Electronically Yours

EY raved about this tune last week and Hurts have just released the official promo video.

Typically moody Hurts imagery in this vid and very cinematic but we miss the funny dancer from the 'Wonderful Life' effort.

Whilst the video is very pretty to look at in places, we actually much prefer the single which has one or two moments of shiny pop brilliance that are sadly all too rare these days.




First up is the frantic almost metalic-like sequencing of synths which is very, very much like A-ha's 'The Sun Always Shines on TV' . These chattering synths then blend into a brilliant vocal bridge before infecting your brain with the decade's best chorus so far.

The video mix has an intro that's a bit too drawn out but do stick with it and you'll be hitting the play button again four minutes later...we promise.

Hurts may have attracted most of the press attention from the BBC's Sound of 2010. but those clowns at Radio One are keeping the track away from their playlists...much like La Roux last year.

XFM however are blasting the track out daily so hurrah to them.

'Better Than Love' is now being released in the UK on various shiny formats on May 24th.

EY Rating 9/10


Related links:

Hurts @ Myspace
Hurts official site

EY faves Parralox will be returning to UK shores next month for the first time since 2008's live debut at EY3.

This recently confirmed date has been squeezed in for May 20th at London's Bar City Music Hall and will be hosted by the music blog EQ.


Live Parralox dates for 2010 now include:


MAY 14 - Berlin, Germany @ Electro City Moods Festival
MAY 15 - Desdan. Germany @ Electro City Moods Festival
MAY 20 - LONDON, ENGLAND @ Bar City Music Hall - Presented by Electroqueer
AUGUST 27 - Bradford, England @ Infest 2010




Parralox were one of the most popular live acts for EY pulling in a crowd of 200 back in 2008 and we expect that tickets will be snapped up quickly for this EQ event following the success of 'State of Decay'.


No firm details on tickets just yet but be sure to keep an eye on the EQ newspage via this link.





Europe's premier Goth & Industrial news site Side-Line have carried a news item regarding a forthcoming live album from Mute's definitive synthpop duo Yazoo.

During sell-out live dates across the globe for a reunion that many thought would never happen back in 2008, Vince and Alf both hinted that a Yazoo live album might be in the pipeline.


(Image: Richard Price 2008)


Side-Line includes a quote from Vince in a recent interview on The Howard Stern Show in the US where the Depeche/Yazoo/Erasure genius confirms a possible release date for the live album in September.

So far, Mute have been unable to confirm Vince's release date but live tracks are currently being mixed for what could be a 2CD deluxe release.

Related link: Side-Line

(With thanks to Alin)

With their first studio album since 1996 close to completion and ready for release, OMD have confirmed a surprise UK date that will showcase some of the new songs from 'History of Modern'.

The new album is the first time since 1987 that Andy McCluskey and Paul Humphreys have co-written songs together with 'Dreaming' being the final 'definitive' OMD release back in 1988.

(Image: Richard Price 2008)


The live date will form part of Britain's first Vintage Computer Festival at Bletchley Park (secret code-breaking centre during WWII). The event takes place between June 19th & 20th and will also include a Q&A with Andy and Paul.



'We are delighted to be playing at Bletchley Park and celebrating British computer history at The National Museum of Computing,' says OMD frontman Andy McCluskey. 'We all have our 'geek' side.'

Tickets cost just 20 pounds and are strictly limited.

For more details, please visit The National Museum of Computing website by jumping here.

Related link: Official OMD Website


(With thanks to Graham Johnson)

The layered and lush distinctive sound of 'Celestica' from Crystal Castles is the chosen single for EY this week.







A shift from the supernatural banshee-like vocals of Alice for this one, the deep club sounds of 'Celestica' reveal a smoother, haunting melodic tone from her.




This new track is surprisingly relaxing, a darker ambience from the pair. It's a new direction equalling the alternative electro blasts from their debut album 'Alice Practice' and 'Crimewave'.

'Doe Deer', the first noisy and energetic release from the new album, was unveiled last week as a strictly limited vinyl pressing of 500 copies to coincide with Record Store Day.
'Celestica' has been rush released from this album after online leaks that were already creating a buzz on music blogs and radio stations.





Confusingly, their welcome return after two years is with another self titled 14 track album to be released in June.


Producer Ethan Kath's rescue mission of Alice Glass from her previous punk band Fetus Fatale has resulted in a unique electro sound. 'Celestica' and 'Doe Deer' hint at another brilliant 'unfluffy' experimental electro album from the Canadian duo.

Perhaps for some a 'love it or hate it' band, here definitely it's a big 'thumbs up'.

(Alice image: © jeremy cave 2009)


Babooshka's EY Rating: 9/10


Related link:

Crystal Castles @ Myspace

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Depeche Mode's legendary knob twiddler Alan Wilder has revealed that he may return for more live shows with Basildon's finest.


Wilder made a welcome return during a performance of the track 'Somebody' for Mode's recent sell-out cancer charity gig at the Royal Albert Hall in February.





In a quote covered by XFM that originally appeared in The Star newspaper, the much missed Wilder spoke warmly of future Mode activity; 'It was nice to see the lads again. I've had a lot of good feedback. It was a really good day. It felt really important for me. Going back on stage was like I'd never been away. It was all there as I remembered it, the whole circus. I wouldn't rule it out happening again in the future.'


In the Wilder-ness years since Alan last sprinkled his technical magic on 'Songs of Faith of Devotion' way back in 1993, Mode have struggled to find a producer to please most of the Devotional.


Whilst the band have remained creatively vibrant with Grammy nods including one
for last year's 'Sounds of The Universe', the album failed to impress Mode's fanbase (EY lost many an argument in trying to convince some that the album was actually quite good in places).

