Thursday, December 26, 2013

4AD Session: Camera Obscura

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The latest installment in the "4AD Sessions" series features Like Sugar favorites Camera Obscura taking center stage. The five-track session was filmed in the band’s hometown of Glasgow, at the Tron Theatre. It features tracks from the act’s most recent album, Desire Lines, released earlier this year.
4AD says "Shot as the band were about to head off on a US tour, Tracyanne was heavily pregnant at the time, with her bump growing over the shoot as the baby re-positioned. For the session Iain and Jane made a large backdrop of the silvery tree-scape from the album cover and then set the band in front.
Over the weekend the band received the prestigious King Tuts Songwriting Award as part of the Tartan Clef Awards, held annually by Nordoff Robbins to celebrate the great and good within the Scottish music industry, as well as to raise awareness of their noble work."







Free Electro-Industrial Compilation from Alfa-Matrix

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Alfa-Matrix (Belgian Electro / Industrial label) offer a new, free compilation that "holds no less than 47 songs that reflect the Alfa Matrix music repertoire in the full-force of its diversity. You'll find not only new label signees such as Növö, XMH, Mondträume and Studio-X vs. Simon Carter but also several other label bands showcasing new unreleased songs including Komor Kommando, Armageddon Dildos, Krystal System, Aiboforcen, Star Industry, Razorfade, etc."
Listen via the player below or go to the Bandcamp page.

Mesh Covers Del Amitri's "Nothing Ever Happens"

Mesh covers Scottish act Del Amitri. A great way to close the year!



Thursday, December 5, 2013

Hiatus Nearly Over

I moved to Florida! Updates coming soon. Just got internet today (only took me 2 weeks to decide how to get connected). Been listening to the new Kitchens of Distinction over and over.
Please look me up at http://plug.dj/like-sugar any time! More on that later....

Friday, November 15, 2013

Like Sugar is Changing, for the Better

 Some Extra Stuff by lap-pop artist Computer Magic:



Some perfectly melancholy material from the upcoming Royksopp ablum; I have this on repeat today, it is that good!


Oh, what else is going on? I am moving, finally. I have been in San Diego since 1998 and I have had my fill. This place is an island. All the good bands tour through LA and some may stop here. There is no "scene" here. It's very fragmented. I am relocating to Florida, where I have 6 siblings. I intend to grow Like Sugar into a legitimate music blog. I will acquire a domain name and add a couple of staff writers. So, expect actual reviews, rather than passing on the word about this or that, as I do now. Personally, I will just keep sharing what I think is worth your listening time. I doubt I will review. I would rather take my time to find new tunes from acts you may never find on your own. That makes me happy and benefits the artists. You listen and if it catches your ear, well, good. A review system just generates hostility. That negative vibe would distract me from finding more music to share with you. I also plan to add new podcasts as well. 40 is not enough!
Hope this makes sense. Leave a comment for me or contact me: djtalbotlikesugar@gmail.com
I could use some reader encouragement during this transition. I know I have fans all over the world and I appreciate your kind words more than you know!

Tuesday, November 5, 2013

Monday, October 28, 2013

Sunday Afternoon Well Spent

I've been waiting for this and it's utterly brilliant. "Sunday Afternoon Well Spent" by Charlie Big Time (Facebook):


Thursday, October 24, 2013

Charlie Big Time announce new ep

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I cannot wait for this release...5 days to go! Previews and order details coming soon!

Track-list:

a sunday afternoon well spent
sale or return
pitiful,delightful and alarming
from the cradle to the bar


Sunday, October 20, 2013

The Wolfhounds - C86 Indiepop for Today

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'Divide & Fall' is the 2nd new single from The Wolfhounds in 2013. The lead song is an abrasive, yet catchy. A song that would sit comfortably near the top of the bands extensive back catalog. 
 
Earlier this year the band released their first new 7" in over 20 years ('Cheer Up').



