Somewhere between Ladytron and OMD sits this track from Brandy Kills.  Brandy Kills is based from the Novosibirsk region of Russia, which would explains the cool factor on this track.  What sudeced me was the unintelligible lyrics sung with a truly addictive melody.

Brandy Kills – One

Video for One directed by Jeremy Snell:

From one of my all time favorite bands, I have two gems from their catalog.

Soft Cell –  Insecure Me

Soft Cell – Fun City

Fun City can be found as a B-side to their 12″ Say Hello, Wave Goodbye, and later included in the cd release of  Soft Cell – Down in the Subway on the German label Spectrum Music.

More in the vein of Robyn, with soaring vocals from lead singer Stiene Hjelm Jacobsen and electronic goodness from producer/songwriter Martin Beech Pedersen is  Electric Lady Lab, a Danish electro-pop duo.  This track  is taken from their forthcoming album, “Flash!”.

Electric Lady Lab – Wondering

In preparation of  a best of compilation due later next year, we have a brand new electronic pop single from Ladytron, “Ace Of Hz”.  This is one of two that will be on the compilation when it’s released via Nettwerk.

Ladytron – Ace of Hz

Happy Halloween!

This track was in the early era of Ministry when they were actually  a synth pop band, of course this was to the determent of founding member Al Jourgensen.  Ministry would later go on to be a pioneer of industrial metal.

Ministry – Everyday Is Halloween

Kind of a sing-song along tune with an upbeat vibe.  Penguin Prison is from New York and has a special blend of Howard Jones-esque synths meets Tom Tom Club atmosphere.

Penguin Prison – Animal Animal

Also check this remix of Marina & The Diamonds pop single “I Am Not A Robot”:

Marina & The Diamonds – I Am Not A Robot (Penguin Prison remix)

So if any of you are like me, I can always do with more Yaz (aka Yazoo).  Well… we all know other than the reunion tour from them we haven’t heard anything new, as of yet .   However, a superb new track from My Robot Friend has none other than the one and only Alison Moyet.   This track so made my day, and to think, I’m also on my way to seeing Depeche Mode tonight, ahhh sweet bliss.  ”Retrotastic!!!” indeed.

My Robot Friend – Waiting (ft. Alison Moyet) (removed per request)

Here is the stream:
Waiting (feat. Alison Moyet) – My Robot Friend by myrobotfriend

From Alison’s website:

Alison has provided vocals for a track on the forthcoming album of New York electronic dance act, My Robot Friend. The track, marking Alison’s return to her electonica roots, is called Waiting and is featured on Howard Robot’s much-anticipated album release, Soft-Core.The album’s onsale date is October 13th, 2009. It will come out on the independent label, Double Feature Records (CD) and Worried Rainbow (Digital).

Throwing out this jam from the hayday of Electroclash by Proper Filthy Naughty which features vocals from Pussycat (aka Barbara Alcindor).

Proper Filthy Naughty – Fascination (ft. Pussycat)

Line is Neil Wells from Holland who produces great synth driven escapades.  Observe The Mechanics is taken from Line’s 7″ titled A Snowstorm in a Globe /Observe the Mechanics.  Think David Byrne meets Hot Chip, and your just about there.

Line – Observe The Mechanics

Things to look forward too…

It seems the boys are to have a press conference in Berlin on October 6th to discuss the upcoming tour and album.  For all those in Germany, now’s your chance to score some tickets to the event.  You can sign-up here.   Word on the net is that the album will drop March 2009 — let’s hope they drop a few singles before the end of 2008.

In the mean time, enjoy a classic track:

Depeche Mode – A Question of Time

PS. That’s a fan in the picture, not a new member of DM

Great Depeche Mode-esque vibe on this track with a killer chorus and great backing vocals! I was turned onto this by a fellow last.fm listener, thank you KingLeerUK!

Mark Nicholas bio from Last.fm:

 Electronic musician Mark Nicholas, formerly known as Cosmicity, turned in his synthpop badge to create a gritty and powerful new brand of vocal-driven, industrial-influenced Electronica.

Electronic musician Mark Nicholas, perhaps best known for his work under the name Cosmicity, began working under his real name in 2004. (You can download 7 of his best new songs for FREE here on last.fm and at dirtyelectronic.com.) Mark hails from Detroit (and is a University of Michigan School of Music grad), and though his roots are largely New Wave/Synthpop, his recent material has seen the additional influence of bands like NIN and The Prodigy. His first “solo” album – Duchess 33 – was released in 2007 on his newly-formed record label Dirty Electronic. He followed that album up with a remix album (of sorts) called Perversions in 2008.

Mark is expected to take a short hiatus (he’s having a baby with his wife Sara, better-known as DJ Ginger Snapp) and then return with the announced album “Music For Headphones” in 2009.

 Mark Nicholas – Coming Clean

I have recently been working on a self release EP with Jef Vandertogt of “The Moon and Monday” fame. Together we are called, “The Long Division” We have just released our 6 track EP titled, “Multiply“.

Our sound is somewhat like Hot Chip meets The Postal Service meets The Knife and Royksopp. But speaking in a general sense you can classify our sound as indietronica.

