HECUBA IS AMAZING!
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Last night we got the amazing pleasure to see the amazingly amazing Hecuba perform at the El Rey Theatre here in LA. Their insane mix of synths, floating house-like beats, sometimes poppy, sometimes dark, and elements of trumpets and strings is straight chilling. From first song to last song, I am an instant fan. This is the music that will make peace between robots, aliens and humans. Their energy sets their glitchy loop tones which all makes complete sense when you dig deeper about the duo.
Isabelle Albuquerque (sweet last name) and Jon Beasley met in BK back in 2003 when Jon was shooting an alien film that eventually cast Isabelle as the star alien abductee (go figure!). They should have that film playing in the background at their shows. They've been making music since and are easily one of the illest couple duo's out there. The photo above is my favorite moment of their set (actually their set was my fav moment)..Isabelle puts her head on the keyboard and continues to take full control of the crowd. Can you tell that this was an amazing show?...sure I mentioned it. The LA locals ended their tour with Bat for Lashes last night but will be back at the Smell in August, which is much too long from now. Get that PARADISE album now!
Miles Away
Beautiful Small Machines!?
Holy crud we've been gone for a long time! Sorry music lovers, we've been busy! But right meow I'd like to push your attention to the Beautiful Small Machines duo! Their new The Robots In Love EP is a mix of indie pop with a retro-robot like experiment. Songs like "Superconducter" are very Ting Tings'esqe with the high-pop beats. All around dope EP, lookin' forward to a full lenth effort! Bree Sharp and Don Dilego will be intro-ing their new EP to the world on July 14th but they've got a show at the Bowery Electric tomorrow night in NYC. Check it out! When robots rule the world, they will listen to songs like this on their vintage CD players and hi-tech mp3 players!
Superconductor
Austin's Built By Snow
Sunday, January 25, 2009
The chaos these guys bring on their new album MEGA remind me of Matt & Kim with a pile of synths and video games. All that plus a hip nerdy attitude and mega dancy tunes are all packed small into their new joint. Austin's Built By Snow was birthed while the band members were working at a local TV station. Their keyboard rock is sure to make you have tons of sing-a-long fun so definitely pick up the album here but first, check out my favorite trackS off the new debut!
Something in 3D
A BETA
Tra La La Blip is Back with Martin Luther King
Our man Randolf has just given us dropped us a line about some new tracks from Tra La La Blip! This time around the music comes from a community center in Pawling, New York. As always it's fun and light hearted with when you imagine the wonderful individuals making the music, you can't help but think it's cute! The group's name is Annie & the Overlookers with Annie Galmore on the mic with the coveted and insatiable Kaossilator! Others contribute drum machines and synths to this special track titled Martin Luther King. I love it when Annie sings "We are gonna boogie, down, we are gonna boogie down tonight!" Chcek out more Tra La La Blip stuff here. Check the track below!
Martin Luther King
Labels: Electronic, synthetic
Thing-One's You'll Be Fine!
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Jersey's Thing-One packs enough beats for dance tracks like Moving Units-ish, but also gettin' their indie rock out. Their debut You'll Be Fine gives us a good range of the quartet's talent and sound while not being too chaotic like a lot of today's electro-dance. I dig their percussion/ synthy beats on several songs. They can move you or keep you mellow. I'm confident Thing-One has just begun to show us what they've got to offer. Look for a tour soon! We have two tracks for you below. You can get the album here, and I'd recommend it cause the song Goodnight Jenn is really dope.
The Kid With Pointy Shoes
Move It
Suburban Kids with Biblical Names!
Sweden's Suburban Kids with Biblical Names has a brand new EP droppin' early February! After near 3 years, Peter Gunnarson and Johan Hedberg are finally taking on the next evolution of their synthy pop style. The new single, 1999, quickly tells you that they have an ability to stay consistent with their unique sound but still make it fresh with variety. I love when they throw in what seems to be random sounds but they work perfectly with the track. EP #4 is really just a tease for heir upcoming alum later this year. 2009 has so much to offer! Pre-order the EP here.
1999
AMIT says Hello World!
