Category Archives: electro- pop

Album Review, Alt- Pop, electro- pop, Electronic, Indie Pop, New Music

The Ting Tings ‘The Black Light’ Album

The Ting Tings are back with their fourth studio album ‘The Black Light’. Best known for their massively successful 2009 debut album ‘We Started Nothing’ which boasted the hit singles ‘That’s Not My Name’ and ‘Shut Up & Let Me Go’ the duo have been on a rollercoaster 10-year journey gaining their desired independence. Releasing a further 2 studio albums after their successful debut and adapting their sound to reflect their experiences, the pair were led to their latest work The Black Light, which holds a noticeably darker edge with a mix of Manchester inspired guitar patterns and captivating vocal phrases melded with harsh beats, synths and bass. 

‘The Black Light’ is a dark concoction that wriggles and wraps around swirling electronics and alternative pop experimentation. The shadowy riff of  ‘Estranged’ twinkles the album into motion. The Ting Tings present their delicate emotional side. Layering their brooding electronics over a melancholic melody this duo build an atmosphere of tension and unease. The haunting dark quality continues with  the chilling ‘Earthquake’ and smokey toned ‘Fine & Dandy’.The band shake the album up a bit with ‘Basement’ and ‘Word For This’ which are reminiscent of The Ting Tings debut album- driving through with buoyant rhythms and exuberant energy to have your feet tapping and head bopping. Filled with attitude and swagger with catchy lyrics and jagged guitars these tracks give a danceable quality to the album and lighten the cloudy atmosphere of the previous tracks.. ‘A & E’ and ‘Blacklight’ push through with an almost trip hop beat slapping against frenzied electronics giving a dazzling club night vibe making for a smooth transition into the upbeat ‘Good Grief’ which features a vibrant guitar riff and shuffle ready beat taking the album to a danceable fun finale.

The Ting Tings ‘The Black Light’ has a decent mix of everything from electronic to attitude soaked alternative rock and punk to bouncy infectious pop. The tracks smoothly flow from one to another making for a satisfying listen.

Stream ‘The Black Light’ below


Alt- Pop, electro- pop, Electronic, Indie, Indie Electro, Indie Pop, New Music, Synth-pop

Little Grace ‘My Bed’

Contemporary R&B three piece Little Grace have recently released their third single ‘My Bed’. Taking inspiration from Tracey Emin’s art installation, the single proves how connected all art forms are whilst also exploring themes of mental health. With a percentage of all earnings from the single going towards men’s mental health charity CALM, the boys become transparent through their music and hope to encourage the removal of the stigma. Based in North West England, Little Grace have worked with some notable names, including Bristol based drum & bass producer TC, German producer and DJ Robin Schulz (James Blunt, Nick Jonas) and Liverpool based XamVolo. My Bed was written in a day after a surge of inspiration after visiting The Tate Museum, written about the peril of getting lost in your own worries and struggles the track explores daily battles. The accompanying video, created by Spanish animators Eira Ramos and Guillem Guarro, reverses half way through, representing the vicious cycle sufferers of mental health can get caught up in.

‘My Bed’ is a rich full bodied number that sweetly blends electronic and R&B through gripping soundscapes and moving lyrics. Smooth vocals caress the catchy riveting melody with a delicate tenderness while swirling electronics whirl and sweep in the background churning with hair raising emotion and subtle little burst of adrenaline throughout. A sticky gloopy beat slaps and crawls its way around delicate twinkling synths for the verses building the track to its infectious magnetic chorus. This richly produced track glides and simmers around dark tones and eerie soundscapes while the synth pop flavours and velvety vocals sweeten the track and make for a captivating listen.

Watch the video for ‘My Bed’ below

 

 

 


Alt- Pop, electro- pop, Electronic, Indie, Indie Pop, New Music, Worth A Listen

Worth A Listen

Our Worth A Listen Track This Week Comes From Lycio

Birmingham Alternative Electronic band Lycio have released their new single ‘Up Down’.Lycio are a contemporary 3-piece bringing a uniquely authentic take on electronic/hybrid music. Having started in 2016, the band have supported notable acts such as Rae Morris, Yonaka, Gurr, Low Island and Stevie Parker on their headline tours. Live highlights have also included a Richer Unsigned session, Chris Evans’ Carfest for BBC Children in Need 2017 & 2018, BBC Introducing acoustic session, Project Soundlounge at Birmingham Town Hall, and an exclusive in store Selfridges ‘Live + Loud’ session.Mastered at Metropolis Studios by Stuart Hawkes (Ed Sheeran, Lorde, Fickle Friends, Rudimental, Amy Winehouse), Lycio’s fourth offering ‘Up Down’ continues the up-beat momentum gathered by their previous release ‘Evil People’.

