Category: Electronic

Hammare Share New Single “Here Comes Trouble”

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Following the release of their fantastic single “God Is Doing blow” back in 2018, Swedish duo “Hammare” have been hard at work releasing a single a year, and though that may seem like very little in this fast-paced streaming age of music we now live in, just remember, quality music takes time to create and has more longevity than mediocre songs that are pumped out just for the sake of staying relevant. This year we have been blessed with not one but two new “Hammare” songs. “In Back of the Real” was the first, and now the band have released the follow-up titled “Here Comes Trouble,” and as you’ve probably already guessed by the song titles, the band aren’t here to play it safe. At this point we know the band aren’t going to sugarcoat things. Their lyrical content reflects on the human condition and the ridiculous things that divide us when we should be more empathetic and accepting of each other. The band’s view on this can be from a dark and cynical lens, but instead of sounding defeated, they’re saying “We can do better.” “Here Comes Trouble” maintains that same tone, but this is the band’s most danceable track yet with Industrial-laden production consisting of discombobulating synth arpeggios, a funky as Hell bassline, and Desert Rock guitars that wouldn’t sound out of place on a “Queens of the Stone Age” record. You can listen to “Here Comes Trouble” below:

Cenza Shares New Song “Thriving”

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If her previous single “City Lights” didn’t win you over, then her brand new single “Thriving” surely will. Departing almost entirely from the “Electro-Pop” glamour of “City Lights,” Cenza’s new single “Thriving” is more melancholy on the surface, but never loses its smooth groove brought on by production consisting of electronic soundscapes, strings, bass, infectious synth melodies, and a beat that evokes the spirit of 90’s “Trip Hop.” Despite its moodiness, the track has an inspirational message. About the track, Cenza states “I didn’t write this about a guy. I wrote it about the feeling I often get second guessing myself for making a choice and owning it and about the desire to be unafraid of being perceived as intimidating just because i’m succeeding in something. I hope this song empowers everyone who hears it to own their choices and to stop feeling like they have to dumb themselves down or make themselves smaller to make others more comfortable, and to have fun with it.” “Thriving” was produced by Jay-Elle, Michael Abiuso, and Cenza, and was mastered by J.D. Moon. The track will appear on Cenza’s debut album due later this year. You can listen to “Thriving” below:

Jessie Ware Shares New Music Video for “What’s Your Pleasure?”

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Jessie Ware released her fourth album What’s Your Pleasure? almost a month ago and I still listen to it daily. It’s utterly infectious from beginning to end and is quite possibly the best Pop album released this year by far. Jessie Ware has released music videos for the majority of the tracks off the album, and they are as addicting as the songs themselves. Mirroring the Disco grooviness of the tracks, each video is an incredible visual experience with much emphasis on the liberating nature of dancing. Her new music video for the title track “What’s Your Pleasure?” is no exception. It’s sexy, colorful, and features more and more dancing of course. You can watch the music video for “What’s Your Pleasure?” below:

Gorillaz and ScHoolboy Q Share New Song “PAC-MAN”

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Gorillaz continue their “Song Machine” series by dropping another banger of a track titled “PAC-MAN” which features “Top Dawg Entertainment’s” ScHoolboy Q. The music video pays homage to the classic video game which just recently celebrated its 40th Anniversary, but the track itself is a funky groove that shifts once ScHoolboy Q comes in with a fiery verse. You can watch the music video for “PAC-MAN” below:

Track Review: Brioni – In My Garden

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Artist: Brioni

Song: In My Garden

Genre: Electronic/Pop

Label: Virgin UK/Spotify Ltd 

Brioni is an artist in every sense of the word. Hailing from London, her approach to music is unprecedented as she utilizes her chromesthesia, a type of synesthesia where sound involuntarily evokes the experience of seeing colors. Being an experienced music producer and painter, Brioni successfully intertwines both worlds in a way that is wholly original. How is this done you ask? Well, the colorful textures she perceives when hearing music are depicted by her in her paintings, and when she performs she performs solo on stage playing her paintings as an electronic drum all connected with a keyboard, controller, and laptop. It’s like her paintings have transcended the visual world and have developed it’s own auditory language. Her music is heavily Electronic with atmospheric sound textures and pulsating drum machines, and it’s all packaged in an infectious Pop style that is accessible yet artistic. Her new single “In My Garden” is no exception, and the theme behind the song is also unsurprisingly unique. After reading a book about the flowers language used to write secret messages, Brioni was inspired to use this in a song. With the two plants “Fox Gloves” which can translate to “lies,” and “Honesty” which translates to “honesty and realness,” she metaphorically guides us though her own garden which represents her life. She uses this to analyze herself. To walk her through her early insecurities and need to please people, only to realize that there was no need to be someone she’s not, and that alludes to the “Fox Glove” theme. As she comes to the realization that being her true self is a lot more liberating and that people will accept her for who she is, she plants her garden of honesty. The fact that she’s able to conceptualize something like that is truly remarkable, and that makes her an artist to keep your eye on. Brioni has also teamed up with an organization called “Treedom Trees.” 50% of her profit will go to them to help plant trees worldwide.

