Gorillaz :: The Mountain

It feels like the new Gorillaz album 'The Mountain' has been on the horizon to be released forever! We've had singles being released for it since mid 2025. It was originally scheduled for a March release date, but they pushed it up to this Friday, February the 27th. I think they realized how long the wait was. Anyways been loving all the tracks they've been releasing for it, in particular been playing out "The Happy Dictator" in my DJ Sets for months.

Check out that track below and be sure to check out the new album Friday!

 

Monterrey :: Neon

Miami artist Monterrey is getting ready to release his debut 2 track EP entitled Neon today (9/25) and it is smoking! Some amazing synthwave sounds which I can easily picture being played on a show like Stranger Things or the movie Drive, particularly the tilte track "Neon". All you retrowave lovers like myself are gonna love it!

Check out "Neon" and "Round and Round" below. You can also check out his tunes on spotify or purchase them on iTunes or bandcamp. 

Happy Sunday!!

Great Ghost :: Take Me 2 Your Healer

Our buddy Sean Kravit who used to reside in Miami, but now calls Brooklyn home sent us his new release as Great Ghost. It's a four track EP he's titled Take Me To Your Healer, and we are digging it! It's a great piece of flowing experimental electronic music. He has a sweet animated video for title track "Take Me To Your Healer" that you can check out below which is really colorful and fun. 

Sample/purchase the rest of that release via his bandcamp page. Well worth your time.

Senf & Madrigal :: SM-001

Our friends are cooler than yours! Loving this amazing new electronic dance collaboration by two of our best buds Alex Senf & Aramis Lorie, which they are calling Senf & Madrigal. Their first release SM-001 was just released and it is deep dark pulsating deliciousness. Amazing minimal electronic dance music with a little darkness and just the right amount of samples, so yea of course we love it!

The three tracks from the release are titled "Beautiful", "Echoes" & "Kairos". So far "Beautiful" and "Echoes" are our early favorites, but don't make us choose from there or we might be awhile.

If you like what you hear you can buy the release on iTunes for $2.99. A bargain we say!

Fenech-Soler :: Somebody

On the brink of their long awaited sophomore release, the Northamptonshire electro pop 4 piece Fenech-Soler finally gave us a full version of their single "Somebody". The track stays true to the indie dance roots that the band emerged from in 2006, while taking you on a sophisticated yet lighthearted ride into electronic pop bliss. Often compared to the sounds of Delphic and Friendly Fires, Fenech-Soler has once again proved how immensely underrated they are (North & South America wake up).

Quite a few indie dance-electro inflected acts that began recording songs like this are abandoning the sound, not making full LP's, or are flat out disappearing leaving Fenech-Soler plenty of room to turn some heads when 'Rituals' is released on September 16th.

The Walkmen :: Dance With Your Partner / Vermeer ’65

Where I live, the autumn season is really doing wacky things to me. I've been going bed earlier, relaxing on my porch, staring at the leaves, wearing hoodies, and feeling more nostalgic than ever.

It's the perfect sweater weather climate for these two new Walkmen tracks. I'll admit that I've had difficulty caring much for anything after their 2004 masterpiece, "Bows + Arrows." Their later releases have been solid but just a bit boring for my tastes. However, I've got to hand it to an indie rock band that stays in the game and releases consistently.

They've saved a couple gems from their last recording session for their upcoming fall tour. I prefer "Dance With Your Partner," with its classic Walkmen bipolar  mood swings. Quiet and tender moments that segue into upbeat waltz movements. "Vermeer '65" gets more of a standard indie rock, folk treatment. Great for chilly October nights.

I just have to mention that Hamilton Leithauser's vocals drive me crazy. I've loved this band from the moment I heard his voice piercing through a car commercial, years ago. It's nice that I can always rely on that guy to sing the same on every album. Instantly recognizable, familiar and always a little unsettling.

Picobots :: Melanie Griffith

If you follow OTR regularly you know how much we love those 80's new wave inspired tunes. Cue San Francisco artist Picobots who recently sent us his latest release 'Melanie Griffith'. A 5 track EP that features just that, lo-fi dreamy atmospheric goodness that sounds like it could have come straight from the 80's. His first single/video from the release is "Mini Blind Silhoutte" which is an homage to LA that you can check out below. If you like what you hear head on over to his bandcamp where the entire release is available as a name your own price option including $0, but if you can, throw him a few bucks. I'm sure he'll appreciate it.  

Melanie Griffith: Mini Blind Silhouette by Picobots

Lee M Kelsall :: NY Shuffle, (Remixes) & More

Not getting nearly the attention he deserves Stateside, English born and Australian raised producer Lee M Kelsall is back with "NY Shuffle," his latest release on NYC based Nurvous Records. A great summer release that would have you wanting to be lost in that desultory fast-paced New York style summer life, regardless of the city's reference in it's name. Accompanied by first-rate remixes from Raffa FL and Kreature there is something for everyone. Also included is Lee M Kelsall original "Gimme," which emerging South East London deep house duo Clouded Judgement brilliantly molded into a banger of a dance track. Not enough? Lee added his touch to Flex Corp's "I Been Looking" and just as the rest of his productions, I couldn't be more impressed. Both the Clouded Judgement remix and Lee's remix of Felx Corp are due for release soon. Hopefully we'll see Kelsall break into the North American scene this year, till then I'll eagerly look forward to the next production.

Jonas Rathsman :: Since I Don't Have You

Jonas Rathsman dropped a dance floor bomb today on FRENCH EXPRESS. The tune tells the love story between Jonas and his lost microKORG. He spent the summer with other synthesizers creating these healing melodies, but apparently he really just misses his KORG. Plus, Jonas is giving you this emotional masterpiece as a FREE DOWNLOAD!

