POSTS TAGGED : Electro-Pop

Pictish Trail shares ‘Dead Connection’, New LP Coming in September

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Scottish singer-songwriter Pictish Trail, a.k.a. Johnny Lynch, has shared newest release titled ‘Dead Connection’. The single is taken from his upcoming album Future Echoes which is due for release on September 9.

The follow up to the excellent double album Secret Soundz Vol. 1 & 2 has been in the works for a couple of years. ‘Dead Connection’ follows the first single off the record, ‘Far Gone (Don’t Leave)’ – a mysterious, cinematic and slightly darker side to Lynch’s DIY electronic-tinged indie/folk (with a bit of hip hop) – in offering us a glimpse of what to expect. The latest tune is a little different. It is much more uplifting, buoyant piece of electro-pop, with a Moon Safari-esque playfulness to it. Add to that a touch of the psychedelic, bouncy fuzzy bassline and spectral vocals drifting through the synths, ‘Dead Connection’ twists and turns toward sheer polished perfection! While the lyrics lend a slight air of the melancholic, the music raises the tune toward the uplifting. Brilliant and wholly infectious.

Future Echoes is set for release on September 9th, check out ‘Dead Connection’ below now.

Metronomy Announce ‘Summer 08’ LP, Share New Single ‘Old Skool’

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Metronomy are back! Indeed they are, and back with news of a new album Summer 08, the follow up to 2014’s Love Letters, due for release on July 1st, and they’ve shared the video for first single ‘Old Skool’.

It’s a funky disco-leaning gem laced with deep grooves, bouncy beats, dripping synths and super catchy melodies combining for an irresistible, danceble adventure. Add to that, Beastie Boys’ turntablist extraordinaire Mix Master Mike also lends a hand, making an appearance with some nimble scratching. It’s been quite some time since we had heard anything new from the electronic outfit, but ‘Old Skool’ has been worth the wait. Marvellous.

Check out ‘Old Skool’ below. Summer 08 is out on July 1st, and the tracklisting is after the jump.

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Super Furry Animals – ‘Bing Bong’

 

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Super Furry Animals made their return last year, with a number of reunion shows supporting the 15th anniversary and reissue of Mwng. With loads of dates across Europe and North America this year, Super Furries are back with a sprightly new single, ‘Bing Bong’.

An unofficial Euro 2016 song to support Wales’ quest for European dominance, ‘Bing Bong’ marks the band’s first new offering since 2009’s Dark Days/Light Years. Inspired by ‘defeat, victory, cosmic disco and Buck Rodgers’, ‘Bing Bong’ is bouncy, jaunty and cosmic jam. Sang in Welsh, it’s upbeat, fun and so, so catchy. It’s a little bit mad, in a playfully mad way if that makes sense, but most importantly it’s a great tune with all the recognizable sheen Super Furry magic.

‘Bing Bong’ is out digitally today and will be released physically on 12”, June 17th through Strangetown Records. It also features artwork by long-time collaborator Pete Fowler – and a suitably stimulating video by Mark James and Ryan Eddleston, watch that below now.

 

BarryGruff March 2016 Playlist

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Your regular monthly round up all the blog action, in a nice, neat and handy playlist of tracks featured throughout the month.

March was good, as was the weather but even better tunes and whatnot. We had tracks courtesy of Helen Love, Teleman, Weird Dreams and Kelly Lee Owens  from their respective, new and forthcoming albums. We had introductions to Estrons, Hannah Lou Clark, Deep Sea Diver, Games Violet, Pavel and Eoin Dolan, while there were excellent new singles/EPs from Bousada, Anderson, Junior Bill, Silverbacks, Slow Riot, Boxed In and David Harks. Oh, and there were two new episodes of ‘Millions Like Us’, Justin Beats & I’s new music podcast extravaganza for 604now (if you missed them, check ’em here). You can also subscribe to ‘Millions Like Us’ on iTunes & Podcast Republic or find us on Facebook & Twitter.

Well then, that’s that for another month – listen to BarryGruff’s March 2016 playlist below. Enjoy!

David Harks – ‘Obey’

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Following on from last December’s downtempo and sombre ‘Tripping Ghosts’, Brighton based David Harks returns with a more optimistic and chipper first release of 2016.

Written and produced by Harks and Miguel Toro, aka Royal Dust, ‘Obey’ is an incredibly joyful, slice of uplifting synth-pop. Slinking along a disco-infused-house groove, bubbling synths and shuffling rhythm, it is bubbly and light, and fizzes with optimism. It is a delicious tune with glossy production, and just sounds so hopeful. There are shades of Hot Chip or The 2 Bears to this one, and is as good as anything either of those have put our way, making for an ever so pleasant listen. Obviously. It’s always great to hear from Harks and this is right up there with the best of his work to date. An incredibly joyful listen.

‘Obey’ is out now 18th via JumJum Records, check it below:

Helen Love announce new LP and share new single, ‘First Girl From Wales In New York’

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With twenty one singles, three EPs and seven albums to their name, Welsh bubblegum-pop-punk outfit Helen Love have revealed details of their eighth LP. Entitled Smash Hits, the record will be released on May 20th via Alcopop! Records.

