PATHS - Right Beside You/Last One Standing

It's barely been a month since we first wrote about PATHS, the electronic solo project of Northern Irish music mainstay Jules Shaw. Her first single, "Neoprene", has gone down incredibly well, picking up a smorgasbord of love right across the spectrum, getting played on Radio 1 and being picked up by some lovely other blogs.

Since then, we've had the pleasure off seeing PATHS' first gig, which took place during the Output Festival in Belfast at Aether & Echo. The music comes across really well on stage, with the loops and guitars complimented by a visually impressive light display (which we later learned took several months to program in anticipation of this gig), and it seemed to go down well with the crowd, which is always a good sign on a debut gig.

Given the warm reception received since its debut, it looks as if PATHS is hoping to strike whilst the iron is hot by released a brand new A/B side single mere weeks after her first single debuted. It's a bold move, but given the strength of the songs to come out of it, a pretty nifty one.

The A-side of the single is "Right Beside You", a song that PATHS says is about 'digital distraction'. The song is built around an off-kilter woodwind sample (or possibly string? We're not 100% certain), which is complimented by layers upon layers of harsh synth sounds over a triplet-beat.



However, it is the B-side of the single that we are most excited about, "Last One Standing". When we saw PATHS live, it was the song that really stood out in the set, and we're really glad that a full recording has come out so quickly, as we believe that it's going to be the song that's going to help PATHS make the next big breakthrough in her career.

Why? Because it's so darn infectious, that's why. When we find ourselves humming the main riff of a song for hours after we hear it for the first time, we know that we're on to a winner. There's a few tropical-house elements floating around "Last One Standing", and as well has having a few 80s influences thrown into a modern sounding production (those drum rushes at 2:49 are to die for). It's a pity that it's being classed as the B-side of this release, as it is our favourite release from PATHS to date, but we're confident that once a few more people catch wind of "Last One Standing", it is going to blow up in a massive way.



Both "Right Beside You" & "Last One Standing" are available to download/stream now from all the usual outlets.

Oh Volcano - Oceans

Although it's been more than a year since the announcement, people in Northern Ireland are still getting over the shock of beloved sons General Fiasco going on hiatus, having logged 2 albums and hundreds of gigs under their collective belt. Sure, for some, other bands will come about who can fill that indie-rock hole in their hearts, but what about those people for whom the guys in the band meant everything? How will they be able to cope?

Well fear not, for 1/2 of the band, Enda & Owen Strathern, have just announced their new project, Oh Volcano. In what has become something of a trend for artists from this neck of the woods, they have abandoned the guitar-centric sound their previous project was known for in lieu of the purely synthetic. Their first song under the Oh Volcano name is "Oceans", which is a fairly decent slice of atmospheric Caribou-esque electronica, which should act as a great few first steps towards the road they are sure to travel down over the next few months.

"Oceans" is available to download for free.

The Slowdown - Right On TV

What would a band who sound like a cross between Air and Beck sound like?* It's quite possible that it would sound a little bit like Kansas band The Slowdown, at least if new single "Right On TV" is anything to go by. The song is a space-y, alternate-pop ballad which sounds like it lies on the border between "Love 2" and "Sea Change".

The song will feature on the band's album "Digital Gold", which will be released on March 11th.



*Yes, pedants, I do realise that Beck & Air did record songs together, so there's no need to point that out.

The Jepettos - Chemicals (Not Square Remix)

The Jepettos are a folksy Derry based quintet centred around the husband and wife duo Mike & Ruth Aicken. Their sound is very organic and woodwind orientated, and their "Start a New People" E.P has been described by various sources as delicate, heartwarming and intimate.

So if anyone's in need of a high energy remix, it's them.

The band are going to be releasing their new single, "Chemicals", in a few weeks time. Before that, they have commissioned local dance merchants Not Squares to put their own spin on the track. This version has reduced the original down to childlike vocals of Ruth, to which Not Squares have added an up-to-date electro production, somewhat reminiscent of AlunaGeorge. Whilst the original might be best suited as a lullaby, this version is mainly for the late-night clubbers.