‘Up Down’ is a richly textured electronic composition of elation. Infectious rhythms whack and weave their groovy way throughout this gripping gem as a smooth vibrant melody ensures the band have a firm grip on your ears. Staccato synths surge the track with little kinetic bursts of vitality which pulse and divulge darkly hued energy into every flicker and hop while Genie Mendez’s vocals float and glide with lush soulful tones over the sublime melody. Elegant piano twinkles throughout creating glorious magical qualities through the enchanting swirls of electronics. This dynamic buoyant gem surges with energy, sultriness and danceable bliss. It’s intense and animated with a slapping beat driving through the smoggy mystery filled, dark soundscapes and lyrical theme as Lycio present a wholly satisfying intoxicating number.

On the subject of the track, front woman Genie Mendez explains “Up Down is loosely based around my fluctuation in mood and emotions; hence the title and lyrics ’Up Down’. The chorus is a cry for help, and an expression of the loneliness that comes with mental illness”.

Stream ‘Up Down’ below


Alt- Pop, electro- pop, Electronic, Indie, Indie Pop, indie rock, New Music

Color Palette ‘Chelsea’

Washington, DC. indie electronic band Color Palette have released their new single ‘Chelsea’, another gripping ethereal number filled with rich instrumentation creating the perfect aerial backdrop to the pop sprinkled sombre melody. Icy electronics swirl and consume the smooth chilled melody with flashing scintillation and enthralling cinematic soundscapes as lush harmonies, riveting darkly hued key progressions and weaving guitars create the most bewitching, majestic foundation for this captivating lush tune. The chorus develops and grows steadily becoming more intense and magnified until it finally blossoms into an epic almost anthemic outburst. This striking track is a refined piece of work that showcases Color Palette’s fine crafted musicianship with grace. elegance and captivating splendor.

Stream ‘Chelsea’ below


electro- pop, Electronic, Indie, Indie Electro, New Music

Jamie Adam ‘Last Ones Down’

Meath Electronic Artist Jamie Adam has released his new single ‘Last Ones Down’ taken off his debut album ‘Melodic Electronic’, scheduled for release in early 2019.This release follows Adam’s two previous single releases, ‘The Power’ in February 2018 and ‘Cool Blood’ in July 2018, the latter of which was picked up by 8radio, 98fm, 2fm and  Wandsworth Radio London on it’s release. The new single chronicles the nights out Adam experienced while still in College. Written in 2016,the song is a recount of his ability to stay up all night, the magic of the afterparty and those moments where he found himself alone when the fun had surpassed him in the early hours of the morning.

‘Last Ones Down’ is an exhilarating electronic number that twists and turns, merging ethereal synths with sticky beats and rooted bass lines. The swirling synths playfully wisp about the track creating a breath-taking flourishing soundscape between the sweetly delicate melody as smooth vocals coo over a glistening guitar feature and slapping beats. The protruding bass sets a groove laced foundation for the invigorating atmosphere to rebound and excel off. The track builds becoming more dynamic and gripping as it swirls into its crescendo, perfectly creating the heightened emotions a night out produces. The twinkling keys sprinkle special little moments of magic throughout the track as its blossoms into a danceable refreshing slice of electronic indie bliss.

Jamie Adam will be supporting the release of his latest single with a headline show upstairs at Whelans on tonight, Thursday 18th of October. The show is entitled ‘NOCTURNAL NIGHTS VOL II: ‘Last Ones Down Single Launch’ with support from Sonif.

Stream ‘Last Ones Down’ below

 


Alt- Pop, electro- pop, Indie, Indie Pop, New Music, Synth-pop

Ivory Wave ‘Frankie’

Birmingham’s Ivory Wave, have released their new track, ‘Frankie’ via ModernSky UK. Fresh from sets at festivals such as, Tramlines and Truck Festival, as well as Birmingham SHIIINE ON Weekender. The band have just supported The DMA’s by personal invitation.Formed of George, Connor, Luke, Rob and Seb, the band have become known for their hooks and good vibes to boot. The band have been touring the UK heavily for quite some time, and have started making some remarkable waves in their hometown. ‘Frankie’, picks up where Ivory Waves’s last single, ‘Cool Kids’, left off. The production of this track was aided by Gavin Monaghan in Wolverhampton’s Magic Garden Studio.

