The Bang Bang Club: I have written about the lovely boys in the Bang Bang Club twice before - once here (where I described their glorious single Chemistry as "drenched in synths, exciting beats and a blinding chorus that channels the best of 80s synth-pop influences into something modern and brilliant) and once here (where I said it had "great production, enticing vocals and yummy boys"). Since that time they have been honing their live performances, building up an impressive webpage (including their very own magazine) and galvanising the troops for the release of their debut single on May 24th 2010. There is a video coming shortly that will apparently include lots and lots of paint. Can't wait (EDIT: No need to wait, it has LITERALLY just dropped online! It's all I dreamed it would be and they look so dishy :P EDIT2: However, the version I got to see wasn't apparently for public viewing and has now gone! I feel all special and a bit naughty :P It's coming next week!!! ). EDIT3: The video is back. And it's above. And super in black and white. With splashes of amazingness in colour. How brilliant. I love them even more. Check out Nick's views here...
Hear: Their debut single Chemistry here...
Web: Their official magazine and blog site can be accessed here...
Twitter: Click here...
Dean Lennon: I first wrote about Dean as part of boyband Digital back in 2006, then as a solo artist in 2008. He's been working hard on perfecting that electro-pop boy sound with not only some solid, addictive tunes, but some great matching visuals too. His signature tunes such as Hey You and See Through are heavy on synths, club-friendly beats and instantly memorable choruses - however, he has a range of influences and unreleased tracks like She's On Magazines show a funkier side of his nature coming through. Most pleasing it is too.Hear: Four songs on his myspace here...
Twitter: He hasn't used it for a while, but maybe he can be persuaded to return...
BrightLight, Bright Light: I was introduced to the music of BLx2 by the delicious Steve XOLondon when he arranged a "bloggers night out" in London, attended by a whole host of people, one of whom was Rod Thomas aka BLBL. I've become increasingly reliant on his music since that time as a soothing influence in my life - his ability to create delightfully constructed pop music that is both thoughtful and smart, yet make it sound so very effortless is something to be applauded. Plus he is behind only the Scissors of Sister on the Popjustice Almighty so I must be onto something (check out his ace duet with Nerina Pallot above)...
Hear: A free download of A New Word To Say by registering for his website here...
Web: His website link is above; his myspace page is here...
Twitter: Click here...
Eric Saade: Blimey, Eric Saade used to be one fourth (or what is commonly known as a quarter) of my beloved Swedish boyband What's Up (whom I wrote about here, rather alarmingly in the same breath as Vigo! What was I thinking?!). He's now solo and doing such brilliant euro disco numbers as the amazingly titled ManBoy (can you imagine using that in conversation?!) and the equally as bonkers o clock Sleepless. He isn't going to change the world with his pop but I just find him utterly charming and magnificent. I shall be all over his debut album like a rash when it's released next month...
Hear: Sleepless on his myspace site; the video to an acoustic ManBoy here...
Web: His official website is here...
Twitter: Yes indeedy...
Dirty Disco: God bless the Tomorrow Never Knows blog for virtually transcribing how I described Dirty Disco on the radio yesterday - "they are just brilliant, I just love everything about them, great to look at, the music is just sensational, they have great eye make up, they're a little bit glamour, a little bit electro, a little bit punk, a little bit disco - I can't really say enough great things about them, they are really just excellent". Blimey, I was gushing wasn't I and quite rightly so. Just so very excellent in all they do. Plus when I was growing up, discos weren't dirty at all, they were Mormon and finished at 9pm with an Osmonds track, so this has been a right eye opener ;)
Hear: Sista!, Vulture (Dirty Disco remix) and a cover of Rabbit Heart on their myspace...
Download: Vulture (Dirty Disco remix) at arjanwrites...
Twitter: Who isn't?!
DeeDee: Oh god, Endure has totally changed my life this past few weeks since I first wrote about one of the most promising female vocalists (along with Elouise) for 2010. Everytime I have any minor sort of incident at work or home, I dramatically bust out the tune and start robot dancing along to it's epic chorus, wailing "I endure so much pain" as if my life depended on it! I've written muchly about the future smash hits Endure and Love Down here. I've also heard an equally pleasing song called Bum Around which not only repeats the word "bum" multiple times in a row (this is known as a very good thing to do) to a persistent and enticing funkalicious beat, but also has whip smart lyrics to the most laxidaisical subject in life of all. Bound to become a deserved anthem to those lazy Saturdays when you don't want to do a blooming thing (plus a brilliantly theatrical ending which is essentially "bum bum, bu bu bum, yeah". Astonishing). Watch Endure zip up my chart next week!Hear: Love Down and the epic Endure on myspace...
