CHOON OF THE DAY: "ENDLESSLY" - GL + Top 10 Greatest GL Tracks

So apparently I have blogged about this Australian duo 38 times to date... Here's another GL-themed post on the rather wondrous occasion of the arrival of their sublime, lushly produced latest single "Endlessly" which is heralding the release of their sophomore LP "You Read My Mind" dropping on 25th September. The Melbourne based Ella Thompson and Graeme Pogson continue to champion the 1980's sonic revival with a concoction of synth-pop, post-disco, cosmic-funk, R&B and soul spiced up with their very own signature twist. I have recently selected "Touch" - GL's debut album, as one of the 5 greatest records of the decade in my Top 100 Greatest Albums of the 2010's so the expectations for "You Read My Mind" are rather high. You can pre-order your vinyl/digital copy now via Bandcamp. To celebrate the release of "Endlessly" I have also compiled a list of 10 previous GL songs I cherish the most. Enjoy!

Top 10 Greatest GL Tracks

10 "Destiny" (2017)

GL..! · GL - Destiny

9 "Number One" (2015)

8 "Body Language" (2016)

7 "Pistachio" (2020)

6 "Grip" (2016)

GL..! · Grip

5 "Reflect" (2017)

GL..! · GL - Reflect

4 "Hallucinate" (2016)

3 "Take Me Back" (2014)

2 "Warm" (2016)

1 "What Happened To Us?" (2014)

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CHOON OF THE DAY: "SOMEWHERE ELSE " - Sink Ya Teeth

Photo by Andi Sapey + Susie Lloyd

 Sink Ya Teeth, our favourite disco punk revivalists are back with an infectious electro stomper "Somewhere Else" throbbing with beats, synths and melody hooks which instantly get under your skin. I have been a devoted admirer of this talented Norwich duo ever since I heard their hypnotic debut single "If You See Me" back in 2017. The new single announces the release of their highly anticipated 2nd LP "Two" which drops next week! The video for "Somewhere Else" was directed by Joseph Hayes and the track is trending super high for my upcoming monthly Crème de la Shrem ranking. On repeat!



Check out Sink Ya Teeth's Perfect Party Playlist compiled exclusively for Shrem's Carousel HERE!

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CHOON OF THE DAY: "OH MY GOD" - Sevdaliza

Oh. My. God. Indeed. Sevdaliza's brand new single, announcing the arrival of her self-proclaimed new era is setting up the bar impossibly high for any other singles to follow in 2020. This is the Iranian artist (in full dimension of this word!) at her creative peak! A brand new masterpiece from one of the most unique and important artists of the 2010s entering the new decade, ready to be worshipped at the electronic altars of the 2020s... In awe.

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CHOON OF THE DAY: "WHICH WAY THE WIND" - The Late David Turpin feat. Jaime Nanci & Bear Worship

I discovered this sublime collaboration last week with an instant appetite to make it my soundtrack of the past few days. The alluring "Which Way the Wind" comes from a joined Irish queer-scene based force that is The Late David Turpin, Bear Worship and the sensational Jaime Nanci who is escaping his jazzy roots here to seduce us with his mellifluous vocalisations in the electronic sphere. The lavishly produced track brings us on a cinematic journey, reminiscing Goldfrapp's first album "Felt Mountain", embellished with subtle beats, tastefully selected synths and leaving us gasping for more. I am completely bewitched with the song's haunting melody, its enigmatic aura, the moody (and flirtatious!) sax solo, the Julie London sample, the multi-tiered arrangements... Oh the sonic luxury of it all! So autumnal. So sexy...

The Late David Turpin's album "Romances" is out now digitally an in a very special, physical release described most accurately by the official press release:

"In lieu of a conventional physical release, David has worked with the artist Dorje De Burgh to produce a limited edition photo-book (with a download code and optional CD). The book’s images and artwork make explicit the 1980s influence at work in Romances – particularly that of the celebrated avant-garde filmmaker Derek Jarman. Like everything else about the album, it reflects Turpin’s commitment to taking a fresh approach the singular territory he has carved out in his ten years as a recording artist."





"Romances" comes with another collaboration featuring Jaime Nanci - the atmospheric, Julee Cruise-esque "Unsolved Mystery" which could easily be taken from David Lynch's new season of "Twin Peaks"...

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CHOONS OF THE DAY [REMIX EDITION]: Róisín Murphy /// Robyn /// Yaeji /// Björk /// Fever Ray /// The Knife

It's not often we get avalanched by such a spectacular bundle of mixes on the same day! It's like all of my favourite female artists coalesced in secrecy to treat us to the ultimate muso feast during this otherwise bland and uneventful summer season of music...

