep track that mixes up a House beat and bassline with some blissful Tropical musical percussion. The Other Tribe are definitely showing a knack for delivering anthemic Indie-Electro, and Sing With Your Feet, like Skirts, is a sure fine party starter. Interestingly “Sing With Your Feet” is an ancient Aztec expression for dancing, as they didn’t have another word to describe it, that’s where The Other Tribe got it from. Cool huh?

♫ The Other Tribe – Sing With Your Feet (Full Vocal Mix)

The Other Tribe’s Sing With Your Feet is released 2nd December.

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Nov 27 2012

[Audio] Queen Of Hearts reMixed by Chad Valley

Much like Hannibal from the A-Team, we love it when a plan comes together. Or, more specifically, we love it when two artists we love come together. Chad Valley’s album is easily one of the long playing highlights of the year, read our review here, so to have him reMixing our reigning ElectroPop monarch Queen Of Hearts is something pretty special indeed. This comes with high expectations.

And those expectations are lived up to. Hugo Manuel’s lush post-Chillwave electronics transform a rousing call-to-arms into a peaceful, moody opus. Loaded with expressive synth melodies and dreamy pads. The Queens vocals, once rousing and empowering, become gentle and beautiful vocal caress delicately painted across Chad Valley’s audio canvas. The true use of a reMix is to deliver a totally different take on a track, and this reMix delivers that perfectly. An excellent companion piece to the original.