This song is some gloriously epic electro-house. Dig. Dig right-a-away.
Polish Synthpop trio formed in 2008 and influenced by 70's krautrock, 80's new wave, and 90's French house. Think Cut Copy, Phoenix, Empire of the Sun, Metronomy, Human League, etc.
Having a hard time finding new news on them... it seems like they've released a couple singles and EP's and were set to release a full album last year. The last single they dropped was for "Heats," which apparently, after a lot of growing buzz, was their "moment" song.
That track is also on "Kamp!" so this is possibly the long-awaited debut album. I gave it one listen, and am an immediate fan.
"Melt" is like an eight-minute shorter version of this epic-ness. Similar beat. Right on.
Song: Remember Me
Artist: Daley feat. Jessie J
Album: Alone Together
Friend and reader Sean clues us into this 90's throwback jam from Manchester-born singer-songwriter Daley.
"Remember Me" is his official debut single after featuring on the Gorillaz single "Doncamatic" in 2010. Daley released a mix tape last year, which I haven't heard yet... this track alone has been creeping itself under my skin over the last week or so... think I'll have to get to know this Daley a little bit better.
No word on release date for the full album just yet.
Nigel Godrich is best known as Radiohead's main producer, working on all of their output since their sophomore album, "The Bends," as well as their follow-up breakthrough, "OK Computer." Those two monumental albums made him one of the best known names in the business, leading to his producing Beck's "Mutations" & "Sea Change," Pavement's "Terror Twilight," Travis' "The Invisible Band," & Air's "Talkie Walkie." A couple of my favorite records.
Godrich's latest project is a collaboration with drummer Joey Waronker and singer Laura Bettinson under the name "Ultraísta." A mix of trip-hop, stuttered beats, electro, synths, and indie rock elements, with Ultraísta you hear the sonic collage the man has perfected with Radiohead (save their last record) as well as airy-moodiness in the key of Phantogram.
You'll hear exactly what I mean in the woozy "Gold Dayzz" or the snappy beats and swirling synths of "Bad Insect." Friend and reader Chris also points to the trippy Four Tet remix of "Smalltalk." You can take a listen below.
The album does get a little same-y sounding as it goes along, but worth checking out.
Song: Bitter
Artist: Monsieur Minimal
Album: Digital Love EP
I stumbled upon this EP recently and have quickly garned quite a lot of interest in the indie-pop stylings of Greece-based singer-songwriter Monsieur Minimal. This "Digital Love EP" works as an official taste/stop-gap prior to the release of his upcoming double album "Minimal to Maximal," coming out later this year. It's a sixteen-track work split in two with different sounds... a "minimal" indie-pop side and then a more experimental "maximal" side that infuses trip-hop, minimal house, and "post-electronica" sounds. (whatever that means.)
The EP certainly does it's job in making you want to hear more from the project. First track and single "Bitter" feat. Hiras, has a late 70's/early 80's almost A.C. vibe with modern touches. Sort of a bit more propulsive version of Human League at their cheesiest... yet with an organic edge that makes it a bit timeless. And that guitar solo! I really really dig it though.
I've found conflicting info about release dates of the full album, but I'll certainly be keeping an eye out. The official website doesn't seem to have concrete info, but I'm looking out.
Every track from the EP is from the "minimal" side, you can listen to them all below.
Song: Give it to Me
Artist: Ida Corr
Album: Singled Out
Enjoying this straight-up dance-pop compilation from Danish singer Ida Corr. I recently highlighted a song she did with Bimbo Jones, which is included, as well as her 2007 smash "Let Me Think About It" with Fedde Le Grand.
I always meant to, but never highlighted Ida's 2009 album "Under the Sun," which I liked, though it had a much more R&B feel to it. I suppose it's her voice that I like, and "Singled Out" is more in a genre I gravitate towards, though there are a couple "Sun" tracks included as well.
Opener "Tonight I'm Your DJ" is a better-than-average club track, and also really love "Give it to Me," another banger.
Not life-changing, but this is a good addition to your work-out mix.
