POPDAR: Active Child - Subtle (ft. Mikky Ekko)

Active Child, the king of white boy R&B, has never really given the uptempo thing a chance before - why would he? Similarly sensitive and loosely urban male acts such as The Weeknd and How To Dress Well were flying high when he released his forlorn debut You Are All I See, and his powerful falsetto-led anti-anthems were a calling card given out almost exclusively by him. 

But on latest single "Subtle", Active Child jumps ship from to a distinctly more dancefloor-friendly vessel and the risk pays off, revealing a whole new area of talent from the melodramatic singer/songwriter.

"Subtle" isn't a word you would have ever associated with Active Child, and even less with the song he eventually names as such. He adopts a surprisingly sparse yet colourful 80s electropop backdrop and suddenly you can drawn distinct lines between Active Child's own voice and that of 80s icon Jimmy Somerville. And when the Blade Runner-esque brass synths drop the 80s transformation is complete. Mikky Ekko's Prince-flecked feature spot manages to add another level of the era to sharpen up proceedings.

"Subtle" is taken from Active Child's upcoming Rapor EP, due for release on October 22.

FOR FANS OF: Goldroom, Tensnake

Ballet School - Heartbeat Overdrive

Berlin new kids on the synth-block Ballet School manage to merge a spectrum of (predominantly 80s) influences on their debut single "Heartbeat Overdrive". The result is a triumphant and glorious track that sounds delirious and atmospheric enough to please shoegazers and funky and danceable enough to please synthpoppers. Singer Rosie Blair's confident, hiccuping voice sounds like Grimes after rehab, or Alison Goldfrapp just before.

Sign up to see the band's debut London show at The Shaklewell Arms for FREE on August 23rd by clicking on the image to the left.


FOR FANS OF: Goldfrapp, CHVRCHES, Grimes

Jake Emlyn - The Wonka Hath Landed (FREE DOWNLOAD)

Anyone who's familiar with eccentric London rapper Jake Emlyn will know that he's been rapping for several years now. It could be argued that his lack of mainstream attention is down to his androgynous and occasionally effeminate style, and his lack of interest in hip hop trends and standards. But what fans of Jake most love about him is that despite the criticism and confusion surrounding his identity, style and genre, he never changes anything about himself and his music.

"The Wonka Hath Landed", lead track and single off his Scandinavian Alien mixtape, is probably his most outlandish and controversial offering to date. Rapping over a Robyn-esque synthpop pulse, Jake Emlyn on "Wonka..." is self-deprecating, crude, tongue-in-cheek yet a lot more confident than the comparatively subdued and dark "My Name's Jake", his previous calling card track.

He paints a defiantly non-gangster image of himself, drolly referring to himself as "white trash like Kate Nash" wearing "skinny jeans so tight that my penis can't breathe". He also makes his outsider status patently clear, spitting at the climax "my spaceship crashed, I'm stranded, the wonka hath landed." It's an opaque metaphor, one that will continue to confound Jake's growing crowd of picketing nay-sayers. But the apocalyptic Vangelis synth lead and grandiose choirs that follow the statement couldn't make the message clearer - Jake's ambitions are considerable, and he's on a mission that cannot be thwarted. As the man himself says in the second verse: "just when you was about to stop listening to rap, I came back with the wickedest track."

Download Jake's brilliant (and free) Scandinavian Alien mixtape by clicking on the cover above.

FOR FANS OF: Robyn, Brooke Candy

Daithi - Chameleon Life (feat. Rye)

It's hard to know quite what Irish indie dance beatmaker Daithi is going for with new single "Chameleon Life", but in attempting to tick so many boxes he manages to achieve appeal on an impressive number of levels. Seemingly flying the flag for cutesy indie/electropop before joyously morphing into a sparkling blast of sunny EDM, "Chameleon Life" paints with enough colour to please most fans of EDM, from the weird and quirky (Unicorn Kid, Fenech Soler) to the full on anthemic (Calvin Harris, Madeon), whilst managing to pander to fans of female fronted indie, courtesy of adorable singer Rye (Gossip, Icona Pop). But above all, its cheery carefree party vibe is predominantly what makes it's quite so infectious. Another bonafide Summer of '13 anthem without a doubt.

