Electronically Yours

Sean Parsons has kindly sent us the following review of our recent EY5 electro knees-up in Hoxton last Friday in celebration of Northern Kind's wonderous 'Wired:' album.

(Image: Sarah at EY5 captured by Richard Price)

Sean also managed to win a copy of 'EY VOL 1' on the night that will soon be available on Musicnonstop....

EY5 was, quite simply, a brilliant night.




Upon arrival, I snaffled some Northern Kind merchandise and chanced upon a copy of the fabled 7-track promo edition of the EY Vol 1 CD. So, a great start to the night already and I had barely set foot inside the door.

Soon enough, it was time for the opening set by Katja Von Kassel. I had not really heard much of her material before, but I liked what I heard.



Dressed in black with seductive Germanic vocals, Katja delivered a stylish set that captivated the audience. In the best traditions of many a synth duo, Katja was accompanied by a slightly menacing and sinister-looking keyboard player (Ladyhawke's Alex Gray) - think Ron Mael, Yazoo-era Vince Clarke, or even Dave Stewart in early Eurythmics videos.

Great stuff, and I look forward to hearing more from the pair in future.



Northern Kind performed an absolutely blinding set. They played pretty much every track off of their brilliant new album 'WIRED:', together with a few choice cuts from the debut album '53 Degrees North'.

The end of their set was greeted with tumultuous applause and boisterous calls for an encore. Matt & Sarah appeared somewhat taken aback by this and seemed genuinely to have not been expecting to perform an encore.



I guess this is why we were treated to a second rendition of 'Dirty Youth', but nobody minded - we simply could not get enough of NK. I'm sure that they are going to go down an absolute storm in their support slot on forthcoming Kajagoogoo tour.




I have to mention the great DJ sets delivered by Orac and Chi. Some of the DJs on past EY events have, for me, been a bit hit-and-miss, and seemed to have run out of steam fairly soon after the headline band had finished their set.

However, Orac and Chi entertained us all with a brilliant mix of old and new, and managed to keep the atmosphere rocking until inevitably, and with much regret, we all had to leave when the venue closed.






However, the highlight of the evening for me was winning what was billed as 'the only copy of EY Vol 1 in Western Europe'!

I've been anxiously waiting to hear this for well over a year now ever since it was first announced.

Having now played it at full blast numerous times at home, in the car, and on my MP3 player at work, I can honestly say that it was well worth the wait. If EY Vol 1 was a stick of rock, it would have QUALITY written all the way through the middle of it.

I can't wait for Vol 2! And, of course, for EY6!

Greek Sensations Marsheaux are one of the most popular acts to feature on EY in recent years - and the girls are back with 'Lumineux Noir' - the astonishing follow-up to 2007's 'Peek A Boo'.

German label Out Of Line are scheduled to release one of this year's most eagerly awaited albums in late summer shortly after the CD single release of 'Breakthrough' - that comes with a most spectacular extended Marshy remix - sadly this mix is missing from the Amazon mp3 bundle which is available to download from May 29th,.

'Lumineux Noir' is many things...

It's a collection of shimmering beauty and pulsating oscilators that purr and buzz to some very seductive vox and complex hooks . It will warm your hearts whilst 'Sorrow' will send shivers down your neck with it's haunting analogue strings.


Depeche fans might notice one or two loving nods to tracks like 'In Your Room' on 'Sorrow' or the early innovation of OMD on 'Thousand Leds' but our current personal fave is 'So Far', the track that Stuart Maconie requested a copy of at EY4 last month with it's crunchy Rex The Dog bassline and quite possibly... the finest Marsheaux chorus to date.

Girls really do sound and look better with synths....

To celebrate this forthcoming release, UNDO records have created a special extended remix of the insanely memorable ' Lumineux Noir' track entitled 'Summer' which is just one of many analogue stompers (and future classics) from the new Marsheaux album.




The 'Summer' Forum Extended Mix is available from today to download free to members of the official Marsheaux forum - a place full of lively, yet warm debates on all things analogue - old and new from Mode right up to Little Boots and La Roux.
The remix download will also be available to new members and it takes just a few seconds to sign up to the official Marsheaux forum.

To grab this exclusive new mix from those very talented Undo people, simply hit on this link for these are good times to be a fully fledged Electrohead

(With thanks to Rob R & Undo)

EY Single Of The Week

We've been waiting for a YouTube clip of this track for some time but here's Norwegian knob fiddlers Royksopp performing their astonishing new single 'The Girl and the Robot' with Sweden's lovely Robyn.

This was Royksopp's first live TV appearence in over seven years according to the blurb on YouTube.

This track sounds like the League's 'Don't You Want Me'...on acid with some curious chord changes and Robyn is the perfect choice on lead vox.

Let us all pray that this gem get's some decent radio play here in the UK. 'The Girl And The Robot' deserves to be massive. Please play the link opposite and enjoy :)

Coming up....thoughts on an electric and hot night at EY5 with superb live sets from Northern Kind and Katja Von Kassel!

EY returned tonight to a damp and grey Ascot after a week of glorious hot weather and clear blue skies in Amsterdam and Athens where we were well looked after by Marsheaux and Undo Records.

We attended the open air DM concert at Terra Vibe Park that was cancelled around 9.30pm on Tuesday evening after Dave Gahan was rushed to hospital just minutes before he was due to go on stage to a capacity crowd of over 20,000 Devotees.

There was such a huge buzz of anticipation from this audience prior to the worrying news from the tour's promoter that Dave had been taken ill.
On a personal level, it was quite surreal to witness such a sudden change of atmosphere amongst so many people.

Dave has since been diagnosed with gastroenteritis and in light of this, five more dates have now been cancelled including those that were due to take place in Turkey, Romania, Bulgaria, Serbia, Croatia.

Image opposite - DM are presented with beautifully designed gold discs from EMI Greece backstage at Terra Vibe Park. This photo was taken just a few hours before the gig was eventually cancelled following Dave's illness.

Image © Larkis


News of Dave's illness has been covered extensively across the world's media including here in the UK on the BBC and NME websites .

EY would like to wish Dave a very speedy recovery.

We will have more thoughts and pics plus Marsheaux with 'EY VOL 1' once we return from....

Finally tonight before we watch the season finale of EY's top telly prog 'Fringe'...here's some more REAL electro that doesn't use Presets or anything naff like that and it's EY's Single Of The Bloomin' Month - presented here via a direct embedded YouTube link to La Roux's 'Bulletproof'.

This will be a BIG fat analogue hit and we love the fact that La Roux is annoying one or two peple in various music forums across the land.

Pop music is BACK...rejoice...rejoice ;)

orac

'Bulletproof' has been an EY fave for several weeks now as a 'rough' demo version whilst the official debut single 'In For The Kill' has dominated the UK Top 40, hovering a few sales from the top spot for the third consecutive week.

There was much excitement in EY HQ today with news that the BBC today had the world online exclusive for the brand new La Roux video knowing that the single mix will differ in places from the demo version we already cherish.


We are pleased to report that the new video for 'Bulletproof' looks as though it has a decent budget with some PSB 'Can You Forgive Her' CGI thrown in for good measure.

Other than the pretty Rubic Cube shapes, we also adore La Roux's Studio Line hair but ultimately, like the previous single, it's all down to how blindingly brilliant the song is and 'Bulletproof' is wonderous pop with a chorus to die for and adorable little Human League MK1 bleepy effects (and even a touch of SAW produced Dead Or Alive?).



'Bulletproof' is one of EY's most played songs and we really urge you all to click on the video grab opposite that will whisk you away to some of the finest analogue pop this decade.
The video also comes with a new La Roux interview over on BBC's Newsbeat where the flame haired one talks about people's love/hate reactions to her 'marmite' voice amongst other things.


Luckily, EY loves Marmite and hates The X-Factor.

Related link:
La Roux 'Bulletproof' video premier

ROCKTASTIC NME takes a few seconds out from covering dullard guitar bands to look at the biggest UK chart battle since OASIS and BLUR back in 1995 - the one between BBC Sound of 2009 finalists - Little Boots & La Roux.


Both girls are part of 'The L-Word' and both were brought up to the sound of the synthesizer and both artists are heaven sent to EY.






The NME has posted a fascinating Little Boots vs La Roux article where two of the most eagerly awaiting debut albums are forced into battle - track by track - and the only winner can be...ANALOGUE!

Here's NME's verdict in the battle between the Little Boots duet with Sir Philip Oakey 'Symmetry' and La Roux's 'Fascination'....(Keep Feeling Analogue)



Little Boots: 'Symmetry'. Oh, it's a duet with Phil Oakey. He even does a spoken-word middle-eight. Could this BE any more '80s? No, it couldn't.
La Roux: 'Fascination'. Another inarguable pop depth-charge, although her voice is sounding more shrieky with each passing track.
Verdict: You can see why 'In For The Kill' was initially rejected by Radio 1 for sounding 'too tinny'. There is something lightweight about LR's production. Even so, her song is the stronger of the two, 80s cameo or no.
Winner: La Roux!





To get the very first track by track guide to both albums from NME, please click here.

NME Useless pop fact: La Roux's mum played Sergeant June Ackland in ITV's 'The Bill'
EY Useless TV fact: the script editor on the first season of 'The Bill' was 'Blake's 7' genius Chris Boucher who lives just up the road from EY HQ

EY has an absolute manic week ahead. Amsterdam on Friday followed by a trip to Athens a few days later from Gatwick where Orac will meet up with Marsheaux and Chi to see the Mighty Depeche Mode live next Tuesday.
EY then returns to Blighty for EY5 next Friday and the album launch for EY001 - Northern Kind's 'Wired'.