Song: Feed the Dada
Artist: Dada Life
Album: The Rules of Dada
I've been enjoying this record of hard electro-house from Swedish (of course!!!) duo Dada Life. It's their second record, after their debut in 2009. I'm hearing this harder sound in a lot of dance-leaning pop music, so this is obviously... the future.
"Feed the Dada" is the second single from "The Rules of Dada"after the album-opener first, "Kick Out the Epic Motherfucker," which is of course... a pretty apt opener for this balls-to-the-wall affair.
Apparently, if you dress like a banana at one of their shows, they will bring you up on stage and douse you with champagne.
I won't be doing that... but you should check out "The Rules of Dada."
Song: Northern Lights
Artist: Kate Boy
Album: Northern Lights
It seems Sweden has an unlimited supply of artists and groups with cool, catchy, electro music for the world. They must have a grab-a-number, wait-your-turn system or something, or else we'd be getting them all at once and it would be just a mess. Right?
It appears Kate Boy's number is up, dropping one and only single "Northern Lights" on us with a great visual video and hooks, coolness, and shades of, yes again... The Knife for days. I'm not complaining... it's dope.
There isn't much more know about this woman? band? so we'll let "Northern Lights" speak for itself.
Song: Right Now
Artist: Rihanna
Album: Unapologetic
It's pretty impressive that Rihanna is on her seventh year as an artist and is about to release her seventh album in that amount of time. "Umbrella" made her a serious pop contender, she slipped with the dark, tune-less "Rated R" but has rebounded into the pop stratosphere with the one-two punch of "Loud" and "Talk That Talk." The later packed heavyweight singles "We Found Love" and "Where Have You Been," and literally just two weeks after releasing one of that album's best and most Ri-Ri tracks, "Cockiness" she jumps into a new album with "Diamonds," a initial head-scratcher of Sia-written mid-tempo-ness.
I didn't have much to say about "Diamonds" at first, it didn't grab me... and compared to first singles "Only Girl in the World" and "We Found Love," it was pretty dead on arrival. BUT, I've really warmed up to the song, and the video is gorgeous. So how is this new record?
Well, for someone that connected with "Loud" and "Talk That Talk" immediately, "Unapologetic" is a messy, noisy, patched-together affair. It has it's moments for sure, but most annoyingly, there are songs that begin to sound great but are ultimately ruined by something. "Numb (feat. Eminem)" is moody and quite atmospheric only to be ruined by Eminem. I'm not much of a fan, but his feature seems tacked-on and is embarrassing really. "Jump" has a truly amazing start, does an amazing job at intertwining Genuwine's "Pony" only to be killed from some ear-splitting dubstep. Such potential only to be killed. "What Now," has a great quiet piano start despite unfortunately following the peppy "Right Now," but the chorus, like much of the album, packs on a bunch of un-melodic, messy noise.
"Right Now"is an immediate favorite, the David Guetta-assisted slamming club track that's really what I'm looking for from Rihanna. It doesn't hold a candle to "We Found Love" and "Where Have You Been," though it does manage to make it's dubstep work, and the best use of that mostly obnoxious sound since the Stereo MC's "Bring it On." The very quiet and pretty "Stay" is an interesting standout, though should have ended the album.
There's a disco-throwback duet with Chris Brown, "Nobody's Business," which is nice but it's hard to separate the nice-if-throwaway track with all the personal drama. Brown brings nothing to it but backstory, nothing. Eh, whatever. "Love Without Tragedy" steals "Message in a Bottle" from The Police, though it's nice enough.
"Right Now" should be a hit, but beyond that this is messy and mostly unlistenable like "Rated R." It's disappointing but the good news is... we'll have an entirely new record in another 12 months.
Song: Rave Kids Go
Artist: Vitalic
Album: Rave Age
Well here's something to snap you back into it as this week crawls to it's end...
Vitalic, as he's known, is French DJ, Remixer, Producer Pascal Arbez whom has been creating hard-hitting electronic club music since 1996. "Rave Age," his third full-length album was just released last week.
