CHOON OF THE DAY: "AMERICAN CARS" - Annie + Top 25 Greatest Annie Hits

Photo by Hildegunn Waerness

Hey synth-pop lovers, may I have your attention please? Annie is back!!! As reported by Pitchfork yesterday, our favourite Norwegian electro pop singer-songwriter and dj Anne Lilia Berge Strand is returning this Autumn with her 3rd full length album "Dark Hearts". Believe it or not, Annie is celebrating 2 decades of making music this year and following a number of EPs, collaborations and remixes she is finally ready to release a follow-up to her vibrantly eclectic collection of scandi-pop, the 2008 "Don't Stop". "Dark Hearts" is heralded by "American Cars" a 1980's-infused, cinematic and subtly Johnny Jewel-esque slice of elegant dream pop. The excitement around this most anticipated single inspired me to re-visit Annie's entire catalogue of tunes spanning across the past 20 years in search of the 25 I treasure the most. Enjoy this mini Annie-fest everyone!



Top 25 Greatest Annie Hits

25 "I Will Get On" (2002)

24 "Crazy For You" [with Designer Drugs] (2010)

Designer Drugs Official · 10 Crazy for You feat Annie

23 "Heartbeat" (2004)

22 "The Wedding" (2005)

21 "Labyrinth (Club Mix)" [with Tuff City Kids] (2016)

permanent vacation · Tuff City Kids with Annie -  Labyrinth - Club mix

20 "Ralph Macchio" (2013)

Richard X · ANNIE - RALPH MACCHIO - From The A&R EP

19 "Helpless Fool For Love" (2004)

18 "Don't Stop" (2008)

Annie · Don't Stop

17 "Out of Reach" (2015)

Richard X · Annie - Out Of Reach (From the Endless Vacation EP)

16 "All Night" (2009)

15 "Marie Cherie" (2008)

Annie · Marie Cherie

14 "WorkX2" (2015)

Richard X · Annie - WorkX2 (From The Endless Vacation EP)

13 "Follow Me" [with Ercola] (2007)

alexander91ivanov · Ercola feat. Annie - Follow Me (Radio Edit)

12 "Anniemal" (2004)

11 "Cara Mia" (2015)

Richard X · Annie - Cara Mia (From The Endless Vacation EP)

10 "Back Together" (2013)

9 "I Don't Like Your Band" (2008)

Annie · I Don't Like Your Band

8 "Chewing Gum" (2004)

7 "American Cars" (2020)

6 "Dadaday" (2015)

Richard X · Annie - Dadaday - (From The Endless Vacation EP)

5 "Ferret Summer" (2009)

4 "Songs Remind Me Of You" (2009)

3 "The Greatest Hit" (2000)

2 "Anthonio" (2009)

Annie · Anthonio (Original Version)

1 "Invisible" (2013)

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SHREM'S LIST OBSESSION: Top 10 Greatest Empress Of Tracks

Lorely Rodriguez aka Empress Of has just released her most anticipated 3rd LP "I'm Your Empress" via Terrible Records. You can order it in CD, Vinyl or Digital format on Bandcamp. I am using this special occasion to revisit this truly talented and unique musician's entire catalogue to date, cherry-picking my favourite singles, collaborations and deep-cuts of hers. In a truly eclectic manner, Empress Of's musical palettes float harmoniously between multiple genres, styles and moods. From dream pop to alternative R&B, synth-pop to experimental electronica, Empress Of remains one of the most captivating artists of the younger generation, never dropping the ball and notoriously pushing herself beyond any creative boundaries and artistic conventions while successfully marrying what's underground and what's pure POP perfection. And then there's THAT distinctive voice! Happy Empress Of week everyone!

10 "Woman Is a Word"

9 "When I'm With Him"

8 "Tristeza"

7 "Reformer" [with Darkstar]

6 "Maybe This Time"

5 "How Do You Do It"

4 "Wild Girl" [with Kito]

3 "Hat Trick"

2 "Just the Same"

1 "Give Me Another Chance"

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CHOON OF THE DAY: "IN & OUT" - Moon King

There is something charmingly unpretentious about this radiant piece of synth pop from Moon King announcing the release of "Hamtramck '16" which you can pre-order now on Bandcamp. "In & Out" is one of those tracks which simply won't leave you alone. The cleverly put together oldskool production, irresistibly catchy melody and the lo-fi-meets-nu disco-meets-dream-pop vibes make it a treat like no other. It'll honestly takes just one play to get you hooked. This is the sound of the summer time.

