Monday 26 April 2021

i-Select #68

Edition #68 of i-Select has been released today on White Lion Radio


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.

Listen to the show on Mixcloud here

Listen to the show on Hearthis.at here 

Playlist

Jeff Appleton - Modified (Robots On The Radar Mix)
Fused - Passion And Control (Tonal Sea Mix)
Alfonse - Reflector
Eric C. Powell & Andrea Powell - And I Know (Nature Of Wires Remix)
Projekt Ich Ft Electric City Cowboys - We Are The First (Obsession Of Time Remix)
EvilMoon Project - This Hate (Original Mix)
Mika Ella - Never Let It Die
e:Lect - See Me
The Rude Awakening - Joan Of Arc
Lifelong Corporation - My Second Voice (Nice To Meet You Version)
Octolab - Petite Little People (Uncreated Remix)
VOITH - Lady Warszawa (She Don´t Care)
MI66 Ft Angelina L - Loves Away
Steven Jones & Logan Sky - Survival
Electric City Cowboys - Save Me
Leaether Strip vs Nature Of Wires - Destroyed By Madness (Radio Edit)
Tin Gun - Devils & Angels (Psykelektric Remix Radio Edit)
Dora Lachaise - I Confess
Piston Damp - Runaway (Mesh Remix)
Mika Ella - The Girl With Golden Hair (Midnight Version)
Uncreated Ft Xenturion Prime - Rebuild The Future
Melanie S Jane - Over The Horizon
The Rude Awakening - It's OK Not To Be OK (Parralox Remix)
Arcade Skies - Friends From Enemies
Paul Manchin - Gratification
Echo Image - Walk My Mind (Apoptygma Berzerk Remix)
e:Lect - Falling Deeper
Fused - No Fear (Shameless Club Edit)
SCALA - Alibi
Vague Notion & Grevus Anji - Axiomatic
Octolab - Blackbird (Housemart Remix)
ReveLever Ft Shannon Maree - Let Me Go
Montage Collective - And Some Will Say (Nature Of Wires Remix)
BlakLight - Isolation (Nature of Wires Remix Edit)
EvilMoon Project - Black Wind (Original Mix)
Rusty Egan Vs Kraftwerk - KraftWalk
DarwinMCD Ft Mark Bebb - Mirroring
Uncreated Ft Xenturion Prime - Synchronized
Church Of Trees - Powerful Love (Rob Preuss Hypnotize Mix)
The Rude Awakening - Quiet Life
Neuf - Silicone Suit
Nature Of Wires ft Lady bNOW - It's A Tragedy
Jeff Appleton - S.E.Q. (Radio Mix)
VOITH - Cemetery Spring

Wednesday 21 April 2021

The New Mika Ella Album "Take It Or Leave It, Baby" Reviewed

Mika Ella is a singer/songwriter from Croatia, working closely with producer Chris Hurts and started her music career in a project called Matrix in 1999, that enjoyed incredible success in her homeland, releasing 3 albums and 15 singles, most of which topped the charts in Croatia, resulting in touring in europe.

Fast forward to the beginning of 2019 and Mika wanted to start a new project, singing in English and making music inspired by the sound of 80s music and released the single "Take It Or Leave It", further singles followed and we now have a new album "Take It Or Leave It, Baby"


The opening track is a wonderful, warm, lush instrumental with some truly excellent synth sounds and I love the overlay of tubular bells.


"Take It Or Leave It" is Mika's signature song and one of the best Italo Disco songs I have ever heard, it is infectious and melodic and has a chorus to die for, Mika's voice is perfect, it is no surprise that this song was the first single released from the album, this deserves to be a massive hit across Europe, it is that good. As well as the album version, an extended version is also featured on the album, which if you like those 80s styled 12 inch extended versions like me, you won't be disappointed.

We have another gem in the shape of "The Girl With Golden Hair" next, another single, a fabulous dance track with exceptional production and again Mika's vocals are divine, a song that you will find yourself singing along too, as with "Take It Or Leave It", we get the bonus of an additional extended version AND an additional Midnight Version Remix, which has a more laid back feel to it and is a superb alternative mix :)

"Disco Is Not Dead" instantly reminded me of the sound of 80s Italo Disco band Lime, who were from Holland, check them out, especially the tracks "Guilty" and "Angel Eyes". With a throbbing italo disco bassline and vocoded vocal "Disco Is Not Dead" is one for the dancefloor, great synth stabs and melodic synth parts, it actually sounds quite futuristic and could easily be found on a science fiction soundtrack.


 The single "Free Like Amsterdam", one word awesome, instantly grabs you with its melodic hook, Mika's dreamy vocals are effortless, trust me this is another sing-a-long track, great bass-line and top class synth work, another polished production, as is the whole album, again we get the bonus of an additional 80s styled extended version.


Mika has teamed up with Linda Jo Rizzo on "Last 2 Girls On The Dancefloor", a europop mid paced track with strong synth leads, another fabulous driving Bass-Line and vocal duties shared, another solid track and was released as a single, there is a bonus extended mix featured on the album too.


Another big favourite of mine is "Never Let It Die", also a single, which sees Mika produce a really strong and emotional vocal over a perfect synth backdrop, the warm tones of the song really draw you in, brilliant track. Really delighted that an extended version of the track is also included on the album

"Dead Of Night" has some fantastic synth sounds on it overlaid with electric guitar, the mood of the song reminded me a little bit of Jean Michel Jarre.

