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

Feb 23 2011

HURTS’ ‘Sunday’ video

So, another chapter open up in the continuing saga of HURTS’ videos.

I’ve been waiting for ‘Sunday’ to be released, as soon as I heard the album I knew it was single material. The video, although I’m not sure what’s going on in bits of it, looks stunning, and as with all HURTS videos, you get the feeling someone’s tongue is planted firmly in their cheek.

‘Sunday’ is released 28th February

Feb 22 2011

The Human League & Aeroplane!!!

Here it is, the reMix we’ve been waiting for. Nu-Disco pioneers Aeroplane’s reMix of the forthcoming The Human League single, ‘Never Let Me Go’.

The original version is a Robo-Pop stomper that sees The Human League sounding more contemporary than their pervious single ‘Night People’, but this reMix takes it to another level. All Vito Aeroplane’s trademark filtered Disco grooves are in there alongside Phil, Joanne and Susan. Massive chords in the chorus work expertly alongside 80’s riffs in the verses. All-in-all, worth the wait. We’ll probably be hammering this most of the summer!

♫ The Human League – Never Let Me Go (Aeroplane reMix)

The ‘Never Let Me Go’ single is released 21st March alongside the new album ‘Credo’ also on 21st March.

The Human League @ Beatport

The Human League @ Juno

The Human League @ 7Digital

The Human League @ Amazon

Feb 21 2011

The Sound Of Arrows’ new video

The Sound Of Arrows made this video, for their forthcoming single ‘Nova’, themselves, which just goes to show they’ve got as good an eye for visuals as they do an ear for a catchy ElectroPop tune.

Anthemic, and surprisingly late 90’s sounding, ‘Nova’ works seamlessly with the cosmic imagery of the clip.

‘Nova’ is out 25th April on Geffen, The Sound Of Arrows have just finished recording their début album.

The Sound Of Arrows @ Beatport

The Sound Of Arrows @ Juno

The Sound Of Arrows @ 7Digital

The Sound Of Arrows @ Amazon

Feb 19 2011

Kid Kasio’s new track (+ video)

Kid Kasio has done it again! The guy is a one-man SynthPop machine!

It amazes me that Nathan Cooper (Kids’ alter ego) can churn out sweetly written and slickly produced tunes with clever videos with no label backing (yet)!

His latest track is ‘The Reason’, pure 80’s Pop with a riff so infectious I had been humming for weeks before the song was released based on a 30 second studio clip! Kid Kasio’s knack is writing 80’s inspired songs without falling into any (not one single one) of the clichés so often , and easily, slipped into by other ElectroPop artists. Kids’ music doesn’t try to sound 80’s, it just naturally is. Amazing.

♫ Kid Kasio – The Reason

Also amazing is the video for ‘The Reason’ which works on a similar level to the music. a Bruno Brooks introduced Top Of The Pops video (complete with TOTP title graphics!) which shows not just a vague fashionable 80’s nostalgia but a deep understanding of the music and visuals of the time. Noting more can be said about this video but ‘genius’.

I suggest you all go ‘like’ Kid Kasio on Facebook right now!

Kis Kiasio @ Facebook

Feb 15 2011

OMD’s new video

Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark have premiered the video for their next single, the title track from their ‘history Of Modern’ album.

The video is the wining entry in a competition run by OMD on genero.tv, It was produced by Lapantafilm from Sweden.

OMD said "The sheer volume of work that has gone into this is incredible. So many different film animation styles. A very creative mixture of stop frame animation, modelling, drawing, film capture. A serious collection of OMD references… some of which are incredibly subtle, some not. The ideas are a varied and effective as the many different techniques. There were several really strong entries but this is the clear winner."

The single will be released soon on limited edition 10”, CD and digital.

OMD @ 7Digital

OMD @ Amazon

Feb 10 2011

Konnichiwa’s début album

A few days ago we dropped the video for Konnichiwa’ s ‘Maiden China’ from their début album ‘Visions’. We’ve had a chance to listen to the full album now, and it’s pretty special.

The thing I like about Konnichiwa is their points of reference. Most 80’s inspired acts draw their influences from Europe, particularly England (and being English, I do hear a lot of it!) whereas Konnichiwa, although defiantly an 80s SynthPop influenced duo, produce a sound more akin to the Electronic Pop that came out of the US in the 80s, a sound that tended to be a bit more upbeat than it’s European counterpart and made more extensive use of burgeoning sampling technology. This sound eventually gave way to a particular North American brand of EBM/SynthPop (think Information Society) and it’s this poppy, yet borderline EBM, groove that I can hear running through Konnichiwa’s record. Lots of FM synthesis and sampling make up the music. Percussive and driving it forms a stable basis for Kaela Noel’s crazy, reverb washed, vocal style. Almost oriental and kinda’ operatic in a weird way, and with a touch of Karin Dreijer-Andersson to it, Kaela’s vocals form a strange and alluring focal point for the tracks.

Check out ‘Constellations’ on of my favourite tracks from ‘Visions’

♫ Konnichiwa – Constellations

‘Visions’ is out 22nd March on Rainbow Body Records.

Konnichiwa @ 7Digital

Konnichiwa @ Amazon

Feb 8 2011

Masters Of The Radio

Upcoming electronic duo Masters Of The Radio are picking up the torch for classic Futurist SynthPop.

Hailing from the north of England the duo takes their influences from the Futurist pioneers of the late 70’s/early 80’s (and Gary Numan), many of whom came from the same part of the country. Making sparse and minimal yet melodic music that would have sat easily alongside the likes of early The Human League and Fad Gadget with vocals that occasionally slip into Bowie mode, even with a touch of Brian Ferry in there, Masters Of The Radio prove that you can write Minimal Synth tunes and still have a catchy chorus.

♫ Masters Of The Radio – The Last Feeling

Check Masters Of The Radio out at their Facebook page:

Masters Of The Radio @ Facebook

Feb 6 2011

Marsheaux reMixes HURTS and Mirrors

Greek SynthPop queens Marsheaux grace these pages once more to hit you up with a couple of awesome new reMixes.

First up they bring their analog Pop to HURTS’ ‘Better Than Love’, and it’s actually the best reMix of the track we’ve heard. Bright and ElectroPoppy it’s dancey without turning the song into a cheesy dance track and SynthPoppy without stepping on the original’s toes. Mirrors ‘Into The Heart’ also gets the girls attention. the Brighton SynthPop act’s forthcoming single gets an retro, analog, workout with more than a little OMD about it.

♫ HURTS – Better Than Love (Marsheaux reMix)

♫ Mirrors – Into The Heart (Marshaeux’s ‘Greek Girls Are Not Easy’ Extended Mix)

Mirror’s into the dark is our February 28th. Marsheaux’s latest album, ‘‘Lumineux Noir’ is out now.

Feb 6 2011

New Champagne Riot

Champagne Riot have just released a new four track EP titled, ‘Moonstruck EP’, on Matinée Recordings.

The Danish duo continue along their journey of slick ElectroPop with a quirky Scandinavian edge. The title track is a prime example of the sophisticated electronic music that these guys produce. Owing equally to the 80s and contemporary Indie-Electro the track is rounded and retro without sounding like a homage to anything. A cavernous sounding chorus is complimented by introverted Indie verses.

Defiantly worth a listen.