POSTS TAGGED : Electro-Pop

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.

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.


Zoee – ‘Fountain’

London-based musician Harriet Zoe Pittard aka Zoee has recently released her debut LP Flaw Flower.

Two years in the making, the album ushers us on an offbeat exploration of playfully imaginative, off-kilter sounds with nods to the avant pop of the 80s. ‘Fountain’ is the latest wonder to be lifted from the record and it exudes all the aforementioned playful, experimental pop prowess and leftfield vibes. It glides over soft pattering electronic beat as flickers of guitars and shimmering synths flutter amid an ethereal swirl of atmospherics with dramatic sax solo adding a glowing intensity as soft spoken vocals deliver a focused stream of consciousness, seeping into every corner and cranny of the ethereal otherworldly backdrop.

Listen to ‘Fountain’ below – the debut album is here too, and well worth your time.

Amber Jay – ‘The House’

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

Jay introduced this penchant for futuristic synth-fueled alt-pop with a slew of stellar singles which has culminated in debut EP Never Too Far From A Dark Thought, and fronted by single ‘The House’. 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. ‘The House’ is another sliver of otherworldly futuristic alt-pop, grounded in haunting folk and fueled by synth. Jay’s icy vocal drifts above a chilling strum and eerie atmosphere while a slowly marching beat and rippling synth carve a path for us traverse an ever-evolving and cinematic soundscape that leaves an indelible mark on your psyche. Much like its predecessors, ‘The House’ is vibrant and alive, and effortlessly transcending genres.

Listen to ‘The House’ below and the Never Too Far From A Dark Thought EP is here.


Amber Jay – ‘Stay The Same’

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

Jay introduced this penchant for futuristic synth-fueled alt-pop with ‘Pencilled Brims’ toward the backend of last year and has kicked off 2021 in similarly sublime fashion with ‘Stay The Same’. Opening patiently, ‘Stay The Same’ slowly introduces itself as Amber’s crisp vocals cruise above a woozy atmosphere and slo-mo groove before a hypnotic pulsing synth and snappy beat up the pace as we traverse an ever-evolving soundscape. It is hypnotic, immersive and futuristic, filled with luscious harmonies, hooks and seductive grooves; ‘Stay The Same’ feels, like its predecessor, vibrant and alive, and effortlessly transcending genres.

Amber Jay’s debut EP Never Too Far From A Dark Thought will be released on March 3, listen to ‘Stay The Same’ below:

Stealing Sheep – ‘Barracuda’

Liverpool trio Stealing Sheep – Becky Hawley, Emily Lansley and Lucy Mercer – are always worth keeping an eye on.

Formed in 2010, the electro-pop outfit have three albums to their name – Into the Diamond Sun (2012), Not Real (2015) & Big Wows (2018) – all worthy of your attention. Stealing Sheep’s sound has developed from its sweet and heavenly voiced psych-pop origins, evolving into something a more upbeat, dancey and colourful confection of electro-pop joyfulness. And if there was ever a track (in reality, there is an abundance) to capture the trio’s fun and infectious sound it is ‘Barracuda’ – the 1977 Heart rock jam re-imagined. It struts, swaggers and swerves all across the dancefloor as a steady disco-infused beat centres their colourful confection of sound as the Liverpool trio expand upon their signature three-part harmonies and fresh and breezy  melodies with a glittery blend synths, drum machines, glitches, and fun electronic blips and beeps. ‘Barracuda’ is playful and infectious as they come, stacking irresistible hook upon irresistible hook amid the glittery bounce.

‘Barracuda’ is the first single to be released digitally from the Instant Replay Album, a lovingly curated record of covers from 1971-1981 – including some of the finest funk, folk, punk, pop and ballads of the time – for Lush. You can find out more about the Instant Replay Album here.

Abracadabra – ‘Dirty Pan’

Abracadabra are Oakland-based outfit comprised of core duo Hannah Skelton (cassiopeia) and Chris Niles (Maus Haus) that craft unconventional electro-pop music littered with imaginative ideas and unique sounds.

The pair have just released new single ‘Dirty Pan’ into the world which captures the essence of their exquisite sound in just four-minutes. A reflection on the struggles we face as a society, both in a social and environmental sense, that have been amplified by the current pandemic, ‘Dirty Pan’ radiates an otherworldly dreamlike surrealism that is utterly transfixing. It skips and swaggers along a strutting drum machine led rhythm amid a sea of atmospheric textures, sparkling synth and fizzing electronics while ethereal vocals, mesmerise and enchant in equal measure. A tantalizing and groove-driven slice wonky-electro-pop – magnificent!

Listen to’Dirty Pan’ below, and keep your eyes peeled for their debut album is set to be released on on July 24 on Anniversary . 

Jouska – ‘Born In Cash’

Oslo-based musical duo Jouska – comprised of Marit Othilie Thorvik and Hans Olav Settem – have impressed at every given opportunity with an intriguing and inventive array of tunes as they explore some of the more outer realms of electronica.

The pair are back with a new single ‘Born In Cash’ – the second lifted from their so far unnamed album following the slinky R&B of ‘Bring You Back’ in February – in which they continue to reside and thrive in leftfield climes. That being said, ‘Born In Cash’ has more of club focus than some of its predecessors; big beats bang and bass rumbles beneath as sea of slowburning synths and dark atmospheric swirls, and all peppered with cascading cracking and frazzled electronics. It is a song built on push and pull torn between two stools as evidence by the twin vocal path; one lush and dreamy and the defiant and confrontational. It is an absolute banging club track, albeit dark and somewhat introverted but that is what we’ve come to expect from Jouska; unconventional exceptionalism.

Listen to ‘Born In Cash’ below:

Jo Marches – ‘Long Term Parking’

Jo Marches – an Utrecht outfit fronted by the inimitable Johanneke Kranendonk – specialise in heady brew of psych-infused swirling synth-pop, sophisticated pop sensibilities and infectious melodies.

Having impressed no end with a seemingly endless supply of excellence, Jo Marches dazzle us again with new single ‘Long Term Parking’. The first single lifted from a third EP, Moon Mirror, expected in October 2020, ‘Long Term Parking’ is all dreamy and ethereal allure. Kranendonk’s breathy, elegant vocals float breezily along, smouldering with emotion, as sparse origins give way to a growing swell of bass, shimmering synths, keys and glistening guitar. It is a gorgeous song filled with woozy vibes and lush melodic allure and all sprinkled with cosmic dust.

‘Long Term Parking’ is another enchanting piece of psych-infused cosmic synth-pop. Tune in below. 

Many Voices Speak – ‘Want It Kept’

Sweden’s Many Voices Speak – aka Matilda Mård – has a real knack for beautiful slumbering whispers of lush dream pop; something offered in abundance on 2018 debut Tank Town.

The good news is that Mård is back in action with a new single called ‘Want It Kept’, and it is divine. The master of misty-eyed, melancholic and hazy indie, Mård opens with a slowly swirling, shapeless mist that seeps forward engulfing her sad but elegant and beautiful vocals as they hover above slowly waltzing groove and undulating melodic bubble. Delicate, dreamy and truly beautiful, ‘Want It Kept’ will have you transfixed with its beguiling beauty and smouldering emotive draw.

Listen to ‘Want It Kept’ below: