Whether it's just that there is a sudden crop of interesting music around, or perhaps I have merely been in the mood for traversing the interwebs for exotica on these dark, dank autumn days, but... here's another round-up of recent choons that have caught my ear, shared for your delectation.
Let us open with a firm favourite - the Swedish artist occasionally known as Bimbo Boy, Dennis Alexis Hellström, whose new duo Eurotix has released I Plead Insanity as its new single. Shades of Vince Clarke-era Depeche Mode or Yazoo, methinks:
Speaking of regularly-featured artists, Aussie duo Parralox has a great new single out - a cover of an old hit by Alan Parsons Project - it's Eye In The Sky:
An electronic band from Scotland, Chvrches has released a sublimely-crafted new single (and video) Lies. I really like this...
In complete contrast, the band behind one of this year's runaway successes I Don't Care (I Love It) Icona Pop's new single is altogether a more poppy, shouty affair - with a terrifically camp video as well. It's All Night:
With an infectious riff that harks back to the classic early 90s house sound of artists like the Nightcrawlers (and a fab video to boot), here's Storm Queen and Look Right Through:
It has sassy ladies dancing in unfeasibly high heels, several exotic costume changes, semi-naked male totty - it's the video for the title song from a new Bollywood block-buster starring Aamir Khan, of course! Dhoom Machale Dhoom is performed by Katrina Kaif, but in true Bollywood style is actually sung by Aditi Singh Sharma:
Speaking of camp - here's a collaboration of fantabulosa fierceness! Thanks (yet again) to the lovely Henry at Barbarella's Galaxy, our lives have been enriched by the marvellous Gomi & Mila Jam. They are indeed Masters Of the Universe:
That track also features contributions from someone by the name of Kayvon Zand. Fearing this might be some "urban" rapper, I investigated. I could not have been more wrong if I tried! Sample for yourself the delights of this magnificent creature, as he takes you on the most incredible One Way Flight...
Finally, another marvellous discovery. Pentatonix is a combo of supremely talented singers, whose acapella versions of modern pop tunes won them all the accolades on American talent show The Sing-Off in 2011. [Shamefully, although their chosen charity on the show was the gay youth crisis support organisation The Trevor Project, the broadcaster NBC chose to edit out any reference to LBGTQ people when the appeal was shown. Piss-poor treatment of a group, two of whose members are gay!] Here they are with their magnificent tribute to synth-dance maestros Daft Punk, entirely without synths:
As always, enjoy - and let me know what you think!