POST CATEGORY : Electronic

ROTATION ROUND-UP #4

Time is becoming increasingly precious and difficult to obtain these days but I still have a grá on me for blogging.

So, this is an attempt cover more of what I am listening to on a regular basis, with a relatively quick roundup of what has been on rotation over the past week or two.

Enjoy!

Adwaith – ‘ETO’

Welsh outfit Adwaith – Hollie Singer, Gwenllian Anthony & Heledd Owen – will release the follow-up to their wonderful and Welsh Music Prize winning debut with new album Bato Mato on July 1st via Libertino Records. The new record is led by ‘ETO’, a soaring evocative guitar driven adventure brimming with confidence and ideas. It is shimmering, evocative, life-affirming and moving, and bursting with open-hearted soaring melody’s and lyrical vulnerability – instantly sweeping us along with this stirring anthem. This is Adwaith at their finest; you will be replaying, again and again, and again.

Many Voices Speak – ‘Within Reach’

Many Voices Speak – the project of Swedish musician Matilda Mård – has announced her return with second album Gestures, released on 29th April 2022 via Strangers Candy.

A master of misty-eyed, melancholic and hazy indie-pop, Many Voices Speak has always found its power in its ability to capture an eternity in an expression; found in abundance on her debut and lead single ‘Within Reach’. A six-minute long reflective slow burn that just brims with beauty, as Mård’s elegant, yearning dream-pop makes the world seem to slow down around it, where time stretches out, and you become totally immersed in it. ‘Within Reach’ showcases Mård’s continued growth as a songwriter, one more comfortable in her own skin.

Komla MC vs Fold – ‘Victoria Falls’

Komla MC vs Fold is the unlikely combination of two expats in Leeds, UK. Hailing from Accra and New York respectively, Rob (Komla MC) and Seth (of the band Fold) were brought together by having kids at the same school and united in their undying love of hip hop. Given that Seth’s work with Hip-Hop/Trip Hop outfit Fold has a rep for funky, groovy and cool sounds, it is no surprise that this delivers a healthy dose of all three pitted with a fun and cheeky sensibility. Hopefully there is more to come from this collab – top marks!

The AM – ‘On Joy Road’

The AM – AKA Ann-Marie Teasley – is a DJ with a penchant for Techno and Electro that started out as a classical violinist in Detroit. The AM is releasing her debut EP Black Majik on March 11, and comes fronted by ‘On Joy Road’; an Electro-influenced jam named after the long, dual-carriageway street that connects the centre of Detroit to Nankin Lake and the enclaves on the city’s west side. It is urgent and intense while simultaneously elegant as a hypnotic spell is spun by frantic up-tempo snappy beats, claps, rippling electronics and winding synths, while a warped vocal sample and woozy flourishes fade in and out of view. A mesmerising and thumping dancefloor ready banger.

Clwb Fuzz – ‘Sertraline’

Cardiff outfit Clwb Fuzz return with new single ‘Sertraline’; a magnificent blaze of fuzzed-up spiralling psychedelic-rock. Burning guitars fuzz, ominous eerie synths and swaying, pendulumic percussion, set the swirling stage for Emily Kocan’s haunting vocals, regaling vivid and sometimes far too real dreams, occurring as a side-effect of taking antidepressants. Unsettling paranoid introspection has never sounded so glorious.

Chainletter – ‘Lyric St. (K-65 Remix)’

Two aspects of Maison Fauna’s world collide on this one, as Bristol’s K-65 energetically remixes Durham-based Chainletter’s ‘Lyric St’.

Originally a full on techno adventure, K-65’s interpretation introduces an urgent, driving and pulsing electro elixir to its veins, complete with flurries of timbral rides, whirling sound effects, and teasing builds tailored for the dance-floor. Fusing elements of broken techno, breaks, dub, and electro, K-65 has crafted something compelling, nuanced and dancey, embracing experimental sound design to evoke vivid, yet subterranean imagery.

Tune in below:

Rotation Roundup #2

Time is becoming increasingly precious and difficult to obtain these days but I still have a grá on me for blogging.

So, this is an attempt cover more of what I am listening to on a regular basis, with a relatively quick roundup of what has been on rotation over the past week or two.

The aim is to keep them coming on a weekly / biweekly basis or failing that, I may as well pack this malarkey in altogether.

Panic Shack – ‘Mannequin Man‘

Cardiff noisemakers Panic Shack will release their debut EP, Baby Shack EP, on April 8th via Brace Yourself Records and ahead of which, they have shared lead single ‘Mannequin Man‘.The track is exactly what you’d expect from Panic Shack; a raw, spiky and incendiary punky cut bursting with bouncy basslines, chant along vocals, hooks galore and plenty of attitude. A rip roaring return, the forthcoming EP promises to be quite something.

