Category Archives: electro – rock

Alt Rock, Alt- Pop, electro - rock, electro- pop, Electronic, EP Review, Hypnotic, Indie, Indie Pop, Indie Psychedelic, indie rock, New Music, Psych-Pop, psychedelic, Rock, Synth Rock

Mini Mansions ‘Works Every Time’ EP

Mini Mansions have released their highly anticipated EP ‘Works Every Time’. Singer/guitarist Michael Shuman, singer/keyboardist Tyler Parkford, and bassist Zach Dawes are the glorious trinity of Mini Mansions, a band who push boundaries and overwhelm our minds with psychedelic encryption and delicious tunes. The band have played in some of the world’s biggest rock bands, Queens of The Stone Age, Arctic Monkeys and The Last Shadow Puppets these guys have been flourishing right at the roots of the rock genre readying themselves and fermenting their sound.This new release arrives three years after their second record, ‘The Great Pretenders’, which received critical praise and featured guest appearances from Arctic Monkeys frontman Alex Turner and The Beach Boys’ Brian Wilson and ‘Flashbacks’ a collection  of B-side tracks which was released in 2016. Mini Mansions sound is unique and stirring all at once and places them firmly on par if not above their comrades in intricate obscurity and just plain genius. ‘Works Every Time’ is only a glimpse of what these guys are capable of.

‘Works Every Time’ is a concise, flavoursome collection of juicy tracks to re-introduce us to the mouth watering home cooking of Mini Mansions. Title track ‘Works Every Time’ reels us in with a soft beat bouncing off a swoon worthy melody and glistening keys.Filled with wistful tones Parkford takes the vocals on this track, his sweet falsetto cooing over the breathtaking soundscapes as this song floats around a dreamy ethereal atmosphere while the zesty sting on guitars give a lamenting bite and sharpness to the track. ‘Midnight in Tokyo’ rumbles through with Dawes’ elastic bass line teamed with the sticky slapping beats setting the groove infested foundation as the track spirals into a sleazy swagger smacked number. With Prince like Bowie -esque hued verses and a triumphant catchy chorus this track struts in, slicked back, funk fueled and glossy. Shuman’s vocals take the lime light here drenched in panache and gritty rough flamboyance as flashing disco hued electronics dazzle the background while Parkford provides lush tight harmonies. The rich meaty sound is filled gloriously with zingy guitars weaving their way, flickering little bursts of spice throughout. Parkford takes vocals once again on ’This Bullet’ a psychedelic whirl of utter mind melting mania. He ventures to his ominous lower range while Dawes’ throbbing bass and meandering soundscapes rush you with a sinister sense of danger. This track has a residue of Mister Goodnite’s ‘One Against Five’ with a little more darkness and obscurity smeared on top as alien- esque electronics wail about eerie tones and snappy driving beats. There is something magnetic and hypnotic about this track as Mini Mansions distort and dissolve your entire grip of reality with one catchy dizzying tune. It’s dark and creepy especially when Parkford orders “take off your vest“ however it’s difficult to prise yourself away from its chilling charm. Of course the band offer up another stirring cover for us to devour. Having previously embellished our ears with Blondie’s ‘Heart of Glass’ and Sparks ‘Sherlock Holmes’ Mini Mansions dissect and dismember a thrillingly dark rendition of Edwyn Collins‘ ‘A Girl Like You’, dousing it in the gritty sleazy and intoxicating tones we love from this trio. It’s dark as Shuman howls, screams and deeply haunts over whining guitars and flashing electronics. Filled with infectious shimmy grooves this track will make your skin crawl and tantalize all your senses while creeping into your mind where it will firmly reside for days. They did a cover the only way Mini Mansions can … better than the original.

The talent of this band is immense. Each track was meticulously cultivated – simmering and ripening slowly in Mini Mansions pressure cooker until the band were ready to delight and shatter our ears all at once. It’s exciting to see what each release will bring. They never compromise their sound yet push boundaries and provide an enthralling full bodied sound with every release. There is no one else like Mini Mansions out there at the moment. We need this trio to keep music fresh.