If you don't know the history here is a brief outline from Oddbox Records:
"The Wolfhounds formed in the early 80s (no one quite knows when, as the process was somewhat random and organic), the Wolfhounds became one of Britain’s most persistent and consistent underground bands in the latter part of that decade, and featured David Callahan on vocals, later of ‘post rock’ prime movers Moonshake. Though more orthodox than Moonshake instrumentally, the Wolfhounds were just as distinctive and individual and scored many independent ‘hits’ in their day, as well as remaining critical favourites to the end of what could now be called their first phase.
Having curtailed their activities in 1990, the band occasionally reconvened from 2005 for the occasional live show, but 2011 and 2012 have seen a renewed vigour, with more live shows and new material beginning to be written and recorded. In their first incarnation, the band recorded four albums (nothing if not prolific, their last three LPs were recorded and released within the space of one 16-month period) and many singles and EPs, as well as appearing on the legendary C86 cassette which was distributed free with New Musical Express in 1986. Three sessions were recorded for BBC Radio One’s John Peel Show."



Friday, October 18, 2013

From The Inbox


Some upbeat post-punk from Kansas City, MO's Is Paris Burning (Facebook):


I thought this was a particularly beautiful song. Aching vocals and floating guitars.


Something fun from the recently disbanded Glasgow band The Plimptons:







Wednesday, October 16, 2013

New Patterns

Patterns have released a new track from their forthcoming (January 2014) album "Waking Lines". Pre-order here.




Sunday, October 13, 2013

Synthy Sunday

Hello, it's your favorite lazy blogger here. I am still catching up with Depeche Mode... now, wait, I mean catching up with my in-box. Thanks to all you submitters, and imagine being without the Internet for over two-weeks!
I'll start with this lovely three track offer from Field Harmonics. I was very impressed with the crisp production and look forward to more of their genre-blending work.



So, I love the new Henric de la Cour album "Mandrills" more than anything released in September (well, I guess that is not true, as Azure Blue is bloody good too). Here's a video (reminds me of a young Robert Smith) for what I predicted would be the first single.



More synth goodness:


Twitter users, be sure to follow my buddy @hearshadowmusic as he tweets the best in new and classic alternative music, especially dreampop, shoegaze, post-punk, darkwave, goth rock, trip-hop, electronica and synthpop.

Wednesday, October 9, 2013

Beyond The Dreams There's Infinite Doubt

From the wonderful dreamy album "Beyond The Dreams There's Infinite Doubt". Perfect Autumn listening.

Sunday, September 15, 2013

Absence

New video from The Yearning.



You may have noticed a lack of updates here. I had some computer issues that left me with no Internet connection for some time. I am back with a faster connection, so keep Like Sugar bookmarked!

Saturday, August 10, 2013

Synthpop For Your Saturday

A generous 14 tracks from Pacific Deep, all in one place, and at a name-your-price download.

Saturday, August 3, 2013

Bluffing

A nice loud pair of tracks from Brooklyn-based Bluffing. This pop band formed in March, 2012 by J Boxer of Fiasco and Butter the Children (drums/vocals) and Olivia Drusin (guitar/vocals) with "the original intention of creating concise earworms no more than two and a half minutes."
Their debut entitled Sugar Coated Pills of Wisdom is coming soon.

Friday, August 2, 2013

Cosines New Video and more from Frankie Rose

New video from London's Cosines. This one is the B-side to Hey Sailor Boy! on Fika Recordings.



New one from Frankie Rose, from new album "Herein Wild" coming out September 24:


Wednesday, July 31, 2013

New 2 track ep from Sweden's surf-tinged Westkust


Wednesday, July 24, 2013

Pain

Happy to see that Pain Emission is on YouTube. Certainly, they were the best of the genre (1990's) to emerge from San Diego. They were down-to-Earth people behind the scenes. I remember a lot of fire was used in the live shows. I think I was still using a cassette player in my car and Pain Emission was cranked up along with Skinny Puppy, Hate Dept. and the like. I just wonder if I was more pissed off then or now.
I think the comments feature here is useless. I get more emails than comments. If you have something to say, I am at djtalbotlikesugar@gmail.com. I enjoy the communication from like-minded music fans. It's been a great few years here on Like Sugar.

Tuesday, July 16, 2013

Recommended: Dead Leaf Echo

I have had some time to absorb Dead Leaf Echo's "Thought and Language" album. Rather than get wordy, I'll just say it comes highly recommended.
Gentle vocals, echoing guitars, minimal synth... it all comes together in a way that sounds natural. They make it sound so easy. Not trying to be something they aren't, this album works from start to finish. It was mixed by John Fryer, so that adds to the appeal.





Sunday, July 14, 2013

Sunday Offering

This one is appropriately titled "Offering" and it's from NZ's Black City Lights. There's a video for it too. Their debut album is coming August 6th, with a US tour kicking off in September.



