POSTS TAGGED : Indie-Electronica

Niki Moss – ‘Soylent Green’

Niki Moss

Hailing from Portugal, Niki Moss is the musical guise of Miguel Vilhena, a multi-instrumentalist, producer, lead vocalist for the psych-rock band Savana and founder for the record label Pontiaq.

‘Soylent Green’ is the first single to surface from what will be Niki Moss’ debut album, penned for release later in 2018. Playful, off-kilter and uber-catchy, ‘Soylent Green’ grabs you from the off and never lets go. Fluid, melodic guitar lines duet with airy vocals come together to make for the perfect, enticing introduction. Joined then by irresistibly infectious spurts of synth riffs and keys, it gets its hooks in and doesn’t relent. ‘Soylent Green’ is three minutes of flashy, neon bright synth-pop, buoyed by an electric energy and filled with an irresistible aesthetic.

‘Soylent Green’ is the first single to surface from what will be Niki Moss’ debut album, penned for release later in 2018.

Super Extra Bonus Party Share ‘Purple Heart’; Announce Hometown Show

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No question, Super Extra Bonus Party are well an truly back in business.

Having returned from a seven year hiatus late last year with scintillating single ‘Switzerland‘, the eclectic Newbridge six-piece are back with 2018’s first offering ‘Purple Heart’ – and it is focused, anthemic and damn near impossible to get out of your head. Gavin Elsted’s melancholic but hopeful vocals are set to an infectious background of cascading crystalline guitar lines, synths, metronomic drums and jolts of electronics. Never ones to let you down in the tunes department; ‘Purple Heart’ is chiming, wholly irresistible and elegant electronica.

And that’s not all. Super Extra Bonus Party have announced a special hometown show, Upstairs @ JRB’s, Newbridge on Saturday June 16, with special guests Ships, Phare & The Comstocks.

Tickets are priced €10/€14 & available here. That’s a hell of a good line-up and a hell of a good price too!

Get yourself acquainted with ‘Purple Heart’ below & the single is out now on 045 Recordings.

SEBP have plenty ore shows lined up in the coming months; at Body & Soul and Castlepalooza with more gigs to be announced

Cloud – ‘Wildfire’

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Cloud is a Long Island-based project, revolving around chief songwriter Tyler Taormina.

Back in 2013, the US outfit released a well received debut album, Comfort Songs, on Audio Antihero – and five years on, they have teamed up with the same label for their second offering, Plays With Fire. Ahead of the new record, Cloud have shared lead single ‘Wildfire’ – taking us on a colourful adventurous journey through synth pop, psych folk, surf rock, krautrock and electronica. It’s an uplifting, glossy, dream-pop production, mixing its baggy beat with a soft, psychedelic wave of synths which gradually envelopes everything else. This psychedelic wall of sound – with vocal interjections that call to mind The Go! Team and Pinkunoizu – will suck in the most unwilling of ears. The melody lulls you in with a repetitive loop and washed out drums, before raining down a swirling vortex of hypnotic power. A melodious, hook heavy and irresistible confection of sound. Stunning!

‘Wildfire’ is the album’s lead single, which is accompanied by a music video directed by Taormina and an exclusive non-album b-side. You can check them out below now.

S//P – ‘Head On Backwards’

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‘Head On Backwards’ is the first single from s//p – pronounced ‘Slip’ in case, like me, you were wondering – which is solo venture of Los Angeles based artist Taylor Brown.

‘Head on Backwards’ will appear on s//p’s forthcoming debut album The Cost, and as far a taster or opening salvo, well, they don’t come much bigger or better than this. This is indie-electro or indie-to-dance-to, if you prefer, at it insatiable best. Opening with a protracted parp of brass, ostensibly a call to arms, signalling it is time to get moving. Synth-laden and matched with quick step beats and math-rocky guitarwork, and hushed, often semi-spoken vocals; ‘Head On Backwards’ finds its own space, simultaneously radiating an mellow aura and energetic pulse as it builds to a huge crescendo of full-blown sound. A relentless and infectious mover bursting with vitality – this is one of those tunes that encourages you, nay compels you to dance.

Listen to ‘Head On Backwards’ below:

Introducing: Retro Kid

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Hailing from Copenhagen, Retro Kid serve us with some irresistible electronic productions.

Self-described as “electronic pop in a melancholy funk”; and that description isn’t wide of the mark. Swinging in a place between indie-music-to-dance-to and electronic vibes, their work brings to mind the likes of Caribou, Hot Chip and Mount Kimbie. Their self-titled track, lifted from Retro Kid’s debut EP of the same name, is a wonderfully hypnotic, seductive electronic gem. It flits between contrasting textures of heavy fuzzy bass and shimmering glints of luminescent synth, over layers of mild doses euphoria and deep-house feint. More upbeat and dance-floor ready, ‘Kool Kids’ repeats the trick. Hypnotic, euphoric and captivating it’s pièce de résistance is the alternating vocals from the deep delivery of Christian Larsen’s to the heavenly, airy breeze of Christiane Kjærgaard’s voice. Assured and confident, and delivered with precision; this quartet will have you heading straight for the repeat button.

You can check out Retro Kid’s ‘Retro Kid’ and ‘Kool Kids’ below. You can check out their debut EP here.

 

Introducing: Ten Fé

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Ten Fé are the London-based duo of Ben Moorhouse and Leo Duncan, who’ve been making serious headway through previous singles ‘Make Me Better’, ‘In The Air’, ‘Elodie’ and ‘Turn’.

The pair aim to make further strides with the announcement of their debut album ‘Hit The Light’; penned for release on February 3 2017. Accompanying this news, Ten Fé have revealed a taster of their forthcoming debut LP, with new single ‘Overflow’. Adorned with all the hallmarks that’s made their name thus far, ‘Overflow’ is ‘indie-music-to-dance to’ and a compelling blurring of the lines between synth-pop, ’80s new wave and electronica. Built around some synth-driven, ’80s new-wave nuances, these combine with guitar lines to create a lush, almost neon quality. Moorhouse’s baritone vocals provide an emotional weight, while ‘Overflow’ is propelled forward by an urgent, vibrant electronic beat and insistent bubbling bass. A stunning distillation of their synthy sound.

The album is coming in the new year but to whet your appetite, you can listen to ‘Overflow’ and ‘Make Me Better’ below.

Introducing: Class Portrait

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Class Portrait is the moniker of New York-based, electronic, indie-pop project fronted by Michael Vaughan.

Previously he had been making his way in the world as house music producer, with a number releases on labels in the UK and Portugal to his name, before trading it in, and stripping down the sound to a guitar, vocal, and a drum machine. Or, in his own words; “a man, a guitar, a drum machine and a dream”. This new project may be in its infancy and judging by his by his debut EP Time Zones, the dream is alive a well. Take title track ‘Time Zones’ for instance. Vaughan’s hushed vocals ride a wave of electronic flourishes and swells of synth, effects and electronics, while the steady beat anchors the slinking, meandering groove. Combined, they ooze an aura of smooth, coolness. ‘Close To Me’ offers indie-electronica from the other end of the spectrum. Uptempo and driven, with a meaty guitar chugging its way through snappy beats and gushes of synth/electronics, while Vaughan’s vocals remain calm, cool and hushed. Bursting with creativity and ideas, Class Portrait’s debut is a wholly irresistible and inspired collection of splendid indie-electronica.

You can check out ‘Time Zones’ and ‘Close To Me’ below and if they are to your satisfaction, you can find the full Time Zones EP, here.