"Age" is an energetic mix of ground-shaking beats and 80's influenced synths, with a strong sense of melody and a bit of dancefloor drama. It starts hard with the one-two punch of opener "Rave Kids Go" and single "Stamina," before slipping into the New Wave atmospherics of "Fade Away." The album continues, hell bent on getting you to move... or have some beat-influenced transcendental experience. You know how that goes.
I was a fan of his debut album, somehow missed the follow up, but have been enjoying this new record as a background-ish get-whatever-you're-doing-done kind of kick in the ass. There could be worse things.
Song: I Can't Make You Love Me
Artist: Ester Dean
Album: Story Never Told
Super Bass - Nicki Minaj
Firework - Katy Perry
Drop Dead Beautiful - Britney
Turn Me On feat. Nicki Minaj - David Guetta
Mr. Know it All - Kelly Clarkson
Not Myself Tonight - Christina Aguilera
And then for Rihanna... - Rude Boy, What's My Name?, S&M, You Da One, Where Have You Been?, Talk That Talk... and a slew more from the last record and a couple more from the record that's JUST about to come out.
Not to mention tracks for The Pussycat Dolls, 50 Cent, Beyonce, Mary J. Blige, Chris Brown, Ciara, Dr. Dre, Flo Rida, Jennifer Hudson, Jennifer Lopez, Kelly Rowland... and the list goes on and on.
These are partial writing credits for Ester Dean, a singer-songwriter who has, as you can see, contributed to some of the biggest hits of the last few years, and has a pretty impressive resume overall. She released a single, "Drop it Low," with Chris Brown back in 2009, recently co-starred in the comedy film "Pitch Perfect," and is working on her debut album which is slated for next year.
Oddly, the first official single from the album, "Story Never Told," is a cover... of a Bonnie Raitt song. Despite the impressive writing skills and proven track record... she's releasing a cover. Okay.
"I Can't Make You Love Me" is one of my favorite songs... heartbreaking in it's raw emotion... but some of you may listen to this danced-up version and cry foul. And you might not be wrong...
BUT, I've given this a couple listens... and the song holds up, Ester's vocals are on-point... and you know, it becomes clear that this song has always needed a confessions on a dancefloor-size diva-fied disco moment. It's kind of magical.
Song: The Mother We Share
Artist: Chvrches
Album: The Mother We Share
New electro-pop act out of Glasgow, Chvrches is a two-guys, one girl act currently making the internet rounds as the next big currently unsigned thing on the strength of just two tracks they've put out on YouTube.
Lead singer Lauren Mayberry's high, but pretty, voice is very very familiar to me though I can't quite place it. The band's sound is very similar to "Silent Shout"-era The Knife, basically left-of-center electro with stuttered beats, glorious synths, bigger beats and rock-solid melodies. Great stuff.
As mentioned they've only got two tracks out there, so you can hear them below, or check out their Soundcloud page for additional remixes. "The Mother We Share," the song that's getting them the most attention can be purchased on iTunes.
Song: Ambigamy
Artist: James & Evander
Album: Bummer Pop
Been really enjoying the debut album by Oakland, CA duo James & Evander, "Bummer Pop," out on Velvet Blue Music.
It's a laid-back synth-driven soundscape that's equal parts chill-wave, mid-tempo New Wave, and Post Punk 90's Alternative. (?!?!?) It's a more sunny M83, and a bit more punchy Poolside. Actually... they sound JUST like The Whitest Boy Alive now that I think about it. Cool.
Opening track "Ambigamy" is a breezy, sunny standout... is it really time for winter? :(
Song: Off the Dancefloor
Artist: Junkie XL
Album: Synthesized
It's been over four years since Junkie XL's last album, 2008's "Booming Back at You," which I really enjoyed, but he is returning with "Synthesized" once again on Artwerk records.
The album is obviously designed as an ecstasy/MDMA enhancer, the first track is entitled "Take Off on Molly's E" after all, and has a slow, atmospheric build, before jumping into the straight-ahead four-to-the-floor stomper "Off the Dancefloor" featuring the vocals of Isis Salam.