Stream ‘Works Every Time’ below

 


Alt- Pop, electro - rock, electro- pop, Electronic, Indie, Indie Pop, indie rock, New Music, Synth-pop

Color Palette ‘Sunburn’

Color Palette have released their new single ‘Sunburn’. Color Palette – comprised of Jay Nemeyer, Joshua Hunter, Matt Hartenau, Rogerio Naressi, and Maryjo Mattea – are an Indie Electro Rock band from Washington, DC. Since their first release, Color Palette have garnered hundreds of press hits worldwide. The band released their debut full-length album, ‘Vaporwave’, in 2016 and  have shared bills with the following notable artists: Charli XCX, The Naked and Famous, Mother Mother, Day Wave, Yumi Zouma, Mr Little Jeans, The Kickback, and Spirit Animal. The band are set to release their second full-length album in 2019.

‘Sunburn’ is a soft marshmallow of swirling sweetness caressing your ears with glorious smooth textures which wrap a zingy indie interior in silken coated bliss. Ethereal and dreamy, this track pirouettes in, on a spongy buoyant rhythmic foundation while jangly guitars slice through with zealous vigor and sun kissed radiance. The subtle hazy vocals layer the track in dreamy vibes as shimmering whirling electronics set a Utopian atmosphere to lose yourself in. These guys blend the delicate electronic tones with blistering indie seamlessly to create a gripping enthralling listening experience that transports you to that euphoric sun soaked land, dreams are made of.

Stream ‘Sunburn’ below

 


Album Review, electro - rock, New Music

Minnie Micros ‘Neutrois’ Album

Minnie Micros is set to  release a new album ‘Neutrois’ on 7th September. The debut album, Neutrois is about a fashionably late, coming out story with themes inspired by various personalities including queens and performers that she has met and admires. The journey for this project began only a year ago when deciding to bring visual art into her music as well as cleverly mixing guitar and electronics. The album takes us back to her childhood days of playing around with soundscapes and melodic tunes however in a more sophisticated, poetic way. She tells us her personal story of how she has always felt different to now becoming a confident, non binary – gender non conforming person. Minnie Micros recorded, mixed and mastered the album with various London and Californian producers and engineers including, Margo Broom- Goat girl, Paul of Sound – HMLTD, Jason Testasecca – Hearthlights.  

‘Neutrois’ is a dizzying blast of 80’s & 90’s electronic post-punk blended and mangled between elements of techno club kid culture. From the trippy mind dissolving opening track ‘Unicorn Boy’ with its psychedelic soundscapes, flashing swirls of mouth frothing allusions while Minnie Micros’ vocals coo over this bewildering entrapment it becomes apparent this is a unique album that is pretty frenzied. From intoxicating drum grooves and twinkling guitars entwining between darkly hued tones and mystifying soundscapes with some grimy punk thrown in, tracks like  ‘Sky’, ‘Soft Lights’ ‘Reasons’  ‘I Think You Know’ and ‘Love Is Over’ chill to the core with enticing hair raising electronics seeping between eerie vocals and suffocating beats as 80’s soundscapes braid their way between these biting anthems. It’s an intense album filled with acute energy and creepy moments all wrapped in a tight bundle of instrumentally chilling finesse. The fuzzed frenzy alone in ‘Nice’ will crush your mind with its acid bath of electronics crashing off a gloopy beat while the vocals hypnotise and daze your very soul. Minnie Micros mixes some varied genres into her unique mind mashing concoction as ‘Destroy’ brings some hard core mania to the album with mosh ready punchy drums whacking through hyper guitar strides and fierce wandering keys while ‘I Could Be Myself’ contrasts this dramatically. It’s more gentle on the ears giving you a breather with lush harmonies and feathery light instrumentation over delicate melodies. ‘Velvet Black’ closes the album encompassing the swagger and attitude of its predecessors. As strong vocals soar over heavy beat whacks and a punk rock tinged electronically knitted backdrop. ‘Neutrois’ is an intense album that fizzes and whacks with Minnie Micros own brand of electronic punk rock that will leave you in seizures of ecstasy.