With Alan keen to perform with Mode in the future, one suspects that this could lead to him producing the next studio album if and when that happens.


Related links:
XFM
The Star




Crystal Castles new album!





Canada's greatest export Crystal Castles are set to make a welcome return to the genre with their first album in over two years that perfectly captured CC's unique brand of spiky 8-bit pop.

The self titled 14 track album is released on June 7th and once again features the distorted vox of one of the most perfect of popstars - Alice Glass.

(Image © Rich Law)



The first single 'Doe Deer' was released last week as a strictly limited vinyl pressing of 500 copies via Rough Trade to coincide with Record Store Day.

Music site The 405 has published an excellent track by track guide to the new album with initial thoughts after one listen with the site describing the album as 'a feat of production, sensory overloads and gothic synths' suggesting a slight move away from chiptune in favour of more complex soundscapes.


It all sounds very promising and much needed and you can read the full review over at 405.



Related link:

Crystal Castles @ Myspace




Hurts - new single!




The BBC's Sound of 2010 may have failed to capture the imagination of EY readers this time round ( the buzz of 2009 was certainly missing), but the poll did include EY faves Hurts.




Whilst other acts from this year's poll have already released material and ended up in the HMV bargain bin (Delphic, Marina etc), Hurts have avoided the limelight and remained hidden in their underground studio working on a pop masterplan.



Theo Hutchcraft and Adam Anderson will release the full-on pop stomper 'Better Than Love' (already playlisted on XFM) as their debut single on May 17th and it's far superior to 'Blood, Tears & Gold' (which was a wee bit too Johnny Hates Jazz for our liking).

No promo video just yet for this impressive and instantly catchy tune but do click on the youtube link for a reminder of just how wonderful pop music can be

The Hurts album is due to hit UK stores in July and we expect it to become the summer soundtrack of 2010.


(With thanks to Babooshka)

After the recent climb up the Musicnonstop chart for The Girl and The Robot, it seemed about time to pay some attention to the epicentre of electropop, Scandinavia.

The Northern European music scene has a wide and varied legacy going back decades.

Exporting some of the most commercial of pop, through experimental concept music to electronic dance, these countries have been producing some of the most interesting work in the electro field. The prowess hardly needs a mention of Royksopp, The Knife, Lykke Li, Robyn and Fever Ray, with the work of Trentemoller blurring the boundary of electro and techno house music.

What seems to give this most northern part of Europe its hold over the genre is the diversity. Scandinavian bands are making the 'nicey' Europop but keeping it edgy, yet can also produce some of the most haunting of ambient electro sounds too.









Just looking back over the career of Karin Dreijer Anderson, the brilliant 'What Else Is There' with Royksopp, the 80's disco pop sound of The Knife's 'You Take My Breath Away', and more recently the slightly bonkers collaboration with opera and science in 'Tomorrow, in a Year' shows this diversity.







It is impossible for a real electro fan to tire of such gems as 'Silent Shout' and 'Heartbeats' especially with the curse of pseudo electro nonsense creeping into the charts of late.

With so much consistently good electro coming from these parts, some can get lost along the way. Going back to 2008, Thermostatic were making 'Ladytronesque' noise with tracks like 'Driving', a synthpop pleasure to hear.

In true Nordic style, this band also produced the moody and lyrically dark 'Northern Ambulance'.




Spine tingling vocals with layers of synth sound gaining memorable and catchy momentum. Thermostatic were voted Best Scandinavian Newcomer in 2005, hopefully we will hear some more of them as even since then electro seems to be dominating more and more.

On the subject of domination, the electro feel of Bestival 2010 on the Isle of Wight has some synth royalty from all over and all ages.

From the original movement, Heaven 17, to today's La Roux , Hurts and electro babies Ou Est Le Swimming Pool who will be injecting some new 'boy synth' blood into the occasion. The big news though is Fever Ray, only 2 dates in the UK this year and she's in the electro line-up for Bestival.

After her critically acclaimed self titled album in March 2009, yet again we are shown the legacy of Scandinavian electro superiority. The eccentricity of this music is engaging, the elaborate laser shows of the previous incarnation The Knife are still there coupled with the paganistic masks and theatrical costume.


The mystery of 'Now's The Only Time I Know' and Karin's voice that can be shrill and low simultaneously captures your attention.
Her solo project is dark and moody and more earthy after the futuristic feel of The Knife.

The brilliance of Fever Ray's 'Seven' with a fabulous remix from CSS has the looping layers and genius of 'Triangle Walks'.







The ambient innocence of Fever Ray's 'When I Grow Up' merges the electronic age with nature, childhood, dressing up and messing around in the outdoors.


Fever Ray's debut has pulsating echoes of earlier 80's pioneers without merely reproducing a diluted version that so many bands just about achieve.








The CSS and Scandinavian combination has worked well before, most notably with the other Swedish talent Lykke Li and the remixed 'Little Bit'.






Lykke is definitely another example of unusual and engaging female vocals originating from these parts.

JJ are a new electro ambient pop sound to come from these regions embracing the same energy as some of Fever Ray's work. Another mysterious, keep your distance duo, Joakim Benon and Elin Kastlander are making electronic based music that gives you the urge to run through the woods at night, not far removed from the electronic hippy feel of some M83 tracks most notably 'We Own the Sky'.






Barely any videos or Myspace presence for this secretive lot , there is even some confusion over album and track titles but urging you to check out 'Ecstasy' and 'My Love' and EY fave 'My Hopes and Dreams'.





