Latest news with #synthpop
Washington Post
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Washington Post
Marina is here to generate joy, during WorldPride and always
A few weeks ago, Marina Diamandis took to social media to make an all-caps plea to bring back things like whimsy, smiling in photos and dillydallying. 'MAKE THIS THE SUMMER OF CRINGE,' she wrote. 'MAKE THIS THE SUMMER OF GIVING A S---.' That mission statement reverberates throughout the forthcoming album 'Princess of Power' from the singer-songwriter, who performs mononymously as Marina. Across a trio of synth-powered pop anthems, Diamandis celebrates personal transformation, new love and female empowerment with her trademark wit and glam.
Telegraph
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
Sparks, Mad!, review: eccentric brilliance with pearls of wisdom
Since they first properly struck gold with 1974's piano-pounding art-glam romp, This Town Ain't Big Enough For Both Of Us, Ron and Russell Mael's 'band', Sparks (its personnel has long since consisted of just the two of them), has been an ever-present gold standard for left-field pop – perhaps the world's most successful cult act. High points along the way have included 1979's Giorgio Moroder -produced New Wave/disco hit machine No.1 In Heaven and 1994's synth-pop primer Gratuitous Sax & Senseless Violins, but perhaps the most extraordinary twist in the tale of this fraternal odd couple from Los Angeles, ever beloved in the UK, is that, now well into their late 70s, their last three non-conceptual studio albums – Hippopotamus (2017), A Steady Drip, Drip, Drip (2020) and 0223's The Girl Is Crying In Her Latte (2023) – all by some remarkable coincidence hit Number Seven on the British charts. They've remained furiously productive since the millennium, managing to squeeze in 2015's collaborative record with superfans Franz Ferdinand ('FFS'), a radio opera (2009's The Seduction Of Ingmar Bergman), a film musical (2021's Annette, which won them a César from Best Original Score), but this 28th studio album in their labyrinthine career surely delivers what most Sparks fans want from them most – a barrage of the kind of eccentric yet immediately connective synth-pop bangers, which only Chaplin-moustached keyboard maestro Ron Mael, now 79, seems capable of writing, and which Russell, 76, his sky-scraping high notes miraculously uneroded by passing time, delivers with characteristic theatrical gusto. If Mael Sr majors in operatic pop ditties with laugh-out-loud librettos of interpersonal observation and pop-cultural referencing, Mad! is veritably bulging at the seams with them. It opens with the pulsing electro assertion of Do Things My Own Way, a new anthem, perhaps, for Sparks's pathological idiosyncrasy. Further on, the glacially product-placing JanSport Backpack hilariously satirises our contemporary fixation with brand identity, often in preference over what's actually going on around us, or to us. More laughs beckon on Running Up A Tab At The Hotel For The Fab (oh, that craving to spend indiscriminately at a pricey boutique establishment!). Best of all, maybe, My Devotion offers a wonderfully goofy snapshot of unrequited love bordering on obsession: 'my devotion to you is all that I do,' gamely chirps Russell, over infectiously tootling synth lines, 'Got your name written on my shoe, and I'm thinkin' of getting' a tattoo!' He goes on, a tad creepily if he didn't sound so genuinely smitten: 'Through all the years/Rent in arrears/You never cared/Can't help but stare'! More relationship insecurity surfaces on In Daylight, which serves up the wisdom, doubtless accrued beneath unforgiving LA sunshine, 'Everybody looks great at night/Ain't no trick to look great at night', before our narrator approaches a radiant apparition to deliver the ultimate LA compliment, 'You were impressive in day light, I saw you/Sunlight oppressive, but it's working for you', then succumbs to a dose of 'we are not worthy': 'I can't approach you since daylight reveals me/So I'll just wait for the night to conceal me'. Like many of pop's greatest songsmiths, Ron Mael has a rare talent for writing lyrics which you instantly imagine applying or indeed singing in real-life conversations with fellow Mad! enthusiasts. Over circling psychodrama strings-synth, A Long Red Light, for example, brilliantly captures the stress of awaiting a change from those traffic signals which seem to be on a far more patient time-loop than all the others around town. I can just imagine singing this one to myself, the next time I'm