Like Sugar - An Electropop + Indiepop + Synthpop Podcast Blog

New Saint Etienne

2012-01-25T14:33:00.000-08:00

New track from Saint Etienne. Download it free for a limited time here. Thanks to DJ Narcolept for the tip on this one.
Saint Etienne - Tonight by Saint Etienne

The Horrors Cover Beyonce: The Best Thing I Never Had

2012-01-22T07:36:00.000-08:00

If you haven't caught this one yet, here's your chance. I need to post about The Horrors at least once a month.

Vacant Kiss: Killing Me

2012-01-19T16:02:00.000-08:00

Vacant Kiss just released a new video for the track "Killing Me". Readers / listeners know I have been a fan of Insect Guide (be sure to check out "Reason to Exist", a fine single released 06-06-2011). Vacant Kiss is a related act, perhaps a wilder version of Insect Guide. Vacant Kiss on Soundcloud.

Like Sugar PopCast 39 is alive...alive!

2012-01-18T14:37:00.000-08:00

Like Sugar PopCast #39 is live here. When that link goes dead, I'll have it up permanently on the right column of this blog. I have gathered enough new material to create two podcasts, so I expect to publish #40 on the heels of #39. I mean, I have the music lined-up, but the lame talking part, by me, well... that takes effort and alcohol and I hate that. I wish I could get myself back on iTunes... just can't figure it all out. iTunes says I have to start all over, but can't I keep my same Like Sugar name? Not known. Guess I can switch to Just Like Honey, which conveys the same message as the music I play.

Listen To Nada Surf: 'The Stars Are Indifferent To Astronomy' In Its Entirety

2012-01-17T19:52:00.000-08:00

NPR hosts yet another early listen to an upcoming release by a band you care about!
Here's what the nice link looks like:
http://www.npr.org/2012/01/15/144962428/first-listen-nada-surf-the-stars-are-indifferent-to-astronomy

Familiar vs The Next Thing Part 1

2012-01-16T20:05:00.000-08:00

Wandering through some music blogs tonight. Came across some great stuff, but this one really appealed to me. It combines a lot of what a friend recently told me I was looking for: familiar. Not the next thing... familiar. Wise words.

Bears: Eleven a.m.

2012-01-16T11:38:00.000-08:00

I tried to post this as close to eleven a.m. as possible. It's a perfect indie pop track that uplifts on this gloomy (the weather, I should mention) holiday (Martin Luther King Day, here in America).
It's track 1 from the upcoming album, Greater Lakes, to be released on February 14, 2012 via Misra Records. Available on clear vinyl LP, CD and digitally. Check out Bears at www.bearspop.com.

Eleven a.m. by Bears

Tracks:
1. Eleven a.m.
2. You’re Going
3. From Good to Bad
4. More Left Out
5. Don’t Wait
6. The City Still
7. I Don’t Have You on My Mind
8. Perfect Girl
9. Wash My Hands
10. I Can’t Make Things Right
11. Until the Very End

Eux Autres keep the indie pop coming

2012-01-16T11:05:00.000-08:00

I am looking forward to more indie pop sounds from Eux Autres. On February 28, they release a new 6 track ep titled "Sun Is Sunk" (Bons Mots Records). Darla Records has the audio previews here.

Synthpop for a Saturday

2012-01-14T16:19:00.000-08:00

Australia's John Rowley turned 18 a couple of months ago, and is now working on getting his music ‘out there’. He lives in Sydney, and has studied music classically for the best part of a decade (clarinet, he says). You can find several original tracks and a mash-up cover type thing of ‘Radioactive’ by Marina & The Diamonds, and ‘Pumped Up Kicks’ by Foster The People over on Soundcloud.
I quite enjoyed his work and hope you can favorite him on Soundcloud.
Here, I offer you my favorite John Rowley track:
Absence Makes The Heart Grow Fonder (Demo) by John Rowley

More from Sweden: Kids

2012-01-13T14:08:00.000-08:00

Found this by way of the It's A Trap blog (and it's going straight into my TT queue!):

Kontroll Recordings first release is smooth electronic pop and pure bliss by Swedish duo Kids. The band consists of Jonas Linngård and Maria Pettersson. The songs were recorded in living room studios in Stockholm, Alfta and Hiboviken. You can download all the songs for free either here or on Soundcloud.

Kids - My Sincerest Apologies from David HJ. Lindberg on Vimeo.

Big Pink 4AD Sessions

2012-01-13T11:34:00.000-08:00

More good news from The Big Pink:
Ahead of the release of their second album, Future This, The Big Pink have recorded a set of five songs as part of the 4AD Sessions series.
Go here to watch and listen. I had goosebumps as soon I heard the opener, one of my favs.

