Category: Electronic

Album Review: Bustié – Throb

Rating: 8/10

Due to loss, grief, and immense focus on perfectionism, New York-based act “Bustié’s” sophomore album Throb faced many delays, but now 7 years after their debut Birds of Paradise, the album has finally arrived at the perfect time. Living in the U.S. right now is frightening if you’re a person of color, LGBTQ+, or just simply don’t support a fascist regime, so now more than ever we need music that comes from people of said communities to inspire, provide hope, raise awareness, and provide a dance party of escapism, and Bustié does just that. Combining genres such as Hi-NRG, Synth Pop, EBM, and Freestyle, Throb celebrates the elements that make these genres so undeniable and infectious. Topped with lead member Angelika Padilla’s chant-like vocals that provide another layer of rhythm on top of the already entrancing beats, this music will make anyone want to move. Whether you’re the type to cut up a rug on the dance floor, or the type to stand back and bob your head to the beat, this music is for you. Thematically this album deals with lust, loss, and sexuality, and though it’s often dark sonically, it’s perfectly contrasted with heavy elements of 80’s-styled Pop which helps prevent the album from diving into doom and gloom. It’s Janet Jackson at a Nitzer Ebb concert, and it’s fantastic. 

Written By: Steven Sandoval

Album Review: TOMORA – COME CLOSER

Rating: 7/10

Unlikely musical collaborations can sometimes be the most pleasant surprises, and in the case of Electronic supergroup “TOMORA,” two artists from two completely different worlds come together to create some enticing dance music. After appearing on various festival lineups, the identities of “TOMORA” were a mystery, until the group was officially announced in late 2025. The duo consists of Tom Rowlands of the iconic Electronic duo “The Chemical Brothers,” and Norwegian singer/songwriter Aurora Aksnes. Together the two have released their debut album COME CLOSER, and this album has some irresistible tracks. The melding of the duo’s differing styles works quite well. Tom Rowlands’ input is noticeable as he incorporates elements of Big Beat, Techno and Breakbeat, all genres often associated with “The Chemical Brothers,” and this is cleverly combined with AURORA’s brand of ethereal Art-Pop, which creates a cinematic and beautifully dramatic atmosphere as we the listeners dance our asses off. However, being 55 minutes in length, this album could’ve been a more solid release had the fat been trimmed. Not all these songs work. The album is at its best when the high-energy and more upbeat tracks hit. “RING THE ALARM” is a riotous banger that uncompromisingly attacks the listener with obnoxious, but rather catchy intensity, “SOMEWHERE ELSE” is a dancey and euphoric earworm, and “I DRINK THE LIGHT” is a dreamy tune that sounds straight out of the late 90’s or early 2000’s, but the more downtempo tracks are a bit drab and unimaginative, and when the excitement wears off, the comedown is hard. Which is frustrating because the duo is capable of crafting a good slowed-down tune. “A BOY LIKE YOU” is a hauntingly moody Trip-Hop track that absolutely needs to be featured in a movie or a movie trailer, but most of the album’s slower tracks lack that engaging style. This album isn’t perfect, but it has more good than bad, and it’s always a pleasant experience when two worlds collide in a way that works. 

Written By: Steven Sandoval

Boards of Canada Have Returned

What a different time 2013 was. GTA V was released, Vine was still a thing, and Breaking Bad reached its series finale, but there is also another event that took place that year for us music nerds, and that was the last time Scottish Electronic duo “Boards of Canada” released a new album. That album was titled Tomorrow’s Harvest, and it was a dark Ambient odyssey that featured the duo’s signature Sci-Fi sounding synth textures and atmospherics. Now, 13 years later BoC have returned. Which means we’re getting a new Boards of Canada album before GTA VI! Or at least that’s what it seems. Following a cryptic add campaign featuring mysterious VHS tapes being mailed to fans, and eerie posters appearing all over the world, fans have been doing detective work trying to decipher any hidden messages and some have even speculated that this might be a hoax, but just this morning BoC made it official on social media, posting a video titled Tape 05. This video features what appears to be new BoC music. Nothing else has been unveiled from the band or their label “Warp Records,” but if we’re getting a new album all I have to say is HOLY SHIT IT’S FINALLY HAPPENING! 

Nine Inch Nails and Boys Noize Detail New “Nine Inch Noize” Album

Following their highly successful tour and incredible Coachella set, “Nine Inch Nails” and “Boys Noize” are set to release their collaborative album Nine Inch Noize this Friday. The album will feature re-imagined Nine Inch Nails tracks, as well as a reworked version of How to Destroy Angels’ “Parasite,” and a cover of Soft Cell’s “Memorabilia.” According to Trent Reznor, the album was recorded “all over the place, some of it’s live, some in studios, hotels, planes, etc.” Check out the tracklist below:

Tracklist:

