Depeche Mode debuted live with their first Wrong single off the highly anticipated Sounds of the Universe at the Echo Awards in Berlin. It seems they haven’t lost their touch. Enjoy!
Tags: depeche mode, echo awards, live, synthpop
Tags: depeche mode, echo awards, live, synthpopI’ve known for some time already that Karin Dreijer Andersson from The Knife would do a solo album, but it catched me just now by looking at the last.fm hyped artists chart that the first single is out already. Karin is now Fever Ray showing that she is the mystical/surreal half of The Knife. Of course, the video is exceptional as well.
Tags: ambient, electronica, fever ray, the knife
Probably the most authentic and enjoyable modern synthpop authors, the Junior Boys, have returned. And it’s a worthy continuation of their lonely sound. Their third album Begone Dull Care will be out this spring. The first track off the record is “Parallel Lines”.
Get Flash to see this player.
Tipped already by the BBC (and nialler9) for success in 2009, you surely are going to hear these indie-synth poppers over your favourite almost mainstream indie radio station. I can already imagine shopping for groceries hearing this. But it’s good too, Passion Pit - Sleepyhead, that is!
Tags: indie, passion pit, synthpop
I’ll keep it simple. But before the list I have to mention those artists who were left out from here but who released some rather great stuff: Miss Kittin, Gnarls Barkley, The Ting Tings, Hot Chip, Mr. Oizo, Justus Köhncke, Ladytron, Erykah Badu, Vampire Weekend, Heartbreak, Ajna Schneider, The Black Ghosts, Clark, Le Le, Ellen Allien, Dave Aju, Late of the Pier, TV on the Radio, Quiet Village, The Herbaliser, Dinky, Of Montreal, Pluxus, Kissey Asplund, 2562, Claro Intelecto, Janelle Monáe, Matias Aguayo, Sébastien Tellier, Lykke Li and many more.
And here we go (click for video links):
And below you’ll find it as a list as well. Happy 2009!
Continue reading ‘Favourites of 2008′
Tags: best-of-list, favourites
Legendary Grace is returning with an industrial edge. After her much lauded performance at Massive Attack curated Meltdown, she’s received new attention with her coming album “Hurricane” and her first single “Corporate Cannibal”. Well she’s been performing all these years (20!) actually. And she beats Madonna when it comes to preserving good looks (she’s 60!).
This beautiful video for “Corporate Cannibal” delivers the dark undertone of the song - she illuminates and morphs, twists and freaks. The Bug, one of the latest dubstep superstars has remixed it already (below the video). It’s a welcomed release (and return).
Listen: Grace Jones - Corporate Cannibal (The Bug Mix)
Get Flash to see this player.
The best thing about DnB’s major soul force Tony Coleman, is that you don’t have to like drum and bass to enjoy London Elektricity. But I like the genre’s creations. The band does have a strong crossover edge going for them. Unfortunately the live band is no more.
Although venturing into new depths with “Just One Second” and “Attack Ships On Fire” and “The Point of No Return” does pay off as they are the strongest tracks on “Syncopated City“, the release is mostly filled with classic London Elektricity. It’s not bad at all. Just that we’ve probably heard all that before.
And here’s another instant classic that has the potential to catch the attention of new listeners - “All Hell Is Breaking Loose”
Rating: 
One of the most noteworthy and hyped awards in music business given to the best album from the UK and Ireland, The Mercury, has been won by many artists who are not quite in the mainstream. There have been claims and stats revealed that winning will elevate the sales of the artist. Many groundbreaking albums have received it before (by Roni Size, Portishead, Primal Scream, Klaxons and Franz Ferdinand to name few).
But this time, the conservative side won (as the choice does not reflect groundbreaking) and my personal favorite (and everyone else’s according to bookies) Burial was left with just a title in the nominees list.
And Elbow? I’ve seen them rake in some praise from the critics but their videos have not convinced me yet. We’ll, it’s indie rock and it takes a little getting used to. Guess I should give it a go. Well, at least Radiohead didn’t win with their surprise attack on the internet.
Here’s the list of this year’s nominees:
Adele - 19
British Sea Power - Do You Like Rock Music?
Burial - Untrue
Elbow - The Seldom Seen Kid
Estelle – Shine
Laura Marling - Alas, I Cannot Swim
Neon Neon - Stainless Style
Portico Quartet - Knee Deep In The North Sea
Rachel Unthank and the Winterset - The Bairns
Radiohead - In Rainbows
Robert Plant & Alison Krauss - Raising Sand
The Last Shadow Puppets - The Age of the Understatement
The father of “Flat Beat” is on Ed Banger now and has no mercy on either Bruce or the dancefloor. This is rave!
Mr. Oizo has been busy lately with a soundtrack (Steak) and some remixing and appearing on albums with Uffie, Sébastien Tellier and SebastiAn.
Listen: Mr. Oizo - Bruce Willis Is Dead
Get Flash to see this player.
…are making soulful electropop. Not that it’s anything new but not everyone’s as catchy as Knixx.
Tags: berlin, electropop, knixx, soul 
The Swedish darling is cracking the States with her electric voice performing the single “Breaking It Up” live on Late Night with Conan O’Brien. She looks wicked with the megaphone.
Tags: conan o'brien, electropop, indie, lykke li
