Marc Houle: Undercover
Wrylab () posted this on facebook today, and I had to share. I'm a fan of Marc Houle already, but I hadn't seen this video for a track from his forthcoming album. Houle started off playing new wave in Windsor, Canada, before his then-roommate (superstar DJ Magda) convinced him to strip down his tracks for her sets. Many techno records and a move to Berlin later, he's returning to his roots with his label (which he runs with Magda), releasing material far different than what he previously did on Richie Hawtin's iconic minimal techno imprint . He'll also be releasing a synthpop album later this year on Tiga's label, under the name Raid Over Moscow.
Posted: March 23rd, 2012
at 7:23pm by qbot
Tagged with berlin, canadian, detroit, items and things, marc houle, minimal, minus, new wave, people who name themselves after atari games, raid over moscow, richie hawtin, synthpop, techno, tiga, turbo, windsor, wrylab
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Naked Eyes: Voices In My Head
Though better known for the singles "Always Something There To Remind Me" and "Promises, Promises", Naked Eyes have plenty of equally good output that tends to go unnoticed. "Voices In My Head" is the opening track on the same 1983 release as those hits, Burning Bridges. In this digital music era where people rarely listen to full albums anymore, it's been largely forgotten.
The English duo were originally in the band Neon. In the early '80s, Neon split; Pete Byrne and Rob Fischer then formed Naked Eyes while members Curt Smith and Roland Orzabal became Tears For Fears. Still making music and touring, Naked Eyes will release their latest album, Piccadilly, this summer.
DownloadNaked Eyes: Voices In My Head
Posted: July 1st, 2011
at 1:14am by qbot
Tagged with 1983, british, burning bridges, curt smith, neon, new wave, pete byrne, rob fischer, roland orzabal, synthpop, tears for fears, voices in my head
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Richie Hawtin Interview with Daniel Miller
Whoever came up with the idea for this is brilliant. Superstar techno dj and producer Richie Hawtin interviews Daniel Miller, founder of legendary UK label . They talk about the early days of the British electronic music scene, the trials of starting up a label, his signing of Fad Gadget and later Depeche Mode, synthesizers, Berlin, and the influences Mute has had on Hawtin's own Plus 8 label. Miller signed Hawtin to his sub-label Novamute in 1992 as his dark alter ego .
Posted: June 21st, 2011
at 8:44pm by qbot
Tagged with british, dancing, daniel miller, depeche mode, fad gadget, mute, new wave, plastikman, punk, richie hawtin, synthpop, techno
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Voxbox: Passive Aggressor
My friend Nevin dropped off a video of a track from his forthcoming EP on my facebook the other day, aptly describing it as "kind of an homage to Depeche Mode & Ministry". Couldn't put it better myself.
Check out Nevin's for not only info and samples of his original work, but some really creative mashups and dj mixes (I HIGHLY recommend his live dj sets).
Posted: January 22nd, 2011
at 2:25pm by qbot
Tagged with 2011, american, djs, nevin hersch, new wave, passive aggressor, synthpop, tonecard, voxbox
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Venetians: Things
Ah it's a snowy, dreary winter in Chicago...time to post some more music!
I have little to say about Venetians; they're from Australia, and had relatively little success there, let alone anywhere else. "Things" is taken from their 1985 debut Step Off The Edge. Sadly, I can't find this album available for sale anywhere, and no official website for the band, as they disbanded in 1989. So enjoy this mp3 and good luck finding more; I think it's worth digging up.
DownloadVenetians: Things
Posted: January 18th, 2011
at 5:14pm by qbot
Tagged with 1985, australian, david skeet, matthew hughes, new wave, peter watson, rik swinn, synthpop, things, tim powles, venetians
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My Robot Friend: We’re The Pet Shop Boys
"We're The Pet Shop Boys" is so...meta. I don't even know where to start. Released by My Robot Friend in 2002 on the full length Hot Action, it's a song about the Pet Shop Boys, created almost entirely of Pet Shop Boys' own lyrics. As if that wasn't enough, the Pet Shop Boys themselves actually did a cover of it as a b-side to "Miracles". Oh and it doesn't stop there, either; Robbie Williams did a cover of the Pet Shop Boys cover of the song about the Pet Shop Boys. Where will the madness end!?
Done, of course, more in the Pet Shop Boys' style than his own, My Robot Friend is worth checking out for his other material as well. He relays tales of robot adventures amongst the humans set against exactly the sort of machine-made pop you'd expect from someone who does his live shows in a full body robot costume (do NOT miss his live show if you happen to come across one...think Captured By Robots, the sequel).
DownloadMy Robot Friend: We're The Pet Shop Boys
Posted: January 15th, 2011
at 5:25pm by qbot
Tagged with 2002, american, bleepy synths, british, captured by robots, covers, hot action, my robot friend, pet shop boys, robbie williams, robots, synthpop
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Red This Ever: Selfless
Three years ago, Kamar and I were asked to play the Baltimore Music Conference. Aside from playing at Sonar (one of my favorite warehouse-style clubs), the highlight of our trip wasn't the conference at all. Our friend Michael stole us away for a night to take us to The Depot, a venue that, if you're from Chicago, I would describe as sort of a cross between Darkroom and Liar's Club. The bill included , kindred soul to our new wave/synthpop/industrial focus, and the fantastic . But the best part was the headliners; Red This Ever absolutely blew us away with their energetic guitar-fused synthpop. I have since kept a Red This Ever button on my purse, and Kamar and I never forgot them.
You can imagine how excited we were when Michael told us they were coming to town. We jumped on the chance to book them, and so this Sunday, Atomic takes its first leap into live music. I couldn't ask for a better lineup, and Kamar and I hope that when you see Red This Ever, either at the show in Chicago or , that you're as impressed as we were that night in Baltimore.
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Pic Vicious: LA Dreamer + Beauty Was Her Burden
Atomic returns this weekend with a ! We are really excited about both of these bands, so I'll do a post on each.
Pic Vicious' classic synthy sound is sparse and dark. Their theatrical presentation, complete with props and costumes, is not. I love the juxtaposition and I couldn't resist posting a video, but the fancy trappings aren't even necessary; this pair sounds great even when you can't see them. Check out "Wicked West" on their for what happens when new wave meets dubstep. No, really. They're known for their live shows, and a quick search of YouTube will evidence why. I can't wait to see them Sunday.
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