For an even more mellow Sunday, check out this dubby Club 8 collab with Misfit Mod. I have the new Club 8 "Above The City" album on the iPod and I have enjoyed their expanded sound. I must admit, I'll pick-up nearly any release from Labrador (Amanda Mair didn't do it for me).


Saturday, July 13, 2013

Synthpop (and beyond) For Your Saturday

Remedies, an experimental dream/psych pop band from Birmingham, AL. just finished their second EP, "Inanimate" last week. Influences/comparisons include Wild Nothing, Youth Lagoon, DIIV, IRS-era R.E.M., Joy Division, Elliott Smith, Cocteau Twins, etc. The band recorded "Inanimate" in their basement and I was pleasantly surprised at the quality/sound of it. I love bedroom / lap-pop, and DIY recordings.
Remedies wrote: "We were trying to make the music our parents divorced to in the late 80's." I think they pulled this off with great style!


Some lovely synth work from San Francisco's Breakdown Valentine. This one has one foot in the dreampop world with swirling synths and emotional vocals. If you like this new one, be sure to check out more on Soundcloud.

Thursday, July 11, 2013

SynthWave

More delicious synthpop that reminds me of that 90's era synthpop sound. The band calls it Synthwave and that sounds just about right. From their press info: "New Arcades are Dean Canty and Adam Sullivan, a duo inspired by nostalgic memories of 80s cinema and vintage synth sounds. Taking those feelings and bringing them into a contemporary production setting, New Arcades craft something that at once feels both excitingly fresh, and comfortable like an old friend. The soundtrack to hazy memories you never had and the intensity of right now, New Arcades bring passion and heart to the retro sounds of SynthWave."


Here's a nice-rework of Alpaca Sport's "I Was Running" by Tiny Fireflies.


Something more modern than my usual nostalgic sounding posts:


Wednesday, July 10, 2013

More to Share

Dreampop bliss from Estonia's Picnic.



I have only a few tracks from Tempers and they are all excellent. Felt I should pass it on...

Tuesday, July 9, 2013

Humble Braggers EP Safe Haven (dreampop)

Humble Braggers has released a four track EP titled "Safe Haven". This is some dreamy indie that's right up there with Wild Nothing, Twins Shadows and the like. Perfect Summer listening.




Thursday, July 4, 2013

Independence Day

It's Independence Day here in the USA, but I keep thinking it's Saturday. Saturday means Synthpop for Your Saturday, where I post a few synthpop finds. Well, I am in the mood, so let's start with this one from The Ballet. I don't write political entries, mostly because it only invites negative feedback and I really don't care what you think about politics. With that "Turn You" may have a message, but let's just enjoy the song and the freedomness.



A little more poppy, but slick (and on Bella Union!), here's another act with "ballet" in their name.


More synthpop."I Can't Stop" by Melodies In Mono:


This Soundcloud user is worth a follow. Check out http://soundcloud.com/supersapi . He's collected some nice covers of indiepop bands and I think some tracks are his own work. I've noticed Indonesia has a large indiepop movement.







Friday, June 28, 2013

New Bloc Party and Smith Westerns

Less than a year after their long-awaited first album in four years with Four, Bloc Party are back with brand new material in the Nextwave Sessions EP. "Rachet" is quite catchy and "viciously danceable".


EP track-list:
Ratchet
Obscene
French Exit
Montreal
Children Of The Future

Smith Westerns have a new single titled "Idol". The first was "Varsity" and you can watch the videos for both below:





If you haven't had a chance to hear the record yet, it is streaming in full on NPR. Buy the album "Soft Will" here.



Saturday, June 22, 2013

Weekend Update

I really like this one from The Secret History!


Here's a dreamy post-punk one that could've come the early 90's. I am always up for that nostalgic sound. This is the first single from the album "Jinx", due out July 23rd on Slumberland Records.



Friday, June 21, 2013

Free Sunny Indiepop from Sweden: The Belljars



I came across "You Will Know" in a sub-folder on my PC and thought I needed to share this happy 4 song collection from Sweden's The Belljars. This will appeal to fans of The Sundays. 