Much like their live performance, ‘Frankie’, exudes a level of fun-loving exuberance. This infectious party indie pop banger rides in on a slick wave of hyper synths swirling around buoyant beats and shuffle inducing danceable grooves. Glistening guitars meander through the exhilarating soundscapes lacing the track in a sleek fluid whack of indie while attitude drenched vocals strut in with panache and punch. Frankie is designed to fill the dance floor – it’s an instant adrenaline shot to the veins. With a clap along feature ready to infect the live audiences and glossy production providing a dazzling sheen-  it’s one heck of a body mover.

You can catch Ivory Wave Live at:

20th October – Manchester – Night People
25th October – Leeds – Lending Room
2nd November – Birmingham – O2 Institute 2
5th November – Brighton – Komedia studio

Stream ‘Frankie’ below

 


Alt- Pop, Dark- Wave, electro- pop, Electronic, Hypnotic, Indie, Indie Electro, Indie Pop, New Music, Synth-pop, Worth A Listen

Worth A Listen

Our Worth A Listen Track This Week Comes From LOVE SICK

Julie and Shaun first met working for the same life insurance call center at an office Christmas party where Julie divulged her passion for singing. A few weeks later, the pair bumped into each other at a Glasgow train station and the rest, as they say, is history. LOVE SICK first introduced themselves in 2017 with their debut single ‘Bullet’, which quickly captivated a global audience of almost 1 million listeners and support from the likes of BBC, KCRW, and even Sir Elton John himself.LOVE SICK announces their forthcoming “No Sleep” EP by sharing the first single ‘Fever’.

This dark pop delight swirls and ferments beneath a hypnotic groove, driven by trip hop beats. Dizzying electronics lure you into the delusions of bliss prowling in the deep enticing abyss of ‘Fever’. The infectious melody seeps into your ears whispering a sweet bewitching curse  to your soul as Julie’s sweet vocals entice and seduce over this mesmerising hypnotic track. Warping their blend of pop into a trance inducing menacing number LOVE SICK are a duo to keep an eye on. Their cool, chilled, musically rich musicianship and slick crisp production will have you dancing in a darkly hued, mind dazed trance of bliss.

Stream ‘Fever’ below


Alt Rock, Alt- Pop, electro - rock, electro- pop, Electronic, EP Review, Hypnotic, Indie, Indie Pop, Indie Psychedelic, indie rock, New Music, Psych-Pop, psychedelic, Rock, Synth Rock

Mini Mansions ‘Works Every Time’ EP

Mini Mansions have released their highly anticipated EP ‘Works Every Time’. Singer/guitarist Michael Shuman, singer/keyboardist Tyler Parkford, and bassist Zach Dawes are the glorious trinity of Mini Mansions, a band who push boundaries and overwhelm our minds with psychedelic encryption and delicious tunes. The band have played in some of the world’s biggest rock bands, Queens of The Stone Age, Arctic Monkeys and The Last Shadow Puppets these guys have been flourishing right at the roots of the rock genre readying themselves and fermenting their sound.This new release arrives three years after their second record, ‘The Great Pretenders’, which received critical praise and featured guest appearances from Arctic Monkeys frontman Alex Turner and The Beach Boys’ Brian Wilson and ‘Flashbacks’ a collection  of B-side tracks which was released in 2016. Mini Mansions sound is unique and stirring all at once and places them firmly on par if not above their comrades in intricate obscurity and just plain genius. ‘Works Every Time’ is only a glimpse of what these guys are capable of.

‘Works Every Time’ is a concise, flavoursome collection of juicy tracks to re-introduce us to the mouth watering home cooking of Mini Mansions. Title track ‘Works Every Time’ reels us in with a soft beat bouncing off a swoon worthy melody and glistening keys.Filled with wistful tones Parkford takes the vocals on this track, his sweet falsetto cooing over the breathtaking soundscapes as this song floats around a dreamy ethereal atmosphere while the zesty sting on guitars give a lamenting bite and sharpness to the track. ‘Midnight in Tokyo’ rumbles through with Dawes’ elastic bass line teamed with the sticky slapping beats setting the groove infested foundation as the track spirals into a sleazy swagger smacked number. With Prince like Bowie -esque hued verses and a triumphant catchy chorus this track struts in, slicked back, funk fueled and glossy. Shuman’s vocals take the lime light here drenched in panache and gritty rough flamboyance as flashing disco hued electronics dazzle the background while Parkford provides lush tight harmonies. The rich meaty sound is filled gloriously with zingy guitars weaving their way, flickering little bursts of spice throughout. Parkford takes vocals once again on ’This Bullet’ a psychedelic whirl of utter mind melting mania. He ventures to his ominous lower range while Dawes’ throbbing bass and meandering soundscapes rush you with a sinister sense of danger. This track has a residue of Mister Goodnite’s ‘One Against Five’ with a little more darkness and obscurity smeared on top as alien- esque electronics wail about eerie tones and snappy driving beats. There is something magnetic and hypnotic about this track as Mini Mansions distort and dissolve your entire grip of reality with one catchy dizzying tune. It’s dark and creepy especially when Parkford orders “take off your vest“ however it’s difficult to prise yourself away from its chilling charm. Of course the band offer up another stirring cover for us to devour. Having previously embellished our ears with Blondie’s ‘Heart of Glass’ and Sparks ‘Sherlock Holmes’ Mini Mansions dissect and dismember a thrillingly dark rendition of Edwyn Collins‘ ‘A Girl Like You’, dousing it in the gritty sleazy and intoxicating tones we love from this trio. It’s dark as Shuman howls, screams and deeply haunts over whining guitars and flashing electronics. Filled with infectious shimmy grooves this track will make your skin crawl and tantalize all your senses while creeping into your mind where it will firmly reside for days. They did a cover the only way Mini Mansions can … better than the original.

