Best of 2020 - The Singles List

The year 2020 has been different in many ways and could not be compared to any of the recent years. The world stopped for a certain period of time, paralyzed by the global COVID-19 pandemic where the virus spread to all corners of the world leaving difficult consequences for the population everywhere. 

It certainly did affect the music world in the sense that all major music events, festivals and concerts were cancelled until further notice. Only one global event was organised to support the World Health Organisation -One World: Together at Home- a benefit concert, organised by Global Citizen and curated by singer Lady Gaga whose objective was to promote the practice of social distancing while staying together during the COVID-19 pandemic and also support the medical staff all over the world.

On the quantity level of album and singles releases, it might have been less in offer this year but certainly not on its quality level. Every year has its own charm, no matter what is going on and the events that occurred this year events certainly influenced the artists and some of them have already integrated them in their music. 

Our Top 50 songs list, is as always a festival of styles and genres and while this year's saw some interesting newcomers emerging on the music market, it also meant some happy returns and comebacks. Hope you enjoy the Songs list!


01. SRSQ - Temporal Love
02. Jessie Ware - Spotlight
03. The Killers - My Own Soul's Warning
04. Weyes Blood - Wild Time
05. The Neighborhood - Devil's Advocate
06. The Flaming Lips -  Flowers of Neptune 6
07. Sally Dige -  It's You I'm Thinking Of
08. Groove Armada - Edge of the Horizon
09. Cold Beat - Double Sided Mirror
10. Angelo De Augustine - Santa Barbara
11. Fleet Foxes - Sunblind
12. Gorillaz ft Peter Hook - Aries
13. New Order - Be a Rebel
14. Jessie Ware - The Kill
15. Girl in Red - Rue
16. The Weeknd - Blinding Lights
17. Structures - Sorry, I Know I'm Late
18. Porridge Radio - Circling
19. Yves Tumor - Kerosene!
20. James Blake - Godspeed

Best of 2020 - The Album List

The year 2020 has been different in many ways and could not be compared to any of the recent years. The world stopped for a certain period of time, paralyzed by the global COVID-19 pandemic where the virus spread to all corners of the world leaving dificult consequences for the population everywhere. 
It certainly did affected the the music world in the sense that all major music events, festivals and concerts were cancelled until further notice. Only one global event was organised to support the World Health Organisation -One World: Together at Home- a benefit concert, organised by Global Citizen and curated by singer Lady Gaga whose objective was to promote the practice of social distancing while staying together during the COVID-19 pandemic and also support the medical staff all over the world.
On the quantity level of album and singles releases, it might have been less in offer this year but certainly not on its quality level. Every year has its own charm, no matter what is going on and the events that occurred this year events certainly influenced the artists and some of them have already integrated them in their music. 
Our Top 25 album list, is as always a festival of styles and genres and while this years saw some interesting new comers emerging on the music market, it also meant some happy returns and come backs. Hope you enjoy the Album list!



01. The Flaming Lips - American Head [Bella Union / Warner Bros] 
The Flaming Lips have returned with their 16th studio album American Head released through Bella Union in the UK and Warner Bros in the US. It seems that the band have returned to their winning formula of the late 90's and early 00's, focusing on the American roots producing symphonic psychedelic sound which could easily be treated as future Americana. The songs reveal a strong sense of melody by being freaky and tendering at the same time. There is also a drug connotation throughout the songs on the album, bringing the acid and psychedelic in front. Out of the seven songs which were released as singles, the outstanding are certainly "Will You Return", "Flowers of Neptune'' and "You N Me Sellin' Weed". 


02. Jessie Ware - What's Your Pleasure [PMR] 
What's Your Pleasure? is Jessie Ware's fourth studio album, released through PMR. The album includes 12 tracks out of which half of the songs were also released as singles. Overall this is a very uncomplicated, joyful and passionate electronic, dance album with a festival of sub genres and influences from all decades which flow into a nice cohesive package. At the same time the album marks Ware's return to her roots and moving away from the soul melancholy of the previous album. This album might not have been released in perfect timing, in the year of COVID-19 pandemic when all dance floors are sealed, still it feels like a time machine and a trip to better times with, a great staying power. Favorite tracks: “Spotlight”, “The Kill” and  “Remember Where You Are”.
   