But before Orac reaches for supplies of Pro-Plus, Chi Ming Lai gives a track by track guide to an album that really should have performed better in the UK album charts together with a UK electro band who are just about to make their BBC 6-Music debut...



Royksopp - Junior


Norwegian duo ROYKSOPP, Svein Berge & Torbjorn Brundtland have recently returned with a new album 'Junior'.
Following their electric dreams and in true EY synchronicity, the album features a number of guest female vocals from Karin Dreijer-Andersson of THE KNIFE, LYKKE LI and ROBYN plus their long time collaborator Anneli Drecker.


Also featuring prominently on 'Junior' is Davide Rossi from GOLDFRAPP's live band who contributes the beautiful string arrangements.

Their last underrated collection 'The Understanding' saw them move away from the 'chill-out' movement which they were lumped into with AIR, LEMON JELLY and ZERO7 after their superb debut 'Melody AM'. However, the shoulder slung synth on the cover reveals this album's intentions.
Like its predecessor, 'Junior' adds more sequenced analogue riffage to the quirky edge that can only come from long winter nights in Scandinavia. But where it differs is in the shorter, sharper arrangements for a more instantly coherent collection.

Here's a track-by-track guide in a month where sections of the rock fraternity have been complaining that the charts currently look like we're back in 1982...as if that was a bad thing!??!!

Happy Up Here

A short TALKING HEADS style pseudo funk opener with PARLIAMENT samples and lots of those synthetic brass sounds from the 80s. With everything in place, this sets the scene for the album proper.



The Girl And The Robot (feat. Robyn)

The electroclash intro sounds like 'Don't You Want Me' crossed with BOBBY O's 'I'm So Hot For You' (which borrowed from it in the first place!) ROBYN gives a good performance and tells of the usual sexual taboos between woman and machine! Boosted by some lovely strings similar to her own 'With Every Heartbeat', this is warm danceable electro at its best.

Vision One (feat. Anneli Drecker)

The intro is the only point where the tempo and ambient textures go down to the levels of debut 'Melody AM'. Then a crunchy beat laden sequence emerges complimented by Anneli's soaring higher register vocals.

This Must Be It (feat. Karin Dreijer-Andersson)

Driven along by a classic octave shift bassline, Karin adds her unique vocal histrionics which have made THE KNIFE such fascinating, if occasionally difficult listening. However, with ROYKSOPP's synthetic material behind her, this collaboration is more accessible, suitable for the dancefloor as well as headphones.



Royksopp Forever

The duo celebrate themselves with this string laden instrumental which has synthesizer solos...yes solos that blend well with the bright orchestrations. It builds up like a mini-symphony as the cellos, violins and violas dominate.


Miss It So Much (feat. Lykke Li)

Recorded before her recent fame, this wonderful rhythm stutter benefits greatly from LYKKE LI's lost girl wisp.
Accompanied by lots of touching Farfisa vibrato, Messrs Berge and Brundtland obviously know a great talent when they hear one.



Tricky Tricky (feat. Karin Dreijer-Andersson)

Possibly the highlight of 'Junior', a fabulous solid electro blow-out forms the heart of this synthy crescendo built around Karin's eccentric charms. Fuzzy logic fills the spaces and just when you think it's stopped, Karin tells us how it's all getting a bit 'tricky tricky' with a very strange ending!

Weird but wonderful.


You Don't Have A Clue (feat. Anneli Drecker)

More glorious melodic electro pop in the classic Nordic tradition with added vocal wailing from Anneli to give it that windy edge. It's simply beautiful.



Silver Cruiser

Similar in some ways to the swung machine rhythm of 'Triumphant' from 'The Understanding' with it's classical piano but with less tension, it's not quite as dramatic as its 2005 cousin.

True To Life (feat. Anneli Drecker)

Anneli makes an echoey return with a slightly off-kilter electronic groove with muted guitars sounds building to yet another electro crescendo. ROYKSOPP are masters of building up tracks while maintaining the all important atmospherics.

It's What I Want

With a digital drum machine, pulsing synths and ROYKSOPP themselves on lead vocals, this closer is the track most based on the traditional European blueprint of electronic music. It's quite possibly an 'I Want More' by CAN for the 21st Century!

Chi's EY Rating: 8 out of 10

Related links:
Royksopp @ myspace
Purchase 'Junior'

Together with The Hacker, Switzerland's leading electro lady Miss Kittin provided some of the most seminal electronic cuts of this decade.

Tracks such as the cheeky 'Frank Sinatra' and '1982' provided a much needed shot of DIY back to basics electro after the dreary 90's when every other dance track relied heavily on samples of classic songs from the previous decade.


Miss Kittin AKA Caroline Herve was a blueprint for all the delightful new electro acts that followed and now the pouting Swiss girl is back with an absolute career best in the tasty form of new single '1000 Dreams'.







You can't go wrong with the pulsating sequenced opening note of the League's 'Open Your Heart' and some stunning vocals from Miss Kitten over a very catchy analogue lead - but the song really comes to life 41 seconds after the first verse with some of the most brilliantly tingly analogue chords and a chorus that could have come from Talk Talk's Mark Hollis between 1982 & 84.
Astonishing pop!

This is really what it's all about - simple, yet amazingly effective and very, very memorable.

Other artists will be covering this song fifteen years from now... we firmly believe this having blasted out the track 20 times or more today.

If Radio One learn from the mistake of ignoring La Roux first time round (people should be sacked for that ) and playlist '1000 Dreams' , Miss Kittin will have a massive hit here in the UK with this song.




EY Rating 9/10


(With thanks to Matt Nida)



DM - Universal Appeal



Depeche scored their biggest Billboard album entry since 1993 when 'Sounds Of The Universe' was the highest new entry at Number 3 - DM's best week in the US since 'Songs Of Faith & Devotion' went straight into the charts at Number 1.



Rather predictably, SOTU dropped out of the top 10 in it's second week of release here in the UK despite a very good slot on the Jools Holland show but the album continues to do good business across Europe and beyond where it has reached number one in over 20 countries.

The Telegraph recently celebrated the coming together of two electro legends in the form of a joint interview with DM and Ladytron who will be providing live support on a few of the Eastern European Mode dates.

The following paragraph was the source of much amusement here in EY HQ:

'Fletcher tells Ladytron: 'I think it's very brave of you to use analogue keyboards live because early on in our career we had so many problems with them.' 'Like what?' asks Mira Aroyo. 'Like being able to play 'em,' Gahan smirks.'

For more plus revelations of how DM's and Tron's synths both suffered from technical faults when members of Kraftwerk were in the audience, please follow this link.

(With thanks to Wout)

La Roux continues to hang on to number 2 in the UK singles chart for the third consecutive week and looks destined to be one of those great hit singles like Ultravox's 'Vienna' that stalled at number 2 for several weeks back in 1981.

'Vienna' was destined for Number One but was ultimately thwarted by an Australian living in London pretending to be an Italian by the name of Joe Dolce.

La Roux has come out fighting by attacking all that is wrong with modern pop (including The Saturdays) in a recent interview with the The Daily Record - upsetting quite a few fans of manufactured pop over in the mighty Popjustice forum.

Read Elly's 'scandalous' comments that have caused much pop fury here.

For the record, EY also thinks that The Saturdays are a big bag of steaming shite too...and La Roux can do no wrong in our wide eyes.



And finally....EY would like to give a big warm hug to Ladyhawke whose debut has finally reached the top 20 album chart here in Blighty some 34 weeks after it was first released.
Ladyhawke sold over 8,000 copies last week to move up to a career high of 16 and the album is just one or two sales away from hitting a silver disc for shifting 100.000 units.

EY knew it would get there in the end ;)

Note to Island Records: now all it needs to break the top 10 is for 'Magic' to be released as a single......

o r a c

For the past week, EY has been lost deep within the lavishly packaged deluxe edition of 'Sounds Of The Universe' which is quite possibly the finest boxset of it's kind since the dawn of electro.

The album has had a rough ride in some quarters despite some career best reviews from the UK press but EY even loved the 'rough' demo version that leaked a month or so ago that clicked for us whilst eating the finest potato salad and sipping chilled wine in Germany earlier this month.

For a few days last week, Mode were clinging on to the number 1 slot in the UK album charts. Popstar present and future - Lady GaGa piped Mode later in the week and the Basildon innovators eventually had to settle for Number 2 which still makes this the finest week in terms of album sales for DM since Ultra stormed to the top back in 1997.

News of the album's success has quickly shifted attention from 'Wrong' which became the first opening single not to make the UK Top 20 with zero help from radio though the track is doing stunning things across Europe whilst the new album has topped the charts in Germany, Austria, Italy, Switzerland, Belgium, Mexico, Sweden, Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland.

Mute UK have also this week confirmed that the next single to be lifted from SOTU is the spine tingly EY fave ' Peace' with some of Mode's best lines - ' look at the frequencies in which I vibrate' along with ' there is a radar in my heart I should have trusted from the start' to some gorgeous analogue chords and bleepy BBC Radiophonic Workshop sound effects straight out of the late 70s.

Described by UK tabloid The Sun as a ' stunning electro-hymn' along with equal praise from The Sunday Times Culture who declare the new single as 'the album's most beautiful song', 'Peace' is released on June 15th.





Depeche Mode made a very rare live TV appearance on UK TV this week for BBC-2's Later With Jools Holland.

We don't have the space for a TV goggle box here at EY due to all the hi-tech gadgetry that builds and powers this site but EY reader Steve Gray who was one of the lucky few to grab some rare tickets for the recorded at television center - a building so fondly remembered for the recording of ' Blake's 7' back in the late 70's and of course ' Top Of The Pops' (and we think that both shows should jolly well be brought back this instant!).