Track-list:
1. 'Stay Gold'
2. 'Hit The Ground (Superman)'
3. 'Velvet'
4. 'Rubbernecking'
5. 'Give It Up'

Too Close

2012-01-11T10:20:00.000-08:00

I posted this to twitter and on my Facebook page, but neglected to share it here on my blog. This one works for me musically, lyrically and emotionally. This is the kind of track that can go anywhere. It can be pitched up for the dancefloor, looped for trip-hop, darkened for certain clubs and so on. Great stuff as it is, to be sure. Please add deetak if you use Soundcloud.
deetak - Too Close by deetak

The Big Pink (4AD): Future This Out Next Week

2012-01-10T13:14:00.000-08:00

I'm glad to find I can still connect with the 4AD label via The Big Pink. Their new album "Future This" is officially released next week on January 16th. In the US, iTunes have the album on sale as of today. Buy it here. Spin Magazine have a stream of the entire album, along with track-by-track insight from Milo, here.
For those outside of the US, you can pre-order the album now and stream it in its entirety from NME.com.

Canada's Memoryhouse on Sub Pop Records

2012-01-09T13:52:00.000-08:00

Looking forward to the release of Memoryhouse's album "The Slideshow Effect" on Sub Pop Records. Glad to see I can catch them here in San Diego on March 17th at Soda Bar.

Friday Find: Frankie Rose "Know Me"

2012-01-06T12:44:00.000-08:00

rcrdlbl.com continues to astound me with excellent music finds. Within seconds, I knew I was going to like this one from Vivian Girls founding member Frankie Rose (also works with Crystal Stilts). Read more of her bio here. The album "Interstellar" will be released on February 21, 2012.

The Twilight Sad's new single "Another Bed"

2012-01-05T08:00:00.000-08:00

Read up on what's on their mind, then get the new single for free here. “We never want to remake the same record just because it’s pleased some people.” Thanks to The Skinny for the article.

Trailer Trash Tracys: stream the upcoming album

2012-01-03T10:29:00.000-08:00

I have been anticipating more music from Trailer Trash Tracys. How many times can I play the lovely "Candy Girl"? Answer: Over and over.
The Guardian's Music Blog is hosting a streaming preview of the new album "Ester" and I'm about to check it out myself!
Buy the album from Domino USA.

2012 Is Here

2012-01-01T07:41:00.000-08:00

A new year is here on Like Sugar. I wanted a first post for 2012, so I'll go with this. I slept through midnight somehow. Gunfire woke me up at 12: 20 p.m. oddly enough. Here is remix that should have played last night:
Röyksopp vs Thin White Duke - What Else Is There (Neon Stereo 2012 Refix) by neonstereo

So Long 2011

2011-12-31T08:45:00.000-08:00

It's the last day of the year. No plans for the evening, as yet. Probably gonna stay in, as it's amateur night, really. So anyway, here's a little something I heard this morning. I am looking forward to hearing more from this Manchester act.

Murder Mystery announce new indie pop EP

2011-12-28T13:38:00.000-08:00

I heard from indie-pop act Murder Mystery today. On January 16th they are digitally releasing a 6 song EP of indie pop gems called "Problems." For a week starting on January 9th they are selling advance copies of it for $2 on Groopease.com.
I play the track "Problems" quite frequently on Turntable.fm and always receive a positive response. Download "Problems" to get hooked! This is a band to watch in 2012.

murdermysterymusic.com
myspace.com/murdermysterymusic
facebook.com/mmtheband
twitter.com/mmtheband

Melodies In Mono

2011-12-21T13:53:00.000-08:00

My obsession with Swedish synthpop continues. Melodies In Mono have that less-dense, clean sound that I like. Vocals are unique, not some Dave Gahan or Andy Bell clone. Even the cover art is clean works for me! The Facebook page is here.
When I Fall by melodiesinmono

The Drums - How It Ended (Add n to (x) 7 Remix)

2011-12-19T12:22:00.000-08:00

Found this on FaceBook this morning: "The Drums are thrilled to have collaborated with extremely influential and legendary band Add N to (X) on a remix of the latest Drums single How It Ended. This is the first creative endeavor from the band since they split in 2002."
The Drums - How It Ended (Add n to (x) 7 Remix) by WorkItMedia

Friday Find: New Lions

2011-12-16T12:52:00.000-08:00

This lovely release arrived in my in-box today. I was immediately captured by the sound of With Lions. I hate to give sounds like comparisons, but sometimes the similarity is striking enough, and in this case, a huge compliment. I guess I'll say they remind me of Glasvegas. That's just my first impression and enough to want to share With Lions (Facebook link) with you! Buy the album via iTunes here.
Touch The Sound by With Lions

Sun God by Cut Copy: free remix

2011-12-16T12:10:00.000-08:00

Cut Copy are offering a free download of "Sun God (Andrew Weatherall Remix)" over on SoundCloud.

