Electroqueer

MySpace Discovery & Free Download: The Dossier

2008-11-20T14:06:35+00:00

I've got a hot one for you today EQs.

Say hello to The Dossier. They are a New York based electronica band who is a bit (well more than a bit) reminiscent of Erasure and Depeche Mode. I mean, my goodness just look at them - it's like the two bands morphed together. This is what Erasure and Depeche Mode might sound and look like if the two collaborated together. It's an obvious comparison, but I don't think the boys will mind one bit.

Take a listen to their hot track "Another Day, Another Night" on their MySpace page and I think you'll agree that these are some serious electronica beats to be reckoned with. I am absolutely in love with the gorgeousness that is "Dying Horses" as well. The Dossier are the type of band that makes me swoon with delight and I hope you'll all feel the same way about them as I do.

To score your hot free download of "Another Day, Another Night", make sure you're a member of the EQ Facebook Group as the track is waiting for you to enjoy right now. Make sure you stop by the boys Myspace page and leave them loads of nice comments - they deserve it and you can bet I'll be watching them rather closely.

More HOT Than Hot: Patrick Wolf, Boogaloo Stu, Sergey vs. Erasure, Gavin Bellour, Blake Lewis, Jack Savoretti, Britney Spears, Geo Da Silva...

2008-11-19T11:35:01+00:00

Good Hump Day EQs. Lots of little buzzy bits going on in our musical repertoire lately, so here are this weeks More HOT Than Hot bits for you...

Patrick Wolf is back in the studio everyone and we are all very excited about that. If you haven't visited his MySpace page lately, make sure you do and start stalking him. I'm loving the new tracks "Careless Talk" and "Gypsy King" that are up there - just make sure to switch off the hip-hop thats annoyingly in the comments section. He's got a lovely picture of a dead bird there too - how poetic.

Glamtastic Boogaloo Stu will release his new single "Hammer To Fall" in early January and you can listen to it now on his Facebook page! You can buy this track now on iTunes too so whatcha waiting for? And just for fun, here's a little piccy of Stu and Antigone dueting together at the last EQ night!

Sergey vs Erasure? Yes it's true - Sergey recently did a stomping live cover of the Erasure classic "Love To Hate You" and it's absolutely out-of-this-world! Don't believe me? Watch it now! Just wow! If you didn't catch the premiere of "Lazerboy" last week too on EQ, you need to check it out pronto!

Sergey Lazarev Covers "Love To Hate You" by Erasure from EQ Video on Vimeo.

I've been recently falling in musical love with some acoustic acts lately which I know, is totally out of my genre, but I don't care - they are very good indeed - so sayeth EQ. First off Gavin Bellour. I met this American singer/songwriter/model crooner last night in Earl's Court and he's just lovely. I recommend that you check him out - he's to die for and quite ironically is the "most used face on TV ads in the US". Oddly enough, after Gavin's show last night in Earls Court, I found myself on a Blackberry talking to Blake Lewis about his new songs with Darude - seriously, not joking! More on that later!

You should also check out Jack Savoretti. I got to see him perform to a packed out Astoria on Monday night and he's got some great acoustic tunes that will please the inner romantic in all of you. OK - maybe I've been spending too much time at Starbucks with all this new found love of new acoustica, but you know what - a good act is a good act and that's why I'm sharing with you! Enjoy!

I can't stop listening to Britney's "Circus". The Lady Gaga penned song "Quicksand" is poptastic. Everything Lady Gaga touches seems to turn to gold, but ironically this song didn't make the album cut. It would have fit better on the album maybe instead of "Mmm Papi" or "Mannequin" if you ask me. Go and try to find the track if you haven't already.

And finally I leave you with THE most totally gratuitous T&A video I've seen so far this year. It's Geo Da Silva's "Do It Like A Truck". If you've been to Ibiza at all this year, you probably have heard this on the thumpa thumpa being out and about. I actually love this song - even if the video is a bit ridiculous - in that fun sort of way.

Coming up tomorrow we have a great new MySpace discovery for you and we've got a few fun filled new interviews coming your way too...so stay tuned!

Press Play Bitch: James Leon "Talk To Me"

2008-11-18T17:01:39+00:00

EQ of the Year 08 Nominee James Leon has unveiled another new track exclusivley here on EQ today called "Talk To Me".

This track is a bit offbeat and quirky which is why I totally love it. It's also got a fab retro bassline that will take you right back to the early 80's for those of you who are fans of this particular era of music - and really why wouldn't you be?

James has also just wrapped the filming for his new video to "Perfect Heart" which we are hoping to have to you sometime soon as well. Pending a final decision on the date, we are looking forward to bringing James Leon back to the EQ club night in January as well! Yay!

James Leon: Talk To Me

EQ Reviews Britney Spears "Circus"

2008-11-17T12:18:49+00:00

Once again, I find myself listneing to Britney Spears which I have to say for the first time in my life, I actually quite like her now - someone call a doctor now - I know! I have never really been into her all that much, but it finally seems that she's making the sort of music that appeals to me and my favourite genre. So when "Circus" landed in my inbox yesterday, I thought hey, let's give this puppy a whirl...