Steve has very kindly sent us a review of this special night plus some initial thoughts on the stunning live return of Ultravox who may just have grabbed the gig of the year so far....




Hi Rob


I thought the Ultravox gig was stunning. The set list was perfect and the atmosphere was
euphoric.



It felt like my first ever Ultravox gig as, like Chi, the only time I'd seen them previously was on the ill-judged U-Vox tour in 1986... and I really don't think that counts!









Perhaps great electro nights are like buses; you wait for ages, and then two come along at once. For the last few days I've been buzzing from just how good Ultravox were, and then last night I was lucky enough to go to the recording of Later with Jools Holland, featuring the mighty DM!




I have to give my other half the credit for not only blagging the tickets, but getting us into the front row directly next to DM! It was amazing - and quite surreal - to see them in action so close up. I have to admit when I first walked into the studio and straight past Dave Gahan, my heart skipped a beat!




We were in the studio for over an hour and a half, as the long show for Friday is recorded first, followed by the live show at 10pm. The band were on great form, looking relaxed and joking with each other between songs. There was an amusing moment during the live show when
Fletch disappeared!  




An anxious looking floor manager came over to Dave pointing at the empty podium, only a minute or two before they are due to perform 'Personal Jesus'.

There were whispers of "Where's Fletch?" and much shrugging of shoulders. Luckily he returned from his 'comfort break' just in time to resume his place for the climax to he show!




You will have seen the band play 'Wrong' and 'Personal Jesus' on the show last night. But be sure to watch the long version of the show on Friday, as they also played 'Come Back' from the new album, and a stunning rendition of 'Walking In My Shoes' featuring some full-on Dave
Gahan action!!

Don't miss it!




UK readers can catch the DM 'Later' performance on the BBC iPlayer here for the next few days.






EY Records first(?) single release is a monster-maxi CD single of Parralox classic ' Sharper Than A Knife' and to promote this moment of analogue pop brilliance, Parralox's John Von Ahlen has been interviewed by the US blog OlgaLovesYuri.


It is always fascinating to read up on the artists that have inspired others and whilst John is passionate about the innovators of this wonderous analogue genre, John also enthuses about the new wave that has been covered extensively since 2006 here at EY...



Y: If you had to limit your favorite artists/bands to just 3, which ones would they be and why?
JVA: That's such an unfair question that I will have to change it! Here we go.

1) Depeche Mode because of Martin Gore's sublime songwriting (although perhaps
not so much on the new album) and Alan Wilder / Gareth Jones / Daniel Millers
amazing musical input. The first Depeche song I bought was 'Just Can't Get Enough' and I have been a devoted fan ever since.

2) The Human League, because of the combination of synths, pop sentiment and futurism. This applies equally to both incarnations of THL (pre/post Ware/Marsh). The Human League were the band that catalyzed my love of electronic music and ever since I heard TTTDAMO 'Love and Dancing' remix in December 1982 I knew what I would be doing for the rest of my life.



3) Marsheaux & Northern Kind. These are the new breed of synth bands, and they have taken a lifetime of influences and turned it into something original and beautiful. Some people think it's easy to write pop music, but it isn't.

You really have to work hard at it. I know both of these bands work extremely hard at their craft and the fact that I listen to their music on a nearly daily basis means that I love them!



4) Propaganda / Heaven 17 / Blancmange / Pet Shop Boys / Thompson Twins. I grew
up with this music and it's like a drug when I listen to these songs. Forget all about the rubbish 80's sentimentality. The fact is that these bands wrote amazing songs that stood the test of time, and married it with amazing musical production that I still try to emulate.

5) The Knife. I'll be honest and say that this band is what I would love Parralox to be. I can’t help but write pop kind of sounding songs, so that kind of rules it out - but I can always dream. I think if Salvador Dali made music, then it might sound a little like The Knife.

Full the full interview including news on the next Parralox album, please visit OlgaLovesYuri via this link



Parralox are holding a remix competition for the new album tentatively titled 'State Of Decay' which will have the EY catalogue of EY003.

If you fancy having a remix on what will be another big release for us, Parralox are offering remix kits to DJs and Producers or any aspiring EY reader.


Simply email the band at parralox@parralox.com and you will be sent a link to a special remix page on the official site. The competition closes on June 30th 2009

ULTRAVOX made their return to the London stage to celebrate the 30th anniversary of their Mk2 hit incarnation with the 'Return To Eden' tour.

They were one of the most consistent of the new wave of 80's synthesizer bands who fused German influenced electronics and Bela Bartok with an edgy rock dynamic; indeed they flaunted their Conny Plank-led influences with pre-show music from MICHAEL ROTHER, LA DUSSELDORF and of course NEU!

In their prime, they scored 12 consecutive Top 30 hits in a highly competitive era. Since the 1986 split, frontman Midge Ure has firmly established himself as a solo act and saintly figure (thanks to his association with Sir Bob Geldof and the Band aid Trust). But this reformation was not only significant for reuniting him with the erstwhile 'Jimi Hendrix of the synthesizer' Billy Currie and bass man Chris Cross, but also the 'Brezhnev of the Beat Box' Warren Cann who was unceremoniously fired from the band before the disasterous 'folk/brass/rock/orchestral' album 'U-Vox'.
That these four strong minded individuals have taken to the stage together is no mean feat in itself judging by the well documented fall outs.

And tonight, they didn't disappoint. As befits a celebratory show, ULTRAVOX delivered their strongest material from the 'Vienna', 'Rage In Eden', 'Quartet' and 'Lament' albums, with the focus firmly on the first two.

In this period, they were a highly stylised outfit wearing their intelligence on the sleeves. They had Peter Saville designed record sleeves, lavish stage sets and self-directed promo videos, all with a thoughtful continuity throughout.


The live presentation consisted of the now ubiquitous video screens but also use of stark lighting which tended to focus away from the band but allowed the music to take centre stage.

At their peak, ULTRAVOX had 27 keyboards and gadgets on stage including ARP Odysseys, Minimoogs, PPGs, Emulators, Yamaha CS/CP series keyboards and Warren Cann's infamous 'Iron Lung'.

Modern technology has now enabled the set-up to be reduced to a few workstations and Macs but it still sounded as grandiose as ever.

ULTRAVOX have a very symphonic style of playing thanks to Billy Currie's classical training. Jumping from screeching synth solo, electric violin and piano modes, Currie was as intense as ever. His pre-production work into individual sounds has made them as authentic as could be possible.

Doubling between bass guitar and his trademark triggered bass synth which came to the fore on 'I Remember Death In The Afternoon' and 'We Stand Alone' was Mr Chris Cross. These days looking more like Pete Waterman and a psychotherapist for the last 20 years, it was his appearance on the leaked YouTube rehearsal video clips in 2008 that confirmed in EY's eyes that an ULTRAVOX reformation was all but inevitable.

One of the highlights of the evening was the robotic 'Mr X', a futuristic spy story with its roots in the JOHN FOXX era of the band (check out 'Touch & Go' from 'Metamatic' if you're unsure) voiced by drummer Warren Cann.

Cann's contribution to ULTRAVOX has often been understated but he was one of the pioneers of modern electronic percussion and wrote a large portion of lyrics to hit songs such as 'Sleepwalk' and 'All Stood Still'.




A tall, silent type; he still maintained the cool persona of the videos although he did look worn out at the end of the set, having given up the drums 20 years ago.

Meanwhile, Midge Ure had that air of head boy at the school reunion. He was in fine voice, hitting all those big notes but also showing off his talents as a versatile musical all rounder.

Excelling on guitar and synthesizer, he reminded us of the talent that not only drove ULTRAVOX, but also fuelled VISAGE as well as other single projects with PHIL LYNOTT ('Yellow Pearl') and MICK KARN ('After A Fashion').

Of course, VISAGE was the catalyst that led him to working with Billy Currie and being invited to replace John Foxx in the Mk2 line-up.

In the tour programme, Ure remarked that whenever he plays ULTRAVOX songs at his solo gigs, it always sounds different. ULTRAVOX were the sum of four parts, they only made 'that' noise when they were together. And here he was, relishing in the opportunity to play these magnificent songs the way they were meant to be heard; with the people who helped create them.

Predictably, the biggest cheers were for 'Dancing with Tears In My Eyes' and the 'Bohemian Rhapsody' of the New Romantic generation 'Vienna'.

However, ULTRAVOX were able to show there was more to them than these two massive hits. 'Lament' & 'Visions In Blue' took things down to a elegiac mood with lots of dry ice in misty abundance while 'Passing Strangers' remains the great lost single.


'The Thin Wall' and quasi-religious 'Hymn' were power personified with their big 'neu musik' arrangements while 'Reap The Wild Wind' showed the catchy European melodic tradition from which ULTRAVOX are rooted. There was a brief neo-SIMPLE MINDS moment ('let me see your hands!') during 'One Small Day' where they rocked out to submission.

All the major hits were played, but with one glaring omission...'Love's Great Adventure' which apparently the band no longer like!

Otherwise, it was a near perfect set with some brave choices starting with the brilliant lengthy instrumental 'Astradyne' and including moodier material such as the 'Rage In Eden' title track, complete with its iconic sleeve back projection and the sparse nervous breakdown of 'Your Name Has Slipped My Mind Again'.

To close, ULTRAVOX encored with 'Sleepwalk' and an updated reprise of the 'Monument The Soundtrack' version of 'The Voice'. Complete with all the band members pounding electronic drums in syncopation, it was a dramatic climax! Yes, a bunch of old guys (Ure is the youngest member at 55!) can make a hell of an electronic racket. The sound was crystal clear and loud, a perfect balance of synths, drums and guitars. It makes you realise where MUSE have got some of their ideas from! Just listen to the bass synth section on 'Apocalypse Please'...'Oh Vienna'!

