Category: Introducing (Page 12 of 26)

Introducing SOL FLARE

19 August 2017 /

SOL FLARE are the up-and-coming London based trio comprising of Jenny Jones (vocals), Dominic Wood (synths + programming) and Matt Marlow (guitars) who recently unleashed their first ever single ‘Easy Line’.

While Wood’s lush electronics and drum machine beats provide the vital musical backbone to SOL FLARE, it is Jones’ magnificent voice, ranging from a piercing high soprano down to a powerful contralto growl reminiscent of Rindy Ross from Portland soft rockers QUATERFLASH, which gives them their USP.

Indeed, if QUARTERFLASH had been a synth wave act, they would probably sound a bit like SOL FLARE. Evoking images of widescreen sunsets and neon lights, SOL FLARE began their account with the impressive ‘Not Holding On’, offered as a free download via their Soundcloud. Inevitably, the ‘Drive’ soundtrack sprang to mind although ‘Not Holding On’ was far more direct and uptempo.

‘Easy Line’ develops on this introductory template with a pulsing four-to-the-floor bassline and Jones’ haunting vocals punching to the heart, embellished by Marlow’s subtle scratchy rhythmic six string and Wood’s cascading synths.

The visual  accompaniment created by Jesse Dvorak captures carefree youth in Reagan-era LA with echoes of the late Eric Watson’s video for PET SHOP BOYS ‘Domino Dancing’, as a love triangle and homo-erotic ruck in the sea provide the key moments of the storyline.

An engaging live act, particularly with Jones’ charismatic stage presence, there is more to come from SOL FLARE with the stomping ‘Find You’ and stuttering dance oriented essence of ‘The Hunter’ both highlights in their current set.

Sitting comfortably alongside acts such as NINA, AVEC SANS, PRIEST and FEATHERS, if they maintain the upward artistic trajectory that has seen them cross synth wave and classic synth pop with AOR and melodic new wave, then SOL FLARE might overtake them all and join CHVRCHES.

Having already impressed at gigs in London, SOL FLARE possess an attractive style blend that could see them appeal to many more.

‘Easy Line’ b/w ‘Hide’ is available as a download single from https://solflare.bandcamp.com/

http://solflare.co.uk/

https://www.facebook.com/Solflaremusic/

https://twitter.com/SolFlareMusic

https://soundcloud.com/solflare/

Text by Chi Ming Lai
19th August 2017

Introducing ROSEMARY LOVES A BLACKBERRY

14 August 2017 /

ROSEMARY LOVES A BLACKBERRY is the multi-faceted Russian musician and artist Diana Burkot.

Part of the Anti-Ghost Moon Ray collective that brought the world GAZELLE TWIN, BERNHOLZ and ANNEKA, Burkot’s debut album is entitled ‘❤’, because in Burkot’s own words, it is “an image that cannot be spoken, at a time when visual aesthetics are the priority”.

Like with OMD’s recent single ‘Isotype’, it is a sardonic commentary on how communication has now been reduced to emojis and likes, thanks to the soulless overreliance on social media.

As if to reinforce this concept, the previously unveiled ‘Purr’ is shaped by a gentle conceptual slice of leftfield while its accompanying video challenges “Self-identification through social networks” ?

ROSEMARY LOVES A BLACKBERRY first came to wider attention via the ‘Annual General Meeting Record – Volume 2’ cassette which featured her label mates as well as I SPEAK MACHINE and NEAR FUTURE, a side project of BLANCMANGE’s Neil Arthur.

That particular track ‘Play or Pay’ features on ‘❤’ and like an artier LADYTRON circa ‘604’, it’s a brilliantly screechy percussive set piece with eerie vocal stylings from Burkot that add mystery and intrigue. Meanwhile, the GRIMES-like ‘Plastic Soup’ continues with that mood.

‘❤’ actually starts with ‘Røst’, an enigmatic instrumental comprised of unsettling atmospheric layers, but this is not wholly representative of the rest of the album.

‘Drumly’ does what it says on the tin but with drum machine and kooky rolled vocals, while the explicitly titled intensity of ‘Spring’s Sh*t’ actually comes over as a joyous piece of reverberant electronic experimentation.

Beginning with a big bass drone, this artful intent is also omnipresent on ‘A Song for Theo’s Animals’; the buzzes and electric shrills over a noisy percussive collage are offset by Burkot’s soprano and a swimmy string machine. Not to be left out, the dramatic boom of ‘Debris’ sits well within its surroundings.

Although not for everyone, ‘❤’ is a promising debut from ROSEMARY LOVES A BLACKBERRY that captures today’s darkness while also projecting a witty angelic innocence.

Delightfully odd, short but sweet, this is a work of stranger things to savour.

‘❤‘ is released as a cassette and download by Anti-Ghost Moon Ray, available from https://antighostmoonray.bandcamp.com/album/-

https://www.facebook.com/rosemarylovesablackberry/

https://soundcloud.com/rosemary_loves_a_blackberry

http://www.antighostmoonray.com/

Text by Chi Ming Lai
14th August 2017

Introducing AGE

19 July 2017 /


Gavin Dwight and Jen Cosgrave are the new Irish / Australian electronic pop duo AGE.

Their debut single ‘Peaks’ is a wonderfully atmospheric dance tune that’s perfect for those who prefer things to not be quite so bangin’.

