This is the video for Kimbra’s forthcoming new single ‘Cameo Lover’ from her soon-to-be-released début album ‘Vows’. You may remember Kimbra as the voice of Miami Horror’s awesome ‘I Look To You’.
This new single of hers has a weird, but pleasing, Electro 60’s thing going on which is carried over into the Guy Franklin directed video.
Buy Kimbra’s music from:
Here is the video for the lead track from Florrie’s new EP.
‘Begging Me’ isn’t quite as catchy as some of her previous tunes but it is a fun a slick slice of Xenomania mid-tempo Pop that I can already feel worming it’s way into my brain.
The video was directed by Price James.
‘Begging Me’ is out now.
Buy Florrie’s music from:
Here’s a pretty odd track, but it really works.
Monarchy, true to their name, in celebration of the impending royal wedding have recorded this piano mashup between their ‘Gold In The Fire’ and The Bangles’ ‘Eternal Flame’. The two seem to go together perfectly and it reminds you what an immense Pop song.
‘Eternal Flame’ is.
♫ Monarchy – Gold In The Eternal Fire
I’m not bothered about the royal wedding in the slightest, save for the fact that I have to travel into London tomorrow and it’s going to be a nightmare! Other than that it just seems to be a be a massive financial burden on we, the public. We’re not even invited!
Buy Monarchy’s music from:
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 @ 7Digital
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’ is out now.
Sorry, I couldn’t resist!
There is legitimate news from the She’s The Queen camp though. Emily and Drew have released their début EP to the public. it’s four tracks of the slickly produce ElectroPop that has so enamoured us this month. They’ve just dropped the third track ‘Plead To The DJ’ on SoundCloud and while it may not be as catchy as ‘Waiting Game’, the EP’s lead track, it is probably the best example to date of how technically impressive the duo are, both in terms of programming and vocal ability. The track shows Drew to be just as talented outside of the straight-up DancePop arena as he brings in some Hip-Hop beats and intricate melodies and shows off a new, deep, level of passion and soul in Emily’s voice.
♫ She’s The Queen – Plead to the DJ
She’s the Queen’s ‘EP’ is available now on iTunes, or for the slightly more discerning independent shopper on CD Baby
James Varnish is a newcomer to this thing we call ElectroPop. the Australian has just released his first single, ‘Compare’.
It’s a strong début, a little rough round the edges but shows a lot of promise. It’s sometimes hard to tell with premier singles, especially full of reMixes, but when Mr. Varnish finds his own voice, his own sound, he could defiantly be a player in the Electro game. He’s got quite a 90’s vocal style with a nice 80’s flair to the music, produced by fellow Melbourne resident Murder One, that combines to form a classic SynthPop sound. All-in-all is a pretty powerful first offering. Even more so is the reMix by Lifelike which is fairly low-down-dirty for a Lifelike reMix with a grungy groove and cut-up vocals.
♫ James Varnish – Compare (Murder One reMix)
♫ James Varnish – Compare (Lifelike reMix)
Check Mr. Varnish’s Facebook page for details of where to purchase the single.
I’m starting to think that Fear Of Tigers tracks are like busses. You wait ages for one then a few come along at once!
The anthemic sweeping Pop of Queen Of Hearts’ ‘Where Are You Now?’ has had a Fear Of Tigers going over. There are a few acts out there that seem to be destined to be reMixed by FOT (I’m still waiting for a FOT reMix of Bright Light Bright Light’s ‘Love Part II’!!!) and Queen Of Hearts feels like one of them. Her accessible classic Pop voice is the perfect accompaniment for Fear Of Tigers’ sparkling retro power Pop. The track is pure ElectroPop genius with an added sprinkling of Disco licks to give it that funky edge before bringing you back to the huge Pop chorus.
Y’all know how much I love Diamond Cut and StardonE? Well, don’t tell them, but this might be my favourite version of ‘Where Are You Now?’…
♫ Queen Of Hearts – Where Are You Now? (Fear Of Tigers reMix)
I’d also like to add that last time I wrote about Queen Of Hearts I questioned both her authenticity and the hype surrounding her. These were comments she took in the spirit in which they were intended and was pretty, well…regal, about it (i.e. she didn’t get shitty about it). People who can take not-necessarily-100%-positive comments about themselves in good humour are people I immediately warm to. She seems like good peeps.
She’s playing her début show tonight at Madame Jo-Jo’s in Soho. So good luck to her and continued good luck to Ben Fear Of Tigers in his charity marathon run.
Props to Robot & Pigeon for getting the premier on this one.
Shine 2009 are Cascine’s latest offering. This Finnish duo have just released their single ‘So Free’ (Featuring Paula Abdul). It’s a totally late 80’s/early 90’s Pop track that makes me feel so nostalgic, both in look and feel, for a period I didn’t know I felt nostalgic about!