This magnificent show totally erased memories of the appalling 'U-Vox' tour in November 1986 at Wembley Arena which was my only previous exposure to the ULTRAVOX live experience.



'Return To Eden' has allowed a small rewriting of history...a jigsaw sequence but no-one could see the end.




A special mention must be made of Cerise Reed and her team at the Official ULTRAVOX website 'Extreme Voice'' for their very friendly pre-show event Voxgate which featured a short set from tribute band MONUMENT.

They were very good, especially their vocalist and were far more enjoyable than the acoustic nightmare we got that was the actual support act. And also to Demitri who had come all the way from Russia for the gig and noticed the PARRALOX CD in my bag. Turns out he's an avid EY reader.

It is apt to end with some words from 'New Europeans' (which wasn't played incidentally) which could so easily about us here at EY: 'his modern world revolves around the synthesizer's song'

Ultravox website: www.ultravox.org.uk

Ultravox live EY rating: 9/10


Words: Chi Ming Lai

Update constructed by a pollen inflicted Orac toDepeche Mode's 'Sound Of The Universe (Deluxe)

Electro's first lady of 2009 Lady Victoria has this week released details of one of the most eagerly awaited electro albums of 2009.

The Little Boots debut entitled 'Hands' features most of the tracks that have been circulating as demos over the past year including EY faves 'Stuck On Repeat', 'Meddle', 'The Knife-esque 'Mathmatics' and future number one single 'Earthquake'.

Human League legend Philip Oakey also lends his vox of the future to Popjustice fave 'Symmetry' that was recorded earlier this year.

'Hands' is released in the UK on June 8th and the first single to be lifted from the Boots debut is 'New In Town' on May 25th.


The full tracklisting is now confirmed as:

1. New In Town
2. Earthquake
3. Stuck On Repeat
4. Click
5. Remedy
6. Meddle
7. Ghosts
8. Mathematics
9. Symmetry
10. Tune Into My Heart
11. Hearts Collide
12. No Brakes





Click here and listen to a short teaser for the track 'Symmetry'.

Related Links:

Official Little Boots forum
Official Little Boots website




La Roux at Number 2!!


Congratulations to La Roux who this week moves up to Number 2 in the midweek UK charts with one of the best singles in years - 'In For The Kill'.

In the past week, EY has heard two motorists blasting out the Skream remix whilst stuck in traffic in UK locations as glamorous as Wokingham and Bracknell during hazy Spring evenings.


Something big is happening here.



Electro pretender Calvin Harris is still holding on to the top spot but for EY - La Roux is the real thing...and should be Number One.



The forthcoming single is called 'Bulletproof' - and we think it's even better than 'In For The Kill'.

You can find the demo quite easily via Google. Check it out and be amazed.

Depeche Mode have premiered their 12th studio album 'Sounds Of The Universe' exclusively to NME.COM today several days ahead of the official worldwide release date of April 21st.

Contrasting versions of the album were leaked three weeks ago which initially led some into thinking that DM had gone for a sparser 'lo-fi' feel much like 2001's 'Exciter' or 'Ultra' but having just given the final studio version on NME a good blast, EY noticed many sonic differences and plenty of gorgeous analogue textures.

We've been enjoying the leaked version for a few weeks now (we can admit to this as we have the deluxe boxset on order from the Mute shop) and we believe the album to be a real grower that reveals more with repeated listens but we do love the proper studio mix even more.
Tracks such as 'Come Back' and 'Fragile Tension' (which was shockingly awful when first leaked) are all vibrant and most agreeable over on the NME player.

Quite a few reviews are stating similarities between Mode's 12th album and 1990' 'Violator'. Despite all the welcome electronics and Radiophonic Pulses, 'Sounds Of The Universe' probably owes a lot more to 1993's 'Songs Of Faith & Devotion' .
We think this new record contains Gahan's finest vocals in years and it certainly doesn't all click into place on the first listen - some patience is required before it pulls you in.

If you were a little undecided and non-plused by the recent leaked album, do jump over to this link (with some wine) and have a good few listens.

EY fully expects 'Sounds Of The Universe' to deliver Mode with their first Number One album in the UK since 1997's 'Ultra'.




UK broadsheet The Telegraph awarded 'SOTU' 5/5 over the weekend and you can read their thoughts on the latest DM album album via this link.

The greatest album cover of 2009?



La Roux is still clinging on to Number 4 in the UK singles charts with 'In For The Kill' and there are even some believing that the flame haired one could grab the top spot within the next few weeks now that the single has belatedly been added to the Radio One A-List.

As a result of all this unexpected but much welcomed success, La Roux has pushed back the release of the brilliant 'Bulletproof' (which we think is even better than the current single) and her much anticipated debut album - now scheduled for late June.

Popjustice gave the album 8/10 putting it on par with the new Little Boots album which is also out in June - a very special month as it's orac's birthday.

Popjustice also posted the La Roux album cover and we love it here at EY.

Best album cover in years....

It's been an embarrassment of riches this weekend in the world of electro.

EY were in a real dilemma. LITTLE BOOTS was playing at the University of High Wycombe while MARSHEAUX were playing at an alternative electro festival in Germany. Who'd have thought EY would actually have to choose between their favourite electro maidens one day?

So EY's Orac and Chi Ming Lai flew over to Krefeld, birthplace of KRAFTWERK founder member Ralf Hutter, to see MARSHEAUX perform songs from forthcoming album 'Lumineux Noir' to a live audience for the first time.

Indeed, the weekend was full of Klingklang historical significance as EY landed at Koln-Bonn airport; the terminal building's architect was the father of KRAFTWERK's Florian Schneider! It was all a good sign...here's Chi's report:

Krefeld's Kulturfabrik played host to 'Pluswelt Festival VIII'' an event not dissimilar to the UK's 'Infest' which MARSHEAUX played last summer. A disused abattoir with its giant scales still in place, it certainly fitted in with the Goth demeanour of most of the audience who had come to see DEPECHE MODE influenced industrial rockers MESH and DE/VISION with close relatives TENEK opening proceedings.

But on stage before MARSHEAUX were Polish duo NUNIQ (formally NUN) who were the first act ever to be covered by 'Electronically Yours' outside of the HUMAN LEAGUE/HEAVEN 17 axis in 2006.

NUNIQ now have a more 90s techno dance sound which worked well on their cover of NEW ORDER's 'Bizarre Love Triangle'. Not ones to hide their influences, they also gave us a snatch of GARY NUMAN's 'Cars' as an intro to their closing number.

MARSHEAUX took to the stage shortly after, augmented as usual by George and Nik from FOTONOVELA. Modelling very stylish blue dresses and looking as glamourous as ever, Sophie and Marianthi gave the occasionally dour crowd some of the darker favourites from their wonderful electro catalogue.

These included 'Hanging On', 'Tonight', 'Dream Of A Disco', 'Love Under Pressure', 'What A Lovely Surprise', 'Ghost' and evergreen 'Empire State Human'.

But in keeping towards 'dressed in black' tone of the event, the girls treated us to magnificent 'Breakthrough' which has been premiered on MySpace and the previously unheard 'Radial Emotion' from the new album.





Both sounded fantastic but 'Radial Emotion' probably stole the show.

Out of the speakers came Atari game samples, fabulously noisy analogue oscillations and riffage, sweet vocal melodies and a thumping syncopated electro rhythm.

This, all in one song! The much maligned old-fashioned word that springs to mind is HIT!

It's always difficult to debut an unreleased song to a live audience but the girls held their nerve. 'Radial Emotion' was a perfect showcase for 'Lumineux Noir' which is now expected to be released by Out of Line Records in late July. It all bodes well for what could be the body of work that put could put MARSHEAUX into full international electro acclaim.

'Lumineux Noir' could be their 'Violator'.

Sophie said to me later that the direction for the new album was much harder, darker in tone and a lot less 'girly' as had been hinted at with the lavish 'Ghost'/'Bizarre Love Duo' seven-inch single.
The album hints at being more mature but in no way does this mean it going to be boring. Fully realised is perhaps a better description.

Sophie promised much noisier synthesizer sounds but all very much in a melodic context...thankfully, MARSHEAUX aren't about to do industrial loop music just yet!

Luckily, the MARSHEAUX electro family are still very much in love with electronic pop music. This was highlighted when they and NUNIQ got into a passionate, lively aftershow debate with EY about all things electro or otherwise. Hot topic was the new DEPECHE MODE album 'Sounds Of The Universe'.




Orac likes it and thinks it's a grower while George, Nik and Sophie aren't so sure. Myself, I think it's a bad sign when it appears the only two good tracks are a short instrumental and the Martin Gore ballad 'Jezebel'.

Meanwhile Marianthi, a big Mode fan, doesn't want to hear 'Sounds Of The Universe' for fear of being disappointed after all the (no pun intended) 'muted' reaction. But that's just our opinion! As MORRISSEY once sang 'why don't you find out for yourself?'

Other discussions among the gang included the rise of LITTLE BOOTS and LA ROUX, the forthcoming ULTRAVOX reunion tour, our favourite gigs and the merits of live recordings. Both Sophie and I don't particularly like them but when I declared U2's 'Under A Blood Red Sky' was my 'favourite' live album, Orac suddenly exclaimed 'YOU ARE F***ING JOKING!!' with a stunned look that will stay with me forever...if I ever need cheering up, I will always think back to this amusing moment ;)

So all in all, it was a fantastic weekend which Orac and I will never forget.

