Electronically Yours

The mighty Popjustice yesterday awarded Little Boots AKA Lady Victoria Song Of The Day for her latest track 'Symmetry' that features the distinctive vocals from Human League legend Philip Oakey.
PJ premiered the new song with a tantalizing 30 second clip that cuts out just before the chorus begins.

EY thinks that you will all love this heavenly electro combination.

Ckick here and listen to the latest PJ Song Of The Day.

Parralox have uploaded a fascinating webclip to youtube of yesterday's studio session from the Subterrane Studio in Australia.

The clip was recorded duing a vocal session with Amii for the latest Parralox track to be recorded called 'When The Walls Come Tumblling Down'.

In a slight departure to the Parralox sound, this new song has an edgy Ladytron feel to it with a heavy bassline and the full verse and chorus are included in this very first Parralox webclip from the forthcoming album.

During some very Impressive and rich vocal takes form Parralox's new singer Amii, JVA also takes a quick tour of the studio for a close-up look at some of the analogue synths and sequencing hardware in the Subterrane hit factory, and the whole thing kicks off with a lovely greeting to Electronically Yours and all you readers from Amii.

Having played the webclip on multiple occasions late last night, EY thinks that 'When The Walls Come Tumbling Down' could well turn out to be one of the best Parralox tracks recorded so far.
Come closer to the monitor, crank up your PC speakers and hit the play button above.

Lady Victoria posted some early thoughts and hints on her blog yesterday of the forthcoming Little Boots album.

A provisional tracklisting was included showing the running order of tracks that are likely to make the album plus several others such as our faves 'Mathmatics' and 'Love Kills' that may or may not make the final cut.

The current tracklisting is:

'Stuck On Repeat'
'Meddle'
'Earthquake'
'New In Town'
'Click'
'Tune Into My Heart'
'Symetry' (a duet with Philip Oakey)
'Not Now'
'Hearts Collide'

Victoria's blog is one of the most engaging blogs we've come across by a major artist and it's a regular EY haunt.
Here's what she had to say about last week's PSB performance at the Brits:

'...pet shop boys were amazing and nearly broke my little heart when brandon came out and started singing! wow. loved chris lowe's blackpool shout out as well, my dad said he was a few years below him at the same school. what a great quote...

'I've always thought that music is about making people happy and having a good time. I think that is because I come from Blackpool.'

it made me think, coz everytime i say i'm from blackpool people just want to ask me about the bad side but its actually a really special place that's totally based on the idea of entertaining people, and i think i must have some of that in me too.'



Related link: Little Boots blog




New Parralox gem!




Australian Sensations Parralox have posted a tantilizing one minute teaser of a brand new track 'I Am Human' over on their myspace page today and like 'Lovely', it's analogue and it's instant with a pumping sequenced bassline and some very sweetly produced vocals from new electro girl Amii.










Never ones to sit back even for cups of tea in the Subterrane studio, John and Amii took just a few hours out from recording sessions recently to celebrate the Perez Hilton coverage before completing 'I Am Human' (a song that could partly be inspired by BBC-3 cult hit 'Being Human'?).

More Parralox exclusives coming soon plus news of possibly one or two UK live dates to promote the new album when it's released in the summer of 2009.

In the meantime, have a listen to 'I Am Human by jumping here.

Depeche Mode's tense and brooding promo video for new single 'Wrong' was released to the net this week.

Directed by Patrick Daughters - who has won countless awards in the past for the equally brilliant 'one take' video for Feist's '1234' - the Basildon boys appear fleetingly in the cinematic 'Wrong' as a car passes by on a nightmarish journey containing a passenger bound and gagged in a face mask.
Spooky stuff....

'Wrong' trivia - the helpless car victim is played by 'SOTU' producer Ben Hillier according to Dave Gahan in a radio interview with 91X FM which can be heard via top DM fansite Home.

We think that this 'Saw' inspired promo is Mode's best since 'It's No Good' and we won't be watching it alone with the lights out...

DM also released tracklistings for the physical releases of 'Wrong' that include the welcome return of The Thin White Duke AKA music genius Stuart Price on the CD Maxi single who produced one of the best Mode mixes in recent years for 2005 single 'The Pain That I'm Used To'.

Update: The Thin White Duke remix of 'Wrong' was given it's world premier on Pete Tong's Radio One show on Friday night. You can hear the mix 41 minutes into the show which is streamed here until the end of the week.


The full tracklisitng for the 7" and CD singles are as follows:

7" - BONG 40
A. Wrong
B. Oh Well

CD1 - CDBONG 40
1. Wrong
2. Oh Well (Black Light Odyssey Remix)

CD2 - Maxi - LCDBONG 40
1. Wrong
2. Wrong - Trentemoller Club Remix
3. Wrong - Thin White Duke Remix
4. Wrong - Magda's Scallop Funk Mix
5. Wrong - D.I.M. vs Boys Noise Remix


In other DM news this week, EMI announced a very promising digital package called the iTunes Pass. Upon joining this week, fans were able to download the new single in advance of it's release plus a Black Light Odyssey Dub Remix of new track 'Oh Well'.
More details of this package and it's bundle of digital heaven can be found over on the revamped official DM site here.

And finally, 'Wrong' was today's mighty Popjustice Song Of The Day - with the following PJ text; ' We love this song. It sounds like Depeche Mode. IT IS DEPECHE MODE'.

And Pet Shop Boy fans should head on over to PJ now where you can apply to attend a 'Yes' listening party followed by a Q&A session with Neil Tennant & Chris Lowe next Friday(!)




Orac: 'Within sight are golden days....' - and Ladyhawke is added to the Radio 1 playlist ...finally....hurrah!

EY site fees

EY's F2s hosting fees are due very shortly. We were hoping to have some advertising in place to take care of all this but those plans and others fell though. The advantage of this is that the site remains lovely and free from crass adverts that blight other blogs. If you enjoy our electro waffle then please consider making a modest voluntary contribution to EY via the secure Paypal button below.


Many thanks in advance for you help and support in 2009 - there is so much in the way of great electro albums to cover in the coming months including Oblique, Marsheaux, Parralox, Depeche Mode, Pet Shop Boys, The Ultrasonics, Northern Kind, Red Blooded Women, Tenex, Little Boots, La Roux and possibly even the Human League (long shot we know...).

Keep it electro...

orac x

Human League legend Philip Oakey was this week confirmed as a guest vocalist for electro heroine and winner of the BBC's Sound Of 2009... Little Boots!

Philip has completed lead vocals for a duet penned by Lady Victoria entitled 'Symmetry' and the track will appear of Little Boot's eagerly awaited debut album which is tentatively scheduled for release in the 'summer' of 2009.

News of Philip's substantial vox on the new Little Boots album track has been extensive this week.
Coverage includes The Sun and Digital Spy who reported on Monday that Philip had 'approached' electro's new UK sensation after 'hearing' Victoria's cover of 'Don't You Want Me', (Victoria uploaded a home video of her rather innovative version of the League hit last year to YouTube).

In a post to the Secrets forum where the track's title was first revealed, ,Moderator Stig Olsen corrected press coverage by confirming that ' Philip didn't roam the internet in this matter'. Stig also revealed that the vox is a duet with 'individual singing by both'.



The Little Boots news follows just a week after the Pet Shop Boys confirmed that Philip would appear on bonus track 'This Used To Be The Future' for their forthcoming 2 CD edition of 'Yes' .

Mixing on the new Little Boots album was completed last week in LA and despite the heavy workload Lady Victoria still manages to find time to write a very engaging blog. Her latest post is a detailed account of last week's Brit Awards where she was very impressed by performances from Girls Aloud and Pet Shop Boys - find out more by jumping here.




To celebrate the mighty coming together of Little Boots and Philip Oakey, EY has three copies of the 1984 movie 'Electric Dreams' to give away to readers absolutely free!

Hard to believe but the fondly remembered 80's flick makes it's region 2 DVD debut on April 6th and Aim Publicity have kindly offered us a few copies in this very special week.

With a soundtrack that includes a perenial Human League live fave 'Together In Electric Dreams' , plus Heaven 17 and Culture Club, the film tells the common story of a computer falling in love with a girl (in this case, the highly desirable Virginia Madsen who was the Molly Ringwald of 1984).

The DVD also features the promo video of the title track and Philip wearing a Judge Death t-shirt which was a massive event for readers of 2000AD back in the early 80's and all you have to do to win a copy is send us your name and postal addy here.
Just mark your email with the header 'Little Boots Electric Dreams!'

(closing date: 23/03/09)

With thanks to Debbie at Aim Publicity



Oblique return with new album!



Spanish sensations Oblique are set to release their third studio album 'Without Making Noise' that promises more analogue hooks, superbly executed instrumental breaks with the coolest of Eurpean vocals and the new tracks have attracted the attention of EMI.

EY has heard the full version of title track and forthcoming single 'Without Making Noise' and it's fast becoming one of EY HQ's most played tracks of the week after Depeche Mode's 'Wrong' (and a very special album from a band that we can't mention just yet).
Oblique are currently shooting a promo video for the track as we type and te video will appear on EY as soon as it leaves the editing suite.

Since completing the new album, Oblique have completed remix for Northern Kind's next album and added their own distintive touch for a remix for 'Sharper Than A Knife' on the soon to be released debut CD single from Parralox.

The confirmed tracklisting for 'Without Making Noise' is as follows;

Girl in black
My medicine
Without making noise
Over
When the guitar fell in love with my synth
#one
Contagi
Cheats out there
Synthetic Brightness
Copyright
The boy from the stars
Yours sincerely (a track inspired by Electronically Yours and currently available to sample over on the EY myspace player).

Coming up...electro Spotify - Afont explains why Spotity is the new Napster.

EY's favourite German songstress gave her first performance of 2009 at The Fly, London this week. As well as her MySpace favourites 'Goodbye Was Never Said', 'Raindrops', 'Treppenhaus', 'Der Himmel Brennt' and 'Lilie Marlene', Katja treated us to the live debut of a tremendous new song called 'Lies'.

With strong European influences like French accordions and 'Vienna' piano, it has hints of being a more dancier version of GRACE JONES 'I've Seen That Face Before' although both songs are routed in the same dance...the tango. In fact, EY has been treated to two lovely electro tangos in as many days what with LITTLE BOOTS 'Ghost' as well!

The quality live PA at The Fly showcases Alex Gray's intricate electronic arrangements and crisp production. Add to that, the Wagnerian quality of Katja's 'Gotterdammerung' delivery when she lets go with her emotions and you have a very unique style of modern electro that possesses a classic quality that will last, electro revival or not!

With an exciting couple of months ahead of her, including gigs at Bedsitland and Proud Galleries in London, Katja took time out to speak to Chi Ming Lai about her ideals, values and influences.

Chi: How would you describe your own musical background in terms of musical training, tastes and inspirations?

Katja: I played the accordion as a child and sang in the village choir...but you know I was into Deep Purple and motorbikes as a teenager! My opera obsession and training happened when I came to London. Inspirations? The tragedy of life is always a good inspiration to me.

The Weimar Cabaret was a big influence on DAVID BOWIE, the New Romantics and 21st Century artists such as GOLDFRAPP. Aspects of it are very prominent in your work. What do you find fascinating about this supposedly decadent period?

My German history is awful. I know it was supposed to be a very decadent period...but you know some things are best left to the imagination.

In the UK, Germany is often seen as the 'spiritual' home of electronic music although many German friends I've spoken to don't usually consider it a big part of their cultural heritage. How did you see it?

Stockhausen is very well known and has influenced a lot of people. I don't understand him. Maybe maths or physics students do, but he isn't my cup of tea. Westbam and The Love Parade didn't make it to my little village! I always liked KRAFTWERK but then I love good pop music. My real interest in electronic music came with being in London.

How did you come to develop a more electronic sound to your own music?

Meeting Alex Gray, my co-writer and producer in London and just talking about what we liked in music and other stuff - films especially steered us towards our sound. Alex's production always has that type of old and new thing.

Your songs have a gorgeous detached European art cool about them. Tell us about some of your particular favourites?

Thank you. I love them all. Every single one is written straight from the heart. They are like our babies.






