Tag Archives: electronic

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- Pop, Dream Pop, electro- pop, Electronic, Indie, Indie Electro, Indie Pop, New Music, Singer/Songwriter

Alfie Indra ‘Red Lights’

Alfie Indra has released his second track ‘Red Lights’ on Keep Me Young. Hailing from Suffolk (living in Manchester) the track comes after the success of Indra’s debut signed release ‘Hard To Cope’. The 21 year old has been releasing music unsigned for a number of years and his music has evolved from stripped back folk/acoustic to a more upbeat feel while still retaining the lyrical essence from his roots. ‘Red Lights’ has been released on all online platforms including Spotify and iTunes, along with a music video filmed in a night club in Manchester capturing those blurry nights, teamed with some bright red performance shots.

 ‘Red Lights’ fleshes out a sublime woozy example of Alfie Indra’s electronic pop with a mushy pliable beat giving a blissful sense of excitement and anticipation as it playfully slaps against hazy swirling electronic soundscapes. The melodies ooze heavenly ecstasy from every note while sonic flecks daydreamingly flash dazzling neon lights as if showing glimpses of a memory of a fun night out. This chilled laid-back track soothes with an unhurried sense of elation and wonder as Indra’s vocals whisper with sweet delicacy and passion. The guitars warmly glow through the hazy electronics giving a subtle glimpse of the thrilling solo to come for the magical joyous crescendo. It’s just a sublime subtle burst of heavenly mellowness that fills you with anticipation and youthful elation.

Watch the video for ‘Red Lights’ below

 


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

Worth A Listen

Our Worth A Listen Track This Week Comes From The RPMs

Straight off the back of a string of summer gigs and festivals up and down the country, Brighton’s The RPMs are back with their new single ‘Your Ghost’ and all revved up with a bigger sound than before. The RPMs recently released their second EP ‘Agents Of Change’ in June 2017 through Xtra Mile Recordings. They followed their release with a run of shows throughout the spring and summer months, including supports with We Are Scientists. Alongside this they also played Camden Rocks, Isle of Wight Festival, Glastonbury Festival, Butefest,110 Above, Big Feastival (run by Jamie Oliver and Alex James from Blur) and RivFest in honour of the memory of River Reeves and the members of Viola Beach. The EP continued to win them fans on the radio, including airplay of lead single ‘Oh My God’ from Huw Stephens, Steve Lamacq, Chris Hawkins and Tom Robinson across BBC 6 Music and Radio 1, BBC Introducing in The South & the Radio X Evening Playlist.  More recently, ‘Things I Forgot To Do’ was added to Huw Stephens’ Best of BBC Introducing playlist as well as the Radio X Evening Playlist and John Kennedy Recommends on Radio X.

‘Your Ghost’ is a flickering indie pop sprinkled bombshell. This band know how to write an insanely catchy tune brimming with rich intensely satisfying soundscapes. Dazzling electronics flash and fluctuate throughout adding a surge of adrenaline inducing bedazzlement. With bright spirited guitar jangles and a snappy beat this track is an instant vitality shot of pizzazz and high-powered energy. Smooth laid-back vocals add a hazy daydream vibe that exudes summer sun and good times. These guys write smashing indie pop bangers and ‘Your Ghost’ is a prime example of this. The melody is luscious and sweet while the instrumentation blinds with bright breezy scintillation and power pop energy while still holding an indie edge. Another great track from The RPMs.

Stream ‘Your Ghost’ below

 


Album Review, Electronic, Indie Electro, New Music

Shanghai Restoration Project ‘R.U.R.’ Album

Brooklyn based electronic duo, Shanghai Restoration Project (SRP) have released their new album ‘R.U.R’ on Undercover Culture Music. The album was recorded and self – produced in New York over the last year and features thirteen brand new tracks including ‘Spooky Party’ and the forthcoming single release ‘Alpha Go’. Originally the solo project of Dave Liang, the Shanghai Restoration Project were initially inspired by the 1930s Shanghai jazz bands. Earlier work combined Chinese instrumentation with hip-hop as Liang had done some producing within P. Diddy’s Bad Boy Label. Shanghai Restoration Project first came to the public’s attention during the 2008 Olympics in Beijing when the BBC featured tracks from their debut album as theme music during their broadcast coverage. In 2011 Liang met Sun Yunfan, a multi-disciplinary artist who grew up in China. Last year the duo co-wrote and produced the album ‘Life Elsewhere’ with Chinese jazz singer Zhang Le, which was well received in China and nominated for several national awards and ‘R.U.R’ album is the first record the two have officially released together as Shanghai Restoration Project. The duo have now been streamed over 20 million times to date, been featured on the BBC, NPR, The New York Times, Last Call with Carson Daly and they’ve performed over 100 live shows around the world in places such as NYC, Amsterdam, Tokyo, Moscow, and The Great Wall of China.