Thursday, June 20, 2013

Humble Braggers

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One from the Inbox today: "What's Fair" by Humble Braggers (@humblebraggers) out of Buffalo, New York. Pleasant indie dreampop with a hint of melancholy. Certainly evokes some emotion in me and that is what makes it something special among the many disposable tracks I collect. I am looking forward to more!




Wednesday, June 19, 2013

80's Dream Compilation Tape - Vol 2

New Arcades offer an instrumental piece from the "80's Dream Compilation Tape - Vol 2" which can be found here for a "name your price" download. 21 synth tracks to explore!



Tuesday, June 18, 2013

Everybody Knows (I'm Still In Love With You)

Wow, this girl is gorgeous.
Also, this is about as twee I can get. Elefant Records has some nice tunes. Laziest blog entry ever?


Monday, June 17, 2013

New Arcades: Take A Breath video just released (synthpop)

In what might be a blog-premiere, I give you the new video for the New Arcades song "Take A Breath". I sat on YouTube all morning to try and post it first, but they decided to use Vimeo instead! If you haven't heard New Arcades beyond this video, be sure to visit them on YouTube.

New Arcades: Take a Breath // Official Music Video from Rebecca Gravil on Vimeo.

"New Arcades are Dean Canty and Adam Sullivan, a duo inspired by nostalgic memories of 80s cinema and vintage synth sounds. Taking those feelings and bringing them into a contemporary production setting, New Arcades craft something that at once feels both excitingly fresh, and comfortable like an old friend. The soundtrack to hazy memories you never had and the intensity of right now, New Arcades bring passion and heart to the retro sounds of SynthWave."

Sunday, June 16, 2013

Editors and the Wait for Selebrities

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Editors are back and they've got a video in the style I like (looks like they are recording the song). As I have said a million times: "Don't read the comments." Some idiot compared them to Fleet Foxes...what?


Just can't wait for the new Selebrities album. It "drops" on June 25, 2013. I really don't think I have heard a bad song from them (and they covered The Monster Mash!). The single "Lovers" employs some real heart-tugging something. I think it might the percussion that brings me to the first half of the 80's. It might be the bottle of wine I discovered today. It was under the passenger seat of my car. Not sure how long it was there. It did taste a little funky, so I mixed it with a new bottle purchased today.





Saturday, June 15, 2013

Synthpop for Your Saturday

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Victoria and Jacob (Fika Recordings) offer this sunny track in a few remixed versions. "Festival" is a perfect song to start your Summer off (sorry, Southern Hemisphere). I have included my two favorite remixes. Is is just me or does her voice have bit of Stevie Nicks in it?









Odds, Sods and Found Sounds

The excellent Soliti record label, based in Helsinki, has turned two. They celebrate with "Odds, Sods and Found Sounds", an eight track complication. I am a fan of Big Wave Riders and Cats on Fire, so it's nice to hear demos.



Thursday, June 13, 2013

Two more great finds


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Here's one from the submission inbox. It's a nice synthpop piece featuring a great build-up. I love the girl/boy vocals and the gentle guitar strum. This is a mature sounding number, and I hesitate to call it synthpop. Fitness Club Fiasco has a Facebook page here.



I am currently enjoying the delicious dreampop of Dead Leaf Echo.
Here's the video for the first single off "Thought and Language".



The upcoming release from Austra is available to stream over at NPR. "Olympia" is in stores on June 18th.

Wednesday, June 12, 2013

More Synthpop for Summer

Here's something I should do more often: share the blogs I read with you. So, let's start with Cover Me (http://www.covermesongs.com/). An excellent source for covers from many genres. I subscribe via RSS (Google Reader is being discontinued, so I am moving to Feedly on July 1).

Here's a classic synthpop-sounding track from The Department. It's the debut video from this London act. Thank-you, Rob Green, for the submission!




Strangeheart has covered a 1920's song, and the outcome is quite fun. Here's the video, complete with cool old cartoons.






Tuesday, June 11, 2013

New Arcades (Synth) + Big Wave Riders + Scanners


New Arcades sent me this nice new one to post for you synth-lovers. His voice is as important to the track as the lush music. Rare these days, for this genre. Fans of Iris should enjoy this one.


I am happy to hear and share this track from Big Wave Riders. It's not available to embed at this time, so head to Soundcloud to hear it or watch the video. I think it's got a nice 90's sound to it.