You've had an opportunity to perform on the burgeoning London electro club circuit. Are there any new electro artists who have impressed you recently in particular?

LITTLE BOOTS has impressed me and seems to be doing very well. My favourite though is CRYSTAL CASTELS.

You've appeared on TV a few times in the UK, most notably as a guitarist accompanying the contestants on 'X-Factor'. What brought you over to these shores? How does working and living in England compare with Germany?

I came over to follow my dream...to be a full time musician. I was never allowed to live that dream in Germany. People expected me to fall into the routine of what they saw as 'normal life'. You can re-invent yourself in London.




You won a talent show in Germany. Having seen the 'X-Factor' machine in motion, do you think it is a good way of building a musical career?

I think it was only the second time that I was on stage when I won that talent show! Personally, I was always more of a free spirit and would feel less comfortable if someone would tell me what to sing. But good luck to all of these very talented, good singers who take part in these shows. For some people, it has obviously been the right way.

Is it true that the singer of Modern Talking (who had a novelty UK hit with 'Brother Louie' in the 80s) is now the Simon Cowell of Germany?

Yes, his name is Dieter Bohlen. He is doing rather well! He knows how to make money...like our Simon!

What is on your iPod/MP3 player at the moment?

PEACHES and ROSE PONSELLE

So what are your hopes and plans for the rest of 2009, a year which is predicted to be big for female electro?

I am writing and recording all the time with Alex and I plan to develop more as a live act. Watch this space!

Indeed watch her MySpace www.myspace.com/katjamusic

Depeche Mode tonight premiered the new single 'Wrong' on German TV with an impressive performance on the day when the single was also leaked to the net.



The footage has now appeared on Youtube and we are quickly sneaking it on to EY before it's removed by EMI (who moved rather quickly to take down audio clips of the latest Pet Shop Boys song 'Love Etc').

'Wrong' will be released on April 6th here in the UK and is the first single to be taken from the band's 12th studio album 'Sounds Of The Universe'.
With it's relentless bassline and an impressive vocal performance from Dave Gahan, 'Wrong' reminds us a bit of 1993's 'I Feel You' for sheer intensity and lyrical brilliance with a bit of 1988's 'Pimph' thrown in to the mix.

EY has been playing back the track for most of the day - topping our latest playlist chart.

'Wrong' is destined to become a Devotional live fave across Europe in the coming year....

Enjoy and sing along with Mode:


I was born with the wrong sign
In the wrong house
With the wrong ascendancy
I took the wrong road
That led to the wrong tendencies
I was in the wrong place at the wrong time
For the wrong reason and the wrong rhyme
On the wrong day of the wrong week
I used the wrong method with the wrong technique
Wrong
Wrong

There's something wrong with me
Cannot be something wrong with me
Inherently
The wrong mix in the wrong genes
I reached the wrong ends by the wrong means
It was the wrong plan
In the wrong hands
With the wrong theory for the wrong man
The wrong lies, on the wrong vibes
The wrong questions with the wrong replies
Wrong
Wrong

I was marching to the wrong drum
With the wrong scum
Pissing out the wrong energy
Using all the wrong lines
And the wrong signs
With the wrong intensity
I was on the wrong page of the wrong book
With the wrong rendition of the wrong hook
Made the wrong move, every wrong night
With the wrong tune played till it sounded right yah
Wrong
Wrong

Too long
Wrong

The Human League have confirmed that they are making a suprise return to Australia to play live at the V Festival over four dates that kicks off in Sidney on March 28th .

The Australian dates include:

28.03.09 Centennial Park, Sydney
29.03.09 Avica Resort, Gold Coast
04.04.09 Showgrounds, Melbourne
05.04.09 Claremont Showgrounds, Perth

The Killers, Kaiser Chiefs and Snow Patrol are also some of the acts performing for this major V Festival next month and for readers living in Parralox land - you can grab your tickets here.

Tenek live at Synthetic


Resident EY photographer Mr Blue now takes a look at a very promising new act called Tenek with close links to Mesh that will appeal to those who like their electro a bit darker.
Since forming last year, Tenek have already supported The Human League at the 'Four Four Time 09' festival in Buxton this week are set to headline the next Bedsitland gig next month with EY fave Katja Von Kassel.

With some very impressive production and programming on stomper single 'Where's The Time?' - this band are certainly one to watch and catch live in 2009.

Tenek are also set to perform along side the likes of Marsheaux, De/Vision and Nun at the Pluswelt Festival in Germany on April 4th and EY shall be there bopping away to all of them...



Tenek live at Synthetic - words and pictures by Mr Blue



Every now and again a band appears that hints are something bigger lurking underneath, and Tenek might just be that band. Hailing from Brighton, Geoff Pinckney and Pete Steer have been hard at work over the past 17 months fine tuning their sound, and making sine waves in the right ears.

This is evident as they will be supporting the Human League at Buxton Opera House on the 20th February, which some might call a lucky break but I reckon the League know whats going down.


The punch anthem of last years single 'Where's The Time?' released on Toffeetones Records showed us they were finding their true voice. Sweeping Numanesque synths, and a nod in the direction of pioneer John Foxx, the four remixes were a dream to the ears. Tenek dont play saccharine sweet electro, there is a darker edge though it does not veer towards the industrial.

From somewhere in the midst of this boiling pot of influences comes pop music with guts., and they enter the New Order/Pet Shop Boys territory with all the surety of a sleepwalker.

Now fast forward to the end of January 2009, and I found myself at the front of the stage at Synthetic in Stockwell. I noticed a few Tenek fans wearing their t-shirts with pride, and a sense of expectation as to what was coming. As soon as Tenek hit the stage I was impressed by the energy, and the audacity of them bringing an electric guitar to the proceedings!

The soundscape they created was fully driven, a buzz went through the crowd, and people were dancing as a result of such infectious music. Track after track was delivered effortlessly, and with such confidence that I was bowled over by them.



In my view an electro band really has to have the ability to play their music live. Tenek proved they can do this with gusto, and I hope they find success in 2009 as its to the benefit of the scene as a whole. We need new bands to carry the torch after the likes of Depeche Mode and the Human League have hung up their synths.



Of the future, the new single 'Submission' will be released on 23rd February , and the album Stateless comes out in March. Notable up-coming gigs include The Albert, Brighton 7th March, Bedsitland, London 14th March and Pluswelt 2009 4th April in Krefeld, Germany when they play alongside Marsheaux.

Pete and Geoff admit they were their musical hearts on their sleeves, and grew up listening to much of the music which fills the pages of EY. I could ask what is in the Brighton water, as it seems there is a growing tide of electro coming from Brighton with the likes of Katsen, Jonteknik, Digitalis and Oppenheimer Analysis creating noises to please the ear.


Handy links: Tenek @ myspace
Toffeetones Records

Mute EMI have today released details of the deluxe edition of Depeche Mode's 12th studio album 'Sounds Of The Universe' which hits UK stores on April 20th.

In what is perhaps the most lavish Mode boxset to date, the deluxe edition will come with three CDs featuring new remixes of the main album plus an entire CD of previously unreleased Depeche demos.
The demos are mostly taken from '1990's 'Violator', 1993's 'Songs Of Faith And Devotion' and selected tracks from 'Sounds Of The Universe'.


An earlier version of 1998 single 'Only When I Lose Myself' and it's b-side 'Surrender' are also included whilst a DVD features three Mode films recorded during the making of the new album with a running time of almost three hours
Stylish packaged with design from 'Control' director and long time DM visual collaborator Anton Corbijn, the 'Songs Of The Universe' boxset also contains enamel badges (possibly based upon the new DM logo), art cards and two books.

The retail cost of this deluxe edition hasn't been released to press yet but considering it's extensive content - EY's uniformed guess is that this highly desirable item it will set back your bank balance by anything between 60 - 80 Euros (we've given up on the pound now).

Wine consumption at EY HQ will be cut by 30% so that funds can be allocated to the 'Deluxe Sounds Of The Universe Cosmic Fund'.

In the meantime, here's the full list of lovely tracks, demos, remixes, badges etc that you will find in the deluxe edition...



CD 1 - Sounds Of The Universe


1. In Chains
2. Hole To Feed
3. Wrong
4. Fragile Tension
5. Little Soul
6. In Sympathy
7. Peace
8. Come Back
9. Spacewalker
10. Perfect
11. Miles Away / The Truth Is
12. Jezebel
13. Corrupt




CD 2
Bonus tracks
1. Light
2. The Sun And The Moon And The Stars
3. Ghost
4. Esque
5. Oh Well

Remixes
6. Corrupt - Efdemin Remix
7. In Chains - Minilogue's Earth Remix
8. Little Soul - Thomas Fehlman Ambient Mix
9. Jezebel - SixToes Remix
10. Perfect - Electronic Periodic Dark Drone Mix
11. Wrong - Caspa Remix



CD 3

Demos


1. Little 15
2. Clean
3. Sweetest Perfection
4. Walking In My Shoes
5. I Feel You
6. Judas
7. Surrender
8. Only When I Lose Myself
9. Nothing's Impossible
10. Corrupt
11. Peace
12. Jezebel
13. Come Back
14. In Chains

DVD

Video
Making The Universe / Film (45.23)
Usual Thing, Try And Get The Question In The Answer (55.12)
Sounds Of The Universe [A Short Film] (10.05)
Wrong (promo video - 3.16)
Studio Sessions:
Corrupt (4.08)
Little Soul (3.52)
Stories Of Old (3.24)
Come Back (6.05)



Audio

Sounds Of The Universe plus bonus tracks in 5.1 surround sound

1. In Chains
2. Hole To Feed
3. Wrong
4. Fragile Tension
5. Little Soul
6. In Sympathy
7. Peace
8. Come Back
9. Spacewalker
10. Perfect
11. Miles Away / The Truth Is
12. Jezebel
13. Corrupt


Bonus tracks

1. Light
2. The Sun And The Moon And The Stars
3. Ghost
4. Esque
5. Oh Well

Packaging / additional content:
2 piece custom made box with foil blocking.
2 x 84 page hardback books:
The first featuring the lyrics to all the songs from the Sounds Of The Universe sessions accompanied by exclusive photography by Anton Corbijn.
The second featuring exclusive and candid studio photography by Daniel Miller, Ben Hillier, Luke Smith and Ferg Peterkin.
2 exclusive enamel badges
1 poster
5 artcards, sealed in a collectors envelope
1 certificate of authenticity
1 cuddly Dave Gahan teddy bear*

(* only at selected branches of Woolworths)

In other Mode news, a track from the new album 'Fragile Tension' was leaked online last week causing furious debates amongst devotional Mode fans across the planet.

Dave Gahan has since revealed that the leaked track was not the finished studio version (sound levels during the chorus are all over the place with sparce production inbetween).


The Mode frontman has also confirmed to press in the UK this week that the band shall be returning to the UK for live dates.

Pet Shop Boys at the Brits!




The Pets celebrated winning a Outstanding Contribution To Music prize at the Brits on Wednesday night with a stunning ten minute performance that mixed a few of the old classics with new tracks all to a thunderous electro disco beat.



Supremely executed, the PSB Brit 'megamix' featured 15 PSB classic with cunning interludes and old samples such as the drum pattern from 'In The Night' and snatches of 'All day all day' from 1988's 'Domino Dancing' (yet another EY fave).





Current EY chart topper 'Love Etc' got it's live TV premier along with a very promising track from 'Yes' called 'All Over The World' that begins with an electro 'Clockwork Orange' treatment of Tchaikovsky - instantly lovable - but the highlight for us was Lady GaGa who came on wearing very little to sing on perennial EY fave 'What Have I Done To Deserve This' whilst Brandon Flowers of The Killers looked oddly wooden and lost during 'It's A Sin'.



The rest of the Brits was described as 'car crash' TV by one journalist of The Guardian over on Twitter whilst the whole thing was unfolding with many agreeing that the Pets saved it.
Do make sure you watch the entire performance opposite - it's what pop is all about and those who think otherwise are simply clueless in the universe of EY...and who could possibly argue with that?

Following the much talked about performance at the Brits, the Pets announced two big shows for this summer in the UK - Manchester Apollo on June 18th and London O2 Arena on June 19th. You can grab tickets by jumping here.

