Category: Electro-Pop
Prayers Have Been Answered! New: Tirzah – Make it Up + What’s the Use
YES – OMG YES. Tirzah is back, and she’s created yet another couple of dark, delicious, and groovy electro jams: “Make it Up,” and “What’s the Use.”
Psst… I listened to “Make it Up” 24 times in two days, so, you know, it’s gotta be good.
Over the last couple of years, the London-based artist has graced us with an EP and a handful of obsession-worthy jams including my personal faves (as featured on Cuckoo for Coco’s Pop Underground) “Inside Out,” “No Romance,” and “I’m Not Dancing.”
Tirzah‘s new jams, featured on the Greco-Roman label, have been produced yet again by her fellow experimental pop BFF, and childhood friend, Mica Levi aka Micachu.
Anyway, enough chatting (I couldn’t find much else about her to delve into anyway!) Have a listen and enjoy already:
Tirzah – Make it Up (full version of the jam is no longer on SoundCloud, but can be found on Spotify)
Tirzah – What’s the Use
Listen to NEW Mozart’s Sister Track: Enjoy + Debut Album Announced!
Mozart’s Sister has been one of my most consistent musical obsessions over the last three years. I’ve been clinging on to her 3-track EP, Dear Fear, originally self-released in 2011, for what feels like an eternity.
Caila Thompson-Hannant aka Mozart’s Sister re-released Dear Fear as Hello in 2013 with the addition of one more track via Merok Records. With little-to-no news about further releases, my consistent anticipation for amazing electro-pop pureness from the Montreal-hailing songstress remained faithful.
Today, news of her debut album, Being, is finally here, and it’s due out August 5th (!!!) via Asthmatic Kitty Records. We’re also given a glimpse of the record with the release of a new track and video for, “Enjoy.”
According to Asthmatic Kitty, “inspired by Discovery-era Daft Punk, Post-era Bjork, and Betty Davis, Caila produced, recorded and wrote Being using a cheap sound card and Ableton software, approaching it with a do-it-all-by-my-self ideology… ‘Being is a fracture,’ says Caila. ‘A note between thought and expression. When I wrote this record I was riding a wave of light and dark; I still am. It’s not a twisted path but one that aspires to harmony. In all the little bits that make up the bulk of the ‘songs’ of this album is a jump. So here I am jumping into your mercy, a leap I will never forget. I feel the future can only bring better or worse and definitely not the same. So this record is a thing that will never happen again. I hope you enjoy it.'”
Listen to + Watch Blowin’ up Sweetsy-Soulful Electro-Pop Duo: Sylvan Esso
Sylvan Esso, the new North Carolina-based duo made up of Mountain Man’s Amelia Meath and Megafaun’s Nick Sanborn has been one of my (and many others’) biggest obsessions of 2013/14. Their sweetsy-soulful electro-pop is ridiculously catchy, and it appears that everyone’s catching on.
Sylvan Esso‘s tracks have been hitting top spots on Spotify’s viral streaming charts, are some of the most requested on Sirius XMU radio, continuously top Hype Machine charts and after SXSW, the duo received reviews from the New York Times, People Magazine, Spin, NPR, Brooklyn Vegan, etc. They’re blowin’ up, y’all!
Story has it that Amelia and Nick met in 2012 in passing at a show they both happened to be playing w/their respective bands and/or projects. Amelia asked Nick to rework her first song, “Play it Right,” and turns out, he did just that. The two then realized they could make sweet, sweet music together and Sylvan Esso was born. On May 13th, Partisan Records will release Sylvan Esso‘s highly anticipated debut, self-titled album.
The two have just three tracks, “Coffee,” “Play it Right” and “Hey Mami” that people like myself have played an ungodly amount of times. And, if you ever tune in to Cuckoo for Coco’s Pop Underground, (yes, I’m plugging the radio show right now – It’s every Sunday at 11 am – noon PT on BFF.fm), you’ve most likely heard all three. Just this week, in anticipation of the debut album, Sylvan Esso has dropped two new videos for “Coffee” and “Play it Right,” that both “get up, get down.” After the album release, the duo will also embark on a tour with Tune-Yards May – June. What an eclectic and stellar combination! Enjoy:
Sylvan Esso – Hey Mami
Listen to New Slammin’ Scandinavian Electro-Pop Artist: Kill J
Damn, Denmark, you’ve done it again. There must be something in the water, ‘cus Copenhagen continuously and consistently pumps out ferociously catchy alt/electro-pop artists. This is where Kill J comes in. She’s a new Danish act who excited the ears of many back in June of 2013 with her debut and hypnotic jam, “Phoenix.” Luckily, Kill J has surfaced once again in full force with a slammin’ new single, “Bullet.” On the semi-mysterious artist’s Soundcloud page, she’s fiercely stated that “Bullet” is…
“…dedicated to the victims of other peoples bullshit convictions. People who act sinful, hateful and ungodly in the name of their God.”
Kill J – Bullet
Kill J – Phoenix
Yes, Yes, Yes! Listen to 2 New TRUST tracks: Capitol & Rescue, Mister
It’s refreshing to hear that Trust aka Robert Alfons, the insanely talented Toronto-hailing goth synth-pop God can consistently keep up with his dark, seductive, drug-sick lurching-like music producing ways. Since the release of his stunning debut album, TRST, back in 2012, Alfons has been on what seems like a never-ending tour, but he’s back to making new music and blowing everyone’s minds and ears, per usual.