"Chemicals" is available as a free download.

Maps - I Heard Them Say

It's wonderful to see that James Chapman, aka Maps, is gearing up to release new material in the summer. I have always had a great fondness for Maps, especially the 2007 debut album "We Can Create", not only because it was a stunning record, but because it was an important milestone in the development of my musical tastes. Up until that point, my musical tastes were firmly dictated by whatever songs were in the chart, or had been in the chart. However, hearing the stunning "It Will Find You" acted as a wake-up call, showing that there is indeed a world of music beyond the top 40. And giving how depressing the charts looked from 2008 onward, I escaped from its confines at the right time.

Now six years on, the third Maps album is being lined up for release. Excitingly, this record has been mixed by Ken Thomas, who was responsible for mixing "We Can Create", and the first single to be taken from the album, "I Heard Them Say", seems to suggest that this album could be just as good as his debut. The track features  the trademarks that made Maps such a delicious proposition in the first place - dreamy vocals and expansive electronic soundscapes. Also, after being largely ignored on Maps' second album "Turning The Mind", the song features the return of guitars to the band's sound.

"I Heard Them Say" is a song that should make people stand up and take notice of Maps again, and so far, that seems to be the case - a limited edition 12' copy of the song sold out within hours of it being released into the world.

The third album by Maps, "Vicissitude", will be released on 8th July.

Big Black Delta - Side of The Road

LA native Jonathan Bates has been heavily involved with M83's live shows over the past year, so it comes as no surprise that some of their influence has seeped into his solo project, Big Black Delta. "Side of The Road" is the latest song to be unleashed to the world, a song that takes a heavy electronic framework and gives it a rock aesthetic, which isn't surprising given Mr Bates' previous life as a member of alt-rockers Mellowdrone.

Big Black Delta's self-titled debut album will be released on April 30th.

Brøthers - We Are Pushing On

In the increasingly connected internet era, where artists are more open than ever, it's nice to see the occasion artist who keep their cards firmly close to their chests. Take electronic group Brøthers for example, who at the moment seem content to have a little bit of mystery about them. All that's known for sure about them is that they were formed from the ashes of several long-running musical projects, and that despite their Scandinavian lettering, they are an American based group.

And of course, they look like they've got a few great tracks up their sleeve, especially if their debut single, "We Are Pushing On", is anything to go by. The song is a heavy slice of modern electronica, with a chorus that channels the best, more pop orientated aspects of Passion Pit. They may be a group reluctant to give anything away about themselves at this stage, but that doesn't mean that they haven't given us any talking points. They just seem happy enough to let their music speak for itself.

"We Are Pushing On" by Brøthers is available now to download for free. 

Susanne Sundfør - White Foxes (Maps Remix)

 

I have great respect for electronic musician James Chapman, who records under the name Maps. His 2007 Mercury Prize nominated sonic masterpiece "We Can Create" was the first album I bought from outside the Top 40, and kicked started my love of alternative music. As the world awaits his upcoming 3rd studio album, which like that album is being mixed by Ken Thomas, he has done a remix of Norwegian artist Susanne Sundfør's track "White Foxes", which is a treat for the ears.

Combining Maps' trademark electronic noodling with Susanne Sundfør 's breathy Scandinavian vocals, "White Foxes" is a track that sounds incredibly up-to-date. With a tour with M83 coming up in the future, it looks as if Susanne Sundfør is a name we will be hearing quite a lot from in the future.

The Maps remix of "White Coats" is available as a free download, and is taken from Susanne Sundfør's 2nd album "The Silicone Veil."

I Heart Sharks - Neuzeit

Hailing from Berlin with German and English members, I Heart Sharks make music that blurs the lines between electronica, indie and Britrock. "Neuzeit", which has verses in English with a German chorus, combines the energy of Two Door Cinema Club, the synth onslaught of Depeche Mode and the lyrical idiosyncrasy of Franz Ferdinand.

"Neuzeit" by I Heart Sharks is taken from their album "Summer", which is out now on AdP Records.