It's great to have the Pets back and EY will celebrate with 'Alternative' later tonight.




Ladyhawke - new-ish single!



EY's artist and album of 2008 Ladyhawke AKA the lovely Pip Brown will be re-releasing just one of the many great tracks from her debut album on March 2nd.

Genius pop single 'Paris Is Burning' gets the remix treatment as a digital download and 7" single. EY would prefer a CD single as we still cherish the physical format (we like to hold on to nice things), but the single which was originally released last summer is already getting extensive radio play.


EY is still hoping that the album's opening track 'Magic' will finally get a full blown single release as we think it will win over many people.
Ladyhawke's Koko live date sold out within a day (we couldn't get tickets) proving that word about Pip is spreading.

There are still tickets left for The Ting Tings with support from Ladyhawke but we just don't get The Ting Tings....

Ladyhawke now has a forum and it could well become an EY haunt. If you love the album as much as us then register here.

Handy links: Marsheaux on Twitter - Parralox on Twitter - EY on Twitter - come twitter with us.

The UK's finest electro girlband Red Blooded Women have this week confirmed a release date of March 29th for their unique new cover of Depeche classic 'Enjoy The Silence'.


The CD single will feature various dance mixes of the track including Bassmonkeys, 7th Heaven and Perez Hilton EY faves Parralox.

To celebrate the release, RBW are offering the glorious foot thumping Designer Drugs remix absolutely free! To grab the RBW vs Designer Drugs mix primed to make you dance like Dave Gahan, just hit on this link.



News of the RBW single and free remix has also been covered by one of EY's fave pop blogs Electroqueer who have this to say about the girl's forthcoming DM cover:




'...certainly more hip than The Saturdays covering ''Just Can't Get Enough' for sure! To be fair, Red Blooded Women had their designs on covering 'Enjoy The Silence' long before The Saturdays (They have been performing this live for awhile now) announced their cover - and quite frankly, I think Red Blooded Women win here.'



RBW @ myspace

(With thanks to Mark)



orac -
patiently waiting for 'This Used To Be The Future'

The official Pet Shop Boys site has just confirmed details of a very special collaboration with the Human League!

A brand new Tennant Lowe song called 'This Used To Be The Future' will be featured on a double CD of the forthcoming album 'Yes' with vocals from electro legend Philip Oakey and production from EY faves Xenomania.

The PSB site revealed today that the inspiration for the CD of dub mixes entitled 'Etc' came from The Human League's ground breaking 1982 album 'Love & Dancing'.



'Yes' is released on March 23rd and you can find out more about the 'Etc' CD over the Flash PSB site.




In other PSB related news, Lady Gaga is hotly tipped to perform the 1987 hit 'What Have I Done To Deserve This' with the Pets at the Brit Awards this week along with another singer whose identity is being kept secret for the time being.

Neil and Chris will also collect the Outstanding Contribution To Music prize on Wednesday night.

(With thanks to Raf of Technologic)

Expert Pethead reaction to the PSB/Human League 'perfect situation' collaboration:
Worrapolava
Pet Shop Boys forum

Handy links for The Future:
EY on Twitter
EY mailing list

Following the glowing coverage of EY's Parralox from US celeb blogger Perez Hilton that has brought a surge of traffic to www.parralox.com, we thought it was the perfect time to spotlight all the acts that EY will be covering throughout 2009.

Chi Ming Lai has taken a break from his L-Word EY4 playlist to compile an essential guide for electro newbies...


This is the most exciting period of synthetic material since the 1977-82 heyday. The best new acts are all female led which gives an exciting new take on the genre. 80's electronic music was very male and any females that did get involved like Annie Lennox or Alison Moyet had a bluesy vocal style which was quite 'butch'...this is why this new 21st Century female variety is so fresh and alluring.
Feminine voices and sumptuous electrickery are a combination made in heaven...synthly the best.

So the future's female and the future’s electro! But with recent all the press and blog coverage, just who actually lives up to the hype? Now the dust has settled, for those who are new to the joys of EY, here's the pick of the current bunch...in no particular order:

LITTLE BOOTS


Victoria Hesketh really is the future of electronic music. She's also a dream come true; the pretty synth geek!! Like a one-girl GOLDFRAPP with nods towards GIORGIO MORODER, she uses a fantastic new sequencing instrument designed by Yamaha called a Tenorion as well as the more traditional Moog and Korg synths.

'Stuck On Repeat' recently became the most downloaded free 'Single Of The Week' on iTunes while her unique debut TV appearance on 'Later' was simply awe inspiring. Coming on like Alison Goldfrapp's more mischievous younger sister, she played a stripped down version of 'Meddle' with just her faithful Tenorion as rhythm section, playing a piano with her left hand and Stylophone with her right. All this while singing and adding the odd handclap too!

She loves her covers, Freddie Mercury's 'Love Kills' being the most notable. Of her own wonderful avant-pop compositions, 'Every Little Earthquake' reveals her full commercial potential and promises to be huge while 'Mathematics' manages to somehow mix Pythagoras and romance in a song inspired by a Sylvia Plath poem called, interestingly enough, 'Love Is A Pallalax'?



Damn clever our Lady Victoria! And did we mention she's the 'BBC Sound Of 2009' too?

LA ROUX


Some say Elly Jackson's voice is a bit shrill but whatever, it's certainly unique. Looks wise, she's 80's icon Molly Ringwald with A FLOCK OF SEAGULLS hairdo.

Musically, there are the percussive shades of PRINCE, BLANCMANGE and HEAVEN 17 while there's lots of analogue riffage on top.

Elly also thinks girls 'look wicked playing synths!'. Mais oui!

Her output does seem to match her attitude. Debut single 'Quicksand' made it to the Radio 2 playlist while her new single 'In It For The Kill' is a belter of a song with HUMAN LEAGUE Mk1 rhythmic construction and catchy pentatonic melody. The single artwork also confirms her love affair with the 80s a la LES RYTHMES DIGITALES 'Darkdancer'.





With other buzzing electro-funk ditties such as 'Fascination' and 'Reflections Are Protection' in her repertoire, she's the dark horse of the bunch.


Having divided opinion among electro fanatics, expect LA ROUX to either be massive or fail miserably! (ED: we want her to be massive :))




La Roux @ myspace

LADY GAGA


Already with a No1 single under her hot pants in 'Just Dance', LADY GAGA utilises the American styled electro R'n'B that's been recently delivered by RIHANNA and CHRISTINA AUGUILERA, but fuses it with a New York performance art cool last seen with certain Madonna Louise Ciccone.

While she may be a former classmate of Paris Hilton, her lyrics certainly have an edge; 'Paparazzi' is seemingly about fame but appears to be the most disturbing stalker's anthem since MORRISSEY's 'The More You Ignore, The Closer I Get'.

New single 'Poker Face' amusingly recalls BONEY M with its 'Mumm-mumm-mumm-maah' refrain alongside what sounds like a robotic stormtroopers' march!

A definite pop princess in the making.

Lady GaGa @ myspace

LADYHAWKE


Pip Brown has been described as FLEETWOOD MAC meets GARY NUMAN which actually isn't far off the mark with her track 'Professional Suicide'.

On 'Magic', she goes into 'Enjoy The Silence' mode while her collaboration with Australian dance duo PNAU 'Embrace' sees her doing the full blown electro. 'Dusk Till Dawn' is 'do-do-do' catchy, short and sweet with plenty of synth flourishes and chopping rhythm guitar. And yes, there are elements of KIM WILDE in her voice too!

Her eponymous debut album has made the top of many critics' lists in 2008 including EY's. As the 'electro female' with the most traditional sound, she's the one most likely to be accepted by the rock fraternity.

Her debut London headline gig at Koko in May (that EY tried to get tickets for) has already sold out!

Ladyhawke @ myspace

MARSHEAUX


EY faves for several years, MARSHEAUX are Greek female synthesizer duo Sophia and Marianthi who are influenced by HUMAN LEAGUE, DEPECHE MODE and OMD.

Well known for their covers such as 'Popcorn', 'Empire State Human', 'Pure' and 'The Promise', they also recently collaborated with OMD on a new version of 'She's Leaving' following a support slot with their heroes in Athens during 2007.

MARSHEAUX are very popular in Germany where they will play two festivals in 2009 and are label mates of Client at 'Out Of Line' Records.
Second album 'Peek-A-Boo' was critically acclaimed both musically and artistically; its 'bag' ghost mask has become an iconic image.



Songs such as 'Dream Of A Disco' (based on an interpolation of A FLOCK OF SEAGULLS''Space Age Love Song'), 'Hanging On' and 'Wait No More' are great examples of uptempo analogue electro.

The gorgeous 'Heaven' is the best electro ballad of the 21st century so far.

The girls certainly have fans in all the right places. 'What A Lovely Surprise' was played in the pre-show music alongside DEPECHE MODE, SOFT CELL and OMD before THE HUMAN LEAGUE took to the stage at 'The Steel City tour'.

They didn't sound out of place, a true acknowledgement that MARSHEAUX are up there with the best if nothing else.



Always looking to progress, new track 'Breakthrough' is darker and edgier than anything the girls have attempted before and bodes well for the new album scheduled in 2009.


Marsheaux @ myspace

PARRALOX

Imagine if Madonna had joined The Human League around 'Dare'? This girl/boy Australian duo use classic 80's electronic sounds like Linn drums and the Fairlight CMI presets for a vibrant style of modern electronic pop.

Debut album 'Electricity' did what it said on the tin and came up with the anthem for the revitalised genre in 'We Believe In Electric Love'.

'You and Me Both' paid tribute to YAZOO and GARY NUMAN while 'I Fell In Love With A Drum Machine' proved technology can be sexy when a girl is around to push the buttons!

Despite a line-up change, new singer Amii has already shown she can cut the mustard on new track 'Hotter' which continues the development of producer John Von Ahlen's love of the New York dancefloor and electro-synthesis, as first premiered on the classic 'X Minus One'.


Parralox @ myspace

THE ULTRASONICS

Taking their cue from pop production geniuses XENOMANIA, THE ULTRASONICS take the most accessible sensibilities of NEW ORDER and DEPECHE MODE for some tight danceable electro pop as showcased on 'Perfect Girl'.

Great Hi-NRG riffs, solid beats and euphoric vocals are crux of THE ULTRASONICS' sound.

Vocalist Hannah Sanders adds a glamourous touch and a rich voice schooled in jazz. Their debut album 'Ultrasound' features a number pop gems like the strangely prophetic 'Go Electro' and brilliant 'Love Addiction'. It's released in April.

The Ultrasonics @ myspace

NORTHERN KIND


Synth duo Sarah Heeley and Matt Culpin have successfully merged the monophonic analogue pop of YAZOO and ERASURE with the voice of THE HUMAN LEAGUE's Susanne Sulley. 'On and On' is a perfect example of how NORTHERN KIND's bright and danceable electro has won over audiences in many places.

Debut album '53 Degrees North' was very popular in Sweden while the forthcoming follow-up (to be released this year) promises to add a more dynamic sound to proceedings.

If the brilliant 'Dirty Youth', an observation tale about shallow WAG culture, is anything to go by, it should be very good.

With counter melodies galore alongside the appregiating sequences, NORTHERN KIND are the perfect band for 'air synthesists'.

Northern Kind @ myspace

RED BLOODED WOMEN


Yes, they're a girl band but with a big electronic slant. Largely produced by former HUMAN LEAGUE support act TRADEMARK, their next single is a superb cover of DEPECHE MODE's 'Enjoy The Silence' while their own sound has nods to other acts from the Mute Records roster like ERASURE and GOLDFRAPP.

Their debut single 'You Made Your Bed' is just pure octave shift pop heaven. Songs like 'Can't U See' and 'Don't Want To Be Lonely' would give the best of GIRLS ALOUD a run for their money. EY will shortly be publishing its interview with Liz, Candy and Carly where they talk about the influence of DM, Mute Records and 80's nights!

Red Blooded Women @ myspace

KATJA VON KASSEL


'Electro Weimar Cabaret' is the easiest way to describe the music of KATJA VON KASSEL. She sings in both German and English, often within the same song in a sultry Marlene Dietrich tone.
Her songs 'Lili Marlene' and 'Goodbye Was Never Said' are dark but accessible electro. 'Du Schwein' attacks but you can't help being captivated.