Wednesday, September 03, 2008
This is AMIT, and I must admit, he's got quite the story. But something that continually sticks out is that he had a song featured on Dance Dance Revolution, yea you know, it's that dancing game that you wish you were really good at. He's from Kuwait and sorta lives all over North America. His sound has 60s in mind with pop married to synths. And the awesome horn section on You+Me+Love is super excellent, more than enough to be worth of a vinyl play with all the proper aesthetics. Hello World EP drops mid October and you can check some more music here.
Netherfriends Slaps You With Feathers & Dots!
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
I'm ultra excited to tell you guys about Netherfriends! Birthed in Chicago last year, these guys apparently met on Craigslist! Yay good things can happen on Craigslist...(meh). Their debut Feathers and Dots EP is 3 tracks of fun pop synths and sing-a-long psychedelia! If you need a good experimental fix, check that track below and click here for more! The EP drops in September via Black & Greene Recs.
Worean Kor
Apropos, James has a crush on Angie Kang. haha I knew it.
Labels: Experimental, Pop, synthetic
London's Chew Lips!
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
This morning I heard about a synthy pop group called Chew Lips from the UK and I'm definitely seeing potential for a full length. You can catch this trio playing various shows around London here. I couldn't find much about these guys but check back as we'll be covering any releases they've got. In the meantime enjoy one of their tracks below!
Salt Air
Peachcake Debuts!
Monday, July 21, 2008
Come later October, Peachcake is finally releasing a full length debut titled What Year Will You Have the World? They've got some serious history as they've been on and off together for over 5 years. During their various hardships, they released an EP via Jimmy Eat World's label Western Tread which really introduced their electronic, synthy pop sounds led by Stefan and John's vocals. Peachcake is encouraging you to bring mix-tapes to its shows (CDs, tapes, etc.). Bring one and you will be entered into a raffle to win a copy of the new album. If you're mix is one of the top 3, you'll win a special Peachcake prize pack! We were lucky to get the single from the forthcoming album! Check it out below and check their 'The Make Mixes, Not War Tour' tour dates.
Stop Acting Like You Know More About The Internet Cafe Than Me
Psychic Stunts' 101 Pick Up Lines
Friday, July 11, 2008
The Stockholm duo, Psychic Stunts, have a new EP called 101 Pick Up Lines which in fact are a small handful of songs that refer to pickup lines! I wanted to specifically tell you about their catchy synth pop single Speaker's Block. In finalizing the song, they had a release show of sorts where everyone got to participate in singing the chorus for the recording. Check out the video here. You can get the songs here and we got two below for you.
Speaker's Block
Last Bottle, Lost Battle
Make Space For My Milky Way Arms!
Saturday, July 05, 2008
Houston's My Milky Way Arms are currently touring in the East coast/South in support of their beautifully crafted and highly imaginative self-titled EP. I just listened to the entire thing and realized it would have been a way better soundtrack to last night's fireworks than the songs about how dope America is. Don't get me wrong, I dig that stuff but these EP tracks are electronic snug fits in my ears! These are heavy electronic and cinematic symphonies with swaying vocals you can get lost in. Check out the tracks below and check here for more music and tour dates!
Unbearable Lightness Of Being
Sunshine
Magneto (Ahhhh!)
Labels: Electronic, synthetic
Kuryakin's Still Here EP!!
Thursday, May 15, 2008
I've been a longtime fan of Kuryakin ever since they began making music in '03. The Swedes, Petter and Johan have been makin' some sweet pop music with their Macs and guitars with several small releases throughout the years but finally they've got a new one called Still Here released on Shelflife. It's an EP but it's got several brand new songs from the duo to accompany your on coming summer dayzzz. You can get the special 7" and EP here!
Still Here
Peace of Mind
Also check out the Bossa version of A Parade, from their 2005 Birds Demo.
Escuchela....La Ciudad Respirando!!