Written By: Steven Sandoval

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Track Review: The Joyful Sadness – Perfect Alibi

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Artist: The Joyful Sadness

Song: Perfect Alibi

Genre: New Wave/Post-Punk/Electronic

Label: Self-released

Hailing from Preston, UK, “The Joyful Sadness” is a musical project created out of a subconscious desire to deal with repressed memories. Formed in April 2020, no time has been wasted as one single titled “Memories of You” was released last month, and now a follow-up single titled “Perfect Alibi” will be released this Friday on the 22nd. Much like “Memories of You,” “Perfect Alibi” is a sentimental track that explores vulnerability to reach a point of catharsis. Anyone who has been in a toxic relationship where you give and invest much time in your partner only to not have those feelings reciprocated will find solace in this track. Sometimes we don’t notice when our significant other is being toxic. It’s easy to develop codependency out of a fear of being alone or being lost in someone, and when it’s unrequited it does some serious damage. “The Joyful Sadness” delves into this subject with a style that draws heavily from genres such as “Dark Wave” and “Post-Punk.” With moody atmospheric synths, this subject is explored in a darker fashion because he knows relationships aren’t all sunshine. That sincerity is immensely admirable. You can pre-save “Perfect Alibi” below:

https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/thejoyfulsadness/perfect-alibi

 

LCD Soundsystem’s “This Is Happening” Turns 10

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On this day in 2010 “LCD Soundsystem” released their third album This Is Happening. Remember when this was supposed to be their final album? Remember when they released another album seven years later? Yeah, like any of us bought that the band were calling it quits for good, but if This Is Happening had really been the band’s final album, they would have gone out in a blaze of glory, because this was without a doubt some of the band’s best material. James Murphy and Co. delved even deeper into the realm of dance ready “Electronic” music on this album. Of course this was by no means new territory for the band, but it’s almost as if the band had the most fun making this record, and James Murphy not once loses his signature wit on this record. Perfecting a myriad of genres such as “Synth-Pop,” “Post-Punk,” and “House,” this album surprisingly never comes off as scatterbrained and each track flows into the other quite cohesively. This album showed us all that James Murphy is serious about what he’s doing, even though he might not take himself too seriously. Happy Anniversary!

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E.P. Review: Bliss My Heart – Morningstar

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Artist: Bliss My Heart

EP: Morningstar

Genre: Electropop/Synth-Pop

Label: Self-released

Rating: 8/10

Drawing inspiration from her three varying influences, Bauhaus, Depeche Mode, and Lana Del Rey, Paris born musician Jenna has crafted an E.P. under her “Bliss My Heart” project that’s incredibly focused and never emulates her influences. Morningstar is the name of the E.P. It’s her debut, which is hard to believe seeing as how these three tracks are sharply constructed and her knack for catchy songwriting is unmatched. It’s evident she’s been writing music for years, because no one sounds this good on a whim. This music can be labeled “Electropop,” but it’s got distinct qualities that can be traced back to 80’s “Synth-Pop,” 2000’s “Electroclash,” and even a little “Gothic Rock.” Especially on a track like “Cross You,” which sounds like it could be a “Clan of Xymox” song with its backing operatic vocals and moody guitar. Her vocals are immensely unique and have the potential to place her in the same boat as other unique and creative vocalists such as Miss Kittin or Karin Dreijer. To say she has potential is an understatement, because though her sound contains shades of the aforementioned genres, she’s already developed her distinct sound that separates herself from her peers, and we’re only talking about three songs! That’s undeniably impressive.

Written By: Steven Sandoval

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New Order’s “Low-Life” Turns 35

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On this day in 1985 “New Order” released their iconic third album Low-Life. Following the release of their highly successful and influential single “Blue Monday” in 1983, “New Order” released what became known as their finest work. Low-Life is an album that found the band perfecting the “Electronic” style they hinted at in prior singles and deep cuts off their previous album Power, Corruption, & Lies, and the synths, samplers, and synth bass combined with their usual Rock elements thanks to Peter Hook’s high-end bass and Bernard Sumner’s guitar saw the band developing the distinct “New Order” sound. This album was the complete transformation that departed from their earlier work that featured shades of their previous band “Joy Division” with it’s gloomy Post-Punk dominated sound. This album also featured Bernard Sumner sounding his most confident vocally and even writing simplistic but impactful lyrics with themes such as love, alienation, and even an anti-war song that opens up the album. Very few records are flawless, and this is one of those rarities. Not a skippable track on this thing. Happy Anniversary!

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E.P. Review: Inalab – The Commons

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Artist: Inalab

EP: The Commons

Genre: Orchestral/Electronic/Pop

Label: Self-released

Rating: 9/10

Hailing from New Delhi, musician Gaurav Balani has played with numerous musicians primarily playing bass, so he is an experienced musician who knows his away around collaborations, and his ambition most definitely shows on his debut E.P. The Commons under his project “Inalab.” Assembling musicians Shruti Dhasmana on vocals, Suyash Gabriel on drums, and Archit Anand and Shashank Singhania on keys and flute, Balani has composed a grandiose work of art that’s carefully constructed as opposed to sounding too self-indulgent. Rich in orchestral arrangements and a hint of Progressive Rock, The Commons fearlessly blends various genres and the result is an epic journey that contains a large cinematic tone. This E.P. ranges from jam band excitement to roaring songs with Dhasmana delivering soaring vocals that perfectly reflect the infectiously dramatic tone. There is never an empty space on this E.P. as the rhythm section manages to be distinct but never overbearing, the keys and sound textures add an Electronic element that brings forth a spacey and atmospheric tone, and the flute arrangements are undeniable as they soar majestically. Dhasmana’s powerful vocals grounds the music and makes it human contrasting the otherworldly sounds of the instrumentation. This is the perfect example of how a musical composition can be immensely detailed without sounding over-produced and can be translated flawlessly live, and that’s no easy feat. The Commons is some of the most inspired and utterly addictive music i’ve heard all year. I’m begging to hear more.

Written By: Steven Sandoval