Danish electro duo samples again !

The danish electro/pop duo Electric Lady Lab does it again with their brand new  single, Alive, teaming up with DJ producer Kato : they're sampling an old club hit and build up a new song all around it. After Snap!'s Rhythm is a dancer for You and me and A-ha's Take on me for Touch me, this time, it is Right Said Fred's I'm too sexy that leads to their new single Alive, which have a killer chorus btw, and inspiration for the video that showcases young androgyne cover model boys walking the catwalk along the singer, whose look still puts me down since their previous video with her half shaved head... But who cares the look when the music is good?

Zillions of new CDs for Christmas rush...

Christmas times are coming soon and the end of the year's rush release schedule is over booked in my own lil' music world : too many releases that interest me so some I will postpone the buying and others I will not be able to do without as soon as they get released ; just see for yourself :

22/10
DELTA GOODREM Children Of The Universe
We've waited for her fourth album since 2008 and I've liked her latest single so I may buy it on australian import, I suppose
LAWSON Chapman Square
new english boysband that sounds just as good as The Wanted's first album, solid pop/rock with dance appeal
LEMAR Invincible
my CD is already on its delivery way; the first single was so damn good, despite a low chart placing in the UK, that I've bought it with eyes closed
THE OVERTONES  Higher
The quintet has just released his second album of vocal harmonies mixed with retro pop

29/10
CALVIN HARRIS 18 Months
good singles but I'm not sure about a full album yet
KYLIE MINOGUE The Abbey Road Sessions
I CAN'T WAIT !!!! all her hits in strings/orchestral new versions... the only question is which version shall I buy and from where ? the Australian and Japanese Cds will have one different bonus track... but they may be a lot more expensive than the standard international one...
MATT CARDLE The Fire
That UK X-Factor man has spread his wings and fly now away from the SyCo standards : I'll check how it sounds before thinking of buying it for sure...
NE-YO R.E.D.
That man has good singles and knows how to write a song but I don't own a full album by him. This new one is said to be a sort of piece of art : I'll check it first !
PETER ANDRE Angels & Demons
I can't believe this man still releases music : I'll check it for a laugh but really doubt to buy it. I don't even remember why I have bought two Cds of him : Ah Yes, he used to work with Phil Harding & Ian Curnow of their PWL fame...
SANDRA Stay In Touch
Comeback of the century : the german songstress releases good ol' fashioned pop made by Blank & Jones that should sound as if it was 1988 again ...I can't wait !

2 or 5/11
ANASTACIA It's A Man's World
an album of male cover versions produced by Glen Ballard... i'm afraid she'll have too much testosterone in her voice for me on that one. I'd rather wait for her next forthcoming album of new material, scheduled for 2013...
BRIAN McFADDEN The Irish Connection
I have adored his third electro/pop album but that ex-Westlife boy seems to have gone back to pop/rock music... Have to check it first...
CELINE DION Sans attendre
it's been a long time our beloved Celine hasn't released some CD in french so I guess I'll buy it, listen to it and then give it to my mom :)
CIRCUS Circus
The new group of Calogero with Stanislas & Co should release his longplayer including some writing work from none other than Jean-Jacques Goldman...
JLS Evolutionthe X-Factor boys seem to have gone back to their R&B/soul roots : i'm afraid without the pop/dance appeal, they'll not win my buy but the single Hottest girl in the world is addictive though ; I'll have to check it to be sure : I own their 3 previous CDs...
ROBBIE WILLIAMS Take The Crown
I can't help myself : even if Robbie's music is not one I listen a lot : I'll buy it as I've done with all his studio albums : I like the man behind the artist and there's always enough good hits on each of his records to be worth the buy

12/11
CHRISTINA AGUILERA Lotus
The first single and cover artwork are enough to win my pennies on her comeback album ; I hope I won't be deceived as I've been with Bionic...
ONE DIRECTION Take Me Home
The boysband phenomenum irrites me but the boys sing good entertaining upbeat tunes so I guess I'll buy it when i see it at a nice price...
STEPS Light Up The WorldThe UK superstar band has reunited and they'll get my support, even if it's a Christmas themed album... the first single doesn't sound that festive after all : I only hope all the tracks are not ballads...
WHITNEY HOUSTON I Will Always Love You : The Best OfI already have one of her previous Greatest Hits collection, but just for one new unreleased song and the beautigul & magnificent cover, I'll buy this !

