Category: Electro Pop

OWL CITY - KISS ME BABE, IT'S CHRISTMAS TIME

12/14/2014

I've known about this single for more than a few weeks, but there wasn't anywhere to buy, download or stream. But, yesterday, the new Owl City Christmas song, "Kiss Me Babe, It's Christmas Time", popped up everywhere...and free! It's a delightful concoction for a marshmallow world. Owl City is the Synth Pop project of Minnesota's Adam Young. Adam seems to be able to crank out these sweet little pieces of Indie Pop gold at will. We've had an awful lot of anti-Christmas songs this year and the year, itself, has been pretty dark. So a bright and bouncy tune like "Kiss Me Babe, It's Christmas Time" is most welcome. Use the Soundcloud widget above to download. Or google it. I'm telling you, its everywhere.

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YOU DO YOU - WE NEED A LITTLE XMAS

12/14/2014

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Bout time some Indie band took a stab at re-imagining this Christmas song. Philadelphia's You Do You give the song a bit of a Dream Pop/Electro Pop feel which helps cleanse my ears of the Pop singer caterwauling "We Need A Little Christmas" is usually subjected to. The group's more frequent sound is a more soulful Pop Rock, but I'm glad they took the take on this one that they did. Download it free (or pay what you want) at Bandcamp.

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STEVEN HAWLEY - LITTLE DRUMMER BOY

12/11/2014

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Here's a futuristic Electro Pop version of "Little Drummer Boy" from Steven Hawley. "Little Drummer Boy" was one of my Mom's favorite Christmas songs (though I know a lot of people don't care for it), so I'm always on the lookout for a fresh take. The vocals are reminiscent of the New Wave and New Romantic bands from the 80s and early 90s. Me, personally, I'd like to hear those vocals mixed a little more up front and prominent in the mix. But, otherwise, I think its cool and different. For a limited time, the song is available as a free download on Soundcloud.

Steven Hawley is a DJ and musician who formerly fronted the group Codebreaker who turned out some very danceable and funky post-disco beats. He endured (and may still be enduring, for all I know) some serious and expensive health issues in the not so distant past and its good to see him working on a new album.

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ATLAAS - FEELINGS, CHRISTMAS 2014

12/8/2014

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This time of year, I try never to go to bed before I've found something new and wonderful. Some nights, I don't get to sleep at all. I'm going to get to bed fairly early tonight (well, early for me).

ATLAAS, in spite of the name that sounds so familiar to me, is new on the scene, having debuted in January 2014. The band consists of Heather Thomas and Ricardo Lopez-Aguilar and they're based out of Winnipeg, Canada. The ATLASS sound is Electro Indie Pop, but with undeniable soul. The CBC described their sound as being "like Bjork grew up on the prairies listening to Kraftwerk and Motown" and that sounds about right to me. Heather's voice is love at first note. ATLAAS released their debut EP, "One", last month and close out what has been a pretty big year with the Christmas song "Feelings". It's new and wonderful, free on Bandcamp, and I'm off to bed. G'night everybody!

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VARIOUS - ALL I GOT FOR CHRISTMAS

12/6/2014

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1. Town Hall - Fable Cry
2. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas - Ray Hering
3. Carol Of The Bells/God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen - Joshua Dent
4. Little Drummer Boy - Alayna Anderson
5. I'll Be Home For Christmas - Hannah Johnson
6. I Want A Hippopotamus For Christmas - Ally Brown
7. Let It Snow - Taryn Shaw
8. All I Got For Christmas Was Drunk - Grant Ferris
9. What Are You Doing New Year's Eve? - Kirabelle Frabotta
10. New York Fairy Tale - Zach Ferrin & Hannah Johnson

DOWNLOAD AT BANDCAMP
DOWNLOAD AT NOISETRADE

Firebreath is a music managing compant and this is the first time that they've stepped up with a Christmas record (all the cool kids are doing it nowadays). The collection takes its title from the Grant Ferris original "All I Got For Christmas Was Drunk". Most of the music, here, is squarely Indie Folk, the biggest exception being Joshua Dent's dynamic neo-Classical medley. "New York Fairy Tale" is a faithful cover of "Fairytale of New York"; featuring Fable Cry's Zach Ferrin and Hannah Johnson; I would have liked to have heard a more adventurous arrangement on that one. And my favorites from "All I Got For Christmas" are the previously mentioned James Dent track and "Little Drummer Boy" from Alayna Anderson. It's a free download at Noisetrade and Bandcamp.

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VARIOUS - NOISE TO THE WORLD 2

12/5/2014

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Earlier this year, we caught up with the 2013 collection from Converse, "Noise To The World", which was lingering from last Christmas. Well, if you missed that one, its gone now. Had to make way for the newer model, "Noise To The World 2". As with last year's set, Converse made all the right moves. The artists are exceptional and so is the music.

I bumped into "Noise To The World 2" on Tuesday. Converse had unveiled two tracks on Monday. They then released another two tracks on Wednesday. And the last two were unveiled today. I figured I'd wait until the collection was complete before I posted. Didn't listen even. And, now, here I am with the opportunity to hear the whole thing......and I can't get past "On Christmas" from the Dum Dum Girls. It's playing for something like the sixth straight time, right now, and I want to hear it again. This one's got legs. It's going to turn up on Christmas playlists to the end of time.

By the end of the day, I'm sure Converse will have racked up the full album download. Or not. As it is, now, the button sends you to Soundcloud where you have to download each track individually. But it's worth it.

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WORK DRUGS - NICHOLAS

12/5/2014

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Philadelphia's Indie Pop / Electro Pop / Dream Pop / Chillwave / Smoth-fi outfit, Work Drugs may not be sure what to call their sound, but they sure as heck know how to sound good. "Nicholas" is wickedly upbeat without being hyper. It's a smooth high, yo! They should pipe this music into hospital waiting rooms. I'm thinking spontaneous healing. Sometimes I'm both amused and horrified by the analogies my brain comes up with. First thing I thought listening to "Nicholas" by Work Drugs? Like the Clash on ludes (and I mean that in a good way). To defend my sick mind a bit, "Nicholas" has some of that "Rock The Casbah" rhythm, but much smoother--sort of like you sanded down all the sharp corners. I'll shut up, now. "Nicholas" is great, though. Go get it at Bandcamp.

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SWING REPUBLIC - MERRY CHRISTMAS BABY

12/4/2014

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Aarrrrgh! Can't believe my friends at Lie In The Sound found this one and I didn't. Swing Republic is an Electro Swing outfit from Denmark (west of Sweden...hey, that sounds like a great band name...West of Sweden) and, here, they've created a cool sound, re-imagining the Blues classic "Merry Christmas Baby" in their own unique style. And, the best part, they've done so while keeping Charles Brown's vocals. This track is sweet! It's Swing Jazz, it's Bkues, it's Electro Pop Indie, it's everything you'd want it to be. But do not dawdle. Swing Republic's label, Freshly Squeezed, has posted this as a "Limited Edition" Free Download, which probably means the downloads are capped. Use the widget above or head to Soundcloud.

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S.P.O.T.S. - DAS CHRISTKIND IM BIKINI

11/21/2014

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I've always said, if you have a good time singing it, the audience will have a good time listening. And these folks are clearly having a good time.

S.P.O.T.S. stands for "Some People On The Stage" and "Das Christkind Im Bikini" is another song I came across while exploring the Thomann XMas 2014 contest entries on YouTube. This one was actually recorded in 2012, so I guess S.P.O.T.S. was re-gifting. Ain't nothing wrong with that.

I haven't got a clue what they're singing (though the visual gives you the gist), but it's a fun funky groove and you can get it free on Bandcamp.

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ARMAND & IMANI - AWAY IN A MANGER

10/17/2014

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Either the Noisetrade "Embed" feature is new or I'm an idiot and only just saw it (I tend towards the latter). Anyway...cool!