OK, I have 701 unread messages addressed to this blog. Rather than read them all, I will randomly pick one and, if it's good stuff, I'll post it today. Here we go:


Not bad! Scanners has a video for "Control" here. I like this... so I'll have to check out more from them.




Monday, June 10, 2013

Soon, Summer

With Summer coming soon (in this hemisphere), I thought this one by Sweden's Summer Heart captures the season:



How about a creative video by the incredible Clubfeet?






Sunday, June 9, 2013

June Gloom and Bloom

Wow, it's been nearly a month since my last post. Sorry. I am still here. There was a time when a quarter of my posts came from submissions. Now, I only post things I have found on my own. The PR machines can be way off in their submissions. I often scratch my head, wondering why the hell I would want to hear music that doesn't fit in with what this blog is about.

Here's a fine indiepop tune that has me anticipating more from the Dufflecoat Records band:


As a reader and now watcher of (A) Game of Thrones, I was mildly amused to find there is an Aussie band called Greyjoy. The two tracks I have heard are quite good, so give them a listen:


An internet friend of mine sent me this lovely track. Guess he knew I'd love it:


So, what else is worth acquiring? I have loaded a nice blend of albums on my iPod: Still Corners "Strange Pleasures", The Pastels "Slow Summits", Camera Obscura "Desire Lines", Wild Nothing "Empty Estate (ep)" and Feathers "If All Here Now". Still can't get into Hurts "Exile" or Indians "Somewhere Else" and I am struggling with Chapel Club "Good Together".

Saturday, May 11, 2013

Synthpop For Your Saturday

New one from Some Desperate Glory. This one will appeal to fans of Kie The Vez in both vocals and tempo. I am quite happy with that!


More excellent synthpop from Only You in the form of an EP titled "Another World". I think you'll be drawn-in from the very first few seconds of the eponymous (I always wanted to use that word) track "Another World". This EP oozes quality and assures us the synthpop genre is alive and well.


JP Rose has recently released "Nothing To Me But The World" and "I'll Wait" and I share them here to make sure you are soaking wet with quality synthpop.


Friday, May 10, 2013

New Charlie Big Time song and video

I am pretty bad about checking my "email" on Facebook. I would have had this up for you on the 5th, but I only read the notification about it today. Thanks to Mr. Pendlebury for bringing us this warm song.


Here's another from The Secret History. Can this band do any wrong?


New single from Sameblod, from the ep "Swoon":



Monday, May 6, 2013

I'm Wild for The Wildes

Stop reading this silly blog and open a window/tab on Soundcloud for The Wildes. They've got a hold on me and I never wanted to fall in love.






Tuesday, April 23, 2013

Illusions

New single from the upcoming "Empty Estate" by Wild Nothing. The ep will be out May 14th, on Captured Tracks in North America. Pre-order the EP on iTunes here.


A lovely dreampop sampler from Beach Vacation's "Maritime" ep.


Shout Out Louds have released a new video for the track "Illusions" (I would have guessed this was the next video-worthy track).

Monday, April 22, 2013

Calling From The Stars

Nice to hear more from Camera Obscura. Consistently good indie-pop.


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Miss Kittin's new double-CD / 4x LP "Calling From The Stars" is out today.




Thursday, April 18, 2013

Astari Night and The Machine Room

Exciting new track from Astari Night. Embedding feature is not available at this moment, so click here to listen on Soundcloud.

I wrote earlier about how I love the new single from The Machine Room. I can now share it with you via this Soundcloud link. Bonus points for calling the track "Sweden"!

Well, I need to see why I can't embed tracks, so I will cut this post short.

Sunday, April 14, 2013

Friday, April 12, 2013

Tuesday, April 9, 2013

Still Corners, Beach Day, Alpaca Sports

Collecting a few new (to me) tracks today. I think this one by Still Corners is my favorite of the batch. Taken from Strange Pleasures, out on Sub Pop May 6 (UK and Europe) and May 7 (North America).


This new Beach Day track is sunny, unlike the new "Demons" track from The National. That one just had me frowning. I want to like The National, but I think I've had my fill of depressing music.


This is just what I needed! 

Monday, April 8, 2013

April Skies

 A refreshingly short synthpop entry from Melodies In Mono (free download in .m4a format). I "DJ" on-line and song length certainly plays a part in my selections.


A new one from NONONO. Whistling? I like.


