The Focussed Distractions (aka, Jon McLeod) has hints of the Chemical Brothers and Beatles-esque harmonies on this particular track.  Be on the look out for brand new music from The Focussed Distraction as a series of online singles over the next year, all to be titled: BLANKET ROOM RECORDS (Parts 1 – 4).

The Focussed Distraction – The Surface Sound

Bandcamp

The french duo Equatuer (Romain Nouhi & Charles Rocher) have produced a wonderful New Wave track called, “Haunted”. From the initial second this track started to play, my ears instantly started smiling — well, you know what I mean.

Equatuer – Haunted

Splash of 80′s grandeur are sprinkled through out, and reminiscent of bands such as the Sparks.  Excellent combination of electronic pop and rock.

School is Cool – Warpaint

Soundcloud

Tropical dance action from Congo Tardis #1, with the help of Marawa the Amazing.

Congo Tardis #1 – Sweet Lime

Bio:

Congo Tardis #1 is Australia’s premier tropical / tribal sound-system represented by Melbourne’s Ms Butt, Paz and Lewis CanCut. All highly sought after producers / dj’s in their own rights, together they present a wild and ready 6 deck set of carnival sounds – Guarachero, 3Ball, Cumbia, UK Funky, Kuduro, Dancehall, Bashment, Kwaito, Baile Funk, Afrobeat, Dub, Dubstep, House, Latin Funk and Disco, Soca, Swamp Funk, Krewe Beat, Tropical Bass.

Video:

Soundcloud:
Number One by Congo Tardis #1

90′s inspired house sound on this track from The 2 Bears, who released their full length album, “Be Strong” today.  The 2 Bears are a London-based musical duo formed in 2009 composed of Joe Goddard (of electronic band Hot Chip) and Raf Rundell.

The 2 Bears – Get Together

The 2 Bears: Be Strong (OUT NOW!) by The 2 Bears

Christopher Norman is back with a new release from his forthcoming “EP 3 “.   This time around, it’s a warm mid tempo track showcasing his velvet smooth voice (think Damon Albarn [Gorillaz front man] in tone).  Love the balance of electronic tones with the  more  traditional classical elements, such as the piano and strings, a lovely balance indeed.

Christopher Norman – Connect Me

Connect Me by misternorman

Lyrics:

[verse 1]
room alight with sparks
running up the wall / more static left to discharge
diffusing it quietly
i know how it feels to be
stuck living inside your head
chasing words that were never said

[chorus]
baby I can feel the voltage running through my skin
come on and tap into the current i’m generating
down through every node
my circuits overload with all this energy

heart racing / without a sound
every wall around you coming down
take a look at me / plug it in and see
how it works when you connect me

[verse 2]
none of your transmissions getting free
you’re out of time / no charge left in your battery
all of this resistance in your way
with no power you’ll decay
don’t you know I’m calling you all the time?
nothing but noise to hear on your line

[chorus]

Calm, casual house along the lines of  Thievery Corporation from 24 year old Malaysian singer, Yunalis Zarai (aka Yuna)

Yuna – Live Your Life

Moody and driving is the track, “Brothers”.  Taken from their forthcoming album, “Mixed Emotions” due out  March 20th.

Tanlines – Brothers

Soundcloud

Track List for Mixed Emotions:

1) Brothers
2) All Of Me
3) Green Grass
4) Abby
5) Yes Way
6) Not The Same
7) Lost Somewhere
Real Life
9) Rain Delay
10) Cactus
11) Nonesuch

Summer sounds that much closer after listening to Rene Lopez’s, Shing-a-ling Is What I Bring.   Has that old school Marvin Gaye summer time sound, but in the barrio.

Rene Lopez – Shing-a-ling Is What I Bring

Press Release:

Rene Lopez will be proving that February is the month of love with appearances at Nublu every Thursday during the month. He will additionally be appearing for a performance at Arlene’s Grocery on February 28^th. Rene will be playing old favorites as well as tracks off his latest album, ELS (released this past summer by Nat Geo Music). ELS stands for Electric Latin Soul, a term Rene has coined for the new style of music he has developed. A mixture of Latin soul and Boogaloo with elements of rock, hip-hop, and R&B – Rene’s sound is one that is distinctly Nuyorican. ELS features co-producers Mario Caldato Jr., a.k.a. Mario C (Beastie Boys, Jack Johnson, Bebel Gilberto) and Jason Lader (Julian Casablancas, Jenny Lewis), as well as special guests Joey Altruda, and Money Mark (John Butler Trio). The album as a whole is a nod to Rene’s Latin roots, with an eye on modern electronic music and good ol’ rock-and-roll.

