The Second Coming Of SSS

Ok, that headline is a little dramatic but "Big" is so breathtakingly brilliant that it feels like a whole new beginning for Sneaky Sound System. Over the years, the electro-pop pioneers have been a regular feature on the blog - I still maintain that "2" is one of the best Australian albums of the noughties - but I almost lost interest with "We Love". The song isn't as jaw-droppingly awful as Rogue Traders' "Love Is A War" or Vanessa Amorosi's "Gossip" (two notable hari-kari lead singles from hit acts) but it was a generic bore with the year's most pretentious and embarrassing video. It was enough to put me off their whole third album until I randomly heard "Big" in a shop and stopped dead in my tracks.

This is the kind of euphoric electro-pop that sets Sneaky Sound System apart from the competition. Miss Connie and Black Angus deliver a sweeping dance-ballad with dreamy synths and a devastatingly gorgeous chorus. It's easily one of the best songs of 2011 and a stunning return to form. I'm just not sure how a soft and pretty love letter of a song like this will compete against the formulaic club bangers and cheap RedOne knock-offs currently clogging the airwaves. "Big" is probably too refined and sophisticated for its own good but all of a sudden I'm counting down the days until "From Here To Anywhere" drops. If the rest of the album is this good, we're in for something special. And happily, the video is also a step in the right direction. Basically Miss Connie stands on a balcony looking wistful but at least there are no anal beads this time around.

Source URL: https://popmusicrecords.blogspot.com/search/label/Electro
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Bag Raiders - Big In Germany!

Some of you might remember Bag Raiders' amazing "Shooting Stars", which was a surprise Pop Panel winner back in 2009 and went on to become something of a sleeper hit in Australia. It never broke into the top 50 but the song hung around the iTunes top 200 for the best part of a year and turned up in the strangest places - most recently as a warm up song at Katy Perry's Sydney concert. The band went on to score a top 10 album and tear up the summer festival circuit but I had no idea they had broken into the European market until a friend in Berlin asked me about them. Their recent single "Way Back Home" is being used in a commercial over there and is currently rocketing up German iTunes. I'm excited about this! I love the song and was pissed when it stiffed at #77 in Australia. Not only that but it's getting a physical release over there, so I'll have something to add to my rather pathetic Bag Raiders collection. Now that I think about it, Empire of the Sun were also huge in Germany. I think Gypsy and the Cat, Miami Horror and Muscles need to jump on the next plane to Hamburg because Deutschland is clearly the way forward! Fingers crossed, "Way Back Home" gets a re-release at home.

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Parralox pay tribute to Elisabeth Sladen

I was never a huge fan of Dr Who but it was impossible to avoid when I was growing up. Repeats of the show were a staple of ABC programming in the late 80s and I found myself watching it almost by default. From memory it came on after Inspector Gadget and I was just too lazy to change the channel! Anyway, like most (gay) boys - I had a bit of a crush on Elisabeth Sladen, who played the glamorous Sarah Jane. Her recent death from cancer was a blow for fans and has even inspired one Australian band to record a tribute song. Parralox is one of my favourite homegrown pop acts. They have featured on the blog previously and churn out icy electro-pop anthems at an alarming rate. I know that frontman John von Ahlen is a huge sci-fi fan, so I'm not surprised he's pulled out an absolute gem for Elisabeth. "Companion", with its bleak synths and haunting chorus, is a fitting tribute to the TV icon. This is their best song since "I Am Human" and I really think they should release it as a single. Check out "Companion" below.

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Gypsy & The Cat - Jona Vark

My friends have been raving about Gypsy & The Cat for ages but I wasn't really blown away by their first single ("Time To Wander") and kind of forgot about them until I saw their album on special in JB Hi-Fi a couple of weeks ago thought I'd give them another try. It turned out to be the best $10 I've spent all year. "Gilgamesh" is one of those rare debuts that actually lives up to the hype. Hailing from Melbourne, the boys sound like a cross between mid-70s Fleetwood Mac circa and fellow antipodean electro-pop duo Empire Of The Sun. Their dreamy brand of retro-electronica is perfect for a sleepy Sunday afternoon but also has immense crossover appeal.

Take "Jona Vark". I can't believe this hasn't been a "Walking On A Dream" sized smash. The production is gorgeous and that chorus is unforgettable. It is starting to climb iTunes, so with a bit of luck it could turn out to be a slow burn hit. If not, I'm sure the boys will have more luck overseas. I can see this taking off in markets like the UK and Germany. You know, places that actually embrace Australian produced electro-pop. They might need to brush up the video a bit though because this looks like it was filmed for less than Empire Of The Sun's make-up budget. Not that it really matters when the music is this good. Very highly recommended.

