Not Pop Not Indie Shambhala 2016 Thread

Laura Mvula and Nile Rodgers did a song together. Let Shambhala 2016 begin!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PX-QcI9rlZg

Also, one of the 2015 thread favorites Acre Tarn dropped a new one yesterday on Soundcloud: http://soundcloud.com/acre-tarn/acre-tarn-dawn-faces

ILM's Rolling Shambhala Thread 2016 Spotify Playlist
^ will update in early February

Didn't we mention Geneva Jacuzzi in a past Shambhala? Well, she's back with more missives from an electroclash universe.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RJ1w2QhjuHA

As an aside, I, the shambhala, and ILX as a whole, were really remiss in not lauding the V V Brown album Glitch last year. You'd think a husky alto ala Grace Jones given a Knife-y Shaken-Up Versions treatment would strike more gongs around here. I voted for the sole EOY nominated track, but the album as a whole is a keeper.

I didn't even realize VV released a whole new album. I just thought there were a couple singles. Off to the internets!

dramatic rhythmic Flume track with vocals from Canadian pop artist Kai

Flume - Never Be Like You feat. Kai

soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/flume/never-be-like-you-feat-kai/
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/4ja3m5fYLcugwuXB6Jkh4Y

the female vocalist on the track Kai, (Alessia De Gasperis Brigante)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kai_(Alessia_De_Gasperis_Brigante)

the vocalist Kai reminds me of another female vocalist Georgia Nott from Broods.

Thanks for mentioning that, but as a personal preference I'm kind of hoping the whole lazy/disjointed tempo thing with the really tight snare trend dies out soon. It's so common now that even FKA twigs songs leak out of my memory as soon as I hear them.

another great track from Danish band, Choir Of Young Believers that manages to incorporate many contrasting features - a dubby hauntology backdrop, sampled echoey chanting vocals, spiraling synths, spanish guitar and cool sophisticated vocals, the vocalist at times sounds like George Michael and slow piano chords towards the end.

Choir Of Young Believers - Perfect Estocada
https://soundcloud.com/ghostly/choir-of-young-believers-perfect-estocada

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/3Lrwxh5MI6DONF4fqMAjDO

Finally, something new from Mt. Si (they released two songs near the end of 2014, and then not a peep all last year).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4vVqZzMhUBg

There's some excellent stuff on the Astropol album that came out in December, particularly Just Before Our Love Got Lost.

https://open.spotify.com/track/3KKdIvoxdO5brI6U2jZyBI

LA synth pop trio, Mood Robot

Mood Robot - Invisible Chains
https://soundcloud.com/moodrobotband/invisible-chains

spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/4ZoQUMOiWuuzeKyMFdDMm9

this track glacially glides, groovy synths, male and female vocals, euphoric chillwave feel good vibes. riyl Purity Ring.

I discovered this track a few days back and glad to see it added to this week's spotify fresh finds playlist.

Mt. Si, pretty track. Never heard of them until this thread. Will have to research to see if their name is based on the local mountain just outside North Bend, WA. The mountain is visible down the road in the "Twin Peaks" title screen. Fun day hike.

I listened to the Mt.Si track earlier this week on a spotify playlist. However it was only yesterday that i discovered who the female singer was: Sarah Chernoff of Superhumanoids. She sounds different on this track.

Mt. Si, the LA-based collaborative project from Sarah Chernoff of Superhumanoids, Jesse Kivel of Kisses, and Classixx’s Michael David.
via
http://www.lagasta.com/mt-si-either-or/

Superhumanoids last year were flagged up by myself as Goldfrapp copycats on ILM.

new artist to me, from Mu a synth pop duo from Vancouver, with a track titled: Vampire that has an addictive charm that sounds more like scandi synth-pop, luv the vocal flow and the icy synths.

Mu – “Vampire” (Stereogum Premiere)
http://www.stereogum.com/1854068/mu-vampire-stereogum-premiere/mp3s/?

Electro-pop duo Mu (Francesca Belcourt and Brittney Rand) layer synths with the best of them and then add a touch of pop sensibility with catchy phrases and dreamy harmonies. On their latest single “Vampire,” they incorporate a highly danceable drum beat with the aforementioned tendencies and ramp them up and down with precision

soundcloud: Mu - Vampire
https://soundcloud.com/soundsofmu/vampire/s-PLlic

Looking at spotify and rym there are already several bands with Mu as a name, including a French band Mu that have been active this decade. Why are people so stupid when it comes to choosing artist names. Surely you would want something that is distinctive and unique, especially in the digital era.

