Midweek Madness: The amazingness of pop (ft: Deborah Gibson, Carsten Andersson, Dirty Disco, My Robot Friend, Alison Moyet, Veronica Falls)

It has been a brilliant few days for pop already. Elouise has released a limited edition of her debut EP (buy here; read interview here; read review here). Sir Simon of Curtis has broken twitter with the excitement surrounding his release of 8BitHeart (download here; read review here). And if that wasn't enough, loads of other bloody stonking great pop has come forth and multiplied (or something) and deserves a mammoth catch up post to reveal to you all the outstandingness of it all. Stand by to be stunned... (oh and pity me too please. I have a massive sore throat. I look like I have swallowed two tennis balls)!

• Deborah Gibson ~ Guy Like You: Can you believe it's actually been 22 years since Foolish Beat hit the number one slot in America? I feel so old. Deb is still working on a new album, but in the mean time has been putting together a musical called The Flunky, which now has a website online (she worked on it with Jimmy Van Patten - above). From that site, you can get a taste of a demo she has written and performed called A Guy Like You (track 2 on the musical player). Now remember, this is not a pop song but part of a larger musical soundtrack - inevitably, I have fallen totally in love with it. Gorgeous piano ballad, heartfelt vocal, lovely melody in the chorus - all reasons why I have followed her for 22 years. Quite exquisite. Oh, and with all the excitement around The Bird and The Bee doing Hall & Oates, it's time to revisit Deb's own version of Rich Girl - it's grown on me over the years and I'm quite enamoured of it now...
• Carsten Andersson ~ Fun: There is a lot of discussion around who will be the new male Lady Gaga (fact: Simon Curtis and Darin were the male Lady Gaga before Lady Gaga existed. And honestly, isn't Lady Gaga the male Lady Gaga?!) - Carsten is another name thrown into the hat. Based on his debut single, Fun, he's entirely worthy contender for some boy-pop attention. It's all throbbing beats and catchy chorus designed to enflame the senses and leave you wanting more more more - and it's all done in a decidedly brilliant eurodisco way. Check out his website for a clip of the tune and some rather,uh, titillating photos of young mr Andersson :P
• Dirty Disco ~ Vulture: The amount of times I am writing about Dirty Disco is now getting ridiculous. They will be taking out a restraining order shortly. But my blog love of them (tongues and everything) continues with this marvelous new ditty. Available as a free legal download over at ArjanWrites, it's a worthy successor to the still excellent Sista! Their own remix of the track is an intense whirling world of synths, disco, house and a chorus so supersonic it's worthy of it's very own club night. Astonishingly catchy, I'm practically salivating for a full album (and some Birmingham club dates)...
• My Robot Friend - Waiting: How have I not listened to this song before today (thankyou Gay Times)?! It features Alison Moyet and is on the act's 2009 album but is such a heavenly slice of vintage retro pop that it could have easily been tacked onto a Yazoo album from 1982. Not only is the track entirely engaging from start to finish, but it has this almost tribal beat breakdown in the middle eight that makes me giddy. Couple this with the 2010 version of Situation i heard on Larry Flick this week and i've Alison fever all over again!!
• Veronica Falls ~ Found Love In A Graveyard: It's like the spiritual successor to Kylie & Nick's Where The Wild Roses Grow via Annie Lennox's immense Love Song For A Vampire (which should totally be rereleased). It's a haunting piece of music which builds into a jangling piece of indie pop that sounds totally like the band are playing the song wherever you happen to be listening to it. Clever lyrics, dreamy vocals and lots of ooos in the backing vocals make this quirky, unusual little tune a total winner for me. More please...

Also don't forget to check out a stunning Steve Anderson pop piece courtesy of Spanish vixen Edurne (via Dontstopthepop), the new Ke$ha (already?!) (via poptrashaddicts), the wonderful new Sophie Ellis Bextor video (via Chartrigger) and a brillo and bonkers new Pipettes video (via DanProject76). And if that wasn't enough, there's Dannii Minogue looking blooming radiant in the new M&S advert, and a new Glee promo (LIKE A PRAYER!?!?!?) to spaff your wad over :)

Back tomorrow with reviews of Candle Thieves, Barenaked Ladies and Half Priced Hearts. Back Friday with Goldfrapp and Gabriella Cilmi reviews!