Huzzah! It’s the video premiere for “Move In The Right Direction”–my personal favorite off of Gossip‘s phenomenal new record, A Joyful Noise. (Review it already! I know, please stop yelling at me, I’m only one man, stressed as it is, etc.)

What’s black and white and red all over? The answer: Queen Beth Ditto, apparently!

Watch as the soulful diva struts, snaps and pulls plenty of ridiculous faces in the text-filled clip for Gossip’s empowering new anthem: Everything about this clip is perfection–the sexy back-up dancing boys, the in-text humo(u)r (“DANCE SECTION”), and of course, Ditto moving in the rightest of right directions.

Compared to the stark (but gorgeous!) “Perfect World” video, it’s nice to see Ditto letting loose and actually having some fun. Work, work, work! (No, really–I’d love to stay and party, but I gotta go to work.)

But really–the faces! I absolutely cannot (AND YET I CAN, BECAUSE I LOVE IT SO.) Adorable. Just don’t hold that pose too long, Beth–your face will stick that way! It’s science.

A Joyful Noise was released on May 11. (iTunes)

It’s the video premiere for Gossip‘s gorgeous new Brian Higgins-produced single, “Perfect World”–and we’re being brought to church!

So what exactly exists in a perfect world, according to the sacred hymn of Beth Ditto? Stained glass, fire, candelabras and slender gymnast-dancers, amongst other things.

The video was directed by Price James, the same director behind Ditto’s brilliant “I Wrote The Book,” which paid homage to Madonna‘s “Justify My Love.”

The cinematography for “Perfect World” reminds me a bit of Adele‘s award-winning “Rolling In The Deep” (especially those gymnast scenes), but with an added flair of the occult.

Exorcise them demons, Ms. Ditto!

“Perfect World” was released on March 13. (iTunes)

Gossip just revealed the cover art for their Brian Higgins-produced record, A Joyful Noise, due out in May.

It appears Beth Ditto, serving Chola realness, is suffering from the opposite of One Tiny Hand syndrome. It’s almost a little…Born This Way-ish? Never forget.

I’m so excited, I’m so excited, I’m so…SCARED.

“Perfect World” was released on March 13. (iTunes)

Oh, thank the sweet baby Jesus: Beth Ditto has returned to us.

The alt-indie-post-punk-soul-whatever you wanna call ‘em rockers known as Gossip have just released “Perfect World” to iTunes today, the gorgeous lead single from their upcoming fifth studio album, A Joyful Noise.

To make these musical matters even more exciting (impossible!), the track was produced by pop perfection troupe Xenomania‘s Brian Higgins. Yes, of Girls Aloud fame. And Kylie Minogue fame. And Annie fame. (AKA, everything that is good and perfect in this cruel, cruel world.)

Accordingly, “Perfect World” is one of the group’s most lush, slick offerings yet, and exactly what you’d imagine a Xenomania-led Gossip production should sound like: Shimmering synthesizers mixed with a kicking drum pulse, melodic vocals and the raw energy of live instrumentation–the perfect marriage of nu-disco and soulful rock.

“In the picture perfect world/We can be more than before,” Ditto croons throughout the dependably hook-heavy chorus. By the time the track ends, don’t expect that melody to escape your brain anytime soon. Befo-oo-o-o-o-oo-oo-re! And that humming before the bridge? To die for, Miss Ditto!

Meandering into dance territory isn’t exactly a new thing for the troupe: 2009′s Music For Men was largely colored by disco-infused top lines and dirty bass struts (along with brilliant remixes–looking at you, Fred Falke mix of “Heavy Cross”!) while frontwoman Beth Ditto found solo solace with Simian Mobile Disco experimenting with late ’80′s and early ’90s throwback club sounds on her perfectly genius 2011 solo Beth Ditto EP.

Still, “Perfect World” presents a group consistently evolving and refining their sound, resulting in something slightly more polished in comparison to the explosive, searing yelps of their 2009 lead single, “Heavy Cross.”

Along with the new single, Gossip also revealed today thatA Joyful Noise will be released on May 22.

From the press release:

Recorded in both Xenomania, Higgins’ studio in England, and KBC Studios in Portland, Oregon, A Joyful Noise stays true to Gossip’s trademark brash and unapologetic nature – that is, as true as possible for a band that is constantly reinventing itself and pushing boundaries. Working with Higgins, Gossip sought to create their own brand of pop. Ditto proclaimed, “I spent the whole year listening to ABBA and not listening to the radio,” accounting for the pulsing energy of A Joyful Noise. The album’s infectious tracks will certainly be welcomed by fans who are already entranced by Gossip’s insanely danceable beats, and will no doubt lure in many more.

A whole year spent listening to ABBA? Sounds like my life story. I wonder: Will we get a “Hung Up” out of Ms. Ditto, perhaps?

I know it’s slightly premature to say this, but…I have no doubt that this will be one of the greatest records of 2012, hands down.