"5-piece huge lonely guitar swirls from Minneapolis":


Sunday, April 7, 2013

Dreampop Sunday

Perfectly balancing the ingredients of nostalgic post-punk as ever, here's another one from The Machine Room. Note the thoughtful lyrics. Please check out their ep "Love From A Distance" here.


Regular readers are familiar with my pattern of posting synthpop on Saturdays and more mellow dreampop on Sundays. So, in keeping with that, please enjoy this blissful tune from My Violaine Morning (free download).


This should round out this post nicely!

Thursday, April 4, 2013

Getting My Groove Back

Another excellent remix by Sensual Harassment. Get this song free along with their ep here.


Some Desperate Glory have a new single on iTunes here. Carl says "The song is called Devil's in the Details and includes remixes from two very talented producers from New Zealand and the United Kingdom. A new album titled "Sundown" is forthcoming!"

If you want to read an well-written review of the new Depeche Mode "Delta Machine" album, head on over to colortheory.com

Today a video was posted for Ice Choir's "Everything Is Spoilt By Use". Chairlift's Caroline Polachek is the female voice in this duet with The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart's Kurt Feldman.



Wednesday, April 3, 2013

April

I apologize for the lack of updates here. I am still finding new stuff, but haven't felt the weight lift off my mind. A friend's suicide is not a man-up and move-on thing for me.
This one has the atmosphere that could be the soundtrack to my little world at the moment. Give it a listen and absorb the lyrics. This is today's post-punk as it should be!

Jinx is the new album from Weekend. Mirror is the first single from Jinx.
Jinx is out July 23rd on Slumberland Records.

Ok, what else have I caught with my ear-net?
Molly Nilsson. I like her style. She has a nice live video on Youtube.


A super-dreamy new one from 2 Hearts and Chemicals:


I need to catch up on my inbox. J.P. Rose has a couple new ones I have been meaning to share!


Monday, March 25, 2013

Stop Taking My Time

A fun cover from my fav remixers:


Here, we have Club 8 being more upbeat than usual. I love it.

Thursday, March 21, 2013

A new single with a certain emotional depth from [Strangers]. It's due out May 13th.



Monday, March 18, 2013

Let Em Riot and Nightmare Air

This brand new synthpop single from Let Em Riot is a free download.


How about a little something from Nightmare Air? This one comes out March 19th via Saint Marie Records.



Wednesday, March 13, 2013

March 13 post part 2

This just came in and I was immediately taken in. I love electronic music done right! There is a little Anything Box woven in here (I can hear real emotion, not just by-the-numbers lyrics).


Where else where you hear a demo from an upcoming album? I will toot my own horn here and share this floor-filler from At Last At Last.

I could go on and on about this year's fine friends, but I can only type so much. Do know that "Prose and Kahns" by Old English is and album I listen to every day. They write "We've been really overwhelmed and humbled and thrilled and so on by the response to our new album!  Thanks for listening to it, writing about it and sharing it.  If you still haven't heard it, it's available on bandcamp and iTunes.

March Sadeness

There was no Synthpop for your Saturday or Sunday this past week. That was by design. I lost a friend in an untimely death and I thought I would keep quiet while I contemplated it all. No one likes a sad-sack, so I will keep with the usual genius finds that you love. If you want Sisters of Mercy, by all means join me on YouTube late at night.
For now, I can offer this safe-yet-satisfying video from British Sea Power.


Another one from the pleasantly harmonic Love And Radiation:


The brand new album from Mary Onettes is now officially out and I adore it. I streamed it here.

Of course, SXSW is happening. I have my agents out and about and I will have at least one sentence to post about the next big thing. For now, I will feel sorry for my friends in Austin. I know they can't see every show and they are tired by midnight.

Sunday, March 3, 2013

Synthpop For Your Sunday

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It's either Saturday or Sunday when I try to share some synthpop. Today, I came across the artwork for the new ZyniC album "Blindsided". The first album came out in 2011 and was a perfect showcase of several genres. I'll leave you with this more accessible piece, but there's some industrial, some dark-dancefloor, and everything in between on the 2011 "Fire Walk With Me" release. I am very confident that 2013's "Blindsided" will bring more excellent music.

The Capsules and Cranes

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Something a little more bleak than my usual posts. This one comes from The Capsules. They will be at SXSW on March 13. I am hoping one of my friends will catch them there. I hear some parallels to Cranes and that is what caught my ear.




