Category: Introducing (Page 18 of 25)

Introducing REXXY

17 February 2014 /


ELECTRICITYCLUB.CO.UK has said it once and will say it again but much of the best new electronic based pop music seems to be coming from North America. Why is that?

Perhaps the territory is so vast that various bubbles of talent are able to develop independently and without spill, unlike in the UK where acts are much closer together and with the nation’s inherent synthpop tradition, more likely to take the phrase synth revival a little too literally. Hot on the heels of GRIMES, AUSTRA, SOFT METALS, FEATHERS, TRUST and ELEVEN: ELEVEN is REXXY, the independent music project of musician, singer / songwriter Monica Velasquez.

With dreamy sounds and pentatonic vocal melodies, she comes over a little like GRIMES fronting NEW ORDER or THE CURE. With a mix of synths and moody bass riffs to a contemporary, new wave influenced sound, ‘Careless’ is a fine example of REXXY’s haunting demeanour; her vocals are melancholic yet seductively feline while her self-played four string adds texture to the precise rhythm on top of the eerie synth swoops.

Although her early projects were influenced by disco glam and garage rock, a move to Los Angeles saw her open her horizons. Now based in Brooklyn, her self-titled debut was released by CMI Vibe Records at the end of last year. Opening numbers ‘What Makes Us Fade’ and ‘Glasshead’ both possess a tremendous wispy drive. ‘Moonshine’ follows similar territory and comes over a bit like a more indie take on PAWWS ‘Slow Love’.

Meanwhile, the mechanical clatter of ‘Just For You’ makes things a little bit more club friendly. REXXY has also been experimenting with more dance related collaborations; the first result in partnership with Lif of DUO FOX is ‘Mageyez’ and brilliantly delightful.

REXXY is not all uptempo though as more mystic, ethereal compositions such as ‘Your Eyes’ prove. Yes, Velasquez’s vocals have a marmite effect, but lovers of J-Pop and K-Pop should have no trouble adapting. Whether you are at the purer end of the electro spectrum or like things toughened with organic instrumentation, REXXY has something for you.

With thanks to Darby Kaighin-Shields at Red Tape Productions Inc

‘Rexxy’ is out now on CMI Vibe Records via iTunes, Amazon and Spotify

www.rexxymusic.com

www.facebook.com/RexxyMusic

https://soundcloud.com/rexxymusic

Text by Chi Ming Lai
17th February 2014

Introducing AUTOMATIC WRITING

10 November 2013 /

“Warm Jets, Nite Flights and Wuthering Heights”…

If you know anything thing about music, then you will understand what London sibling duo AUTOMATIC WRITING are aesthetically all about. One observer described the pair as “a cross between WHITE LIES and OMD”.

The description isn’t far off although vocalist Neave Merrick adopts a far more sombre baritone than Harry McVeigh while brother Jamie handling synths introduces far more post-punk distortion than Paul Humphreys ever did.

Early single ‘Crystal Visions’ is another variant of the Synth Britannia template, coming over like a mutant PET SHOP BOYS fronted by Ian Curtis! AUTOMATIC WRITING have just released a new EP ‘Introduction To Floating’ which isn’t actually new as such.

Featuring live favourite ‘This Is Happening’ and a solemn stripped down cover of ROXY MUSIC’s ‘More Than This’, the 4 tracker compiles recordings which have appeared on Soundcloud over the last couple of years.

“Imagine if you can what would happen if Depeche Mode, Bowie and Wild Beasts formed a supergroup and soundtracked a David Lynch film using just a laptop, a few analogue synths and a packet of Brian Eno’s Oblique Strategy cards” say the Merricks and “Immerse yourself in modern art” as their NEW ORDER influenced number ‘Modern Art’ goes…

Although ‘Introduction To Floating’ can be seen as a clearing of the decks release and showcases their earlier, more abstract template, AUTOMATIC WRITING have already proved their dynamic tuneage capability with their previous single, the excellent double header ‘Falling’ and ‘Continuous’. The latter made ELECTRICITYCLUB.CO.UK’s 30 Songs Of 2012 listing with its magnificent whirs and spins driven by motorik machine beats and dysfunctional claustrophobia.

The release of the EP is a bit confusing it has to be said and shows AUTOMATIC WRITING a bit rough round the edges following the balanced triumph of ‘Falling and ‘Continuous’. However, further experience and development can only see the enigmatically photogenic pair with their brooding soundscapes and spikey guitar textures become more accessible while still retaining that important esoteric edge.

‘Introduction To Floating’ is available now as a download EP, along with ‘Falling’ b/w ‘Continuous’ from http://automaticwriting.bandcamp.com/

http://www.facebook.com/automaticwriting

Text by Chi Ming Lai
10th November 2013

Introducing GAPTOOTH

5 November 2013 /

2013 has been a fantastic year for electronic pop with a number of the evergreens from the first phase returning to produce some of their best work for many years while new forms have also flourished, particularly from North America.

And although several acts from the EU have impressed, the domestic scene on both sides of the channel has been disappointing with some acts taking the term synth revival a little too literally!

However, from East London comes a burst of snarling energy under the name of GAPTOOTH. The moniker of singer/musician Hannah Lucy, she will shortly be releasing her debut album ‘Connections / Departures’.