FOR FANS OF: Calvin Harris, Unicorn Kid, Fenech Soler

Betty Who - High Society (FREE DOWNLOAD)

Hailing from Australia, who seem to be doing pretty well for themselves economically whilst the rest of us weep into our Poundland Rice Krispies, it's no wonder Betty Who sounds so elated. But the dramatic synthpop Ms Who brings overseas is downright infectious, and "High Society" has the euphoric energy to make even the most dreary of us feel high on life. But in fact, it's the burbling basslines taken from Robyn's best shouts, hooks the size of China and a rally for us all to drink "Chardonnay through the day". It's a joyous slice of pop heaven that'll make any europop fan's heart skip a beat, and there's plenty more where that came from on her FREE "The Movement" EP, available to download on her website.

FOR FANS OF: Robyn, CHVRCHES, Florrie

Kate Boy - The Way We Are

In the wake of a distinctly difficult new The Knife album, it's good to know that there are plenty of Swedes on their tail that still want to make a good old fashioned quirky pop song. A defiant, percussive Niki & The Dove-esque march drives the track, and the chorus is anthemic in a way that many Swedes shy away from. As Kate Boy themselves cry out in the song "it's just the way we are!" and let's hope this USP helps their rise and rise out of the shadow of their Swedish pop god predecessors and peers.

FOR FANS OF: The Knife, Niki & The Dove, MS MR

MS MR - Hurricane (CHVRCHES Remix)

MS MR are one of the more subtle female fronted bands of the last couple of years, choosing a Florence-esque majesty over the all out synth onslaught of acts like CHVRCHES and Charli XCX. But every subtle song has an unexplored jubilant side, and the brilliant CHVRCHES smother "Hurricane" with 80s new wave electro, right down to its ridiculously authentic sampled snare drum. Whilst MS MR only predicted an oncoming storm in their original song, CHVRCHES bring the 80s synthpop tremors with panache.

FOR FANS OF: Hot Chip, Passion Pit, CHVRCHES (obviously)

IYES - Glow

Brighton based IYES released their debut track "Lighthouse" onto Soundcloud 5 months ago, a gorgeous synth-drenched fusion of the xx and Daughter, but along comes "Glow" this month, and totally ups their game. Taking from their peers The 1975 and Chvrches, the band mix euphoric electronic flourishes with an anthemic indie mindset. The vocals of Josh Christopher and Melis Soyaslanova compliment each other perfectly, Melis' cracked, gentle voice breaking ripples in the water in the verses, before Josh's Chris Martin sized voice causes a full on tidal wave in the exhilarating chorus, where Josh cries "You make me glow" as a wall of synth battles it out with an over-eager drum machine. More please.

FOR FANS OF: Passion Pit, The 1975, Chvrches

Chvrches - The Mother We Share (Miaoux Miaoux Remix)

Although this has been circulating for a few months now, I recently found this rarity - a remix of an already joyous song that manages to create something even more uplifting. The inexplicably spelt Chvrches' "The Mother We Share" is a already an infectious synthpop stomper, but Miaoux Miaoux's take lightens up proceedings with featherlight, bouncing synths and a much brighter chord progression.

FOR FANS OF: Little Boots, Passion Pit, Moon Boots

Party Tracks of the Week!

AlunaGeorge - Attracting Flies (Shift K3y Remix)
#2Step #Garage

AlunaGeorge's sultry anthem gets the full on UK garage treatment from Shift K3y, with popping kick drums and jittery synths, and the song seems catchier at this speedy tempo. And it's no secret that Aluna's squeaky clean voice is straight from the 1999-school of garage anyway, so she sounds right at home here.



Goldroom - Only You Can Show Me (feat. Mereki)
#NuDisco #House #Dance #Synthpop

The summery, nu disco that the LA producer brings rises like a midday sun into a ravey piano house number, laced with catchy, giggling synths and a sugar sweet Ibiza vocal courtesy of Mereki.



