John Maus to Release Addendum this May

John Maus have announced the release of a brand new album studio album which is in fact an early return and follow up to his last year release 'Screen Memories'. The new album will be entitled 'Addendum' and will feature 12 new tracks including the song "Episode" which has already been announced as a lead track. The album was recored during the same time as 'Screen Memories' and was originally intended for Exclusive careers spanning 6 LP boxset. It will be released on CD and digital through Ribbon on May 18th.

Instant Hit: Mekons - Ghosts of American Astronauts

Mekons released "Ghosts of American Astronauts" in 1988 and it was taken from their sixth album So Good it Hurts and the only song released by them in that year. It was backed by "Robin Hood" and issued on Cooking Vinyl in the UK.

Retrovision: The Communards- For A Friend

"For a Friend" was released thirty years ago entering the UK Charts at #33. It is one of the last releases for the band and it was not such a big chart success like some former Communards' tunes, but there is more of a cultural value to it as "For a Friend" was written about a friend of Jimmy Somerville, Mark Ashton who died of the disease aged 26. This is one of the few times the gruesome reality of rising death toll from AIDS in the 80s was addressed in the pop charts. The official music video for the song was directed by Andy Morahan 

Next Wave: There's Talk

There's Talk is an electronic dream pop trio which was started by Oakland based multi-instrumentalist Olivia Lee (vocals, synths, programming, guitar). Kellen Balla (electronics, programming, vocals) and Young Lee (guitar, vocals) joined Olivia with hopes of expanding ambitious electronic soundscapes for live performance. The debut EP 'Tiny Stands' was released in 2013 and after the release the band toured regionally, supporting Glass Animals, Cigarettes After Sex, Arthur Beatrice and many others. Their sophomore release 'Bathed Water Moon' which includes inputs from all band members was released on February 23rd. It includes 4 tracks which perfectly blends buzzing synths and echoing guitars with semi-whispering soft female vocals formulating another deep blue night dream pop concept. 

https://www.facebook.com/TheresTalk/ 

http://www.therestalk.com/Music 

In Review: U.S. Girls- In A Poem Unlimited

U.S. Girls aka Meghan Remy released her seventh studio album 'In a Poem Unlimited' this February and her second all together on the 4AD label. This album comes as a follow up to 'Half Free' from 2015 and its release was preceded with the lead single "M.A.H." which came out last year. The brand new album includes 11 new tracks and it was recorded in collaboration with Meg's husband Max Turnbull aka Slim Twig and his band The Cosmic Range.

U.S. Girls has always been good in experimenting with sound and influences, even before their time on 4AD, and this has not changed even with this release and their artpop seem to have even become more vivid this time. The beats on new album reflect 60's and 70's music styles influences, free jazz forms, boogie disco and funk which turn this venture into more organic and expressive music event. It is very dynamic with some pop delights here and there, the lead single "M.A.H.", downtempo "Rosebud" and more electronically structured "Pearly Gates" and "Poem". Vocally Meg's voice register seems to adjust to the music easily from soft whispering Kylish flavour to full soaring ranges. In terms of content, there is angry political commentary to the songs where it stands up against public lies by political and religious leaders as well as studies about gender power imbalances.

 

Now when we compare it with the previous album, there is the impression that the 'Half Free' even more raw in production, was somehow a rounded up concept,  sample based and obscure, that gave the impression of a more intimate affair with the artist. With "In a Poem Unlimited" it seems that the elements that bring the music together and the instrumentation on some tracks seems to be overexposed and a bit out of place. And track wise we are missing a tune that could reach the quality heights of the  brilliant "Woman's Work" from the 'Half Free'.

 

Overall U.S. Girls has expended their territory musically well and some songs have really nice production quality and the protest tone resonates well with the grooves, but as global product it comes too much as polished light Pop for what we would rather have preferred another experiment with loops and samples and therefore a slight downgrade to 'Half Free'.

Release Date: February 16th

Automelodi Return with New Single and Announce US Tour

The Montreal based Automelodi have also announced their comeback with a brand new track which is featured on Holodeck's Vision One compilation. It’s also been nearly five years since the last full-length Automelodi release and as per Post-Punk's Announcement, Automelodi, now a two-piece, is currently hard at work on the third Automelodi LP. Holodeck has also announced the reissue of Automelodi's second album 'Surlendemains Acides' and the duo will go on US tour. More info here.