First Day of Christmas: Haberdashery

2011-12-14T10:14:00.000-08:00

Christmas by Haberdashery
Six free synthpop tracks by Haberdashery. This year's addition is "The First Noel".
"Haberdashery (Stephen Pearlman) has been crafting synth-pop since 2004. Strongly influenced by Erasure and Björk, his productions are lush and incorporate multi-layered cinematic sounds with pop sensibilities. With an array of software and hardware, Stephen writes, arranges, and records all of his music."

The Magnetic Fields will be releasing a new album

2011-12-13T12:29:00.000-08:00

The Magnetic Fields will be releasing a new album, Love at the Bottom of the Sea, on March 6, 2012, on Merge Records in North America, and Domino Records overseas. After putting out their "synth-free trilogy," The Magnetic Fields are returning to their signature mix of synth and acoustic sounds. Read more here.

Some Dark Dance From Tim Carr

2011-12-11T06:35:00.000-08:00

Something wonderful hit my Inbox and I felt I had to share it. Even if it's copy-and-paste lazy bloggerizim on my part, the tracks are worth getting into.

"If you ask Tim Carr to describe his music you will find a consistently pure answer. His music is a portrait of the world through his eyes. He's not going for anything in particular - not melodrama, certainly not vanity, and not fame. He's just sharing his experiences and observations. He's just being Tim.

Having been drawn to the stage early in life, a theatrical influence transmits through Tim's music (one that is glaringly evident in his live shows). His upcoming release, "The Shadows", plays on this whimsical nature while also crossing in darker territory. Tim admits that "My music shows two sides of me. One that is playful and energetic (I love to dance). But one that is also introverted and dark. It's really just about the things that I experience in everyday life... happiness, tragedy and all of that."

For Tim this clarity was forged from past musical tribulations. In his early 20's he moved to Los Angeles and began working in mainstream music with the likes of Chris Field and ELO. However he quickly grew frustrated with the overproduced mentality and overbearing industry aspect of the LA music scene. Emphatically he sought refuge in San Francisco where he began writing and composing music with the simple idea that music should be about art first and industry last.

For the new release, "The Shadows", Tim teamed up with indie engineer and drummer Chris Crawford (French Miami) who recorded and performed on his last project. However this time he also enlisted the talents of veteran guitarist and mixing engineer Phil Manly (Trans Am, The Fucking Champs). The resulting sound is a perfect blend of flavors... it's dancy, dark, silly, fun, angry... it's Tim."

The Shadows releases February 7, 2012
Anymore
Cast The Line

Synthpop Keeps Coming

2011-12-08T15:28:00.000-08:00

I guess I am in a mood for this specific genre. I particularly like the work of !Distain and I am happy to share this newish video of recent material. It does seem to aim for And One's crowd, and I am not sure they need to do that.

Leaning Back Toward Synthpop

2011-12-08T13:08:00.000-08:00

Well, I have only recently been well into The Big Pink. Now, I find a remix from them and I have to say, I do like this. This has enough fun synthpop and a little alt-guitar to keep me satisfied. You need to read the blurb on this one, where the author writes: "were they "hipster shit to listen to while you're sipping Starbucks in your stupid Ugg boots posting Twitter updates on your newest Macbook?"

Peter Murphy B Sides

2011-12-06T12:12:00.000-08:00

B-sides from Peter Murphy's new studio album "Ninth" are being released as a "Secret Bees of Ninth EP". Four of the tracks are unreleased non-album tracks and "Seesaw Sway" in thrown into the mix. Bee sure to pick it up!
Track-list
1. Gaslit
2. Rose Hunter
3. Good Works
4. Secret
5. Secret Silk Society (Full Version)
6. Seesaw Sway

Love In December

2011-12-04T14:32:00.000-08:00

I almost had it, but it ended November 30. Still, I love Club 8.
Note, the column on the right now has many of my past, and still relevant, podcasts available in a new direct download format. No pop-ups or ads. Please listen and drop me a line at djtalbotlikesugar@gmail.com.

Germany's Digitalism gets remixed: Circles (Dillon Francis Remix)

2011-11-22T10:29:00.000-08:00

Not my usual type of sound, but I do love the new Digitalism album. This remix has a bit of the dubstep annoyance, which will date the track in a few years, but I find the whole thing an enjoyable hybrid of genres.

My Blog Is For Sharing Songs Like This

2011-11-15T12:49:00.000-08:00

This wonderful find comes to me from my good friend DJ Narcolept. He always finds me these little gems:
The Fool (Single) by COOLRUNNINGS

Latest Ladytron Video: Mirage

2011-11-15T12:25:00.000-08:00

Ladytron Online:
http://www.ladytron.com
http://www.facebook.com/ladytron
http://www.twitter.com/ladytronmusic

Recommended: Future Islands

2011-11-04T15:26:00.000-07:00

Carter Maness sums this track up perfectly: "“Balance” starts with a calm that could be waves or traffic and eventually breaks into a melancholic synth-heavy pop workout with melodies strong enough to please the biggest of New Order fans. “If you want something to change,” croaks the group’s singer Sam Herring. “You gotta change your life.”
A fitting track for this "blogger".