01. Intro (Nine Inch Noize Version)

02. Vessel (Nine Inch Noize Version)

03. She’s Gone Away (Nine Inch Noize Version)

04. Heresy (Nine Inch Noize Version)

05. Parasite (Nine Inch Noize Version)

06. Copy Of A (Nine Inch Noize Version)

07. Me I’m Not (Nine Inch Noize Version)

08. Closer (Nine Inch Noize Version)

09. The Warning (Nine Inch Noize Version)

10. Memorabilia (Nine Inch Noize Version)

11. Came Back Haunted (Nine Inch Noize Version)

12. As Alive as You Need Me to Be (Nine Inch Noize Version)

Pre-save here:https://presave.umusic.com/nineinchnoize-presave

Album Review: PVA – More Like This

Artist: PVA

Album: More Like This

Genre: Trip Hop/EBM/Synthpop

Label: It’s All For Fun

Rating: 7/10

Four years after their debut album BLUSH, London trio and Windmill scene affiliates “PVA” have returned with their second full-length album No More Like This, and it’s a more developed version of the Industrial-tinged post-club sound featured on BLUSH with instrumentation more focused on making you feel than making you dance. The Downtempo and Trip Hop elements complimented by lead singer Ella Harris’ deadpan almost spoken word vocals bring to mind a band like Massive Attack. This album is rhythmic, atmospheric and somber in tone with a heavy emphasis on either consistent instrumental repetition or instrumentation that builds and builds but maintains a steady flow instead of bursting out into an all out dance party. However, with how brilliantly produced these tracks are, I feel like much of this album would be complimented more if the vocals didn’t always sound deadpan and carried the same weight and emotion as the instrumentation. The talk singing makes sense during the album’s more anti-melodic moments, but there’s some tracks with dreamy synth lines that just feel a bit underwhelming when contrasted with Harris’ subdued vocals. The track “Anger Song” finds Harris giving us a more passionate and luscious vocal delivery which at times frustrates me that the album doesn’t feature more of that, but even with that critique the album is still an enjoyable listen, and it’s interesting hearing the direction all the Windmill alumni are going in. 

Written By: Steven Sandoval

Kylie Minogue and Jessie Ware Share New Single “Kiss of Life”

Following Kylie Minogue’s 2020 album Disco, as well as the 20th anniversary of her classic album Fever, and following Jessie Ware’s superb 2020 album What’s Your Pleasure? which recently received a deluxe release consisting of bonus bangers, the two queens of Disco have teamed up to create another dance floor -ready track that solidifies their status as modern Disco’s torch carriers. This is a collab we knew we needed, and seeing this come to fruition is a gift. The track is titled “Kiss of Life,” and you can listen to it below:

Maryze Shares New Music Video for “Squelettes” Featuring Backxwash

It’s Halloween season, which means you can count on Montreal-based Alt-Pop artist Maryze to bless us with something that reflects the delightfully dark and sinister nature of the beloved holiday. This year she has shared a brand new music video for her single “Squelettes” which features an infectiously confrontational verse from Backxwash, who has had a successful year following the release of her masterpiece I Lie Here Buried with My Rings and My Dresses. “Squelettes” was released last year, but still holds up as powerhouse of a track, and now we have a beautifully haunting music video rich in Gothic imagery to accompany it thanks to multidisciplinary artist Méchant Vaporwave. You can watch the music video for “Squelettes” below:

Ready, Steady, Die! Share New Single “Settle”

Following their immensely compelling debut album Pleasure Ride, British-American duo “Ready, Steady, Die!” have released a new single titled “Settle,” and this is their first piece of new music in over a year, with more on the horizon. What made their debut album so captivating was the myriad of emotions displayed over darkly angelic production, and the music never strayed into melodrama. Instead, the sentiment showcased was embedded in realism, self-reflection, and at times, uplifting ardor. It’s no surprise that their new single “Settle” walks down that same path, but in a way that isn’t reminiscent of their previous work. Instead it’s an expansion of the unique sound the duo have honed, with a promise of more surprises to come. Speaking on domestic violence, Ready, Steady, Die! aren’t interested in easing us into unsettling realities such as these, instead, the sentiment is clear, but in a way that can uplift those who go through it, as opposed to succumbing to defeat, and as I’ve said countless times, this is honesty that needs to be heard. You can watch the music video for “Settle” below:

Kelley Cole Shares New Single “Anyone”

Hailing from Nashville Tennessee, Kelley Cole has released her debut single “Anyone,” and it’s a synth-heavy bop ready to pack the dance floor with its smooth Funk-dominated swagger. The track was written and produced by Cole herself, indicating the possibility of her becoming an influential producer in the Pop world. She is definitely an artist to watch. You can listen to “Anyone” below:

Lucky Iris Share New Single “Coffee Shop”

We all have them. Our favorite spots to hang out. Whether it be coffee shops, bars, venues, or diners, it’s part of the human experience to get out and meet people, have conversations, or even people watch as you gaze at someone you find attractive, intriguing, or maybe someone who is obnoxiously making a scene, whatever the case may be, these are the things, good or bad, that make us human. These are the things we’ve grown accustomed to, but what happens when all of that is taken away from us? That’s what we were forced to endure last year during lockdown. The importance of human interaction made itself more clear than ever, making us realize we took these things for granted. However, that isolation lead to self-reflection for many of us, and prompted countless artists to create such profound art, artists such as “Lucky Iris.” Inspired by their desire to get out into the world again, the Leeds duo created a dance floor ready banger rich in Electro-Pop and Disco titled “Coffee Shop,” and the track reflects on those times of normalcy, inspiring us to slow down and savor these times as they slowly return. The track was produced by Ed Heaton, and mixed by Lee Smith. You can listen to “Coffee Shop” below:

https://luckyirisband.bandcamp.com/track/coffee-shop