Ok ok so I’ve been a little busy with a new project for Eyemaylisten (news to come shortly), but I’m back to share an awesome sound.. The Japanese Popstars. These guys have a beautiful if slightly arrogantly named debut album out; ‘We Just Are.’ which I have had the fortune to taste. It flows seamlessly, definitely meant for a big night.. somehow I’m not feeling the full effect sat in my bedroom. They are electronic dance, they are big and from what I see, create some amazing atmospheres. Just youtube them, you won’t be disappointed. Hailing from Northern Ireland; Declan McLaughlin, Gary Curran and Gareth Donoghue make The Japanese Popstars, a live electronic music experience that has been likened to the days of ‘vintage’ Chemical Brothers, Orbital and Underworld. They are popular festival movers and have had some great gigs and reviews… “A Star Is Born….Or Should I Say Stars!” - Pete Tong, BBC Radio 1.. and a rather enthusiastic Zane Lowe; “I’m knocked out! That is a BIG BIG record! Very strong!!”.

Eat them up; MP3: The Japanese Popstars - Electronic Poet

Hope everyones well.. sorry again that I’ve been so busy. I do have something pretty spesh coming up though, as well as the long awaited competition ^_^ Keep emails coming!

-Luu

Giggle me timbers, what an unusual afternoon. I haven’t slept for that long in tiiiiiime.

Whats more; South Central’s debut CD “Owl Of Minerva” is due for release in December through Egregore Music. You should defintatly get your claws into it. I have had the chance to listen early and was pleasantly suprized. Bedroom rave. Yep yep, went straight into my five star ratings for my ipod and now assists me on many a commute.

Owl Of Minerva is a collection of South Central’s finest from the past two years, all the stuff you couldn’t get on CD or mp3 anywhere else. To date, South Central has remixed artists including Klaxons, Van She, The Whip, Metronomy, Shy Child, Maccabees and Shitdisco, the list goes on…

For me, the strongest tracks on the CD are ‘Golden Dawn’ and ‘Nothing Can Go Wrong’ - something about them touches me… and in an almost inappropriate way? They move me; interacting with my soul as well as my ear drums. I like them. They make me feel.

Do me a favor.. feast; MP3: South Central - Aeon

Hope all is well across everyone’s corners… Thanks for the emails from Russia, they were awesome ^_^ Keep them coming!

- Luu

Good morning. I have something of great delight to share with you on this beautifully muggy Sunday morn; Boom Boom Satellites and their CD “Exposed”.

“Japanese dance rock pioneers Boom Boom Satellites (aka
bassist/programmer Masayuki Nakano and guitarist/vocalist Michiyuki
Kawashima) celebrates their 10-year anniversary with the digital release
of “Exposed.” Boom Boom Satellites are widely considered one of the
first true “dance rock” band’s (the genre didn’t even exist back then)
and their impact is felt in the music of some of today’s most popular
artists. “Exposed” offers 12 tracks that blends philosophical lyrics and
an untamed physical rave experience with the toughness of rock’n'roll
and the precision of electronic programming.”

Well, I hadn’t read that part of their bio before I cracked into this album and wasn’t suprized when I finally did read it. This album definitely mixes a rock sound with some beautifully electronic based vibrations and merges effortlessly. I am so into them they haven’t been off my stereo… in fact, I’ve had to turn my last.fm tracker off so I don’t look like a loon listening to them over and over. I have a severe weakness for Jrock, although if you listened to their album without a visual aid you probably wouldn’t know any different, they present themselves in clear English throughout the album.

The first track that catches me is, “Bring It On Down.” It sounds familiar in a really pleasurable way. I may have heard it already but I’m finding it hard to place just where. It’s fast moving, catchy and repetitive in a comfortably tingly way. It sends vibrations to the musical soul and makes you want to move. If you love electronica, you should check these guys out. If you are on the Hadouken! bandwagon, these guys aren’t as in your face but will fill the gap with a uniqueness. You can check out their video of the track “Easy Action” here on youtube.

There are twelve tracks on the album but “Six Fourty Five” is easily the strongest track for me, closely followed by “Fiends” and “Get Back In My House”. All three tracks are very much electronica based with immense lyrics. This is music I would expect to hear on a good night out. It would be easy to OD on these guys.

All of the tracks on the album carry an indefinite quality and do not compete with one another for play time, each being unique. There is not a track on the album I would dare to skip, which is rare for me. They have a clearly distinguishable sound. I am in love.