Blouse: Time Travel

2011-10-31T12:21:00.000-07:00

Happy Halloween and all that. ~~New girlfriend~~ + 2 deaths in the family = I am not posting as much as I should. When I saw Portland's dream-pop band Blouse had a new offering, I had to share it with you. Love this band!
Time Travel by BLOUSE

M83 Gets Covered and I Like It

2011-10-26T09:05:00.000-07:00

Death in the family, so I haven't been as posty as I want. Here's a cover of M83's Kim and Jessie. I have been playing it every day at the imaginary club in my head.

Jah Wobble's new project Psychic Life

2011-10-19T08:43:00.000-07:00

Jah Wobble's new project Psychic Life - the first single "Tightrope". Can't wait for a remix of this!

Discovery: Android Automatic's dreamy synth

2011-10-11T17:06:00.000-07:00

Android Automatic has been around for a little over two years and has influences ranging from early '80s electro to present day synth-pop with a twist of dreamy disco. The Detroit artist was kind enough to send me three tracks from the ep "After Summer." The tracks are entitled "Stayed Too Late," "Magic In The Pyramids," and "Dreaming in Color." I found they fit perfectly with what I like in synthpop.
Several tracks are available to stream or download over at androidautomatic.official.fm
Facebook band page is here.

Cover Me on Friday

2011-10-07T14:49:00.000-07:00

Look what I found today! I love good covers.
I am still without my mp3 library, so forgve my lack of posts.

I Was Away, But Now I Am Back

2011-10-01T21:24:00.000-07:00

I have not posted in a while because my computer crashed in a way that is not repairable. This crash will involve a new mother-board and CPU. I am happy that no data was lost.
So, if I must search for the most respresentative music of this blog, of me, of whatever I want you to hear... I must submit the work of Human Drama. I love The Cure, New Order, Depeche Mode, The Smiths, Morrissey... but this is LOCAL. This is what matters, what moves in a way I cannot explain.

Pallers Preview: "The Sea of Memories"

2011-09-23T13:20:00.000-07:00

Pallers "The Sea of Memories" official release date is on September 27th. You can try before you buy via Soundcloud's player below! Buy the record here or here (US).

Pallers - The Sea of Memories LP by The FADER

A New Lowe

2011-09-14T15:35:00.000-07:00

The video for Sweden's LOWE's single "Mirage", taken from the album "Evolver". I find this act to be under-played, so please check them out!

Press release: "Sweden's Lowe returns with the highly anticipated release Evolver. Lowe's music can be described as pop noir, melancholic and melodic electronic pop music. Their previous two albums, Tenant and Kino International both received critical acclaim as album of the month by American, German, Swedish and Italian press and Evolver seems to be in line to reach the same plateau. Featuring the singles Breathe In Breathe Out, Mirage and Live to Love, Lowe is poised to take control of the North American market."

Blink And You'll Miss A Revolution

2011-09-13T13:29:00.000-07:00

This was my pick for a second single or video from the new Cut Copy. This one's fun to watch and about 18 seconds shorter than the album version.

Cut Copy - Blink And You'll Miss A Revolution from Cut Copy on Vimeo.

M83: Midnight City Remix EP out September

2011-09-10T12:36:00.000-07:00

"M83 is set to release Midnight City Remix EP on September 26th (27th in the US). Available digitally, the EP features an impressive set of remixes for the new single Midnight City by Trentemøller, Big Black Delta, Man Without Country, and Team Ghost." M83 on tour in North America and Europe this year. Listing here.
Intro (ft Zola Jesus) by M83
Download "Midnight City (Big Black Delta Remix)" free here.

Album Premiere: Girls

2011-09-10T11:00:00.000-07:00

San Francisco's Girls, have a new album out on September 13th, called "Father, Son, Holy Ghost". Listen to it before it's out next week right here.

Another Blouse

2011-09-09T07:32:00.000-07:00

Super-excited this a.m. to hear a new Blouse song! I somehow misplaced (lost?) my CTRL key last night. Power was out for 6+ hours and when it came back on, the ol' computer was not happy, so I guess I smashed the keyboard in frustration (as if that ever solved anything).
Videotapes by BLOUSE

Mates of State: a Seventh Album

2011-09-09T06:08:00.000-07:00

I know how to copy AND paste! It's 6 a.m., so this sort of thing is excusable, right?
"Connecticut-based indie-pop duo Mates of State's new album, Mountaintops, comes out September 13th via Barsuk records, but you can listen to an exclusive full album stream all week at Rolling Stone's website at the link below. About the album, Rolling Stone says, "Mountaintops, the band's seventh full-length album, finds them going further than ever with electronic textures without sacrificing the warmth and classic melodicism of their earlier work." Check it out and listen now!

I Want To Buy You Something

2011-09-07T14:19:00.000-07:00

Just a quick note: you can stream The Drums new one, Portamento, at AOL Spinner here. I know I mentioned you could hear it on the NYT, but I want to be sure everyone hears this!
Continuing what I started with Stereo MCs... here's a video from a band that shows them giving a little background, playing live and recording. I hope to see these elements from more acts. The band is a Dutch act called Jaffa. I will be looking into them a little deeper soon.

Blitz OST

2011-09-06T22:42:00.000-07:00

Just watched this film. I thought the music was well-chosen; kept me in the mood for action. Jason Statham, Paddy Considine and Aidan Gillen. A fun time.

Generationals

2011-09-05T12:12:00.000-07:00

It's Labor Day here in the US. That means some of don't have to work. It actually rained early this morning and I heard thunder not long ago. Very rare for where I live.

I am trying to figure out how to incorporate Spotify in my blog. Spotify is much better than iTunes for the kind of music I like to share. So, here's a link to a band I wasn't too familiar with. Generationals on Spotify. The link opens up your Spotify, if you have it, much like iTunes opens up via their links. This track is a good place to start. I think I heard it via tweedle on turntable.fm.

Young Empires

2011-09-04T17:05:00.000-07:00

Young Empires (www.youngempires.com) are doing it for me this holiday weekend. Their bio says they are "a Canadian music group that NME Magazine compared to the likes of The Killers, Arcade Fire, Yeasayer, The Rapture, and Foals. Defined by swirling synthesizer tones, soulful bass grooves, and funky guitar rhythms, Young Empires deliver dance tracks full of swagger, sexuality, and a little angst."

Random Early Morning Rambling

2011-09-03T06:47:00.000-07:00

Probably the best song from this release. Surprised to see it on Youtube! I played this frequently in my DJ days. Glad it has the raining at the end. And now, back to the IAMX videos that are kicking off my 3 day weekend.

September Wasn't So Far Away

2011-09-01T11:07:00.000-07:00

Combing through some un-read emails today, in search of more tunes to share. I have been neglecting my blog, I know. Turntable.fm is addictive. I've met some great people there and I have learned that I know very little about some genres of music. It's wonderful to sit back and hear music you've never heard. Last night, some kind of southern or country music mood overtook the DJs and I found myself at a loss to join-in. I tried, and was surprised to have the support of the room. Good times.

Check-out two of my finds from today's search (thanks to rcrd lbl)

The Drums premiere their sophomore album "Portamento"

2011-08-30T19:26:00.000-07:00

A favorite here on Like Sugar, I am pleased find The Drums premiere their sophomore album "Portamento" on The New York Times' T Magazine!
Listen here.

For More Information:
http://www.thedrums.com/
http://www.facebook.com/wearethedrums
http://www.twitter.com/thedrumsforever
http://www.myspace.com/thedrumsforever

Turntable.fm and The Lexingtons

2011-08-16T15:03:00.000-07:00

I hear something I like here. I'd even say it's twee, if that's ok. Lord knows, I have been deep into twee at turntable.fm of late. This would fit in nicely:
I Don't Belong (stripped down mix) by thelexingtons

Just Added: Cut Copy Plays 10/12 Hollywood & 10/14 In San Diego

2011-08-15T16:51:00.000-07:00

Oh, man, I wanna go! To see a full list of shows, go to cutcopy.net
Latest tracks by cutcopymusic

Stereo MCs - When I Was A Boy

2011-08-12T15:55:00.000-07:00

This one takes off at about 2 minutes, so hang in there. Great track and this is what a fan wants in a video. Stereo MCs!

Face The Beat

2011-08-12T15:13:00.000-07:00

I am working my way through "Face The Beat - Vol 1". You can download it for free here.
Sideline's chief editor Bernard Van Isacker says "expect bands you never heard of with an own sound mixed with better known acts. We were very lucky that a few labels realized pretty soon that the impact of this compilation could be quite big, so they offered us some more known acts to push this project."

Foster The People remix Grouplove

2011-08-02T11:21:00.000-07:00

More of that Foster The People sound!

Cold Cave: Life Magazine

2011-08-02T00:26:00.000-07:00

I guess this was a song used on a commercial. I say, never read the comments on youtube. They don't help. Anyway, I found this to be a particularly good near 3-minute track (with female vocals, rather than the dreary male) and subsequently looked for a video. Result:

Ivy "Fascinated": new track now available to stream

2011-07-29T16:44:00.000-07:00

Indie-pop trio Ivy released a new track entitled “Fascinated” from their long-awaited fifth studio album All Hours, out September 20, 2011. To celebrate the album’s release, the NYC-based trio (Parisian-born singer Dominique Durand, Andy Chase and Adam Schlesinger)recently announced their first live show in five years at the Gramercy Theatre on Saturday, September 24 in their home city with special guest Tahiti 80.
IVY - Fascinated by nettwerkmusicgroup

I Read Other Blogs! SULK

2011-07-25T17:45:00.000-07:00

I read about SULK over at Eardrums and I thought I should share this early 90's sounding act to help spread the word. Read more at the original post here.

Rogue Wave side Project: Release The Sunbird

2011-07-25T17:09:00.000-07:00

Sometimes I step away from the electronic world and embrace the warm sound of plain old (alternative) rock 'n' roll. Rogue Wave might not be a band you'd expect to find here, but I suggest you look into them. This post is about a side project from the lead singer called Release the Sunbird. They have a nice under-stated sound, but this is no arty folk junk. Fans of Trashcan Sinatras, Wilco, Pernice Brothers, etc should enjoy.
Here's a free preview of the new album in entirety, courtesy of NPR .
Hey, look, it's Bob Odenkirk!

Washed Out Remix

2011-07-23T14:40:00.000-07:00

Just finished watching (with one eye) "Limitless". I haven't been so entertained by a film like this in a long time. Please see it. Bradley Cooper is such a likeable actor.

This remix of Washed Out's "Echoes" by Little Star Dweller is very well done. I'm glad the artist didn't take it to 6 minutes or something. It's perfectly timed with an improved drum pattern.
Washed Out - Echoes (Little Star Dweller Remix) by Little Star Dweller

Stockholm Belongs To Us

2011-07-19T16:08:00.000-07:00

A new 22 song compilation is out now: "Stockholm Belongs To Us - A Labrador Records Compilation." Get it here.

Two Minutes and Thirty-five Seconds Is All You Need

2011-07-16T16:00:00.000-07:00

An essential track for Summer. "Beach Slalom" by Bos Angleles. Listened to it about 5 times in row. Thanks to DIY for listing this!
d e m o by Bos Angeles

When Chill Caves in on itself

2011-07-16T13:02:00.000-07:00

I have to address this: while I enjoy the sound of Washed Out, there is this nagging feeling that I have heard it all before. I can't sit through the entire album. I know that saying "it sounds the same as" is a cheap shot, a lazy way of expressing an opinion... but I gotta say, this has little repeat power for me. I probably wouldn't say a single thing about the album if it wasn't showing up on mixtapes and podcasts. It's rather mediocre, and I think I have listened to way too much chill-out music over the last 15 years. Ulrich Schnauss does this better. I hate to criticize, but I need to do so once in a while, otherwise this is just a blog with recycled promo material.
So what am I listening to now? Go here to hear something that doesn't bore.

Photovoltaik: We Have Sound in San Diego

2011-07-14T05:48:00.000-07:00

San Diego's own Photovoltaik offers the sound we love (dark wave electronic new wave post punk synthpop) with 6 lovely tracks at Bandcamp.
I look forward to more coverage for them. I like where they are going and given the local aspect, I am especially interested!

Humans - Avec Mes Mecs

2011-07-11T14:12:00.000-07:00

*oly crap, this one excited me at once. I love the crunchy aspect of the beats and the tempo allows play at any time of day or night. Another reason I encourage you to sign-up with RCRD LBL.

Unexpected day off... new !Distain to listen to. "On / Off" is the CD title. I love my German synthpop. Note that distain is a different word than disdain, something I never noticed for quite some time. Now, why the "!" in the band's name is another mystery. Perhaps a reader can comment.
Got a haircut earlier. Can't beat the $10 price. I asked for a Morrissey style cut, as I am going a tad gray and he looks fabulous for a man a scant 12 years older than me. As a Moz fan since 1984, I think he's aged quite well.

Pictureplane Free mp3 + AHK Video

2011-07-11T13:18:00.000-07:00

Sorry for the lack of posts this week. I have a serious eye condition. Typing is a pain in ass because I can't see the screen clearly. I'm in the care of a doctor and a specialist, so I have faith that I'll recover eventually.
My previous post mentioned Pictureplane. Today the mighty RCRD LBL offers the track for download!

A perfect Summertime song by Acid House Kings now has a video (digital single came out 28, June). I meant to post this last week, but I felt I was listening to a lot of Labrador Records tunes, so I waited. Be sure to check out the new Pallers single "Come Rain, Come Sunshine" which drops 26, July. I am using Euro dates now?

Listen: Pictureplane - "Thee Physical"

2011-07-06T18:59:00.000-07:00

Listening to the entire new Pictureplane album, "Thee Physical", and this one is my my pick for best track:
Post Physical by PICTUREPLANE
Track "Real Is A Feeling" is a close second stand-out.

Pallers - Come Rain, Come Sunshine

2011-07-05T13:10:00.000-07:00

If this gentle track doesn't grab you on first play, try it again. There is a subtle beauty that brushes over your ears like wind. Perfect dreamy music and voice for the Summer (and even the Winter for you in the Southern Hemisphere!).
Pallers - Come Rain, Come Sunshine on Sweden's Labrador Records. Download or stream here.