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
What's up everyone! Sorry for the post delays, I've been extremely busy working on a short film which I'm super excited about. But we're back with an amazing triofrom Brooklyn, NY. Look How It's Snowing Upwards, Look How They Move Towards Heaven, the 51-minute debut full length from City Breathing is out now via the Roses & Hello Label. City Breathing rocks a more heartfelt loopy post-rock sound with subtle lyrics and reminds me of my early favs the Mercury Program. It's beautiful, it's very cinematic and your mind gets a quick uncontrollable opportunity to paint pictures and dwell on past memories! It's good stuff you can get lost in. Sample these sweet tracks:Rain & Revolution
We Can Retrace The Sinking Sky
Also you can download then entire album or purchase the CD and pay what you want! Stream it here and if you dig it, support'em! Also City Breathing will be rollin' out a residency at Matchless in NY on 3 consecutive Wednesdays, Get the deets.
Labels: ethereal, Instrumental, synthetic
Little Dragon! Little Dragon!
Tuesday, April 01, 2008
Sweden's Little Dragon is cruisin' through California for a 3 night tour beginning at the Elbo Room tonight! This seemingly synthpop group is filled with notably arranged electronic beats, jazzy percussions, and tons of experiments with hints of jazz, r&B, soul, and good pop. You might recognize Yukimi Nagano's beautiful soft voice as she has collaborated and featured with Koop and Jose Gonzalez. They currently have a self-titled album out that dropped at the edge of last summer via UK's Peace Frog Records.Twice
Constant Surprises
No Love
I wanted to specially note my high interests in their music videos. The video for Test seems more simple, while the other a bit more complex, but both are really interesting and Yukimi's all up in the front. Check these videos out!
Last 2 dates in the states!
Apr 2 2008 8:00P Mercury Lounge Goleta, California
Apr 4 2008 8:00P Roxy Los Angeles, California
Labels: Experimental, Pop, synthetic
PlayRadioPlay! Texas Out Now!
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Texan Daniel Hunter has just released his debut full length simply titled Texas which just dropped 2 days ago via Island Records. PlayRadioPlay! follows up their The Frequency EP with 12 new catchy emo-induced poptronic tracks. This one man show is reminiscent of The Rocket Summer with more synths and lots of emo gooey mush-mush lyrics. It's like how I love those Korean dramas no matter how predictive and cheesy they are! Check out some of the songs on myspace and then get the album here!We got a rad Fresh Music Friday's mix for you tomorrow, look forward to it.
Late Case Of The Mondays With The Pharmacy!
Monday, March 10, 2008
I know I'm not supposed to judge by titles but the name of The Pharmacy's new album makes me reminisce about the Choose Your Own Adventure books. Those books were rad and pretty much I would always cheat cause I would always end up "die-ing" or whatever the punishment was for skipping paragraphs. Our friend Anna has never heard of these books...what?! (I'm old realization moment) They had sci-fi ones with killer robot armies and You Be The Jury which got right to the case. Anyways enough about middle school. Let's move onto the soundtrack to my high school years! These 3 Seattle-ites play a mean keyboard with their chaotic harmonicas and violins often changing course mid track. Fun and catchy pop synthetics with punky harmonies and all that stuff your ears are gunna love. February's late release of Choose Yr Own Adventure is the kick of energy you need and enough to get you out to one of their shows with Japanther. Check the tracks below and then get that record via their label, Don't Stop Believin'.
Warm & Untorn
Choose Yr Own Adventure
Have a great week!
Soothing Sounds Of Morning Recordings
Wednesday, March 05, 2008
This'll be short and sweet! Morning Recordings is a some odd 8 piece poppin' some nice loungey electronics, and often sooth grooves. Small hints of ambience which create complete utilized opportunities for beautiful harmonies. Chicago's Morning Recordings has a new album called The Welcome Kinetic via Loose Threads and if you're into the dreamy pop, you gotta pick that album up. We've got 3 tracks for you off their latest 10-track which will be more than enough to get you into it.Sugar Waltz
The Welcome Kinetic
Labels: ambient, dream pop, Electronic, synthetic
The Notwist Is Finally Back!!!!
