We’re just two weeks away from the release of Riki’s upcoming album Gold, and while we wait, Riki has shared a stunning new music video for her track “Florence & Selena” for us to enjoy. The video is directed by Travis Waddell, and is as visually compelling as the song is sonically enticing. Gold will be released on November 26th via “Dais Records.” You can watch the music video for “Florence & Selena” below:
Every time Riki releases new music it’s impossible not to swoon over her angelic vocals and impeccable attention to dreamy soundscapes consisting of retro synth-laden New Wave that explores a myriad of emotions. Her new single “Florence and Selena” is no departure, but the track offers a refreshing sense of balladry that’s absent from modern Pop music. The track will appear on her upcoming album Gold, which is set to drop on November 26th via “Dais Records.” You can listen to “Florence and Selena” below:
Following her self-titled debut, which was released last year on St. Valentine’s Day, Riki is set to drop her follow-up album Gold on November 26th via “Dais Records.” The Los Angeles-based artist has also shared a new single titled “Marigold,” which is a duet featuring Telefon Tel Aviv co-founder Josh Eustis, who helped produce the album as well. “Marigold” carries on that dreamy synth-driven New Romantic sound that delightfully lit up her previous album, but the track pulls no punches when delivering an atmospheric tone with reverb-drenched guitars that will transport you to the days of old where New Wave was dominant. However, Riki is more intent on breathing new life into these genres, as opposed to being overly nostalgic, showing there’s much to be explored in these musical realms. You can listen to “Marigold” below:
Musician Benjamin Mace-Crossley has released his new single “Beats” under his “The Reality TV” project, and it’s appropriately titled because this track has a danceable drum machine beat that will get you moving immediately. Topped with goth-tinged guitars and synthesizers that evoke the spirit of 80’s “Dark Wave” or “EBM,” this song is a gloomier and doomier dance tune that brings poppy fun to the aforementioned genres without straying into despair. You can listen to “Beats” below:
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
On this day in 1980 “Devo” released their third album Freedom of Choice. We’ve all heard “Whip It,” and we all know the flower pot hats, but aside from these staples of 80’s Pop culture, Freedom of Choice was Devo’s tour de force that both encapsulated the spirit of the dominant “New Wave” era, and offered something unique and immensely animated both musically and visually. This album saw the band incorporating even more synthesizers without sacrificing their guitar-driven Rock edge, and the satirical, absurd, and often tongue-in-cheek lyrics that poked fun at the human condition made the band everyone’s favorite aliens studying humanity. Happy Anniversary!
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!
CMON (Confusing Mix of Nations) are set to release their self-titled debut album on April 3rd via “Mexican Summer,” and following two fantastic singles the band have released yet another infectious track titled “Peter Pan.” You can watch the music video directed by Geneva Jacuzzi below:
It’s really happening! “The Strokes” are back. Set to release their new album The New Abnormal on April 10th, the band have released another track off the upcoming album titled “Bad Decisions,” and it’s sure to satisfy fans and those who weren’t the biggest fans of their previous single “At the Door.” The track has an 80’s influence, even so much that Billy Idol’s “Dancing With Myself” comes to mind upon hearing it. You can watch the 70’s inspired music video for “Bad Decisions” below:
On the heels of their fantastic new E.P. Suffering is a Gift, Punk band “Portrayal of Guilt” have released more music with the band “Soft Kill” on a new 7” via “Closed Casket Activities.” Portrayal of Guilt’s track “Sacrificial Rite” is a tumultuous howl of doom that blends elements of both Punk and Metal, whereas Soft Kill’s track “Tin Foil Drip” is a lush and melodic shoegazey tune. You can stream as well as purchase the new 7” below:
https://portrayalofguilt.com/album/portrayal-of-guilt-soft-kill-split
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