Lyndsey Lawlor – ‘Love, Lust, Indifference & Hatred’

Lyndsey Lawlor is a Dublin spoken word artist who has teamed up with Kildare producer Gary O’Reilly (Mix & Fairbanks) for new album, Dearest Philistine, released in January. The album came to fruition with Lawlor locked down away from her band and creating an entire record with O’Reilly. ‘Love, Lust, Indifference & Hatred’ is the latest single lifted from the album, Lawlor’s vocals brimming with a positive and hopeful air flow cooly above a beautiful blend of warm, fluffy electronics that shimmer above a soft pattering of captivating beats. 

Peaness – ‘How I’m Feeling’

Longstanding BG favs Peaness have announced their debut album. The Chester trio will release World Full of Worry via their own Totally Snick Records on 6th May, preceded by new single ‘How I’m Feeling’.

Having charmed our ears for years with their irresistible brand of melodic, indie-pop goodness, and latest single is no different. Propelled by a playful, sunny energy juxtaposed by reflecting on the self-loathing and melancholy that can come from being stuck in an unfulfilling job, whilst offering a sense of hope that you can make a positive change. It is insanely catchy, littered with gloriously glossy harmonies, honey-sweet vocals and uplifting jangling hooks . Yet another gem from Peaness who have a propensity for such magic you know.

Listen to ‘How I’m Feeling’ below.

MEMES – ‘Second Thought’

Glasgow’s self-proclaimed “laptop-rock” duo MEMES – composed of cousins John and Paul McLinden – are back with another scintillating slice of fiery and fierce post-punk in the shape of ‘Second Thought’. Unleashed with a feverish intensity, it underlines all there is to love about this tempestuous pairing; unpredictable and unconventional ‘Second Thought’ is fuelled by an erratic, jerky punk electricity and coiled up bassline while the raspy vocals dance over the jagged rhythms and meaty stomp. A thrilling and exhilarating jam; brilliant from MEMES, who have nailed it again.

Astrosurf – ‘Highlife’

Astrosurf are a Toronto based trio with a penchant for freeflowing blues-rock leaning surf sounds, inspired by the cosmos, the open range and seas (like a harder edged, blues embracing version of Wales’ Y Niwl).

The trio’s latest release, Anything But… came out in December of last year and ‘Highlife’ is the latest single lifted from it. ‘Highlife’ perfectly captures the essence of Astrosurf in just under four minutes; it is marvelously scuzzy, unfurling with a lifeforce of its own packed with seductive grooves, meandering catchy  melodies and lashing of fuzz, feedback and mighty reverb laden riffs and licks. To their credit, Astrosurf sound familiar yet authentic, carving their own modern day niche that is, in their own words, “music for surfers, cowboys and spies”.

Blimp – ‘Orchids’

Blimp is a Dublin-based producer with a penchant for lush, warm and woozy slices of seductive house/electronica – attributes demonstrated in abundance by the beautiful, warm and tranquil electronica escapism of new single ‘Orchids’.

The first track from Blimp’s forthcoming debut, independent EP, it is a deliciously seductive and exquisitely elegant track; a lush, lavish and affair as warm synths fizz with an effervescence, gushing over soft beats, melodic grooves and flourishes of colourful electronics, amid an abundance of dreamy vibes. Yet another beautiful track from Blimp and one that definitely whets the appetite for the forthcoming EP.

Tune in below:

David Harks – ‘Mists’

David Harks is a name that should be familiar to long standing patrons of the site.

The British-born, Berlin-based artist and singer has been the recipient of much deserved lavish praise for his work with Safetalk, varying collaborative projects and of course, his solo work – and it is the latter that are concerned with on this occasion.

Harks has returned with a softly lit, seductive serenade entitled ‘Mists’; a cinematic sojourn into blissed-out lofi ambient pop, awash with soaring harmonies and dubbed-out synthesis. It slinks and gently bubbles along a seductive groove as soft beats patter below the colorful swirling textures, crunching guitar riffs and computer game tones while Harks’ hushed, mellow and incredibly easy on the ear – all dripping with melody. It’s always great to hear from Harks and this is an incredibly beautiful, blissed-out and seductive – this up there with Hark’s best work.

Listen to ‘Mists’ below, you are in for a treat:

DYR – ‘Dysko Mystik’

DYR is a Minneapolis-based DJ and producer who embraces a wide range of genres, weaving eclectic selections of techno, house and disco, creating an innovative, hypnotic and thrilling sound designed for elevating dance floors.