EY would like to thank the MARSHEAUX electro family Sophie, Marianthi, George, Nik and Kiki for keeping us entertained and looking after us at Pluswelt. Also Magdalena and Olaf from NUNIQ for a nice chat about flying the electro flag in Poland in the face of rockist adversity.

And last but not least, our German hosts Lola, Dirk and Nancy who kept us in Wurst, Schnitzel und Wein and without whom, the trip would have been a lot more difficult to put together. Sie sind super!!

PS Nik gave me a copy of his solo album 'Utopia' recorded under his moniker NIKONN. Can I just say this is a brilliant electronic chill-out classic in the style of WILLIAM ORBIT and MOBY.

I highly recommend you seek this gem out from those nice people at Undo Records.

Analogue legends The Human League have confirmed a very special East Anglian live date on July 9th as part of the Forestry Commission's annual Live Music programme.

The event takes place at High Lodge in the lush surroundings of Thetford Forest, Near Brandon, Suffolk.

EY will be heading out there to cover the event for the site on what promises to be a perfect summer evening of analogue electro. and chart hits that changed the face of pop forever.

Hue & Cry shall be providing the support and tickets for the event cost just 29.50 (subject to booking fee).

Tickets are available to buy directly from the Forestry Commission Box Office tel 01842 814612 or you can book online by jumping to this link.







Those lovely people at the Forestry Commission contacted EY recently to offer four guest passes to the League concert on July 6th for EY readers and all you have to do is send us your full name and postal address to us via this email link (competition closes 30/04/09).

Please mark your email entry with the header 'Human League live comp'.

The four lucky winners will be announced on EY on 01/05/09.


(With thanks to David Barrow, Forest Tour Programming)

Congratulations to David Magano Lozano of Spain, Simon Oliver of Nottinghamshire & Noel Gainsford of London who will all be receiving a free copy of the Region 2 DVD release of 'Electric Dreams' thought the post very shortly.

Happy Easter :)

Incoming EY update....Marsheaux in Germany!!! :)

EY is back in Blighty after a most magical holiday in Germany sipping fine wine to Ladyhawke and the new Depeche album and bopping along to the live debut of Marsheaux's pumping new track 'Radial Emotion'.

Chi Ming Lai is currently preparing an update of the Marsheaux gig and backstage party that will appear on EY very shortly.





Whilst we were away, EY4's trio of lovely ladies - Red Blooded Women premiered their stunning new promo video for the single 'Enjoy The Silence' filmed on location in London that impressed us greatly as we viewed it in Germany - a loving and stylish homage to the original Anton Corbijn DM video back in 1990.

To celebrate the single and it's success in the Music Week dance charts, Chi Ming Lai interviewed Liz and Candy shortly before we left for Germany in which the girls talk about their love for electro, DM and sneaking into 80's clubs at a tender age.....

Chi Ming Lai Hello Ladies, your brand new single is a brilliant cover of DEPECHE MODE's 'Enjoy The Silence'. The song so suits you. How did the idea for doing this first come
about?



Candy: Hi Chi and EY readers. Depeche Mode plus a pop girlband wouldn't equal to anything you have heard before (except now The Saturdays have decided to jump on the bandwagon!)

You would never assume that a pop group would take such a risk would you?


Let's face it, it was a risk but an exciting one at that. I guess we decided to record and release 'Enjoy The Silence' because we love synth, 80's pop and also because we wanna break the mould. And for the record, this has been in the bag since early 2008 so we're not copycats!!!

Liz: We knew we wanted to cover a song that we loved and from the era / style that we base ourselves on. We love Depeche Mode and The Human League, and at first we weren't sure we should do it because the original is sooo AMAZING.

We nearly didn't record it and were 99% set on doing Gwen Guthrie's 'Ain't Nothin' Goin' On But The Rent' but at the last minute, we had a change of heart. We know people might hate us for all eternity for doing it, and DM fans are precious of that song in particular, as we are.

But we worked with Trademark on it and they made the song come alive, we feel so proud of it! The reaction we had at EY3 gave us goosebumps and that's when we decided to make it the single!

Chi: I'm so pleased you didn't do Gwen Guthrie. Your version of 'Enjoy The Silence' does differ slightly in that the percussion sounds like a 'live' drum kit while the distinctive synth choral parts have been replaced by your own lovely voices. How did you and your producers work together to put together a new version that could be different, but still able to retain the magnificent essence of the original?



Liz: Trademark, who are massive fans of the song too, have an amazing talent and vision when it comes to music. The main difference we had to work with was that the original is a male vocal so our main aim was to give it a feminine twist.

That was where the first idea to make the synth bits choral-like came from; it sounds like we''re in a nunnery haha! We didn't want to change too much, but we still wanted it to feel our own, so we gave it more of an indie sounding percussion than the original.



Candy: We have fantastically talented producers. Our life revolves around writing, singing and performing and theirs.....well, they never leave the studio!!!! Hahaha, if I couldn't sleep for example, I'd make my way to the studio at 3am and the lads would be in there working!

They love what they do and are so good at experimenting with sounds that compliment our vocals. We didn't want to alter the original track; we just wanted to put an RBW stamp on it. I think we have done it so well and we friggin' love how it sounds!

Chi: How did you feel when 'Enjoy The Silence' was so well received on its live debut at EY3?

Liz: As I said, we nearly didn't even record it, but when we found out the EY3 night had a DM theme, it was like a sign!! We were really nervous about doing it, even though we love it. We expected a few DM fans to throw beer cans at us haha! We could not have predicted the AMAZING response that it received, the whole crowd literally broke into song with us, and it was INCREDIBLE!!!

After we'd finished, we just grabbed each other and hugged! It sounds so cheesy but it was a really emotional feeling, so thank you to everyone who was there, it was the best!!!

Candy: Crikey oh Riley! The encore alone was enough to make me cry, but the reaction from the crowd while we sang 'Enjoy The Silence' was simply moving! We were singing and at the same time, the entire venue was singing with us. It felt overwhelming and made me so proud of us, all the hard work and our incredible fans.

It was amazing. We love EY as the readers are just as passionate about it all as we are. It was a fab night, and probably my favourite gig to date.

Chi: You're all very young and you must have been in infants school when 'Enjoy The Silence' won the 1991 Brit Award for 'Best Single'! So how did you first hear of DEPECHE MODE and apart from 'Enjoy The Silence', do you have any other DM favourites?

Candy: I am slightly older than Liz. I am the responsible one (cough! cough!) and my first memory of Depeche Mode was on my cassette album 'Now That's What I Call Music!' I have an older sister who is also in the industry so she collected them all. It must have been on the 'Now 1984' album....'Master and Servant'?

But my favourite song (apart from "ETS') would be 'Just Cant Get Enough', I love how there is a strong English accent in all their songs!

Liz: Haha, yes, yes! So we're all early 20s and people often think we're just three gals who don't really know much about music. I can't tell you much about Metal or Classical music but I KNOW MY 80s!!!! :)

I grew up with Wham, The Thompson Twins, DM and The Human League blaring at me in the kitchen when I 'helped' my mum make dinner!! I also used to sneak out on a Thursday night when I was 16 to this 80s club where I lived. I couldn't get into the regular clubs, because I looked really young.

But at this club, everyone was at least 35, so the bouncers must have thought no one younger than 21 would try to sneak in haha!!! I remember drinking Bacardi Breezers and dancing to 'Personal Jesus' and A-ha's 'Take On Me'! GOOD TIMES!!!

Chi: 'Enjoy The Silence' comes in a variety of remixes including EY faves Parralox who you played EY3 with. Which version is your own favourite and why?


Liz: I'm in LOOVVVEEEE with the Bassmonkeys' Remix. It's EPIC!!
It's a funky house beat that reminds me of something like Urban Cookie Collective's 'The Key, The Secret' I literally can't stop listening to it, I run to it at the gym! It has transformed the song and given it a 2009 dance spin!! LOVE IT!!!

Candy: I love the Radio Edit the best. Don't get me wrong, the remixes are gorgeous but with the original RBW version, it's the one I can properly lose myself in.

Chi: EY likes your new look. Tell us about the video for 'Enjoy The Silence'.


Liz: Ta very much!!! All will be revealed soon.... ;)

Candy : Holy Moly guys, we cant keep anything a secret in this interview can we?!!!! Ok, the video? Basically we are keeping in theme with the original video that Depeche Mode done. It's basically going to be individual reels of us with beautiful London backdrops, with some immense twists.

We have beautiful dresses and generally, we are incorporating our new style in the video. There will be a 'boho' chic style with our clothes, makeup and hair. One of the best bits about doing a video is getting all made up for it!



Chi: You've also used a sample of YAZOO's 'Don't Go' for 'Colour Me Dirty' so you're obviously in love with the Mute Records catalogue which also features ERASURE, MOBY and GOLDFRAPP. Of your own songs, 'Don't Wanna Be Lonely' has an ERASURE feel to it while 'Synthesizer' is a bit reminiscent of GOLDFRAPP. How influential do you think the label has been in modern pop music?



Liz: Incredibly!!! I think every pop artist is influenced by Yazoo. In the last year alone, the samples have been used by us and The Saturdays, showing that their brilliance has survived the test of time!

The amazing style of Goldfrapp has been used recently by the likes of Christina Aguilera on 'Keeps Getting Better' and most modern dance/synth music.


I personally love 'Porcelain' by Moby, it's the only song I have by him but it has an incredible effect. If I'm stressed or sad, it can really uplift me! Music that takes a risk can shape an era and influence many artists, and all the above are guilty of that!

Candy: Is it embarrassing to admit that I actually get goose bumps every time I hear 'Blue Savannah' and 'A Little Respect'???? Erasure was always on in my house as a kid. I think that this genre of music has quite literally exploded into the scene now and it has become credible, as well as being fun to listen to.