After working within the UK music scene for several years including a stint as a guitarist on 'X-Factor', she was going to head back to Germany but luckily met songwriter/producer Alex Gray who introduced her to the joys of electronic instrumentation. Now with her synthetic torch songs, she appears to be in the right place, at the right time with the right music.


In the words of her own MySpace page, her sound is the 1930's meets the future! EY will be featuring an interview with Katja soon where she will be talking about her influences and her distinctive sound.

Katja Von Kassel @ myspace

THE SATURDAYS

'Up' is a really great single* and their cover of ''Just Can't Get Enough' is brill...HA! HA! Fooled you! EY had its fingers crossed all the time!

*actually Chi loves 'Up' but don't tell Orac!!


Coming up...Mr Blue takes a look at Tenek live who are soon to support Marsheaux and NUN in Germany.

Greek Sensations Marsheaux were in celebratory mood a few days back when the debut of new track 'Breakthrough' - EY's current playlist track of the week - chalked up over a thousand plays on Myspace within just 12 hours on Monday.





This dynamic and breathtaking song was the first to be mixed and completed from current recording sessions for UNDO/EMI in Athens, and in an update to Myspace this morning, Marianthi and Sophie released details of other tracks from the follow-up to EY's runaway album of 2007 'Peek A Boo'.




First up is 'Stand By' - 'we strongly think of it as a smash. It has this retro-electro feeling deep down its core'.

'Summer' - '...our most sunny track to date - all beach stuff. We're sure you have missed sun as well...'

'Radial Emotion' - 'is like an electronic-psychedelic experience. We had to give it that...erm...'radial' feeling, spreading around and taking over people's hearts'.

'Exit' - 'is like a moody spring ceremony, a call-to-love with no strings attached. Quite fragile and lovely'.

'Sorrow' - 'electronic body music for a fantasy dark era, as felt by two girls staring at a wide open space ahead...'

Stay tuned.
We'll have more, soon...
marianthi + sophie



Marsheaux also confirmed this week news of a new remix for Katy Perry's worldwide 2008 smash 'Hot & Cold' which has just been released to radio stations in Europe with the full blessing of Katy's label Capital.

This new mix for the European market is destined to become a dancefloor filler and we think that this could be the best Marshy remix yet with soaring analogue chords and frantic drum programming. Quite, quite brilliant infact...




Ladytron - new single!



The Mighty Tron have chosen EY fave 'Tomorrow' as the third track to be lifted from one of our albums of 2008 'Velocifero'.
With subtle and jangly Marr-like guitar layers, 'Tomorrow' reminds us of Johnny Marr's earlier work with Electronic and the Pet Shop Boys gem from 1990's 'Behavior'.

'Tomorrow' is one of Ladytron's most haunting and uplifting tracks in recent years, conjuring up the sights and sounds of Spring.
Shame that we are currently caught in an arctic blast here in the UK, but this track and it's dream like promo video will warm your hearts.




Perhaps the most unlikely electro news in recent years, NME confirmed that Ladytron are locked in a studio writing tracks over in the US with blonde bombshell Christina Aguilera which can only mean that the singer will be shifting over to some good old European electro in 2009.

Unconfirmed reports are also suggesting that Tron will be producing a cover of Ladyhawke's recent single 'My Delirium' for Christina. EY is lost for words...

Pet Shop Boys - Pet Factor and 'Love Etc'



And finally, always one to give a great interview, Sir Neil Tennant this week savaged Simon Cowell, X-Factor that have inflicted much damage upon the UK music scene over the last few years giving birth to 'supermarket bands' packaged for Tesco club points.
In an exclusive interview with Radio Times. Neil said that Cowell's talent show was 'basically people singing Whitney, Mariah and maybe Elton'.
Neil recounts a moment of truth from one of Cowell's earlier shows 'Pop Idol' that sums up how awful the whole thing would eventually become;
'I remember on Pop Idol, Pete Waterman told someone, very sympathetically, 'The thing is, you're more of a Depeche Mode kind of artist.' In other words, 'What are you doing here, pet?'

The Pet Shop Boys are back with a new single 'Love Etc' which is a return to form of 'Very' back in 1993 and EY fave 'Can You Forgive Her'.
With a male choir quite unlike the one featured on 'Go West', there is a welcome edge to this track with the Pets firing out some great lyrics about wannabies (a pop aimed at Paris Hilton perhaps?), fame and materialism - much like Lilly Allen's surprisingly good single 'The Fear' except the Pet's have more success in savaging their targets.

'Love Etc' is wonderful and we want the album...now...

The full interview with Neil can be reached via this link

Parralox hit 9,000 plays in one day on Myspace!

Parralox were today featured on Perezhilton.com resulting in over 9,000 myspace plays.
The popular celebrity blog that attracts a million unique visits a day had this to day about the EY Australian Sensations:

'Their name is Parralox and we LOVE them!!!!!!

From Melbourne, Australia, this duo - with a female vocalist (which we love) - make sophisticated dance music for adults, which is not easy.

Listen to their delicious Sharper Than A Knife below. And then you must CLICK HERE to listen to more songs from Parralox.'

(With thanks to Michael Gates)

To pre-order the limited EY CD single of 'Sharper Than A Knife' with remixes from Marsheaux, Oblique and many more - please click here.

orac on Twitter

EY was going to chat briefly about the new Pet Shop Boys single 'Love Etc' tonight.
Popjustice took a welcome break from The Saturdays ( a kind of bargain basement Primart version of Girls Aloud), to cover news of a youtube leak of the rather glorious new PSB single that owes more to their illustrious b-side 'Alternative' past than any of the singles from 1999 onwards (except for 2003's 'Flamboyant').

EMI swiftly removed the link and we were going to take the night off sipping wine and bopping to La Roux. Those plans were swept aside however when EY was invited to a special online listening party for the brand new Marsheaux track 'Breakthrough'.


We happily skipped into this virtual reality where we could blast the track out 19 times.

There now follows some cheeky bullet point teasers about 'Breakthrough'...

1: The intro is 'heavy' - full of bass - more like 'Hanging On' than 'Dream of A Disco'.
Think DM 'Question Of Time' for sequenced analogue synths and various tracks from Ladytron's 'Velocifero' but minus the distortion.
This intro is crisp with very deep analogue bass.

2: Sophia is on lead vocals and it's heavenly astronomical stuff, with the moon, The Milky Way and bright stars all mentioned during the first verse to a shifting melody that is rather clever.

3: The melodic structure of this track is much like 'Bizarre Love Duo' in that it constantly changes with many surprises.

4: There are many 'Oohs' - a possible nod to Ladytron and their 2002 single 'Seventeen'.

5: 'Breakthrough' is a song about seduction and with it's driving rhythm* - this is Marsheaux's sexiest song to date.

(* derived from the Greek word rhythmos meaning 'measured flow or movement')


6: The chorus is sung by Marianthi and contains some of the following: 'Who's gonna raise you up tonight. Whose gonna take you high tonight. Whose gonna make you feel alright. I'm gonna....I'm gonna'

7: At 3.00 minutes there's an instrumental break similar to the lead bits from 'Computer Love' and for a few seconds (at 3.17), EY is reminded of 'The Voice' by Ultravox.

8: The track's closing moments are quite like DM's 'Suffer Well'.

9: Queen had a hit in 1989 with 'Breakthru'.
Thankfully, Marsheaux's 'Breakthrough sounds nothing like it.

10: 'Breakthrough' premiers on Marsheaux's myspace player on 09/02/09



11: bonus bullet point - this isn't the final mix we've heard but we love it!!!

EY has a new leading analogue lady to introduce to the wonderful world of electro who'll be stepping into the mighty boots of Roxy for the forthcoming Parralox album due this summer.



Meet Amii, a self confessed electro obsessive and DM fan ( fave songs 'Enjoy The Silence' & 'Personal Jesus') with a Susan Sulley look that may remind long term readers of Human League glory days during the Octopus era of 1995.







Although still very part of the Parralox masterplan, Empire State Human Roxy is taking time out this year to be with her family and so wasn't able to commit to forthcoming recording sessions at the Subterrane recording studio and future live dates in Europe.

Roxy will however be returning for lead and backing vox on selected album tracks which are currently being mixed.

EY has been sworn to secrecy but Parralox producer and chief songwriter John Von Ahlen had been auditioning singers since late last year until another producer recommended a girl obsessed with 80's electro with a very fine voice.
Amii was invited to Subterrane in early January where they recorded a quick vocal take for a new song called 'Hotter' and the whole thing clicked instantly.




John's enthusiasm for the recording session was infectious via email and three weeks ago, EY was treated to a minute sample of 'Hotter' with Amii's vocals and John's judgment matches his midas touch for hook laden electropop as showcased on the 2008 debut 'Electricity'.

Amii's vocals were perfect over a cheeky yet lush chorus line of 'Your just what I'm looking for, I just wish you looked a little bit hotter...' to some very sharp synth hooks.

The final album version of 'Hotter' was delivered to EY last week and has been on constant rotation here at EY HQ in Ascot, warming our hearts during the heaviest snowfall in the UK in over 19 years.
We all think that this is the finest Parralox song to date, beautifully sung, lovingly produced with nods to Shannon and early PSB/Chris Lowe synth hooks as mighty as 'What Have I Done To Deserve This' and the various Shep Pettibone remixes.

After one listen, we immediately emailed the Subterrane studio with the word 'SINGLE!'.
EY then tested the track out on Chi Ming Lai before compiling the EY playlist for the week and his verdict read: 'Hotter's fab, a brilliant cross been Madonna "Lucky Star" and Shannon "Give Me Tonight". I'm lovin' Amii already!'

This is ready for radio and 100% warm analogue goodness and we are very confident that most of you will love it.

Other tracks completed last week with Amii on lead vocals include 'Be Careful What You Wish For' and 'Time' whilst Human League legend Sir Ian Burden is confirmed to play bass on the next block of recording.
Other guest artists are also currently being considered for feisty backing vocals.


To celebrate the arrival of Amii, EY is delighted to premier the first Parralox track of 2009 - the full length studio version of 'Hotter' with backing vocals from Roxy presenting a smooth Timelord like transition much like David Tennant into Matt Smith (we are sure that the new Dr Who will be equally as good).

Grab a glass of wine, crank up those speakers and get 'Hotter' via this link.



Whilst work continues on the new album, Parralox have this week confirmed details of their debut EP CD single for 'Sharper Than A Knife'. The Mega 'Electronically Yours' Maxi Single will contain exclusive remixes from Greek Sensations Marsheaux, Spanish duo Oblique and Mark Reeder (whose previous work includes Shannon, Pet Shop Boys and New Order) and many more plus one or two surprises.

The EP will be released in March both as a limited edition CD single and digital download and each format will feature different tracklistings.
Pre-orders for the CD can be placed over at the Parralox store whilst the premier for the 'Sharper Than A Knife' video shall appear here on EY in the coming weeks.

(Sharper Than A Knife cover artwork by Jose Kristensen)

Keep it electro and stick close to EY.

One of the noughties most influential electro bands and a template for all things EY are back with a career defining new single that stands a good chance of dominating the airwaves across Europe in the coming months.


Kate Holmes and Sarah Blackwood are back as Client with another mystery electrocutey on bass and the chorus of this new single is every bit as good as 2003's 'Rock And Roll Machine' (one of the decades finest electro tracks we think).

Taken from the forthcoming album 'Command' on the Out Of Line label and in stores on March 6th, 'Can You Feel' is classic Client where every hook clicks after just one listen and judging by the glossy promo video opposite, Out Of Line must sense that they have a German hit single on their hands.



The video is full of intrigue with Sarah playing the part of a hired assassin who 'shoots' Kate with a high powered rifle but there is a dirty double crossing sting in the tale and the video is actually more entertaining that your average eppy of 'Spooks' (a poor BBC copy of the superior '24').
'Can You Feel' is full of New Order Hooky bass but best of all is the Depeche Mode chord change during the main chorus (57 seconds into the track).
EY also thinks that this is Sarah's best vocal performance to date 'oh-oh-oh..oh!'