Yet Another Soundcloud Find: Skai Nine

2011-07-05T12:15:00.000-07:00

Looking something like trip-hop all these years later? I have found Skai Nine satisfies my search. Crisp electronic arrangements that get your head nodding. Explore Skai Nine on Soundcloud. Best to sit back and listen to several tracks, as the sound hits different moods.
Nova by Skai Nine

White Apple Tree - Circles - new Indietronic

2011-06-29T18:22:00.000-07:00

San Diego’s indietronic duo White Apple Tree (WAT) win me over, quite easily, with this mid-tempo track from their 2nd album "Smooth Jaws". 37 Records’ White Apple Tree is celebrating a 2011 MTV Euro Movie Award nomination for breakout independent German film, Kokowääh. WAT’s hit single, “Snowflakes,” is featured in the film and appears on the official soundtrack for the movie. The film’s buzz helped "Snowflakes" reach the Top 10 on iTunes Deutschland, while the soundtrack reached #11 on Amazon Germany.
You'll be hearing more from White Apple Tree here on Like Sugar soon!
They will be performing here in San Diego The Casbah on Sunday, July 3, 2011 at 7 p.m.

Listen to Washed Out's new one for free

2011-06-27T17:57:00.000-07:00

I am not sure if this will work outside the US, but here goes: NPR is hosting the entire new Washed Out "Within And Without" album (out July 12). You can stream the whole album or listen to individual tracks here. This electronic music will appeal to fans of Ulrich Schnauss, dreampop, Slowdive, shoegaze, etc. You can't beat free music to chill to! Oddly, this is on Subpop, a label headed in the right direction, unlike 4AD which is off the rails!
Don't forget to listen to my latest project: "Viernes" (only listen on Fridays, when the sun is setting). The link is here. I am currently looking for Spanish language: synthpop, electronic dance music, gothic rock and indie pop. Submit suggestions to djtalbotlikesugar@gmail.com.

Two Door Cinema Club: What You Know

2011-06-27T17:29:00.000-07:00

Not sure I'll post much about Glastonbury, but I thought this was worth sharing. The insanely catchy Two Door Cinema Club played perfectly, showcasing this evidently popular track (What You Know). Original above, live version below.

"Viernes": a new project from yours truly

2011-06-25T16:17:00.000-07:00

"Viernes" is a new series of alternative electronic music mixes for your Friday night ritual. Focusing on the deserving tracks I am unable to feature on my regular Like Sugar podcast. Expect Brit-pop, synthpop, electro and 80's + 90's gems. 40 to 50 minutes and should be out on Fridays, so sorry for the late post. Facebook and Twitter saw prompt posts, I neglected my blog due to the overwhelming urge to dance.
So, listen via stream or download here (zshare).
I have had this project on the back burner for a long time. My original intent was to have the talking bits en Espanol and to feature a few Spanish-speaking acts as well. I know there is a huge following for acts like Peter Murphy, Clan Of Xymox, Depeche Mode, The Cure, and so on in Central and South America. I don't want my blog and mixes to be overly Euro-centric.

Indiepop Time For Me

2011-06-24T16:48:00.000-07:00

I've played a few tracks by The Horrors on the podcast and posted a bit about them.
Here we have Horrors vocalist Faris Badwan pairing up with Rachel Zeffira to create that 60's boy-girl sound that I can't get enough of. I don't listen to this type of music every day, but when I do, I line up a few hours worth. If Sarah Records was still going, Cat's Eyes might have had a chance to join them (yeah, I know, Cat's Eyes is on a major label). Summing it up: I just love Mr. Badwan's voice and I am glad he went here with it!

Below, I added a track that compliments Cat's Eyes. The band is Kids On A Crime Spree, and this track is a stand-out.
KIDS ON A CRIME SPREE - Trumpets of Death

New Music from The Whip

2011-06-23T21:09:00.000-07:00

The Whip: Wired Together (Sampler) by Southern Fried Records
Underwhelming? Maybe. Still, there is something about these guys that engages me. Beats Junior Boys and Chromeo. You listen at the right hour and you may be surprised.

Crystal

2011-06-23T20:55:00.000-07:00

Crystal Stilts - Shake the Shackles from Army Of Kids on Vimeo.

I'm thinking there are too many bands with the word "Crystal" in their name. Certainly, Crystal Castles are quite popular, and then we have Crystal Fighters, The Crystal Method, Crystal Gayle... and that might hurt other Crystal-named bands. Enjoy some Crystal Stilts.

Pop Noir: A Look Into Mirrors

2011-06-21T18:23:00.000-07:00

From Mirrors' first documentary that aired on Channel 4 on June 9, 2011 as part of the 4Play program.

Stereo MCs Update

2011-06-18T14:37:00.000-07:00

Footage of new band line up:

So Eighties

2011-06-17T12:25:00.000-07:00

Rather happy with this remix collection of 80's tracks. I think these charted in the UK more than here in the US, so this is especially listenable. Track-list here.