Ahead of its release in May, Helen Love have unveiled the first single from the forthcoming record, ‘First Girl From Wales In New York City’. Helen Love may have been around for more than two decades but their music has a youthful, carefree and fun air, and they are as catchy as any band on the planet. ‘First Girl From Wales In New York City’ stick with this tradition. Uniquely catchy mash-up of bubblegum-pop, punk, retro keyboards, colourful sounds, homages to The Ramones and an infectious giddiness.As is the norm with Helen Love, you’ve got one hell of an infectious and addictive racket on your hands.

Smash Hits is out on May 20th via Alcopop! Records and you can stream / download Helen Love’s brand new single, ‘First Girl From Wales In New York City’ below.

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BUCK – ‘Underneath The Glow Of My Skin’

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Ed Jones – best known as the vocalist/frontman with Welsh indie-rockers Masters In France – has returned with a second single from his solo/side-project called BUCK.

Entitled ‘Underneath The Glow Of My Skin’, it follows ‘Arecibo’, and is similarly brilliant and alluring synth-pop. Centred around some squelching synth, skittering beats and slinking groove, it oozes with an aura of smooth coolness. Jones’ wonderful hushed but soulful vocals ride a wave of electronic flourishes and swells, with subtle gushes leading to some rather epic synthy climaxes. If ‘Arecibo’ was an intriguing first outing from BUCK, ‘Underneath The Glow Of My Skin’ confirms this promise, unravelling before your very ears with a silky, slick and an undeniably glorious tune.

‘Underneath The Glow Of My Skin’ will join ‘Arecibo’ as part of a four-track EP, which will be released toward the end of the year. For now though you can listen to below and if it’s to your liking? You can download ‘Arecibo’ from here.

Millions Like Us Podcast: Episode #2

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Delighted to share ‘Episode #2’ of Millions Like Us – a new music podcast hosted by myself & craft beer, pastie and fast-food safari enthusiast, Justin Beats – in conjunction with Vancouver news & culture site 604now.

A bi-weekly installment of new tunes, some musings and general chit-chat, with a Vancouver slant, Episode #2 has a very nice blend of music from metro Vancouver, and beyond. Obviously these are still early days and we’re looking forward to developing it further and further, over the coming weeks and months. Not much else to say really, aside from thanks to 604now and we hope you enjoy the show (all feedback, good or bad, is most welcome). Here’s to good listening.

You can read more on it here and listen to episode #2 below, and the tracklist (with links) is after the jump.

Episode #2: 

Nancy Leticia – ‘Bitches’
Noble Oak – ‘Erase Me’
Villagers – ‘Hot Scary Summer’
Nick Diamonds – ‘Specimen Days’
Avid Walker – ‘Sun In Eyes’ –
Wilding – ‘Stuck In The Middle’
Mac Demarco – ‘No Other Heart’
The Courtney’s – ‘90210’
Tuff Love – ‘Duke’
HINDS – ‘Garden’
Sunflower Bean – ‘The Stalker’
Woolworm – ‘Useless’

Alaska Wilson – ‘Invisible Boy’

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Regular patrons may remember David Harks from a string of stellar singles he released last year, that ended up forming into the fabulous, Lomo EP.

While we don’t have a new material from Harks’, what we are privy to though, is the latest release from his label, JumJum Records. The single ‘Invisible Boy’ is a sublime debut from newcomer Alaska Wilson. Info on Wilson is pretty scarce but what we know is he currently resides in Dangriga on the coast of Belize, suffice to say, the single speaks for itself. ‘Invisible Boy’ whisks an elegant blend downtempo pop, soul and electronics, as hypnotic synths combine with waves of feel good, woozy summery vibes. There’s a hint of the Balearic about it and tempered by some tender vocals from Wilson. An intriguing first outing from Wilson, let’s hope we’re not waiting too long for more tunes.

‘Invisible Boy’ is out now & you can sample its delight below. Also, the fantastic artwork was carefully created by Ilya Gulyaev – I really like it.

Miaoux Miaoux – ‘It’s The Quick’

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Almost three years since the irresistible electronic eclecticism of Light of the North, Miaoux Miaoux (Glasgow-based producer Julian Corrie) will return to the fold with School of Velocity.

Penned for release on June 1st through Chemikal Underground, the forthcoming record promises a sumptuous blend of influences, from eighties pop, nineties trance and the subtle, assured melodicism of Caribou. The first taster of the new record has been delivered in the form of the exhilarating ‘It’s The Quick’. It’s a fizzing glee-filled party tune that mixes rushing synths, joyous and euphoric dancefloor epiphanies with growly vocals that lend a sinister undercurrent. ‘It’s The Quick’ exudes sheer fun as it embraces an honest love of classic House music, while feeling fresh and inventive within a retro groove. A dazzlingly eclectic slice of what’s to come from one of the most reliably brilliant producers around.

The new album School of Velocity will be with us on June 1st and until then, behold the marvellous splendor that is ‘It’s The Quick’. It is simply magnificent.