There are so many songs these days that take influence from other eras and brought them back to life. Duffy and Amy Winehouse for example have given a modern twist to 60's Jazz and RED BLODED WOMEN are giving a new spin on 80's synth pop. It is coming back in a big way!



Chi: What are RED BLOODED WOMEN’s hopes and plans for the rest of the year?



Candy: RBW's plans for 2009 is this: Continuing with recording, writing, performing, interacting with our fans, hanging out together and having loads of fun, becoming even more recognised as an amazing new talent in the pop sector, getting a record deal with a hugely successful label and marrying Orlando Bloom!!! Heehee!


Seriously, there are so many things going on in our calendar for this year, I wonder if I'm gonna have the time to do Candy things!

Liz: Just to enjoy every minute of it! We have amazing fans and music we are proud of! We are releasing 'Enjoy the Silence' in April and hope an album will follow. I personally want to see a bit more of the world, we had the most amazing time performing in Croatia and Ireland last year, more of that would be SWEET!!

Chi: Please tell us about a few of the songs for the new album that some of the EY readers may not have heard?

Candy: I have one thing to say: 'Electric Fantasy'! I would take listening to that track on repeat over sex any day!!!! Ok, maybe not - but it's an INCREDIBLE new song! Don't ask me anymore Chi!!!!!! I don't know if my manager would want me to give away any more secrets!!!!!! LOL!



Liz: We have a song called 'Memories' that is 'Italo Disco' inspired and we just love performing it. We are best known for our upbeat songs, but we actually have a beautiful synthy ballad we wrote called 'Teardrops', Candy actually cried when we recorded it haha!! It's a really special song to us and we haven't even performed it live.


It's an RBW secret ;) We've got so many songs now, it's hard work knowing which tracks to use.

And with a bunch of stubborn girls each with our personal favourites, it could be 7 years before we finally decide ;)









Chi: And finally, did I tell you me and Orac are going to Athens to see DEPECHE MODE?

Candy: Cheers for that guys - is there room for some young, frivolous girls in your suitcase?! Hahahaha! Love to all xxxxxx

Liz: Yes...stop rubbing it in!!! Haha! Have an amazing time and give them a kiss from us!!

MWAH xxxxx xxxxx

RBW's 'Enjoy The Silence' is released digitally on April 19th and you can catch Red Blooded Women love at EY4 on April 17th at the Queen of Hoxton for The Ultrasonics official album launch!

Related link: Red Blooded Women @ myspace

Music journalist Velimir Ilic of the UK newspaper The Metro recently contacted EY to enquire about the forthcoming UNDO/EMI compilation 'EY Vol 1' and Greek Sensations Marsheaux.

Velimir shares EY's passion for all things electro including The Human League and the current analogue wave - naming acts such as La Roux, Parralox & Katsen as some of his personal faves.

In February 2009, Velimer got the chance to interview one of the genre's most endearing new stars and winner of the BBC's Sound of 2009 - Lady Victoria AKA Little Boots.

Famed for it's music reviews and interviews, The Metro is the only newspaper that EY regularly reads these days and Velimir has very kindly allowed us to published his excellent Little Boots interview in full for the benefit of electroheads beyond the UK....



LITTLE BOOTS



Fledgling popster Little Boots - Victoria Hesketh to you and me - might be the name on everyone's lips, but she's still grounded enough to be over-awed by her recent inaugural appearance on the BBC's flagship music show Later...With Jools Holland. 'It was incredible, a real defining moment,' she reflects. 'Playing all those gadgets, it was pretty much the scariest thing I could do. Sitting there on your own is really daunting. It can't get too much worse than that.'

With such monumental hype surrounding this demure 25-year-old -she's appeared in innumerable broadsheet spreads before even releasing a proper record - you do wonder whether she's heading for a fall. Recently voted the BBC's Sound Of 2009, Hesketh - like a Goldfrapp-in-waiting - is poised to break through, her lightning-quick rise a testament to the viral power of the internet and the infectious pull of her future-pop.

Building on the momentum of last year's self-titled EP - featuring the nagging Italo-disco pulse of Stuck On Repeat, recorded with Hot Chip's Joe Goddard - the Blackpool-born chanteuse has just completed her 'chiefly electronic' debut album in Los Angeles with A-list producer Greg Kurstin (Ladyhawke, Britney Spears, Lily Allen). 'He's incredible, just the most talented person,' she beams. 'I probably wouldn't be doing this if it wasn't for Greg. There's a real connection and I just love working with him.'

There have been countless blips and false starts - including an ill-fated stint as singer in electro-punk trio Dead Disco - but despite respected industry types such as Steve Lamacq bigging her up as an 'accessible, glitzy pop star', Hesketh seems unfazed. 'It's fantastic that people want to talk about me,' she gushes. 'It's really setting things up for the [forthcoming] record. Suddenly, everyone's watching. It's kind of strange, but I'm just trying to focus on the music.'

A self-confessed gadget obsessive (her fascination with the Tenori-on, a flashing Japanese keyboard, has been well-documented), she's encroaching into geeky territory historically dominated by synth-wielding chaps. 'I can't really play anything else apart from keyboards,' Hesketh admits. 'I've loved synths since I was 15. Piano's my first instrument, but I didn't want to make some kind of singer-songwriter, girl-with-piano Tori Amos album.'

The buzz began innocuously enough, with Hesketh's online blog and her now-legendary YouTube videos, featuring the diminutive singer performing bedroom cover versions of tunes by The Human League and Girls Aloud.



As word spread, the connection with online audiences blossomed. 'It started as a bit of a joke,' she laughs. 'They're really raw, with loads of mistakes - it's just me in my pyjamas, sitting around and playing songs, working stuff out.'

Her lyrics embody well-worn themes of love and hearts skipping beats, but with a penchant for Latin literature, Sylvia Plath and the 'retro idea of the future', you sense exciting times ahead for her cultivated machine-pop.

She has a keen ear for a hook, too. Influenced by the proto-electronic and European disco sounds of the late 1970s, Hesketh is spearheading a female-fronted electro-revolution alongside other emerging talents such as La Roux and Lady GaGa. 'People are obviously bored of boys with guitars,' she reasons. 'But there are male electronic artists coming through, like Frankmusik and Dan Black. La Roux and I often get compared, because we've both got synths and a female vocal, but it's totally different music. People want to connect dots and draw lines that aren't there.'

Inspired by the concept of pop stars as 'otherworldly beings that come from Mars', Hesketh is smitten with the idea of lavish, grandiose visuals. 'I loved David Bowie's Glass Spider [tour] because it was just so ridiculous,' she explains. 'Visuals are just tied in with the idea of escapism, fantasy and magic. If someone wants to take photos of me with a horse, dressed up in a space outfit, then I'll run with it'.

For now, though, her bigger ideas remain pipe dreams. 'If I had the budget I'd just come down on a unicorn or something, with pyrotechnics and ridiculous stuff. We used to have a wolf, an owl and other creatures on stage, but they all got smashed up on our last tour. Whether we'll be able to buy some new ones or not, I'm not sure.'

Text © VELIMIR ILIC 2009



The debut single from Little Boots - 'New In Town' is released on May 25th.


Related links:

The Metro
Official Little Boots forum
Official Little Boots website



Pet Shop Boys & Little Boots live show (by the seaside)?



Another electro collabration may have been set in motion today over on the real-time social messaging service Twitter (or Twatter depending on local accents).
Little Boots and the Pet Shop Boys have been tweeting away with regards to a possible live show in Blackpool - the hometown of Chris Lowe and Victoria Hesketh.
In the most recent tweet, the PSB reply was ' Yes, let's try and arrange it. The opera house would be good.'.
The Pet Shop boys have also been posting regular updates with 'Yes' and 'Love etc' chart positions from across Europe- 'Apparently "Love etc." is number one in Croatia. About time we did a concert
there.'

You can stay updated with PSB & Little Boots tweets by jumping here & here.

EY is still buzzing from the news that La Roux has held on to Number 11 in the UK singles charts when all other new entries have seemingly dropped out of sight.

It's very rare these days for a single to remain in the Top 20 with no BBC airplay and for one day only, 'In For The Kill' briefly crept into the Top 10.

EY had a few hours to kill this morning and visited several forums linked to established electro acts... only to find little mention (or love) for La Roux.

This really surprised us here at EY HQ considering that Elly Jackson represents the best hope of UK chart action for credible electro along with Little Boots.


EY also adores the fact that current single 'In For The Kill' sounds like it could have been a lost track from one of the League's 'Reproduction' sessions or a lost BEF track between 'Travelogue' and 'Penthouse & Pavement' (watch the promo video above and study the main synth lead before the second verse kicks in).






La Roux is actually a collaboration with talented co-writer Ben Langmaid who likes to remain in the background much like Goldfrapp's chief knob twiddler Will Gregory though Ben has been spotted playing keyboards during the current Lilly Allen support slot.




Apart from the Human League, Heaven 17, Depeche Mode and Eurythmics references (Elly takes the view that real pop stars died out after 1984), there are so many reasons why you should all cherish this unique act and here are the EY La Roux bullet points;


1: Elly has a fantastic crop of hair - a cross between Molly Ringwald and Mike Score - the lead singer of Flock of Seagulls. EY firmly believes that real popstar's should have spiky, new wave haircuts... though we draw the line with Limahl (and we are not in the slightest bit interested that Spandau Ballet are back together either).

2: A new La Roux demo 'Bulletproof' has 'leaked' to the net and EY heard it for the first time this morning.
It has a manic intro much like SAW's 'Spin Me Round' from 1984 mixed in with a powerful Blancmange-like 'Don't Tell Me' chorus that suggests that Polydor will release it as the follow-up to 'In For The Kill' in a few months time.
There is a wonderful and weird middle 8th bit where Elly sings over a vocoder bit - its a moment that reminds you why La Roux is so unique.
This entire track will re-wire the brains of Radio One listeners who have been force fed US R'n'B for the past ten years by the BBC at the expense of all other musical genres.

'Bulletproof' also has a very catchy, classic pop chorus.

3: EY fully expects 'Bulletproof' to enter the UK Top 5 and won't be at all surprised if it reaches Number One with no airplay (though the BBC have now belatedly added 'In For The Kill' to their Radio 1 B-list).

4: Elly has one of the most dynamic anti-X-Factor voices this decade.



5: Even the NME likes La Roux - placing her above Little Boots - which is odd considering they are still obsessed with Oasis...

'It's her songs that really seal the deal. 'Toy' and 'Bulletproof' sparkle with a joie de vivre that makes us want to leap up and hug the sun. Like some prancing hybrid of Erasure and The Knife, they are little bits of melodic heaven, bound up by a fake bravado that breaks just like a little girl. '

Read their review of La Roux's recent live UK debut in Notting Hill where Client used to hold their Being Boiled nights via this link.

6: La Roux releases her debut album on June 15th which is Orac's birthday(!!!)

7: When EY heard 'In For The Kill' for the first time on digital radio during a BBC-6 interview with Dave Gahan, we were struck by how vibrant and current it sounded - a pop tune from another planet which is wonderfully exciting. The middle 8th on this one also reminds us of somethign from Erasure's 1985 debut 'Wonderland'.

We love tunes that give us a warm, fuzzy glow.

When we play 'In For The Kill' here at EY HQ - we imagine that we are playing the bassline.


8: Elly recently told the BBC that girls look better 'with synths' and no one can possibly argue with that... can they?



9: There is a fantastic article in The Times today penned by Ben Machell entitled 'How to be a pop star' where he follows La Roux for three months as Elly sets out to prove that there is more to her music than the hype of the BBC's Sound of 2009.
This joyful article very much reminds us of Chris Heath's travels with the Pet Shop Boys back in the late 80's, and it is a most fascinating read.

Hit on this link

10 : We could actually knock out 100 more reasons why you should embrace La Roux and waffle on till the sun goes supernova but we want to get the following live review to you....



La Roux is currently supporting Lilly Allen and one of the artists at Electroqueer's poptastic night in Hoxton caught the show this week and kindly sent us a review and a few pics

Here's Madison's thoughts on this new UK electro sensation.....




Just got in from Lily Allen gig - it was really amazing! Lily was on fine form, but the support star really got me going!

La Roux kicked off at 8pm with current single In For The Kill, which got everyone in the mood for a great night. I love going to gigs, feeling the bass so loud it vibrates through your chest, so imagine the chest pounding with crazy 80's synths glittering over the top - amazing!

The only thing better was La Roux's voice! At first I thought she was miming as she sounded exactly like the record but I realised her voice is simply unaffected in recordings, its just so unique and she was live all the way.

With just a simple white curtain and her band as a backdrop, she needed nothing else - her voice did the work. Love her or loathe her, I think she's going to make a real impact this year.

Her image was strong, with her trademark quiff and retro military jacket over skin tight jeans, she really owned the stage. She performed 6 tracks from her upcoming album, including future singles Toy and the amazing Bulletproof which she closed with - which went down really well with the mostly young crowd. The only hitch was a technical fault with one of the M-Audio keyboard synths her band member Mikey was playing, to which she quipped 'uh oh, technical hitch, we seem to have leaves on the line!'



La Roux is quite an odd one to place in a catagory. She dances like your Nan in stiletto's and reminds me of 80's icon Toyah for being a little off the wall. She also reminds me of Robyn visually, and she's a little like Annie Lennox on speed to listen to.
Elly has a shy quality about her, and then she sings and this booming unique sound radiates. Her set was simple, yet dramatic and rather than being a retro throwback, it was more like I'd genuinely stepped back in time. I just loved her and can't wait to hear more from this special new talent...

And I'm almost certain there's a lot more to come...




I'd never really been a fan of Lily Allen before, her boozy 'london chav' image did nothing for me - this was until I heard 'The Fear'.
Shepherds Bush was crammed full of excited teenage girls, mums and daughters and groups of boys - quite an odd crowd, but everyone buzzing from La Roux.

Lily opened with the track 'Everyone's At It', which I love and really think should be a single. She wore tight tiny black hotpants and a tiny black corset with a white leather jacket - she's grown up so much since the ball gown and trainers look!
Her set was really really good, it flowed brilliantly and really showed off just how good her new electronic sound is. She sang pretty much the entire album, with 'Not Fair' and 'Chinese' being highlights. Her mum, dad and grandad were in the vip balcony and it didn't even seem to bother her performing 'FuckYou', with her grandad happily flashing the 'V' as she sang!

Her stage set was really slick and simple, just her band and a huge drop curtain with 'Lily' written in flashing letters, and big cut out single letters, like on her album cover. She didn't need anything else as she really owned the stage and the audience - I had such a good time! Only 4 tracks from her first album were performed, as I think she wanted to show how she'd moved on and stay in the moment - the new material sounded amazing live, really strong, like each track could be a single.


During her encore, she had changed into a sexy black tights/white waistcoat/fetish rabbit mask ensemble - which looked amazing as she belted out 'Smile' and 'The Fear' which went down a storm.

Her clever mix of adding in Calvin Harris' 'Dance With Me' kept the set fresh and edgy, so I was really excited when she belted out an electro upbeat version of her recent Live Lounge cover - Britney's 'Womanizer'!

It was the perfect end to a wicked gig, the night was so slick and polished - I really think Lily has the reinvention power needed to stay current and can't wait to see more video's from current album 'It's Not Me It's You'.

One person who really enjoyed the gig was Kate Moss, who was happily waving to fans from the balcony and dancing along to every track!

If it's good enough for Kate...


Related link:
Lilly @ myspace

Update constructed to the following top tunes: Depeche Mode - Peace, La Roux - Bulletproof, In For The Kill / Pet Shop Boys - All Around The World , Pandemonium, This Used To Be The Future and the entire 'etc' CD / Marsheaux - Radial Emotion,, Exit, Destroy Me, Breakthrough, So Far, Sorrow

Messers Tennant and Lowe deliver their most obviously poptastic collection in years, aided by the GIRLS ALOUD production team XENOMANIA. The collaboration has worked both ways.

While XENOMANIA get to add further credibility to their CV, the PET SHOP BOYS have a very tight, focused album that in many ways is very current but still very PET SHOP BOYS.

Split into the standard 'Yes' album and dub companion 'etc' in tribute to THE LEAGUE UNLIMITED ORCHESTRA's 'Love and Dancing', here's a track-by-track guide to what could be their best body of work since 1993's 'Very'.

'Love etc'
Similar in style to 'Can You Forgive Her' but without the orchestra stabs, it's crisp and precise with the chanting 'You Need More' refrain rendering it very catchy. The 'Beautiful dub' strips it all down recalling the electro glam stomp of GOLDFRAPP's own dub experiment 'We Are Glitter'.

'All Over The World'
Lifting from TCHAIKOVSKY's 'Nutcracker Suite', this is stately pomp and circumstance with a big beat accompaniment for the electro proms. The 'This is a dub' mix features more echoey analogue buzzes to help get you 'Hooked On Classics'.

'Beautiful People'
With Johnny Marr on acoustic guitar and some 60's string/brass flourishes, this suspiciously sounds like something off 'Forever Changes' by West Coast hippies LOVE!! Did you know Johnny Marr in French (j'en ai marre) means 'I am fed up'?

'Did You See Me Coming?'
'Release' period semi-acoustic roll out crossed with classic PET SHOP BOYS circa 'Very', this is relentlessly up and optimistic. Reminiscent in attitude to 'I Wouldn't Normally Do This Kind Of Thing' but this time, without threat of Neil Tennant dancing naked!

'Vulnerable'
A lovely gated choral sequence driven by a precise beat accompanies this paean to the fear of loneliness. Spanish guitar and synth strings add some gorgeous textures. However, the 'Public Eye dub' is transformed by some fantastic added synth melodies built around Tennant's repeated 'vulnerable, without you' phrase.

'More Than A Dream'
The most obviously XENOMANIA led track of the bunch, this has a big pop chorus in that GIRLS ALOUD fashion. The 'Magical dub' is mostly instrumental and becomes CHIC attempting 'Don't You Want Me?' as it all goes retro disco but stays very now and Xen!

'Building A War'
A boy-boy duet with the baseball capped one shouting lots of words ending in 'I-O-N'! Sounding not unlike their old muckers ELECTRONIC with its subtle guitar strumming alongside all the electro, it also features one of the best couplets ever delivered by Lowe: 'Who do you think you are? Captain Britain?'

'King Of Rome'
The track that sounds most like it's from the 'Behaviour' album, it's a reflective, melancholic ballad with a beautiful embrace.

'Pandemonium'
The best interpolation of the ' Dr Who'' theme since ' Doctorin' The Tardis', it’'s uplifting with euphoric choruses. ' The Stars & The Sun dub' is even better as the vocoder and bassline are cranked up to 11 to add to the space effects. 'Dance Til You Drop' barks the Cyberman!

'The Way It Used To Be'
Immediate Euro synth pop a la DESIRELESS 'Voyage Voyage' with its simple rhythmic pulse. The 'Left Of Love dub' turns into THE HUMAN LEAGUE's 'Sin City' with added toms and a boosted bassline. There's also echoes of FELIX DA HOUSECAT's remix of 'London' in this arrangement with its enhanced danceability and minimal clutter.