Thursday, February 28, 2013

*Heart* Good Music

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Camera Obscura are to release their new album, Desire Lines, in June. Read more and view concert dates at 4AD here.

New video by NZ artist Junica. The track is on iTunes here. Facebook page is here.


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I wanted to mention that the entire discography of Labrador Records is available for streaming via Spotify. Click here. With new albums from The Mary Onettes and Club 8 coming soon, it's a good time to listen to earlier material from this important music label.






 


Sunday, February 24, 2013

Synthpop For Your Sunday

Revisiting some bands tonight, just to see if anything new has been posted. I thought I'd check out The New Division. I re-fell-in-love with this track. It's exactly what I like:  a little electronic, a little guitar, and dreampop vocals.


One of the best aspects of Soundcloud is that you can see what other artists "liked" or added to "favorites". I have discovered so many great tunes by following an artist and seeing what they deem worthy of a favorite. A great example:

I saw that Some Desperate Glory added this song this his favorites, so I listened and then I liked it. Simple. Now I share it here and we are all happy. So, let's enjoy a remix by Some Desperate Glory, shall we?


Here's a new one from Syrian (Italy). Thanks to Todd at A Different Drum for the heads-up. I was a Syrian fan from way back when MP3.com was a thing. I am glad to hear that this act is keeping their early sound.






Thursday, February 21, 2013

New Arcades ep and more

More beautiful synthpop from London's New Arcades. "Remember The Nights" is a free download via this ep on Soundcloud.



I am still really into this one from Strangeheart. I'll have another track to post as soon as the band finish one up!


I thought I'd share this from LA's White Blush. They find the right balance of electronics with that dreamy female vocal sound. Reminds me of Halou or SPC ECO.


Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Silver Screen

Wow, has it really been 8 years since the last Silver Screen release?
Plastilina Records posted this tonight, and I am excited to share this via BandCamp. "Shipping out on or around 02 April 2013". 
"Really No Wonder" has been on my iPod for a long time, and is a great place to start with this act.

The numbers are boring, I like the art.

As mentioned in my previous post (I hit enter too soon, or am I afraid of Them?), the music on Utopia is as brilliant as the series itself.
Here's a nice slice, with our Raisin Boy / Arby / R.B. for extra disturbofactor.

Now, you may be scratching your head, wondering how this fits my blog. Well, I pay attention to soundtracks. I also listened to a lot of bleepy bloopy stuff in the 90's (Cevin Key's Download comes to mind).

The Mary Onettes "Hit The Waves" Single

The second single from The Mary Onettes "Hit the Waves" is out on all digital outlets tomorrow (Feb. 21st).  It's taken from the upcoming album out March 12th.



Here's a nice cover of Depeche Mode by Royksopp (I saw this posted here).


The new Shout Out Louds is steaming in full at NPR's "First Listen". Now, don't get it in your head that I listen to NPR. I just happen to check First Listen out for the occasional worthy listen.


I finished Utopia tonight. Loved, loved, loved it! The music was excellent too!
I can't say much about it, as you need to just watch it without knowing what it is about. But, "Holy bloody sweaty bollocks!", it is brilliant!




Monday, February 18, 2013

Paperfangs debut "Past Perfect"

Very nice! The first release on Soliti in 2013 is the debut album from Paperfangs: "Past Perfect" (try track 4 for a good introduction to their sound). The Helsinki/Tampere based three piece discuss the themes, formation and context of "Past Perfect":
"We started planning our debut album in early 2012. Instead of using our old tracks and ideas, we wanted to build everything from the scratch. From early on we had a clear vision of making it a concept album: one about layers and stories that will open up differently to everyone.
The key word was symbolism: every sound, every word and every image must have a reason to exist.
I began to write the songs in the late spring. On a holiday in an unfamiliar city I walked in to a small paper shop and bought myself a pen and a notebook. I sat on a park bench in this city filled with stories and started writing mine down.The first lines of the album became a mantra, a theme and a key."


In other news, The Mary Onettes (a Like Sugar favorite) have a new album arriving on March 12, 2013 on CD/vinyl/digital. Pre-order here. What's extra cool is the 180 gram vinyl includes a CD!


Sunday, February 17, 2013

Synthpop For Your Sunday

OK, I try to post a Synthpop for Your Saturday weekly, but I was out of town, so I hope I can make up for the delay with the following suggestions!