03. Porridge Radio - Every Bad [Secretly Canadian] 
Porridge Radio is among the best newcomers this year and at the same time probably the best female fronted indie band in 2020. Every Bad is their second album and the first one on a big record label. Released through Secretly Canadian, the album contains eleven tracks, where each of the songs seems to be an interesting chamber of elements that harmonize with each other. In addition to the indie elements there is noise but it does not get too loud, there are synth accents, but it does not get too electronic. There is also a great emotional range to the lead singer’s voice which plays perfectly with all rhythm sections. Favorite tracks: “Born Confused”, “Sweet”, “Long”, and “Circling”. 

 
04. Fleet Foxes - Shore [Anti-] 
Fleet Foxes released their fourth studio album Shore in Fall this year. It was quite a surprise release for an album whose writing and recording started in 2018/2019 respectively, to be released only one day after the announcement. Beautiful as ever, bright, complex and accessible, this is how I would describe this nearly solo effort by the singer/songwriter Robin Pecknold. There is an autumn feel throughout the album and the feel of closing oneself in the deep drift away against the existential worry of 2020. It is the same vein as their debut album, the finest range from baroque pop to the 60’s spacey folk. Favorite tracks: “Shore”, “Sunblind” and “Maestranza”.  

 
05. Linea Aspera - LP II [self released] 
Linea Aspera has surprised us all this year with the reunion and the release of a brand second album which comes eight years after their debut album release. The duo Alison Lewis and Ryan Ambridge split after the debut album release but never really stopped making music, moreover continued exploring new dimensions and grounds with their solo projects. Their second album comes with a similar recipe of songs as their debut but even more perfected and crafted. LPII is dark, scientific and emotional with great analogue production against Lewis' intense vocal delivery. Different from 2012, when Minimal Wave and Synth pop were closer to  mainstream, this year this record feels more like a loner in its genre and certainly the best Minimal Wave album of 2020. Track highlights: “Solar Flare”, “Equilibrium” and “Entanglement”. 

 
06. Protomartyr - Ultimate Success Today [Domino] 
The Detroit based Protomartyr released their fifth studio album Ultimate Success Today this year, their second Domino release following the critically acclaimed Relatives in Descent. Using the Post-punk as foundation for their sound the band continues to deliver good quality production songs feeding in the misfortunes of the modern world like sadness, anger and aggression. Even though the themes might be sinister and dark, the band manages to deliver quite an involving sound with guitars that shine on. The input of the session musicians on saxophone and clarinet even more contribute to the diversity of sound. Even though this record was recorded before 2020, it is probably the loudest and most fitting album to the COVID 20 soundtrack. 

 
07. Groove Armada - Edge of the Horizon [BMG Rights Management] 
The duo has released their ninth studio album this year. Edge of the Horizon comes as a 10 years anniversary to Black Light which was also our Album of the Year in 2010. It seems that the band has decided once again to leave the club friendly tech house behind and to grant us with another great synth pop album. This also pretty much goes back to the 80’s taking some influences from the hiNrg and early Italo disco underground styles. Similar as on Black Light, this album features an interesting array of collaborations which completes the overall good LP experience. The album features the hit singles “Get Out on the Dancefloor” and “Love 4 Now”, but probably the stand out is the title track "Edge of the Horizon".
   
08. The Killers - Imploding the Mirage [Island / Virgin EMI] 
The Killers released their sixth studio album Imploding The Mirage this year and with this record they have returned to our radar for the first time since Sam’s Town. This new album brings some changes both in the line up and in the music style, trafficking in Americana, catchy synth hooks and the Springsteen influence all together. It deals pretty well with every day themes and the pop-heartland-epic input makes it quite accessible. The album also features some interesting collaborations including k. d. lang, Weyes Blood, Lindsey Buckingham (Fleetwood Mac) and Adam Granduciel (The War on Drugs). Four singles were released from the album including the catchy the “My Own’s Soul Warning”.
   
09. Working Men’s Club - Working Men’s Club [Heavenly] 
Working Men’s Club is among the best newcomers in 2020 and also one of the best debut albums in this year. The band actually started releasing singles in 2019 with a different line up and this year brought the change in lineup and the sound perspective and the band adopted more electronic influences including shades of the early 80’s underground synthpop and early 90’s alternative dance. The record’s dynamic course is kept by the raving energy, a synth-guitar criss cross against the industrial lead. The outstanding tracks are of course the first single “Valley”, “Tomorrow” and “Angel". 

 
10. Cindy - I’m Cindy [World of Paint] 
With I’m Cindy, we enter the DIY territory and home base of the producer Palbomen II who started recording music around 2015. Focused on the fictional character Cindy Savalas portrayed by the actress Blue LoLãn, he recorded around thirty pieces in his home studio in Belgium in 2019 and some of them were even picked for the Memories of Cindy release. This album is set in a cold and dark synth pop setting and through out the 13 tracks, it explores different episodes in the life of Cindy Savalis where she sings about her mom, her boyfriend Justin, her cat and other personal sides of her life. Stand out tracks: “Boy Friend”, “Never Let Me Go” and “2Y and 6M”. 

11. Nation of Language - Introduction, Presence [Not on Label] 
12. Coldbeat - Mother [DFA] 
13. Kleerup - 2 [U, OK] 
14. Active Child - In Another Life [Sony Masterworks] 
15. The Orelles - Disco Volador [Heavenly] 
16. Perfume Genious - Set My Heart on Fire Immediately [Matador] 
17. The Strokes - The New Abnormal [Cult] 
18. Riki - Riki [Dais] 
19. Doves - The Universal Want [Virgin] 
20. Tame Impala - The Slow Rush [Modular] 
21. Georgia - Seeking Thrills [Domino] 
22. Muzz - Muzz [Matador] 
23. I Break Horses - Warnings [Bella Union] 
24. Alice Boman - Dream on [Adrian] 
25. Of Montreal - Ur Fun [Polyvinyl]

November Singles Round up

We have almost reached the end of 2020 and this is the last Singles Round up for this year, highlighting  with Yves Tumor's single "Kerosene" for which the video was directed by Ssion aka Cody Critcheloe. 
Yves Tumor - Kerosene!

Fiona Apple - Shameika
 

Lana Del Rey - Summertime

Nairod Yarg - Trophy


Bleachers - Chinatown ft. Bruce Springsteen

breathe. - Home

Angelo de Augustine - Blue


Nilüfer Yanya - Crash

The Strokes - The Adults Are Talking


Retrovision: Boys Brigade - Melody

 "Melody" was one of the two single releases for the Canadian New Wave band Boys Brigade. It was released in 1983 and it was also featured on the band's debut and only album which was never reissued.


Next Wave: Working Men's Club

Workings Men's Club is one of the finest new comer bands to emerge this year. Hailing from Todmorden in West Yorkshire, England, the band were formed in mid-2018 by vocalist/guitarist Sydney Minsky-Sargeant, guitarist Giulia Bonometti, and drummer Jake Bogacki. The band is known for their very unique turbulent post punk sound which draws influences from both the 80's and early 90's. After releasing a single "Bad Blood" heavily influenced by guitar-based post-punk,  Working Men's Club signed to Heavenly Records under which they released their self titled debut album. Their lead single   "Valley" is where you will certainly feel the 90's influence both in sound and video production.


Frankie Goes To Hollywood upcoming Reissues

Frankie Goes To Hollywood‘s two studio albums Welcome to the Pleasuredome and Liverpool, and the greatest hits Bang!, will be reissued in December by Universal Music Catalogue (UMC) – new owners of the ZTT label – which officially kicks off the process of ‘working’ the band’s back catalogue. All three releases are now available again on CD and vinyl. Bang! is now a double vinyl LP for the first time. Both albums and the compilation are all issued on 11 December 2020. 




October Singles Round Up

This October sees the return of Groove Armada and their brand new album pretty much recalls the Black Light in sound and mood. There are also other exciting releases by Fleet Foxes, Tame Impala and more.




Groove Armada - Edge of the Horizon

London Grammar - California Soil
 

King Princess - Only Times Makes it Human

Adored - Adored


The Clientele - Orpheus Beach

Tame Impala - Why Don't You Talk to Me

Cults - A Low


Sevdaliza - Rhode

BFRND - Sunglasses at Night

Roosevalt - Feels Right

Next Wave: Cindy

Cindy is a music project of the electronic artist Kai based in Antwerp Belgium who also recorded music under the name Palmbomen II in the 10's. His music could be categorized as living room DIY synth pop and chill wave. 

With the Cindy project he gives a new context to his music where Cindy is the main character and the songs are soundtracks to her own world. In 2019, he recorded several songs about Cindy where she sings about her mom, her boyfriend Justin, her cat and other personal sides of her life. Cindy is portrayed by the actress and artist Blue LoLãn who also provided vocals for the songs on the album.

Musically this record is a collection of dance songs and ballads where smooth Shoegaze melts down with Italo Disco drive. Cindy's debut album I'm Cindy contains 13 tracks and it was released on World Of Paint on June 5, 2020


U96 Team up with Wolfgang Flür of Kraftwek

The 90's electro dance act U96 who made prominence in the early 90's with "Das Boot" and other string of hits have united with Wolfgang Flur of the classic Kraftwerk line up to and recorded an album together. Their first single is out now and pretty much "Transhuman" pretty much resurrects the Kraftwerk sound introducing it to the new decade. The album of the same name was released in early September through Radikal record label.


The Passage's Albums Pindrop and Degenrates to be Reissued as Part of the 40th Anniversary

To mark the 40th anniversary of Pindrop, the lauded first album by cult Manchester post-punk group The Passage, LTM presents a new 2xCD set combining their 1980 debut with their third and most commercially successfully album, Degenerates, from 1982. Both Pindrop and Degenerates are expanded on CD to include companion singles and radio sessions, with archive images and detailed liner notes contained in the 16 page booklet. For more reading and full track listing, check the link below.

https://www.ltmrecordings.com/pindrop_degenerates_ltmcd2589.html

Groove Armada Return to Synth Pop with the New Studio Album

Ten years ago Groove Armada released their brilliant album Black Light which also meant the change of course for the duo and moving from club friendly tech house to catchy synth pop sound. Now after ten years, it seems that the duo is coming back to this challenge and have released another very slick synth pop record with House admixture. The new album is titled Edge of Horizon and this is also the single to take a lead from. There are quite a few parallels to be drawn between these two and what both records have in common is that they are both catchy and flawless.


WAW: Sinead O'Connor - Trouble of the World

Sinead O'Connor has released a new single which is a cover of Mahalia Jackson's "Trouble of the World". All of Sinead O'Connor's profits from the single are going to Black Lives Matter fund. The video for the song was directed by Don Letts.


September Singles Roundup

This September has been long but filled with good quality music. Certainly one of the highlights is the return of New Order. Gorillaz have meanwhile teamed up with Robert Smith for their six episode of the Song Machine Project. Otherwise interesting comeback from The Shins and La Femme.



New Order - Be a Rebel

James Blake - Godspeed
 

Temples - Paraphernalia

Rhye - Helpless


La Femme - Paradigme

SG Lewis, Robyn, Channel Tres - Impact

Tropical Fuck Storm - Legal Ghost

Gorillaz - Strange Times ft Robert Smith

The Shins - The Great Divide

Annie - The Streets Where I Belong

Best of 1990 - The Singles List

The year 1990 has been one of the most exciting years ever, maybe due to the fact that it was between the two decades when music styles shifted and the songs were influenced by the past decade but also looking into the future with new technologies. For some artists it was a clear career peaks when they released their best selling albums and/or singles. This year belonged to Depeche Mode, Madonna, Sinead O'Connor, but at the same time Euro dance and Brit pop exploded.

Over the next month we will feature the best singles from the 1990 that comes as a result of the Singles poll that was up this summer. Stay tuned!


01. Depeche Mode  - Enjoy The Silence
02. Madonna - Vogue
03. Sinéad O'Connor - Nothing Compares 2U
04. Pet Shop Boys - Being Boring
05. George Michael - Freedom
06. The Cure - Pictures of You
07. Julee Cruise - Falling
08. Depeche Mode - Policy of Truth
09. Cocteau Twins - Heaven or Las Vegas
10. Madonna - Justify My Love
11. The Charlatans - The Only One I Know
12. The House of Love- Shine On
13. St Etienne - Only Love Can Break Your Heart
14. Deee-Lite - Groove Is In The Heart
15. The KLF - Last Train to Trancentral
16. George Michael - Praying For Time
17. The Beautiful South - A Little Time
18. The Sundays - Here's Where The Story Ends
19. Technotronic - Get Up
20. INXS - Suicide Blonde

Next Wave: SRSQ

SRSQ (pronounced seer-skew) is  the  solo  project  of  Kennedy  Ashlyn who was previously a female half of Them Are Us Too who released two studio albums in 2015 and 2018 respectively. The duo split after the tragic death of Cash Askew who was Kennedy's close collaborator, friend and the other half Them Are Us Too. In 2018, Kennedy also released her first solo album through which she explored sorrow and loss in darkwave rhythms.
Now in 2020 she is back with a new single which is in the same vein and the previous releases, Ethereal Wave and dream pop of the perfect quality which takes cues from the best of the past including the likes of Cocteau Twins and Dead Can Dance. Her single "Temporal Wave" was released in end of last year while the video (below) for the song was premiered in March 2020. 


Instant Hit: The Heart Throbs - Dreamtime

Thirty years ago The Heart Throbs released their debut album Cleopatra in 1990 and one of the outstanding songs from this album was "Dreamtime". There is this interesting fact that the two members of The Heart Throbs, the sisters DeFreitas were actually sisters of the late Pete DeFreitas of Echo & the Bunnymen fame who died in the motorcycle accident in 1989 at the age of 26. Pretty much underrated "Dreamtime" holds in it the best from the two decades and still sounds very contemporary. 


WAW: LAUREL - Scream Drive Faster

LAUREL has revealed the video for the song "Scream Drive Faster". The Music video was directed by Elliott Arndt.

7_Songs: Holly Johnson / Frankie Goes to Hollywood

This year in February, Holly Johnson turned 60, and we thought it would be a nice occasion to pay tribute to him and his former band Frankie Goes to Hollywood with this 7_Songs feature. Johnson’s career start goes back to the late 70s Liverpool punk scene out of which the nucleus for Frankie Goes to Hollywood took shape. Inspired to take a name after the title from the news article in the New York Times, it seemed that Frankie Goes to Hollywood would be there for big things, and indeed, with the first single and the album release they found pop stardom. 

Photo courtesy of The Guardian

In 1984, FGTH released “Relax” which was not only a tune but also a motto and a symbol of the mid-80s and at the same time the band’s biggest hit. One could say that it had an impact on the general pop culture also hitting the street fashion and there was also a themed video game. “Relax” was also an introduction to the band's brilliant album Welcome to the Pleasuredome which gave birth to a string of hits, out of which three reached no.1 in the UK charts. The album was produced by Trevor Horn and released on his ZTT label. It was rich, provocative and decadent with excellent production and a festival of influences which could easily be referred to as progressive disco as an end product. With the release of the second album, Liverpool, fame faded and the tensions between the band members were growing. The band managed to release three more singles from it, to tour again, after which Johnson decided to leave the band. He also had to go into a legal battle with the record company, winning the dispute in the end. 

Photo courtesy of theartsdesk.com

In the late 80s Johnson started his solo career when he was signed to MCA, released his solo album Blast and managed to have a series of hits including “Americanos” and “Love Train”. In the early 90s, Johnson was diagnosed with HIV and thinking this was his end, he wrote his autobiography A Bone in My Flute. Eventually he turned more to art, but never really left the music business. He recorded songs and performed occasionally.

The band never reunited even though in 2003, the VH-1 program Bands Reunited brought Johnson, Rutherford, Gill, Nash, and Mark O'Toole together, in the hope of their agreeing to perform impromptu on the show. However, a reunion performance did not transpire. 

Holly Johnson never performed again with Frankie Goes to Hollywood. There is not a single thing in the world that sums up the 1980s as perfectly, FGTH and Welcome to the Pleasuredome does for the 80s. In particular, 1984 seems to be the year of the band, when they almost made 4 consecutive No.1 in the UK. Frankie was the mega sensation, the artistic concept and even a brand. They were hitting the Euro dance floors and beyond, and they were shocking the conservative adults to gain prominence. They had that perfect formula, if you are going to do pop, attack it.


Frankie Goes To Hollywood - Relax
"Relax" was the debut album by FGTH which also gave them the international breakthrough. It is one of the most controversial and most commercially successful records of the decade. It was banned by BBC because of its lyrics that we interpreted to be explicit. Despite all the scandals, the song sold 12 mill records around the world and won the Brit Award for the best song in 1985. It also went beyond music, hitting the street fashion with the T-shirts with the slogan Frankie Says Relax




Frankie Goes To Hollywood - The Power of Love 
This was the third single from their debut album and also the third consecutive No.1 which rounded up a successful year for FGTH. This song is often referenced as a Christmas single due to the music video that features Nativity, and also because it was released ahead of Xmas in 1984. In tone, it was also different from the previous, which were louder made for clubland. The song went platinum in Canada, Germany, New Zealand and triple Platinum in their native UK. 


Frankie Goes To Hollywood - Welcome To The Pleasuredome
This was the title track to the debut album and the only single release that did not reach the UK No. 1 despite having this potential. The spoken-word introductions to both 12-inch mixes are adapted from Walter Kaufmann's 1967 translation of Friedrich Nietzsche's The Birth of Tragedy. The video, by Bernard Rose, features the group stealing a car, going to a carnival and encountering all manner of deceptively "pleasurable" activities.


Frankie Goes To Hollywood - Rage Hard 
In 1986, Frankie Goes to Hollywood released their second album, Liverpool. This album saw more use of the band than the debut album and expressed a rockier sound than their debut, but it was still pretty much powerful in rhythm and form. It was FGTH's first single to be released on CD and even Cassette. It reached number one in the German official charts and No. 4 in the UK. 


Frankie Goes To Hollywood - Warriors of the Wasteland
Another single followed from Liverpool, which many think is one of the best tracks on the album. Some interesting inspirations were drawn from T. S. Eliot, but Johnson also cited the 1981 Mel Gibson film, Mad Max 2, and the 1979 film, The Warriors as inspirations. This song barely made it in the Top 20 in the UK and commercial success was starting to decline. FGTH would release one more single before disbanding.


Holly Johnson - Love Train
After the split of FGTH, Holly Johnson released his debut album Blast 1989 and "Love Train" was the first single to be taken from it. Even though it was clearly a dance track, it featured the guitar solo from Brain May from Queen. The song reached No.4 in the UK and also had success in Europe. The song was issued as both 7” and 12” including several versions of the song.


Holly Johnson  - Americanos
"Americanos" was another single from Blast that managed to make a big impact on the charts, reaching No. 4 in the UK and was a commercial success across Europe. Chris Heath of Smash Hits described the song as a "80s update of David Bowie's Young Americans in both its content and its spirit, where he acknowledges the superficiality of the American dream but isn't narrow-minded enough to simply condemn it.”

Singles cover photos courtesy of discogs.com

For the complete Frankie Goes To Hollywood / Holly Johnson discography, as documented in music videos, please check the following the link below.

Retrovision: The Times - Manchester

The Times kicked off the 90's decade with the release of "Manchester"|. It was pretty much summing up so many things related to the Manchester music scene and England, and at a perfect timing on the crossroads between two decades. 

New Order Reveal New Single 'Be a Rebel'

New Order are back with their first new single in almost five years. The new single is called "Be a Rebel" and is out on Mute. It is available on all streaming services and YouTube link below.


Next Wave: Porridge Radio

Porridge Radio were formed in Brighton in 2015 when they released their debut album Misery Radio. The band’s nucleus is the very charismatic singer, songwriter and lead guitarist Dana Margolin while the other members are keyboardist Georgie Stott, bass guitarist Maddie Ryall and drummer Sam Yardley. This year they have released their second album Every Bad and the first on the new record label Secretly Canadian. The album is certainly going to make it to our year end list as it has a perfect balance between good song writing, sound production and vocals. It tenders to get loud and burst out yet it remains emotional and melancholic. It has been promoted by the series of singles including “Don’t Ask Me Twice” and their latest “Circling”, released in March.
 
Image courtesy of  www.loudandquiet.com
 

August Singles Round Up

The "Summer Wine" 2020 cover leading the way into this August Singles Round up which also includes some exciting comebacks by Cabaret Voltaire, The Smashing Pumpkins and Julia Holter.



Alex Kapranos & Clara Luciani - Summer Wine

Chelou - Real
 

The Neighbourhood - Devil's Advocate

Muzz - Summer Love

Cabaret Voltaire - Vasto

Julia Holter - Gold Dust Woman

Girl in Red - Rue

Nation of Language - On Division St

The Smashing Pumpkins - CYR

NZCA LINES - Prisoner of Love



WAW: The Killers - My Own Soul's Warning

The Killers premiered the second video for the song "My Own Soul's Warning" which premiered on August 20th on YouTube. Their brand new studio album Imploding the Mirage was officially released a day after. This new video for My Own Soul's Warning was directed by Michael Hill.


Instant Hit: Katy Gray - Hold Me Tight

"Hold Me Tight" was released by Katy Gray  in 1985 and there is quite a veil of mystery to the singer's identity and rumours that claim that she was tragically killed by a disco ball in 1987. The lady on the cover artwork is believed to be Monica Stucci. Katy Gray never released another single and this certainly remains as an italo-disco tune of the highest calibre.

 

Tears for Fears to Release The Seeds of Love Boxset

Tears for Fears’ third album, 1989’s The Seeds of Love is going to be released as five disc box set. This album featured some of bands's biggest hits including, "Advice for the Young at Heart" and "Woman in Chains". The box set will feature the original album, remastered, singles and B-sides, alternate mixes, demos and outtakes. The “super deluxe” collection, as well as a pared-down two-disc edition, will come out on October 9th. More info here.


Cabaret Voltaire Announce 15th Studio Album Shadow of Fear

 Cabaret Voltaire have announced the release of their 15th studio album this year. Entitled Shadow of Fear and it will be their first studio album in 26 years which will be promoted with the first single "Vasto", released this month. This will also be the first album with Richard H. Kirk as a sole member. The album is going to be officially released on November 20 through Mute records.

Retrovision: Scritti Politti - Absolute

"Absolute" was one of the lead tracks taken from Scritti Polittis's second album Cupid & Psyche '85, released in June 1985. This song and the video however were released a year before and the video for the song was directed by John Scarlett-Davies.

Summer Wine 2020

 Alex Kapranos from Franz Ferdinand fame and Clara Luciani of La Femme and Nouvelle Vague have recorded a duet for the legendary "Summer Wine". The song was performed as the English/French cover version last year at Olympia in Paris. The video was premiered yesterday and it was directed by Ryder the Eagle.

WAW: AaRON - Les Rivieres

The French duo AaRON will return with new album Anatomy of Light in September this year. "Les Rivieres" is the first single to be taken from the album and the video for the song was directed by the duo.

July Singles Round Up

Here comes the second summer edition of the Singles Round up for July. In this month some exciting new tracks by Doves, The Future Islands, Jessie Ware and more.



The Killers - My Own's Soul Warning

Jessie Ware - The Kill
 

The Flaming Lips - You n Me Sellin’ Weed

A Certain Ratio - Always In Love

Doves - Prisoners

Future Islands - For Sure

Black Marble - In Manchester

Protomartyr - The Aphorist

Kevin Creel - Fairgrounds

Declan McKenna - Daniel, You're Still a Child

Kylie Minogue Reveals the First Single From 'Disco'

Kylie Minogue's 15th studio album Disco will be released early November this year. Yesterday Kylie  premiered the first single from it called "Say Something". With the indicative album title and the fresh new dance rhythms on "Say Something", it is clear that Kylie is returning to electro disco style.


Instant Hit: Modern English - Gathering Dust

"Gathering Dust" was the third single by Modern English released 40 years ago. It is a pretty much atmospheric track, loud and turning into explosion of sound. Similar to the music their contemporaries like Joy Division and A Certain Ratio did it shows a perfect examples of Post Punk aesthetics.


Black Marble to Release a New EP in August

Following their LP Bigger Than Life from last year, Black Marble will return with a new EP titled 'I Must Be Living Twice'. The EP will be released through Sacred Bones Records in August and it will feature four new track, including the lead track "In Manchester" which can be streamed below.





Retrovision: Carly Simon - Why

Carly Simon released "Why" in August 1982 as one of her biggest 80's hits. The song was recorded for the film Soup for One but it eventually gained broader popularity than the film itself. Bernard Edwards and Nile Rodgers of Chic produced the song moving away from Carly's guitar based songs from the past leaning more on reggae sound.

WAW: Future Islands - For Sure

Future Islands have returned with a brand new single "For Sure" and the video for it was premiered on YouTube this week. This short film was directed by Samuel Jerome Mason. 



Doves Return After 10 Years Break, Reveal New Singles

After 10 years of hiatus and side project, Doves have returned to the music scene with two new singles which were premiered during last four weeks. They first released "Carousels" in June and this week they premiered the video for "Prisoners". Their fifth studio album has also been announced for release on September 11th. Both music videos can be previewed below.





Iggy Pop's "The Passenger" Gets Official Music Video

One of Iggy Pop's biggest hits "The Passenger" has received its official video screening more than four decades after the song was released as b-side for the songs "Success" in 1977. In the visuals, black and white photos of a young Iggy fade into view over vignettes of night-time motorway driving.

via nme.com




A Certain Ratio Announce the release of Brand New Studio Album, Reveal Singles

A Certain Ratio have announced the release of a brand new studio album this September. Their brand new studio album is entitled ACR Loco and it will be their first long player in 12 years. So far they have released two singles to promote its release, "Always in Love" and "Friend Around Us". Like all the previous album it will be released by Mute. Save the date, September 25th.