Synth-Pop
Track: New Arcades – More Than This
At a time when Chvrches have just announced the release date for their new album and previewed a few new songs, London duo New Arcades are in danger of falling slightly short on a sound that could be as addictive as the Scottish trio. London Duo Dean Canty and Adam Sullivan do run the risk …
Album review: Years & Years – Communion
2015 has been an amazing year so far for London based three piece Years & Years. They took the title of BBC Sound of 2015, scored their first number one hit with ‘King’, and performed triumphantly on the John Peel stage at this year’s Glastonbury. But the crowning of a great band always comes with …
Album Review: Act – Love and Hate – A compact introduction to Act
One of the blink and you’ll miss it bands from the time of synth-pop revolution, Act flashed and burnt out, pretty much before anyone noticed. The duo, Thomas Leer and ex-propaganda singer Claudia Brücken, convened after Propaganda fell apart over their contract with label ZTT, the band and Brücken (then Mrs Paul Morley, ZTT co-founder) …
Album Review: Gwenno – Y Dydd Olaf
It’s always tricky to review an album where the lyrics are primarily in an unknown language, especially in Gwenno’s Welsh mother tongue. Yet with ex-Pipette’s solo debut, Y Dydd Olaf, the music really speaks for itself. Branded as a concept album focusing on politics and science fiction, the album seems to shy away from its …
Track: Department M – Bleak Technique
Initially the project of Leeds’ Owen Brinley, Department M has developed into a growing concern, a full live band in fact that includes Tommy Davidson from Pulled Apart By Horses. They’re a creative bunch too, having already released record owns the Too Pure singles club and Fierce Panda in the last two years, and now …
See: GØSPEL release video for new single ‘Ain’t gonna let you in’
Out right now is the new single from London synth pop trio GØSPEL. Produced and mixed by Mikko Gordon (Ultraista/Gaz Coombes) is available from the bands bandcamp, and is backed by b-side Other Side. The track itself bubbles with atmosphere, shard of ite cold synths in complete contrast to the sultry vocals that dominate. It’s …
See: Mates of State release video for ‘Staring Contest’.
With their new five track collection of songs ‘You’re Going to make it’ recently out on Fierce Panda (Barsuk in the US), Mates of State have released a brand new video for the track ‘Staring Contest’. Its based on a true story that the duo’s (husband and wife Kori Gardner and Jason Hammel) daughter June …
New Music: Anwai – Move Along
Atmospheric Swedish duo Anwai, aka Mons Lorenzen and Amadeus Rudolfsson, took the decision to lock themselves in a studio (presumably allowing themselves comfort and food/sleep breaks, but you never know with these electronic types) to record an album, with no outside distractions. Emerging with the fruits of their labour, intact but possibly frazzled by e …
Track: Eliza and the Bear – Love Don’t Play Fair, plus Headline Tour dates
Those Eliza and the Bear people have been busy. After releasing a handful of delightful synth pop tracks, the band have been on tour most recently with Twin Atlantic, having occupied the same slot with Imagine Dragons and Paramore. They’ve recently unveiled their latest video for ‘Make it on my Own’, from the forthcoming EP …
See: Prides release new video for Messiah
Prides are so good that they do everything twice. I’m not kidding. Their single ‘Out Of The Blue’ was released April 2013, then again in December 2014. ‘Higher Love’ has two music videos because the main one wasn’t ready in time and, sticking with that trend, ‘Messiah’ has been given a new lease of life with a …