Monday 26 August 2019

i-Select #49

This is a series of shows dedicated to electronic/synthpop bands that are unsigned, signed to a small independent label or self release their material.


White Lion Radio prides itself on bringing you music which you don't always get access to and to showcase bands and artists that are really very talented and deserve to be heard.

These shows will feature bands from across the globe!

Listen On Mixcloud

Listen On Hearthis.at

Full Playlist

Darwinmcd - November High (Darwinmcd Remix)
SubClass - Leaving It All Behind
Fused Ft Kay Burden - Tear Me To Pieces (Body Language Edit Mix)
Red Sleeping Beauty - Tonight
Mind Machine - We Keep Walking (Darwinmcd Remix)
Johanna Kuvaja - Shower
Sombre Moon - Prayer (The Missing Piece Of The Jigsaw Sequence Mix)
Positronic - Higher Point Of View
Tin Gun - Bombers (Radio Mix 2)
Scarlet Fantastic - To Hell
Exposed Brick - Talking's Over-Rated
Mental Discipline - Fall To Pieces
Planet Neil - Photograph
110101011 -  Cyan Dream
Mika Ella - Free Like Amsterdam (Radio Version)
Nature Of Wires - First Light (Mesh Remix)
Eric C. Powell Ft Andrea Powell - Need A Place (Synesthete Remix)
The Ocean Beneath Ft Nath Jackson - Transcend
Mind Machine - Here And There (Parralox Remix)
Anja Garbarek - Confessional Memoirs
Dissonance - Break Myself (Poizon Party IV Mix)
Huguenot - Be Where I Am (Matt Pop Mix)
Projekt Ich Ft Asia Wolf - Lullaby For Alisa (Alex Stroeer Remix)
Analogue X - Angel Of Light
DONUTGO - 1 Night Stand
Tactile Frequency - Lifetime
Mitra Mitra - Snakes
Positronic - Sweet Summertime (Radio Edit)
Stereo In Solo - Secret Secret (Remix DJ Le Max)
Bysmarque & Snowwhyte - Otto And The Beast
SubClass - Whole (Obfuscated)
Boytronic - All You Can Eat (Ant-People Remix)
Train To Spain - Monsters (Mystic Experience Radio Edit)
Exposed Brick - Brexit (Little England Mix)
Red Sleeping Beauty - Someone Somewhere
Mind Machine - Further Than Far (The Grey Disorder Remix)
Knight$ - What We Leave Behind
Darwinmcd - Tumbleweed

Monday 19 August 2019

The Electronic Music Hour #49

Welcome to edition #49 of our series "The Electronic Music Hour", which features some of the best electronic and synthpop music from the last 40 years.


These shows not only include well known artists from the last 4 decades but new and emerging bands on the electronic music scene from around the world, a lot of which are either unsigned, or on a small independent label, or self release their material.

So the shows will feature old and new tracks that fit in the electronic/synthpop genre.

Listen On Mixcloud

Listen On Hearthis.at

Playlist:

Eden - A Heart Keeps Beating
Depeche Mode - Behind The Wheel
OMD - Pretending To See The Future
In Good Faith - Choose Your Way (L_igh_T_Rmx)
Empathy Test - Here Is The Place
Marc And The Mambas - Black Heart
The Human League - Blind Youth
Metroland - Close To Me (Gary Hunter's 7 Inch Radio Edit)
Zoon Politicon - New Conscience
Pet Shop Boys - I Get Excited (You Get Excited Too)
Dead Man Recovering - Time
Alphaville - Jerusalem
Machinista - Universe Is Here (BRD Evolution Mix)
Mirrors - Look At Me (Radio Edit)
A-Ha - Early Morning

Friday 16 August 2019

Modus Operandi Album "Space Exploration" Reviewed

Modus Operandi are messrs Olivetti and Marakas and they are set to release a brilliant concept album called "Space Exploration", they tell us the story of space travel through 12 new compositions.

So, helmets on and buckle up, 5,4,3,2,1 we have lift off...........Sorry I couldn't resist it! :)


The first segment features 3 compositions, the opening "Van Allen Radiation Belt" is very atmospheric and through voice samples, which are truly fantastic, they introduce us to space exploration. What is the "Van Allen Radiation Belt", well, a Van Allen radiation belt is a zone of energetic charged particles, most of which originate from the solar wind, that are captured by and held around a planet by that planet's magnetic field. Earth has two such belts and sometimes others may be temporarily created. It was discovered in 1958 by James Van Allen.

The second segment features the title track "Space Exploration", which is quite an upbeat track, nice sequencer patterns and I really like the melodic touches, again, brilliant use of voice samples, think Metroland, a band from Belguim, to get an idea how this track sounds. Very impressive track, with plenty of depth to it. Completing the opening trilogy we have "Venusian Atmosphear", which deals with the atmospheric conditions on the planet Venus, the temperature and pressure on the surface of Venus are so extreme that none of the armored Russian spacecraft of the Venera series lasted more than an hour on the surface.

A bit of history and a review, what more could you ask for!