Check it out for yourself here:

The Long Division – Neighbors

or here: http://www.myspace.com/thelongdivisionband

Video for our single: Magic Muffin:

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wjNkEtr7oPE

To Stay up to date with The Long Division, sign-up at our website for our Newsletter:
www.thelongdivision.com

On this particular track we hear 80′s styled drum machines of old school house parties and 80′s new romantic/synth pop music.

Neon Neon – I Lust U (ft. Cate Le Bon)

myspace 

Drenched in 80′s synths and drums machines comes The Defence from Edinburgh, UK, with a sound that reminds me of the Pet Shop Boys meets The Human League.

Bio from their site:

The Band:

Keith Kerr
Vocals

Drew Cosgrove
Synthesizers

How we met:

In the summer of 1995 Drew placed an advert in the Melody Maker. Keith, who had already been in several bands, responded and our band was born. We sent our first demo to the Human League, asking if we could support them on the tour they were doing at the time. We needed a name and picked “The Defence” – because we wanted a name starting with “The” and “The Accused” sounded too much like an indie guitar band. Although we didn’t get to support the Human League a rep from Harvey Goldsmith was keen on our tunes. In 1997 we asked Heaven 17 if we could support them at their Edinburgh Fringe show. To our delight their manager called us and said we could – only for the whole thing to fall through because the Fringe organisers had already allocated support slots. We had to make do with VIP passes to the show. Ah, the cruel world of show business. It’s a hard life constantly failing to become international pop-stars. Still, spurred on by the success of Electroclash and the thrill we get from producing records we know that world domination is just around the corner.

By the way, their entire album can be downloaded from their website:

http://www.thedefence.com/html/music.html

Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/thedefence

The Defence – I Want to Be Alone

MGMT is an electro-pop group from NY. This track is taken from their freshman outing called, “Oracular Spectacular”, which was released this January. This entire album is Phenomenal and worth every penny. The standout tracks for me are, “Time to Pretend” (with it’s buzzing bee lead synth line and lyrics: “Let’s make some music, make some money, find some models for wives…”) , “The Youth” (with it’s synth-orgrans and John Lennon-esque vocals), “Electric Feel” (hear for yourself), & “Kids” (for it’s joy division-esque feel).

MGMT – Electric Feel

To download this track just right click on the link and select, “Save Link As…”

Sweden’s very own Johan Agebjorn lends his hand at remixing this track that was originally released by Don Juan Dracula back in 2005 and gets some help with added vocals from Sally Shapiro. The original track was a little too angst ridden for me, but this remix takes it to more of a synthpop arena, which I love.

[audio:http://www.audiodrums.com/audio/2008/01/don_juan_dracula_take_me_home_ft_sally_shapiro_johan_agebjorn_remix.mp3]

[download]

Ok, so I’ve found my favorite album thus far of 2008, its Kelley Polar’s sophomore effort entitled, “I Need You to Hold on While The Sky is Falling“, which is scheduled for release March 3, 2008.

Not only is the album drenched in 80′s nostalgia such as Analog synths, appregiated synth cords, and beautiful DX-7 pad sounds, but true to the 80′s era of albums, this albums begs to be listened to from start to finish.  This is such a breath of fresh air from modern releases that sound more like a collection of singles that are just thrown together for the sake of releasing an album.  Album boarders at times as synthpop, other times gets nearer to an 80′s Prince-esque sound, and yet at other times gets closers to that New Romantic sound of ABC and Thompson Twins.

This track in particular is more inline with classic Human League sound meets Thompson Twins groove.

[audio:http://www.audiodrums.com/audio/KellyPolar_EntropyReigns(intheCelestial.mp3]

[download]

Related Post: A cut from Kelley Pollar’s first album: Ashamed of Myself

NOTE: As always, to download the songs from this site just right click on the link “download” and select “Save Link as…”

This cover of “Kidnap the Sandy Klaus” by She Wants Revenge is only found on the Re-Issue of the soundtrack for The Nightmare Before Christmas, which was release in September of this year [2007].  Also included on the Re-Issue are covers performed by Marilyn Manson, Fiona Apple, and Panic! At the Disco.

[audio:http://www.audiodrums.com/audio/She_Wants_Revenge_Kidnap_The_Sandy_Klaus.mp3]

[download]

Art school vocals and pop sensibilities dominate this track. Vocals at times remind me of someone doing the “robot” while talking, but strangely enough it’s very entertaining. And to think all from a very modest setup of a Yamaha QY70 battery powered sequencer and a Mama vocoder, talk about DIY.

Freezepop formed in 1999 in Boston, MA. and their latest album, “Future Future Future Perfect” was just release this September on Recodes — with an upgrade to their modest music studio no less.

Freezepop – Harebrained Scheme

[myspace]

Buy Album:Freezepop Forever (Re-issue)

Influenced by all things 80′s, Manzur Iqbal from Manchester UK has set out to recreate 80′s themes with a twist.  Part DaftPunk, part Justice, and part pop you’ll get 80′s imagery with no problem here.

[audio:http://highrize.wordpress.com/files/2007/11/futurecop-transformers.mp3] 

[download] 

[myspace]