Twitter: Finally, yes. Aces!
Adam Tyler: Delightful, exuberant, energetic, fun loving pop addicted Adam has certainly made my musical landscape so much more entertaining in 2010. He really just pours a cheerful energy into everything he undertakes. I've written about him and his music several times, and was lucky to be able to play an exclusive, never heard before track Committed on Larry's show. It's not even going to be on the album - is more of a pre-album taster to whet the appetite of the discerning pop picker masses. Committed is an instantly addictive, swirling, pulsating gem of a track that utterly deserves wider attention and it's place on top my most played tracks of the week. It's definitely representative of the modern pop sound he's going for on his Lullabies and Rattlesnakes album that is inching closer to a release date, and such a delightful chap that huge things MUST be just around the corner for him...
Hear: Future pop classics (plus remixes of) Friction and Schizophrenic at myspace...
Twitter: What self respecting future pop sensation isn't?!
this is seriously like one of your best post of all time...love it !
ReplyDeleteUhhh did you try any of your links? Too many failures here to consider this post a proper promotional send-up.
ReplyDeleteGlossy ~ thank you :) It was a labour of love :P PS, please tell Kelly ;)
ReplyDeleteKelly ~ uhh, yes! I just tried them all again and only one didn't work which has now been fixed :) Thanks for pointing it out!
So so many great acts here that are hopefully on the cusp of something brilliant. I'd say a favourite but it's so hard to pinpoint right now! I'd love to hear Adam's song Committed and DeeDee's Bum Around - both sound so much fun!
ReplyDeletejust listening to ur interview...! So it's ur bday soon...!
ReplyDeleteI've sent ur link to my coworker. She wishes I convey this message to you: YOU ARE AMAZING. I humbly agree.
ReplyDeleteBen - hopefully Committed will appear on line soon! Another new DeeDee song is going to be played on Larry Flick tonight so I'm very excited about that!!
ReplyDeleteElouise - hope you liked, and yes it is. May 3rd. Presents everyone please. A trip to LA to see Simon Curtis at the Roxy would be quite splendid.
Mel - I am having a whole new love affair that's not quite as passionate as ours with your co-worker!!
Rod's duet with Nerina (he has also remixed one of her songs but I cnanot find it anywhere except on a streaming mixtape) made me try some of her solo stuff and I've liked the few tracks I've played so far. I Don't Want To Go Out (new single, right?) is a good slab of pop.
ReplyDeleteHaven't had a chance to listen to the link yet but looking forward to it!
ReplyDeleteThanks Paul a very entertaining show. I liked Bright Light x2 best, enjoyed Adam Tyler (may take a few more listens), not sure about DeeDee
ReplyDeleteVery much must watch Dynasty - Seems FANTASTIC!
ReplyDeleteGreat to hear the spot went so Great too!Ver much looking forward to Dean - Quite a lot actually!
DeeDee sounds really great - CAn't wait to give her a listen!
Well, you know how I feel about Adam - I AM DESPERATELY needing to hear the new Adam track - SEEMS AMAZING!
DanUK - I am surprised you haven't tried more of her solo stuff in the past. She is very good indeed. Try Watch Out Billie (perhaps it is a pre-Doctor Who career advice song) from her first album, Geek Love from the second and When Did I Become Such A Bitch from the latest :) BLBL is just aces though isn't he?
ReplyDeleteCT - how odd it seems that YOU are looking forward to listening to ME! you won't be after you've heard it :P
Bill - so pleased you like BLBL. I think Adam will grow on you exponentially when you hear some of his other stuff. DeeDee - well I am absolutely championing her stuff, I think it's so quirky and out there that it's not as immediate, but definitely more rewarding in the long run :)
Aaron - you would love Dynasty. Such a trashy yet brilliant show. So pleased you interested in DeeDee - LOVE HER!!
There is a great ballad by Bang Bang Club that I love - but it's not out yet maybe? What is it called? LOVE it.
ReplyDeleteThat is all. Just wanted to spew out that randomness!
XO - um, under the influence is quite lovely... so is planets and animals? Or are you thinking of another one?
ReplyDeleteBANG BANG CLUB VID BACK UP.. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c6mQv1ewRH8 XXXXX
ReplyDeleteyourmums - ah, thanks! So pleased I can now watch it formally :)
ReplyDelete