You can catch Minnie Micros at The Victoria Dalston London on September 7th ahead of the release of Neutrois on 7th September.

 


Alt Rock, electro - rock, Electronic, Indie, indie rock, New Music, Synth Rock

METHODS ‘Fires’

After the release of their debut single, ‘Sanctuary’, and a number of live shows throughout 2017, METHODS return with their new single ‘Fires’. METHODS are a Wolverhampton based, 5 piece, made up of, Ash Bradley (Vocals), Jon Nash (Keys), Ryan Deakin (Guitar), Pete Bates (Drums) and Adam Hall (Bass). They play a mix of dark electro indie with Influences including the likes of Joy Division, Depeche Mode, Primal Scream, Editors, Interpol etc… The band are currently putting together a tour around the UK to promote the band and their new single, ‘Fires’ which is currently available to pre order on iTunes and released on 15th June via Hellhole Records .The five piece have recently been played on BBC Introducing West Midlands and toured with The Twang.

METHODS have produced a catchy passionate little pearl with ‘Fires’. They blend a bitter sweet concoction of dark gritty rhythms with ethereal guitars and a delicate sweet melody seamlessly to create an enthralling emotional experience. The shimmering synths flicker and glisten between the throbbing beat adding an aerial breezy atmosphere to the rooted rhythmic foundation while airy guitars soar and bite throughout cutting the lofty atmosphere with a razor sharp sting and shot of glowing vibrancy. The guitar tone is melancholic as it whines and laments along the sombre melody while velvety passionate vocals caress and ooze gripping emotion. The lyrics are moving and the chorus is infectious, tender and delicate. It’s a passionate heart breaking display from METHODS.

When asked about the track singer, Ash Bradley said :
“Fires, is a song about the break up of a relationship. About two people who have been together for a long time, growing a part. Both using actions to show there feelings, instead of speaking to each other. Thoughts get locked away. The only way for them both to move forward is for it all to end.”

Stream ‘Fires’ below


Alt- Pop, electro - rock, electro- pop, Electronic, Hypnotic, Indie, Indie Pop, New Music, Worth A Listen

Worth A Listen

Our Worth A Listen Track This Week Comes From The Fontaines

The Los Angeles based brother and sister duo The Fontaines (Hank Fontaine and Charlotte Fontaine) have released their new single ‘Freak’. It’s a sultry, electronic drizzled retro number that entices and grooves all while packing in some slick instrumentation. These guys have come a blushing long way from the sweet doo- wop days of ‘Dusty Springfield’. This effort sees Charlotte coo a sweet delicate melody through scorching stuffy electronics while a sticky beat slaps and hops keeping the mesmerising foundation. The steamy guitar whines break up the muggy intoxicating atmosphere with a dash of stinging zest – refreshing the dazzling psychedelic hued soundscapes. This track slowly creeps and smoulders as each component takes its time- building the intensity of the track from elastic basslines and shaky groove infested rhythms to sizzling guitars and seductive vocals. They have layered this track perfectly. A mesmerising number and sassy display from The Fontaines. They are developing their sound more and more with each release. Can’t wait to hear what they do next.

Stream ‘Freak’ below


Alt Rock, Alt- Pop, electro - rock, electro- pop, Indie, Indie Pop, indie rock, New Music, Synth Rock, Synth-pop

Bastille ‘Quarter Past Midnight’