Their music is being released through the independent label Sincerely Yours which was founded by the other Swedish electro pop group The Tough Alliance.
Currently on tour with The XX in America, they are definitely Nordic alternative electro to keep an eye on.

The mysteries of these Northern European countries and their vast environmental question marks seem to reflect in the wildness of Scandinavia's earthy yet futuristic electronic experimental music.



Further Neon Light listening over on Myspace:



The Knife
Fever Ray
Thermostatic
Lykke Li
Royksopp
XX

.

Could there be a theme emerging?
First there was the wonderful PARRALOX with 'State of Decay', and now new Swedish/German band THE GIRL AND THE ROBOT hits us with 'The Beauty of Decay'.

Electro music and sci-fi go together like New York and Ice Cream, to quote THE HUMAN LEAGUE. Enter PARRALOX again, as they bring together electro music and sci-fi better than anyone since THL.








So I was expecting 'The Beauty of Decay' to also enter into this realm. Actually, what Plastique and Deadbeat have delivered is more reminiscent of 1960s cold war espionage than sci-fi.
It starts with a brief contemplative instrumental, and then into 'Whole', the opener from their impressive debut EP, and one of the highlights here.

Other high points include 'I Lost Control' with a slow minimalist start leading into massive synths and intense metal percussion, but this is gentle and dexterous and not at all like current European EBM.
'The Isle' encapsulates the 60's feel perfectly, like a soundtrack from a Michael Caine film ('Get Carter', perhaps?).

'Another Love' sounds like early Depeche Mode with simple lyrics and instant hooks, whilst 'Prayer' is the stand out electropop track, neatly merging Kraftwerk with the Pet Shop Boys.The final track 'Shot' slows the pace down once again, appropriately ending with a single gunshot.

THE GIRL & THE ROBOT have been compared to Royksopp and Covenant, but they have their own distinctive sound and 'The Beauty of Decay' is already a highlight of 2010.


Related links:

Purchase ' The Beauty of Decay' at Musicnonstop.
The Girl & The Robot @ Myspace

The people behind BBC 6 Music's 'Back To The Phuture' website have this week contacted EY about a recent show and Phuture events.







In the latest show to be broadcast on Easter Monday, Wall of Sound Supremo Mark Jones presented something of a Visage special featuring interviews with electro legends Steve Strange and Rusty Egan.

With The BBC Trust soon to decide on the future of the digital station 6 Music which we cherish here at EY HQ, we urge all UK readers to head on over to the BBC I-Player where you can listen to this 'Back To The Fhuture' special.


The show is available until Monday 12th April and you can jump to it here.



For fascinating details on the Phuture Easter special plus playlist (you'll all love it!), have a look here.


I-Player hits will be taken into consideration by the BBC. 6 Music is vital for the promotion of new bands in an age when Tesco and other supermarkets dilute the album charts with Cowell boyband horrors and other manufactured R'n'B nightmares.



'Back To The Phuture' and 'Electronically Yours' both believe in linking the dots between old and new electro. The show's passionate host Mark Jones also signed the Human League to Wall of Sound and brought together EY faves La Roux and Heaven 17 for the splendidly received 6 Music session in January.

With a shared love for all things analogue, old & new, it is highly likely that EY will work closely with 'Back To The Phuture' over the coming 12 months on one or two things. Keep your eyes on EY.



2010 is already shaping up to be a busy year for 'Back To The Phuture' with the team participating in events including John Foxx at The Roundhouse, VINTAGE at Goodwood,
SONAR in Barcelona and opening Bestival with Heaven 17.


Related link

'Back To The Phuture' - Official site
Save 6 Music - facebook page

(With thanks to Michael Speechley)


Also playing at Bestival on the Isle of Wight in September are new EY faves Ou Est Le Swimming Pool which leads us quite nicely onto our next item for you today.....

Ou Est Le Swimming Pool: These New Knights Tiesto Remix





Here's a genius remix for a most splendid track from the Camden Sound Innovators that has been given a crisp and most euphoric remix by the highly sought after Tiesto.





It takes about a minute to build up but stick with it as the new bassline a minute into the mix is heaven but even better is the treatment given to the Middle 8th (which was already brilliant that kicks in at 4.27 mins).
It all leads to a stunning climax and a real dancefloor stomper.



Tiesto have given it all an epic twist with soaring synth strings that will send shivers down your spine. It's still essentially an old school Extended Remix much like one of the ZTT remixes for Propaganda's 'Dr Mabuse' mixed in with a bit of Tall Paul (whatever happened to him?).
This is an astonishingly gifted remix...very...very...close to 10/10.

We want more please Mr Tiesto!







And finally, a slightly tenious link but Human League's 'Don't You Want Me' featured briefly in last night's gripping eppy of 'Ashes To Ashes' even though the current series is set in 1983.






If you're sat at home twiddling your thumbs and waiting for 'Dr Who' (how brilliant was Matt Smith last week?), 'Ashes To Ashes' is the next best thing. It begins with Gene Hunt singing 'Uptown Girl' and we've found a lovely screengrab of Alex from that very sequence.
We have no idea where this final series is heading or if Gene really did kill Sam Tyler, but
UK readers can watch this episode here.

Electronically Yours is gearing up for the return of The Mighty Human League.

Brand new tracks are currently being remixed by Wall of Sound and one or two highly sought after knob twiddlers. Their past work in the field of advanced analogue electro will be known to many of you.




After spending the last week trawling through Secrets Online archives, our Human League biography is still topping the Google search over Wikipedia.

Part One has now been slightly remixed and fiddled around with to fit the current EY template and we aim to bring it all up to date week by week followed by a discography.