Trust‘s sophomore album, Joyland, described as “an eruption of guts, feels, and joy,” is due out March 4 via Arts & Crafts. He’ll also be embarking on tour with none other than the amazing electro-pop Queen, Mozart’s Sister. Could this get any better!? Have a listen to “Capitol” and “Rescue, Mister,” two new tracks off of Joyland, then commence to weep black tears of synth-pop joy:
Trust – Capitol
Trust – Rescue, Mister
New Tracks + Debut Soon! Painted Palms – Forever, Spinning Signs
It’s funny to think you’ve been listening to and watching a beloved band for a couple of years, only to realize they’ve never actually released a full-length album. Brilliant EPs and superb singles surprisingly and happily hold fans over for some time. This is the case for psych-electro-pop San Francisco music darlings and cousins that make up Painted Palms.
The duo released their addicting EP, Canopy back in 2011 (which caught the eye of Kevin Barnes from of Montreal), a 2-track 7″ titled Carousel back in March of this year, and their Nothing Lasts EP in June of this year. Painted Palms has also done the tour circuit, opening for bands such as of Montreal, Braids and STRFKR – All of this without a full length? Well, time to give praise the music Gods, as Painted Palms will be releasing their debut album, Forever, on January 14th, 2014 via Polyvinyl.
Luckily for us, they’ve also leaked two singles from their forthcoming album, “Forever,” and “Spinning Signs,” both of which seriously channel The Shins meets The Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. And, if you’re in the San Francisco bay area, Painted Palms will be playing/having an album release party on January 17th, 2014 at the Rickshaw Stop accompanied by Soft Metals and Melted Toys. Enjoy:
Painted Palms – Forever
Painted Palms – Spinning Signs
Listen to New Sexy Slow Jam: Josef Salvat – Every Night
Josef Salvat by Sam Hiscox
Ugh. Josef Salvat. The London-hailing singer/songwriter consistently releases smooth, sexy, emotionally driven slow jams, each one more addictive than the next. He’s giving sexy slow jam counterparts, Rhye, SOHN, Autre Ne Veut and How to Dress Well a serious run for their money. Luckily for us (but maybe not for them?) Josef Salvat has released yet another ‘ugh’ inducing, heart-swooning, hip swaying track.
“Every Night” is one of two tracks that’ll be released on a double-single, due out December 9th via Fingers & Thumbs. Have a listen and I dare you not to melt:
Josef Salvat – Every Night
Hype-Worthy! Listen to New Brooklyn Band’s Self-Titled EP: Wet
Wet is a new up-and-coming Brooklyn-based trio creating some steady hubbub in the music blogosphere. They’re producing ridiculously catchy, beautiful and refreshing pop songs (with heavy themes) at a consistent rate. Today, their self-titled EP is officially out (stream below), which has been a bright and sparkling joy in my listening life as of late.
The band just joined Neon Gold Records (Ellie Goulding, Haim, HAERTS, MØ, etc.) and any fans of say, MS MR, Ellie Goulding, Haim, and maybe even Purity Ring will get a definite kick outta Wet.
If you’re gallivanting through the madness at CMJ Music Marathon in NYC this week, Wet is playing tonight (10/15) at the Bowery Ballroom, The Fader Fort at Converse Rubber Tracks, as well as the Santos Party House for Neon Gold’s Showcase (with HEARTS) on Thursday, 10/17, and Baby’s All Right on Friday, 10/18.
Stream Wet‘s self-titled EP below, on SoundCloud, BandCamp, or better yet, purchase it on vinyl.
Scream! New Black Ice Cream: Helado Negro – Island Universe Story 2 EP
Photo by Daniel Dorsa as featured on PORTALS music blog.
Roberto Carlos Lange aka Helado Negro is one of the most magnetic and magical performers to see live. There’s nothing crazy or outlandish about his sets, but his voice is whimsical and romantic and his eclectic, ambient, electric beach jams from space have a way of moving your hips and locking you into a cloud of dreamy musical bliss.
Helado Negro‘s 2013 LP, Invisible Life has been a serious staple of constant listening pleasure since its release in March. As luck would have it, Lange has been hard at work and recently released his latest EP, Island Universe Story Two (which you can buy here, and on cassette!) via Asthmatic Kitty Records. At the beginning of August, Lange tweeted out a list of 50+ artists and songs, all of which were apparent influences when creating the EP, some of which include Stevie Wonder, Ice-T and… Eddie Murphy? Interesting choices, especially after you have a listen. The new EP is full of crazy beats, exotic synth and fuzzy, dreamy vocals that’ll make you scream for more Helado Negro aka black ice cream.
Stream Helado Negro‘s new EP on Bandcamp or Spotify and be sure to catch the man in action. He’s currently on tour along with Javelin, Spiritualized, the Breeders, John Cale, Big Boi, Suuns and The High Highs.
Helado Negro – We Will You
Helado Negro – Enters
For all you recording and sound engineering aficionados, here’s a mini documentary by Weathervane Music showing behind-the-scenes footage of producing/recording a Helado Negro song. (Watch even more videos from this recording here).
NEW Track + Video for Mysterious Buzzband: Pale – Fearing Faces
Pale, the mysterious, semi-somber, electro-poppin’ London-based duo who, up until this point have kept their faces in the shadows, recently and appropriately released a new track, “Fearing Faces” complete with a video (showing you guessed it, face!).
Over the last 9 months or so since Pale‘s emergence, the two have released a handful of tracks, all which have launched major curiosity and buzz amongst bloggers and music lovers alike. Pale is apparently headlining their first show in Paris and London, August 28-29th.
Keep up with Pale on Facebook, SoundCloud and/or Twitter and enjoy putting a face to their addicting sound in the video for “Fearing Faces.”
coco stereo 