DYR’s latest track ‘Dysko Mystik’ encompasses all the aforementioned attributes and more.

Residing in a space between techno, house and electronica ‘Dysko Mystik’ whisks us off to a futuristic world of subtle, nuanced and transfixing, dancefloor minded, techno influenced music. Heavy on mood, texture and atmosphere with relentless oscillations, driving techno beat and pulsating synth. Although everything is delivered with a pin point accuracy, it has a murky, industrial feel, as we are entranced by relentless repetition and groove, leaving us utterly powerless to resist it’s tempting allure. Driving, pulsating and relentless – a triumph.

Listen to ‘Dysko Mystik’ below:

Kelp – ‘Polygon’

Kelp is a Belfast-based purveyor of loungey cosmic electronica fronted by an inch high, ethereal deep sea diver with a preoccupation for vocoders and additive synthesis.

The surrealist project was introduced around this time last year through debut single ‘Spleen’; an ethereal, slumbering and woozy slice of escapism. Kelp is back with a new single ‘Polygon’. A two-and-a-half minute sojourn to a spellbinding interstellar loungey paradise. It slinks coolly on by, leaving us in a dream-like state, with an alluring blend of slinky, synth-pop with psych brush strokes and woozy synth lines bewitching us entirely. Instantly lovable, ‘Polygon’ breezes gracefully with a seductive soulful underbelly and charm to woo you, so powerful is this that it will have you headed straight for repeated listens.

I’m going to go out on a limb here and say we are witnessing Ireland’s, indeed the world’s, greatest musical miniature deep-sea diver fishbowl figurine. All joking aside, this is a marvelous single from a wonderful talent.

Listen to ‘Polygon’ below now – it is yet another absolute joy.

Louiza – ‘Kind Coincidence’

West Coast multi-instrumentalist Rebecca Mimiaga, aka Louiza, has impressed with a slew of super releases over recent years – Trick (2017) & Swim at Night (2019) & On, Off (2021) – and Louiza is back with a stunning new single ‘Kind Coincidence’.

‘Kind Coincidence’ sees Louiza embrace the synth/electro-pop side of her sound over the crunchy guitars and power pop riffs that marked some of her earlier work but while sweeter, it remains recognizably Louiza’s sound. It is a catchy, groovy and fizzy slice of synth-sprinkled indie-pop; sweet honeyed vocals cruise coolly above an insistent bass/drum locked in groove as guitars shimmer and twinkle amid the lush and hazy cosmic atmospherics. It is super catchy, fresh and rather hypnotic – another absolute gem from Louiza.

Listen to ‘Kind Coincidence’ below and the White Light EP (limited edition cassette) is out on October 29, 2021.

Amber Jay – ‘Equal’

Amber Jay is a Liverpool-based artist and musician with a real flair for captivating, synth-splashed, electronic alt-pop – and a flair matched by an enviable embrace for experimentation and pushing the boundaries.

Jay introduced this penchant for futuristic synth-fueled alt-pop with debut EP Never Too Far From A Dark Thought earlier this year, and has followed that up with new single ‘Equal’.

Deep basslines whisk us into a trance as suave blissful vocals deliver precision tones sending an eerie shiver down the spine while synths burn and shimmer, as Jay’s message of equality is cast in an ever-evolving and cinematic soundscapes. Rarely does an artist bring so many alternating facets of sound to bear, while crafting a sound so cohesive, captivating and transfixing – but in the case of Amber Jay, that’s the raison d’etre.

Listen to ‘Equal’ below – yet another piece of brilliance.


Noah – ‘Rosa Alba’

Hokkaido-born Noah is an artist and musician who’s sound constantly evolves, while underpinned by an unmistakable ear for rhythm, she continues to seek out new and interesting shifting series of settings, with beguiling results.

In keeping with this, new EP Étoile out October 27th via FLAU, Noah continues takes things into denser territory, rich with atmosphere and a healthy dose of the mysterious.

The latest single lifted from the EP is opener ‘Rosa Alba’; a delicious blend of golden-age Ninja Tune, sliced up piano and eerie mysterious air. Soft, dusty beats patter below the dusky atmosphere flecked flourishes of lavish strings, while Noah’s hushed vocals glide along calmly while cast to the backdrop of shapeshifting sounds, creating something hypnotic, transfixing and mysterious. A stunning, otherworldly and beautiful blend of trip hop meets latenight downtempo electronica.

Listen to ‘Rosa Alba’ below and the EP Étoile is out now.