Song: Kim & Jessie
By: M83
After I saw Ulrich Schnauss live earlier this year I went through an obsession with shoegaze. Although that has passed (for now), this song has stuck in there and is still a regular in my play lists.
It’s just such a huge tune. The opening screaming vocals are so delicate and haunting all you can do is listen in awe. Once you add extra vocal layers in the chorus the song becomes so emotional you’re mesmerised! I guess that’s really the idea behind shoegaze, huge reverb and echo with dreamy vocals. What’s really great though is the incorporation of a stadium-rock style guitar towards the end, it serves to make this a true epic!
As a side note I’ll add this in case anyone is interested. I discovered this song on an advert on E4 for 90210. It took me a little while searching online to find out who it was by, but at least this time it didn’t take years! So in case anyone finds this post searching for the same info here it is 
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EP: The Unicorn and the Lost City of Alvograth
By: Futurecop!
Just a quick one today, inspired by the Valerie and Friends album I’m in full retro mode at the moment! Futurecop! are probably one of the most well know (certainly in the UK) artists from the Valerie collective. They produce a refreshingly mellow style of electro-house that can suit many moods - from the dance floor to the sofa. They have often been quoted as saying that they imagine their songs being played during the credits of old 80’s films, such as Back to the Future, and I think this comes across when you actually hear the songs.
I’d like to pick out just one song from this EP, but they are all so good I just can’t. If you enjoy one you’ll enjoy them all!
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Song: Teenage Color (Anoraak Remix)
By: College
I recommended this artist to someone a few days ago in a response to my last Tennishero post and thought it was only right I gave him a little more credit. In a similar style to Tennishero this is a refreshingly mellow electro house tune, which tips its cap to that ever popular decade, the 80’s, in a big way!
I downloaded the original College version of this track some time ago (along with the rest of the EP), and I must say I wasn’t very impressed - the songs had a solid foundation but didn’t develop enough for my liking (and the early fade outs were just bloody annoying in my opinion). But this remix completely turns that on its head! It kinda make’s me see the sense in the original song. By creating a fairly simple base, College have opened themselves up to massive remixing opportunities. I guess you could compare this to Daft Punk’s Human After All, which did become a little repetitive - but as soon as remixes started appearing (especially in the form of their own live album Alive 2007) it really made sense.
By adding a little more structure Anoraak has created a masterpiece of chilled electro house. The lead melody has really helped take this track to a new level, as have the various break downs. Retaining the good features of the original, and adding his own style makes this an example of a perfect remix.
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Valerie and Friends Compilation Album - Featuring Anoraak & College
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How could I forget!? Today sees the release of the first Valerie compilation album. The Valerie collective are a group of artists that create electro-house and nu-disco music. They have artists such as Anoraak, College and Russ Chimes on board.
Sadly I don’t have time to give a complete review of the album, but needless to say it is truly epic. They have brought together the finest collection of electro house artists I’ve ever seen! I recommend this album to those of you who are already a fan of the genre, and to those of you less familiar with it as it’s a great way to get an idea of the feel of it.
Now go - listen and love!!
Stream & Tracklist:
- MINITEL ROSE - Zombie Lady
- ANORAAK - Long Distance Hearts
- JUPITER - Starlighter
- DVAS - Inner Sanctum
- COLLEGE - The Light Of Your Dress
- KEENHOUSE - Deep In The Forest
- ELECTRIC YOUTH - Faces
- RUSS CHIMES - Daytona
- MAETHELVIN - Lost In Big City
- THE OUTRUNNERS - Runaway
- FUTURECOP! - Eyes Like The Ocean
- MOULINEX & PRESS, RELEASE - 1stracklove
- SYMBOLONE - Last Scene (Daytona Mirage)
- XINOBI - Woodstock
- NARCTRAX - Excalibur Galactica
- LOOSE SHUS - Red Sonja
- STEVE MOORE - Saturnalia
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Song: Night Knuckles
By: Clark
Thanks to HMV I have just taken delivery of my first full Ted album - and I must say I am suitably impressed. Body Riddle, from which today’s recommendation comes, is a truly great IDM album, and definitely makes it onto my list of albums to hear before you die. But for now I want to concentrate on Night Knuckles.
Quite a simple song, it is primarily constructed of rhythmic xylophone sounds (with the odd obligatory IDM sound effect thrown in). I think it stands out for me as it’s quite a chirpy song. This is particularly evident when you listen to the whole album, most of the other tracks creating a far more sinister soundscape. It’s amazing when I stop to think about it how much is actually missing that you might expect to find in such a song - but the xylophone seems able to provide everything, from sweet melodies, to rumbling bass and an almost drum n’ bass style rhythm. I think the song is best enjoyed if you listen with a bit of an imagination. There are no drums, but it’s quite easy to fit in your own (imagined) drum beats - this is quite a tricky concept to explain in words, but hopefully you’ll feel it if you listen enough.
Anyway, expect more from me about Clark over the coming weeks, and for now enjoy this song!
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