Knowing that there are quite a few League experts amongst our readers, we will welcome any additional info that you feel should be included in the biography, rare snaps or photo credits for any of the pics we've used including the extremely rare shot of Martyn Ware & Philip Oakey above.
Simply email us here.

To read Part One of the revised EY League biography, please jump here.




The Vanity Clause 'Lifeline'


Russell Harris of The Vanity Clause contacted EY recently with news of their new single 'Lifeline' that thankfully sounds nothing like the Spandau Ballet track of the same name, infact it's rather agreeable on the old earlobes unlike the Kemps & co!
Hurrah!

Here's the excellent promo video and a few background notes from Russell;








'To celebrate the release of their forthcoming album 'Fractured' The Vanity Clause have made a video for Lifeline.

The lyrics to this song were written after Dave from the band found inspiration from a very tragically drunk woman outside local pub The Railway in the middle of winter. She couldn't stand or barely speak and had no coat so he called her a cab with the intention of putting her in it and sending her on her way. Instead, Dave was dragged into the cab and ended up seeing her all the way home and into her flat, where it was covered in dirt everywhere!

Lifeline tells the story of the night and explores why she may have been in this state in the first place. This video is straight performance, however there is a narrative storyboard version coming soon.'

The Vanity Clause @ myspace


Coming up....news on the Mark Jones 6 Music radio show 'Back to the Phuture'

Hello to all lovers of Electronic Music.
This is Amii and John talking.









We are pleased to present the music video for our new song 'Isn't It Strange' which is available on the eponymous CD EP.

EY has first scoop at the clip - so enjoy!

We started principal filming last year in November and edited a clip which neither of us were happy with. So a few weeks ago we arranged a new shoot (in the middle of the night) to pick up some new scenes, at a Hotel next door to the studio.







The film crew and us all had a laugh when we heard some 'intimate noises' coming from the walls of the apartments.

Little did we realise that the majority of the footage shot that night would become the final video clip.






We are also working on the alternate 'Isn't It Strange - Ade Fenton Remix' video which will be launched in a few days, which has a few different scenes and of course Ade's brilliant remix.


Amii and I would both like to say a HUGE hello and thanks to all our loyal fans out there. We check all our blogs daily, and your positive feedback is a big inspiration for both of us.
We are so thrilled to be able to make music for you all. Here's to much more...

xxx Amii + John

Related links:
www.parralox.com
Parralox @ myspace
Conzoom Records


Grab the Monster Maxi 'Isn't it Strange' EP via this link.


And don't forget...Dr Who is back tomorrow ;)

EY will shortly have the world premier of the brand spanking new Parralox video of Musicnonstop's chart busting single 'Isn't it Strange'.










This 100% pure EY fave has spent much of the past week at Number 2 on MNS, bringing some much needed electropop to a chart usually dominated by tiresome 'Industrial' music whilst giving established acts such as Combichrist a good run for their money.

Having seen the new Parralox video this morning for the very first time, EY can confirm that it's totally gorgeous and beautifully shot and we should have it here for you all by 2.30pm GMT today.

Whilst we work on the flash code for the 'Isn't it Strange' video and iron out a few gremlins, here's a brief musical interlude from a band who have impressed us greatly over the past few weeks - Ou Est Le Swimming Pool.





For your viewing and listening pleasure an alternate video and mix of their 2009 single 'Dance The Way I Feel'. This is a slightly more 'polished' version of the superior original which we prefer for it's analogue edge but this video and mix will still have you dancing round your living room singing 'Stop! I just dance the way I feeeeel!' and content in the knowlege that UK electro is in very good knob fiddly hands...

Ou Est Le Swimming Pool @ Myspace

Breaking News!


Brand new EY find The Girl & The Robot have today entered the Musicnonstop chart at Number 4 with their debut album 'The Beauty of Decay'.

Hurrah for catchy electropop :)

Scroll down for Glenn Austin's review of the EP.


To view the chart, please jump here.

More from us a bit later ;)

The Girl and The Robot are another band using the Yazoo template of a deadpan male muso and a soulful female vocalist, in this case the Swede 'Deadbeat' from 'Second Unit' taking on the Vince Clarke mantle, and German 'Plastique' of 'Welle:Erdball' belting out the songs.



Last month saw the release of their excellent debut EP 'Whole/Flowers'.
Described on Musicnonstop as a coming together of Covenant's elegance with Client's sexy style, they also conjure up atmospheric soundscapes reminiscent of Ladytron and Royksopp.








Indeed, it is perhaps no coincidence that 'The Girl and The Robot' was the title of one of the tracks from 'Junior' by Royksopp with guest vocals from Robyn, a track which featured at number 10 in the EY's top 20 of 2009.





On the surface, 'Whole/Flowers' is in many ways what you might expect from a German-Swedish electro collaboration.







The songs are tight and efficient, and the music is precise with heavy sledgehammer synths and choppy percussion, but here are four accomplished and well crafted pop songs that after only a couple of listens bounce around your head nicely.








'Whole' is the catchier tune, but if they couldn't decide on an 'A' track, I would have plumped for the fourth song, 'I Don't Care', which really raises the Girl/Robot idea onto another level.


If you like your electro with a large dose of added sci-fi then this is for you. What a find.

For many readers of this site, Parralox need no introduction. For the uninitiated, they are a synth duo from Melbourne who have arguably produced some of the finest electro tunes of the 21st century.



The mastermind behind Parralox is John von Ahlen, a one man creative powerhouse who not only writes and produces all of their songs, but designs the CD sleeves as well!