stopped at a particular junction on my route back from Central London. For all their lifelong weirdness, Sparks are always real enough to invade your daily reality, as all great pop does, in singalongs of collectively amusing phraseology, set to memorable melodies. As such, another Number Seven, or higher, surely awaits. Best New Songs By Poppie Platt Cerrone x Christine and the Queens, Catching Feelings Following their performance at last summer's Paris Olympics, French drummer Cerrone and polymath Christine and the Queens reunite for a funky disco banger with emotional depth at its heart, as Christine (real name Rahim Redcar) sings: 'Let me be your man / Don't be afraid / Of catching feelings for me'. I-dle, Good Thing The superstar K-pop quintet return with a new name (they've dropped the precursory G) but more of the same sharply tailored, irresistibly catchy bubblegum pop. Robbie Williams featuring Tony Iommi, Rocket Perhaps the strangest duet of the year so far – in a good way. Pop's favourite bad boy teams up with the Black Sabbath axe-shredder for an energetic pop-punk anthem as far removed as his saccharine hits of yesteryear (Candy, here's looking at you) as you can imagine. Maybe Robbie will even show up as a surprise guest at July's mega-star Sabbath gig at Villa Park. Suede, Disintegrate The Britpop staples will take over the Southbank Centre with four special gigs in the autumn, showcasing tracks from their forthcoming tenth album, Antidepressants. Disintegrate offers a tantalising first taste of what to expect: Brett Anderson on typically sardonic form, howling about modern anxieties and disillusionment ('You hold your love like a weapon in your hand / You used to be alone but you're not alone / Watching from the outside') against a backdrop of moody riffs. Taylor Swift - Look What You Made Me Do (Taylor's Version) The biggest teaser yet for the album that will soon break the internet – the rerecording of Swift's 2017 revenge-epic Reputation – appeared in the most recent episode of Channel 4's The Handmaids Tale. Elisabeth Moss's quest to bring down Gilead makes Swift's battle with Kanye Swift (the original inspiration for Reputation) look tame, so it's a fitting union. White Lies, Nothing on Me
National Post
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- National Post
Things to to in Edmonton: Ministry, Purple City launch party, Dragon Food Tours and much more
Reviews and recommendations are unbiased and products are independently selected. Postmedia may earn an affiliate commission from purchases made through links on this page. Article content Ministry: Whoa — rare and incredible treat here as the ferociously industrial Ministry is jumping into the time machine to explore its dance roots. Article content Article content Singer Al Jourgensen said he'd never do it, but The Squirrely Years tour will see the band revisits its synth-pop dawn hits like Work for Love and I'm Not an Effigy, and frequently-played goth night anthem Everyday is Halloween. Article content 'Since I hated my early stuff for decades,' says Jourgensen, 'I decided to take ownership of it and do it right.' Article content Should be an utterly different, dancier vibe than your typical Ministry concert, with My Life with the Thrill Kill Kult and Die Krupps opening up! Article content Article content Article content Purple City Line Up Launch Party: Up the north side, Oakland post punk Marbled Eye, Toronto psych act Hot Garbage, local dream-poppers Verttigo, and Calgary's Stucco are all opening the door on Edmonton's great, youth-oriented indie music fest. Article content Running Sept. 5-7, Purple City's 25 headliners will be first announced at this party showcase — a solid idea all around as a sort of sampler of what to expect in the downtown-spanning, future-forward annual whirl of good times and discovery. Article content
Globe and Mail
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Globe and Mail
Craymo Delivers Uplifting Anthem of Unity with New Single 'Love Together'
