When is there never time for more guitar-fuelled sex-synth? Chromeo’s first new single release since 2007, ‘Night by Night’ was released as a free download over the weekend and as always, it doesn’t fail to hit the spot. Grab our mirror below or check out the Green Label site.

The track’s ID3 is listed as Track 1 of 3 so here’s hoping an official release comes later (perhaps with a b-side? pretty please?)

MP3 Download: Chromeo – Night by Night

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‘Night by Night’ is out now on the Green Label Sound.

For ages this was only available through Myspace. Now the guys have signed a deal with Dim Mak Records, I have a feeling we’ll be seeing a lot more official releases where this came from.

MP3 Download: Mustard Pimp – Cherry (Mustard Pimp Dark Remix)

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The ‘Cherry’ EP is available now on iTunes.

MP3 Download: Cinnamon Chasers – Luv Deluxe

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The Cinnamon Chasers ‘Jetstream EP’ is available now from iTunes.

This is yet another of Alan Braxe and Fred Falke’s remixes that I’ve fallen head over heels for. Falke always adds so much with his funky bass guitar lines, everything they work on just seems so accessible.

It seems that ‘Bossy’ was quite a big release in terms of remixes, with Crookers, SebastiAn and Switch also on board for a classy electro remix package.

MP3 Download: Kelis – Bossy (Alan Braxe & Fred Falke Remix)

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Kelis’ latest release, a best of collection, is out now on Jive Records.

What do you get when you combine two cheeky Northerners with a crazily catchy pop-vocal? I think you’re about to find out.

Mini Viva could quite possibly blow-up into mainstream success later this year, they’ve got all the requirements down perfectly. Strong style, a major label on their side (Geffen), a crystal clear electro-pop loving audience and (most importantly) a brilliant debut single.

‘Left My Heart In Tokyo’ is a fantastic pop song, it’s got that highly important funky bassline, driving synths and killer vocal talent. It’s good clean fun.

Sadly though, it could quite easily become another part of the heavily-oiled mainstream music machine, doomed to be another segment of ‘Ministry of Sound’ manufactured dance drivel. So far however, the act seem to show promise. With remixes from Treasure Fingers, Fred Falke and Acid Girls already on the lineup, you’d hope that someone must know a thing or two about marketing, and recognise that there are real people out there who actually like to follow music beyond simply radio and sync jobs.

Surely the majors know by now how cliché it is to see so many pop-acts fade away into obscurity because they just targeted the musically-dulled mainstream? The kind of place where music is disposable and the ‘next-best-thing’ will be dictated to you by Burger King’s in-store video channel. It doesn’t have to be like that.

Rant or not, best of luck to Mini Viva in achieving what they want, be it mainstream success or something more. It fills me with sadness that Major labels will almost always drive a good act into the dirt for a quick buck, never letting true potential shine through. I’ve already pre-ordered the single on iTunes, so let’s see what happens eh?

MP3 Download: Mini Viva – Left My Heart In Tokyo (Fred Falke Dub)

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‘Left My Heart In Tokyo’ is released through Geffen Records on the 7th of September. I Highly Recommend you preorder it now through iTunes.

Brighton night ‘Somewhere in the Universe’ is changing. They’ve become known for putting on some of the biggest parties in town with an alternative take on dance music which puts West Street to shame. Earlier on this year they played host to one of the first ever live gigs for both Little Boots and La Roux (Click here to check our coverage on that). They’ve also recently put on cutting edge acts like Boy Crisis and just-signed-to-Vice-records Katie Stelmanis (Yes, THAT Vice)

In their third year of activity it seems like they are taking a step-back from the banger-heavy house styling of yesterday and settling on a new, more mature sound. It’s a step that can only be good when they put out a most magnificent mixtape featuring blog favourite acts such as Boy Crisis, Casio Kids, Vega, Yelle, Fan Death, Yacht and Passion Pit, as well as big hitters Justice, Hot Chip and Little Boots.

You can grab the ‘Alpha Mixtape‘ from www.NewHero.co.uk

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‘Somewhere in the Universe’ will be relaunching in August with parties at both the New Hero Nightclub and Concorde 2. Look forward to it!

Swedish band Teddybears have to be one of my favourite things right now. Originally founded in 1991 by singer Patrik Arve and brothers Joakim and Klas Åhlund, the band started out as a black metal/grindcore group. 18 years – and a severe mellowing – later, their sound is electro-pop, and they write rather more pleasant songs about getting their mother a house.

Here are three facts to know about the band.

• Their 2006 album ‘Soft Machine’ featured Iggy Pop and Neneh Cherry’s vocals amongst others.
• Their song ‘Cobrastyle’ was covered by Robyn and achieved chart success. In fact, Klas Åhlund also produced Robyn’s 2005 album ‘Robyn’.
• Joakim Åhlund is the lead guitarist and songwriter for the band Caesars, who are best known for the indie floorfiller “Jerk It Out.”