Following the release of their debut album 'Electricity', Parralox quickly gained a loyal following. When they played their debut London show for EY in late 2008, they received a rapturous reception, to the extent that when the set came to an end the crowd wouldn't let them leave the stage.

This led to an impromptu singalong to the title track Electricity, with the band amusingly taken aback by the audience bellowing every word off by heart. It was a special moment.

Not one to rest on his laurels, JVA was quickly back in the studio working on the follow-up album. A change of line-up saw electro diva Amii taking over vocal duties, and the end result was 'State of Decay', an album even more polished than the first.
One of the album's standout tracks is 'Isn't it Strange', which now gets its own release, available as a beautifully packaged CD.

Now this release is actually billed as an 'EP'...Remember those?
A single with an extra three tracks, or maybe four if you were lucky?


Well this one has 15 tracks and is 79 minutes long... at nearly twice the length of some albums, that's one hell of an EP!

The opening track is the Ade Fenton Extended mix of 'Isn't it Strange'. The original song is probably Parralox's 'darkest' work to date, and Fenton is best known for his collaboration with Gary Numan in recent years, so this was always going to be an edgy remix!
The result is 6 and a half minutes of electro madness which sounds like Parralox bumping into Numan down a dark alley. I highly recommend it.

But whatever your taste, there is plenty here to enjoy. There are no fewer than eight mixes of 'Isn't it Strange', each with its own unique take on the track. In spite of the marathon running time of this CD, you get the impression that very little is here as a 'filler'.

The most ambitious reworking is the Orchestral Full Length version, on which Amii sings accompanied by a string quartet. Perhaps against the odds, it works beautifully.

Aside from 'Isn't It Strange', there are four reworked album tracks included. The highlight is 'Hotter', which is given a high-profile remix courtesy of Robert Marlow. Marlow is associated with early Depeche Mode, and his pedigree certainly shines through.

This is a glorious remix full of Vince Clarke-esque analogue magic, and is reminiscent of DM's 'Speak & Spell' era or Yazoo.

At the risk of showing my age, remember the delight of buying a single and discovering it had a really good b-side? Well I'm pleased to report that the b-side is back!

Previously unreleased track 'Empty' is a delight, and features JVA's vocal alongside Amii's to great effect.

Be warned, it's very catchy!





On the subject of b-sides, the EP closes with 'Kangaroo Island', an instrumental which sounds like a homage to some of the obscure Depeche b-sides of yesteryear, like 'Agent Orange' and 'Christmas Island'.

It's clear that Parralox take pride in their output, not just in the music but in the artwork too. JVA is a big fan of the physical format and has said that he puts too much work into his music to see it reduced to a file on a computer. So this Parralox EP is a labour of love, which in this cynical age of devalued music and illegal downloads, makes it all the more special.


Steve's EY Rating: 9/10

'Isn't it Strange' is available to pre-order from Musicnonstop and is released on April 1st.

Related links:
www.parralox.com
Conzoom Records






Just under a week to go...New Doctor...new companion...and what a fantastic clip from an episode penned by the creator of 'Being Human'....



'Oh this is Christmas!'

Under a slate grey Victorian sky and where taxi drivers never stop talking, it seems that Camden is now becoming the new 'Mecca' for London's music scene.







The following band have already secured support slots with La Roux and are set to release a potential EY Song of The Year.



Camden's Ou Est Le Swimming Pool are a spiky young trio with Busted haircuts and like 2009's legion of female fronted electro acts, this relatively new 'boy band' have fallen in love with early 80's synths.



EY's Babooshka urged us to check out Ou Est Le Swimming Pool after she heard them on XFM yesterday - a station that will become even more important for new music if the Beeb do eventually axe 6 Music.

Twenty YouTube plays later and we are loving this track as much as Groove Armada's equally spiky 'Paper Romance'.


'These New Knights' is Pool's second iTunes release and it is particularly impressive with crispy production and a deep resonating bassline.
Reviewers are comparing Pool to the Pet Shop Boys and The Human League and 'These Long Knights' does break out into some long lost PSB gem 2.37 minutes in with a genius Middle 8th that is screaming out for a remix by Tennant & Lowe.






As for the chorus, it reminds us here at EY HQ of Hot Chip's 'No Fit State' from 2006's 'The Warning' and other bits could be inspired by 1982's 'The Message' by Grandmaster Flash.

Ou Est Le Swimming Pool are made up of Andele Peligroso Pericosima, Fernando P.I. and Affa Da and these three electro lads have a hectic tour schedule lined-up throughout 2010.





Dates include festivals, NME related events and the live return of La Roux (and credit to Elly for securing such a fine support band).


'These New Knights' video is as cheap as chips but you can rarely go wrong by filming in and around the finest music capital in the world with locations that include Greenwich and the South Bank (Orac's fave bit of London of late).


The single is released March 29th on Stiff Records with bundles of remixes and you can find out a bit more about Ou Est Le Swimming Pool via this informative interview over at contactmusic.com


EY Knights Rating: 9/10




Further Ou Est Le Swimming Pool listening and handy links...







Do take three minutes of your time time to click on the Youtube video opposite of Ou Est Le Swimming Pool's 2009 stomper 'Dance The Way I Feel'.



This is probably one of the greatest electro singles that we've heard here at EY HQ in the last 10 years - we are somewhat amazed that we managed to miss it last year.

Human League comparisons are probably born from this track with it's deep 'Travelogue' bassline. 'Dance The Way I Feel' also has another middle 8th to die for and a chorus that'll grab you instantly. Genius song structure and intelligent knob twiddling...the very essence of EY is captured within this song.

EY wants this band's album and we want it.....now.