Don't get me wrong! I love a lot of the collaborative efforts in these past years like 13 & God, and Michael's compositions for Ms. John Soda, but after 6 long years, Germany's The Nowtist has announced The Devil, You + Me, an 11 track LP, which will be out in May in Europe via City Slang, and June in the estados via Domino Recs. I'm so excited for this album as they have collaborated with the crazy Andromeda Mega Express Orchestra, a 21 piece higly inventive and experimental jazz/classical group! If you've never heard of The Notwist, not to worry, I got some goldies for you, and 1 brand spankin' new track off of The Devil, You + Me! More on myspace.Brand New Track!
Good Lies
Neon Golden (2002)
Consequence
This Room
Track Listing!
The Devil, You + Me
Good Lies
Where In The World
Gloomy
Alphabet
The Devil, You + Me
Gravity
Sleep
On Planet Off
Boneless
Hands On Us
Gone Gone Gone
Labels: Electronic, indie, synthetic
More of Russia's Futurists Kim & Buran!
Saturday, March 01, 2008
I am learning more about certain older school Soviet Russians and their love & more than likely obsession for space and future. Russian Futurism comes to play and I think Kim & Buran pull it off well with their names following heroes in a soviet Sci-fi cartoon. Their music is fully engulfed in a classy electronic lounge sound with very dream,y big band synthetics. These guys have been quiet lately as their latest album dropped over 2 years ago. Hopefully they are in their laboratories creating some new stuff for a forthcoming. As I'm listening to the album I am constantly reminded of how much their sound can range. Sometimes you get the accuracy of down tempo to an often hip spy scene gig. I got some songs for you off their latest album Rock'n' Robot.Space Walk
The Future Man
Moscow Nights
Also listen to Happy New Year Marsians on their myspace.
Labels: Electronic, lounge, synthetic
Case Of The Mondays With Chairs In The Arno!
Monday, February 18, 2008
The first thing that really caught my attention was how the band's name was derived, Check this out: Jeff, Jeff and Ryan, while studying in Florence, were drinking wine (lots of it) near the Arno River and they decided it would be a great idea to through the Chairs In The Arno. Random! Story gets better, Becca Hsu came on board and the band moved into the same house together and began to work at the same coffee shop! Late in '07, Chairs released their debut album File Folder off Mushpot Records. The album is packed with sweet synth filled pop tunes made from Moogs and Casiotones, drum machines and vocals layering over eachother. I would best describe it as late-night 0bsessions with nintendo and then piling to sleep in the Wii hours of the morning and having lovely dreams of living inside a video game. Listen to the Fun below!Suit Pressed
Size Thirty
Get the album here
Happy Monday!
Mid-Week Tunes From Aster!
Wednesday, February 06, 2008
Austin's Tim Hussman and Bryan Ellis have creatively combined synth pops with layers of recorded guitars, drums, keyboards and Postal Service-like vocals. They put some awesome electronic videogame samples without that remixed videogame track on crack sound. Together they are Aster which is named after an imaging instrument on the Terra satellite that orbits our earth. Interesting. But I think their sound is highly appropriate for such a name. A couple weeks ago, Aster released their debut LP Some Things Seldom Heard Of, and you can pick it up here. Check out these tracks! Let your ears fall in love now!Attempting to Multiply
Some Thing Seldom Heard Of
Go here to stream the entire album!
News Quickies:
iPod Touch comes now in 32gb!
Shaq got traded to the Phoenix Suns!
TimeWarner is splitting AOL up, Finally!
I Can't Believe It Is 2008!!!
Wednesday, January 02, 2008
It was hard to find anything on this guy. Stockholm's Petter Strömberg is RobotBoy. I am not sure if it has anything to do with that French cartoon. I found out about him over at Friendly Noise, this awesome Swedish label. He's got a poppy-er electronic sound. Synths and light hearted indieness. In October RobotBoy dropped these two songs and I have a like for them so check them out! September
Les Enfants Terribles
Get more songs free here! Happy Wednesday
Labels: Electronic, indie, synthetic
Microfilm Remixes Intelligent Dance Music!