19/11
GENERATION GOLDMAN
a compilation tribute album to the songs by Jean-Jacques Goldman of the 80's sung by the boys & girls of the new singin' generation : I will sure not miss this opportunity and buy it ASAP !
GIRLS ALOUD Ten
With one crazy new single and three more new songs on it, this new Greatest Hits from the UK greatest girlsband since the Spice Girls is sure to have my vote !
KELLY CLARKSON Greatest Hits : Chapter 1
This first US pop Idol star isn't big here in France but she's recorded some great tunes and a Best Of is just what I need to have her in my CDtheque
LITTLE MIX DNA
this new UK girlsband from last X-Factor season sounds like Girls Aloud lil' sisters so I'll first lend an ear then maybe buy it
STOOSHE Stooshe
another Uk new girls band, more street/R&B maybe for my tastes, but their cover versions of TLC's Waterfall is great and brings back good memories so maybe I'll buy it if it's cheap and nice after checkin' it

26/11
ALICIA KEYS Girl On Fire
I am not a fan but wanted to talk about it as she is a good singer
OLLY MURS Right Place Right Time
Another UK X-Factor boy with his third album : I'll check if it's more to my tastes than his last one : I like his attitude and swing but it lacks some more dance/pop to really get me

3/12
KE$HA Warrior
I hope she hasn't gone too rocky so I may still buy it when it gets a re-release with added bonus tracks, as always...
MYLENE FARMER Monkey Me
I have already made an appointment with myself to go buy it straight after work on its day of release, for sure !!!!

Add to this already busy release schedule albums that have already been released in their nordik home countries but can be expected soon on an international level, or else, I'll grab them on import :

AGNES Veritas
ALPHABEAT Express Non Stop
LOREEN Heal

And I don't even mention Taylor Swift's Red, Nolwenn Leroy, Patricia Kaas, Kaas Chante Piaf, Johnny Hallyday or Susan Boyle's fourth album, Standing ovation, similar in concept to MELANIE C's latest Stages musicals cover versions... ALIZÉE's 5th album has been postponed to be released in 2013 and a new AMEL BENT album should come one day or another too...

What would be your best wish to find under the Christmas tree ? If I'd have to pick just one, it'll be really hard...

Mylène Farmer revient... comme si elle ne nous avait jamais quittés !

Alors que Madonna s'est quelque peu vautrée cette année, musicalement encore une fois en cherchant à surfer la vague, et médiatiquement avec ses retouches plastiques et ses mini-concerts pour s'en mettre plein les fouilles, notre icone francophone Mylène Farmer nous revient en cette fin d'année et période préférée avec son nouveau single A l'ombre annonciateur de son nouvel et neuvième album studio, Monkey me, dans les bacs le 3 Décembre prochain, pile à l'heure pour le rush des sorties de CDs avant les fêtes. Et après s'être évadée avec Moby, Archive ou RedOne, A l'ombre annonce un retour aux fondamentaux avec Laurent Boutonnat à la composition/réalisation et toujours Mylène aux textes bien sûr.
Qu'en dire ? J'adore, évidemment ; c'est du pur jus Farmer-ien. Sonorités pop/dance un rien datées, les années 90s/2000 ne sont pas si loin, rythmique binaire à vous faire avoir une crise cardiaque dans votre salon, voix planante et haut perchée tout en restant compréhensible pour ses détracteurs, couplets typiques du meilleur Boutonnat, avec envol vers le refrain chuchoté, et surtout, un refrain IMPARABLE qui se vrille dans votre tête et ne vous quitte plus ...AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH ! Je défaille, je m'époumonne en choeurs, je virevolte, je bas des ailes, je tape des pieds, je clique iTunes, je participe à ce nouveau N°1 du classement du site de téléchargements et c'est Pascal Nègre qui applaudit à deux mains, et c'est Mylène qui dodeline de la tête en appréçiant que ses fans l'aime toujours quand elle garde le cap et ne déraille pas de sa voie Farmer.