Mika works really hard on her music and puts in 100%, that has been evident over the last couple of years and this album shows that, it is an outstanding album and touches many genre, italo disco, synthpop, electro pop, disco and pop, this is an album that deserves to be heard by the masses, and to have various bonus mixes on the album really make this a quality release.

With her passion for music she has the chance to reach an even bigger audience.

"Take It Or Leave It, Baby" is an album that shines from start to finish 9/10

The album is available to purchase from Mika's Official Website and various Digital retailers:

https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/mikaella/take-it-or-leave-it-baby

Mika's Official Homepage:

https://www.mikaella.eu/

Tuesday 20 April 2021

Sweden - The European Capital Of Electronic Music #6

Welcome to "Sweden - The European Capital Of Electronic Music", Edition #6, a show dedicated to independent/unsigned electronic/synthpop bands based in Sweden.


Sweden has been at the forefront of the independent electronic music scene for some time now and this show highlights just how many excellent bands in that genre are based in that country.

This is our biggest ever show, as we have 60 tracks by 60 different bands and artists, that are based in Sweden, most of which are unsigned or signed to an independent label.

Sit back and enjoy a wealth of the finest electronic music from Sweden!

Listen to the show on Mixcloud here or on Hearthis.at here

Playlist for the show:

Stormby - Don't Be Shy
Mr Jones Machine - My Time
Eurotix - I Forget Myself
Avantgarde - December
Train To Spain - Hide & Seek
Evan - How Could I Live Without You
MORE - Legacy Of K
Red Cell - Dancing With Tears In My Eyes
Cinemascape - Cruelty
Octolab - People Like Us
Daily Planet - Grains Of Sand
Maschine Brennt - Artificial Intelligence (Extended Club Mix)
Elegant Machinery - Process
Sonic Reunion - Alive
Conny Olivetti - We Live In A Fake World (Single Version)
Martin Blix - Nevermore
Red Sleeping Beauty - Don't Give In Don't Give Up
Sine City - In The Night I Call Your Name
Tobias Bernstrup - Utopia (Italoconnection Remix)
Vanguard - Don't Forsake Me
Erotic Elk - Rest In Pieces
Paul Rein - Angel 07 (Radio Edit)
Anna Öberg - Handen Eller Hjärtat
Italove - Heading For The Sun
Stockholm Nightlife - My Guiding Star
Vision Talk - Nova
Sector One - Samuel F.B. Morse
Ashbury Heights - I Paint Nightscapes
Vogon Poetry - Barren Lands
Mechatronic - Don't Bother To Knock
Patrik Adolfsson Ft Elin Wikstrand - Colors
Leaderboard - The Picture
Tactile Frequency - With You
Francesca e Luigi - Staying The Night (7'' Single Edit)
Niels Gordon - Tides (Petter Nordström Remix)
Daybehavior - A Boy A Girl
Johan Baeckstrom - The World Through Your Eyes
Machinista - Black Tide
Kite - Hopelessly Unholy (Orchestral Version)
Video L'Eclipse - Beyond Poetry
Retroteque & MJ Ft Louise Marchione - The Different Story (World Of Lust And Crime)
Sister Electra Ft Luna Joyce - Trapped
Obsession Of Time - Don't Look Back (SCALA Remix)
Uncreated Ft Mark Hockings - Hand Grenade (Detonate Remix)
Esselbon - True
Kaos - Endless Days Sleepless Nights
Cliff Wedge Ft James Knight$ - Cold Days Hot Nights
Karin My - Winter Tree
Moonlight Cove - Embrace Of Your Shadow
Unroyal - The Cruelest Design
Cold Connection - Burning Love
SCALA - Fake
Optic - The End Of Me
Ironic Sweden - Universe Friend
ECC vs Janousek - Time (Pop Mix)
Disco Digitale - You Tell Me
Datapop - Space Operators (EP Version)
1984 - Lady O
Petition For Mercy - Someone Like You
Kosmonaute - Electromagnetic Fields

Monday 12 April 2021

Maximum 80s #90

White Lion Radio have released edition # 90 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

Michael Jackson - Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' (Extended 12 Inch Mix)
Hazell Dean - Who's Leaving Who (Alternative 12 Inch Mix)
Thompson Twins - Doctor Doctor (Extended Version)
Seona Dancing - More To Lose (Extended Mix)
Imagination - State Of Love (12 Inch Dance Mix)
Taylor Dayne - Tell It To My Heart (Extended Version)
Sister Sledge - Lost In Music (Original 12 Inch)
Bananarama - Robert De Niros Waiting (Extended Version)
Simple Minds - The American (Extended)
OMD - Never Turn Away (Extended Version)
Bros - When Will I Be Famous (Infamous Mix)
Depeche Mode - Leave In Silence (Longer)

Monday 5 April 2021

Rubik's 80s Mix #90

Edition #90 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

The Human League - (Keep Feeling) Fascination
Heaven 17 - Temptation
New Order - Blue Monday (12 Inch Version)
The Cure - The Walk
UB40 - Red Red Wine
Culture Club - Karma Chameleon
Soft Cell - Tainted Love
Blondie - Rapture
Roxy Music - Jealous Guy
Smokey Robinson - Being With You
Odyssey - Going Back To My Roots
OMD - Tesla Girls
ABC - How To be A Millionaire
Nik Kershaw - Wouldn't It Be Good
Billy Idol - Eyes Without A Face