Bastille have released their new single ‘Quarter Past Midnight’ which is the lead single from the band’s forthcoming third album, the follow-up to 2016’s UK No. 1 album ‘Wild World’. The past half-decade has certainly been a whirlwind for the four-piece, who comprise frontman Dan Smith (who is the sole songwriter, and co-produces all the tracks alongside Mark Crew), keyboardist Kyle Simmons, bassist and guitarist Will Farquarson, and drummer Chris Wood. They’ve played over 500 shows across six continents, including their recent, critically acclaimed ReOrchestrated tour, and have amassed 15 million single sales and 6 million album sales globally. Both ‘Bad Blood’ and its follow-up, ‘Wild World’, reached No.1 in the UK and the top 10 in the US, and their music has been streamed a staggering 3.3 billion times. They’ve not gone without awards recognition either: after winning British Breakthrough Act at the BRITs, they’ve earned Grammy, AMA and MTV Europe Awards nominations. The new single which was recorded and self-produced in the band’s newly built studio which also houses Smith’s record label Best Laid Plans (Rag N’Bone Man, Rationale), is set to follow their upward trend.

‘Quarter Past Midnight’ is a surging rush of the anthemic bliss Bastille do so well. Driven by a snapping breakbeat and adrenaline flooding drums which fill the track with a shot of exhilaration that dashes through your veins while the infectious melody melts on top of kinetic electronic soundscapes. Oozing tones of excitement and elation this track whizzes with an effervescence that grabs you and makes you want to let loose, dance, sing and just expel all your stress and worries. Sweet toned guitar jangles weave coolly between this delicious explosion of sounds creating a warm delicate braid –  tying all the luscious component parts together while injecting a little stream of zest throughout track. Smiths smooth vocals seamlessly flow between his velvety baritone and sweet falsetto making for a dynamic listen. It’s vivid cinematic chorus provides that final burst of ecstasy that will have you hooked and craving more. Bastille never disappoint.

About the track frontman Dan Smith says: “It’s just about trying to capture that Sliding Doors moment on a night out. Some people are gonna go home; for some this is just the beginning. It became about being in someone’s car, driving through the city, and I wanted to try and capture that sense of excitement, and that rush.”

Stream ‘Quarter Past Midnight’ below

 


Alt Rock, Alt- Pop, electro - rock, electro- pop, Electronic, Indie Electro, New Music

Twist Helix ‘Ouseburn’

Alt-Pop three piece Twist Helix have a lot to owe the valley of Ouseburn, and they intend to repay the area where they honed their craft with their appropriately named forthcoming euphoric track ‘Ouseburn’ which was released on the 9th February, at a sold out single launch gig at “The high place above the river” – the Cumberland Arms venue. With adopted Geordie and lead vocalist, Bea Garcia, reigning from Spain, radio play spanning more than 7 countries and having recently signed for Madrid based record company Paul Back Music, the band is an internationally acclaimed affair. Taking influences from the likes of White Lies, Depeche Mode and M83, the three piece present a synth-pop sound that demands you have a good time. With their 2017 shows spanning across Europe, from Glasgow, to Cumbria’s Solfest festival, and having the opportunity to be introduced by Radio3’s Julio Ruiz as finalists at the Madrid Bdcoder Festival, the three piece have achieved some great success since forming.

‘Ouseburn’ is a dynamic track that explodes with a bedazzlement of flashing electronics swirling between a snappy kinetic beat and powerful vocals. This track is pumped with adrenaline and vigorous energy as whirling soundscapes fill the song with a breezy spacey atmosphere while the catchy melody and power chorus lift the track to anthemic heights. It’s mighty frenzy inducing alternative power pop.

Named as one of the North Easts must see bands for 2018 by NE Volume, Spotlight Music and Spark FM Twist Helix have a list of upcoming live dates to look out for -see below

London – 20th Feb – The Dublin Castle

Sheffield – 21st Feb – The Washington

Bristol – 22nd Feb – The Old England

Worcester – 23rd Feb – Mars Bar

Manchester – 24th Feb – The Castle Hotel

Barnsley – 28th Feb – One Over The Eight

Sunderland – 03rd Feb – The Independent

Darlington – 3rd March – Noisy Daughters Event

Stockton – 31st March – Stockton Calling Festival

Stream ‘Ouseburn’ below

 