Click below the cut for the album’s full tracklisting!

“Perfect World” was released on March 13. (iTunes)

Read more »

French House fans, rejoice!

French producer/DJ extraordinaire Fred Falke is set to unleash his debut artist LP, Part IV, on December 5.

The man behind the smashing productions and remixes for some of MuuMuse’s favorite acts–including Annie, Gossip, Miike Snow, Uffie, Ke$ha, Florrie and Will Young–will be bringing his first-ever artist record through Kris Menace‘s label, Work It Baby.

From Falke, courtesy of the press release:

So much of modern music takes the ideas in the 70′s and 80′s and uses them in a very superficial way. I hope I have managed to create something that re-asserts the musicality of this era within the context of modern music and modern production methods. I’ve always sought to re-align the modern French sound with the musical heritage that informed it, to bring that sound to a young crowd…to make it relevant to them.

I was fortunate enough to get a first listen to Part IV earlier today, and while there aren’t any artists featured on the (mostly) instrumental 12-track record, the album’s slick, euphoric French House productions are nothing short of pop perfection–an absolute must for any proper party playlist.

Prepare for a wallop of funky disco grooves, hazy electronica and searing House beats!

And now, a reminder of the genius of the Falke…

Still incredible.

Part IV will be released on December 5. (iTunes)

Photo courtesy of SPIN.

Madonna‘s making a serious comeback these days…and she’s not even the one making the music.

After Christina Aguilera‘s (critically panned) homage to “Express Yourself” with the video for “Not Myself Tonight”, and the current brouhaha surrounding Lady Gaga‘s “Born This Way” and its not-so-subtle references to “Express Yourself” and “Vogue,” there’s never been more early ’90′s Madonna permeating the pop scene than in this moment. (Well, except for when she was actually living it.)

Now comes the video premiere for Gossip front-woman Beth Ditto‘s “I Wrote The Book”–one of the four tracks from her upcoming Simian Mobile Disco-produced solo EP.

In an unabashed nod to Madonna’s “Justify My Love,” Ditto finds herself wearily drifting down an empty hotel corridor, luggage in tow, in the opening moments of the brand new clip.

Throw in the ballroom dance of “Vogue” (WORK!), the bed sequences from Truth or Dare, and all the light, mood and shadow of the entire Erotica era (down to the very font!), and BINGO: You’ve got yourself a proper Madonna homage.

This is, hands down, the best celebration of the Queen yet. I love, love, LOVE everything about this!

The Beth Ditto EP will be released on March 8.

This morning, Deconstruction Records released a surprise early Christmas present: A 2-minute SoundCloud preview of Gossip frontwoman Beth Ditto‘s upcoming 4-track solo EP, produced by Simian Mobile Disco.

The stream includes all four songs on the EP, including “Goodnight Good Morning,” “Do You Need Someone?” “I Wrote The Book,” and “Open Heart Surgery.” Here’s the stream:

From the sounds of it, you will greatly enjoy Beth Ditto’s upcoming 4-track solo EP if:

+ You’re an early ’90′s club sound enthusiast.
+ You’re a fan of nu-disco.
+ You’re a fan of synthesizers.
+ You’re a fan of Róisín Murphy‘s Overpowered.
+ You’re a fan of Deconstruction Records–the same label responsible for Kylie Minogue‘s 1994 self-titled release and her 1997 artistic opus, Impossible Princess.
+ You’re a fan of Beth Ditto’s previous collaboration with Simian Mobile Disco, “Cruel Intentions,” the minimal disco gem from the troupe’s 2009 album, Temporary Pleasure.

Luckily I am all of these things, which makes this a very special and exciting release, indeed.

Beth Ditto’s upcoming solo EP will be released in January.

Thanks to various forums ’round the net, we’ve learned that Rihanna is already casting and shooting for a music video in support of another upcoming track: “What’s My Name?”

Courtesy of BMK Forums:

Rihanna “What’s My Name” Music Video

Categories/Roles:

Real People Extras:All Ethnicities, 30-50. Interesting New Yorker Street-types. $150
Real Stylish Trendsetting Hipsters:All Ethnicities, 18-25. Stylish, very street, hipster types that can dance. Non-headshot submissions encouraged! $150
Street Bucket Drummers:Male or Female, any Ethnicity. 18-25. Must be REAL, cool, street drummers. VERY AUTHENTIC/ STREET. Please included any youtube links in your submission.

And as for the specific shoot details, ATRL has additional scoop:

Auditions: Thursday, Sept. 23rd and/or Friday Sept. 24th
Shoots: Sunday Sept. 26th
Location: NYC Area

The video will be directed by Philip Andelman, responsible for Beyonce‘s “Halo” and The Gossip‘s “Pop Goes The World.” They’re admittedly not my favorite clips, but since it’s Rihanna, I have full faith that the bitch can and will Work. It. Out.

NOW GET OUT THERE AND SHOW RIRI WUTCHU GOT, BROOKLYNITES.