Restless

Song: Restless
Artist: Karin Park
Album: Highwire Poetry





I've been listening to the new album by Sweden's Karin Park, digging it's dark electro, and thinking... this entire time, it was Karin from Sweden's The Knife and Fever Ray.  But apparently... they are not the same person. (???)

First off, they have the same voice.  Which was the start of my problem.  And I think I was confused when I initially read about her because "Highwire Poetry" is produced by Barry Barnett and Christoffer Berg, who have produced... The Knife and Fever Ray.   And her name s Karin.  And she also writes with her brother.  AND there's the same voice thing.

Anyhow, now that I'm over that, it turns out "Poetry" is Park's fourth album, part of a continued slip from the more pop-leaning style of her 2003 debut "Superworldunkown,"  to a deeper, darker, electronic sound that... well it sounds like the bloody Knife.  Who are good, so you should check this out.

"Restless" starts things off with a sexy bang, and has been the track that's grabbed me the most.  But the album is consistently good and boarders the edge of moody electronica and vocal electro-pop.  Give it a spin.

Enjoy.

Restless

Fryngies

Tiger Dreams

Let it Roll

Song: Let it Roll
Artist: Flo Rida
Album: Wild Ones




Shameless Hip-Pop guilty pleasure.  This is like the third Flo Rida track that I've found myself totally digging.  Shame shame shame.  Whatever, was at a wedding two weekends ago and "Good Feeling" went OFF.  A real corker.

This screams Summertime.

Enjoy.

Let it Roll

Good Feeling

Wild One

Your Love

Song: Your Love
Artist: Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs
Album: Trouble





Orlando Higginbottom is an English electronic producer who has made a name for himself by remixing tracks under the moniker Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs.  He's released a couple singles over the last two years and now has just released his debut record "Trouble."

"Trouble" is a glitchy, arty, left-of-center House record that's at times pretty immediate, and more background at others.  And while it sounds very modern, there is also a lot of 90s House elements at work as well.  It reminds me of a bit more punchy Digits.  You should just check it out.

While there has been five official singles from the record, my favorite track from the record is the thus far non-single, 90s leaning "Your Love."  But it's hard to resist soulful vocals over a house beat right?  "You Need Me On My Own" is very typical of the sound on the record, and "Garden" has been the most impact-full, hitting #23 on the U.K. dance charts.

Enjoy.

Your Love

You Need Me On My Own

Garden

Charles in Charge

Song: Charles in Charge
Artist: Jimmy Fallon
Album: Blow Your Pants Off





When I first saw Jimmy Fallon's Neil Young impression, performing an American Idol reject's self-penned "Pants on the Ground," I almost fell off my chair.  The impression was SO good you just couldn't help but freak out over the ridiculousness of the material.  And when he got Bruce Springsteen himself to duet on a cover of Willow Smith's "Whip My Hair," I just thought it was the best thing ever.

Jimmy Fallon's new record "Blow Your Pants Off," is basically a collection of these moments from his show, including "Whip My Hair" as well his "Slow Jam the News" with Brian Williams, and a cover of "Friday" with Stephen Colbert.

I hadn't seen these bits on the show, but the two tracks that have been really cracking me up are The Doors doing "Reading Rainbow," and Bob Dylan singing the theme song to "Charles in Charge."  Fallon sounds so much like the original artists that you could put them on for people that don't know and they might not even realize.  Hysterical.

Enjoy.

Charles in Charge

Reading Rainbow

Tebowie

I Love It

Song: I Love It
Artist: Icona Pop
Album: I Love It





So I think we have our first contender for song of the Summer.

Swedish duo Icona Pop deliver a bratty, rave-up single that sort of sounds like Robyn trying to write her own "Tik Tok."  Which makes half-sense as it was produced by Patrik Berger of "Dancing on My Own" fame.  The track was also written by Charli XCX.  Heaven.

Icona Pop's debut record is coming later this Fall, but expect to hear this one a LOT this Summer.  It's on constant repeat.

Number one Robyn fan and reader Luis tuned me into this one.  Thank you Luis!  Summer is ON.

Enjoy.

I Love It

Manners

Nights Liks This

She Gets Down on Her Knees (Dave Aude Club Mix)

Song: She Gets Down on Her Knees (Dave Aude Club Mix)
Artist: (Yoko) Ono
Album: She Gets Down on Her Knees




Casual music fans and those not particularly following dance music closely might not know that for over a decade, Yoko Ono has been releasing commissioned remixes of older songs that have done very very well on the dance charts.  In 2007 she released a compilation of these remixes by the likes of Pet Shop Boys, Basement Jaxx, Felix Da Housecat, Bimbo Jones, and Peter Rauhofer entitled "Open Your Box."

I haven't really followed all of these dance singles save for "Walking on Thin Ice" which is all kinds of amazing.

Recently she's released "She Gets Down on Her Knees," a remix package of a 1974 song that wasn't released until 1981.  My favorites are Rich Morel and Dave Aude's, the latter having a nice, bouncy, electro-house summery feeling.

