My Crème de la crème #1 Tune in MarchRina Sawayama's awe-inspiring slice of modern R'N'B "Sleeping In Waking" receives an extra portion of love with the release of the ultra-stylish black & white video directed by Jack Greeley Ward. The song which I consider a masterpiece at this stage, has also received its first official remix, the elegantly and subtly reinterpreted version by Teej.
For some strange reason I've always been convinced Hypnolove was a one-off project. Apparently I was wrong. Now the mysterious French act responsible for making "Mademoiselle" - one of the most played tracks on my iTunes, and for camouflaging Feist under the alter-ego of Bitch Lap Lap ("Get To Know The Girl"!!!) has announced the arrival of their 2nd full length album. "Ghost Carnival", produced by Ed Banger's Mickey Moonlight, is out on April 22nd in France, and May 13th worldwide. The first single "Come To My Empire", a sleek mélange of noir disco and electro reminded me slightly of another rather enigmatic French act from a few years ago who goes by the pseudonym Colder. Influenced by both disco and pop as well as Talking Heads, Prince and Walker Brothers, it sounds like the new album will fit right in between the releases by Kavinsky and Sébastien Tellier other acts brought by Hypnolove's current label Record Makers. Intriguing.
I first heard Urður Hákonardóttir's soulful voice on Gus Gus' 2002 record "Attention" which has a solid spot among my favourite albums of all time. Reykjavík born diva, better known under the alias Earth, featured on the Icelandic collective's albums ever since contributing her spectacular vocal capabilities to some of the biggest dancefloor anthems in their vast catalogue of modern dance classics such as "David", "Call of The Wild", "Need In Me", "Hold You", "Over" or "Arabian Horse".
I am inexplicably excited to welcome this talented electronic soul vocalist and songwriter I cherish so much, as a guest on my über-nerdy carousel, I am particularly delighted she accepted my invitation to create an exclusive playlist packed with cool gems just the way she is. Put on your dancing shoes baby! þakka þú mjög mikill Urður!
Johan Agebjörn and Sally Shapiro, the indestructible Swedish duo responsible for reinventing Italo Disco in the sweetest sublime way possible for the past few years is also responsible for one of this year's most accomplished albums so far. "Somewhere Else" is bursting with flawless melodies, alluring production and some of Sally Shapiro's strongest compositions to date, like "All My Life" my #1 tune in February. Here are another two stand-out tracks, "Architectured Love" a collaboration with Stockholm based producer Le Prix which apparently took the longest to be completed and the fantastical "If It Doesn't Rain" which is accompanied by the exquisitely edited video based on 1958 vintage cartoon from Czechoslovakia by the legendary Zdeněk Miler. Think I might have just found myself a brand new favourite song in the world! Dreamy and beautiful...
14 years after Boris Dlugosch turned Moloko's "Sing It Back" into a worldwide mega hit and 12 years after "Never Enough" his first collaboration with Róisín Murphy, the pair meets again for the release of this juicy house stomper. "Look Around You" will be the first release to come out via Golden City Sounds and it's filled with fantastic remixes by Chopstick and Johnjon, the label's very own Raik and Maxxi Soundsystem. The teaser below sounds very promising and follows a run of spectacular dance records Irish diva has featured on the past few years. Another indisputable anthem and a dazzling addition to every La Murphy devotee's collection. The single's out on Beatport 19th April.