Juste en aparté, la pochette, franchement, c'est dans le style de ces dernières années, mais c'est un rien tristounet et cheap, non? M'enfin, depuis qu'elle a perdu de son nez, remonté les pommettes et farci les lèvres, y'a longtemps que ce n'est plus à ses photos que j'apprécie le mieux ma Mylène, celle qui nous priait qu'elles soient douces et jouait de sa voix enfantine, cristalline dans les neiges des pays de l'Est. C'est dans sa musique qu'on la retrouve inchangée, intemporelle, face à ses peurs et là, de la mort, de tomber dans l'oubli, de disparaître... Vu les jalons musicals qu'elle a plantés depuis le début de sa carrière, pas de risque qu'elle s'efface de nos mémoires, la Mylène ! Même en pleine crise du disque, elle est toujours une magnifique locomotive XXL à vendre de la musique pour Universal, et c'est tant mieux pour tout le monde :)

Mylène Farmer - À L'Ombre Vidéo Mylene-Farmer-clip sélectionnée dans Musique

Girls Aloud are back with "Something new"

UK's finest girlsband since the Spice Girls are back with a brand new single from a forthcoming new Best Of titled Ten that should celebrate their ten years in the business since they hum... - lost - the Popstars the rivals series... Something new just sounds as fresh and Girls Aloud as when they parted to go solo. Cheryl has released 3 albums, Nadine has flopped with hers and Nicola got good reviews but poor sales, while the two remaining ones only had featurings.

Now they've recorded four new songs to fill in a new compilation and the first one, written and produced as most of their material by Brian Higgins and his Xenomania team is just a smash you can't snob ! At first listen, there's too much rap and strange changing rhythms but as always with Xenomania, it is as if 3 different songs had been mixed into one another to only keep the best out of them and Something new is really addictive as hell ! I can't stop singing one of its chorus line since I have heard it first yesterday : "All I want is something new, something I could hold on to..."

Sure the girls have a new UK number one in their hands and I can't wait for the official release. I will buy me their new 2CD limited edition without a doubt. May I relate a bunch of remixes have been commissionned and while Julian Gingell & Barry Stone (of their PWL Jewels & Stone fame) have supplied a radio and an extended The Alias trendy remix, Fred Falke has destructured the song into a dreamy trance-ish epic mix. Jim Eliot, Manhattan Clique and Seamus Haji have worked on it too, but I suspect the original version will be the one I like best as it sounds just perfect, full of energy and positivity and attitude ! Check by yourself...

Usher proves he knows how to dance in his latest video

I've been so impressed by the choregraphy in Usher's latest video for his new single Numb, co-written and produced by the Swedish House Mafia men, that I've decided to feature it on my blog ; I really like his dancing in a crystal box et the final part where he breaks one of its wall with his arms. I wouldn't have minded if the video hadn't include other images of good & tough times in life but it gives some more intensity to this uplifting and dreamy track, perfect follow-up to David Guetta's collaboration Without you in my book.

Spencer's quest for Pop made in 90's at PWL

I told you weeks ago Spencer's latest single The quest for pop (it's what I love) was released and available at his site's shop (

www.SpencerOfficial.com) as a preview from a new self produced album dedicated to the sound of 90's pop. I've ordered it myself and have received it a couple of weeks ago. Now I have made my mind up to what I wanted to share with you about this PWL fan album. I didn't want to post a review if it were to be negative and that was the initial reason why Spencer hasn't landed on my blog earlier ; I have needed a couple more listens to know what to say and how to say it and still ask other PWL fans out there reading to buy it. It is not that it is a bad album. In fact, it has glorious moments and the first single produced by Pete Hammond is one of them, but that special teaser has raised the bar very high and the album can only deceive from that high start on as there are no other song produced by Pete Hammond or Matt Pop for example, and most of the album tracks could have shined brighter for sure if they had been given the chance to get better production. The one produced by the Hit Factory forum Steen Ulrich sound closer to the Hammond level I must say, but nearly all others, produced by Leonie Polley with Clive Knightley, suffer from a lack of something sparkling that could have given the original songs written by Spencer Mackrill some extra attraction power. All in all, thou shall not forget this is only a fanmade album, recorded and produced independently and, with that in mind, it is a really strong effort that should be supported by buying it.