‘R.U.R.’ takes you on a journey of discovery through sonic multi-layered soundscapes. They take us to a world where robots have replaced humans and are trying to figure out what led to our extinction. The entire album is an expansion of your senses with ‘Expedition Voronya’ adding flickering twinkling electronics flooding with images of green pastures and rushing water. This duo take you to rain forests with fresh breezy atmospheres while animal noises and rain falling flood the background setting a picturesque scene. The fluctuant percussion, earthy wind pipes and elegant piano flutters in tracks such as ‘Last Bachelor Oecanthuskeep’ create an engaging listen. It’s a little unusual at first but once the rich abundance of instrumentation begin painting beautiful delicate images for you it is really quite a magical experience. With melodies that are so animated and crisp and use of electronics so clever and precise it’s an impressive body of work. Each track evokes every one of your senses bringing you right into the depths of the journey and making the experience realistic and beautiful. This duo aptly display the good side of the human race and world around us with light fluttery tracks but they also display the more sinister side with tracks that take a darker tone. It’s robotic yet immensely fluctuant and wobbly with disco hints and infectious grooves. This duo have created a unique experience that’s not for everyone but worth the venture.

 

Stream ‘R.U.R.’ 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

https://soundcloud.com/tenfemusic/single-no-return


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

Edits ‘Don’t Speak’

Edits are a Girl/Boy Duo from Manchester that create “electronic other world-ness”. Sandwiched somewhere between synth pop and post-rock the band consists of members Liv Westhead (Vocals/Synths) and Chris Abbott (Guitars/Programming). Edits take pride in their D.I.Y. aesthetic; producing everything they make themselves, even their music videos. The pair recently self-recorded a video series live to tape called ‘The Tape Sessions’ showcasing their creativity and recording skills. The duo have released their new single ‘Don’t Speak’ which is a synth pop anthem reminiscent of Chvrches, The XX and Everything Everything.

‘Don’t Speak’ is an atmospheric synth pop dazzler oozing anthemic fist pump power teamed with darker indie soundscapes. Flickering synths create a fluctuating bedazzlement while swirling synths and Westhead’s vocals add passion and tension. The sharp guitar and punchy drums build the track up creating a gritty rock heaviness and rough texture to the otherwise sugary pop sound. The verses brood with a darkened undertone while the anthemic chorus bursts with mini instrumental explosions. Its charming and endearing and immensely catchy.

Stream ‘Don’t Speak’ 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


Alt- Pop, electro- pop, Indie, Indie Electro, Indie Pop, New Music, Synth-pop

Hayes & Y ‘Always So Simple, Always So Cold’

With band members that hail from as far afield as Bulgaria and Finland, indie-pop four-piece Hayes & Y harbour a somewhat continental feel that immediately sets them apart from their quintessentially British contemporaries. Having moved to the UK just a couple of years ago, the four-piece have assimilated quickly, becoming a part of their new country’s scene and taking shows at some of Britain’s best-loved venues in their stride, including the likes of London’s Dublin Castle, and Manchester’s iconic Night & Day Cafe, as well as a notable slot on the Spirit of Burgas festival in Bulgaria supporting Kasabian. With three EPs already under their belt the band have now released their latest single ‘Always So Simple, Always So Cold’. This cruising 80’s electronica flavoured track glides with effortlessly cool swagger and slicked back groovy vibes. Rolling bass lines teamed with frenetic winding guitar licks add an elastic sensual chilled back allurement while also creating a brooding moody foundation for the electronic wavy soundscapes to bounce off. The 80’s infused synths add a shimmering sparkle, breezy freshness and infectious disco dance vibe.  Oh, so smooth and creamy the melody fluidly coats the rippled soundscapes while a slapping sticky beat adds a steamy sultry quality. Hayes & Y present the track in a seemingly effortless way creating a laid back hazy tune thats irresistible from the start. The vocals are sweet and luscious and oozing passion and emotion. It’s a delicious can of sugary smooth pop with a dash of zest provided by the sting on guitars – its refreshing, lush and chilled.

The accompanying video sees Hayes & Y using grainy, black & white film clips in order to reinforce the sombre tone watch it below.


Alt- Pop, Dream Pop, electro- pop, Electronic, Indie, Indie Buddie Introducing, Indie Electro, New Music

Indie Buddie Introducing : Nightshifts

Nightshifts is a young, upcoming producer from Toronto. He spends most of his nights experimenting and creating music using vintage synths, groovy guitars, and drum machines to create new sonic universes. Having caught an early break with a remix of Bon Iver’s ‘Michicant’ which reached the ears of Justin Vernon himself, he has now released his debut single ‘All Along’. It’s a dreamy hazy marshmallow with a blissful lo fi production and a laid back whimsical misty atmosphere, it’s beautifully euphoric. Sweet luscious melody melts like butter on toast while synths swirl and elegantly dance around a slapping beat and groovy guitar jingles. It’s a smooth crooning swagger infused delight. Heavenly sweet and richly layered it’s refined and sleek with breezy sonic flecks that create a wispy sedative effect. A sublime debut from this young producer.

Stream ‘All Along’ below