First up, we have the unparalleled Irish Art Pop marvel Róisín Murphy who has been enjoying an enormous success with her latest house anthem "Incapable" ever since it dropped anonymously on a white label 12" back in December, swiftly becoming an underground club phenomenon. Following a wider digital release, a dual remix treatment by The Crooked Man himself, this incontestable house diva belter continues its expansion across the dancefloors of the world with the latest remix package featuring an impossibly euphoric, vintage flavoured remix by Dimitri from Paris and Aeroplane! Could this mean that 2019 will be the first year in the history of my 10-year old blog where the top spots for the Track and the Remix of the year will in fact go to the same song?

Robyn's 2018 album "Honey" was arguably her most artistically sophisticated and mature album to date. An eclectic selection of 9 superbly produced, excellent tracks which are now, in rotation, living their second lives with a stream of remixes by the likes of Kim Ann Foxman, The Black Madonna, Planningtorock, Soulwax, Louie Vega and now Yaeji! The Korean wonder-child claims "Beach2k20" to be her favourite summer-all-year-long bop and her rendition of this oddball slice of "Honey" is appropriately kooky and uplifting. This girl can seriously do no wrong.

To finish up we have a Scandinavian triptych and the first ever collaboration between Björk and Karin Dreijer who have teamed up for a trio of extraordinary and astonishing remixes which are available to pre-order on a limited edition 12" via One Little Indian.

The Icelandic mastermind turns Fever Ray's "This Country" into a completely uncompromising wall of electronic noise reminiscing Alec Empire's industrial interpretations of "Jóga". Björk adds her own vocals to the mix making it a particularly rare (and radical) treat.

Fever Ray depicts Björk's "Features Creatures" in their signature cold synth-pop way. It's a feast of electronic waves and distorted voices, beautifully amalgamated with Björk's goosebump-inducing vocals. It's also Fever Ray's first ever remix for another artist.

The cherry-on-top comes with The Knife's throbbing electro stomper version of "Features Creatures". Karin and Olof Dreijer turn this "Utopia" track into a multi-layered, tribal beat-laden, twisted dancefloor moment, bringing back the sonic memories of the Swedish sibling duo's "Shaken-Up Versions" re-visiting their own back catalogue back in 2014. Hands down one of the most staggering remixes I've heard in years.

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CHOON OF THE DAY: "FOREIGN CAR" - Kelsey Lu

Kelsey Lu's debut album "Blood" is a sonic fountain of genres, styles and moods. A breathtaking ode to artistic freedom, eclecticism with a no-creative-compromise attitude. The uniquely gifted singer from North Carolina is serving us a bold mixture of folk, electronica, R&B and even some string-laden moody disco. The centre piece of the record is the spellbinding "Foreign Car" - a song worthy of Future R&B masterpiece status right next to FKA Twigs' "Papi Pacify" or Sevdaliza's "Human". The song is an aural mystery, an instantly captivating blend of electronica, Oriental vibes, distorted vocals and that beautifully unnerving sample of Stefano Torossi's 1975 piece "Walking In The Dark" which was previously used in Fatima's phenomenal "Somebody Else". On top of it all, "Foreign Car" has recently received an astonishing video treatment by the very talented Vincent Haycock. The artistry, the styling, the cinematography, the art direction, the opulence (!!!) all combine to have 2019's Video Of The Year written all over it.

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CHOON OF THE DAY: "LA PLAGE" - Bibi Club

Photo by Mégane Voghell

Bibi Club is a Montreal based duo consisting of singer-keyboardist Adèle Trottier-Rivard and guitarist Nicolas Basque. Their self-released debut single "La Plage" is exactly the kind of mellow indie synth-pop moment I was in need of to cool off when the summer heat kicked in. The song is a charming slice of indie pop with an absorbing production and instantly memorable melody. One can only dream this aural pleasure could last a little bit longer with the track clocking at a modest 2.29. Somewhere between the musical worlds of Young Galaxy, Munya and Men I Trust, all of which happen to be Canadian as well. Sublime and promising.

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SHREM'S FUTURE ANTHEMS: "DARKEST HOUR" - Sevdaliza

Sevdaliza. One of the most unique, uncompromising and exquisite talents in the world right now. With every next release being a thrill, I would like to highlight in particular the magnificence of her latest offering, the mesmerising "Darkest Hour". The initial, ascetically minimal piano-led production gradually builds up to a haunting, multi-layered synth-pop wonder, bolero style. It already sounds as confident and powerful as some of Sevdaliza's most accomplished works to date such as "Shahmaran", "Human" or "That Other Girl". And that recitation in Farsi in the very last seconds of the song, the cherry on top! A new masterpiece. We are not worthy.





And here's a reminder of Sevdaliza's previous songs I consider masterpieces in my muso books... 

