Category: New Band
Fresh New Track: Helado Negro – Dance Ghost + Introducing: Ombre
Thank you Helado Negro for this fresh new track! “Dance Ghost” is the latest release by the folk aficionado turned ambient, experimental, electro artist, Roberto Carlos Lange (aka Helado Negro). It’s a sinfully synthy track with smooth, cooing, delicate vocals, enticing, blippy beats and is a beauty of a burner that can easily be set on repeat. “Dance Ghost” has been a savior from the year-end music slump, which is typically plagued with never ending year-end lists:
The single can be found on Helado Negro‘s forthcoming album, Invisible Life, due March, 3, 2013 via Asthmatic Kitty Records.
Oh, but we’re not done yet. Roberto Lange has been a busy man, as he’s also one half of the new and beautiful ambient dream-pop collaboration project, Ombre, with Julianna Barwick. Ombre released their first LP, Believe You Me, at the end of August, 2012 – A little late on the intro here, but might as well since we’re on the Roberto Lange train. Stream Ombre‘s album on Spotify or Bandcamp.
Now, have a listen to both Helado Negro and Ombre:
Helado Negro – Dance Ghost
Ombre – Cara Falsa
Fresh & Addictive – Introducing: Nautic
I discovered Nautic maybe a week ago, and have been listening to their two tracks, “Fixxx,” and “Fresh Eyes” so obsessively, I figured it was time to actually write about them.
Story goes, Nautic is a brand new collaboration consisting of UK trio Bullion, Laura Groves, and Tic (of Young Turks). The result is an unbelievably unique, psychedelic and beautiful sound. Nautic is full of 80s nostalgia drenched in synth, strings and soaring vocals. I haven’t heard anything this fresh in a while, (which in music blog world, means about 3 weeks), and I’m dying to hear more. So far, the trio sports just two tracks and a Bandcamp page via Deek Recordings.
Have a listen to Nautic‘s fresh and highly addictive tracks, “Fixxx” and “Fresh Eyes” now:
Nautic – Fixxx
Nautic – Fresh Eyes
Meet NEW Hype-Worthy Swedish Electro-Pop Group: Kate Boy
The Swedes are insanely talented music producing masters and they’re especially synonymous with eclectic electro. From The Knife, to iamamiwhoami, jj, Little Dragon, Niki & The Dove, The Sound of Arrows, even Robyn (and don’t you even try to forget) Ace of Base, addictive electro-pop music is a Swedish forte.
This month, we get to add yet another talented Swedish act to the electro-pop pool: Kate Boy. With just one strong song, “Northern Lights,” Kate Boy thrusts us into nostalgia for The Knife, and in doing so, has quickly topped music blog charts. If the mysterious (supposed 3 parts Swedish, 1 part Aussie) group continues to produce synth superbness, they’re steadfast to becoming electro super stars.
With a bouncing, dark, ambient beat, metallic synth and righteous vocals, listen to Kate Boy‘s debut track, “Northern Lights” and stay tuned:
Kate Boy – Northern Lights
NEW 80s Synth-Pop Side Project: Yacht Club
I find it amusing, surprising, and equally awesome that a band member (Ben Cook), from a hardcore punk group, (Fucked Up) can completely switch modes and successfully produce smooth 80s inspired synth-pop jams. The result: Yacht Club.
The new Toronto-based side project of two has released a mixtape, Nonnavera, a slew of tracks including “Tropicana,” and “Flash” on Pretty Pretty, Burger, and soon a “cute little perverted song with hopefully a cute little perverted music video,” via Daps Records. Their latest release, “Fail to Cry” is the most addictive of the lot, and may possibly be part of a forthcoming mixtape – We can only hope!
Keep the 80s alive and Yacht Club on your radar with a follow and a listen on Facebook and bandcamp.
Yacht Club – Fail to Cry
Yacht Club – Tropicana
Yacht Club – Flash
New Tracks/Bands: Sam Flax + DIANA + Everything Everything + Black City Lights + Cashmere Cat + SoKo
Sam Flax
This is a sure-fire random roundup of new tracks and/or bands. Hence, there will undoubtedly be something incredible for everyone – Lucky!
It’s that time of year again when the music blogosphere begins to compile year-end “Best of” lists. Gorilla vs. Bear recently announced on Facebook they were already knee-deep and asked if it’d be a cop out to do a three-way tie for best album of 2012 (yes, total cop out). So of course, a slew of comments commenced with guesses for those top three albums. The usual suspects like Grimes, Chromatics, Grizzly Bear, Tame Impala and Animal Collective were mentioned, however, someone had also suggested Sam Flax, which I found interesting. Now, I don’t think he’d win best album (can anyone compete with Grimes this year?), but his recently (re)released, psychedelic, punk, pop rock LP, Age Waves (via Burger Records), certainly hasn’t garnered the exposure that it deserves. The LP’s opening track, “Fire Doesn’t Burn Itself,” is a glamorous, intricate, rockin’ track that becomes even more trippy with each second resulting in full-fledged addiction. Sam Flax‘s persona is also slightly David Bowie-esque, which he should totally milk. Stream Age Waves via SoundCloud, Bandcamp or Spotify.