Indeed as Dwight explains with the lyrics; “We wrote ‘Peaks’ at a time when we could see a lot of people around us crossing over the line of what’s safe and not taking care of themselves. We live in a place and a city where it’s too easy to do. It’s a love song to those people.”

With its piercing layers of synths and bursts of live percussion during its climax, ‘Peaks’ comes with a great video accompaniment with expansive earth shots and enigmatic slow-mo of the duetting duo that more than compliments the panoramic Nordic nature of ‘Peaks’. Certainly the audio / visual aspects of AGE seem suitably synchronised with ‘Peaks’.

It’s a great first salvo but what else do AGE have on offer? Their upcoming single ‘Dislocate’ is a variation on the theme set laid down by ‘Peaks’ and adds some enticing pitch bent synth. AGE are currently in the studio working on their debut EP so hopefully, they will have plenty more up their sleeves.

It is always difficult to judge the true potential of an act after only one song. But then in the Summer of 2012, ELECTRICITYCLUB.CO.UK took a punt on a trio of Glaswegians named CHVRCHES after just one song and that turned out alright…

‘Peaks’ is released as a download single on 14th July 2017

https://www.facebook.com/AGEismusic/

https://twitter.com/AGE_ismusic

https://www.instagram.com/ageismusic/

Text by Chi Ming Lai
19th July 2017

Introducing COMPUTER MAGIC

27 May 2017 /

Based out of New York State, producer, label owner and songwriter Danz Johnson is COMPUTER MAGIC.

A Japanophile or “shinnichi” as the locals like to put it, Johnson actually released her first album ‘Scientific Experience’ as a Japan only release in 2012. A prolific musician, a series of EPs filled the interim period before her 2015 long player ‘Davos’ reached Stateside retailers. From it, songs like ‘Fuzz’ and ‘Give Me Just A Minute’ recalled the early adventures of LADYTRON, while ‘Hudson’ hinted more at the leanings of DUBSTAR.

COMPUTER MAGIC’s self-explanatory ‘Obscure But Visible’ EP released last year has been hailed as her best body of work yet and it has been given a promotional boost thanks to a fabulous video for the vibrant synthpop of ‘Been Waiting’.

Directed by Anise Mariko of mikineko productions with animation from Abi Laurel, the futuristic giddy innocence of ‘Been Waiting’ is superbly captured in this visual accompaniment, which more than illustrates Johnson’s love of the Far East,

Of the remaining tunes from ‘Obscure But Visible’, STEREOLAB fans will delight in the vibey ‘Dimensions’ and wispy naivety of ‘Lonely Like We Are’… in fact, listening to these two songs, it is actually quite difficult to identify Johnson as American! Meanwhile, the short but sweet lo-fi Latin romp of ‘New Generation’ springs a surprise before the more indie sounding ‘Gone For The Weekend’.

It’s a light-hearted, varied collection of songs without a doubt and a fine introduction to the appealing kooky world of COMPUTER MAGIC.

‘Obscure But Visible’ EP is released by Channel 9 Records as a 10 inch vinyl EP, cassette and download

http://www.thecomputermagic.com/

https://www.facebook.com/computermagic/

https://twitter.com/zdanz

https://www.instagram.com/danz_cm/

http://computermagic.bigcartel.com/

Text by Chi Ming Lai with thanks to Adam Cresswell
27th May 2017

Introducing SOFTWAVE

12 May 2017 /

Impressing recently at Synth Wave Live with a very engaging performance were Danish duo SOFTWAVE.

The Herlev couple of singer Catrine Christensen and music producer Jerry Olsen released their first EP ‘Together Alone’ in Summer 2016.

A six track collection of appealing Nordic synthpop, it includes their debut single ‘Follow You’ and the solid live favourite ‘Awake But Still Asleep’. With debut releases often being like dress rehearsals in public, SOFTWAVE have learnt very quickly.

A few months on, they have actually managed to improve on the EP’s best number ‘On & On & On’ with a throbbing alternate reworking by Olsen for a remix version of the EP. As the video illustrates, it is a hope filled electronic tune with the positivity mantra: “In a world of circles, she goes on and on and on…”

‘Together Alone – The Remixes’ features five of the original EP’s tracks over nine remixes and while these vary in accomplishment, ‘The Light Behind My Eyes’ in particular benefits from a remix courtesy of David Burdick which adds a chirpier paced Europop groove.

Like their Scandinavian neighbours TRAIN TO SPAIN who they could be most compared to, SOFTWAVE are greatly inspired by the sequenced superpop of Vince Clarke. Their optimistic outlook is to “make sense of today’s relationships, while exhibiting strength and patience when it comes to fighting for it and the one you love”.

As well as working on their debut album, SOFTWAVE will be featuring on ‘Electropop.12’ released by Conzoom Records and are planning to open for some bigger artists.

SOFTWAVE’s promising synth laden sound is another sign that in some parts of the music world, it’s like acid house never happened and for this, ELECTRICITYCLUB.CO.UK is extremely grateful 😉

‘Together Alone’ and ‘Together Alone – The Remixes’ are available as download EPs from https://softwave.bandcamp.com/

SOFTWAVE play the Drop Inn in Copenhagen on 29th June 2017

http://www.softwavemusic.com/

https://www.facebook.com/SoftWaveMusic/

https://twitter.com/SoftWaveMusic

https://www.instagram.com/softwave_music/

Text by Chi Ming Lai
12th May 2017, updated 24th September 2017

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