More excellent modern synthpop from J.P. Rose and these are available for free download. I love the clear voice here. No gimicky computer effects. 





I see that Carl of Some Desperate Glory has teamed up and released a track under the name "Pacific Deep". This is a strong leap forward and compliments the above tracks. I especially like the drum pattern. Lyrics are here.



This one caught my ear after just one play. So many influences at work here. I love it!



Like what you hear here? Drop me a line at djtalbotlikesugar@gmail.com or comment below. Thanks for reading.

Thursday, February 14, 2013

New Ocean Blue

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Listen to the new single from The Ocean Blue's "Ultramarine" over at Stereogum.

Obligatory Valentine's Day post. No, really this one is from a man to his wife.

Monday, February 11, 2013

Shoesynthdream

Shoegazers Laboratory Noise have made their satisfying new ep available for free via Bandcamp:



Be sure to read the comment from SubPop regarding this new, yet not new one from The Postal Service:


All cats Girls are Grey:



Thursday, February 7, 2013

The Killers "Runaway" (RAC Remix)

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RAC are my favourite modern remix team (or at least tied with Josh Patrick). They never wreck a track, but they add flavour to the best values. Here's a perfect example (also a free download):






Wednesday, February 6, 2013

Old English release "Prose and Kahns"


On February 5th Old English’s album Prose and Kahns was released, three years after Matt Henderson first began working on it in his bedroom.  I have had it since January 8th and it has been in heavy rotation here at home.
In those three years Old English worked on the album in 6 cities, 3 countries, and  their collaborators climbed well above 20. In total there were 27 songs written for the album. Each song’s survival hinged on how well they related to the previously completed tracks. New aesthetic elements and musical personalities were constantly being added, but this process created a narrative, both lyrically and sonically. It didn’t feel like three years for Matt. "It felt more like one long day". 
The result is an album that is stylistically varied – with influences including brit-rock, shoegaze, electro-pop, and folk – all coexisting without losing any stylistic clarity. The songs are meticulously detailed, layered, and belong side by side, the way they were written.
I am not a reviewer. I just recommend based on 30 years of collecting music. I strongly recommend Prose and Kahns. Have a listen and I think you'll be hooked. Start with "We've Been Here Before" and glide into "Lotteries and Tents"...
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Sunday, February 3, 2013

Lost In The Crowd

Personally, I don't even own a television.
While the country watches football, I enjoyed a nearly empty grocery store. Now, it's time for some music to drown out the screamers that are way too excited about the big game. I don't often post music of this sort, by this is too excellent to not share! The Aussies have my ear when it comes to dance music these days.


Screw it, here's more Aussie goodness:

Saturday, February 2, 2013

Synthpop For Your Saturday

Quality 80's-inspired synthpop from Only You.


Here are a couple other tracks/artists that grabbed my attention recently:




Thursday, January 31, 2013

Computer Magic "A Million Years" (synthpop)

A new one from Computer Magic and it's available for free download. New single pre-order here.

Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Utopia

Where is Jessica Hyde?

Sunday, January 20, 2013

The Secret History (Indie Pop)

The Secret History has an interesting history unto itself. I was looking into what happened to My Favorite and learned that they morphed in a new act.


Some more reading about them here.

Tumblr here.













Friday, January 18, 2013

Shout Out Louds and Meat

New video for "Walking in Your Footsteps" by Shout Out Louds:


There is a new video for a new Club 8 song. I really find it to be below average, and it has an annoying "message", so it want to see it click here. I enjoyed a nice steak earlier.

Some nice sounds (I hear some Cure influence) from Girls Names:

Wednesday, January 16, 2013

Melodies In Mono (Synthpop)

A catchy new single from Melodies In Mono. Oddly, the artist notes that "An entire album will never happen." Yet, when "Take Me Home" was posted a note reads "Melodies In Mono will release a debut album in late 2012." Perhaps I can get an answer. For now, we are invited to download his releases. Very kind!

Saturday, January 12, 2013

Synthpop For Your Saturday

This has some synthpop elements, but leans toward a more dream-pop sound in my opinion.


I intended to share a submission by At Last At Last, but there is no option to embed the track. You'll have to make do with a link to the demo track "You Fill Me With Stars".

I have been listening to more Mint Julep lately, especially because there are so many more tracks available on Soundcloud. For example: