Here's a selection of music that I've been listening for the last 2 months. This is a list that is predominantly dominated by artists who have ditched guitars in favour of synthesisers, whose tunes are rooted in the 1980s but with a strong vision of the future:
- PASSION PIT
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zmM2RwlxGt0
Passion Pit make colourful and cerebral electronica, combining layers of
sunny vocals, warped samples, glitchy beats and euphoric effects with
a sturdy rhythmic backbone.
It is the work of Michael Angelakos, who borrowed MGMT's cosmic kaleidoscope and Hot Chip's geeky gizmos while writing and recording all the music himself, enlisting four more musicians for his live band.
- EMPIRE OF THE SUN
Dressed as extras from a psychedelic Star Wars, the duo are on an epic journey to seek out ancient cultures across the globe, searching for inner enlightenment while creating a musical dynasty that will last for ever.
Singer Luke Steele, who also fronts indie group The Sleepy Jackson, has teamed up with Nick Littlemore of electronic outfit Pnau, who is friends with Sir Elton John, has worked with The Killers and been in a band with Ladyhawke.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zmM2RwlxGt0
Together, the pair's 1980s-influenced soft pop synthesisers and blissed-out space beats have already taken them into the Australian top 10.
The group borrowed their name from a 1984 JG Ballard novel, which was adapted for the screen by Steven Spielberg in 1987.
"We are superheroes. We are Emperor Steele and Lord Littlemore," proclaims the singer.
The music is coupled with a striking image of two colourful, cosmic crusaders that has been inspired by movie characters and rosily-remembered childhood idols.
- KID CUDI
Currently the hottest new hip-hop artist in the US, Kid Cudi has signed to Kanye West's label, features on the star's new album and has been supporting him on tour.
Like his mentor, the 23-year-old, from Cleveland, Ohio - known as Scott Mescudi to his mum - is at the adventurous end of rap and his single Day 'N' Nite bridges the gap between dance and urban.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lVb_t_ao9gw
Slightly bonkers singer-songwriters like Kate Bush, Bjork and PJ Harvey are not far-fetched comparisons.
When Florence sings, this innocent 22-year-old is possessed by rock's most restless demons, and channels them though her enigmatic fables about sex, violence, revenge and donkeys.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s0ZPTFfpO40
Many of Florence's songs conjure up warped fantasy, unlike the down-to-earth storytelling of the likes of Lily Allen and Kate Nash.
- IDA MARIA
Norway–born Ida Maria Sivertsen is a buzzed about 24–year–old who is fond of booze, the Pretenders and telling you exactly what she's thinking at any given moment.
On her debut, she dishes spunky singalong choruses as her band kicks out caffeinated garage–style rock on songs like the terrific single "Oh My God." That song finds Sivertsen describing an existential crisis while delivering a fist–pumpable chorus, while the catchy "I Like You So Much Better When You're Naked" makes social anxiety seem like bloody good fun.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=naQSB1Ozyds
- THE WHITE LIES
While Coldplay and Arcade Fire have been writing and recording albums in churches, White Lies sound like they've recently emerged from a crypt.
Their doom-laden rock is full of references to plane crashes, murders, funerals, kidnappings and nervous breakdowns.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4HoURg_JUgI
Even their most romantic song - "To Lose My Life" has the refrain: "Let's grow old together and die at the same time."
It has already been compared to 1980s gloom rockers Echo & The Bunnymen and the great Joy Division.
This is so far, my favorite album of 2009!!
- LITTLE BOOTS
Her first 'mini gig" in Brooklyn a couple weeks ago (which clocked in at a sensational 29 minutes) was simply brilliant!!!
Victoria Hesketh aka LITTLE BOOTS is clearly a shameless pop tart, indelibly marked by the chart hits of her childhood and the tacky Blackpool nightclubs of her youth.
But her tastes stretch beyond the cheese counter to true artists like Joni Mitchell, David Bowie and Kate Bush and electronic pioneers like Gary Numan and Giorgio Moroder.
Hesketh puts those together into songs that are cool as well as catchy, fit for charts and clubs alike, with shimmering tunes yielding meaningful lyrics.
The outcome sees Little Boots come across like a meeting between a British Kylie and a harder, shinier St Etienne.
Her debut full-length will see daylight by summer and I am beyond eager to obsess over
each every tune.
WELCOME BACK SUPERSTARS!!
- Lily continues to tell it like it is on her second album. With one eye on american sales, Allen broadens her worldview to include God, homophobia, oral sex and politics.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-wGMlSuX_c
- "Wrong" is DEPECHE MODE's first single from their upcoming 12th studio album, Sounds of the Universe, and their 46th UK single overall.
The song has received a positive response on United States alternative rock radio, becoming one of the 30 most-played songs in its first week of release.
Take a look at the disturbing scenes of the new video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5bsXOcK9_Cw
- "No line on the horizon" just got 5 stars on Rolling Stone magazine. I'm happy for the best band in this planet but I don't think this album should be considered already a classic. It's just an opinion. "Moment of Surrender" is a real masterpiece!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GeQBRHyYy4w
The great PET SHOP BOYS, winners of this year's award for Outstanding Contribution to Music at the Brits are back with their 10th studio album. Continuing the tradition of giving a "one word" name to their albums (Please, Very, So, etc), the 2009 production will be titled YES and the first single is "Love etc"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ydZtxODDZSg&feature=channel
- GREEN DAY will keep the punk rock alive at the end of this first decade when they released their upcoming 8th studio album 21st CENTURY BREAKDOWN.The band has also stated that "This album is more... religious," and it is influenced by Bruce Springsteen, The Who, and The Beatles.
And finally the sweetest Karen O with the YEAH YEAH YEAHS boys are exploring new wave territories with the dance rock gem titled It's blitz! The album was originally set for release on April 13, 2009, however after being leaked to the Internet on February 23, the release date was pushed forward to March 9 for the digital version and March 31 for the CD.
The album was produced by Nick Launay (Nick Cave, Arcade Fire, Talking Heads, PIL), along with TV on the Radio's Dave Sitek.