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SHREM'S FUTURE ANTHEMS: "NOBODY'S FOOL" - Cherushii & Maria Minerva + "S/T" EP

The marvellous and instantly captivating "Nobody's Fool" is one of 7 collaborative tracks between the Estonian avant-garde electronic musician Maria Minerva and her partner in "leftfield house" crime San Francisco underground club producer Cherushii who was one of the tragic victims of the 2016 Oakland Ghost Ship warehouse fire...  One can't help but listen to this exquisite EP with a sense of deep sadness and nostalgia in spite of its songs balancing blissfully between dancefloor-friendly territories of synth-pop, deep house and house. It's a legacy of Cherushii's undeniable creativity and a testimony to the beautiful friendship and artistic partnership between the pair. The vocal version of "Nobody's Fool" is a true explosion of beats, samples and vocal hooks, echoing some sweet early 90's Deee-Lite vibes. Quite possibly the greatest track I have heard so far in 2019... 

"After two years of working to finish the project amid a difficult grieving process, Minerva releases her album with Cherushii via 100% Silk on Feb. 15. Titled S/T, it offers a glimpse into the new, exalted house-pop direction Cherushii was reaching for before her passing." we read in the official press release. 

"S/T" is out now on all digital outlets as well as on 12" via Bandcamp. 

Here are some of my other favourite tracks from Cherushii's vast back catalogue of underground gems:

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CHOON OF THE DAY: "GOTS TO GIVE THE GIRL" - Unperfect

Last time I was THIS excited about a new girl band was when Sugababes' dropped their magnificent debut single "Overload" back in 2000... Well maybe once more when I heard "(H)Ours" by Juce 3 years ago. Any information about this up & coming quartet is scarce at the minute but what we know is that Unperfect have just released one of the most sophisticated, effortlessly cool pop singles I've heard in months. A mélange of genres, surprising choice of instruments and delectably subtle 90's echoes make "Gots to Give the Girl" such an instantly appealing, somewhat familiar and immediately catchy groove. On top of the sleek production, these girls can also sing! I'm gonna keep an eye on Soipan, Chloe, Tiah and Siobhan as I sense big things just around the corner.





And here are the songs by Sugababes and Juce I mentioned above:

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SHREM'S CLUB BIZARRE PRESENTS: "HIGH LIGHTS" - Charlotte Adigéry

It seemed impossible to top Charlotte Adigéry's previous single, the tribal-beat throbbing, highly entrancing "Paténipat" which sounded unlike anything else we heard throughout 2018. Now the Belgian-Martiniquaise singer, also known in muso circles for her side project WWWater, is enticing us with another song announcing the release of her 2nd EP "Zandoli" scheduled for 8th Feb via DEEWEE. "High Lights" is an entertainingly eccentric ode to synthetic wigs in the form of a kooky synth-pop number which is strangely catchy in its own unique way. What better a tune to revive my Club Bizarre thread with.




And here's "Paténipat" again in case you missed it...

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SHREM'S WORLDLY DELIGHTS: "Tell Me (Doko Mien)" - Ibibio Sound Machine

Our favourite London based Nigerian collective Ibibio Sound Machine continue to deliver some of the freshest sounds in the crossover of so-called world music and electronica. Their very own signature hybrid of afro-beat, electro, post punk and West-African funk creates soundscapes like no other out there. It'll be precisely 2 years since the release of their previous LP "Uyai" when Ibibio Sound Machine drop their brand new album "Doko Mien" via Merge Records on 22nd March. The title track serves exactly the kind of pick-me-up explosion of vital beats, synths and dancefloor-friendly energy we all need to cure these January blues.

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CHOON OF THE DAY: "MOVE" - Lynda Dawn

Photo by Hannah Faith

If you are nostalgic about 1980's vibes, the rare grooves, those smooth and slick soul anthems à la 1985 you are pretty much guaranteed to fall for this oldskool-flavoured absolute gem of a song. Lynda Dawn is a London based vocalist whose "Move" could trick us into believing it was some previously undiscovered lost gem of the era... The track comes from the latest edition in Gilles Peterson's cult series of compilations "Brownswood Bubblers". A lucky 13th volume! Think Mtume, The Fatback Band, Loose Ends, René & Angela and Gwen Guthrie... I am so looking forward to hearing more from this talented young songstress.