MP3: Shut Up And Expload - Boom Boom Satellites

- Luu

Well goodness me, didn’t that take some time. Our internet resources have been out for a long long time.. and still are.. but alas, we are learning to work around it. At least until VIRGIN sort themselves out. I have also literally JUST got back from Istanbul. Turkish music is most defiantly different, probably something I would respect a little more if I knew the language better. Luckily Matt had donated his ipod to moi so I survived all the long hours of traveling.

So.. a lot has been going on. We have been sent lots of music and have ALOT to discuss. Firstly, Mesh-29. We received their nice little album through the post about a month ago. It’s official release date was 20th Oct, you can pop over to Media Addiction and get a limited edition signed&numbered copy.. Or just get it from itunes. The album’s called Secret Traffic. Kudos to the album artist, I love it. It’s nice, organic and portrays the sound well. Gives it a recycled paper feel. Although… Mesh-29 are far from recycled. They are rolling with the whole independent music scene, which many of you will know by now we fully admire and support.

The album itself is very soft, well contained and thought provoking. The piano solos bring thoughts of Placebo (this might just be me finding that likeness) but somewhere between the unmistakable vocals and thought provoking acoustic sounds lies a deepness. Ok, they are not ‘pop’, they are not ‘nu-rave’ or ‘electronica’, but they are organic and that’s what I like about them. Soooo… check them out (click on their name in the above paragraph to visit their myspace) and let me know what you think!

Secondly; Dan Black. I received an email about this guy and hella, he’s been on repeat ^_^. If you only click on one of my recommendations today be sure to click on this video; Dan Black ‘Yours’ Video (directed by Paris-based Chic Et Artistic) because I am very much addicted. The track ‘Yours’ is different. Foremost, this is not lovey-dovey. It’s an electro anti-love song fueled with a new kind of angry yet passionate beat. The video too is well composed also, so for the visual among you; feast. I am loving this vibration, so get onboard.

Image; Eleanor Hardwick

If you want more, I can give you more; MP3: Dan Black - HYPNTZ. Ok, so possibly not the first to take Rihanna’s Umbrella beat, but it’s different. So many have tried and failed… but here I am certain Black gets it. Give him a spin. You won’t be disappointed.

I have so much more to come, my inbox is litorally jam packed, so rest assured your sterio will be fuelled with a lot more over the next few days.

Hope everyone had fun in the snow in England

Also I hope everyone likes our new guest writer Stuart…
-Luu

We knew the crossover would be painful.. and it is now upon us. We have just moved house and stupidly relied on Virgin to have our net up and running… alas, they haven’t. I only have about five minutes so I will endevour to summerize my sterios activity over the past few days…

Edith Piaf - Je ne regrette rien.

Noah And The Whale - 5 Years Time

Tokio Hotel - Der Letzte Tag

Goldfrapp - Twist

Goldfrapp - Utopia

- Luu

And I bring you… Iceland.

A sound which you really should be plugging into if you haven’t already is the Icelandic sounds of ‘Sometime‘. A four piece electro-pop fulled vibration that will stick to you kids like treacle. They have been imprinted on the inner depths of my insides since being introduced to their sound a few weeks ago…

They have a long list of influences with the likes of The Beatles, Frankie Goes To Hollywood, Pet Shop Boys and even The Beach Boys getting a mention. Their sound is variable but awesome. If you like Bjork, Shiny Toy Guns and the Chemical Brothers, these are the guys for you. They somehow manage to become a beautiful fusion of all three with strong vocals and some seriously electro beats.

Vibrate your sound systems. Listen to Sometime.

MP3: Sometime - Catch Me If You Can

- Luu

Sorry I didn’t post much this week…

Ok so I have avoided them for a while, but now I have to finally admit the Jonas Brothers they are getting into my head.. I think it was Fearne Cotton that called them the new Hanson? Psh… well, the new Hanson or not I can’t help myself..

This photo is probably questionable. Thank goodness it wasn’t fashion week eh? (In fact, I’d hate to study the poster behind and make assumptions as to what this event actually was.. cough.. Hannah Montana? cough..) I’d say the clothes make more sense from right to left… but really… left; you hail from New Jersey, who are you kidding with the Alan Partridge look? This is probably wrong of me (on more than one level) but they are all fitties.. so I guess we can forgive the wardrobe choices. As I mentioned, they hail from New Jersey.. I’d say that place pumps out a few good sounds

I should probably be talking about their music. It’s pop, surely it can be nothing else? That is all I can muster, I’m afraid… they truly are the new Hanson, young voices and annoyingly catchy repetitive choruses.. I will let you make up your own minds..

