Audio Drums

This is a prime example of how to use a sample of a harpsichord in a track. Octet from France is about to release their forthcoming album. This track is taken off the Duo’s first release from 2004, called “Cash & Carry”. The vocals on this track remind me of the Beatles, just listen and see - trust me on this one.

Octet is Francois Goujon (other alias is Pyjaman and is part of of the musical collective in Paris called evenement) and Benjamin Morando, who is also a member of D*I*R*T*Y Sound System and France Copland.

Octet - Hey Bonus

Solvent is Jason Amm from Toronto, Canada and produces old school type electro / electronica with vocoded vocals and a splash of modern beats. Check out his influences from his myspace page and tell me he isn’t onto something there:

Order, I-F, O.M.D., Gary Numan, Bochum Welt, Cabaret Voltaire, Skanfrom, Perspects, Locust, Le Car, Front 242, Lowfish, John Foxx, Adult., Mute, Ersatz Audio, Suction Records, Rephlex, Skam

Also check out his remix of Soft Cell’s, “Little Rough Rinestone” - solid stuff. Wis can be found on his 2005 release titled, “Elevators and Oscillators“.

Solvent - Wish

From right here in from my backyard comes hellogoodbye from Huntington Beach, California.  They are a indie pop / power pop band signed to Drive-Thru Records.  This is a solid remix of Here (In Your Arms) with a little Daft Punk flair.  The original song can be found on their 2006 release, Zombies! Aliens! Vampires! Dinosaurs!

Hellogoodbye - Here (In Your Arms)(Young Americans Remix) 

Part “Bent” part Goldfrapp, part Beta Band meets indie pop goodness.  This track is taken from their 2005 release titled, “The Debt Collection” (which can be downloaded in it’s entirety for free, but please support them).   “Victorian Funk” — this is the self-describe genre of music by The Shortwave Set.

wiki:

The Shortwave Set are a British alternative pop band whose debut album, The Debt Collection, was released in 2005 on Independiente Records.

Wall of Sound:

The album, assembled using 50p charity shop vinyl and broken instruments was allegedly financed by a two grand overdraft and the Dover-Calais tobacco run and was promoted via their Soho club night “The Pawn Shop”, where the band would offer to swap their record collections for anything brought in by punters; milk jugs or golf clubs for example.

Despite, or possibly because of, the above “The Debt Collection” gained it’s fair share of celebrity champions, and so it was, through the pages of NME that the band became aware of the appreciation of Danger Mouse, and following introductions at a Gnarls Barkley show in London (where they had blagged the support slot), they were invited to LA to make their second album.   It took them a while to get together the plane fares but once there they didn’t look back.  They door-stepped legendary Beach Boys collaborator Van Dyke Parks and managed to acquire a 24 piece orchestra for the album, and tracked down John Cale of The Velvet Underground who also appears on two songs.  The band recently signed to Wall Of Sound and are now making the relevant preparations to release the album, titled ‘Replica Sun Machine’ early in 2008

This album will also feature a collaboration with Velvet Underground’s John Cale and is set to release 2008-04-14.

The Shortwave Set - Better Than Bad
The Shortwave Set - Is It Any Wonder

[myspace]

Alias is Brendon Whitney from southern Maine. Mixing part trip-hop with shoegaze and a good portion of rock produces a groovy psychedelic sound. Alias is currently signed to the Anticon label and his current releas is entitled, “Alias - Collected Remixes”.

Alias - What you Gave Away (remix for The One am radio)

Alias - Sights Unseen

Well just to make sure Valentines day is a joyous occasion for all, The Bird and The Bee have released a new ep today called, “One Too Many Hearts”.  This four track EP is deliciously sweet electronic pop for all you love birds.  Love the whistling on this track.

This track was originally written back in 1926 and first became a hit for Gene Austin in 1927.  It’s been covered by Fiona Apple and probably best remembered when it was performed in the movie, “The Jerk” where a duet with Steve Martin (on ukulele) and Bernadette Peters (on flugelhorn) sang it.

The Bird and The Bee - Tonight You Belong To Me

The ep can be purchased at itunes.  Be sure to check out their myspace page to listen to other tracks off the ep.

PS. Happy Valentines Day

Related Post: The Bird and The Bee - Polite Dance Song 

Carl Finlow (aka Sillicon Scally) produces kraftwerk-esque electronica with minimal elements. Song hovers and floats on a bed of metallic sheen.

Carl Finlow - Conflict