Indie electronic pop artist Craymo is back with another heartfelt anthem for the world. His latest single, 'Love Together,' bursts with positivity and infectious energy, blending a modern-retro synth-pop sound that's as danceable as it is meaningful. Known for his socially conscious songwriting, Craymo continues his mission of spreading love, inclusion, and peace through music. 'Love Together' is a vibrant follow-up to his acclaimed hit 'One Love One World (We Are One) Freedom Mix,' reinforcing a message of unity in a divided world. Channeling sonic influences from legends like Depeche Mode, INXS, Duran Duran, and Robbie Williams, Craymo delivers an energetic, sing-along track that's both nostalgic and fresh. The song's uplifting tone and catchy hooks make it an instant party starter while still carrying a deeper message of hope. The single was recorded in January during the height of the devastating Los Angeles wildfires. Reflecting on the experience, Craymo shared, 'It was a very surreal and apocalyptic feeling being in Los Angeles during that time. The message of hope and love in Love Together shined a light that helped us get through the sessions.' Working alongside longtime collaborator Brandon Jarrett, Craymo said the two songs recorded during that time—'Love Together' and the upcoming 'Tear Me Apart'—feature what they believe are the strongest vocal performances of his career. A seasoned performer, Craymo's roots run deep. He first gained national attention as a male vocalist on Star Search '89 with Ed McMahon and has since shared the stage with notable acts like Smashmouth and Ozomatli. Based in Orlando, Craymo continues to evolve his sound while staying true to his mission: using the universal language of music to bring people together. 'Love Together' is now available on all major streaming platforms, including Spotify. Media Contact Company Name: Craymo Music Contact Person: Craig Raymo Country: United States Website:
Forbes
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Lorde Scores The Second-Biggest Hit Of Her Career With New Single
Lorde's synth-pop comeback single "What Was That" debuts at No. 11 on the Official Singles chart, ... More becoming her second-highest U.K. hit after "Royals." NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 05: Lorde attends the 2025 Met Gala Celebrating "Superfine: Tailoring Black Style" at Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 05, 2025 in New York City. (Photo byfor The Met Museum/Vogue) Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue Lorde began teasing that another chapter was about to begin this spring several weeks ago, and thankfully, she didn't make fans wait long before unveiling new music. The singer-songwriter recently dropped her latest single "What Was That," and there's a great deal of excitement surrounding the cut. The synth-pop tune earns a lofty debut on several rankings in the United Kingdom this week, where Lorde remains hugely popular — even though her last era wasn't met with the same enthusiasm as some of her previous ones. "What Was That" has become not just another hit, but one of the biggest of her career right out of the gate. "What Was That" narrowly misses becoming a top 10 smash on the Official Singles chart, debuting at No. 11 in its first frame on the U.K.'s ranking of the most popular tracks. Impressively, it is already Lorde's second-highest-charting hit ever. She has only reached the top 10 once before, with "Royals," her breakout smash that turned her into a global sensation more than a decade ago. That tune reached No. 1 on the tally. Follow-up tracks like "Tennis Court," "Team," "Green Light," and "Solar Power" — the lead single from her previous album — all peaked not far behind the top 10, though none managed to break into that uppermost region. Pure Purchases Lorde's Latest Single Pure purchases are largely to thank for the immediate success of "What Was That." The track only appears on the Official Singles Sales chart this frame – in addition to the all-encompassing list – as it didn't stream well enough to appear on the ranking dedicated solely to that form of consumption. Lorde's latest offering starts at No. 31 on the Official Singles Sales chart. Throughout her career, Lorde has sent nine different tunes to that roster. Once again, "What Was That" becomes her second-biggest win on the specific ranking. She only climbed higher in 2017 with "Green Light," which missed the top 10 by just two spaces during its 20-week run on the list. That track remains far and away her most successful in terms of pure purchases. Lorde Prepares Her New Album Virgin "What Was That" is the first single from Lorde's upcoming album, Virgin . The full-length, which will be her fourth, is expected to drop in late June. If the lead cut is any indication of what's to come, it appears that Lorde is shifting her sonic style slightly, returning to the artistically-driven synth-pop that made her a superstar in the first place. She abandoned that sound with Solar Power in 2021, which saw her embrace folk, indie, and psychedelic pop to mixed results.