Source URL: https://popmusicrecords.blogspot.com/search/label/Electro
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Medina's Addictive 3rd Single

When are people (outside of Denmark and Deutschland) finally going to get correct and jump on the Medina bandwagon? The Danish pop star has released two stunning singles and a brilliant English language debut album yet continues to wither in Robyn's overhyped shadow. It's so unfair because "You & I" would have been a worldwide smash for the Swedish troll but was roundly ignored outside Germany, where it became a much deserved top 10 hit. This is like Janet and La Toya all over again! Why must the pretty, talented one always come off second best? But I digress. Medina isn't going let something as insignificant as having no hits keep her down. The striking diva recently unveiled her third single and it's another throbbing electro-pop anthem with melancholy lyrics and laser sharp production. "Addiction" isn't as epic as "You & I" or quite as devastating as "Lonely" but it's a grower. I love the drugs metaphor and she works the bleak yet still catchy chorus for all it's worth. I really don't know why Medina is always so depressed but it kind of suits her. She is the Queen of pissed-off-and-over-it electro! The Danish delight also turns it out in the video. She plays a supermodel and spends most of the clip looking sad in a glamorous kind of way. "Addiction" is released physically in Germany on the 26th of November. A deluxe two disco edition of her album "Welcome To Medina" hits stores the same day. I want!

Watch "Addiction" HERE

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James Leon - Caught Up In Your Vanity

How often do two of your friends release fabulous electro-pop singles on the same day? This is surreal! Hot on the heels of Peter Wilson's Italo-tastic "Intoxicated" comes James Leon's triumphant second single "Caught Up In Your Vanity". The Englishman's stunning debut caused quite the stir online last year and, from memory, appeared on my very first Pop Panel. As much as I love "Purple Heart", his latest electronic adventure is in a completely different league. "Caught Up In Your Vanity" has a raw honesty and vulnerability that you're simply not used to hearing in catchy pop records. The personal lyrics strike a chord with me - "I pushed the button for self destruct, I guess we make our own luck" - and I love the restrained production. Fans of the Pet Shop Boys (or their tribute act Hurts) should lap this up like Neil Tennant's semen. James is a real talent and I think it's only a matter of time before a major label realises his huge potential. If you're still not convinced, check out "Bad Guy" - one of the best unreleased pop songs ever! "Caught Up In Your Vanity" is available to download from iTunes, Amazon and 7Digital now. Get downloading!


Source URL: https://popmusicrecords.blogspot.com/search/label/Electro
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Kimbra Goes Electro

Kimbra is currently being hailed by the street press as Australia's next big thing. Which is amusing because she's actually from New Zealand. While I'm not ready to throw away my Dannii CDs and jump on that bandwagon just yet, I do love her debut single. "Settle Down" is one of the quirkiest pop songs of 2010. It's cute, kooky and (after the third or fourth listen) very, very catchy. More importantly, the amazing video features a wall of dolls and a creepy little girl doing housework - so I'm sold! Kimbra has spent the past few months working on her album but also found the time to lend her golden pipes to Miami Horror's new floorfiller "I Look To You". Though sadly not a Whitney Houston cover, the track is still a rather lovely shot of disco infused electro. It's a nice change of pace for the eclectic diva. Usually a purveyor of Kate Miller-Heidke/Sarah Blasko-esque organic pop, Kimbra takes to her new genre like Lilo to cocaine. I just hope there are some harder remixes because "I Look To You" is perhaps a little too dreamy for radio and the clubs. The video is also well worth a look. Sure, it owes a large debt to Empire of the Sun but the trippy colours and spacey special effects suit the track perfectly. I can't wait to see what she does next!


Source URL: https://popmusicrecords.blogspot.com/search/label/Electro
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Sunday Girl - The New Ellie Goulding?

I still haven't posted my review of Ellie Goulding's "Lights". For the simple fact that I can't reconcile the bravura production and brilliant songwriting with the diva's lacklustre voice and complete lack of charisma. It's a challenging combination that I just can't seem to get my head around. So what does all this have to do with Sunday Girl? It seems the 21 year old London based pop star is being hailed by critics (and to a lesser extent marketed) as the next Ellie Goulding. There are similarities - they share the same soft electronic palette and both write poetic pop songs - but judging from her debut single, Sunday Girl has a distinctively warm and pretty sound that I actually find more appealing than Ellie's sterile iciness. "Four Floors" is as simple as it is beautiful. I love the rich vein of romanticism than runs through her lyrics, while the crisp production perfectly frames her words. And more importantly, Jade's (her real name) voice has character. She brings a sense of whimsy to "Four Floors" that Ellie could only dream of. There's a touch of Sarah Cracknell about this girl that should endear her to Saint Etienne fans. The video (below) is cheap even by today's standards but effortlessly captures the spirit of the song. Finally a next big thing I can get behind! Check out her Myspace for more details and hunt down the brilliant Russ Chimes remix.


