so i seem to keep buying more and more electro & synth pop lately. i'd like some recommendations on where to go from here.
i just picked up 2/3 of the new Disco Nouveau comp on Ghostly International. (apparently the third record was short pressed or something?) anyway, i just love this comp. in particular, the tracks by legowelt, solvent, daniel wang, ectomorph and lowfish are just amazing. i like the production on the dmx krew track, but i'm not a big fan of the vocals there.
and the solvent track, my goodness, easily in the running for the best track he's ever done. i remember reading an interview with him a few months ago, on igloomag i think, where he mentioned he had a track with full on vocals coming out on a compilation. i was a bit sceptical to say the least. too much good music is ruined by people feeling the need to add vocals. umm, well, i was utterly wrong. the vocals are nicely effected, and seemlessly blended with the track. and the lyrics themselves are just cool. basically solvent singing a eulogy to the radio of his youth. perhaps that sounds ridiculous? it works perfectly. this is pretty much as soulful as it gets.
and is lowfish always this good? his track on the disco comp is stunning, i love "the accident causer," and, as much as i love solvent, the lowfish remix on sovlent city is easily my favorite track on the album.
i also recently picked up soviet's "we are eyes, we are builders" and i've been listening to it quite a bit. the vocals are dead on depeche mode with nice production - drum machines, synths, occasionally some guitar. it's a damn good album. definitely very retro-y though. (perhaps that goes without saying for synth pop?)
other stuff i like:
both releases on device entertainment recordings (gique & carl a finlow)
the datathief 12" on Orange (though, except for the last track, i think it's a little harder than what i'd like to spin)
le syndicate electronique - dissidence (invasion planete) (i like the slightly industrial feel of this record)
stuff i'm ambivalent about:
skanfrom - hand picked fragments
anthony rother presents electro commando 1 welcome to psicity
stuff i don't really like:
adult - entertainment
adult - hand to phone remixes (but i think i only listened to this record one, perhaps another listen is in order?)
i'm probably forgetting some other records i own, but you get the idea.
so, if you basically thought solvent was the best synth pop out there, where, besides suction, would you look for synthpop?
and as far as electro goes, it seems i probably like it a little on the smooth and poppy side. any thoughts?
i want my robot disco!
thanks for any recommendations.
- d