Ou Est Le Swimming Pool @ Myspace

Official website

Facebook page










Breaking News: EY Faves Parralox have just been confirmed to appear at this year's Infest which returns after a gap of two years from August 27th-29th.
2008's Infest featured a jaw dropping live performance from Marsheaux but last year's event was cancelled due to issues with the venue,


The official Infest website has the following description of The Mighty Parralox: 'blisteringly fat synths, electro beats and soulful vocals, Parralox combine an unabashed, melodramatic pop sensibility with themes of surrealism, science fiction, synthetics, and the grotesque'

Infest will be the first UK Parralox performance since their stunning live debut at EY3 back in 2008.


For more info and details of tickets etc, please jump here.





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If you enjoy this site please consider a voluntary donation however small via the secure Paypal button below (the previous button wasn't working recently due to faulty code).
Thanking you greatly in advance.
Lots to cover in the coming year including the return of The Mighty Human League.

Lovely Head Rush...?

Electropop duo Alison Goldfrapp and Will Gregory have released the fifth offering on Mute Records 'Head First'.

Let's not waste time too much time referencing who or what they may sound like with this album, it's quite blatant mid-80's disco.

You can hear the usual synth suspects along with a touch of Abba mixed in with some Donna Summer, very early Madonna and with the first release from this album 'Rocket', some dodgy spandex synthrock.

It doesn't take 'rocket' science to work out that glitterball catchiness may not withstand the longevity of previous Goldfrapp albums. On first listen, however, the light hearted synthpop optimism may make you want to put on some lip gloss, big up your hair and dance around a pile of handbags. Don't get too serious, just say 'Thank You for the Music' and enjoy some poppy tunes from them, especially after the shock of their 'folktronica' phase.

To really appreciate 'Rocket' the video is a must see. It's an uplifting disco track but with a darker side, telling the story of blasting an ex lover into space, probably the same lover who would find the innuendo of the track hilarious and miss the point.

'Believer' is shimmery synths, catchy hooks 80's, 'Alive' sounds more piano than synth in places and is later 'discoed' up with the help of Richard X and some retro space sound effects.

'Dreaming' is the 'must download' of the album. Many influences can be heard in this track but for me it's early Madonna with a touch of The Communards and with Alison's disco queen vocals, it is the stand out track of the album.

The title track 'Head First' is so Abba-esque, Erasure would be shaking their hands. 'Hunt' is another gem, the sexy breathless vocals Alison is loved for continue on the following track 'Shiny and Warm' with a marching beat. 'I Wanna Life' is feel good disco pop turned inwards and imploding on itself as the weakest track on the album, but even this may get the wallflower up to dance.







'Voicething' stands out, more because it's so far removed from the 80's sound of the rest of the album, a farewell and maybe what's to come from them?
Slightly weird looping vocals and experimental...let's hope so.

This album doesn't really push any boundaries but it's nice to hear the big synth sounds, the full range of Alison's vocals coupled with the glitz of 80's disco. This 'Sunshiny' pop music from the duo will go down well at any festival this summer...even if it's raining.

Recommended downloads:

Dreaming

Hunt

Shiny and Warm


Listen to 'Head First' over on Myspace


EY Rating: 7.5/10

Orac's electro waffle round-up





Ultravox - Reap this live DVD

Midge Ure and the Vox's live return to London's Hammersmith last year was both impressive and emotional, evoking similar spinetingly highs as Yazoo's unforgettable London gigs in 2008.

Almost one year on and The Mighty Ultravox are all set to release a live DVD and 2CD set to celebrate their return.

'Return To Eden - Live At The Roundhouse' is a deluxe set stuffed full of digital encoded goodness and spread across three discs. Recorded during the band's sell-out gig at the Roundhouse on April 30th - 'Return To Eden' marked the first time that the definitive U-Vox line up had performed live together in over two decades.



18 live tracks are captured on the CD featuring most of Ultravox's monster hit singles that defined and shaped the first wave of electro between 1981 - 1984.

Head on over to Musicnonstop where you can pre-order this lovely item.

(With thanks to John P)

One of the genre's most revered knob fiddlers Sir Richard X has been rather busy of late with some very impressive remixes for Goldfrapp's 'Rocket' and you can download one for free over at iTunes.
Other forthcoming RX remixes include another EY fave - Hot Chip's rather brilliant ' I Feel Better' (released April19th and you must watch the promo video below if haven't done so already).

If you head over to RX's official Black Melody website, his current news update is accompanied by piccy one of the greatest electronic albums ever recorded - The Human League's 'Travelogue' which pretty much changed life, the Universe and everything here at EY HQ (and we guess that this applies to most EY readers across the globe).




Richard X hints at a future project - a massive project - and one that EY has been waiting for long before the return of Dr Who back in 2005 and it's a jolly good excuse for us to post a pic of RX holding a copy of 'Dare' ;)

Bookmark Black Melody and keep a close eye on it in the coming months....







Parralox grabbed the Number 2 on the Musicnonstop chart today with their Monster Maxi EP CD single of the foot stompingly brilliant 'Isn't it Strange' - and we still think that it can hit the top spot.



There are just 500 physical copies of a CD that will transport you into analogue remix heaven - with lots of thumping Linn Drum patterns and sequenced synths that have been lovingly restored and polished from the early 80s.





One day all releases will be like this.....grab a copy via this link.

The Knife - Tomorrow, in a Year

Swedish electropop duo Karin Dreijer Anderson and Olaf Anderson, better known as 'The Knife' have returned with an experimental collaboration with Mt. Sims and Planningtorock.