Enjoy.

She Gets Down on Her Knees (Dave Aude Club Mix)

She Gets Down on Her Knees (Morel Vox Mix)

Satellites

Song: Satellites
Artist: Catcall
Album: The Warmest Place




I've been almost immediately charmed by the sunny, disco-ish, dance-rock-pop debut of Sydney, Australia's Catcall, born Catherine Kelleher.  Getting her musical start in a DIY punk band, Catcall has been releasing indie-pop singles since 2010.  It seems it has been a long journey to her debut, "The Warmest Place," but it's here... and worth your time.

"Satellites" is an older single and one that got her initial attention, but it's easy to see why.  It's got a dreamy, yet driving feel to it.  I get a very Empire of the Sun feel from her music, and a touch of Foster the People for some reason.   Not to mention a bit of older Madonna, AND... there's been another artist that she's reminded me of that I couldn't put my finger on until now... Parallels!  (though Catcall has a much lower register.)

This is a good summer record, recommended.

Enjoy.

Satellites

The World is Ours

That Girl

Naughty Naughty

Song: Naughty Naughty
Artist: John Parr
Album: John Parr





About a month ago I highlighted the song "Burning Feeling" by Lovelock, a song and record I've really been digging lately.  I happened to be playing the song while having some people over and my friend Glen heard the opening synth gurgle and began pointing at the stereo.  "That's from a John Parr song!" He yelped.  I didn't know what the hell he was talking about.

Well I took another listen to the synth line and then heard what I hadn't before when listening to "Burning Feeling," that open did sound like something... that's the open to the new Madonna song "I'm Addicted!"  Well I was sort of right, but it hit Glen after another moment... it was the opening to John Parr's "Naughty Naughty."  What is this now?

While I didn't know him by name, John Parr, an English musician, is best known for his #1 hit "St. Elmo's Fire (Man in Motion)" from 1985.  Of course.

That song was commissioned by producer David Foster about the life of wheelchair activist Rick Hansen, and was included in the film of the same name, despite having nothing to due with Hansen.  It became a huge hit, and Parr became a go-to soundtrack guy, recording the movie theme (remember when they did that, for everything?) for Quicksilver, Three Men and a Baby, The Running Man, and American Anthem.

The aforementioned "Naughty Naughty," with the recognizable synth line, was used in the cult horror film "Near Dark," as well as being the fist single off his debut, self-titled solo album from 1994.  While I'd never hear "John Parr" before, it is SO almost over-the-top 80's, it seems like a parody.  But it's not. It's real.  With tracks entitled "Treat Me Like an Animal," "She's Gonna Love Ya to Death," and "Love Grammar..." you sort of get what I'm talking about.  Big guitars, bigger choruses, and some keeping-it-'modern' electronics... it's really mind blowing just how 80's this record is.

"Naughty Naughty" is a fun nostalgia trip.  And who knew it would ultimately be influential to 2012 electro.

Enjoy.

Naughty Naughty

Treat Me Like an Animal

St. Elmo's Fire (Man in Motion)

My Calculator

Song: My Calculator
Artist: Zowie
Album: Love Demolition





Zowie was born Zoe Fleury in Auckland, New Zealand and first hit the scene under the moniker Bionic Pixie, before taking a re-spelling of her first name.  She's toured with Peaches and The Kills and most recently opened for Mark Ronson and Katy Perry.  Her debut album, "Love Demolition" was just released last month in NZ.

"Demolition" is a nicely consistant song-cycle of electro and power pop guitar, borrowing heavily from the 80's with a cute side.  Sometimes downright goofy but with undeniable charm.

This is probably best evident in current single "My Calculator."  Shades of Kraftwork?  Are there any other calculator-themed songs? Ha.

Check it out.

Enjoy.

My Calculator

Smash It

King of One Thing

F**k With You

Song: F**k With You
Artist: Bob Sinclar
Album: Disco Crash




This blog is in its sixth year, which blows my mind a little, but when I think of how it's changed... and where I've been with it, I still think about some of my absolute favorite posts, and one of them will always be my intro to "Love Generation" by Bob Sinclar.  And wow... that was all the way back in February of 2007.

That track, and it's sound-alike follow up "World Hold On," were great tracks, but I can't say I've really followed or cared for anything Sinclar has done since... and for the most part didn't really connect with his latest, "Disco Crash" released early this year.  He's already got about four singles he's released from the record, though I would call it fairly forgettable... BUT I've recently re-picked up the amazing "F**k With You" featuring the sublime vocals of the gorgeous Sophie Ellis-Bextor.

Something about pretty ladies with gorgeous voices cursing... it sort of changes the word somehow.  It's a fun disco-fied electro-pop song with a regrettable "rap" in the middle.  But it's Friday, it's sunny... go with it.

Enjoy.

F**k With You

Work it Out (another new Sophie Track)

Tik Tok (feat. Sean Paul)