EY Rating 9/10




Client also appear on our very own EMI compilation 'EY VOL 1' with a previously unreleased Marsheaux Radio Edit of 2007's 'It's Not Over' and here's the very first glimpse of the Undo prototype.
Both CDs will come in fold out posters with exclusive artwork from UK based artist Christina Christoforou and the compilation which is now pressed should be ready to ship next month.




Another Depeche Mode cover....!


Within just 48 hours of covering news of Red Blooded Women's forthcoming cover of DM's 'Enjoy The Silence', high profile girlband The Saturdays announced that they would be releasing a cover of 1981's 'Just Can't Get Enough' as one of two official Comic Relief singles.
For a country that has been indifferent to Mode over the last 20 years or so (UK radio rarely plays DM songs), the news of two cover versions in the same month is highly surprising and totally unexpected.

EY could say so much more but hey...The Saturdays version is for charity and instead we will leave you with the words of RBW pin-up Liz Morphew taken from the band's myspace page;

'Depeche Mode covers are like buses. You wait for one to turn up, then they all turn up at once haha! So, we announced that we were releasing our version of 'Enjoy The Silence' at the weekend, then found out that The Saturdays are also releasing a Depeche Mode cover 'Just Can't Get Enough'. They've obviously got good taste - we're really pleased that more people might get to hear some of DM's music. And it's great to see a girlband doing so well - it's all about female power haha!'





Coming up next - bumper Parralox update! New singer revealed with a fantastic haircut! New album & and the return of Sir Ian Burden!
Electropop rules!

Red Blooded Women have this week confirmed that their next major single will be a cover of the classic 1990 Depeche Mode anthem 'Enjoy The Silence'.
Originally recorded for the girl's triumphant live performance at EY3, the RBW version has since been performed to electro crowds at Bedsitland and more recently Water Rats and the RBW trio revealed on Myspace that 'phenomenal reception live' helped make the track an obvious single.

The CD single will come with five remixes including a specially electrofied extended remix from Parralox that has been dominating the EY office over the past week.
Other remixes with this new release which is expected in March include Designer Drugs, Heads We Dance, Bassmonkeys and 7th Heaven.

Keep an eye on RBW's myspace page over the coming days for treats and possible sound samples of 'Enjoy The Silence'.

A strictly limited RBW EP featuring 'No' available via the band's website sold out within days of going on sale and forthcoming RBW live treats include a DJ set at Club Popjustice on January 30th and a big performance slot at the next Electroqueer event at Underbelly in London on February 27th.





RED BLOODED WOMEN EP: PLAY ME ALL NIGHT LONG

Prior to news of the new single 'Enjoy The Silence' , EY's Chi Ming Lai received a lovely message from Liz Morphew on behalf RED BLOODED WOMEN to pass on to you the EY readers. Here it is, along with Chi's review of their new limited edition 4 song EP:

Electro Pop Lovers!! Thank you so much for your support and kind words over the past couple of months. EY has become one of our favourite sites and the EY3 gig we did in November was the highlight of our 2008. If you were there you'd know what we mean, the atmosphere was electric and we felt truly at home, so thank you for welcoming us into the EY Crew. 2009 has some very exciting plans for us and we hope you'll continue to support us and enjoy the single release we have planned...I have a feeling it's right up your street ;)

Liz
xxx

It was back in August 2008 that EY came across a trio of feisty ladies with a vibrancy in their passion for pop. What made them stand out was an edgy synthetic sound not heard before in the world of the girl group. Suitably impressed, they were put on the shortlist to play EY3. Luckily they accepted and delivered one of their best ever performances to date. This show was notable for the debut airing of their forthcoming single 'Enjoy The Silence', a Mode classic and winner in 1991 of the 'Best Single' BRIT award.
EY will be declaring a national holiday if the girls have a bit hit with this. To actually be able say 'we had it first' will be a proud declaration!

In the interim, Red Blooded Women have released a limited edition CD EP via their MySpace to wet your appetite. As this is written, the EP has pretty much sold out in less than a week which just reveals how strong their fanbase is.

The EP opens with 'No', the type of brilliant big beat pop number that the SUGABABES used to do so well. The bass kicks and with treated spoken intro vocals, leading to lovely 'ah-ah's and assertive choruses, it pushes all the buttons. A great EP opener.

On 'Mr Right', the girls question whether they'll ever find their ideal man. Don't worry girls; they all came to see you at EY3! Have you got time to date the 100+ blokes whose hearts you melted?

'Lingerie' is 80s US styled electro-funk at its best recalling prime JAM & LEWIS period JANET JACKSON crossed with a bit of LISA LISA and SOS BAND. Add to that the seductive coos from Candy, Carly and Liz about how great they look in their undies and you're getting the equivalent of an aural wet dream!

Agent Provocateur, Ann Summers, La Senza, Knickerbox or Marks and Sparks? The choice is yours!

Remember how Cilla Black's 70's TV Show used to always open with the belting Paul McCartney penned 'Step Inside Love'? Well, if they ever give Red Blooded Women their own programme, 'Colour Me Dirty' will be their theme tune. This EP features a new mix by The Serotonin Thieves. If you're gonna use a Yazoo song as sample, this is how it should be done.

Red Blooded Women have declared their love of the Mute back catalogue, and enhanced their kudos by doing so. And you get the impression it's all very genuine. No number of 'Situation' samples or Vince Clarke remixes will ever get THE SATURDAYS the credibility that RED BLOODED WOMEN have achieved with zero major label support.

This EP is an impressive taster of what's to come. One of the best thrills of being a music fan is the anticipation. And the girls have much more in reserve.


Hopefully, the girls will be signed very soon and sensational songs from their live set such as the beautiful ERASURE-influenced 'Don't Wanna Be Lonely', the sexy 'Synthesizer' and the sub-Hacienda rave of 'Can't U See' can be exposed to the wider public.




These are total gems in anyone's songbook. If one of those songs isn't huge by 2010, EY will eat its delux copy of 'Violator'!!


(All RBW Bedsitland photos by Mr Blue)



Next up...the return of CLIENT and the first glimpse of 'EY VOL 1's packaging.


Pictured opposite is the lovely glass master of 'EY VOL 1' CD1 that contains 14 newly mastered female fronted tracks from Marsheaux, Client, Red Blooded Women, Parralox, The Ultrasonics, Tiger Baby, Electrobelle, Oblique, Cassette Electrik, Noush, Katsen, Mikro and Rachel Car!

EY is getting known in all sorts of places these days and such is our reputation for giving coverage to new and upcoming bands with an electro-bent that we were contacted at the weekend by a striking new band from sunny Los Angeles.

We liked what we heard and predict in TAXI DOLL, that we could be looking at the 21st Century's answer to BLONDIE.

Part German/part Spanish singer Dhana Taprogge looks born to be a popstar.
She certainly bears a striking figure combining a 40's style Hollywood starlet look with contemporary glamour. To say she looks amazing in the band's promo videos would be an understatement. You simply will not be able to take your eyes off her!

Meanwhile the music manages that rare feat of blending synths with guitars in an uplifting female led pop/rock fusion. It was tried out a few years ago by STEFY and ROGUE TRADERS but TAXI DOLL appear to be the accomplished article.

TAXI DOLL formed when Dhana was looking to blend her European style with traditional pop rock and cutting edge electronic music. Producer/keyboard player Gregg Allen had also been looking for a singer to write songs with. Following an introduction by a mutual friend, they discovered they had the same music tastes; GOLDFRAPP, DEPECHE MODE, GARBAGE and GWEN STEFANI. Augmented by Jason Graham (drums), Matt Emmer (guitar) and Brian Hendrix (bass), they looked to create a new sound of rock and electronica...TAXI DOLL call it 'Rocktronica.'

The outstanding single 'Be With You' has already been a huge dance hit in the US and reached No5 in the Music Week Club Pop Chart here in the UK. Dhana's vocals have a crisp Eurocentric charm and they simply soar on this pop classic.

The keyboard riffs are very 90's but add to the euphoric feel which is the trademark of all good dance music.





The Josh Harris remix of their debut US debut single 'Waiting' has more of an angular rock guitar feel fused to a solid backbeat but it's highly melodic with plenty of 'squelchiness' in the big production to keep you interested.

'Come To Me' really is a cute mash-up of GOLDFRAPP with GWEN STEFANI while the superb 'A Little More Love' may have a singalong chorus that sounds a bit like the dreaded MAROON5 but its edgier rhythm structure sets it apart when the song suddenly changes to a 6/8 'Personal Jesus' stomp half way through.

TAXI DOLL's debut album 'Here and Now' is released in late February on Antidote Media (EY review coming soon) .

'Waiting' 'Be With You' and 'Come To Me' are currently available through all the usual download outlets.

Taxi Doll @ myspace

(With thanks to Nicole)


Coming up...Red Blooded Women EP review

The world's biggest electronic band Depeche Mode revealed more details of their new studio album late last week with an EMI press release that confirmed the title of one of the most anticipated albums of 2009.


'Sounds Of The Universe' will be unleashed on April 20th with 13 brand new songs and judging by some of the tantalizing audio glimpses that have appeared (and disappeared) on the net over the last few months, this album will see a return to a DM sound that even pre-dates 1990's Violator.




DM snapped up ancient analogue synths on Ebay during the recorded of 'Sounds Of The Universe' and the opening single 'Wrong' which is due for release in late February has been described as a 'hard edge' with Fletch explaining that its an antidote to 'bubble-gum pop,' which he adds would be inappropriate 'for where we are in society at this moment.'



'Wrong' was premiered at Mode's press conference in Germany late last year causing much excitement from fans and 'Wrong' deserves the tag of 'Classic Mode'.

The single will be released in various formats on April 6th.

Three of the tracks on 'Sounds Of The Universe' namely 'Come Back', 'Hole To Feed' & 'Miles Away' - are credited to Gahan, Eigner & Phillpott) whilst the rest are penned by Martin Gore.

The full tracklisting for 'Sounds' is confirmed as:

'In Chains'
'Hole To Feed'
'Wrong'
'Fragile Tension'
'Little Soul'
'In Sympathy'
'Peace'
'Come Back'
'Spacewalker'
'Perfect'
'Miles Away'/'The Truth Is'
'Jezebel'
'Corrupt'


Fletch also announced plans for a special edition of the album; 'We think this album has got quality. And we recorded a lot of extra tracks which will be on a deluxe version.'
Album sessions last year saw the Mode return to innovative recording techniques not seen since 'Black Celebration' with Martin Gore singing into... an empty drinks bottle for the track 'In Chains'.



EY has been hearing rumours recently that Ladytron will be supporting Mode on some of the European dates of the new tour this year but support acts are yet to be confirmed officially (please let it be Athens if it is the Tron??).



EY has been celebrating news of this new album with glorious DM nights (just us in on our own blasting out various DM albums till 2am in the morning and dancing to the fridge in Dave Gahan 'Devotional' style to grab more Jack Daniels).

We still think that 'DM The Very Best of Vol.1' is a must have CD.

To read the press release in full, please click here.



Crikey oh Riley! Red Blooded Women release cheeky EP




EY's fave trio of electro girls Red Blooded Women have just recently announced the release of a strictly limited edition CD.
Headlining this release is a real saucy gem of a track simply called 'No' and it's one of RBW's finest electro offerings so far (we hope it makes it onto the debut album along with 15 other tracks).

'Lingerie' could also get you hot under the collar whilst you marvel at the slick production and crisply recorded vocals.

(Image: Candy Carly & Liz at Bedsitland captured by Mr Blue)






This EP precedes a full on major single release sometime in March that will be supported by the girl's first promo video since 'You Mad Your Bed' first hit us last summer and the girls have personally packaged and kissed all 100 of these special individually numbered EP CDs due to be shipped shortly.

The EP tracklisting includes:

1) No
2) Mr.Right
3) Lingerie
4) Colour Me Dirty (Serotonin Thieves remix)

RBW have quite a following over on Popjustice and half of the EP's have probably already been snapped up so head on over to the RBW myspace page to secure your copy.
In other RBW related news, remixes for the girl's EY3 cover of Mode's 'Enjoy The Silence' have been submitted and EY last night heard a rough but most brilliant studio mix of the track from Australian Sensations Parralox who are completing the mix before beginning work on their second album (more on that soon).
Parralox know their Mode inside out so expect a very special RBW mix from them shortly.

