Tic Tic BOOM!

Los Angeles synth-rockers Tic Tic Boom! have released their third EP Before the Sun Rises, available now on all the usual sites, sources, and shops.

After a year of tirelessly playing shows and releasing acoustic versions and remixes, the band's latest EP showcases a different side of Tic Tic Boom! “[Before the Sun Rises] deals with concepts of life and death,” explains frontwoman Leilani Francisco. “How all things are cyclical and we're all just a small piece of an enormous never-ending puzzle. It's about struggling to understand your place in all of that.”

With floor-shaking bass synths, sweeping and sometimes jittery arpeggios, disco-drum beats, and distorted guitars, all under Francisco’s dreamlike vocals it's a little bit of an electronic heaven delivered to your ears.

Download: Constellation Boy
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Musique Le Pop

Time Changes is the debut single from the Norwegian electronic/indie trio Musique le Pop. Hailing from the small town of Fredrikstad, the group consists of Christoffer (known for his eclectic pop group Remington Super 60) Jon (from the electronica act Safariari) and Betty (from the music/performance group Elak Bingo). The band came to be when Christoffer heard Betty singing the line ‘Time Changes’ over and over again while she was applying make-up before running off to a party, and within an hour, the two had recorded a rough draft of the song in their home studio. Chris sent it on to Jon, who added the final elements to the track. Pleasantly surprised with the completed track, and slightly annoyed that they had not worked together like this before, the three officially formed the band, picked a name and started rehearsing. A few weeks later, the track was mixed and mastered and sent away for release.

Reminiscent of say St. Etienne, Club 8, or something in between indie dance, synth pop, and trip hop Musique Le Pop smash all of that up, apparently apply make up to it, and then unleash it upon the dance floor.  The results, despite the quick turnaround time, are great. 

As the song says, time changes and rather than just going to parties, the trio is now working on a full-length album.  But before that's released expect more singles that borderline between dance friendly indie, twee and electronica.  The band also will play their first European gigs this summer.

Stream: Time Changes
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Alan Wilkis Makes Prints

Alan Wilkis is a busy man.  He works with a lot of people.  Rather than trying to explain it all to you, I'll just let him do that.

PRINTS is a series of singles by Brooklyn-based recording artist and producer, Alan Wilkis. For each song or “print,” he first writes an instrumental piece and then collaborates with a different vocalist, sometimes together in the studio and sometimes via the web, until the “print” takes its shape. By drawing both himself and his collaborators out of their respective comfort zones, Alan hopes to push each “print” to new and unexpected heights.

Alan chose to name the project, PRINTS, largely because a “print” implies a certain beautiful simplicity, as well as an ability to stand alone as a piece of art. “Printing” can also refer to the act of rendering a recording session into a single audio file. Also, “prints” and “Prince” sound alike... and Alan really likes Prince.

Download: Come and Go (ft. TheKickDrums)
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Dempsey Wins!

Niels Pederson and Adam Abildgaard have been playing music for a little over 5 years, but it was only about a year that they began to make music as Dempsey. They both went to high school together in Davis, California and until recently, both lived there (Adam moved to San Francisco about 6 months ago). After parting ways with the third member of their previous band Dempsey came into being with Niels and Adam continuing to make music but taking it in a completely different direction.

After aimlessly making a few tracks together, Adam created the beginnings of what is now “Late Night” and decided their sound had been found. Nine months and a lot of hard work later they have now released their first EP, and are already in the preliminary stages of their next. Despite the bit of distance between the two, they maintain a collaborative dynamic through constant file sharing and frequent trips up and down the PCH.

Sounding like what would have happened had the Mark Gardner out of Ride fell out of love with the Byrds and in love with synthesizers, listening to Dempsey is like listening to "Chrome Waves" through a "Time Machine."  Hazy post apocalyptic dream pop for the synthesized generation is what these guys are all about and that's something worth taking a Ride for.

Download: Late Night
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BEEEEEEP Art, Let's Dance!

Fuck Art, Let's Dance! is Romeo Sfendules (Guitar) and Tim Hansen (Drums) who operate as a highly motivated and brilliant team behind the dynamic, inspired and ridiculously young singer Nico. FUCK ART, LET’S DANCE! manage to create a make believe utopia of intense electronic beats and driving atmospheric guitars.

A sugar rush of synthetics and beats, FALD are a rush of everything to the head all at once.  One can't help but think of someone like Figure meeting Barcelona if they were German while trying to place where FALD are coming from.  It's all very upbeat and filled with pop thrills from the get go and so ridiculously catchy you might need an antibiotic to help clear your brain.

Download: The Conqueror 
Download: The Conqueror (aUtOdiDakT Remix)
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It Pays Rewards For Equal Dreams

Rewards (Aaron Pfenning, Co-Founder of Chairlift) has debuted the brand new Eddie Mars remix of his single Equal Dreams featuring Solange Knowles and Blood Orange aka Lightspeed Champion. Released through DFA Records digitally and in 12" vinyl this past summer.

Pfenning assumed the name Rewards (a moniker he's actually used since 2003), after he spent the better part of last year touring with We Are Scientists, Brandon Flowers, Suckers and Warpaint, and released three broodingly romantic singles ("I Used To," "What a Loser" and the achingly beautiful "Two Cardinals").