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CHOON OF THE DAY: "ÉCOUTE CHÉRIE" - Vendredi sur Mer

Every now and then, there comes an artist whose compatibility with my music taste seems almost suspicious. It was that aural fondness I immediately felt stumbling upon the Swiss artist Vendredi sur Mer for the very first time back in 2016 with her captivating electro POP recitation "La Femme à la Peau Bleue". What followed was Charline Mignot's debut EP "Marée Basse" which scored #2 among Top 20 Best EPs of 2017. Vendredi sur Mer beguiles with her half-whispered, half-sung sonic escapades into synth-pop and charmingly old-fashioned French Chanson. The melodies, the lavish arrangements, the artwork and the videos are a luxurious mixture of kitsch, glamour, erotica and camp. All en français!!! If this wasn't enough this Geneva-born chanteuse I am clearly quite obsessed with at the moment, has just returned with her most impressive work to date - the sumptuous "Écoute Chérie" a late but very viable contender for both 2018 Video and Song of the Year. I'm in love...



And here are Vendredi sur Mer's previous singles:

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SHREM'S FUTURE ANTHEMS: "MAQUILLAGE" - Corine

Our most favourite French disco chanteuse Corine is back with yet another stellar single heralding the arrival of her most anticipated debut album scheduled for 16 November. We're expecting a hedonistic avalanche of synth-pop and nu-disco in a vivacious aura of all sounds kitsch, camp and coquettish. The glamorously retro-chic "Maquillage" is on a par with Corine's previous singles such as "Pluie Fine", "Pourquoi Pourquoi" or her alluring duet with Juliette Armanet "Épopée Solaire". J'adorrrrre...

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SHREM'S FUTURE ANTHEMS: "GIVE ME A REASON" + "GIVE ME LIFE" - Midnight Magic

Our most beloved disco revivalists Midnight Magic are back out of nowhere with not one but two brand new tracks!!! The unparalleled Tiffany Roth and her reliable crew are serving us a double dancefloor feast. The spell-binding "Give Me Life" is a sonic cocktail of house, the Magicians' horn section's signature embellishments and those sublime vocal harmonies and melody twists reminiscing the band's phenomenal club delicacy "Trouble T" which I selected as my 2014 Track of the Year here. And to think that's only a b-side!!! The summery and super-catchy A-side "Give Me a Reason" is an 80's flavoured synth-pop groove which already sounds like a Midnight Magic classic. It will no doubt sound equally charming in a live setting.





Check out also the video for "Down Delay" which the band premiered here back in January.

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CHOON OF THE DAY: "JET BLACK" - Channel Tres

Our favourite "new kid on the block" Channel Tres represented by GODMODE - a mine of artistic talents the likes of Yaeji and Shamir, returns with his second single "Jet Black". Channel Tres' impossibly addictive debut single "Controller" was a tough act to follow but "Jet Black" transfixes in a similar manner with the Compton artist's effervescent collage of urban vibes, electronica, Detroit House and hip-hop. Deservedly praised across the entire blogosphere, Channel Tres' sounds are genre-bending, vibrant and very current.





Here's "Controller" once again in its freshly released Andrés remix:

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CHOON OF THE DAY: "SCORCHED MOTH" - Miink

The mysterious Miink beguiled us last autumn with his hypnotising debut single "Who Are You?" which landed him a secure spot among the Top 10 Hottest Newcomers of 2017. Now the fascinating London-based vocalist returns with "Scorched Moth". Floating effortlessly between genres, styles and sounds, it creates a unique sonic hybrid which leaves us gasping for more at its modest yet aurally abundant 2.41min. The artistic future is bright for this multi-talented, curious and inventive young gentleman.

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SHREM'S FUTURE ANTHEMS: "SUBSTITUTES" - Sink Ya Teeth

 

I have been rooting for this UK duo from the very beginning. Sink Ya Teeth have appeared on numerous Crème de la Crème charts of mine, stood on the podium of my Hottest Newcomers of 2017 list last December and prepared this fun Perfect Party Playlist exclusively for my blog back in January. Now Maria Uzor and Gemma Cullingford are teasing us even more before the release of their self-titled debut album with an instantly captivating, gritty electro punk gem "Substitutes". Those post-punk vibes (that somehow suddenly sound very current again!), the energy and the haunting vocals serpentined around another entrancing melody, create a unique atmosphere. I am very much looking forward to discovering Sink Ya Teeth's debut album in its entirety. Aside from "Substitutes" the record will feature the pair's previous singles "Pushin'" and the anthemic "If You See Me".

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SHREM'S FUTURE ANTHEMS: "CONTROLLER" - Channel Tres

GODMODE - the always reliable and innovative independent label which brought us Shamir, Yaeji and Aaron Childs, is introducing us to another fresh musical talent. Channel Tres is a Los Angeles artist whose debut single "Controller" is a slice of off-kilter Detroit House with an urban twist, produced by one of Godmode's founders - Nick Sylvester and arranged with a geeky array of instruments and gadgets, "Controller" is making a loud statement on the underground club scene. An instant off-beat anthem.

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