'Tomorrow, in a Year' is not the usual pulsating Nordic electronica. If that's what you expect then you will be disappointed or perhaps pleasantly intrigued; an electro opera based on Darwin's ''Origin of the Species' will no doubt leave the more staid electro pop fans wondering what the 'noise' is, the more forward thinking weirdly fascinated by the 'evolution' of this quirky and eccentric merge of science and art.

This deeply experimental album evolved after Pro Forma, a Danish performance group commissioned 'The Knife' to create the music and libretto for their opera. If you listen and wonder what on earth it's all about, the thought 'watch it performed' springs to mind. The opera includes appearances from mezzo-soprano Kristina Wahlin, Danish actress Laerke Winther and Swedish pop artist Jonathon Johannsson.


'Tomorrow in a Year' is definitely a concept album you will love for its 'bonkersness' or get cross about it as you crave the 'Darlings of Electro's' 'Silent Shout'.

CD1 is full of birdsong patterns and feedback, a result of Olaf's field studies in the Amazon to record and watch life. The intro to this menagerie of nature sounds, in layman's terms, sounds like a tap dripping but more importantly the 'beginning of life'.



The next eight tracks offer more of the same, playing around with sounds, you can hear the collaborative effort to seek out animals with musical qualities in a bid to compose new and interesting electronic sounds, clever if difficult to listen to at times.





'Variation of Birds' uses feedback sound to demonstrate how a bird learns to sing, starting with one note that evolves and changes, note the 'theme' but not one for your headphones. 'Geology' is music to portray the movement of lava apparently...and 'Letter to Henslow' uses the human voice as an instrument, all very intriguing but not the stuff of electronic hits, something which it would seem is not a priority of The Knife anyway.

CD 1 is the evolutionary process of music, of course, it is a Darwinist Electro Opera after all...it makes sense that the more accessible is on CD2 for this album, a change from the norm when the preparation for the album usually turns up in the bonus CD.

Moving swiftly to CD2, the more accessible of the double album. It starts with 'Annie's Box' and ends with the same track but with alternative vocals, a haunting track about the death of Darwin's daughter, beautiful and sombre and after the science of CD1, the emotion of this is a relief.

Both versions are mesmerising, the birdsong, the drumming and the spooky vocals are a shift away from the previous experimenting, but you can hear the continuity from the first CD as you recognise some of the sounds they created.

'Tumult', is the most operatic intro and leads into 'Colouring of Pigeons'. Taken from Darwin's study of pigeons, the title hints at the naivety of their approach and acceptance that you don't have to understand it all . The middle part of this track is the more recognisable electropop sound of The Knife, the familiar voice of Karin then returning to the operatic feel of the beginning, a clever merging of the two musical genres and the gem of this album.

In 'Seeds' again you can hear the beginnings of a more recognisable The Knife.
The more traditional electro fan would prick their ears, hopefully long to stay with it until 'Height of Summer', the only vaguely possible mainstream success of the album, almost teasing in its familiar electro 'catchiness'.



To some, the electronic glitches may lead to the conclusion this is a 'avant-garde' concept album disaster so make sure you put CD2 on first.

'Tomorrow, in a Year', released on March 1st is experimental, sometimes hard going yet interspersed with genius. The Knife's project is certainly interesting, bought as an album standing alone it might be hard to fathom out but with the ideas behind it makes some weird sense.

The Knife have been known for their darker art pop before, especially Karin as 'Fever Ray', so let's hope similar artists continue with the same musical curiosity and give us a much needed break from the universally loved but predictable bubblegum electro.




New Young Pony Club - Chaos







New Young Pony Club have returned in 2010 with the catchy single 'Chaos', taken from the second album 'The Optimist' released on the 8th March.






This single, sounding more like their breakthrough 'The Bomb' from the shortlisted 2007 Mercury Prize album 'Fantastic Playroom', is a relief after the disappointing teaser from late 2009, 'Lost A Girl', a slow offering from the band that lacked their trademark sassy attitude from the first album putting them in the line up with bands like CSS.

A slightly different direction to the synthpop of such gems as 'Ice cream' and the 'The Get Go', 'Chaos' is definitely shifting more in the direction of a electro punk with echoes of Siouxsie and Bow Wow Wow at their 'poppiest.'


The track has already been remixed from the likes of Mele, Rory Philips, Dekker & Johan and even, sharp intake of breath, the Manic Street Preachers (zzzzzzz) under the guise of South Wales Swamp Mix; all making sure there's something for everyone.

Tahita Bulmer's strong vocals, full of bossy attitude, coupled with Andy Spence's excellent production for this single may be a little 'guitar led' for some tastes but it seems New Young Pony Club are still delivering.


This infectious track is accompanied by a great video focussed on a band that are always very easy on the eye with effortless new wave glamour. 'Chaos' is electropop pleasing with hints of a darker electro punk direction to come from the new album.


New Young Pony Club have made a welcome return with memorable hooks, poppy synths and loads of lipstick attitude.

(With warm thanks to Babooshka)

Hot Chip - I Feel Better

Supreme UK electro Sound Alchemists Hot Chip have today released the video to forthcoming single 'I Feel Better'.

We don't want to ruin it by waffling on too much about how delightful it is except to say that you must watch this video even if The Mighty Chip aren't your cup of electro tea..




A cunning visual assasination of the God awful X-Factor nonense that fills the pages of every UK tabloid, Hot Chip barely appear in this video but are replaced by a generic Simon Cowell boyband and we promise that a few sequences will fill most readers of EY with utter joy (teaser pictured below).