The album start with The quest for pop (it's what I love) that is produced & mixed by Pete Hammond and is a full retro PWL pop gemm with addictive rhythm and nice melody. I especially like the bridge where Spencer goes namedropping the 80's/90's artists he likes and he took inspiration from. The video is extra value too and as a fan product, you should keep in mind that Spencer's record should be considered as a whole thing, music & image. Spencer knows damn well this album starter is the highlight of his CD as he has placed the full Pete Hammond extended mix at the end as an extra.

Second track is a cover version of Giorgio Moroder & Philip Oakey's single Together in electric dreams produced by the duo responsible for most of the production on the album. It is nice to re-discover this song but I think the magic is missing to make it a possible pick by radios. Maybe one of the downpoint is that Spencer's voice is just one boy next door's type and it doesn't add some colour to the song...

Next track, I'm here, gets me right from the start with its pulsating intro and it is the first of the Steen Ulrich productions, co-written by himself too this time, and sure he has made a good job on this one, except I don't memorize a particular chorus line and that makes it a good album track but without what it needs to be a good single. You're the one has an attractive beat and somehow a seemingly catchier chorus, except that it doesn't grab me ; the production as the vocals sound too lame to make the difference.

On the contrary In my dreams has all it takes to get us back on our feet : it has a PWL inspired beat and a very melodic song structure, all from Steen Ulrich's mind, music, lyrics & production. On this one, I have found what's missing to give it a glitterin' touch : female backing vocals, because when Spencer's vocals are added in the background, it gives the song some deepness and female vocalist would have enlighten it some more. The bridge is especially wellmade with some vocal samples that really pay tribute to earlier SAW productions. I really like this one !!

This fool sees Spencer get back in the hands of the production duo that mixes his voice a little too in the front I think, with less music to give it the power it lacks. The song is good though and this one makes me think of Jason Donovan, who is one of Spencer's major inspiration, as his previous cover versions She's in love with you and When I get you alone on his first album What have I done? proved it. This time, he's made his the album track Change your mind, another Stock/Aitken/Waterman song, all with once again a winning Steen Ulrich production, not that retro oriented this time, but they've kept the "ch-ch-ch-change your mind" part in the chorus and in the bridge HURRAH ! I have always been a fan of this Jason song and their version is a nice tribute that is the new single : Spencer must realize some of his personal material is not strong enough to make people lend an ear to his music but with a SAW cover song, he sure finds a way to make other fans talk about him.

The next song is another self-written number, and one that has the strongest chorus of the album I think, as this King of the castle really stay in the head, but once more, it is the production that is a little too new wave-ish for me when it would have sounded nearly perfect with some extra pop value from Matt Pop for example. Quest for love follows and I must say it is a little redundant on the same CD to have a song called The quest for pop and another called Quest for love. The production on this one really sounds home-made (maybe it is the case) but is rather good. Catchier is the following track Love is blind that has got what I would call a Dieter Bohlen beat, with nice verses and good chorus. The bridge is another attempt to relive the PWL years with a "Wohoho" directly coming from Kylie and another vocal sampling. The song is credited to "Dowdall" and I don't know if it is a cover or an original song given to Spencer... ?

Next one is the last original song, called It's over, and if the verses make it only an album track, the chorus is catchy with the title line repeated enough to make me sing along. The Polley/Knightley production tries to make it sound like PWL I think but only Steen Ulrich succeeded here to follow the Pete Hammond steps ! It would be interesting to hear what It's over would have sounded if it had been produced by him... Spencer teams up again with some Superbackings production like on his first album for a mash-up version of Somewhere over the rainbow / What a wonderful world but don't expect a NRGized galloping version ; it is all warm and sweet with a reggae beat : nice but strange.

It is followed by the extended mix of Pete Hammond's The quest for pop (it's what I love) and a new version (the Encore mix) of She's in love with you and the new production by Steen Ulrich shines on this Jason Donovan SAW song : this time it pays tribute to the PWL sound of 1990 and it is a must-have !

So in conclusion, yes it is a mixed album, with some tracks very professional and others more home-made and sounding less powerful, but just for the tracks that try to match the PWL standards, every SAW fan should give Spencer a thank you by buying it : he keeps on working on his dream and every penny given to his music will be helpful to make this dream last a little longer and each time it makes us dream we could be the one singing this tribute to the good old PWL days ! This is what Spencer achieves : he helps us think everybody can make his dream a reality and we can be part of it... Just for £5.99 : you should not pass on it !

http://www.spencerofficial.com/shop.cfm