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Caught in the Net: Synth-heavy sounds make for a real gem

 

Larry Ryan
Thursday 30 August 2012 12:06 BST
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The Brooklyn group Telepathe impressed in 2009 with their Dave Sitek-produced debut album, Dance Mother. The female duo return now with "Onyx", the first track from their forthcoming new record, Destroyer.

Again, TV on the Radio man Dave Sitek is producing, and, occupying similar terrain to Niki & the Dove, it's another fine blast of synth-heavy electro dance. The band add that they've also been newly influenced by 1980s synth-pop from the Miami freestyle scene. Hear it on the Nowness site at ind.pn/NVXwQi.

Baltimore band's day has come

New wave synth-pop band Future Islands have a gorgeous new song in the shape of "Tomorrow", the A-side of a 7-inch and digital single release out next week. Get it through the UK indie label Upset the Rhythm at ind.pn/NVXBmZ and hear it streamed at snd.sc/NgN5H6. The Baltimore-based band are in soulful mood, with slowly creeping synths and bass melodies combining with a crooning vocal line, all counterpointed with some soaring backing vocals.

Electro pioneer's in the Pink

The always interesting UK electronica pioneer Kieran Hebden, better known as Four Tet, has for been releasing vinyl-only 12-inch singles on his own record label Text for a while. Last week, he collected them into an eight-track album called Pink, released digitally at bleep.com/release/37678 and ind.pn/PRlQT4 – and on iTunes. Alongside the previously released vinyl tracks, there are two new pieces "Lion" and "Peace for Earth", which will also receive a 12-inch single release. The former track's brilliant nine minutes of jitterty, twinkling electronica can be heard at snd.sc/QUJKbD.

It's a bug's life for Radiohead man

Some time back, Nigel Godrich, he of Radiohead-producing fame (and beyond) formed a band with esteemed multi-instrumentalist Joey Waronker and vocalist Laura Bettinson, under the moniker Ultraísta. They've now put a self-titled album together to be released in November. The latest track to be showcased from it is "Bad Insect", a soaring number, all krautrock-tinged synths and sound effects, which can be heard at snd.sc/Pxkufb.

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