From there the album segues back into "the trip" with a track called "Leave Behind Your Ego" featuring the spoken word "guidance" of none other than Timothy Leary. I can only really imagine the drug-induced euphoria... but stone sober, aside from "Dancefloor," the album is good background music thus far...
Thankfully, starting with the track-4 title track, Junkie XL leaves behind the trippy shit and focuses on some hard-hitting dancefloor electronica, which works with or without the enhancement.
I'm still listening to the record, but the long wait between albums seems quite worth it as he's delivered another solid collection.
Song: Runaway Love
Artist: Diamond Rings
Album: Free Dimensional
I don't know why, and especially now need to re-evaluate, but I just couldn't get into Toronto-based John O-Regan's (AKA Diamond Rings) debut album "Special Affections." It just didn't grab me, and I never got around to highlighting it here on the blog, despite him making a bit of an underground splash. But friend and reader Chris clued me into his amazing cover of Milla's (Jovovich) "The Gentleman Who Fell," which is about as left-of-center a cover as you can do... and it was great.
So I was quite primed for a sophomore album, and this month is seeing the release of "Free Dimensional," the follow up and it. is. absolutely. amazing. A hard-hitting propulsive wash of 80's new wave, post-punk, and synthesizer rock, as well as modern beats and killer production. This is a retro-future semi-masterpiece that continues to grow on me with each listen.
Stop what you're doing and take a listen to this music.
I missed the mid-summer release of single "I'm Just Me," which has a harder-edged Pet Shop Boys feel, but recent single "Runaway Love" is an absolute doozy... a youthful ode to love that's immediate, catchy, semi-dark and just all-around bloody awesome. It's a serious contender for single of the year and one of my favorite new songs, and yet I was having a hard time picking between it and "All The Time" to highlight from the album. "All The Time" is a bit more dancey with another chorus that's pure gold. SO good.
Those three tracks are obsession-worthy, and have been hard to keep from hitting the repeat button. But there is more to discover on the record, and I'm still discovering. I love his deep, almost detached voice... best served on the poppy "Hand Over My Heart," with the deep "Bum bum" sounds over the verses. Great stuff.
I mean it... stop what you're doing and listen to these songs now...
Song: Nothing But History
Artist: Gemini Club
Album: Here We Sit
Gemini Club is a Chicago-based trio whom play no instruments... it's all computer laptops and customizable iPad Apps that they play live, which apparently has limited them to the DJ scene, which they are trying to get out of.
With comparisons to Cut Copy, Two Door Cinema Club, Phoenix, and LCD Soundsystem, Gemini Club are right in the "what's hot, right now" scene... but they also write some great songs.
The band released their debut EP "Here We Sit" earlier this year, which friend and reader Luis introduced to me, specifically their 80's-ish "Nothing Buy History," which has become one of my favorite new songs.
The EP is pretty great in whole as well, eclectically mixing straight-forward new wave as well as more beat-driven propulsive tracks. This band is one to watch.
Just in time for the start of tonight's All-Star season of RuPaul's Drag Race, Ms. RuPaul Charles has released a new single, "Peanut Butter," with New Orleans' bounce music/hip hop artist Big Freeida... who sounds like Chuck D.
The song is big, attention grabbing, and... not for all tastes. But I dig it. I love RuPaul, and love the show... and this song, like the show, is filled with some glorious one-liners, set to a killer beat of course.
Nothing really beats "Jealous of My Boogie" as far as tie-in music to the show in my opinion, but this should get you jazzed for tonight's debut of the mini-season.
Thanks to friend and reader Nick for pointing this one out to me.
Strange Talk are a Melbourne-based electropop band that formed in early 2010 by friends Gerard Sidhu and Stephen Docker. They released a self-titled EP last year, and have just released an amazing new single, "Strange Talk."
The band's sound has been compared to that of Passion Pit, Phoenix, Yeasayer and Cut Copy. Which is pretty spot-on.
No word on when to expect their debut album, but this is the sound of a band to watch. Good stuff.