The girls are also returning to the Water Rats in Kings Cross tomorrow night to promote the EP so if you are in the area get there for 7.30 to hear 'No' live.

An interview will liz from Chi Ming Lai will be appearing right here very soon.




Inspirationally Yours....



Oblique contacted us here at EY HQ in Ascot during a windswept and grey day with news that left us beaming and quite humbled for the Spanish Sensations have recorded a track for their next album inspired by our little electro site.



'Sincerely Yours' was then uploaded to yousendit for us and we've had it on several times today already. The track opens in Mode-like 'World In My Eyes' fashion with a very squelchy bassline and a Martin Gore vocal effect from 'Violator' and we do love these little analogue touches.




The track really kicks in at 1.30 minutes as it shifts gear into a really catchy and brilliantly executed chorus - something we've noticed about Oblique in the past and the bassline becomes even sharper with more squelchy bits - lovely.

Forgetting for a moment that Oblique have written the song for EY, it's actually a great song that has us very excited for the new album 'Without Making Noise'.

We begged Oblique to let us provide temporary shelter for 'Sincerely Yours' as we want you all to hear the song before the album is released and for a limited time only, you can hear the track over on our myspace player via this link.




Little Boots breaks a new record!



Not only is Lady Victoria EY's current animated banner star, but news also came through this week from iTunes who proudly announced that the recent free giveaway of 'Stuck on Repeat' - EY's song of 2008, smashed all their records to become the most downloaded single in the history of iTunes.

Warm congratulations to Lady Victoria and also to La Roux who has just been playlisted on Radio 2.

Electro is back! ;)

Coming up soon, EY interviews German Sensation Katja Von Kassel!



o r a c

2009 is all set to be the biggest year of nu-electro since 1981 and what better way to kick off the New Year than a furiously catchy slab of hard analogue action from one of the genre's leading remix masters?




2008 saw several artists delve into the Mute vaults for Yazoo samples and the best effort we heard was 'Colour Me Dirty' from Red Blooded Women who added saucy and souring vocals to the hooky perfection of 'Don't Go'.
A few vastly inferior efforts followed and sank without trace such as The Saturdays and some midget from 'X-Factor' or 'Britain's Got Talent (it could be either show but we don't watch ITV here in Ascot - we don't even have a TV...).

'Colour Me Dirty' remained unchallenged until now with the news that cheeky mutt Rex The Dog will be releasing a possible contender for Single of The Year with a very cunning Yazoo sample.

'Bubblelicious' lifts Alison Moyet's most soulful vocals from one of the very best Yazoo album tracks of all time 'Midnight' from 1982's 'Upstairs At Eric's' and whilst the original is a mid-tempo torch song, Rex The Dog speeds things up by replacing Vince's synths with his own frantic sequencing and choppy electro edits...and-it-is-genius.



The promo video is something of a dying art these days but 'Bubblelicious' comes with something that looks like it was put together by Tony Hart of 'Take Hart' and Morph fame (only those living in the UK over the age of 35 will understand what I'm waffling on about when it comes to legend of Tony Hart - younger readers can do a Google).

Low budget stop animation doesn't prevent this from being one of the best promo videos we've seen in many a year.
Crank up the volume of those PC speakers and put your feet up - this is better than terrestrial TV.

'Bubblelicious' is released on Feb 23 with mixes including one from Felix Da Housecat.

EY Rating: 9/10

Rex The Dog @ Myspace

Latest 'EY VOL 1' news:

The masters arrived at a UK based company called Swift Duplication this week and both discs will be pressed within 14 days.
Swift Duplication handled the Northern Kind's 2007 debut '53 Degrees North' and that was a lovely CD.

'EY VOL 1' Press release and full tracklisting can be found here.

EY has spent the last five days celebrating Little Boots victory in the BBC's much publicised Sound of 2009.
We had a marathon street party (held indoors due to poor weather), and happilly annoyed all our rich neighbours and their horses in Ascot with the following Booty tracks on random play; 'Stuck on Repeat', 'Every Little Earthquake', 'Love Kills' (it-should've-been-a-single!!!), 'Meddle', 'Bring It On', the Richard X mash 'Fine Boots', and the lovely Knife-like 'Mathmatics'.

We would happily do it all again but the 'festive' EY countdown of our fave albums of 2008 is running a bit late.

2008 was actually quite a poor year for albums and we would've struggled with a top 10 (but a great year for single tracks), so here's the albums that brought a great big rosy smile to our faces...

1: Ladyhawke: Ladyhawke

For all of October, morning day and night, all we could listen to was this collection of 80's influenced songs from Pip Brown of New Zealand. In early November, we safely assumed that no other album would come along to top it so it walked away with EY's Album of The Year gong a month or two earlier.

Since then, Pip's debut has been named the Popjustice album of 2008 and like so many things to do with the wonderful world of pure pop, they have picked a classic.




Although the album kicks off with the synth heavy and rather brilliant Ode to Mode 'Magic', the album does venture into 'rock' terrain but it's all done with a sense of fun. Some tracks would easily fit into an 80's soundtrack for one of the Brat Pack movies like 'The Breakfast Club' but all of them are far too good and modern for that.
There is a fair bit of Stevie Nicks and 80's Fleetwood Mac (and trust us, we'd rather 'Jack than Fleetwood Mac') but...the synth layers are brilliant, full of energy with sequencing and song writing credits from a legend in the genre Pascal Gabriel.

Pip's lyrics are heartfelt and sad in places but there is so much warmth within these tracks and some great hooks (even if a few of them are provided by guitars).
We rate this debut as highly as The Killers 'Hot Fuss' of 2004 which had a similar mix of synths, 80's influences and guitar power chords and you have to laugh at this lyric from 'Professional Suicide'; 'I see you had a hit in 89, too bad we all don't age as good as wine' Na-na-naah, na-na-na-na-nah...' - all to some lovely analogue bleeps.

In the run up to the BBC's Sound of 2009, Popjustice Editor Peter Robinson had these wise words to say about Ladyhawke...

'Every year there's an artist whose lack of overnight success confuses and upsets me. In 2008, it was Ladyhawke. Her album is a romantic, atmospheric and sometimes lonely-sounding album which deserves a big push'

Individual Ladyhawke tracks that you should sample on iTunes: 'Magic', 'my Delirium', 'Another Runaway', 'Paris is Burning', 'Dusk Till Dawn', 'Back of The Van', 'Crazy World' (or pretty much the whole album).



2: Parralox: 'Electricity

One of EY's greatest achievements was the feat of coaxing Parralox over to the UK to perform live at EY3 all the way from Australia for a 30 minute set. It was hugely expensive, logistically nightmarish with last minute troubles in Bangkok that gave Orac a few more grey hairs but on the night Roxy and John were worth every penny.

An even bigger achievement was 'Electricity' with it's crisp New York, ice cream, TV, travel anthems using Linn Drums and a Fairlight from knob twiddler John Von Ahlen's vast array of synths in the Subterrane studio.


John's love for electronic music was initiated by the Human League's 'Dare' back in 1981 much like Electronically Yours so when we were lucky enough to be the first here in the UK to play 'rough' studio versions of this debut, we had to grab it and stamp 'EY' all over the CD cover.




The extended remix of 'X Minus One' for 'EY VOL 1' is a real audio treat and 'Sharper Than A Knife' will be released very shortly before John heads back into the studio for the next Parralox album.

Individual Parralox tracks that you should sample on iTunes: 'X Minus One', 'Electricity', 'Black Jeans', 'I Fell in Love With A Drum Machine', 'Sharper Than A Knife', 'Lovely', 'You And Me Both (we came down heavily on John for not performing this track at EY3 ;)), 'The End Of Summer' (or pretty much all of it).

Grab the tracks here.





3: Keerup: Kleerup

Undo Records sent us this album with much praise and they were spot on. Frustratingly, the album was impossible to find in conventional record stores such as dear old HMV (embrace them before they vanish from the high street) and only available as an import here in the UK.

Released via EMI in Sweden, this analogue gem by Andreas Kleerup - who produced a massive UK hit with Robyn's 'With Every Heartbeat' included on this debut - was on course to grab EY's album of the year by the summer had we not found Parralox and Ladyhawke.

Much missed 80's songstress Neneh Cherry added her vocals to the album along with Sweden's answer to Bjork Lykke Li and all to a backdrop of sweeping Trevor Horn strings and pulsating synths. Beautifully melodic.

Sample the album at Myspace.





4: Ladytron: Velocifero

A dark and brooding masterpiece from a band who have championed electro since 2001 yet they seemingly get ignored by most of the blogs and music sites but EY loves them with a passion.

'The Witching Hour' was a tough album to follow with it's whispering electronics and haunting vocals but with 'Velocifero' the Tron went into hooky overdrive with an album full of potential singles.

Perhaps there was too much bass in the final mix for the electro masses to fully embrace this collection of songs but given the sheer amount of hooks in tracks such as 'Ghost' and 'Runaway' and 'Tomorrow', the Tron will no doubt come back with many more cherished moments for the remainder of this decade.

Individual Ladytron tracks that you should sample on iTunes: 'Ghost', 'Runaway', 'Burning Up', 'I'm Not Scared', 'Burning Up' (or pretty much all of it).





5: Lettie: Age of Solo

EY caught Lettie by chance at Synthetic (a 'secret' London electro night that manages to grab all the best acts long before anyone else) way back last summer and we were immediately pulled in by these inventive and cuddly tunes.
Her performance that night was intriguing and heart felt with strange songs mostly organic in nature but with clever little electro hooks and softly spoken vocals.
If we had a EY label in place during that damp and breezy summer then we would have signed this young lady with the view of promoting her along with Noush as late night beyond- the- box- electro for the trendy BBC-4 audience.

Several months later and Mr Blue submited a review of 'Age of Solo' along with Heaven 17's 'Naked As Advertised' and EY had to snap up a copy from her myspace page.
Imagine a mix of classic Portishead, Massive Attack production and all the things Goldfrapp could've achieved with 'Seventh Tree' and you will have 'Age of Solo'.

Lettie should really be signed to a major label on the strength of this album and we also think that her album cover is second only to Parralox.

'Age of Solo' is lovely and perfect late night listening to a glass of wine,

Individual Lettie tracks that you should sample on iTunes: 'Mission', 'My Name Is', 'Future Retro', 'Hero', 'All You Want', 'What You Get', 'Goodbye' (or pretty much all of it).

EY's top Idiot Box shows of 2008 (one for the electro sci-fi geeks)



1: Fringe

JJ Abrams is soon to unleash his take on Star Trek to the big screen (complete with Enterprise girls in 60's mini skirts that should help banish the memory of those dreary, politically correct Trek spin-offs in the 90's that all got lost in the shadow of 'Babylon 5'), but bubbling away in the backwaters of cable TV is JJ's latest and most creative project yet ...Fringe.






It all began in the fall of 2008 like some poorly conceived X-Files rip-off but by eppy 4, the whole thing was twisted into a nightmarish concept where global companies are experimenting with human beings whilst delving into the science of the paranormal.
Infuriatingly held up by US breaks in transmission and strike action, the eppys aired so far are touching upon themes that are fresh to the sci-fi genre and it's fascinating acid TV.
Regular characters are brilliantly cast and aided by direction that harks back to the visual style of 60's classic 'The Invaders'.

We love it.

Expect 'Fringe' to be huge.


Official Fringe site

2: Supernatural

US TV's other greatest secret though it recently reached number 2 in a recent SFX poll for the greatest TV show of 2008.

The Winchester brothers continue to battle with demons and other paranormal nasties across America with scripts and direction from some of the finest creative people behind 'The X-Files'. Hell hounds, angels, and saucy demons all feature in season 4 due to air on ITV2 this month, but its the charismatic interplay between the two brothers both struggling with their own demons and confused paths that continues to make this series so watchable.