The music business is a funny thing, I've found. It seems to me its an industry that is standing on its head to make sense. Its looking at the world upside down. TV is the same way. Movies, too.

I think the TV example is the easiest way to explain this. If you have an absolutely original idea (and you aren't already "bankable"), you're doomed from the start. "The Pitch", to be successful, has to be one sentence and it goes like this: "This show is Gilligan's Island meets Gilmore Girls." Pick any two successful shows. If you can't--if you actually have to explain your concept in more depth than that (or, God forbid, have the suits read a script)--you are dead in the water.

I'm as guilty as anybody else, in my own way. I try to convey to you what the music sounds like to hopefully trigger an interest. So I'll say "this artist reminds me of that artist" to, hopefully, get you to say, "Oh. I like that artist. I'll try it, then." I get it. But, as an industry, that wouldn't be what I'm looking for. I wouldn't be looking for "the next" whatever; I'd be looking for the first whatever. I'd be listening for something "special". A voice, a sound, a quality--whatever it is. And I know "special" when I hear it. I like to think I do, anyway. "Special" haunts you in a way few other things do. You go back to "special". You can't help but go back to "special". "Special" sticks with you.

All an annoyingly long and indecipherable explanation of why I'm drawing your attention to this cover of "Away In A Manger" from Armand & Imani Hutton. Imani Hutton has something special. I'm not even sure what it is, but I feel it. If I had a label, I'd sign her up in a heartbeat.

Maybe it's the whole package. She writes, she sings, she produces. She's got a message. She's got a vision for the music (or whatever the audio version of a vision is) and she frequently and unselfishly shares or cedes the spotlight to others if its better for the music (or maybe she's doing it for the people, rather than the music, which would be even more spectacular). She has a quiet confidence that you can feel. Her voice is not what you'd expect. Forgive me for doing what I just criticized, but I'm going to go with Sade meets Tracy Chapman on the voice. Her music is flowingly free, original and organic. She's not artificially restrained by a view that says music has to be neatly labeled and categorized. She paints outside the lines and does so beautifully. You could call her music R&B or Jazz or Gospel or Pop or Electro-Pop--its all those and more--but I think I'm just going to call it Imani music.

I don't remember how I came across "Away In A Manger" by Armand & Imani in the first place. And I was busy with other things at the time. But I do remember thinking, "Ooh, I really like that. I'm going to have to get back to that and put it on the Free page." Unfortunately, the way I work, there are so many "bookmarks" on this computer that that's a sure way to bury something and never see it again. About a week went by. And, every day, the desire to "get back to that" grew stronger until it became, "I need to get back to that." And, after searching a bit, and finding it again, I then needed to hear more. Special will do that to you.

So, yes, please check out and download "Away In A Manger". It's on both Noisetrade and Bandcamp. But, man, you really need to hear "Go The Right Way", Imani's most recent album. Here's a review of the album that I pretty much agree with. I'd just add that one of my favorites was "Circuit Dialog/Dance With You". But go find your own favorite. It's an amazing album. Its a masterpiece of aural bliss. And the artist who painted that masterpiece is Imani Hutton. I'd tell you to remember that name but I have a feeling you will. That kind of special is unforgettable.

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Forward>>

OWL CITY - KISS ME BABE, IT'S CHRISTMAS TIME

YOU DO YOU - WE NEED A LITTLE XMAS

STEVEN HAWLEY - LITTLE DRUMMER BOY

ATLAAS - FEELINGS, CHRISTMAS 2014

VARIOUS - ALL I GOT FOR CHRISTMAS

VARIOUS - NOISE TO THE WORLD 2

WORK DRUGS - NICHOLAS

SWING REPUBLIC - MERRY CHRISTMAS BABY

S.P.O.T.S. - DAS CHRISTKIND IM BIKINI

ARMAND & IMANI - AWAY IN A MANGER

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