The talent of this band is immense. Each track was meticulously cultivated – simmering and ripening slowly in Mini Mansions pressure cooker until the band were ready to delight and shatter our ears all at once. It’s exciting to see what each release will bring. They never compromise their sound yet push boundaries and provide an enthralling full bodied sound with every release. There is no one else like Mini Mansions out there at the moment. We need this trio to keep music fresh.

Stream ‘Works Every Time’ below

 


Alt- Pop, electro - rock, electro- pop, Electronic, Indie, Indie Pop, indie rock, New Music, Synth-pop

Color Palette ‘Sunburn’

Color Palette have released their new single ‘Sunburn’. Color Palette – comprised of Jay Nemeyer, Joshua Hunter, Matt Hartenau, Rogerio Naressi, and Maryjo Mattea – are an Indie Electro Rock band from Washington, DC. Since their first release, Color Palette have garnered hundreds of press hits worldwide. The band released their debut full-length album, ‘Vaporwave’, in 2016 and  have shared bills with the following notable artists: Charli XCX, The Naked and Famous, Mother Mother, Day Wave, Yumi Zouma, Mr Little Jeans, The Kickback, and Spirit Animal. The band are set to release their second full-length album in 2019.

‘Sunburn’ is a soft marshmallow of swirling sweetness caressing your ears with glorious smooth textures which wrap a zingy indie interior in silken coated bliss. Ethereal and dreamy, this track pirouettes in, on a spongy buoyant rhythmic foundation while jangly guitars slice through with zealous vigor and sun kissed radiance. The subtle hazy vocals layer the track in dreamy vibes as shimmering whirling electronics set a Utopian atmosphere to lose yourself in. These guys blend the delicate electronic tones with blistering indie seamlessly to create a gripping enthralling listening experience that transports you to that euphoric sun soaked land, dreams are made of.

Stream ‘Sunburn’ below

 


electro- pop, Electronic, Feel Good Music, Indie, Indie Pop, New Music

Belau ‘Breath’

Hungarian chillwave duo Belau have released their new single ‘Breath’ featuring Sophie Lindinger (from Leyya). Belau is one of the most promising electronica newcomers around the European music scene. The debut Belau full-length album, ‘The Odyssey’ was released in 2016, and won the Hungarian Grammy in best electronic music album category. After their US tour they are ready to release their brand new video. Their first song, ‘Island of Promise’ was chosen to the top hits of 2015 at Deezer Hungary, and the biggest Hungarian new portals. Now it counts nearly 500.000 views, appears in HBO’s series, Aranyélet, and also featuring in international commercials for Pepsi (33 countries).  In two years they had more than 120 live performances in 19 countries across Europe, they played the biggest festivals of the region, like Eurosonic, Sziget, Reeperbahn, Untold. and SXSW.

‘Breath’ is a chilled luscious number laced in rich rhythms, captivating electronics and feel good summer vibes. Jittery rhythms weave tight fluctuant beats between the ethereal electronics with gloopy sticky slaps and lavish textures doused in glorious Caribbean flavours. Sophie Lindinger’s captivating vocals caress the tasty infectious melody with sweet tones and warm depths.This sublime melody glides upon delicious electronics that wisp and swirl about the track adding a feathery light breezy quality and luxurious texture as the exuberant beat flaps about maintaining the infectious groove. The production on this track is masterful as each heavenly component is perfectly layered and placed meticulously for an enthralling listening experience. ‘Breath’ is an easy going yet buoyant delight filled with rich mouth watering sounds to sink your teeth into.

Watch the video for ‘Breath’ below