We will say no more except that 'I Feel Better' has rip roaring string arrangements that are a bit like Madonna's 'Papa Don't Preach' (1996) and we absolutely love this track.

And finally, since our last update on the forthcoming Monster Maxi Parralox EP CD single, 'Isn't it Strange' has since shot up to Number 4 in the Musicnonstop Top 10 (the 'power' of EY?).

Naturally, we are quite chuffed here at EY HQ as this Parralox gem is a genuine 100% EY stomper but we would quite like to see it go to Number 1.

Click on the EP artwork opposite and grab your copy (there are only 500 of these lovely CDs).


o r a c x

Two stomping tracks from the top 5 of EY's greatest electro tracks of 2009 are set to be unleashed on shiny CD and digital downloads - all packed with exclusive new tracks.

First up is Australia's hardest working electro duo Parralox who have finalized the tracklisting for their Monster Maxi CD single of 'Isn't It Strange'.












The Australian sensations' finest foot tapping single release to date (it even pips 'Hotter' in our humble opinion), is given the full remix treatment that is spearheaded by Gary Numan collaborator/DJ/Producer Ade Fenton.

Ade's remix proves that Parralox are reaching out and touching electro hearts way beyond blog land.



Other exclusive remixes for this highly anticipated and lovely Conzoom EP include a remix of 'Hotter' by electro legend Sir Robert Marlow a name familiar to Depeche/ Vince Clarke Devotees.

Perhaps one of the biggest selling points of this CD single are the remixes of choice album tracks from 'State of Decay'.
'When The Walls Came Tumbling Down', 'Moonwalking' and the 'Orac inspired(?) 'Be Careful What You Wish For' are all given sparkly analogue remixes and there is even room to squeeze in a brand new track 'Empty' with Linn Drums galore!



The full tracklisting is as follows:

:
01. Isn't It Strange (Ade Fenton Remix Extended) 6:25
02. Isn't It Strange (Extended) 5:33
03. Hotter (Marlow Mix) 5:14
04. Isn't It Strange (People Theatre's Snowball Mix Extended) 5:17
05. Isn't It Strange (Vision Talk Synthpop Remix) 4:33
06. Moonwalking (Beborn Beton Remix Extended) 5:08
07. Isn't It Strange (11am Remix by aux) 4:24
08. Empty (Moog vs Linn Remix) 4:08
09. Isn't It Strange (Orchestral Full Length) 6:05
10. Isn't It Strange (Josslers Rework) 4:37
11. When The Walls Came Tumbling Down (PT's Born Again Mix) 5:00
12. Don't Listen To Me (Extended) 6:13
13. Isn't It Strange (Hollow Me Remix) 5:06
14. Be Careful What You Wish For (Talion Law's Ambient Remix V2) 7:39
15. Kangaroo Island 3:53

The 'Isn't It Strange' CD single is now set to be released released on April 1st and it will be strictly limited to just 500 copies so jump to this Musicnonstop link to snap up your copy.

Parralox are currently shooting scenes that will complete the new promo video later this week and EY should have the world premier on this very page a few seconds after the final edit is completed.

Related links: Official Parralox website
Conzoom Records (for readers in Europe wishing to order the EP)





Marsheaux to release new single!







Another track that featured very highly in our top electro tracks of 2009 was Marsheaux's best recording to date - the Rex The Dog inspired 'So Far' and we are delighted to report that Undo Records are currently busy working on new remixes for a big release.




(Marsheaux image: Richard Price)



The promo video also promises to be rather 'stylish' according to Undo sources and will venture away from recent animated Marsheaux videos, possibly something more like 'Hanging On'...with live action.

EY may have had a slight hand in one of the remixes in recent weeks when a former operative of the legendary Factory Records contacted us wishing to remix Marsheaux (once again, proof that Marsheaux's appeal extends beyond EY and across the Milky Way).

Undo have fired over the isolated tracks to Germany and we hope to confirm more details very soon.

Coming up...The Knife have released a concept album described as 'Electro opera' by some. Don't panic...it's actually rather good in places.

EY review to follow.


o r a c

Goldrapp's 'Rocket' is EY's most played track of 2010 and the official video has finally been unleashed from post production effects twiddling in time for the official single release.




Always a band with an eye for stunning and memorable videos, we had a feeling that this latest Frapp effort would be a bit special and we have waited so, so patiently for it.


For starters it features a great big CGI Thunderbirds rocket with purple wings and the back of a truck. Driven by a manic and sadistic looking Alison who is out for revenge, this beautifully shot vid also features the return of the lovely Frapp dancers minus the 'Supernature' horse heads.

Alison's happless passenger is a man completely covered in bandages with twisted limbs who has clearly damaged Ms Goldfrapp's heart.

There's a 'light' scene where Alison teases her victim some food (possibly a Quaver), but his mouth is bandaged so she ends up tossing it to the back of the truck before accelerating towards the launch pad.




As for this glorious return to hook laden pop Goldfrapp, 'Rocket' is all about shooting people into the depths of space that have crossed your path and pissed you off.


With this in mind, EY would dearly like to nominate a one way collision into the sun to those at the BBC who think its a great idea to sacrifice 6 Music in order to please an incoming Tory Government - who would rather cuddle up to Rupert Murdoch and his useless Sky empire.

Sorry to get political but EY hates Tories.....but we love 6 Music.

Please take time to sign the petition to keep this great digital station alive. They were the first to play La Roux and Florence & The Machine long before anyone else and it was through this radio station that EY discovered The Knife.

Goldfrapp's 'Rocket' is released this week in the UK on Mute Records and the CD single comes with a very pleasing remix from electro legend Richard X that we have probably played a 1000 times already but still love.