Surfer Blood :: Tarot Classics

South Florida band Surfer Blood who have been getting tons of amazing press the last couple of years are getting ready to release a new EP entitled 'Tarot Classics' Oct. 24th on Kanine Records. The first single from the EP "Miranda" was premiered on Pitchfork and it is a rollicking good time that you can check out below. Talk about big time, the boys are even gonna be opening up for The Pixies in an upcoming tour! Pretty mind blowing stuff. Keep making us proud.

Surfer Blood - Miranda by Too Good For Radio

Toy Camera

Drew Harris from Germany Germany that we've covered before here has a new side project with Steph Thompson (aka) Stefaloo called Toy Camera. They have a new EP out called 'Blissful Youth' that is some real nice soothing minimal electronic music with lovely female vocals. Digging the 5 track EP which coincidentally is available as a free download via their bandcamp page. Check out a couple of my faves "Tall Trees" and "Summer Days".


MP3: Tall Trees - Toy Camera


MP3: Summer Days - Toy Camera

Swimming :: Neutron Wireless Crystal

Nottingham, UK band Swimming are getting to release second single "Neutron Wireless Crystal" October 17th. They sent along the track for review and I'm digging it! Real catchy indie pop tune that will have you humming the chorus long after it's ended. They also sent along a great remix by Trenchurian that takes the track into a whole other dreamier direction. Best part is that one's available as a free download. Check those out below...

01 Neutron Wireless Crystal by partisanpr

Swimming - Neutron Wireless Crystal (Trenchurian remix) by partisanpr

Edwin Van Cleef :: Never Be Alone At Night EP

The amazing Edwin Van Cleef that we've posted a bunch of times before is back with a new EP entitled 'Never Be Alone At Night' available now on beatport. It features some great new original tracks including the title track with vocals by Gemini Club, plus a bunch of remixes that he's giving away for free and a new September DJ Mix. Loving them all! Thought I'd share the goods...

Never Be Alone At Night EP. by Edwin van Cleef

Edwin van Cleef - September Mix 2011 by Edwin van Cleef

The Embassy

If there is one thing the Swedish can do is write a good pop tune. Gothenburg,  Sweden's The Embassy is a fine example of this. They are gonna be releasing 'Life in the Trenches' on September the 27th via Service. It's a compilation of obscure or unreleased tracks spanning their career so far from 2001-2011. Their label sent along "Flipside of a Memory" for us to post for our readers and it is one fine indie pop gem. Check it out/download it below. Good luck finding their facebook/website with a name like that though, I sure as heck couldn't.


MP3: Flipside of a Memory - The Embassy

Cause and Effect

Growing up in the early 90's I was a goth/new wave kid. I remember having this great 12' vinyl record by a band called Cause and Effect for a track called "You Think You Know Her". Great new wavey Depeche Mode sounding track that I couldn't get enough of.

Fast forward 20 years to the present and to my surprise I got this email this week about the same band who is still putting out music and is still surprisingly great! Seems they have a lot of releases throughout the years that I missed out on. Might have to go back and investigate those.

They have a new 4 track EP out called Artificial Construct Part 2, with Part 1 being released last year. They sent both our way and I'm digging the sounds! The boys now living in Seattle and Fullerton, California have managed to keep current with their sound and still sound as great as ever. Very contemporary electro-pop sound, something many bands have trouble doing, adapting with the times. The new single they have out is called "Happinness is Alien" and is accompanied by this great video that you can check out below along with their soundcloud. You can purchase the EP's and more on their bandcamp page. Good to have you back on our radar fellows.

Happiness Is Alien by CauseAndEffectMusic

The Drums :: Money

New York band The Drums have just released this new track "Money" from their upcoming 12-track album Portamento which will be out September 12. Pretty solid indie-pop track, should be a good album if the rest follows suit.

The Drums - Money

Class Actress :: New Track

So excited to hear that Class Actress is releasing a full length album in October. Her EP 'Journal Of Ardency' was one of my favorite records put out last year. Got to catch her a few weeks ago opening up for Hooray For Earth and Architecture In Helsinki and really enjoyed hearing all of her new material. It's looking like her full length debut is going to be a synth heavy, pop delight. Her voice is effortlessly beautiful. Thanks Class Actress for this little snack to tide us over till "Rapprocher" hits stores. Check out "Keep You" below.


MP3: Keep You - Class Actress

Hey Champ :: Anything At All

Chicago's Hey Champ that we've written about a bunch of times in the past are back with a new EP 'Anything At All' out now and just in time for the summer. They released a video for fan favorite "Silver City" were they hit up favorite Chicago haunts and apparently it's getting play on MTV? Hmmm, wonder were they'd play this in between all the crap ;)  Enjoy!

Silver City by Hey Champ

Letting Up Despite Great Faults :: New Track / EP

LA band Letting Up Despite Great Faults that I first wrote about back in 09' here are getting ready to release New EP 'Paper Crush' on August 2nd via Old Flame Records. They are giving away a new track from the EP "Teenage Tide" that is an amazing piece of shoegaze loveliness. Perfect for the summer, I can't get enough of it. Listen/grab that baby below or via their soundcloud and be on the look-out for the EP come August. Sure it will be a winner.


MP3: Teenage Tide - Letting Up Despite Great Faults

Get People :: Crystal Fighters Remix + New EP

London electro-pop trio Get People have a new EP called Rain Tears coming out in July. They enlisted the help of Crystal Fighters to remix the title track "No Tears" who did a great job! Digging it! You can check out/download the track via their soundcloud below. Below is also the one of their original tracks "Away" from the upcoming EP that they are giving away. All in all a great new band on our radar. Merci!

Rain Tears (Crystal Fighters RMX) by GET PEOPLE

Away by GET PEOPLE