Audio Drums

80’s esque synth lines and a booty shake rhythm make this track.  Ghosthustler is from Dentron, Texas and produces some get up and dance tracks.  However, recently one member from the group has left (Alan Paloma), but Ghosthustler lives on and promises the following:

“With respect to Alan’s decision to leave the band, we’ve axed all the songs with his vocals. Don’t fret though!!! Look forward to our new single that will blow up on the scene in about 2 weeks. -Ghosthustler” (taken from their myspace page)

Ghosthustler - Only Me To Trust

Great retro vibe and smooth progressions on this track from Van She.

Bio from last.fm:

Formed in the early part of 05, Van She are a new band from Sydney. Unashamedly taking bits and bobs from 80’s post punk, funk and synth pop, 90’s grunge, French house, film scores, 70’s Krautrock and the latest collection of innovative artists like Tom Vek and M83, Van She are that unique beast that one was beginning to believe no longer existed – a band that takes all these influences from days gone but makes them sound unique, modern, and…. fresh. A lazy pastiche this isn’t.

Van She formed when Nick Routledge [vocals, guitar], Matt Van Schie , Michael Di Francesco and Tomek Archer [drums] all responded to an ad in Sydney’s Drum Media and arrived at an audition for a vocalist for a doom metal band with influences including Sepultura, Entombed, Black Skull and Phil Collins to find the whole thing was a sham. You could call it the result of Satan at work, or you could call it fate.

Since the chance meeting Van She have been playing out and about around Sydney, headlining their own shows and supporting the likes of The Presets and Wolf & Cub.

They’ve also been in the studio, the fruits of which we now see in the shape of a 6 track, self titled EP. Opener Mission acts as a gloomy but punchy entry point into the Van She world, while Kelly is like the epic, lovelorn cousin to The Presets’ Girl And The Sea. Sex City throbs and blips like a restless adolescent, and Survive is the greatest post post punk tune to make use of slap bass. Kelly Reprise blisses out for just a few seconds before Here With You brings us to a beautifully textured, melancholic close.

Van She - Sex City (The Teenagers Remix)

Twisted soundscapes,  electronic beats, and postal service-esque vocals fill up this track from Electric President.  “Electric President is a Jacksonville, Florida musical duo started in 2003 by Ben Cooper and Alex Kane.” (taken from their wiki article).

Bio from last.fm

Electric President is the second of Ben Cooper’s projects, this time with Alex Kane. The sound is a mix with folk, pop, electronic, with a sound that would be very much like if you threw The Postal Service, The Decemberists, The Flaming Lips, and George Orwell in a large blender.

The songs are characterized by nasalized voices, acoustic riffs, MD-four tracks, SM58, and some computers.

Once upon a time it was the jukebox that made pop music. Or vice versa. Indeed, the vinyl-seven inch is romantic, a sentimental medium. And if one of those two Electric-President-singles were put in a jukebox the girls (and the boys) would dance. The buttons would soon be wellworn. Is it because the songs are romantic? Partly. It’s because the songs touch the very foundations of pop music: the storm and stress, the inwardness and the nonchalance, and melodies, melodies, melodies.

The universe of 24-year-old Ben Cooper from Jacksonville Beach/Florida is an echo-chamber with all kinds of doors that are open to small indie within big pop. All that can also be listened to on the self-titled debut (mm 062) that was published recently.

”You have the right to remain awesome, vol. 1” begins with the organic “good ol’ boys”, a carefully arranged juxtaposition of soundtracks and sound signals. A track that borrows its concentration on rhythm and its electronic oscillations from digital
music. A track that matures to analogue vividness – at the latest with Ben Cooper’s repetitive singing.

“Dotted lines” seems to be the exact opposite: almost a folksong, carried by an acoustic guitar and a likeable melody. Garnished with all interlocking and indulging that is so characteristic for Cooper’s arrangements. A soft but never sugary opulence.

 Electric President - Monsters

Vocals from Camden Chamberlain remind me alot of David Byrne of Talking Heads, which isn’t a bad thing… in fact it’s very much welcomed. And the music reminds me of 80’s band Sparks on this track.

Cavedoll

Biography:
Cavedoll is busy. In 2008, Cavedoll is releasing no less than 10 albums, consisting of a huge array of new material as well as their re-mixed, re-mastered, and re-packaged back catalogue; an eclectic assortment of styles and sounds.

Their flagship album, “No Vertigo”, consists of 14 of their best indie-pop gems, drawing on influences as diverse as 60’s Pop, Electronica, 80’s Alternative, and Modern Indie-Rock. Cavedoll’s production and vocal team of Camden and Vanessa Chamberlain adds a rich layer of harmony and impeccable style to each of the highly textural tracks, while their seasoned rhythm section of Janet Marie and Jamison Wilkins keep the beats driving along like a finely tuned muscle car. Rounding out the group is Allison Martin, providing lush and tasteful keys.

Deciding to embrace the digital age of music-listening, Cavedoll is also releasing a DATA DVD which contains Cavedoll’s entire song catalogue in MP3 format (175+ songs) as well as album artwork, photos, and videos.

Cavedoll will be spending 2008 touring the western United States as well writing and recording new material in their Salt Lake City based recording studio.

Check myspace.com/cavedollband for regular updates on tour dates, new material, and more.

Recommended for fans of: The Rapture, Interpol, Radiohead, & The Cure

Cavedoll - Decoder 

Production and sound on this track reminds me of Air.  Laidback, smooth but also vibrant with silky smooth vocals from Ginger Mackenzie

Biography:

What do you get when Texas girl moves to Berlin?A sexy and sensual mix of poetic, heartfelt, sometimes smooth sometimes gritty, and sometimes coquettish Pop, Nu jazz and Alternative! Ginger Mackenzie has found her voice! If you love Kate Bush, Feist, Regina Spektor, Suzanne Vega and music in this genre, you will love this record!

The Ginger Mackenzie of the past was compared to Jewel and Dido, but the sultry voiced slightly neurotic European influenced Ginger Mackenzie is artistically treading into Kate Bush territory. At the same time, Ginger somehow remains true to her signature catchy melodies and thought provoking lyrical style.

Ginger Mackenzie is back with her first album in nearly 5 years. We think you’re gonna love it!

Landing Gear was produced by Guy Sternberg in Berlin and features an 18 piece Berlin orchestra. This album is a sonic treat for music lovers!

MySpace:	http://www.myspace.com/gingermackenzie
CDBaby:	http://cdbaby.com/found?allsearch=ginger+mackenzie

Ginger Mackenzie - Inside View 

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