By Keith Walsh
Square waves and heatwaves abound this summer, with a mix of electronic music tunes that are unprecedented in their excellence. Lots of gems right here for your listening pleasure, to blast from your beachside or poolside speaker.
Sienná “Pay It Forward”
Norway-based electronica artist Sienná creates gorgeous sounds informed by her Japanese upbringing and heritage – and that ‘s never been more apparent than on her new album Wa-Kei-Sei-Jyaku. Her experimental approach is at turns mystifying and playful, particularly on the track “Pay It Forward” with a friendly robotic voice dispensing wisdom and an enchanting world beat foundation. Sienná uses Logic Pro X, a collection of samples and soft synths, drawing on her wild imagination.
Sienná Web
Sienná On YouTube
Sienná On Bandcamp
A Conversation With Sienná
Roman Angelos x Scott Solter “Swimming Through The Aisles (Teeming Mix)”
Second in our summer set is the cool vibe of a live video performance of by nouveau lounge act Roman Angelos with a remix by producer/engineer Scott Solter. “Swimming Through The Aisles (Teeming Mix)” is the first release of the collaborative album Supermarkets, Underwater, an album of remixes by Solter of Music For Underwater Supermarkets, last year’s sleeper hit by Roman Angelos. Adding Solter to the mix brings electronic layers to Roman Angelo’s dreamy, acoustic vibe in satisfying ways.
Roman Angelos On Happy Robots Records
Music For Underwater Supermarkets On Bandcamp
Suburban Spell “Natural Science”
With his unique way of tweaking synth sounds, as well as his catchy melodies and crisp production, Peter Endall of Suburban Spell presents new vibes and a savvy messages. “Natural Science” is the second single from Suburban Spell’s Falling Down EP. It’s a great pop tune for the dance floor, with epic beats and especially that twisty synth bass, a new addition to the classic tradition of synthpop. Endall got his start tweaking synths in the band Schizo Scherzo, in his native Australia.
Suburban Spell On Bandcamp
Suburban Spell On YouTube
Suburban Spell On Spotify
Planet Neil “No Special Order”
Stellar synth beats reign on the new EP Imperial Phase by Planet Neil, out of Britain. The track “No Special Order” features glitchy, groovy electronics and Neil Dyer’s smoky baritone. There’s hints of Frankie Goes To Hollywood, Murray Head and Peter Gabriel here, but Dyer – the former frontman of Screen 3 and a badass electronic producer/singer songwriter in his own right – makes smart electronic music with wry, observational lyrics. For his DAW, Dyer uses Ableton, with virtual synths including Synthmaster.
Planet Neil dot com
Planet Neil On Facebook
“Imperial Phase” Review on Popular Culture Beat
Sick Robot “ANALOG”
Also out of Britain, Sick Robot is the brainchild of Liam White. The results of his electronic modulating and tweaking invite us to imagine a future that’s neither dystopian or ideal – there’s a bit of both there. Gritty beats featuring elements of White’s extensive samples library and softsynths merge into pleasantly melodic, and sometimes darkly distorted, synthetic sounds. White uses Ableton for his DAW, as well as Propellerhead Reason and a Korg Monologue chained to his audio interface with a Behringer Uphoria UMC22. “ANALOG” is from the album Technical Ability.
Sick Robot On Bandcamp
Sick Robot On Twitter
Q and A With Liam White At PopularCultureBeat.com
Peter Gabriel “So Much”
Still going strong, Peter Gabriel approaches aging with the psychological depth that’s his trademark. “So Much” features Gabriel’s mastery on acoustic piano, his soothing baritone, bass by Tony Levin, guitar by David Rhodes, and backing vocals by Gabriel’s daughter Melanie. The string arrangement is from John Metcalfe. It’s a majestic and beautiful track, mixing wisdom about love and the need to let go in the face of the inevitable. “So Much” is the latest single off his upcoming album i/o, from which he’s released more than a dozen single mixes so far.
Peter Gabriel Links
Peter Gabriel, Elder Statesman Of Electronica
Blaklight “Prey”
A track on the Darkness Calling compilation Back From The Grave, Vol 1, “Prey” finds the duo of Adam Collier and Brian Belknap (officially now a trio with the addition of Omar Quiñones) continuing their ever-creative work making dramatic, melancholy electronica. The lyrics speak of a familiar theme, alienation, which makes it an ideal inclusion on the compilation, the proceeds of which benefit the Trevor Project to benefit at risk LGBTQIA+ youth.
Blaklight Links
The Trevor Project
Nahja Mora “Play Dead”
For his Bjork cover, Josef Saint de Nahja Mora leans into the melodic material of the original while twisting it into his own darkly sweet creation. Though Saint’s music making techniques are obscured in mystery, he’s been known to use Gleetchlab and a vintage Yamaha synth. He’s from Baltimore, Maryland.
Nahja Mora dot com
Nahja Mora on Bandcamp
Nahja Mora on Facebook
Nahja Mora on Instagram
Precision Field on Bandcamp
Eva X “Control (Tragic Impulse Remix)”
Just off the heels of an extensive tour of parts of the U.S, and Canada, Eva X worked in the studio on a set of remixes of “Control,” a single from her 2022 album, I Dream Of A Reality. Eva X , aka Gaby Gustafson, creates EDM-flavored pop songs for the dance club and radio. The “Tragic Impulse Remix” of “Control” is the first release from Control Remixes, out July 28.
Eva X On Bandcamp
Eva X On YouTube
Eva X On Twitter
Eva X On Spotify
Mind Machine “Pry Your Eyes”
Duo Brian Olsen and Brian Belknap reunited last year to create new music from Mind Machine. The two Brians first formed the project in 1991, but their lives got busy. The new tracks remain based in classic synthpop yet with a distinctly 21st century vibe. If Belknap’s voice sounds familiar, he’s also the vocalist in Blaklight.
Mind Machine Link Tree
Mind Machine Facebook
Mind Machine Instagram
Mind Machine Bandcamp
“No Nasty Breakup” Interview With Brian and Brian Of Mind Machine
The Screaming Pope “Come With Me”
There’s a cool pop sound to this new single by The Screaming Pope (aka George Bolton.) Working out of Boston, Massachusetts, this seasoned studio whiz releases so much music that it’s literally impossible to keep up with it all. His inventive use of loops, samples and synths and his meticulous ear make for smooth listening. At less than two minutes, “Come With Me” is the second shortest track on the new album, The Era Of Possibilities.
The Screaming Pope On Spotify
George Bolton On Soundcloud
The Screaming Pope On Bandcamp
(Pineapple Image licensed from Adobe Stock, artist Freebird7977.)
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