FEATURED RELEASE
Album released 17-09-2010 on !K7
It's been three years since Chromeo's breakthrough album 'Fancy Footwork', and while the Canadian duo was certainly keeping busy during the time - compiling a 'DJ-Kicks' volume for !K7 among other endeavours - their eclectic pop-funk sounds have been sadly missed.
'Business Casual' is Dave 1 and P-Thugg's third album and quite likely their most accomplished and polished effort to date. Cassius member and Phoenix producer Philippe Zdar has been recruited for mixing duties, and his production magic makes the album's ten tracks sparkle and shine with clarity.
Not that his source material has left much to be desired for. Chromeo's song-writing skills are as strong as ever, and their derivative approach of essentially mashing up Hall & Oates and Zapp with a touch of Billy Joel can be forgiven when the result is as convincing as this. 'Don't Turn The Lights On' stands out through a great video by Keith Schofield, also included on the album, and smooth electro-funk grooves that bear a resemblance to their DJ Mehdi collaboration, 'I Am Somebody'.
Other tracks, such as 'Night By Night', take a more disco-like direction, 'J'ai claqué la porte' has Dave-1 at the peak of his crooning prowess, and Chromeo even lend some credibility to Beyoncé's little sister Solange Knowles by featuring her on 'When The Night Falls'. Coherent in vision and spotless in execution, 'Business Casual' is a perfect album of well written and impeccably produced pop music.
|
MORE POP ESSENTIALS
|
|
Hotly tipped by the blogosphere, Aeroplane finally drop the first single for their long awaited forthcoming album appearing at the end of this month. Even though the Aeroplane lost one of its captains it's still scheduled for a spot-on landing. Featuring Chromeo and The Krays, as well as the single's video!
|
|
|
Swedish popstar Robyn drops her sixth studio album as part of her three part 'Body Talk' series. 'Pt. 2' mashes up a variety of modern pop and electronic music styles, from minimal tech to r'n'b and B-more, and even features Snoop Dog on 'U Should Know Better'. Fresh.
|
|
|
Every new Röyksopp album will be forever compared with their million-selling 'Melody A.M.', but rather than stifling their creativity, the duo's success has given them the freedom to experiment. 'Senior' is once again an exceptional effort, combining trippy synth sounds and moody krautrock. Great.
|
|
|
Album released 06-09-2010 on Kompakt
After two years of relative absence from the release circuit, Superpitcher returns with a new full-length for his home stable Kompakt. 11 slices of distinguished electronic pop music, ranging from cheeky tech-house tracks ('Rabbits In A Hurry') to melancholic songs ('Who Stole The Sun'). Sweet.
|
|
|
Already John Tejada and Takeshi Nishimoto's fifth album as I'm Not A Gun, and as we have come to expect 'Solace' is quality effort of instrumental indie pop with dreamy electronica and ambient leanings on tracks like the programmatic 'Music For Adults'. Recommended.
|
|
|
The latest signing on BPitch Control is Italian duo We Love, and as usual Ellen Allien has done a fine job as talent scouting. We Love's electronica-infused synth pop is a perfect match for the label, and with ambitious get-ups and visual design, We Love are surely spectacular to see live.
|
|
|
A deep, jacking monster, accentuated by soulful vocal flourishes and driving synth paranoia. It takes vision to make music that sounds both authentic and cutting-edge, and it takes real skill and talent to pull it off this well.
|
|
|
Even after experiencing some major setbacks (the departure of original member, John Pugh, and death of drummer, Jerry Fuchs), on their fourth album (third for Warp Records), !!! show the fire that propelled their punk-funk band to fame almost one decade ago still burns brightly.
|
|
|
A single taken from Matthew Dear's third artist album, 'Black City', the disco-infused 'Little People (Black City)' chills to the bone throughout it's 9-minute epic length. Includes a dub and remix from disco house vet, Mark E!
|
|
|
Maxi-Single released 13-09-2010 on Kompakt
Another huge release for Mathias Aguayo, whose sexy indie stomper 'Menta Latte' gets treated to an epic 'Diskomiks' by Prins Thomas, and a percussive rework by Vincente Sanfuentes (Original Hamster / Trendsetter And The Followers) and Aguayo himself. Nice!
|
|
|
This quite sensational team-up has pop-star Antony Hegarty (of Antony and the Johnsons) cover 'Returnal' by drone master Oneohtrix Point Never on the piano, while Fennesz supplies an equally mesmerizing take on the flip. Stunning material!
|
|
|
The elusive UK producer Gold Panda issues his first full-length on Ghostly International after his critically-acclaimed work for Ghostly and Various Production, experimenting on the edge of indie-electronica and hip-hop. Highly Recommended.
|
|
|
Man Recordings celebrates its fifth anniversary with 'Valeu', an all-star compilation featuring many of the artists that have made Daniel Haaksman's label one of the most important platforms of global bass music: Crookers, Seiji, Schlachthofbronx, next to Edu K, MC Gringo and Joyce Muniz. Parabéns!
|
|
|
Barbara Morgenstern drops a new album on Monika, her fifth since 1998, if we counted correctly. With 23 tracks 'Fan No. 2' is quite a sizeable effort and a classic Morgenstern production of fragile, melancholic electronica pop songs. Recommended.
|
|
|
Despite releases on Max Ernst and Laboratory Instinct, Georgian artist Natalie Beridze is still an insider tip. Gudrun Gut's Monika label now releases this beautiful mini-album of multi-layered electronica pop. Unique and recommended.
|
|
|
The mysterious Acid Washed project is getting quite some hype lately and this EP off their recent album has the group's eponymous track remixed by the likes of The Hacker, Daniel Haaksman, Digikid84, and Danger. Lovely, epic electro-synth-pop-disco.
|
|
|
We won't pretend this didn't come as a surprise to us: Oliver Koletzki, previously known for his ravey minimal tunes on Cocoon and his Stil Vor Talent label, delivers an impressive album of Moloko-style pop house, together with The Koletzkis' singer Fran. What love can do...
|
|
|
Dexter kicks off a special series dedicated to feel good club music, which is curated by no other than Tom Trago and presented by the mighty Rushhour camp. Easily his best outing since 'I Don't Care' on Klakson it features his signature vocoder use and fat bass-lines. Check!
|
|
