In the four years since his debut in 2008, Sam Sparro‘s done a lot of growing as an artist. And by that, I mean he has a mustache now.

No, no–he’s matured, his sound and style has developed further, and “I Wish I Never Met You”–the lead single from his upcoming album Return to Paradise–represents that overall evolution. Stripping away the extra synthesizers but maintaining the sleekness of “Black & Gold,” Sparro’s latest is an unbelievably well-crafted marriage between soulful ’70′s disco, piano-led balladry and chilly blasts of Euro-tinged 21st century electronica (a bit Kleerupian, if you will).

The song, which was co-written by Swedish singer-songwriter Erik Hassle (so you already know it’s good), sees Sparro alternating between aggression and anguish as he laments his last love affair. It’s just amazing.

Actually, it’s so amazing, I just started listing out bits and pieces of its amazingness, including (but not limited to):

Read more »

Above & Beyond have always held a special place in my heart.

From their sublime remixes of Madonna‘s “What It Feels Like For A Girl” and Britney‘s “Everytime” to their incredible 2008 album, Sirens of the Sea (released under the name OceanLab in collaboration with British vocalist Justine Suissa), the British-Finnish trance trio have produced some of the finest tranced-out thumpers this side of the ’00′s.

“Sun & Moon” is the lead single from their upcoming album, Group Therapy, which is due out in May.

Featuring the emotive vocals of British singer Richard Bedford (who previously worked with Above & Beyond on their debut album Tristate, including 2006 single, “Alone Tonight”) “Sun & Moon” is a devastating, soulful dance floor ballad set to ambient beats and rave-ready synthesizers that continue to build and explode as the song progresses, somewhat reminiscent of Sam Sparro‘s “Black & Gold.”

“I’m sorry baby, you were the sun and moon to me / I’ll never get over you, you’ll never get over me,” Bedford croons during the spine-tingling chorus before the song dives into an immensely satisfying trance break.

The song’s accompanying video is equally sad–but don’t take my word for it! Here’s a perfect description of the narrative, courtesy of the official press release:

Drawing aesthetic cues from the Northern Soul era, the “Sun & Moon” video makes a direct link between the legendary 70s dance music scene and Above & Beyond’s unique take on modern club culture. 
Styled perfectly with a tartan Harrington jacket and a crisp shirt emblazoned with an Above & Beyond “Sun & Moon” Northern Soul badge, the lead male is seen re-living the relationship and the final breakdown through a series of emotive flash back scenes and some lonesome, drink and music-fuelled longing. With the song finding its release through its emphatic, riff-based breakdown, the male recognizes the song and finds his own peace of mind the only way he knows – by dancing.

Well said…now dance.

“Sun & Moon” will be released on March 21. (iTunes)

Ali Love is a name that’s been floating around the blogosphere for some time now. Originally slated to release his debut album in 2007, Love was briefly sidelined by label shifts and complications. After signing with Back Yard Recordings last year, Love is now back on track.

Following the release of singles “Diminishing Returns” and “Love Harder,” as well as upcoming single “Smoke & Mirrors” on July 26, the singer will be releasing his debut album, Love Harder, later this year. To tide us over until then, I’ve just been given a track off of the new record to share with my Muusers, entitled “Love In Darkness.”

The song is a slow building scorcher that brings to mind the pacing of Sam Sparro‘s genius “Black & Gold” and the vocal style of Empire of the Sun.

Think gay disco, dark electronica, and moody beats. Sound up your alley? Check, check, check!

So go ahead….start spreading the love.

DL: Ali Love – Love in Darkness

For more on Ali Love, check out his MySpace here.

I like giving people a chance that are new; that are very talented and cool. I want to find the RedOnes of tomorrow, you know?

After debuting the fabulously over-the-top “Sexy People” back in August of last year, Lolene is finally on her way to the premiere of her long awaited debut, The Electrick Hotel, due out this summer on Capitol Records.

I spoke with Lolene two weeks ago about the album’s concept, her musical endeavors, and her plans for the future. With today’s release of her incredible Electrick Hotel teaser trailer (which brings to mind the excitement I felt the first time I saw Lady Gaga‘s EPK), I thought there was no better time to reveal this interview then right now. Click below to read!

Read the interview.

This is Livvi Franc–and she’s a Being In Total Control of Herself.

That’s the meaning behind “Now I’m That Bitch,” which should really be titled “Now I’m That B.I.T.C.H.” The concept is sort of like Mariah Carey‘s upcoming album track, “H.A.T.E.U.”, which means “Having Another Typical Emotional Upset,” except the title isn’t nearly as drama and the song is probably much less of a shit show.

And now for the better-than-good, more-than-slightly Ciara-inspired video, which literally features the EXACT SAME choreography and styling that I imagined for Brit Brit‘s “Phonography” had it been properly released/performed/acknowledged. (Instead of multi-colored, bungee cord material however, it would be done with phone cords. Is that not the most fucking clever thing you’ve ever even imagined? I digress.) This video is the fierceness, and the last minute alone is worth the price of admission.

Alright, then: We’ve proved that Livvi Franc is actually quite capable of being something more than a one-time urban dancefloor diva. With any luck, she’ll become a Being with A Never-ending Array of No-Nonsense Artistry (or B.A.N.A.N.A. for short.)

You’ll also want to head to her MySpace to check out mixes by some other rather adept professionals, including Jason Nevins and Sam Sparro(!).

This here remix, completely free and available for your download pleasure, is a bit more chilly and sparkling than the original. Quite nice, so take as you will!

DL: Livvi Franc – Now I’m That Bitch (Serafin Remix)

The single, which is already out in the US, will be available for pre-order in the UK starting on Monday, and in digital outlets on September 6.

Purchase “Now I’m That Bitch” on iTunes US | MySpace

I guess I missed the memo, but apparently the members of Basement Jaxx are set to release an album-turned-”Who’s Who of Cool” compendium in just a few short weeks from now.

With collaborations from Kelis to Sam Sparro to Yoko Ono, the Jaxx’s fifth studio effort Scars (due out on September 21 on XL Recordings) looks to be quite the floor filler. Tentatively speaking, of course.

And now for the awe-inspiring track listing:

1. Scars ft. Kelis, Maleka & Chipmunk
2. Raindrops
3. She’s No Good ft. Eli “Paperboy” Reed
4. Saga ft. Santigold
5. Feelings Gone ft. Sam Sparro
6. My Turn ft. Lightspeed Champion
7. A Possibility ft. Amp Fiddler
8. Twerk ft. Yo Majesty
9. Day of The Sunflowers (We March On) ft. Yoko Ono
10. What’s A Girl Gotta Do ? ft. Paloma Faith
11. Stay Close ft. Lisa Kekaula
12. D.I.S.tractionz ft. Jose Hendrix
13. Gimme Somethin’ True ft. Jose James

Purchase Basement Jaxx Music on iTunes | MySpace | Official Website

“Happiness hit her like a train on a track, coming towards her stuck still no turning back,” Florence Welch whispers above the lulling ukulele of “Dog Days Are Over,” the opening track off of her first full-length release. And before anyone can say much of anything, the ropes have been let loose, the horses are in full gait, and Welch’s wild shouts and yelps lead the raging pack’s charge until there’s no turning back: “Leave all your loving, your loving behind / You cant carry it with you if you want to survive.”

July 6 marks the official release of Lungs, the aptly-titled debut of a fresh, exciting troupe from England known as Florence & The Machine, fronted by a witchy chanteuse that coos much sweeter and cries out much louder than the vast landscape of dull, auto-tuned drones currently on the scene.

Florence Welch is a voice to be reckoned with; the she-beast of “Howl” and the lion-hearted girl of “Rabbit Heart (Raise It Up).” She tears through octaves and rips into full-throated shouts without ever drawing a breath. She is of her own brand stylistically, although armed with a quirky quivering reminiscent of Kate Bush, the bounding howl of Björk, and perhaps most glaringly, the uncompromising female rock-chic edge of legends including Grace Slick of Jefferson Airplane.

Lucky for us, the triple-punch production behind this album proves to be rooted in equally diverse sounds: There’s James Ford of Simian Mobile Disco, Paul Epworth of Sam Sparro and Kate Nash fame, and UK musician Steve Mackey, responsible for tracks off of M.I.A. and Marianne Faithfull‘s albums.

It’s surprising then that a cast and crew of such diverse sounds could produce an album like Lungs. After all–and let’s prepare for the possible punny outcome here–Lungs is fluid. It’s an incredibly cohesive production as a whole, sounding like one long session recorded from the dingy confines of a medieval dungeon.

If there’s anything that comes to mind in thinking about this album, it’s texture. Each track is carefully constructed from top to bottom with pounding instruments, layered vocals, and fiery spirit and emotion. It is, as Florence might say, a beast.

While the singles have all been good, the album tracks are arguably even better. “Howl,” bursts forth with the kind of animalistic energy you’d expect from a song titled as such, while “Girl With One Eye” merges a confident guitar swagger with vindictive lyricism; a combination so murderous it ought to have Quentin Tarantino giddily jumping up and down like a schoolboy before shoving it into the soundtrack of his next gore-fest.

But “Girl With One Eye” isn’t the only song dripping blood from the speakers. In fact, basically every track does: “Kiss With A Fist” morphs the act of domestic abuse into a balls-to-the-wall garage rock ode, “My Boy Builds Coffins” reeks of ill-willed premonitions, and “I’m Not Calling You A Liar” sees an ex-flame in the form of a scorned ghostly apparition. Even the album’s soaring ballad “Cosmic Love” revels in a kind of Tim Burton-esque embrace of romantic macabre: “A falling star fell from your heart and landed in my eyes / I screamed aloud, as it tore through them, and now it’s left me blind.”

In a recent post discussing the story behind each track off the album, Welch had this to say regarding “Dog Days Are Over”:

A lot of people have said they think it’s about the Apocalypse. Or freedom. And someone said it was about the recession. But to me it just signifies being free, in that I’d made music in a way I’d never made it before.

Swamped in a sea of press releases frorm labels boldly proclaiming their artists to be the next Depeche Mode-meets-Madonna-meets-Queen
(who always ends up sounding like Cascada in one way or another), it’s beyond refreshing to hear an artist who couldn’t be further from being considered an imitation act. Florence & The Machine’s Lungs is honest music making, real music made through creative innovation for the new age.

Bottom Line: Macabre, magical, and anything but predictable. The album to beat for 2009, and an artist to watch for years to come. Florence & The Machine is the future. Are you prepared?

Make sure to click here to read Florence’s discussion of each track off of Lungs.

Please enjoy the Leo Zero mix of Florence’s latest single, “Rabbit Heart (Raise It Up),” courtesy of the Neon Gold Records blog.

DL: Florence & The Machine – Rabbit Heart (Raise It Up) (Leo Zero Remix)

For US Muusers, click below to preview and purchase Lungs.

For UK Muusers, click below to preview and purchase Lungs.

Obnoxious I know, considering that I’ve only just posted the Best Albums of 2008. But alas, it’s snowing…Hard. And when it’s snowing this hard, there’s only one thing to be done.

BLOG. IT. UP.

Somewhere after the top five single reviews, I wondered about how I would write up the remaining ten tracks (read: got lazy). Suddenly, I thought up the genius idea of making my reviews correspond to their song’s ranking in word quantity! And so, the idea has now been brought into fruition. And yes, I’m counting hyphenated words as one complete word.

I’ve had myself some fun. And now, I present…The Top 15 Tracks. Err, well…20.

I couldn’t resist!

Squeezing in…
20. Sia – Soon We’ll Be Found
19. Janet Jackson – Feedback
18. Will Young – Changes
17. Myl̬ne Farmer РDegeneration
16. Madonna – Give It 2 Me

15. Hercules & Love Affair – Blind
Pitchfork proclaims it top dog, but the “coming out” corker merely sizzles beneath the surface.