As for the track, it has drone sounds and atmospheric pads, very Sci-Fi, Similar to the opening track.
"Geosychronous Orbit" is very "Kraftwerk", superb use of voice samples again, over a slow paced electronic ensemble, wonderful pads and bass sounds with minimal rhythm, quite brilliant how they get their music so atmospheric, which of coutse, is perfect for the subject matter.

Next we have a 3 track segment again, "Corona", "Solar Flares" and "Surfing The Solar Winds", strange synth sounds open "Corona" before we enter dance beat terrortory, I love the synth sounds used on this track, one of my favourite tracks on the album.

Education alert! A corona is an aura of plasma that surrounds the Sun and other stars. "Solar Flares" is more of an atmospheric/ambient segment on the album, more of an interlude, lots of strange noises and sounds. For those that don't know, a solar flare is a sudden flash of increased brightness on the Sun, usually observed near its surface and in close proximity to a sunspot group. "Surfing The Solar Winds", reminded me of the work of Jean Michel Jarre, fabulous use of sounds, has a chillout vibe, another track I really like.

"Comets Tail To Plutos Head", is a short track that has some weird and unusual sounds and I do like the bell type sound used over the top, as the melody in the piece.

"Valentina" is a song about Valentina Vladimirovna Tereshkova, a former cosmonaut. She was the first and youngest woman to have flown in space with a solo mission on the Vostok 6 on 16 June 1963. It has to be said this song does her justice, we have a female vocal, by singer Linnea, along with sound samples, a very upbeat and jolly track, superb melodic parts, a musical romp with a russian flavour, best track on the album, love it and Linnea's vocal adds the icing no the cake.

The album closes with the tracks "Navigating The Asteroid Belt" and "Radio Waves", the former is very Kraftwerk (3D recording of the album "Radio Activity"), Mid paced with devine synth elements, probably the most Kraftwerk influenced track on the album, beautiful instrumentation. What is the Asteroid Belt?? It is a region of space between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter where most of the asteroids in our Solar System are found orbiting the Sun.

"Radio Waves" has vocoder vocals and utilizes the instrumentaion of "Navigating The Asteroid Belt", with elemnts added to it, a fitting end to the album.

A very impressive concept album and they have tackled the subject of Space Exploation in a very unique and original way, the music makes you feel like you are in space, I have listened with headphones at night with no lights on and it was stunning to listen too. Try it you won't be disapponted.

A fabulous piece of work 9/10

The album is due out this autumn and will be available on the bands Bandcamp page:

https://marakasolivetti.bandcamp.com/

Modus Operandi On Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/marakasolivetti/

Wednesday 14 August 2019

Kevin Lux album "OP-Z+VP-03" Reviewed

Kevin Lux, the Chicago based electronic musician, set himself the daunting challenge to record an album using just 2 instruments, a Teenage Engineering OP-Z and a Roland VP-03, not only that, each song had to be created using no more than 3 audio tracks on each song!

The OP-Z
Roland VP-03



"Musikbox" opens the album and is quite engaging and has pulses of synth sounds, that reminded me of the "Computer World" era of Kraftwerk, fantastic rhythm and sequenced bass-Lines, "Box Rock" continues in a similar vein and has "Speak And Spell" voice type samples, the rhythm is very interesting on this one, varied and includes those Zap sounds that Kraftwerk are famed for.

Track 3 "Improvisation 52K19 V2" is a bonus track, wonderful warm pads, over I would say, a Japanese sounding music base, again I like the drums, nice sequencer patterns too. "Hypnotise" has a great Kraftwerk inspired rhythm section, great panning of percussion elements, I like the voice pads, this track has a harder edge. "xuL Talk" has a sprinkling of melody across another Kraftwerk inspired rhythm section, very upbeat and and has a great bass sequencer as a backdrop, good use of pads, which give the song a bit more depth.

Next up we have "System", which boasts a fantastic bass-line with an overlay of another bass sound playing the same pattern, quite effective, again upbeat and like what has gone before it holds your attention. Good use again of "Speak And Spell" voices on "Numbers 2 4", this definitely would fit in nicely on Kraftwerk's "Computer World" album, effective use of pad sounds, this song has a bit more depth to it as there is a bit more going on, that catches your attention. "Wardenclyffe" has more of an "Acid House" feel to it, I did find the strange bass sounding synth a bit grating after a while, probably my least favourite track thus far.

"Tripping" reminded me of Manchester band 808 State, especially the rhythm construction, good use of vocoded vocals, "Receiver" is a fantastic track, great pace to the track and the sequenced elements are top draw, think "Showroom Dummies", a groovy delight! Favourite track so far and a candidate for a single with some remixes.

Following that we have "Rhythm People" another wonderfully executed track, vocoded vocals with a short pad melody, something Kraftwerk do quite often on their songs, it works for them and it works for Kevin on this track. "Propeller" is a rhythm and vocoder dominated track with a sprinkling of melody, the bass sounds definitely have an "Acid House" touch about them, works well too. "Identification" is another big favourite of mine, I love the rhythm section and the pad sounds, as well as the melodic parts, a bit of dubstep too in the rhythm section.