The house piano, the square wave bass sound, the strings, the Hip Hop drums, the synth horns…the haircuts. Love it!
There’s even an M1 in the video!
The clip was directed by Santtu Mustonen.
‘So Free’ was out yesterday on Cascine
Portland’s purveyors of perfect Pop Van Go Lion (that’s my clever writing quota for the year done!) release their brand new single ‘Body Moves’ today on Ninthwave Records.
Unashamedly ambassadors for electronic Pop music, the duo of Josh Loerzel and Amy Paige have been quietly and constantly putting out the kinda’ of tunes that make you smile and make you dance for the last year or so but the release of ‘Body Moves’ should give them a bit more exposure and propel them into the ElectroPop limelight. The track features everything we’ve come to expect from VGL in the last twelve months. Josh’s kicking dancefloor production with a synthetic twist and Amy’s powerful vocal delivery and lyrics shot through with a streak of humour.
It’s actually interesting that Ninthwave is putting out the single as in retrospect Van Go Lion are, in many ways, the spiritual successors to the 90’s Modern SynthPop scene. A lot of the elements of Modern SynthPop are present in VGL’s music but with added savy when it comes to contemporary music and dancefloor production (something Modern SynthPop always failed miserably at). Maybe that’s what Van Go Lion represent, Modern SynthPop all grown up and ready for the big time.
With the huge, anthemic, ElectroPop of ‘Body Moves’ Van Go Lion will defiantly be seeing a lot more attention. Listen for the “show me moves made of sweat and a bassline” drop…awesome!
Amy and Josh were kind enough to share their thoughts on this, that and the other. Here’s the ‘words’ bit:
ER: How did you guys get together? Was is always to make electronic music? Were you in bands before you got together?
Amy: I moved to Portland from NYC in ’09 and Josh answered by ad on Craigslist for a band. We’d both been in some bands over the years, but nothing serious. Band sluts! Originally Van Go Lion was a four-piece alternative-pop band, but we decided to do our own thing in early 2010 and it immediately went toward pop. It was totally natural! All it took was the two of us sitting down and listening to a little Tears for Fears, a little Madonna, and that was that, we were synth-pop.
ER: Van Go Lion? What does that mean anyway?
Amy: Haha, we get that a lot. So back in the 80’s there was this goofy show on PBS called ‘Zoobilee Zoo’ where the characters were humans dressed up as singing and dancing animals. Watch it now and you’d probably be horrified, but as a kid it was the most amazing thing. Van Go Lion was one of them. Plus we thought it’d look cool on t-shirts.
ER: Who are your heroes and influences, both musical and otherwise?
Josh: Queen, Billy Ocean.
Amy: PRINCE!
ER:The 3m30s pop song is one of the most important things on the planet and can change your life. Discuss.
Amy: Totally, that quintessential pop song can change your life, so true! A few years ago I would have completely agreed with 3m30s, but now that I’m doing it I’d have to bump that up to 4:30. Lots of the classics are there, Vogue, Billy Jean, they all go up to about 4:30. I think I’m taking this too seriously…but this is serious business.
ER: What movie would you have liked your music to be on the soundtrack of? And what song in what scene?
Josh: Top Gun, the volley ball scene.
Amy: Sex and the City, one of those scenes when the four of them are walking down the street all dressed up and you’re all like, “Watch out, THOSE ladies are OUT ON THE TOWN”
ER: What’s in Van Go Lion’s’ studio? What are your favourite bits of kit?
Josh: 2 Macs, a condenser mic, a couple keyboards and speakers. I like my cool plug-ins galore.
ER: And how does that translate live, both with gear and performance?
Josh: Lots and lots of sampling and live singing.
Amy: The gear is minimal but the sound that comes out is big. Our goal is to make our live show as close to the recordings as possible and I think we do that well.
ER: If money was no object what synth would be your dream purchase?
Josh: A Roland AX-1, red. KEYTAR!
ER: Who would your dream support slot be supporting?
Josh: Madonna or Lady Gaga.
Amy: Robyn, Pink, Sam Sparro or Lady Gaga.
ER: What does the future hold for Van Go Lion?
Amy: Releasing more music! There’s a whole debut album no one has heard yet, plus we’re constantly working on new tracks and on becoming stronger writers and musicians. ‘Body Moves’ is our official single so it’s just the beginning. We really want to get our live set out there. Also, the future will hopefully involve keytars.
ER: Are Van Go Lion more cereal or pile of pancakes for breakfast kinda’ band? Would that change the morning after a show?
Josh: Cereal!
Amy: Cereal, but I’d prefer a big disgusting pile of pancakes any day. Oh yes, especially after a show.
Cheers guys.
Check out title track from the single:
‘Body Moves is released today:
electronic rumors 