14. Girls Aloud – The Promise
Slowing down the tempo, the Girls don’t always need Hi-NRG tracks…just some glitter.

13. Britney Spears – Womanizer
New Britney is on a mission, plaguing your dictionaries for years to come.

12. Sugababes – No Can Do
Fabulous track from a fabulous album, the Babes’ sassiest release in years.

11. Santogold – L.E.S. Artistes
Hipster’s delight, mashing genres and crunchy beats. Where’s my skull necklace?

10. Namie Amuro – WHAT A FEELING
Spine-tingling electro reinterpretation, still paving the way for J-Pop.

9. Danity Kane – Damaged
Do, do you, got a first aid kit handy?

8. Sam Sparro – Black & Gold
Slow burning electro gold, never truly grows old.

7. Radiohead – Reckoner
Chanting bliss, especially within the middle eight.

6. Moby – Disco Lies
Purest dance, shame about the video.

5. Kaskade – Move For Me

Easily the finest trance track of the year, Kaskade’s “Move For Me” remains as gorgeously ethereal as it did upon the very first play. Late night synth sounds elevate the track into intergalactic proportions, while breathy, world-weary vocals weave disillusionment in between the beats: “Where do we come from? / Do I know your name? / Doesn’t really matter / In this life, we’re all the same.” Luscious! To this day, my post about the track is still the most searched track of the entire blog…Now that’s saying something.

In five words: Crying at the discotheque.

4. Kylie Minogue – The One

“The One” is, without question, the highlight of Kylie Minogue‘s 2007 album, X. A classic, timeless moment of New Wave warmth and echoey ooh’s and aah’s, the single is the epitome of electro-pop perfection. And despite initial disappointment upon learning the track had already been semi-formed in 2006 under a different artist, its initial impact remains unscathed. In the greatest pop injustice of 2008, “The One” saw a digital release in only a scattering of territories, a phoned-in kaleidoscopic video, and a scrapped-last-minute physical release, completely and utterly gutting the track’s full potential. It will remain one of Minogue’s greatest missed opportunities…We will never forget!

In four words: Love me, love me.

3. Lady Gaga – Just Dance

Prior to the release of the Girls Aloud and Britney albums, Gaga’s debut single was determined to remain my number one track for the year. As simple as it is instant, “Just Dance” was responsible for ushering in a torrent of artist requests for Lady Gaga’s writing skills and RedOne’s electro beats, “Just Dance” is a thoroughly crafted work of chiseled pop perfection. Through and through, the song is solid. I believe I’ve said it before, but “Just Dance” is the first track in years that has given me the “Since U Been Gone” effect–That instant vibe that a track is about to be colossal. Though its rather annoying that the song is only now climbing the Top 10 and gaining national attention (as it was originally released in April), it is a deserved amount of recognition nonetheless.

In three words: Dance all night.

2. Girls Aloud – The Loving Kind

In the Girls’ most tender track to date, this dream team collaboration with the Pet Shop Boys is truly the stuff of dreams (that glitter!). Five seconds short of being a four minute masterpiece, “The Loving Kind” is 2008′s “The One”: A timeless synth stomper intermixed with lyrics of longing. There are dozens of moments of brilliance interspersed throughout the track, though nothing will top Nicola’s show-stealing shouting bits in between the choruses. And sure, they can’t sing it live yet, but give the gals some time…After all, Perfection always takes some practice.

In two words: Love me.

1. Britney Spears – Circus

In her finest moment since 2004′s “Toxic,” Britney Spears takes back the reigns as the true ringmaster of this circus in this whip crackin’, adrenaline packin’, booty smacking stomp fest. “Circus” has already proved to be a massive smash, landing #3 on the singles charts despite establishing a formal release date. Seriously, this is a fully functioning performance piece, bursting with energy, sound, and movement. Was I influenced after having seen this go down live? Probably, but this isn’t getting old for me, and I sure don’t see it running its course anytime soon. Run that ship tight, bitch!

In one word: Perfection.

DL: Kaskade – Move For Me (Mediafire)
DL: Kylie Minogue – The One (Freemasons Vocal Club Mix) (Mediafire)
DL: Lady Gaga – Just Dance (Mediafire)
DL: Girls Aloud – The Loving Kind (Video Mix)
DL: Britney Spears – Circus (Junior Vasquez Remix Edit) (Mediafire)