Anyway this Mu are Canadian based in Vancouver.

new track not yet on Spotify, but this is their spotify profile:
https://open.spotify.com/artist/5jDCSocdkBXGvaCAtsIzO1

Mu’s sophomore EP, II, is out on 2/12. February 12th

an uptempo bass heavy rhythmic pop track with a tropical feel, steel drums incorporating samples of Ariana Grande's "You'll Never Know"

The Range - Florida
https://soundcloud.com/therangemusic/florida/

Hi guys. I'll try to be in this thread more in 2016. Right now I'm digging Charlie Hilton – Palana:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yOULMrfhdsc
http://open.spotify.com/album/7mAqUZqX5vkW4IAnEOWf53

I guess that is more straight up indie though.

Not to worry. Everyone who frequents the thread has a slightly different take on shambhala, but it all generally falls under the umbrella.

I listened to this Charlie Hilton album over the weekend after finding her on Moka's 2016 spotify playlist. Very nice. (And I just noticed she was the singer for Blouse, who I quite enjoyed when they were a thing.)

Does Margaret Berger belong here, or is she too pop? In any case, I think J Fever would like her new single.

Do you mean this one?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1lNNNKXKZ-A

I'm not familiar enough with her to say if she's too pop or not, but "Apologize" has some beautiful synth sounds and I love it. Thanks for the tip.

Late arrival from December:

Secular Ghost - Catenary Wires

Welsh ambient pop with outstanding production.

French minimal wave / coldwave with sublime icy synths and passionate female vocals from Hélène de Thour (also of Minuit Machine and previously Phosphor who released the brilliant Youth & Immortality album in 2013)

Hante. - In Cold Water
https://soundcloud.com/hante-band/in-cold-water-1

spotify: https://soundcloud.com/hante-band/in-cold-water-1

taken from the new album
Hante. - This Fog That Never Ends
http://hante.bandcamp.com/album/this-fog-that-never-ends

this track was released on December 4th 2015 when we were all distracted by end of year polls (from a forthcoming 2016 album), Glenn McDonald mentioned it on the Spotify New releases thread on ILM as "Lucius snaps crisply amidst circus-wild kaleidoscopic chaos"

Lucius - Born Again Teen

official Video
https://youtu.be/Uv6jER7wrPM

spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/5jLfl8v59olRzPNbS0KXvy

this track is very addictive sort of weirdo yet radio friendly uptempo rhythmic alt-pop with powerful upfront vocals (Goldfrapp / St.Vincent circa Digital Witness vibes even Kate Bush at times in terms of vocal dramatics)

It's currently getting radio play on Amazing Radio in the UK.

I luv this dreamy track from Montreal artist, Aléatoire - the hazy submerged synths and the floating dreamy vocalist Ariane Zita, JF i reckon this will be right up your street

Aléatoire - Best Friends
https://open.spotify.com/track/49KFVcl7W4cprH39zOfuRS

discovered via a spotify playlist: https://open.spotify.com/user/playlistfarm/playlist/0SoHZdZx3CNt6KjOagKnTj

more info
http://silentshout.ca/2016/01/21/aleatoire-best-friends-feat-ariane-zita/
featuring the vocals of Ariane Zita

"In the middle of all the reverberating synths, guitars and lurching bass lines lie Zita’s low key vocals – offering a grounding and deliciously contemplative presence."

Secular Ghost - seems okay, but mostly just a blur
Hante. - Into this, but more for just playing in the background rather than focusing on.
Lucius - I like this right now, but I'm pretty sure it would switch to hate if I heard it too much.
Aléatoire - Best of the recent batch, but I wish there was more of a song holding all these sounds together.

trip-pop from London artist, Claudia Kane - strong rhythmic track with a powerful vocal style.

Claudia Kane - Silence
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zHctvQ7LA70

spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/7JbU1Gm3zGV7FHtLnTPpq2

from the 2016 "EP 2" released January 22nd (although also trialed as a late december single release)

summed up aptly:

It's slathered in classic trip-hop motifs - vibrant, ritualistic beats, Lamb-esque vox, and the headiest synths - but there are moments that veer towards cowboy flick soundtracks. Galloping acoustic strums, electric axe licks, and epic frontier-shattering strings... there's a grand sense of space in this track. It's sprawling, empty, isolated, and yet very, very free. It's heroic.

TLOBF
http://www.thelineofbestfit.com/new-music/discovery/claudia-kane-the-silence

"In the Dark" by Montaigne (from Australia) - elastic stuttery arrangement with cool baritone horns

http://soundcloud.com/montaigne-music/in-the-dark-montaigne

another creative dreamy quirky track from Throwing Shade with spoken vocals

Throwing Shade - Hastag IRL
https://soundcloud.com/throwingshade/hashtag-irl-1

glitch art-pop track from Jessy Lanza

Jessy Lanza - It Means I love You
https://youtu.be/C216ZRVOM5A

spotify
https://open.spotify.com/track/78RJDgP05Q7E7p3Sht6d71

ice cool dream ambient futurewave pop from Whispa. lovely submerged synths with floaty ethereal snippet vocals, that would probably make ideal music for a flotation tank. There is a deep immersive purity to this track.