Now in 2009, and after a 3 year pause, Teddybears are back with the catchy ‘Get Mama A House’. They’ve wisely decided again to change with the times, and so the track is available as a free download from their website. We have also provided it here.

MP3 Download: Teddybears – Get Mama A House

This track is the first released from the upcoming album Devil’s Music – expected this year. Keep an eye out for more information.

Shall we call this ‘Classics Friday’ ? I think so.

Take this one from Feist and Chromeo, I remember hearing this on Myspace before Feist had hit it big with ‘1234′ and before ‘Fancy Footwork‘ had arrived. I hope they both come back with new material soon.

I love the disco twinge which Chromeo do so well. It’s been so inspirational to many acts today, perhaps not as much as the first time around! But still pretty big.

MP3 Download: Feist – Sealion (Chromeo Remix)

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Feist’s debut album ‘The Reminder’, is out now. Chromeo’s fantastic sophomore release ‘Fancy Footwork’ is again, out now. Both come in lovely deluxe editions packed with a second CD filled with remixes.

Say hello!

Featuring the vocal talents of Yann Destal (previously of Modjo fame) and ‘Raw Man’ (I sure hope he’s got the ability to back up that claim), Priors is a new project straight out of France with a unique vision in mind.

As the name states, Priors is all about taking an innocent look back at naivety and with their classic ‘French Touch’-like sound, it really is quite reminiscent of Summers gone by. As Raw Man says, “to live with a child’s outlook on life – where nothing is impossible, you don’t know if you can fly or not – that’s Priors.”

It’s got a brilliant introduction with one of those long, slow build-ups. I’m still loving the ooh’ing placed nicely throughout the song. I also love the building synth towards the end – brilliant!

Summer’s here and apart from that frustratingly placed humidity-storm yesterday, it’s all about the music. Jump on it kids.

MP3 Download: Priors – What You Need (Extended Mix)

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There’s still no release date on this one, but we’ve been promised remixes by Van She Tech, Michael Gray and one or two others. It’s going to be put out by Eye Industries, hopefully some time before the end of Summer!

One man band Alan Wilkis has been on my A-list for quite some time now. Pop may well be eating itself, but there’s no harm in having a dance along the way right?

I picked up latest EP ‘Pink And Purple‘ for its attractive and exciting cover art, but what was behind it was an impressionable beast waiting to be uncovered. At 6 tracks strong, the EP works in a way that makes it self contained, but there are so many varying styles and sounds covered here.

Straight out of Brooklyn, Alan Wilkis is an extremely talented multi-instrumentalist. From the funky guitar lines to the high-pitch vocal hook-lines, it’s all here. Often compared to acts like Chromeo and Jamie Lidell, Wilkis’ inspiration is drawn purely from the golden age of pop with acts like Prince, Rick James, The Pointer Sisters (if you’re listening Alan, I’ll be your best friend if you performed a cover of ‘Automatic’), Madonna and Phil Collins making up his repertoire of sound.

Each track has so many various different styles and covers a lot of ground. Opening with ‘Snuggle Up To Nail Down’ is a cheesy pop-fest including a clever chorus and some sexface pulling guitar riffs. If this track doesn’t hook you I’m not sure what will. ‘N.I.C.E’ is like the Sesame Street tribute to Electro Funk with its sing along spelling lessons, Sega Mega Drive nostalgia and tongue-in-cheek irony-laced lyrics, a perfect juxtaposition to the opener. Third track ‘Gotta Get You Back’ oddly enough really reminds me of the Scissor Sisters vocalist Jake Shears, and I swear Wilkis is playing a Gameboy somewhere in here. Title track ‘Pink And Purple’ is the perfect late-night driving track with some of the best synth solos I’ve heard in years. The EP finishes off with ‘Time Machine’, a fantastic voyage into emotionally driven pop-rock, this really reminds me of the amazing Tangerine Dream soundtrack to the Ridley Scott film ‘Legend’, switching into something quite Pink Floyd like when that guitar kicks in – scrumptious!

With vintage synths, an 808, vocoders and many a handclap, ‘Pink and Purple‘ is a wonderful homage to the history of pop, and music itself. Buy. This. Now.

MP3 Download: Alan Wilkis – Pink And Purple

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Alan Wilkis on Spotify

Alan Wilkis’ second release ‘Pink And Purple’ is out now. You can pick it up on CD from BigCartel or digitally via iTunes. Rumours are escalating about a colab. release between Wilkis and fellow Brookly-based act Project Jenny, Project Jan is on the cards. We’ll keep you updated.