 

Ladytron Return with a New Single -Animlas- and Announce New Album

Ladytron are back! After five years of hiatus and some of them focusing more on their solo work, they have released a brand new single "Animals", which also announces their sixth studio album in partnership with Pledge Music, expected to release in the second half of 2018. The b-side single includes the remix of Vince Clark. More about Ladytron to come...

Soft Cell to Reunite as Part of 40th Anniversary

To celebrate the 40th anniversary of Soft Cell, Marc Almond and Dave Ball will be joining forces once again to play one final show, A Wild Celebration! The show will take place at the O2 Arena and tickets go on sale on Friday. All links will be published ahead of time on the front and Live pages so keep an eye out and join Soft Cell for One Last Time, A Wild Celebration. More after the jump...

http://www.marcalmond.co.uk/news/index.html

WAW: U.S. Girls- Rosebud

U.S. Girls have released their seventh studio album this year. The album is titled 'In a Poem Unlimited' and has been released on 4AD on February 16th. "Rosebud" is the fourth single to be taken from the album and the video for it was directed by Alex Kingsmill and Edited by Meg Remy. Soon more about the album! 

    

In Review: MGMT- Little Dark Age

Back in 2008 MGMT was quite a discovery for us, in particular for the single "Time to Pretend" which was magnificent both in terms of visuals and sound. Their debut album 'Orracular Spectacular' was among the top 5 Album releases of the year and it turned out to be the ultimate summer soundtrack spawning a whole line up of hits including "Electric Feel" and "Kids". It was a spectacular blend of indie neo-psychedelia with the absolute highlight being back then seeing them live at the Sziget festival in Budapest.

Ten years have passed now since the release of their debut and in the meanwhile the band released two more albums which sadly did not live up to the standard of their debut. In late 2017 MGMT surprised the world with the release of their single "Little Dark Age" which saw them entering dark waters and adopting 80's visual and rhythms. The Album which takes the same title as the first single was officially released on February 8th and after few plays it is clear that the album features a whole variety of sounds and influences. "Little Dark Age" for example leads the dark 80's synthpop inspired section which is also evident on "One Thing Left to Try" and "Me and Michael". On the other hand there is also a strong influence by the LA music scene and in particular Ariel Pink which gives MGMT's indie neo-psychedelia new face by mixing the new sound with hypnagogic pop. The album unfolds a whole variety of sounds and moods from dreamy to rhythmic upbeat tunes all reflected by layered and well imagined concept with twists of liquid elements and quirky 80's midi patches.

So far, four songs have been released from the album and it seems that this will be an album of hits but also as a concept and a whole package. It echoes a good focus, energy and maturity in sound and definitely brings MGMT back in the spotlight by giving 'Orracular Spectacular' a huge challenge. 'Little Dark Age' certainly is the big opener for 2018 and I am sure it will have an impact on the days to come.

Instant Hit: The Legendary Pink Dots- Under Glass

“Under Glass” was released by The Legendary Pink Dots as single in 1988 on Play it again Sam Records and featured two other tracks. This song used to mix neo-psychedelia, elements of goth with vivid and dark Synth-pop. During the same year they also released their album Any Day Now. In 2001, when this album was reissued, beside the standard track listing, it featured all three tracks previously only released on single format.

Best of 1988- The Album List

In the 20th Century, the year 1988 was the year with the most Roman numeral digits, but more important, in science and technology, it was a year of the first Internet-based chat protocol between USA and Europe.
On the music level, the charts was still dominated by the Stock- Aitken-Waterman hits who received the Brit Award for their music production skills. On the different floors, House music was slowly emerging, while Alternative and indie rock were even more diversified into various other musical sub genres.

Retrovision: The Fall - Victoria

One last tribute and farewell to Mark E. Smith from the Fall who released "Victoria" thirty years ago. Throughout his impressive music career, Mark E. Smith remained as the only constant member of the Fall since its foundation in 1976 with a band that featured over 60 different members in forty years.

As the Fall, Mark released more than 30 albums, numerous EP and more than 50 singles. He died in the age of 60 after a long illness. RIP Mark!

The Damned Return with New Album 'Evil Spirits'

The Damned return 10 years after their last LP release ‘So, Who's Paranoid?’ from 2008. The new album will be entitled ‘Evil Spirits’. Propelled by an enormously successful PledgeMusic funding campaign and was produced with Tony Visconti who also worked with David Bowie and other popular musicians from 70’s up to date. The album is preceded by new single ‘Standing On The Edge Of Tomorrow’ which also announces band’s ‘Evil Spirits UK’ tour starting on 26 January. The album itself is set for release on April 13th through Search And Destroy/Spinefarm Records.

http://www.officialdamned.com

Next Wave: Beverly Girl

Beverly Girl is one of the finest new offering coming from Scandinavia. It is that type of music we would expect to hear from the production houses of Italy and Germany, but this time a very fine flavor of New Retro Wave comes from Northern Europe. Beverly Girl are Yohanna, Artur and Tracy based in Helsinki Finland. During 2017, they have released three singles where they reveal brilliant dance forms of synth electro lush in the setting of the Neon Light. The band is currently working on a special co-write release in LA, which will be released during the spring of 2018.

http://beverlygirl.com

WAW: Editors - Magazine

Editors have revealed the video for the first single "Magazine" on Youtube. The song also announces the brand new album 'Violence' which will be released on March 9th, through through 'Play It Again Sam'. The music video for Magazine was directed by Rahi Rezvani. 

Preoccupations Announce New Album for March

Preoccupations have announced the release of a brand new Album, simply called 'New Material' which will be a direct follow up to their marvelous self titled sophomore album which was our Album of the Year in 2016. The band released their debut album as Viet Cong in 2015.

The expectations are huge even for this new release. The first single from the album has been revealed as well and it is titled "Espionage". 'New Material' is announced to be released on March 23rd on Jagjaguwar.

http://preoccupationsband.com/

Inhalt's Part Time Punk Sessions Released

The San Francisco based synth trio Inhalt have released their debut album titled 'Part Time Punk Sessions'. This LP features the best of the band's signature synth-driven dark analog pop previously included on their EPs 'Vehicle' and 'Occupations'. This is both a live and a studio album, having been recorded in real time in collaboration with the Part Time Punks radio show in Los Angeles and now it has been released by Cleopatra Records.

Previously, both their EPs were featured on our year end EP lists in 2012 and 2013 respectively and one occasion, we also did an interview with Inhalt which is available through the link below. Thanks Ty Volatire and the band for this:

http://www.burningflame.net/2013/06/in-conversation-inhalt.html

Duran Duran's 'Girls on Film - 1979 Demo' Released

Cleopatra Records has released a rare debut recording by Duran Duran which was recorded in 1979. The four song EP is entitled 'Girls on Film - 1979 Demo' features the group's early frontman Andy Wickett alongside with the original members Nick Rhodes, John Taylor and Roger Taylor. It includes the original version of the smash hit single “Girls On Film" plus “See Me Repeat Me,” which would later become “Rio,” and 2 other songs that the group shopped around to various labels, eventually signing with EM. The EP was released on December 29th 2017.

Instant Hit: Pink Military- Did You See Her?

"Did You See Her" was the second single for Pink Military, released 38 years ago in 1980. The songs was also included on their debut album Do Animals Believe in God. There were two different version of the songs, the Album and Single version. Although this songs has huge potential, being in the same league with the some of the biggest hits from Siouxie and The Banshees and Echo & The Bunnymen at that time, it only remained a hidden gem. The group split soon after and Jayne Casey went on to form Pink Industry.

Book of Love - The Sire Years Compilation Announced

The 80's synth pop stars Book of Love are set to release a compilation 'The Sire Years 1985-1993 in the second half of January. Note for Note Music has been licensed for this compilation and has been produced in conjunction with the band. To support this new release, Book of Love is also embarking on a 2018 The Sire Years Tour in which the band will visit cities across the U.S., Mexico, and Canada. The Sire Years 1985-1993 is released on 19 January 2018.

Simple Minds Reveal New Single from 'Walk Between Walks'

Simple Minds have announced the release of a brand new album titled 'Walk Between Walks'. This will be the 18 album release by the band which has gone through some line up changes. The first single from the album has been revealed and it is available on Youtube.

Retrovision: Neneh Cherry- Buffalo Stance

Hope you have had a nice festive season and in fact are enjoying it still. Happy 2018 and let's hope it will be another year of musical excitements and delights. In parallel with 2018, we will turn to 1988 and celebrate a thirty years anniversary with our Album and Singles charts. As part of this promo, we have picked Neneh Cherry' debut "Buffalo Stance" which was released during this year and which  reached #3 in the UK and and top positions in Netherlands and here home country Sweden.