A fierce blend of indie electro disco and sexual politics, the album opener ‘Ladykillers’ is her calling card with an amalgam of feisty Swedish combo THE SOUNDS and GOSSIP’s more recent pure pop experiments. BBC 6 Music’s Camilla Pia said GAPTOOTH “combines electronic music with scuzzy riffs to danceable effect”.

‘Connections / Departures’ has been co-produced by production team A Scholar & A Physician who have worked with CHICKS ON SPEED and PINEY GIR from the much missed duo VIC TWENTY. Among its highlights is a duet ‘Enduring Freedom’ with Ollie Horton from one-time great white synth hopes TRADEMARK who supported THE HUMAN LEAGUE in their time and produced a cover version of DEPECHE MODE’s ‘Enjoy The Silence’ for lost girl group RED BLOODED WOMEN in 2009.

There’s also the endearing chip pop blend of ‘Baggage’ and kitchen sink drama of ‘Plans and Friends and Records’which comes over like a fantasy collaboration between DUBSTAR and a less shouty SHAMPOO! While her debut is not flawless and at times, the prominent guitar can get over bearing, GAPTOOTH shows great promise and potential. Her development over the next few years will be an interesting journey.

‘Connections / Departures’ is released as a download album on 18th November 2013 but available as a limited edition CD from www.gaptoothmusic.co.uk

https://www.facebook.com/gaptoothmusic

Text by Chi Ming Lai
Photo by Steve Dawson
5th November 2013

Introducing NIGHT CLUB

19 September 2013 /

Californian-based NIGHT CLUB formed in 2011 when vocalist Emily Kavanaugh and producer Mark Brooks began writing songs that combined the pure pop of PINK and Britney Spears with the much heavier spectre of SLAYER into a danceable, electronic underworld.

Their respective life experiences led them into this darker territory as Kavanaugh dealt with her father’s untimely death while Brooks faced his own demons.

NIGHT CLUB are best represented by their most immediate number, the Britney gone Emo of ‘Poisonous’ and the friskily minimal ‘Give Yourself Up To Me’. Positively feline but dysfunctionally dark, ‘Poisonous’ bases itself, like STEFY’s lost 2007 single ‘Chelsea’, around the riff of ‘Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)’.

This superb slice of catchy electronic pop from the LA combo of Emily Kavanaugh and Mark Brooks rouses with a huge crossover potential while possessing a cutely subversive and sinister edge. Kavanaugh recently described their musical DNA as: “If Depeche Mode f*cked Britney Spears and had a baby who hung out in dark corners of seedy clubs, then that baby would be us.”

By way of a connection, NIGHT CLUB open for cult new wavers BOOK OF LOVE who supported DEPECHE MODE on the ‘Black Celebration’ tour on 8th October 2013 at Los Globos in Los Angeles.

‘Night Club’ and ‘Love Casualty’ are released by Gato Blanco and available as downloads from Bandcamp, iTunes and Amazon

http://nightclubband.com/

https://www.facebook.com/nightclubband

https://soundcloud.com/nightclubband

Text by Chi Ming Lai
19th September 2013, updated 25th May 2016

Introducing GIRL ONE & THE GREASE GUNS

24 August 2013 /


New in 2013 are mysterious combo GIRL ONE & THE GREASE GUNS.

Who are they? Nobody really knows for sure but the band members’ names Sissy Space Echo, Warren Betamax, Charles Bronson Burner and Bruce LeeFax are probably a good indicator of their collective mindset.

Their manifesto is “to thrive on causing confusion with a mixture of pure synth pop and more experimental electronic sounds”.

GIRL ONE & THE GREASE GUNS came to the attention of small UK indie label Squirrel Records by placing a cassette under the windscreen wiper of a car outside the label’s HQ! Containing the dysfunctional indie synthpop of ‘Driving Without Headlights (Once Again)’ and the noisefest of ‘(I’m A) Willing Receiver’, this pair of paranoid dystopian ditties were released as a 7 inch single in April of this year. Recorded in The Glass Factory, “a freezing cold structure in the middle of a timber yard”, their latest single ‘Jessica 6’ is a tribute to the cult Sci-Fi favourite ‘Logan’s Run’.

Using footage of the lovely Jenny Agutter from the film in the promo video, the eerie post-punk cacophony laced with icy Yamaha string machine makes ‘Jessica 6’ the perfect belated choice for the theme tune. Add in a frantic reverbed backbeat and it all comes over like THE PIPETTES fronting an OMD assisted JOY DIVISION.

Despite these winter of discontent overtones, the B-side brings things up-to-date with the brilliantly titled ‘Bring On The Dancing Horse Meat’. With sexily nonchalant vocals from Sissy plus a barrage of low-fi guitars, Farfisa and battered Casio, it is an enjoyable slice of progressive mechanical desolation.

The band have declared themselves essential listening for fans of THE NORMAL, CABARET VOLTAIRE, FAD GADGET, DEPECHE MODE, OMD and YAZOO! Their third single ‘(Here Come) The Catastrophe Machines’ which has been described as ‘Nag Nag Nag’ but more violent is out in October!

‘Jessica 6’ and ‘Driving Without Headlights (Once Again)’ are released by Squirrel Records as 7 inch vinyl singles and downloads

http://www.squirrelrecords.co.uk/girl-one-and-the-grease-guns/

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Girl-One-And-The-Grease-Guns/440754999339179

Text by Chi Ming Lai
24th August 2013

« Older posts Newer posts »

© 2017 ELECTRICITYCLUB.CO.UK | Email: [email protected]
Privacy Policy

Up ↑