Alt Rock, electro - rock, Electronic, Hypnotic, Indie, Indie Dream Rock, Indie Electro, indie rock, New Music

Ten Fé ‘Single, No Return’

London based Ten Fé have released their new track ‘Single, No Return’. Now a five-piece, comprised of Ben Moorhouse (vocals, guitar), Leo Duncan (vocals, guitar), Rob Shipley (bass), Johnny Drain (keys), and Alex Hammond (drums). It’s the first new single since the release of their debut album ‘Hit The Light’ earlier this year. ‘Single, No Return’ is simply euphoric. The five piece have crafted a track that displays their sophisticated refined musicianship beautifully with subtle intricate layers so tightly bound yet spaced perfectly – it’s a treasure. Flickering electronics flood the track with an airy sedative that soothes and numbs the soul. Warm sharp guitar injections add a vibrant sun kissed glow while velvety smooth hazy vocals lull you into a calming sense of comfort. Deeply passionate and delicately numbing, each note takes its time leaving a hushed sense of reflection. The track builds becoming more dynamic and bouncy creating a rush of adrenaline for the crescendo. With a nostalgic sombre drizzled sublime melody weaving free and easy around the pulsating electronics and slow groove it’s the perfect mellowed return from Ten Fé.

Stream ‘Single, No Return’ below


Alt Rock, electro - rock, Electronic, Indie, Indie Pop, indie rock, New Music, Worth A Listen

Worth A Listen

Our Worth A Listen Track This Week Comes From Everywhere

Following the success of acclaimed single ‘Man Up’, London Alt Rock band Everywhere have released their new track ‘Moments’ available now in co-operation with ‘BMD w Friends’ and Universal music. Since their Hypemachine charting debut ‘Eddie’, Eveywhere’s music has been streamed millions of times on YouTube, Soundcloud and Spotify. They made their first International appearance at the 2013 NME Awards in the UK, playing alongside Django Django and Palma Violets, and later went on to support the Kaiser Chiefs and headline Notting Hill Arts Club in London.

‘Moments’ is a divine soaring infectious indie track. With a kinetic electronic soundscape consumed in a sticky flickering beat and laid back hazy vibes, it’s a dazzling knock out from the five piece. Max Berga’s vocals coo and almost whisper the verses with a compelling allurement building and becoming more dynamic as the track progresses. The song explodes into a dynamite chorus exuding carpe diem vibes and an instant burst of freedom. The production on this track is in the immaculate crisp manner we expect from Everywhere as its oozes oodles of passion. It’s a dreamy laid-back tune that rushes in with floods of adrenaline and a breezy freeing power. The song was originally performed by fellow Swedish Electro crooner ‘Kev’ and was later adapted by ‘Everywhere’ after a chance encounter.

About the track the band said: “We just heard the original and felt that it screamed for a certain kind of arrangement and feel.”

Stream ‘Moments’ below

 


Alt- Pop, electro - rock, electro- pop, Electronic, Indie, Indie Electro, Indie Pop, New Music

Nightshifts ‘Karma’

Toronto based producer Nightshifts has released his new single ‘Karma’. Having had past musical successes in other Toronto bands and produced an official remix of “Michicant” for Bon Iver,  Nightshifts is gearing up to release his debut LP this November. ‘Karma’ is a soulful blast into Nightshifts sonic universe. Its smooth cool and ridiculously groovy. With a finger clicking beat and groovy swagger soaked guitar melodies it’s a silky little number. Velvety vocals coo and charm while sonic flecks dazzle and flicker between shimmering synths. This laid-back track is polished and creamy and effortlessly cool. With a relaxing sway like tempo and clap along feature it an infectious funky pop sprinkled ear worm.

When asked about the track Nightshifts said “Karma was written at a time when all my friends and I were very unsure about what we wanted to do with our lives. I wrote the song to try and calm my own nerves; to say it’s ok not to know, let’s just enjoy the ride. Matthew Vlahovich of Young Empires co-produced this track at his Trinity Bellwoods Studio”

Stream ‘Karma’ below