I have stumbled upon a nice little acoustic sound from them, you might want to check that out…

MP3: Jonas Brothers - Burnin’ Up (Acoustic)

MP3: Jonas Brothers - Burnin’ Up (2:50 version)

That second MP3 isn’t the UK version I don’t think.. If memory serves me correctly, we do without the random sub-section of rapping [EDIT: Ok scrap that, I am clearly talking rubbish… I just really don’t remember that part… then again, I am pretty shattered :p ]
Hope you’re all well…

- Luu

Ok ok, so this is an absouletly random mix of tunes, but who cares.. I went a bit retro with the first two… they are from a few different time scales, but enjoy.. And don’t question what I was thinking in posting these.

This could have almost been out yesterday, haha:
MP3: Boys Don’t Cry - I Wanna Be A Cowboy

This next ones for all those Phil Collins lovers. Myself included.. I watched Disney’s Tarzan over and over just for this song:
MP3: Phil Collins - You’ll Be In My Heart

Katy Perry this, Katy Perry that.. I feel people are neglecting one of her most genius songs:
MP3: Katy Perry - You’re So Gay

Also, just a quicky, because I know this will be a hit in the UK very soon and I just can’t get it out of my head, It’s MIA…
MP3: MIA - Paper Planes 

Sorry this was a short one!

- Luu

Hey all,

I have made a recent discovery; apparently the bypass isn’t the only thing that’s happened in Newbury in the past ten years. Apparently in more recent years something has been growing in a bedroom in Berkshire… with a keyboard… Something a little more environmentally friendly than tearing up some 360 acres of land.. That is, the ironically named; The Good Natured.

The Good Natured is one pretty lady from Newbury, UK. Donning all but her grandmothers old keyboard, she’s creating a wave in the music blogging world. With her EP; Warriors (set to be released on the 6th October.. hurray for picking my birthday) Sarah McIntosh really delivers.

I love this girl. She’s a well earned break for the music industry… we needed her. With vocals somewhere between Kate Nash and Adele, she is sure to find a place in the hearts of British music fans. With the industry’s callings aside, Sarah pushes all the right buttons. A busty electro vibe and classy vintage image, she’s kicking holes popular music and making way for a new kind of eletro-thrusted sound. Let The Good Natured make your feet move and tempt you to sing along badly. Catch yourself continuing to hum her tunes long after you’ve heard them… enjoy it. She’s going to be around for a while.

Feed your hungry music-hungry selves with her MP3 below;

MP3: The Good Natured - Warriors (MP3 has now expired)
- Luu

Hey all,

It’s that time of year and the BT Music Digital Awards are upon us. Eyemaylisten has been entered under the catagory ‘Best Music Blog’… if you think we are worthy of a rating in the awards, please click on the image below and show your support by dropping us a vote. It only takes a minute. Thanks

Back to the music..
I am about to go a little mainstream but it can’t be helped. The tunes are just so good!… here’s a taster of what has been vibrating my ear drums of late..

MP3: CSS - Alala (MP3 has now expired)

CSS will never fail to get me moving. I have been listening to these guys for a long time now.. this is my favorite vibration from their way. Check it out.

MP3: Joshua Lanes - Dead (MP3 has now expired)

A sound known as Joshua Lanes has met with my ears lately. At first admittedly I didn’t really know what to think, but somewhere between repetitively listening to the first two seconds of their track ‘Blow’ and trying to figure out if it was the end of an Incubus song, they stuck… Check out the MP3 above..

MP3: Foals - Cassius (MP3 has now expired)

It had to be done! Foals, I love ‘em. This song has been in my head so long, it’s killing me… I am actually on the video we shot when interviewing Temposhark back in June, singing it to myself.. or at least humming it? And it’s STILL in my noggin! It’s insane… I love this tune!

MP3: Stereo Total - I Love You, Ono (MP3 has now expired)

This is a cheeky catchy vibration from German; Stereo Total. I am sure many of you have heard it thousands of times before.. but I can’t help myself, it’s making me move.

Keep the emails coming folks
-Luu