New Fight Like Apes
First came Hoo Ha Henry and now we have Poached Egg, the second taster from Fight Like Apes’ geniusly-titled second album The Body of Christ and the Legs of Tina Turner. The song is up to the band’s usual synth-driven standard with the repeating shouty mantra of “When thumbs get split / chicks get lit”. An acquired taste maybe, but this is a band with a fervent fanbase.
Listen at Nialler9
Chequerboard
John Lambert aka Dublin’s Chequerboard has released his 2002 debut Gothica as a free download on Bandcamp.com. Grab this gorgeous slab of icy electronic soundscapes.
Download at Bandcamp
Robyn and Snoop Dogg
Swedish Electric Picnic-bound pop star Robyn is already on her second album this year and she ropes in gangsta rapper Snoop on U Should Know Better from Body Talk Part II, a Cars-esque Europop number.
Listen at Gigwise
Shangaan Electro
A genre of music out of South Africa with 180 beats per minute, sped-up vocal samples, marimbas, African rhythms, digital beats and a big emphasis on street dancing. I visited Soweto recently to meet up with the godfather of Shangaan electro, read about my experience.