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CHOON OF THE DAY: "IS IT POSSIBLE" - Wildhart

I discovered Wildhart earlier on this year when I stumbled upon their hypnotising "We Made Up A Dream". Now the Swedish alt-pop trio are releasing their debut album "Shine" promoted by the charmingly unconventional "Is It Possible" bravely pushing the boundaries of modern POP. There's so many sonic twists and turns here yet the track beguiles listeners with its undeniably
ravishing melody and productional aesthetics. It is jazzy in moments, it's experimental, it's dreamy, and it is euphoric with the exquisite array of subtle beats. A true gem of a song.

"SHINE is for us a meltdown of the sounds and influences we've had over three years. It is a melancholic story of us all being broken flowers reaching out to the sun. It is an album about dreams. A letter to a friend who lost her mother. And a gratitude to the ones we love."

You can stream "Shine" on Hype Machine .

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SHREM'S DOUBLE TROUBLE: "LAST" - Rainbow Chan /// "GRIP" - GL

It's quite fitting that I would revive my blogging duties with a song by an artist of Chinese descent, considering the past 3 weeks' hiatus was caused by my travels to Hong Kong and mainland China. Rainbow Chan is no stranger to my carousel of sounds, her last appearance was in March when I was raving about her oddball synth-pop moment "Nest". With "Last" this Sydney-based "fervent collector of sounds" extends her eager exploration of the alternative Pop territories, escaping mainstream's mundanity and embellishes her signature eclecticism with sumptuous layers of unexpected electronic beats. I've had the track on repeat since it dropped via Silo Arts 2 weeks ago. I am also particularly fond of the series of artworks which accompany Chan's singles this year.

I have paired Rainbow Chan with GL today as both acts are based in Australia. My favourite cosmic funk Melburnians revitalise the sweetest synth sounds of the 1980's with complete success yet again. GL's distinctive oldschool productions combined with perfect glitter pop melodies make them one of the most exciting duos globally in my nerdy music books. The impossibly addictive "Grip" begins with some apt reminiscences of Madonna's "La Isla Bonita" in its full 12" mix glory. The track announces the release of the band's debut LP "Touch" which comes out later on this year via Plastic World / Midnight Feature. Heavenly good and ridiculously catchy!

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SHREM'S LATE MONDAY NIGHT SESSIONS: "YOUNG BLOOD" - Gymnast

Brooklyn record label Color Station continues to spoil us with exquisite releases. Following Akiine's enchanting "Neptune" EP they are offering "Young Blood" - a brand new, mesmerising single from Manchester's synth-pop superduo, Gymnast. The syncopated, dreamy soundscapes of "Young Blood" are the first listen from the band's forthcoming untitled EP, "a collection of songs shaped by the concept of liminality, the transition from one state of affairs to another — where no one is in control" as we read in the official press release. The richly produced layers of atmospheric synths, the subtle beats, the surprising mood and melody twists make the track an intriguing journey. I am curious to see what the artistic future may hold for this talented pair and I predict another stellar, non-cliché collection of ambitious Pop released under Color Station's vibrant umbrella of sounds.

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SHREM'S DOUBLE TROUBLE: "NEW YORK 93" - Yaeji /// "BREADANDBUTTER" - El Perro del Mar

Technically these two tracks have very little in common, if judged purely from the stylistic point of you. However both songs stood out for me the most in the last few days in the originality department. Yaeji and El Perro del Mar released ambitiously unclassifiable singles that sound quite like nothing else out there.

Yaeji is a promising, innovative Korean artist based in New York, the latest sensation to emerge from the ever so reliable mine of underground talents GODMODE - the label which gave us Shamir Bailey! Subtly echoing other female electronica producers the likes of Nina Kraviz or Jessy Lanza, "New York 93" captivates with its arrays of electronic shimmers, micro-beats, synth bleeps and whispers. An absorbing lullaby which will hold you spellbound. A peculiar slice of oneiric downtempo which kept me replaying it over and over again these past couple of days.

Swedish indie pop songstress El Perro del Mar is a no stranger to Shrem's Carousel of Über-Nerdiness. Redefining musical eclecticism Sarah Assbring remained unpredictable throughout her career. Flirting with electro project Pacific! (the glorious "Unspoken"), throwing back to some early 90's memories with "Walk On By", turning Red Hot Chili Peppers' "Breaking The Girl" into a dream pop essential or paying her own tribute to Goran Bregović's "Ederlezi" with "Våroffer (Alla Vill Ha)", those were just a few examples of her most recent artistic ventures. Now the Gothenburg based singer returns with a an intriguing ode to Asian alt-pop aesthetics "Breadandbutter" which is accompanied by an astonishing video directed by El Perro del Mar herself and Nicole Walker. The single which announces the release of the artist's 5th studio album "KoKoro" is out now via Ging Ging Recordings.

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