Rene Lopez Tour Dates

02/02: New York, NY @ Nublu (9pm set time)

02/09: New York, NY @ Nublu (9pm set time)

02/16: New York, NY @ Nublu (9pm set time)

02/23: New York, NY @ Nublu (9pm set time)

02/28: New York, NY @ Arlene’s Grocery (10pm set time)

Smooth, relaxed and infused with a little 90′s New Jack sound for good measure.   Big fan of Newtimers after being introduced to them last year, so much so they made my top 50 of 2011.

Newtimers – January Love

Visc. is 18 year old musician Dylan Fellows, from Athens, Georgia. On Apollo, Dylan sounds like a male version Chrissie Hynde (lead singer of the Pretenders) being backed by an Erasure track.  So in other words, a dream match-up come true.  Really looking forward to hearing more of this electronic dream match up!

Visc. – Apollo
Visc. – Virtual Friend

Soundcloud

Some tracks just grab you from the moment of the first note, and others take awhile to warm up like an old oven.  This happens to be a case of the latter.  I wasn’t really get grabed by this track until I recently saw the video for it, which compelled me to watch/listen to this track for it’s entirety.  I sure am grateful I did.  There have been a few tracks that have been “slow burners” for me this year and typically, they up being my favorites.  Now I get to add this track to said list.

Gotye – Somebody That I Used To Know (Ft. Kimbra)

Plastic Operator is set to release their new full length, due out in Feb 2012, and from it they have just released their first single, “Making It Right”.

Plastic Operator – Making It Right

Fitting, since this is after all the weekend, but that just happens to be coincidence to be honest.  I some how forgot to post this track when I initially ran by it.  After all, I’ve had this thing playing on my iPod for quite sometime now.  Anyhow, this track is taken from their first full length titled, Rapprocher (meaning “to come closer” in French), which was released in October of this year.

Bio from last.fm

Class Actress is a synthpop band formed in 2009 in Brooklyn, New York City, USA. The group consists of the singer-songwriter Elizabeth Harper and the producers Scott Rosenthal and Mark Richardson. Their music has been compared with artists like Depeche Mode, The Human League, OMD and Madonna.

Class Actress – Weekend

Band Site

Class Actress, Electronic, Pop, Best of 2011

This is electronic pop perfection.  This single was released back in 1982 on RCA records, but it was initially considered a flop.  It wasn’t until the bands’ break out hit “Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)” that the single shot up the charts, and ultimately landing on U.S. Billboard Dance/Club Play Songs Chart at the seven spot.

From Songfacts.com:

“The song was produced by Dave Stewart and Adam Williams and was self-financed at Eurythmics’ 8-track facility above a picture framing factory in Chalk Farm, London. They decided on a simpler arrangement than their previous singles emphasizing Annie’s vocals more. Said Lennox: “We did decide for ‘Love Is A Stranger’ that everything in it would be very clear. All that is there is seen to be there and nothing is hidden in a big mush of sound.” Stewart added: “Using our own eight track we hear a song millions of times and the melody in it is always apparent to us. We realized it might not be so obvious for people hearing the song for the first time.”"

Eurythmics – Love Is A Stranger

Nothing like new Monarchy to kick off the weekend, enjoy!  This track can be found on their bonus disc from a Limited edition, signed, deluxe double CD. Only 500 copies.

You can buy it here: www.monarchysound.com/shop

Monarchy – Resignation

 
Resignation (bonus track) by Monarchy

Press Release:

Gary is ready to let loose his creative side on his upcoming new album Now Was Once The Future.  The album features Gary’s new version of “Cinema” which transforms the song into a spacious down-tempo ballad and features guest vocals from Carina Round.  

I had previously posted the original version produced by Benny Benassi (read hear), but I also appreciate this more mellow take of the this track as well.

Gary Go – Cinema (Ft Carina Round)

Miike Snow just premired there latest single from their new forthcoming album.  A triumphant sounding track with the always velvet sounding Andrew Wyatt on vocals.  Been looking forward to new Miike Snow after devouring their first release, which is still in heavy rotation on my iPod.

Miike Snow – Devil’s Work

Devil’s Work by miikesnow

Kotov & Andre Wilde does this track proper, by taking the original and shedding a new light on it for an uptempo night out.  I love the sound of Christopher Norman’s dry but warm voice on this bead of glistening electronic beats.

Christopher Norman – Maps (Kotov & Andre Wilde Remix)

Maps (Kotov & Andre Wilde Remix) by misternorman

Spirited, playful, and even has that classic Beatles harmony which makes this one of my favorites on the year.  Huck Finn are from Berry, Switzerland, not that I know this personally, but is says so on their soundcloud profile!

Huck Finn – Charles Dickens