Thanks to friend and reader Sean for introduction. Sublime.
Song: I Fink U Freeky
Artist: Die Antwoord
Album: Ten$ion
Die Antwoord are a South African hip hop/rave duo whom were on Interscope for their debut album "$O$," but left after being asked to open for Lady Gaga on her current tour which they declined, and a request to make their sound more commercial from the label. Earlier this year they released their second album "Ten$ion" on an indie label and just released a new video for current single "Fatty Boom Boom" which features an odd, quite nauseating diss to Gaga that's not all that funny, insightful, or interesting really...
But... I got watching more of their videos and they are nothing if not attention grabbing. Musically I'm not 100% sure I'm enjoying them... but there is something about them that's quite intriguing While it taints them a bit to have to resort to slagging Gaga to get some attention, it also worked.
"Ten$ion" is an aural assault of a listen, quite vulgar and aggressive... but quite melodic at the same time. Their "voices" are high-pitched and more than border on annoying... but again, there's something there.
I'm really digging "I Fink U Freeky" the best, but also dig "Baby's on Fire." Check them out below... their videos are really something else, Gaga shade aside. Start with the video that is sure to get them even more attention, but watch the rest... W T F???
Song: Fix Ya Face
Artist: Khia
Album: MotorMouf aka Khia Shamone
This summer I went to this amazing party while on vacation that was a collaboration of two parties, one from Boston and the other a Provincetown staple. One took over the first floor, the other the basement. It was packed, the music was great, it felt like you were in this neon-future dark maze with people dressed up and... the music was really really on point.
One of my favorite moments was while dancing to some 90's booty jam, the DJ switched to Philadelphia-born rapper Khia's 2002 slut anthem "My Neck, My Back," and the party went off. It was truly something to behold seeing so many big burly men singing along to "my neck, my back, my pussy and my crack. Whoa.
Incidentally Khia, who had released two other albums since that game-changing debut single, was just releasing her 4th album, the double-length Magnum Opus that is "MotorMouf aka Khia Shamone." I haven't heard about the record at all, but since I considered "My Neck" sort of a novelty hit, I wanted to learn more about this... personality.
Well, it turns out Khia is a little insane, and making through the 22-track album is a real head-spinner. I'm not sure I can even review it. But with song titles like "Sit Yo Ass Down," "Pay Your Pussy Bill," "Fix Ya Face," and "Dickmatize," you can tell we're dealing with something special.
There's a lot of foulmouthed boast tracks... a lot, but there are also some more R&B-tinged tracks, and despite the title, "Dickmatize" is a Kelis-esque electro-rock burner. Kind of amazing. The album just goes on and on, could probably use some editing but there's a lot of good tracks here. It's just so insane. Check out the also Kelis-esque "Turn You Out," with its fluctuating tempo and schizophrenic come-on's. Crazy!
I'm highlighting "Fix Ya Face," which is apparently a Lil Kim dis track because it's... oh just go listen to it!
Song: Magpie
Artist: Beth Orton
Album: Sugaring Season
I'm not going to lie... I miss the old Beth Orton.
After three albums that increased in quality as they wet along, Orton switched gears and went for a more straight-up folk sound vs. her "folktronica" that she'd made a name for herself with. 2006's "Comfort of Strangers" left me cold because of this, despite being so ready for new Beth after the straight-up amazing 1-2 punch of "Daybreaker"(2002) and "Other Side of Daybreaker." (2003)
It's been six whole years since that record, and to be honest... I kind of forgot all about her. She's back though, with a new record of straight-up folk. It's pretty... but... blah.
I've listened to this record the most at work, and does have a nice easy-going vibe that's good for paying half-attention. But where is the girl I used to love?
Well, even a song co-written with The Chemical Brothers' Tom Rowlands (current single "Call Me the Breeze") doesn't touch the electronics... just a bit or organ. What gives?
Album opener and former single "Magpie" sounds the most like old Beth to me, despite being straight-up folk.
Maybe she won't make us wait six years for a new record next time.