3: Dr Who

David Tennant's final 'full season' and arguably the most popular Dr Who season in it's 44 year history breaking viewing figures and finally smashing the dominance of dreary brain dead 'council tax' UK soaps such as Corrie and Eastenders.

Perhaps not the best Who series creatively since RTD bought the show back in 2005 (Martha's return was wasted and we hated the wasp), but Catherine Tate and David Tennant proved to be the show's best pairing since Tom Baker and Liz Sladen back in 1975.
RTD penned the sublime 'Midnight', a claustrophobic thriller in which a new found supernatural enemy played second fiddle to a shuttle full of frightened humans - who then turned on the Doctor.
Brilliant TV...and we liked the new Davros and Donna's tragic exit (just don't ruin it by bringing her back like Rose).

4: Battlestar Galactica

Grim, dirty and tortured. This is sci-fi for those bought up on 'Blake's 7' in the 70's and 'Babylon 5' in the 90's and its all about the human condition and a stuggle for survival.
With perhaps the greatest essemble cast in sci-fi TV history, each performance is played with utter conviction, a far cry from the dodgy old 70's version that was seen as a cheap rip-off of Star Wars.

The final episodes are due to air imminently on SKY and given the stark nature of previous eppys, the future for both humans and Cylons is pretty bleak so expect a non-feel-good -jaw -dropping finale.
Bring it on.

5: Life on Mars (US version)

Few of us had any hopes for this US remake but Fox have done something remarkable here in capturing the sadness and charm of the original BBC drama.
Whilst the UK series was set to a backdrop of The Sweeney, the American version is set beneath Starsky and Hutch and The Streets of San Francisco with Harvey Keitel taking over the role of Gene Hunt and after a few eppys, it all fits into place.

Most of the scripts are idenitical to the UK version with the odd cultural and rather clever tweaks for American audiences and the casting is very good with Irish actor tuning into the emotional fragile Sam Tyler (whose mother is named Rose in this US version) .
ABC have just recently ordered more episodes but time will tell if this Atlantic remake follows the giant leap for Sam in the downbeat UK finale.

Patrick McGoohan - 'Six' - RIP

electronically yours...orac

News just in at 7.00am...

Lady Victoria's Little Boots has just been named as the UK's brightest new star in the BBC's Sound of 2009!

Please head on over to the BBC via this link for the full story.

EY thinks that this calls for street parties across the UK but as its a wee bit chilly out there, why not celebrate this news by downloading a free remix of Little Boots from Popjustice?

The Buffetlibre vs Sidechains Remix of the Freddie Mercury cover 'Love Kills' sounds like all the glorious bits from the PSB's 'Always on My Mind' with Marsheaux/Undo sequencing whilst Lady Victoria's vocals also sounds like Marianthi in places.

You can really ask for more than that from a remix can you?


The mix is the best thing of 2009 so far turning an average 80's hit into a modern day dance floor classic so hit on this link and open the wine, electro is making headlines once more.

(Image copyright daniel sannwald)

Last week, EY voted 'Stuck on Repeat' by Lady Victoria of Little Boots as the top track of 2008.

EY is always banging on about 'analogue synchronicty' and how we are facing the biggest surge in new electro since 1981...

For this week only, iTunes UK is giving away the single edit of 'Stuck on Repeat' free after nomintated the track as their 'SINGLE OF THE WEEK'.


We believe (we believe) that Little Boots is the most exciting thing to happen to EY since Marsheaux and now you can download the single edit and make up your own mind.

Simply follow this very important link for the EY track of 2008.

Whilst you wait for your free download from those lovely Apple people, why not hit on the video and watch Lady Victoria performing her very special cover of The Human League's 'Don't You Want Me'?

We would like to dedicate this video to a very disgruntled Human League fan who contacted us this week. He was unhappy with the lack of League news on EY, feeling the site had 'lost it's way' these past few years covering new 'wannabe' bands.

As soon as there is confirmed League news, EY will be covering it.

Enjoy :)

Electronically Yours...orac

With thanks to Chi Ming Lai

The BBC will this week be announcing the top 5 winners of the Sound of 2009 in which 130 music journalists, broadcasters and editors were asked to submit three of their favourite new acts.

The first of those new acts was unveiled today in a blaze of publicity across the BBC and national radio and in at Number 5 is a very promising electro girl who is full of EY-like quotes when it comes to all things analogue.


Elly Jackson is the face and voice of London based duo La Roux (french for 'red-haired one') and she has become disillusioned with manufactured Cowell pop and jangly guitar music.
'I think guitar music has had its day, for now anyway, unless it gets reinvented in some way.'



Today's Sound of 2009 article over at the BBC reports that 19 year old Elly and her musical partner Ben Langmaid have both gone back to the pop manifestos of acts such as 'The Eurythmics, Depeche Mode, Gary Numan, Heaven 17, Prince and Blancmange'.

La Roux's impressive new single 'Quicksand' certainly has that 'Funky' production gloss of early Heaven 17/BEF and a spiky attitude rarely seen in the charts today.

'I think it's definitely time for some serious synth action', says Elly.

EY shall drink to that whilst bopping to 'Quicksand' over the coming weeks.

To read the BBC article, please hit on this link.

La Roux @ myspace

EY has spent the past week (with just a few brief breaks for partying, various wines and Pringles), looking back over a year that featured some of the best pop tunes we've heard since 1984.
We danced like a robot to so many crackingly good electro tunes, we even danced to Rihanna's 'Don't Stop The Music' whilst hugging a bottle of chilled Chilean wine to see in the New Year and in the back of our minds, the 2008 EY Top 20 has dominated our every thought to the sound of a disco beat.

Tracks have come in and slipped back out again with a few late arrivals that we think will have such a huge a positive impact on the best musical genre in the world.
EY has been bombarded by new talent in 2008 and it's a credit to them that we rush to this site often with hangovers to write about their pop gems long before the labels and mainstream press get to hear about them.



Some of the songs below have ended up on EY within days of being recorded in bedrooms. This is a golden era for DIY pop, glamorous ladies in Europe and beyond with an electro attitude armed with Micro Korgs and a Tenori-on (if anyone wants to buy EY one of these lovely devices then we will love you longtime).
For this year's Top 20, we've decided to limit each artist to one track only. New acts such as Parralox, Ladyhawke and Red Blooded Women all have a myriad of stompers between them and these bands could easily dominate any Top 20.

'The future is bright, the future is female electro...'




1: Little Boots: Stuck On Repeat (Extended Mix)

Very rarely do mainstream pop commentators and music critics get it right, but in the case of Little Boots, EY can only stand and applaud them.

Little Boots (a nickname given to the young and wicked Caligula) is Lady Victoria Hesketh and she's the best thing to come out of Blackpool since Chris Lowe.
Victoria is tiny yet strikingly beautiful and she is set to take over the electro throne recently vacated by Alison Goldfrapp.




The hype and buzz around this artist is remarkable considering that Victoria is yet to officially release tracks but when you hear our track of 2008, then you'll understand and come to the only conclusion possible that Little Boots represents the future of this genre and that she has the ability to reach out to those who may usually turn up their noses to pumping electro.
'Stuck On Repeat' is 'Blue Monday' for the 00's, menacing but free from miserablism and never has a track had such an apt title.





The extended mix clocks in at just under seven minutes and you get so lost within it's hypnotizing beats bassline that it appears to be over within a few minutes.
For EY, it is the definitive version of the track much like the original 12" of 'Blue Monday' before Quincy Jones released a single edit in 1988.

There are many recent comparisons made to Alison Goldfrapp but we think that Little Boots sounds more like a shiny and brightly futuristic version of Saint Etienne without all the 60's influences.

'Stuck on Repeat' is a pulsating classic with sharp sequencing, strange noises and some lovely vocals. Victoria could well be singing about the Black Hit of Outer Space in which she's mesmerized by the one of the most perfect electronic records in recent years.




We came across Little Boots fairly late in the day, long after Popjustice but we're so glad we found her eventually.
Equally spellbinding is Little Boot's fondness for the Tenori-on, other tracks on Myspace such as 'Meddle' and another fave of ours - the PSB b-side flavored 'Bring It On' and the sheer passion she displays by posting late night movies of herself doing cover versions of songs that she's loves. And this is what EY is all about really, future passion.

Little Boots @ myspace

The 'Stuck on Repeat' EP is available to download now from the Amazon mp3 store.





2: Ladyhawke: Magic


Another stunning newcomer in 2008 and equally alluring, Pip Brown AKA Ladyhawke is from New Zealand. Rescued from Pip's initial shyness by Canadian artist Peaches, Ladyhawke went on to produce a debut album that snatched EY's Album of 2009 in October and was recently named as the Popjustice Album of The Year - and they have such fine taste.

There is something very special about hearing a track for the very first time that you know will with stay with you for many years to come.

It was at a local historic and severely haunted pub in Bracknell when someone forced his ipod earphones into the lobes of Orac on a very chilly Friday night demanding that we listen to this artist, and the first track we heard was 'Magic'.

Our love for this track was instant. On the first listen it sounded like a mash-up of Depeche Mode's 'Never Let Me Down' and 'Enjoy The Silence' and within a minute, Orac shouted out 'This is excellent!!!'
Surrounding drinkers, smokers & lovers stopped what they were doing to observe this electro clown who was nodding his head and clapping his hands in drunken mock Dave Gahan fashion.
Pip sings about falling in love with someone at a live show and it is magic set to sequenced synths and great sonics.

EY dearly hope that this is a single as we think it will be huge in Germany and the remixes will be fantastic.

Ladyhawke @ myspace





3: Parralox: X Minus One

It's hard for us to be objective about the sonic delights of Parralox as EY has been so closely involved with the debut album, but when we first heard the 'rough' studio tracks of what would later became 'Electricity' way back in late May, we had one of those Marsheaux 'Peek A Boo' moments.


Long before that within the first few months of 2008, Parralox added 'X Minus One' to their myspace player and EY must have played the track a thousand times since then.
'X Minus One' is 'New York, ice cream, TV, travel, good times' and a bit of Shannon's 'Let The Music Play' with an air of early 80's New York electro - in short, it's a bloody great big stomper with modern gloss, crisp electronics and sultry vocals.



This is the song that turned EY into Parralox fans and when EMI in Athens granted EY a bonus CD for 'EY Vol 1' as we needed to add new tracks and the first newly commissioned remix was 'X Minus One'.
Our 'guidelines' to JVA were short and simple - 'classic early 80's extended mix like Shannon - added emphasis on bassline'.
Three days later and John produces the most magnificent extended remix that will warm the hearts of all those who bought and rated 'Electricity' (thanks to all of you out there who sent Parralox and EY such positive feedback on the album - we are very humbled by it).

There are a small handful of good old fashioned CDs left but expanded EY edition of 'Electricity' is now available worldwide on iTunes via this link.

Download, smile and bop way beyond midnight to linn drums, the Fairlight and Roxy.

Parralox @ Myspace

4: Hot Chip: Ready For The Floor

An EY track of the week back in Feb 2008, 'Ready For The Floor' is Hot Chip's biggest hit to date and the song has just been nominated for a Grammy in the US.
Like all classic songs, the UK's premier Sound Alchemists shot an equally bizarre promo video that will keep the song alive for many a year on the various music cable channels with colorful 60's Batman imagery and shapely dancing girls.

Best of all though was the actual track itself with scattered DIY analogue beats and an insanely catchy chorus.

'Ready For The Floor' breached the UK top ten and was tailor made for 'Top Of The Pops'. It was one of those tracks to confuse, dumfound and subvert the masses (and most viewers would've ended up humming it). Sadly it wasn't to be after the Beeb axed the show a few years ago (but quickly brought it back for some impressive festive specials in 2008 after Simon Cowell showed some cheeky interest in the TOTP brand).

Hot Chip's second album 'Made In The Dark' was full of inventive ideas and the Chip's Joe Goddard has since discovered and produced Little Boots. Hot Chip are also one of the few bands that would tempt Human League/Heaven 17 legend Martyn Ware back into the world of producing.


Hot Chip @ myspace

5: Red Blooded Women: You Made Your Bed


The debut 'single' from Candy, Liz and Carly contains perhaps the most dramatic octave shift in the history of pop and the girl's vocals shift to incredible highs on the recording with Trademark behind the mixing desk.