Justin Timberlake - Suit & Tie (Dillon Francis Remix)
#Trap #HipHop

Token trap track of the week! I may well be beginning to lose interest in the genre, but multi-talented Dillon Francis still brings a magnificent vocal mash-up at the drop of this addictive remix.

Yadi - The Blow

In an era where female fronted pop is getting considerably more gothic in both image and sound, the dramatic guitar-driven new single from petite London-based singer Yadi is perfectly timed. Everything about "The Blow" is melodramatic and desperate. Distorted guitars rage like a Paramore track and tribal drums pound, whilst Yadi's husky crow-call is halfway between the sultry musings of Charli XCX and the operatic wail of Marina Diamandis. "Your love is like a gun shot... just keep on shooting, 'cause I can't feel the blow" cries Yadi in the hook-laden chorus, and it's very much the effect the song has in general.

FOR FANS OF: Chvrches, Charli XCX, Marina & The Diamonds

Charli XCX - You (Ha Ha Ha)

After a strong, yet overtly weird mixtape, Charli XCX's new single retains her mixtape's creepy underworld charm. Taking on a quirky yet more-ish Gold Panda beat, Charli XCX does very little over the top, but it ends up working perfectly. A drawling chorus of "you, you lied, ha ha ha, I was right" comes across as wry and smug as Charli ever has, with an effortlessly commanding vocal, further proof that she is London's answer to Lana Del Rey.

FOR FANS OF: Marina and the Diamonds, Alunageorge, Lana Del Rey

Chloe Howl - No Strings

17 year old Chloe Howl is the latest feisty teen girl popstar, with the chirp and adorability of Pixie Lott, but the sharp tongue and dry lyrics of Kate Nash. The warm and fuzzy indie-synthpop of "No Strings" mimics the bassline from "Pumped Up Kicks" but brings it to a teenage house party, where she tells of a typical 17 year old's battle between lust and love. Her voice shimmers with vulnerability but her words hit hard, with lines like "you don't even know if I'm the right sex do you?" and "let's put this to bed without crawling in your bed" taunting and raising many a suggestive eyebrow.

FOR FANS OF:  Pixie Lott, (old) Kate Nash, Foster The People

The Presets - Fall

For a band who focus so intently on their less melodic, minimalistic rave numbers, I personally wonder why The Presets don't just stick to melodic dancepop numbers like "Fall". As with the unfathomably brilliant duo of "This Boy's In Love" and "If I Know You" from their last record, 2008's Apocalypso, "Fall" encapsulates a warm, euphoric-pop space with hooks so perfect one could even call them timeless.

Latest record Pacifica is their most accomplished to date, not at all unrelated to the fact that it's their most melodic. Keep going guys, you've almost got it!

FOR FANS OF: New Order, Pet Shop Boys, Delphic

Eli & Fur - Sea Of Stars (FREE DOWNLOAD)

Synthpop often settles for being twee, rarely wanting to enter anthemic territory, yet London/Surrey based synth-duo Eli & Fur's "Sea of Stars" is nothing less than huge. Female shoegazer vocals float over an almighty eurodance backing track that takes influence from 90s dance and techno, whilst still sounding timeless. Genuinely moreish. Keep an eye out for further tracks by these guys.

Download the track for FREE below, via the SoundCloud link.

FOR FANS OF: Grimes, Niki & The Dove, Chicane

Brothertiger - Lovers

"Lovers" is one chilled tune. "There's nothing wrong with me, can't you see it's going to be all right?" Brothertiger mastermind John Jagos croons over smooth, summery, chillwave heaven. It's criminal that I didn't discover this back in December 2011 when it was released, but I am repenting now. Not content to wallow in huge pads and distant snares like a lot of chillwave, Brothertiger wants to be chilling on the dancefloor with a spliff in one hand and a Sex on the Beach in the other, throwing chillshapes to "Lovers" as it rides its punchy, hook-laden disco groove.

Donkeyboy - Get Up

I love everything Donkeyboy do, guilty pleasure or not. But "Get Up" is simply a supernova of poppy dubstep-flecked joy. Eurocheese-at-heart it may be... but it's one of my favourite songs of the year so far. Give it a chance, go on...

FOR FANS OF: Robyn, Lights, Owl City