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
The Windy City has a lot to offer these days including Microfilm at the top of the list. Microfilm are Matt Keppel and Matthew Mercer (matt&matt lol)who have been making music since 2006. They already have received lots of acclaim for their debut 'After Dark' and continue to do so with their newest EP, 'Twilights' which features 4 remixes of the After Dark track! If you haven't already heard their stuff take a quick preview on their myspace. They fall under an electro-house sorta genre but they definitely don't stay there. They pack their EP's and albums with electro synth driven, sometimes techno-ey, sometimes ambient, and an overall minimalist dance groove, then somehow manage to reimagine it and remix it! You can taste the soul, definitely the house, and there's just hints of lounge.After Dark (Warmdesk's Edit Remix)
Also check out Mercer's solo stuffs from his 2 EPs...we got some for you here.
Bee's Knees
No No No
Happy Tuesday!
Labels: Electronic, house, synthetic
Yacht's Friends In Hell!
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
Oregon native Jona Bechtolt is one seriously productive guy. He's making music, videos, running Urban Honking/ The Ultimate blogger, remixing, and seems to be involved with so many different projects. Let's quickly catch up with one of those projects. This is the 1st release in over two years from Yacht which contains lots of people he has been involved with over the years. Our Friends In Hell is out on States Rights Records and it contains remixes from people like the Blow, Mirah and Architecture in Helsinki. Jona has taken these songs and transformed them into heavy electro-synthy compositions. A chunk of the album is a track to track dance floor hit with, of course, some slower tunes with crazy electronics. Check out these songs now!Blow - Hock It (We To Remix)
Mirah - Make It Hot (Over Remix)
Yacht - See A Penny (Pick It Up) from the latest, I believe In You. Your Magic Is Real.
Labels: Electronic, indie, remixes, synthetic
Case Of The Mondays With Shinichi Osawa!
Monday, December 03, 2007
Happy Monday! Sorry for the lack of updates, the BBQ headquarters have relocated and now we're back online! Today we bring you to the world of Shinichi Osawa! As you can tell from the picture above, he's a DJ bringin' you the heavy dance and electro you love/crave. I love the sampling of vocals (i.e. Au Revoir Simone) on several of these synth driven tracks. If you're currently into the indie dance craze, Shinichi is the Japanese love child of Daft Punk, Digitalism, and Soulwax. Mondo Grosso (Italian for "Big World") is his solo name as he does producing and mixing for lots of artists. Mondo's got your house, techno, underground club covered as we are told he has the largest sellout DJ sets in Japan. I have been raving about this game on PSP called Lumines, because of the music and visual coordination, turns out Shinichi produced the music! Shinichi's The One (Avex Trax) dropped a cuppa months ago and you can get it here. I saved the craziest part for last...Shinichi Osawa is 40 years old! Whut!! When you can finally get over that, definitely check out his live sets and shows!
Star Guitar
State Of Permission
Maximum Joy
Digitalism - Pogo (Shinichi Dub)
Soulwax - Miserable Girl (Osawa Extra Hard Edit)
Plaid - White's Dream (Osawa Remix)
Xtopher & Raphael Just - Popper (Osawa Distortion)
Labels: Club, Dance, Electronic, synthetic
Gimme Some MOJIB!
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Our Canadian friends over at Non-Existent Recordings have recently released Mojib's debut album, Whimsical Lifestyle. Swedish native, Mojib is a producer/mixer of sorts who has delicately combined pop melodies with different drum elements and synth sounds everywhere. Some of the loops provide for some awesome hiphop/ downtempo vibes with airy vocals over faint piano keys. It's a wide array of musical influences coming from all over and I dig the experimenting. Mojib, in the past, has done remixes of several bands and songs which initially caught my attention. If you got itchin' for some great remixes and mixtape style music, Mojib.net has got a ton of FREE downloads! We got some for you right here!Break Of Dawn (Sigur Ros' Staralfur remix)
I Don't Know (Kings of Convenience remix)
Grip Like A Vice (Go! Team Remix)
Here is a preview of the 'Whimsical Lifestyle' album.
Get that album now!
Labels: Experimental, hiphop, remixes, synthetic
bbqchickenrobot
WideEyedEggplant
The GOOD Pants
2Scoops
El-izzle
Open Mike