Anything is possible these days in the recording studio but when EY first saw the girls perform this vocal feat live at the Water Rats in London, we couldn't quite believe what we were hearing. Alison Goldfrapp had a similar effect on us when the Supernature tour reached Reading in January 2006.

In terms of live vocal brilliance, all three RBW can take the mic and all three are at the same level as Girls Aloud, Sugarbabes and Pussycat Dolls. Add these perfect live vocals to brilliantly executed electropop and you have a band whom we would have signed if we had managed to sort out an EY label (if they weren't already signed).


There were a few raised eyebrows when EY announced that a 'girl band' would play at EY3 but we had seen the Water Rats performances - all three of them prior to November - so it was no surprise to us to see the girls win over 150 people.
Towards the end of RBW's performance, the amp cut out and so did RBW's backing tracks. The girls carried on singing.
After that performance, someone in the audience approached EY to tell us that he didn't believe the girls were singing live until the amp cut out.
Before shaking our hand and walking off he commented on how good RBW's raw vocals were.

With numerous tracks such as 'Colour Me Dirty', a cunning cover of DM's 'Enjoy The Silence' and 'Can You See' already in the bag, RBW's debut album promises to be very, very special.
RBW return to the live stage for the next Bedsitland event on January 10th. EY shall be there bopping away.

EY should also give special mention to how delightfully level headed these girls are - on and off stage.

'You Made Your Bed' makes its CD debut on 'EY Vol 1'.

Red Blooded Women @ Myspace

6: Katja von Kassel : Goodbye Was Never Said


Echoes of drowning in Berlin now with a recent find for EY.
Katja von Kassel is a very talented artist living in London. During the day, she has recently been sighted on prime time ITV playing guitar on X-Factor but the stuff she's releasing on Myspace is far more interesting...

'Goodbye Was Never Enough' would have slotted right in amongst some of the new talent on 'EY VOL 1' but we didn't find her in time and listening to the double CD right now, we know exactly where the track would fit in, in between LA based Kid Moxie and Italy's Hidden Place but there is always Vol 2...

Katja's leading track on Myspace leads us back to the obscure soundscapes of fellow German Robert Gorl and his track 'Mit Dir' (released on Mute Records back in 1983 but there is an added early 80's Eurythmics twist with memories of Annie Lennox blasting her vocals above Dave Stewart's Kraftwerk influenced synth patterns (Annie would also go on to work with Gorl for Mute).

'Goodbye Was Never Enough' is brilliantly produced with expert bleeps and it's ready for radio. Despite the pop hooks particularly with Katja's superbly executed 'oh oohs', this song really sounds like nothing you've heard before in a very long time but you can imagine it blasting out from UK radio stations across the land.

Future Pop Hit - and your head will bop to it's beats.

EY also urges you to check out 'De Schwien' via the link below - it's a bit special.


Katja von Kassel @ Myspace




7: Ladytron: Ghost

Could Ladytron match the sheer bliss of 2005's 'Witching Hour?
Rather confusingly, they were one of three EY bands with the same song title in 2008 and Marsheaux made it on to EY's 2007 countdown with the 'Ghost/Bizarre Love Duo' vinyl that was eventually released in Feb 08.





'Ghost' is Ladytron at their hauntingly best with a tingly chorus and it really should have been a hit single. We forgive them for the Astoria pull-out because they gave enough within six initial tracks to make you care for them.
'Velocifero' is genius even it suffers from grungy and muddled production in places much like half of DM's 'Playing The Angel'.

There are far too many great tracks on 'Velocifero' to mention here but 'Ghost' is a career best for the Tron.

Ladytron @ Myspace




8: Oblique: All We Want

Shortly before we found Parralox back in March 08, EY somehow stumbled upon Spanish Sensations Oblique an act who generated almost as much email praise as Marsheaux did a year earlier on this very page.
Following an 'Introducing...' article on EY, Oblique reported a sharp rise in iTunes sales of their back catalogue and deservedly so as this band have quite an impressive back catalogue.

There were many stompers with Sonia's cute and innocent Spanish vocals but when we first heard 'All We Want', we had to rush it on to 'EY Vol 1' which would initial delays.

We love the following vocal line 'Hey girl! Put on your heels and a t-shirt and shout to the DJ who that place so nice'. It's a heartwarming line about Friday nights all set to a really quite impressive bassline and some very hi-tech production.

Oblique also rate Yazoo and Fernando Torres of Liverpool FC so keep an eye on them in months to come...


Oblique @ Myspace





9: Katsen: Where Nobody Can Find Us

Back to Blighty now and Katsen of Brighton that seems to be a real hub for quirky electro and 'EY Vol 1' was delayed yet again when we pestered EMI to let us squeeze this jaunty summer track onto the compilation.

Early 80's computer game bleeps kick start an insanely catchy analogue intro with a perfect English Rose Donna Grimaldi delivering lines much like Sarah Nixey of Black Box Recorder.

When we found this track on Myspace last summer, we simply couldn't believe our luck and a few months later in sunny Bradford at Infest, half of Marsheaux was telling us how much they loved the song.
'Where Nobody Can Find Us' has all the joy of Mint Royale's 1999 hit 'Don't Falter' but we even more analogue invention.
Katsen's programming boffin Chris Blackburn delivered a 'Tragedy' mix of the track to EY late last year. We all loved it and slotted the mix rather nicely on the bonus CD of 'EY Vol 1'.

Katsen @ Myspace





10: Black Affair: It's Real

This track from Steve Mason (formerly of Beta Band), seemed to come and go without anyone noticing but EY played the video to death.

'It's Real' shamelessly 1984 with rapid handclaps and crisp Stephen Tin Tin Duffy production and we love all that here at EY HQ and we had actually forgotten how great this song was until we began to flick through the EY archives for 2008.

If NME/ZTT genius Paul Morley were to write a pop song on his tod then we think it would sound like 'It's Real', sandwiched somewhere between Frankie Goes To Hollywood's 'Two Tribes' and Scritti Polliti's 'Absolute' in the UK charts whilst the nation flocked around bulky wooden TV sets to watch 'V The Mini Series', munching on crispy pancakes.

Oh happy days....

Black Affair @ myspace




11: Annie: Two of Hearts (Skatebaard Remix)

Yet another pretty blonde young thing seemingly packaged in a perfect pop factory, Annie has been lovingly shipped over from Norway by one of EY's favourite producers of the decade Sir Richard X.

The Mighty X produced 'Two of Hearts' (originally performed by Stacey Q) and the Skatebaard mix was rushed over to us by Brighton DJ A-Dam who knows that we have a love for high velocity sequenced basslines of the Chris Lowe variety (though we do wish that Basshunter would simply go away).

This pleasingly retro mix would site very nicely on the bonus disc of the remastered PSB classic 'Please' and with a running time of 8.5 minutes, it's very epic with sweet 'I'm Not Scared' vocal effects and long instrumental breaks with the odd orchestral crash.

Annie has now left Island Records to form a new label with Richard X and you can find out a bit more about this remix via this link.

Annie @ myspace




12: Marsheaux: Sadly


Recorded in May of 2008 exclusively for 'EY Vol 1', 'Sadly' has all the trademark Marshy hooks with analogue lead synths that you can't help but whistle along too, Marianthi's angelic and whispery vocals all wrapped up in crisp Undo production.





Marianthi & Sophia are currently preparing tracks for the follow-up to 2007's EY Album of The Year 'Peek A Boo' for Out Of Line Records in Germany whilst their most recent work was a krafty new remix of 'Hanging On' with lots of extra bleepy bits - one of the many extended highlights on CD2 of 'EY Vol 1'.


Marsheaux take a break from recording for the Pluswelt Festival this April in Germany. Other acts lined up to play include De-Vision, Mesh, the return of Nun and Tenex.

2009 will be a big year for the Greek Sensations and you can currently hear 'Sadly' over on the EY Myspace player.

Marsheaux @ myspace




13: Technologic: We Are Technology

Technologic were formed and the turn of the decade by Austrian singer Martina Mars and Polish musician Ray Grant after meeting online via the official Pet Shop Boys website.
With a shared passion for the Tennant/Lowe pop template, its no surprise that this track sounds like a cross between PSB and early 90's Electronic.


'We Are Technology' is actually quite an old track attracting Polish radio play back in 2003. The band's manager wiped the dust from the master tape and sent the track over to EY last August. We then sent an email to Undo begging to get the track included on our CD of female electro.
Wonderfully melodic and haunting with some very nice production - this one is a bit of a classic.

Technologic @ myspace




14: Girls Aloud: The Loving Kind

Officially released next month, this PSB penned track is already getting wall to wall airplay on just about every radio station in the UK.

A perfect pop song that is making EY look forward to a new Xenomania Pet Shop Boy album for the first time since 1993's 'Very'.



The Pets have been a bit patchy of late despite glimmers of a return to form with 2006's 'Fundamental' (it needed more of the Richard X touch).
As for Girls Aloud (who gave a remarkable live performance on the recent TOTP festive special), just seem to get better and better.

Keep an eye out for the next single 'Turn To Stone'... we love that one too.

Girls Aloud @ myspace




15: Robyn: Who's That Girl

Swedish superstar Robyn caught our attention with an energetic performance of this gorgeous pop track - a collaboration with The Knife - on GMTV here in the UK.
We thought that it was a sure fire number 1 hit single and Robyn's best track since 'With Every Heartbeat'.

We also thought that Robyn had one of the best haircuts in electropop...






16: Noush: Tropic (Undo Edit)

Electro is not where Noush is at right now - performing in a guitar band called Rubella across London under the guidance of a manager who steered Elastica through the brief and glorious era of Brit Pop back in the mid 90's.

Before Noush developed a love for Guns & Roses (a band not mentioned too often on EY), we managed to salvage a demo called 'Tropic', a gloriously twisted tale of female love recorded in Reading last April.
The demo became a fave of Undo who worked their magic on the isolated tracks and the new version can currently be sampled via the link below.

Noush @ myspace







17: Goldfrapp: Happiness

A trippy tune from the former Queen of Electro with lots of lovely bleeps and summery vocals.

One of the best Frapp singles in out honest opinion aided by a Rex The Dog mix that Mute refused to release as it was deemed 'too electro' (it's sad how this once great label has turned into this).

We wanted to love 'Seventh Tree', we really did but 'Felt Mountain' was always a bit weak on songs and we tend to shy away from albums that musos and Q Magazine rave about. It's all to safe and dull.

Alison still has the best voice in pop though and Marsheaux have promised EY that they will never go down the folk route which is one less thing to worry about...




18: The Ultrasonics: Perfect Girl

Bouncy London electropop for the purists and ridiculously catchy with a deep, pounding bassline.
You can't really ask for more of a track that has made 2008 bloggers countdowns across the land.

It was a bit of a shock when singer Jo left the band shortly after the single was released on iTunes with mixes from Marsheaux, Parralox and EMP to present a show on cable TV, but the Sonic's production team have stockpiles of songs of mass pop and the future is very bright for them.


'Perfect Girl' makes it's CD debut on 'EY VOL 1' along with the Parralox remix.


The Ultrasonics @ myspace

19: Fotonovela: Unfair

A haunting vocoder led track from Nik Bitzenis and George Geranois - the production team behind 'Peek A Boo' and a very strong nod to one of their favourite bands OMD.

Taken from the Undo album 'Mistakes Are Good', 'Unfair' is the closing track of 'EY Vol 1' that was almost lost after Undo wanted to replace it with the new remix of 'Hanging On' but EY couldn't imagine the compilation without this hypnotic track.


Fotonovela @ myspace









20: Lykke Li: I'm Good. I'm Gone

Bonkers track from Lykke Li of Sweden with an edge that Bjork seemed to have lost on 'Volta'.

The video opposite should not be viewed with the lights out....

Lykke Li @ myspace



Albums to look out for on EY in 2009: Depeche Mode, The Ultrasonics, Pet Shop Boys, Northern Kind, EY VOL 1, LIttle Boots, Marsheaux, Parralox, Katja von Kassel, Oblique & The Human League (possibly).


Coming up - our top 5 albums, and Idiot Box TV shows....