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Tania Foster & The Best Unreleased Song Of 2010

One of the best things about writing this blog is occasionally stumbling across a truly brilliant unreleased pop track. I still remember the first time I heard Isabel Guzman's "Love Song". There was just something incredibly special about it and I'm convinced it would have been huge if Isabel hadn't turned into the Swedish Kate Bush and gone into self-imposed exile. Chris Sorbello's "So Lonely" is another gem that immediately comes to mind. With a sexy video in the can and a major label now behind her, you can expect to hear a lot more of that stunning anthem over the next few months. The latest addition to my list of future hits is Tania Foster's fabulous "Supawoman" (below). The British diva is probably best known for providing back-up vocals for Tinchy Stryder but if her demos are any indication, it's only a matter of time before she hits the big time herself. I'm a huge fan of the current urban dance explosion (think Taio Cruz, Jason DeRulo and Iyaz) and "Supawoman" is striking example of someone putting their own spin on the genre by introducing electronic elements and a pure pop chorus. Imagine Keri Hilson crossed with Sugababes circa "Sweet 7" and you get the general idea of Tania's sound. The production needs a bit of a polish and the rap interlude is slightly unnecessary but "Supawoman" is an incredible calling card for a major talent. This has radio hit written all over it.


Check out Tania's Myspace for more info on this amazing diva
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Who Is This Kcunt?

Seriously, what's the deal with this bitch? I've been receiving e-mails about Kcat (pronounced Cat) from various digital media agencies for months and never felt the urge to give her a closer look - that is until I saw the highly glamorous cover of her new single "Boys Don't Cry". Given that stunning ensemble, I was half expecting/hoping for a brutal Hi-NRG cover of The Cure's 80s classic in the holy tradition of Kelly Llorenna but it's actually a rather catchy electro-pop anthem. The song itself is pleasant enough. It's the kind of slick, overproduced shit that will get the Pop Justice crowd lubing up for a circle jerk but I'm not blown away. I'm even more wary of her image, which is equal parts Lady GaGa and Little Boots... if they had been dressed by a colour blind transvestite. What the fuck is going on with her sequined eyebrows and snazzy headgear? La Toya called and wants her cap back! I genuinely can't make up my mind about this ho. What do my fellow trash connoisseurs think? I need guidance! Check out "Boys Don't Cry" below. The video is on the way.

Source URL: https://popmusicrecords.blogspot.com/search/label/Electro
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Chris Sorbello: Electropop Diva

Ok, I admit it. I occasionally suffer from pop envy. It seems like every second ho in Europe owns a keyboard and spends their time churning out brilliant pop tunes. Meanwhile, in Australia, the pickings are comparatively slim. Bucking that unfortunate trend is the amazing Chris Sorbello. This Sydney based diva is making serious waves with her killer electropop anthems. Imagine Kylie mixed with Lady GaGa (perhaps with a sprinkling of Little Boots thrown in for good measure) to get some idea of her sound.

Chris first appeared on my radar last year with the fabulous "Danger Zone". It's the kind of song that slowly crawls under your skin. It took a couple of listens but I eventually fell for the crisp synths, icy vocals and poptastic chorus. For me, this ranks right up there with Isabel Guzman's "There Must Be Something" as the best unreleased pop track of 2008. New remixes continue to appear, so there's still a chance that "Danger Zone" might see the inside of a record store yet. Make sure you check out this gem below:



Danger Zone

Since "Danger Zone", Chris' sound has evolved to a whole new level. Her music is now darker, edgier and much more electronic. However, she is still wholeheartedly and unashamedly POP. The diva has a bunch of new tracks streaming on her Myspace and they all deserve your attention. My favourite is probably "So Lonely", which wouldn't sound out of place on Kylie's "X". The production is pure Bloodshy & Avant, while the chorus is pop bliss. The intro reminds me of "The Glamorous Life" but that could just be my Melissa Tkautz obsession raring its ugly head.

I also highly recommend "Ten Minutes Longer" - a floaty, pretty pop track that showcases Chris' softer side - and the slightly dirty "2 Seater Ride". This is the new anthem for backseat bitches across Australia! I'm less taken with the cool, robotic beats on "Symbiotic" and "Love Spam" makes me laugh for all the wrong reasons but even it's still fierce in a Lady GaGa gone wrong kind of way.