'Legacy'
A lush lengthy ballad with orchestrated percussion and strings plus a bizarre waltz middle eight where Tennant gives us some of his best grammar school French to close the main attraction.

'This Used To Be The Future'
Only available on the 'etc' bonus CD alongside the dub mixes, this is the highlight of the set. A dream 'trioet' featuring Tennant, Lowe (actually singing as opposed to speaking) and Lord Phil Oakey, this is a triumphant analogue celebration of 'yesterday's tomorrow'. Oakey dead-pans in that classic HUMAN LEAGUE disappointed tone that things didn't quite turn out how Raymond Baxter predicted on 'Tomorrow's World'!

'AMEN!' he finally grunts!

Superb!

EY's choice tracks to sample: 'All Around The World', 'Love Etc', 'This Used To Be The Future', 'Pandemonium', 'The Way It Used To Be'..and much of 'etc'.

EY Rating: 8/10

PSB Pop Facts! On the day that we posted this review, the Pet Shop Boys are currently at Number One in the midweek UK album charts and well on their way to scoring their first chart topper since 1993's 'Very'. Time for PSB themed street parties across the nation and plenty of wine.
Brian Higgins of Xenomania recently revealed that his favourite 'Yes' track is 'This Used To Be The Future'.

Totally random pop fact: La Roux is still hanging on to number 11 in the UK midweek charts :)

EY was already buzzing today after Liverpool thumped Aston Villa 5-0 earlier in the afternoon but electro will always be our Premier Passion and we are delighted to report that La Roux has scored her first UK chart hit.



With analogue elements of League MK1 and H17, La Roux's 'In For The Kill' has defied all critics and those with doubt's over this 'electro fad' - by crashing into the charts at number 11 - two places above the Pet Shop Boys 'Love Etc' (whose chances of a top 10 placing were wrecked by bizarre distribution problems).








Long gone are the days when we sat around munching on sprouts listening to Radio One on crackly FM on a Sunday evening, but we were first made away of this news by a tweet from the BBC's Top 40 presenter Fern Cotton who said 'LOVE this la roux tuneeee'.



'In For The Kill' has been hovering around the EY playlists for a while now and we've heard enough of the La Roux tracks to know that her debut album will be very special and one to watch out for in the coming months.



And if anyone still has doubts about the this new wave of 'L -Word' electro - the top spot has been taken by Lady Gaga who claims her second UK Number One in 2009 with the crisp 'Poker Face'.

Oh happy days and we may even have to start listening to the Top 40 again (minus the sprouts).



Have a listen to La Roux and 'In For The Kill' via this myspace link and enjoy.

Related link: The official UK singles chart

New York 'garage pop' band Yeah Yeah Yeahs are back and like Depeche Mode, the band have snapped up one or two vintage synths from Ebay during the recording of their third studio album 'It's Blitz'.

The brilliant new single 'Zero' has some new wave analogue touches and some very agreeable, radio friendly hooks that should all result in a massive UK hit - and it's our fave Yeah Yeah Yeahs track since 'Maps' from the 2003 debut 'Fever To Tell'.




Lead singer Karen O is a most mesmerizing front woman sounding much like Chrissie Hyne of The Pretenders on this rather impressive new single and though there are one or two guitars blazing out during the chorus, they are made to sound like early Gary Numan rifts.
Karen positively shines in the new promo video for 'Zero' and EY would like to see more people breaking out into songs as good as 'Zero' on crowded streets....especially on Monday.





The BBC recently asked Karen O the question; ' Guitars or Synths?'
'Right now, maybe synths', replies Karen O and EY is now marking the 'It's Blitz' release date of April 6th on our Girls Aloud calendar.

When asked about the analogue synth from Ebay that features on many of the 'It's Blitz' tracks, Karen O reveals;
'It's cheap and actually only half of it worked. It's a keyboard that has four sounds. I bought it because it has this really lush string sound. But that didn't work'.

Related links:
Yeah Yeah Yeahs @ myspace
BBC interview with Karen O

Pitchfork.com has posted a captivating DM performance of 'Come Back' - a haunting and melodic number from forthcoming album 'Sounds Of The Universe'.

With vocals from Dave and Martin who plays piano, this emotional and slightly weepy track about loss and pain also has some lovely analogue heartbeats.

You MUST watch this video.

29 years on and Depeche are still the best.

Related site: Home

Coming up....Chi reviews Bedsitland

EY was introduced to the Passion Pit on the London Underground last Friday as we made our way to Hoxton.

There were vague memories of seeing Ladyhawke posters every where at Waterloo with the headline 'Album of The Year' (later confirmed to us by Richard Price) and as soon as Orac had got on the tube heading for Euston, he was handed a pair of iPod headphones and was soon lost in Passion Pit.

'I've Got Your Number' was our very first Passion Pit song and it had that same initial impact on us as Ladyhawke's 'Magic' - tracks that you'll love...'long time'.

We were told that the singer recorded this song in his bedroom as a special gift for his girlfriend which explains all the raw emotion during the chorus and the enchanting DIY electronics.

This really is a most beautiful song with La Roux vocals (even though the vocals are male), glowing Air synths from one of the 90's finest electro albums 'Moon Safari' and the energy and hooks of Arcade Fire (if they decide to take up the synth for the third album...and they really should).




EY's fave bit of the song is the chorus; 'Can you see me cry? Tears like Diamonds...' to euphoric analogue chords that keep rising to cheap yet crisp beats.
It gives us the goose pimples and shivers every time.

There is no promo video (yet) but you can hear the song by hitting on the youtube link above (which may not work due to a big silly row between labels and Youtube over....money).

The labels really need to wake up.


With just a 6-track homemade EP entitled 'Chunk of Change' to their name, Massachusetts based Passion Pit show enough promise and hooks to hint that they will be around for quite some time. 'Better Things' is a perfect summer wake up song destined to appear on endless compilations and very radio friendly, whilst the delightfully titled 'Cuddle Fuddle' reminds us of White Town's 1997 UK hit 'Your Woman'.

EY senses that we could see a bit of a male wave of nu-electro on the horizon... and they top the EY playlist this week.


Related link Passion Pit @ myspace



(With thanks to Barry '80's' Rosier, Simon Watson & Richard Price)

Real Wonky Pop



'EY VOL 1' artists Katsen are back with a quirky new analogue track 'Play For Today' that has entertained EY HQ all week because it has 'Reproduction' charm.

Call it Bonkers Pop or Wonky Pop, the Brighton duo have recorded a very special 'one take' video where they perform the new track live on dinky keyboards... and it is adorable.
EY would love to see this duo play live in London and we are working on it...

100 copies of 'EY Vol 1' were this week sent to greek journalists and radio stations by EMI and the complex packaging will all be completed late next week. Music Non Stop will be taking pre-orders very shortly.

Extra special stuff!

The Pet Shop Boys 'make their own rules' - fascinating audio interview with The Guardian .

Neil and Chris talk about recording sessions with Xenomania, politics an nu-female fronted electro.

'We were our own world', say the Pet Shop Boys as they look back at their illustrious past.


Brilliant stuff!

Click here for a personal PB encounter.

EY faves Marsheaux have released details of the much anticipated follow-up to the 2007 album 'Peek A Boo'.
The new 13 track album is called 'Lumineux Noir' and was recorded between October 2008 and February 09 in Athens under the working title of 'Dazzle' (taken from a Siouxsie & the Banshees track).

The title hints at a slightly darker and heavier Marsheaux - described as ''Luminous' and 'Black' by Marianthi & Sophie but EY can tell you that the new album is bright and breezy and full of irresistable hooks (more on those soon).

No release date has been set yet but Undo are currently working on some collectable packaging for 'Lumineux Noir'.

The full tracklisting is as follows:

01. Exit
02. Breakthrough
03. Summer
04. Stand By
05. Radial Emotion
06. Destroy Me
07. Loss Of Heaven
08. Faith
09. It's Fine Now
10. How Does It Feel?
11. Thousand Leds
12. So Far
13. Sorrow

Related links:
Marsheaux @ myspace
The official Marsheaux forum

Parralox's JVA spotted something totally unexpected a few days ago purely by chance - a mention for Electronically Yours in the Depeche Mode book 'Stripped' in a passage about Client.
Have a look via this link.

Pictured opposite: K9 delivers the 'EY VOL 1' CDs to EY HQ.

K9 says; ''EY VOL 1' double CD compilation imminent Master!'.

Coming up - Electroqueer, Pet Shop Boys unveil 'Yes' for Popjustice and Passion Pit - a band to watch out for in 2009.

Orac has been struck down by a nasty virus but we had to quickly rush the very latest interview with Little Boots on to EY.

In conversation with prime time US TV host Carson Daly on the eve of Victoria's debut LA performance, the Little Boots singer so beautifully sums up the appeal of electronic music and the perfect 3 minute pop song.


Lady Victoria's eloquence and passion for the genre is wonderful to watch as she aims to bring back the long lost era of the popstar.

There are mentions too for The Human League plus a demonstration of Victoria's Japanese sequencing device - the Tenorion.

Do watch the interview opposite and EY promises that you'll feel even more love for Victoria.

Once this virus lifts, EY has lots for you including our review of the rather splendid Electroqueer night in Hoxton on Friday where we were dead impressed by a new artist called Madison.
Whilst we were all bopping away to the various Electroqueer acts, another event was taking place in London with the Pet Shop Boys and the 'Yes' listening party hosted by Popjustice.

One very lucky EY reader was invited along and Jonathan Dean has written a fascinating piece for EY about the PJ event in which Neil Tennant speaks enthusiastically about Little Boots and Ladyhawke.

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