"Circus" is very similar in the vein of "Blackout" - perfectly produced electropop that is pleasing to the ear - but really that is no big suprise at all. Instead of overanalyzing each track (I'm really bad at that), what I'll simply do is tell you about the songs that really stick out to me upon the first few listens. I hate doing album reviews anyways, so forgive me if you feel this review isn't everything you're looking to read. I am by no means a Britney Spears expert, nor do I strive to be.

"Unusual You" - The most heavenly track on the album and a bit different from the rest of the tracks. It's a bit of darker electro for Britney and is definitley my favourite song on the album. Subtly located smack dab in the middle of the album, this track has some of the most beautiful synths I've ever heard. The song really reflects my personal view of love. You know when you've had your heart broken so many times in your life, you start to beleive that real love doesn't exist. Then suddenly you meet someone perfectly normal and lovely and you start to overanlyze to try and find what the hell is wrong with them - that's what this song explores. It kinda hits the nail on the head for me around this topic and it's a gorgeous song. Even a few shades of Depeche Mode on this track which is suprising to me...

"Circus" - My second favourite song on the album. Snappy and punchy to the extreme. The song isn't that notable when the song starts, but when the main chours kicks in, it's pretty fucking amazing. The song is quite fitting in comparision to Spear's life with Britney re-claiming and exclaiming she's the ring leader of the circus with the dancefloor as her stage. "When I crack that whip, everyone gonna trip - just like a circus". I love hearing Britney cracking the whip so to speak. This song definitley wreaks "It's Britney bitch" once again.

"Out From Under" - is a tender and touching song. I am quite glad she included a nice ballad on the album. At times she has a really nice voice and it's hard to notice this sometimes on an album full of heavily vocoded electro. However the other ballad on the album "My Baby" isn't as strong in my opinion.

"Kill The Lights" - I really like this song, but I think it's a bit presumptious when Britney is named "Our very own pop princess, now the Queen of Pop" by the MC in the begining of this song. Britney love, the queen is still Madonna. You won't get this title until Her Madjesty kicks the bucket - sorry love. Having said that, the song is rather groovilicous.

"Phonography" - A bonus track, but be careful...I thought she was talking about pornography but in fact, Britney is going on about how she loves being a gadget queen and how she's addicted to her mobile phone, text messaging and getting good network service bars in her "zone". A bit tacky yes, but when you analyze the lyrics, she's really drawing biological sexual comparisions here. I can totally see her rubbing her phone up and down in places she shouldn't - albeit a video clip ever emerged for this song.

As far as all the other tracks on the album. Quite good, not really a duff track at all. Whereas "Blackout" sounded a bit souless in places (which can easily happen on electronic albums), "Circus" definitley sees Britney taking control and giving us an album of pop perfection that everyone will enjoy. I would like to see Britney delve a little deeper at some point in the electronica genre. Perhaps she's still working on her epic "Ray Of Light", but for the moment I'm quite happy with "Circus" and perhaps a little surprised that I've turned into a Britney Spears fan now. Gimme gimme more.

"Circus" is released in the UK on December 1st and in the USA on December 2nd. It's EQ Approved.

Nu-Retro Rewind: CeCe Peniston "Finally" 2008

2008-11-16T17:19:26+00:00

Wow CeCe Peniston - You KNOCK me out.

Igniting in the clubs right now is CeCe Peniston's classic dance hit "Finally". But this time, it's been given the good ol 2008 electro treatment by Kam Denny and Paul Zala which has brought this dance classic to life once again. Already a firm favourite in DJ Adamix's record bag and on my iPod, make sure you go out of your way to get this hot nu-retro remix right now. Your Monday morning commute will be so much more colourful - I promise.

And can I just say "like whoa" to CeCe Peniston herself. She's come a long way from the girl who wore black with big flowers on her head. Just look at her! It's like she got in a time machine and got younger and hotter. I want some of her damn moisturizer.

Take a listen to "Finally 2008" right now and if you look hard enough - it's floating around on the net somewhere...go...what are you waiting for?

Esser's Lady Is A Bit Of A Cannibal - EWW

2008-11-15T10:15:35+00:00

OK - maybe that headline was a little much. But take a look at the follow-up to Esser's brilliant single "Headlock" called "Satisfied". Frustrated Esser can't please his lady at all - poor guy. In the end she decides to eat him. Nice! As Nelly Furtado would say - "She's a maneater".

I have to say, following Arjan's lovely coverage of Esser, I am more and more interested in him. It's hard not to compare him to Beck, so I will - and that's not a bad thing. To be able to intertwine unusual beats, unique vocals and songs that please the pop-loving ear isn't an easy job at all. Esser does it well.

Esser is also playing a few shows in London with Lykke Li at the end of the month. Now there is a show that I can't miss. Off to find tickets now.

More Esser here and here but in the meantime, enjoy the video to "Satisfied" in HQ which is released this coming Monday.

Go Behind The Scenes Of "Dream On" With Robyn

2008-11-14T20:12:59+00:00

I really enjoyed this little behind the scenes documentary for the Christian Falk ft. Robyn video for "Dream On". It's nice to see Robyn enjoying herself in NYC and to see a little glimpse into her popstar life. The concept of the video is explained in detail and the actors themselves all add some great commentary. Really just a nice bit of film if you're a fan of the song and Robyn. It makes me miss NYC a bit. Enjoy.