Chris Sorbello is definitely an electropop diva to watch in 2009. I have a feeling you'll be hearing a lot more from her in the near future.

Source URL: https://popmusicrecords.blogspot.com/search/label/Electro
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Risk It For A Biscuit

The music industry could show the rest of the business world a thing or two about recycling. I'm not talking about the rampant sampling that goes on or the flood of cover versions but the popular practice of reviving old ideas. That's not necessarily a bad thing. Take the UK's fabulous new girlband Electrovamp - they strike me as the reincarnation of Shampoo with a touch of Daphne & Celeste thrown in for good measure. We've heard it all before but in comparison to their lacklustre pop contemporaries, Electrovamp sound positively groundbreaking. Despite a mixed response to their debut single in the UK, "I Don't Like The Vibe In The VIP" has been picked up for an Australian release - probably to cash in on the success of another electropop duo, The Veronicas. Yes, familiarity is a highly prized commodity in the pop world!

Electrovamp are two naughty teenage sisters from Cardiff. I can't find a lot of information about Tammy and Kally on the net but it appears they previously performed under the name Cookie and Kute - and suffered the indignity of supporting Sluts Aloud on their "Waking Up The Neighbours" tour. In fact, there is more than a touch of Xenomania about "I Don't Like The Vibe In The VIP". The formulaic beats, pounding bass and guitar are all on display. Thankfully, the song is saved from being another electro-bore by the fun lyrics and Electrovamp's cheeky attitude. The dirty dollies chirp "I'll be your schoolgirl dream" before promising "I'll make you scream like you ain't done it in ages!" This is exactly the kind of cheerfully tawdry filth Shampoo would be making if they were still around today. As much as I like the song, the video (below) sealed the deal for me. Girls flashing their tits, a lesbian orgy in the pool, coke snorting and simulated oral sex - for a while there I thought I was watching an episode of "Skins"!

"I Don't Like The Vibe In The VIP" is released in Australia on the 3rd of March. You can pre-order your copy here. I particularly like the Jack Rokka mix, which you can hear on Electrovamp's myspace.


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Belgium's Golden Goose

Brace yourselves for something a bit more cutting edge than the fabulous rubbish I usually serve up! It's been a while since I had a guest contributor but it's definitely been worth the wait. When Jay first introduced me to Goose, I thought they sounded like every other electro act doing the rounds. It's funny how your opinions can change. After a few listens, the melody in their songs comes to the fore and Goose distinguish themselves by displaying an uncanny pop sensibility. Many thanks to Jay for this great article!

When you think of Belgium, you think of stuffy EU bureaucrats passing laws about bendy bananas and not much else. Yet they managed to produce one of the best electronic acts since the invention of the keyboard. Goose are a quartet hailing from somewhere in said country. Despite not having any commercial success in the UK to date, they have created a massive buzz in the UK Dance and indie scenes alike (and the lead singer has a massive following on myspace). Unlike most acts these days who rely on hype and TV talent shows to get established, Goose are doing things the hard way and have built up a solid fan base through sheer hard graft and a never ending world tour.


Apparently they are very popular with the Brighton crowd – which is where they filmed the video for their debut single, the rather excellent "Black Gloves". The sight of four grown men whizzing round Brighton in a bunch of old skool go-karts is rather funny, but very appropriate for the rather catchy (mostly) instrumental tune - its like the Wacky Races all over again!

Debut album "Bring It On" is a slice of fantastic electronic music, mostly dancey but with a few mellower tracks thrown in for good measure such as "Slow Down" and the sublime "Safari Beach".

The buzz around Goose isn’t limited to a few NME journalists though as the Scissor Sisters commissioned them to remix "She’s My Man", turning it from rather bland “safe” 3rd single to a heady electro pop anthem. The mix can be heard in full on their myspace page. Latest single "Bring It On" follows the trend of previous singles, and gets JFK from MSTRKRFT on board for a fabulous remix and a rather strange video.

"Bring It On" the album is available from some good music retailers, and a few bad ones as well as several digital stores. Though it is easier to find on ebay along with the promo singles. If you are lucky, you might find the deluxe edition in your local HMV which includes several remixes and the rather fabulous Masters On Top.

In a strange coincidence, Goose are currently touring Australia as part of the Parklife extravaganza. Sounds like a pretty hot ticket to me! Source URL: https://popmusicrecords.blogspot.com/search/label/Electro
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