Sam Flax – Fire Doesn’t Burn Itself
I don’t know how DIANA, new indie-synth-pop band from Toronto managed to fly under the (my) radar. The trio, (including the sax player from Destroyer) has just two tracks, “Perpetual Surrender” and “Born Again” but they’re enough throw you into retro electro bliss and I’m eager to hear more! Keep up with DIANA on Tumblr, Facebook or SoundCloud.
D I A N A – Born Again
Addictive hooks, sweet beats, shredding guitars and soaring falsetto vocals make UK hailing, Everything Everything quint essential indie-rock stardom material. Apparently, the lead singer/guitarist, Jonathan Higgs and bassist, Jeremy Pritchard also both have college degrees in “Popular Music.” If they continue to produce addictive tracks like “Kemosabe,” a single from the forthcoming LP, Arc, (due January 14, 2013), they’ll pay off those college loans in no time.
Everything Everything – Kemosabe
Black City Lights is an emerging electro/experimental group consisting of two homies hailing from New Zealand. They dropped an EP, Parallels via Stars & Letters in March, and recently released (Nov. 6th) an EP, (of the EP), called RMXS…. of remixes – Okay, you get it. The GWS remix of “Parallels” is less dark and synthy than the original track, but takes it to another/amazing level. Stream both EPs on SoundCloud.
Black City Lights – Parallels (GWS Remix)
Cashmere Cat is the creation of a young Norwegian producer intriguing the interest and ears of many with his debut EP, Mirror Maru via Pelican Fly. There isn’t much out there about the Olso beat-making inhabitant, but the bouncy, piano backed track also titled Mirror Maru (is this named after the cat in Japan who loves boxes?) has me yearning for more. Stream Mirror Maru on SoundCloud or Spotify.
Cashmere Cat – Mirror Maru
So apparently SoKo is still around… who knew? Remember her, “I’ll Kill Her” track everyone obsessed over back in ’08? Well, the French/Polish singer-songwriter has just released an LP, I Thought I was an Alien with smoother indie-rock jams. However, it sounds like Stéphanie Sokolinski may have swapped rage for tears this time around. In her track, “First Love Never Die,” it sounds like the guy she would’ve killed for 4 years ago didn’t work out, though in end, she has a beauty of a track… so take that.
SoKo – First Love Never Die
New Dreamy Synth-Pop Side Project! Meet: Limited
Okay, wait. I have to get something out of the way first… I’m kind of amused by the number of people who Google the word “jizz” every day, and therefore receive coco stereo in their search results. This of course is all thanks to the goofy crooner, Mac DeMarco and his self-proclaimed “Jizz Jazz” music that I so obsessively like to write about. I suppose if I stopped writing “jizz” so many times in my posts (this one’s already a doozy), I’d have less jizz-loving Googlers looking for a good time. So, If you happen to stumble upon coco stereo after Googling the word “jizz,” 1) That’s hilarious, interesting and kind of gross, and 2) I hope you enjoy the music! (sorry there aren’t any actual jizz related pics/videos on here for you… maybe later?)
Now onto new music…
Limited (LTD) is a new dreamy, 80s vibing, synth-pop side project from Alex Craig of Big Troubles. The New Jersey native’s boyish vocals mixed with “noise-gaze” guitar layers and bursts of synth are exquisitely addictive. Limited (which performs as a three-piece live) recently released a 7″ via New Images – A label created and run by Matt Mondanile of Ducktails and Real Estate. The 7-inch includes two tracks, “New Day Rising,” (which I’ve been obsessively playing since first listen), and “You Must Be Dreaming.” While you wait in anticipation for even more synth-pop superbness, give Limited a listen, stalk or follow on Bandcamp, Tumblr, or Twitter.
Limited – New Day Rising
Limited – You Must Be Dreaming
NEW Band + Video – Empress Of
Filming yourself gorging on watermelon to the soundtrack of your own smooth, sensual, electro-pop sounds will undoubtedly grab the attention of many. Lorely Rodriguez aka Empress Of has done this successfully with her new video and song, “Champagne.”
People have been eager to know/hear more from the young Brooklynite. Releasing her “colorminutes” Youtube clips, sporting a Craigslist look-a-like website, and debuting at the Gorilla vs. Bear CMJ showcase has placed Empress Of on people’s radars with an extreme douse of curiosity.
For now, Empress Of dons two songs, “Champagne” and “Don’t Tell Me” (found below), both of which have been released on a new 7″ via No Recordings. Join in on the curiosity and follow Empress Of on Facebook, SoundCloud, and watch her new eyebrow raising video for “Champagne.”
Empress Of – Champagne
Empress Of – Don’t Tell Me
New Hype-Worthy Band: Pale
Don’t you love it when a brand-spankin’ new hype-worthy band lays down a glorious electro pop track (that hits the ground running), yet you don’t know a God damn thing about them? NOT REALLY. I mean, there is that ‘mystery’ factor that falls into play, but come on, give us something, yeah?
Pale is the latest, and mysterious electro buzz band that, according to their SoundCloud, hails from London. With just one addictive track, “Too Much,” Pale is already intriguing the ears and minds of many.
Follow Pale on SoundCloud and Facebook, and wait in anticipation with the rest of us for more releases. Until then, have a listen to their smooth, hypnotizing electro-pop debut, “Too Much,” and watch the insanely captivating music video:
Pale – Too Much
coco stereo 