"Century" asks the question what electronic music will sound like in the future, quite an intersting question, how much further can technology drive music?? The lead pad sounds brilliant over the rhythmic elements of the track, there is quite a lot going on in this song, the pads reminded me of Kraftwerk's "Franz Schubert", another big highlight on the album. "Shadowman", reminds me of Kraftwerk's "Techno Pop" album period, strong drums and excellent use of different melody parts, this is another favourite of mine, it's quite filmic in its delivery.

"Nimbus" features quite an interesting rhythm section and overlayed are wonderful sequencer and lead melodies, almost a soundtrack composition. The album closes with the song "Lightwaves", which is haunting and atmospheric with music being the key ingredient instead of rhythm, definitely a highlight, and my favourite track on the album, super stuff!

What Kevin has achieved here, with the restrictions he has put on himself, is quite staggering, it has pushed his creative skills to the limit and he has produced a wonderful and epic album that any Kraftwerk fan, indeed, any Machine-Pop fan would love to have in their music collection.

A fabulous achievement 9/10

The album is available as a digital download from Bandcamp:

https://kevinlux.bandcamp.com/album/op-z-vp-03

Follow Kevin On Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/Kevin-Lux-Music-Official-101959323318/

Tuesday 13 August 2019

Maximum 80s (Volume 72)

White Lion Radio have released edition # 72 of Maximum 80s.

A show that celebrates the 1980s 12 Inch Single!

The biggest hits in the 12 Inch format from the greatest decade in music history!


Listen to the show on Mixcloud here

Listen to the show on Hearthis.at here

Playlist For The Show

Donna Summer - I Feel Love (Original 12 Inch Version)
Frankie Goes To Hollywood - Relax (Ollie J Remix)
Depeche Mode - Strangelove (Maxi Mix)
George Benson - Give Me The Night (Long Version)
Deneice Williams - I've Got The Next Dance (Special Disco Version)
New Order - Bizarre Love Triangle (Shep Pettibone Remix)
Man Parrish - Hip Hop Be Bop (Don't Stop) (12 Inch Maxi Single)
Simple Minds - Oh Jungleland (Special Extended 12 Inch Remix)
Duran Duran - Union Of The Snake (Monkey Mix)
Erasure - The Hardest Part (12 Inch Version)

Thursday 8 August 2019

The Echozone Music Label Showcase (Edition #2)

Welcome to "The Echozone Music Label Showcase (Edition #2)", a show dedicated to the music, released on the German Electronic Music Label, Echozone.


Echozone share our passion for independent electronic bands and artists and we are delighted to feature music from the labels releases.

Our thanks to Andrea at Echozone for the music featured in this show.

Listen to the show on Mixcloud

Listen to the show on Hearthis.at

You will find the tracks on the show and music by many more artists on the Echozone Bandcamp page:

https://echozone.bandcamp.com/

Echozone On Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/EchozoneMusic/

Playlist For The Show:

!Distain - Farewell To The Past
Plexiphones - Let It Roll ([Captain Of Your Soul Mix)
Red Sun Revival - Echoes
Arctic Sunrise - Emptiness
Loewenhertz - We Regret
Andrea Gross - Deferred
Minerve - You Don't Know Me
In Good Faith - Love Will Tear Us Apart
Elektrostaub Ft Henrik Iversen - Prediction
Avoid-A-Void - Tom Is An Alien From Outer Space
POS:2 - Only Electropop (The Wavepop Mix By Conscience)
Alexander Braun - Perfect Day
Analogue-X - Dark Shadow (L_iGH_T Remix)
Hidden Souls - The Guilt
Bysmarque & Snowwhyte - Living It Up (POS.2 Remix)
Arctic Sunrise - Running Up That Hill
Broken Ego - Get Away (Single Edit)
Loewenhertz - Right As Rain
Nature Of Wires - Try
Projekt Ich Ft !Distain - Thanks (Oren Amram & The Beautiful Angel Mix)
The Frozen Autumn - A Gentle Flame
!Distain - Letter To Myself
POS:2 - Enjoy Your Life

Monday 5 August 2019

Rubik's 80s Mix (Volume 72)

Edition #72 of Rubik's 80s Mix is now out on White Lion Radio.


This a series of shows that includes the very best in 80s music all in one continuous mix.

The biggest hits from the greatest decade in music history!

A show guaranteed to bring back so many happy memories!

Listen to the show on Mixcloud here

Listen on Hearthis.at here

Full Playlist

The Jam - Going Underground
Erasure - Drama
Debarge - Rhythm Of The Night
Taylor Dayne - Tell It To My Heart
OMD - Enola Gay
Belinda Carlisle - Leave A Light On
Richard Marx - Right Here Waiting
Duran Duran - Girls On Film
Break Machine - Street Dance
Living In A Box - Room In Your Heart
Cliff Richard - Wired For Sound
Fine Young Cannibals - I'm Not The Man I Used To Be
Sydney Youngblood - If Only I Could
The Cars - Drive
Kylie Minogue - Hand On Your Heart
Depeche Mode - Dreaming Of Me