We Don't Want Your Body

2011-06-17T11:16:00.000-07:00

I always knew this would be a Stars single! Pair it with PIL. I suggest listening, rather than really watching this one.

2 New Tracks by Ivy

2011-06-14T21:46:00.000-07:00

Ivy's new album 'All Hours' will be available Sept 20th but you can get your hands on two of the tracks "Lost In The Sun" & "Distant Lights" now at iTunes for only $0.69 each.
IVY - All Hours [Album Sampler] by nettwerkmusicgroup

The Blood Arm: Turn And Face Me

2011-06-14T08:48:00.000-07:00

New album ‘Turn And Face Me’ came out June 3rd in Germany, and we can expect a July 4th release around the world. "The Blood Arm are a Los Angeles-based four-piece rock band whose intense live performances and catchy energetic songs have earned them fans and critical acclaim worldwide." Read more here. I saw these guys live twice and they put on an energetic show.

The Blood Arm : "Relentless Love" - (27th June 2011 release) by 1-2-hear

The Pains of Being Pure at Heart: Bonus Track

2011-06-13T15:06:00.000-07:00

From the Japan-only release, a track titled "Tomorrow Dies Today": stream it here.
Is it a pain in the ass to leave comments on this blog? If so, you can always email me at this address: djtalbotlikesugar@gmail.com or hit me up on twitter.

Serenades - Official Video

2011-06-10T17:27:00.000-07:00

As mentioned, this is great side material from Shout Out Louds. I think this will make an appearance on Like Sugar 39. The strings made the difference.

Stars - In Our Bedroom After The War Demos

2011-06-10T16:41:00.000-07:00

The album is available in digital format only, across the world from their store, in regular and high quality downloads. Check out the limited edition bundles available this month only. These are the demo recordings from their 2007 album , and they're proud to share the first versions they cut in late 2006, deep in a Montreal winter. They have weathered well and with them they hope to brighten your day.

This marks the beginning of a busy month for Stars. They just finished a second writing session for the new album and things are rolling along beautifully.

Next Tuesday, June 14th tune into Pitchfork for the premiere of the new video for 'We Don't Want Your Body'.
Stars - The Worst Thing (Whitey Jam) by Arts & Crafts

66 Second Song By Insect Guide

2011-06-06T21:24:00.000-07:00

Perfect. Buy it here

Tom Vek: Stream the new "Leisure Seizure" album

2011-06-04T19:39:00.000-07:00

Tom Vek's new one is streaming until the digital release on June 7th. The physical release will not arrive until September!

New Coldplay: Every Tear Is A Waterfall

2011-05-31T16:57:00.000-07:00

Coldplay says: "'Every Teardrop Is A Waterfall' will be available digitally on Friday 3rd June at 12pm (BST), except in the UK where it'll come out on the stroke of midnight between Saturday 4th and Sunday 5th June. We'll also stream it on Coldplay.com on Friday."
Wow, that is one colorful cover. Eww. I fixed for my readers below:

Wait! Should it be all yellow?

Miracle Fortress remixed by Diamond Rings

2011-05-28T22:26:00.000-07:00

Dreamy electro-pop: both bands are worth checking out: Diamond Rings and Miracle Fortress. I love this track:

Foster the People Performs "Pumped Up Kicks" Live

2011-05-27T14:15:00.000-07:00

As heard on Like Sugar podcast 38 here.

Kid Kasio Website

2011-05-26T15:48:00.000-07:00

Kid Kasio has a beautiful website. Be sure to check out that boom box to hear great synthpop.

The Horrors: new single

2011-05-24T12:53:00.000-07:00

via XL: "On July 26, XL releases dark-minded British post-punkers the Horrors' third LP, Skying. Stream the romantic, synth-heavy first single "Still Life" above."

Lowe: New Single "Breathe In Breathe Out"

2011-05-23T12:18:00.000-07:00

This is a synthpop blog, after all, and so I present another electronic selection by Lowe for you:

Find more artists like LOWE at Myspace Music

Modern Synthpop Defined: ZyniC

2011-05-22T13:11:00.000-07:00

At first listen, I knew I would adore this album by ZyniC. It touches on all the elements of synthpop that I love so much. The melodies, the classic vocal style, that analogue synth and little bubbly squelches. I love that Speak 'n' Spell effect for some reason. Each track has a lot going on, but it doesn't become sensory overload. The lyrics deal with the subjects we've come to expect from the genre: love, silence, the heart, blame, regret, dreams, the soul... I could go on. Instead, I encourage you to get a hold of Zynic's Fire Walk With Me as soon as possible. A Different Drum, the premiere source for electronic pop on the web, has it here.

New Blondie: Video for "Mother"

2011-05-18T17:26:00.000-07:00

Yes, the flood of posts is insane today... but this time of year yields many good releases. Blondie does it right this time on many levels. This song and video renews my faith in the bands that made me fall in love with music in the early 80's.