Now here he is on DFA making some rather lush, Creation-ish, synthpop that people like Justice have no clue how to make!

Download: Equal Dreams Feat. Solange Knowles (Eddie Mars Remix)
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Monarchy Don't Want to Dance With You

Summer might officially be over, but please don't tell Monarchy this as they apparently still think it is mid June.  This is ok.

You see, Monarchy are back with another synth-pop gem, You Don't Want To Dance With Me, due for release in late October. After the undeniably catchy summer single Maybe I'm Crazy, the duo slow things down with the irresistible YDWTDWM (say that three times fast), featuring guest vocals from Britt Love.

The song's pulsating bass line and hypnotic, layered synths provide the perfect backdrop to showcase Britt's sultry sound as she duets with Monarchy's Ra Black.

Riding on the success of their critically acclaimed debut album Around The Sun and with this killer single (completely new and re-worked) set to do the business, Monarchy's year looks like closing on a high even if they still think it's June.

Download: You Don't Want To Dance With Me (Vivien Remix)
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St. Lucia Has All Eyes On You

St. Lucia is a recording artist based in Brooklyn, NY. However, his musical journey began far from here. The vocalist/producer/multi-instrumentalist began his musical journey in his home country of South Africa. Much of his music is inspired by old family photos and the exotic environment in which he first began cultivating his talents.

His debut double AA-side, All Eyes On Me, is now out on HeavyRoc - the China Town, NY label that brought you The Knocks and Alex Winston.  Dreamy and kind of like old Peter Cetera records, this is a record that goes for your heart and reaches the stars.  St. Lucia is all about heavenly pop that should be canonized.

Download: All Eyes On You
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Can I Get Your Digits?

Digits are a dark, minimalist synth pop project from Toronto, Ontario. Created as a one piece unit by Alt Altman, Digits began in late 2009 with the release of his first album Hold it Close.

He released the Lost Dream EP in April 2011, with the yet to be released, Only Affection EP to follow in September, and a second full-length, Get Through, scheduled for November.

Only Affection EP, when it is released will be done so as a free download on his website on September 6, 2011, with the first single "Because It's Wrong."

Broody and slightly spooky, "Because It's Wrong," will stalk you as it hypnotizes you with it's gorgeous minimalism. If this tune is any indication of what the EP is going to be like...we might all need to see someone come September.

Download: Becuase It's Wrong
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Doug Hoyer Walks At Night

Doug Hoyer is among Edmonton’s premier pop practitioners. Having toured Canada several times in support of two previous EP’s and 2010’s Two New Songs From Doug Hoyer 7”, his long awaited full length debut Walks with the Tender and Growing Night has finally arrived via Old Ugly Recording Co. June 30th.

Commonly known as a ukulele troubadour, that sound has grown immensely. If you've had a chance to enjoy his recent 7" you will have already witnessed this transformation beginning. Doug's newest endeavor is heavily danceable and involves a deluge of different instruments, record samples, field recordings, and sound-makers on every track. Produced by Calvin McElroy (Gobble Gobble, Kuhrye-oo), the album's focus on infectious melodies and crooning heights is very much deliberate.

Download: Northern Lights
Download: Oh the Wind Will Blow
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The Aikiu's Kiss of Death

Delivering deep velvet 80s dance floor beats, The Aikiu, sound like a combination of Depeche Mode, Erasure and every ones favorite Rick Astley.  Dripping with dark tainted anxiety while still having a ridiculous pop sensibility about them, The Aikiu are at home smoking cloves as much as they are on a flashy dance floor. 

Judging by the single, The Aikiu, dark heart and cool demeanor has lead to write some damn fine songs.  The Aikiu expresses both his dreams and nightmares through pure electronic pop genius, making him one of the most promising artists around. This "Red Kiss," is one peck on the cheek you don’t want to waste.

Download: The Red Kiss (The Magician Precious 80's Pop Remix)
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Porcelain Raft Sets Adrift

Some labels get it, some don't. One of the labels that clearly gets it is Acephale Records. Why? Well, I'll let them explain...

"Instead of doing the normal thing where we get a bunch of people to do remixes and then sell it as a package on iTunes or wherever, we decided to take inspiration from the end of the year and give the whole (Porcelain Raft) thing away. We're celebrating the emergence of Porcelain Raft on his debut 7", sweet sadness/sad sweetness, the promise of travel, long cold walks, the thrill of novelty, but most of all the potential of a new year. Let's go 2K!!."

And the remixes deliver...and if that's not enough there's a video to boot. There's a whole multi-media experience here at your fingertips. Rather than me rambling on about it...hop to it. Downtempo/synth pop craziness has never sounded quite like this...

Download: Tip Of Your Tongue (Keep Shelly in Athens Remix)
Download: Tip Of Your Tongue (Blood Diamonds Remix)
Download: Gone Blind (Nowa Huta Remix)
Download: Porcelain Raft - Tip Of Your Tongue (Blackbird Blackbird Remix)
Watch:

Porcelain Raft - Tip Of Your Tongue from ACEPHALE on Vimeo.

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