Whispa - Shinobi Flow
https://soundcloud.com/whispawave/shinobi-flow

spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/4BPMeYQn01PdrTT4oxjW3L

that jessy lanza track is so so good, i've lost count on how many times i've played it in these past few days

HEALTH - Life (Purity Ring Rmx)

PR seems have taken to heart the yawns Another Eternity's production elicited. Megan James relegates John Famiglietti to backing vocals.

Uhh, not on the verses.

playlist is up to date with what's on spotify now. Back in a month

ILM's Rolling Shambhala Thread 2016 Spotify Playlist

This track is old old old but I just remembered it as something I once heard on a Jockey Slut free cd that came out in about 2002 featuring electronic acts from Norway and kind of precluded a lot of stuff we'd come to hear in later years.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PgRXbpA1-_Q

really enjoying this atmospheric synth pop track from "Scandinavian electronic band based in Helsinki, Finland" Coska, (Manna Borg & Robert Engstrand) strong evocative vocals meshed with melodramatic yearning vibes and catchy pop hooks

Coska - Jupiter
https://soundcloud.com/coskamusic/jupiter

Music by Manna Borg & Robert Engstrand.
Lyrics by Manna Borg.
Mixed and Produced by Robert Engstrand.

spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/6Qwy3Eute8fqmkuwdaw4YL

interesting to note that Robert Engstrand has a totally different music background in prog rock / prog metal bands
http://www.metal-archives.com/artists/Robert_Engstrand/266450

leftfield art-pop / Balearic tech-house electronic pop track from Hunter/ Game titled silver, the closest contemporary reference point would be: Snow Ghosts, Olga Bell, Glasser, Gazelle Twin and The Knife / Fever Ray also riyl: 1990s Balearic electronic pop e.g One Dove with added Weatherall stardust

icy electronics, tribal trippy beats with "crystalline singing" there is a purity and playfulness to this track

Hunter / Game - Silver
https://soundcloud.com/mixmag-1/premiere-huntergame-silver

spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/1XyyJljaoiu8ai8dHyFcJE

Mixmag:

'Silver' takes techno into thrashing tribal rhythms that are subtly breached by crystalline singing.

A thumping bass keeps the tracks momentum ever driving, as vocals, drums and a bouncing synthline flitter between each other.

I was intriqued to find out who the female vocalist was, had i listened to her before? it turns out No

more info

Stream Hunter/Game’s debut LP Adaptation on Kompakt with track-by-track commentary
http://www.factmag.com/2016/02/03/stream-huntergame-adaptation-kompakt/

08. ‘Silver‘

‘Silver’ started as a remix for our Icelandic friends from Kúra. There were some really interesting ambient sounds to work with and that amazing vocal. So we mainly used some live drums percussions samples, processed by delays and effects. The arpeggiator we recorded in Copenhagen with the Kúra guys from a Nord lead 4x they have in their studio. The result sounds kind of crazy and it was to far from the band sound so we agreed to use it for our album.

Kura
https://www.facebook.com/kuramusic

Fanney Ósk Þórisdóttir, lead vocals
from iceland

from the poppy end of the shambhala spectrum, one of the most addictive tracks of the year so far, you will have this on repeat

track starts and ends with the memorable phrase "can we break this spell on the carousel"

an engaging track, that's constantly changing, the vocals and production blend together sublimely

Manila Killa is from the Phillipines, the singer is Joni Fatora from Brooklyn, NYC

Manila Killa ft. Joni Fatora - All that's Left
https://soundcloud.com/manilakilla/all-thats-left

823K plays on Soundcloud

spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/2znIzTWdQBzkPSLuXWl14Y

500K plays on Spotify

DAWN – Not Above That - bouncy uptempo track discussed elsewhere on ILM

this addictive track needs to be on this thread's spotify playlist, i reckon it could well make the ILM 77 tracks of 2016.

production from Machinedrum

soundcloud:
https://soundcloud.com/dawn_richard/dawn-not-above-that

spotify: Dawn Richard - Not Above That
https://open.spotify.com/track/2I68J8QjcrQFyGAaTIufZM

Jezabels - Pleasure Drive (new single from Aussie indie outfit)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dMV_O_z6-6U

Kill J - Trickle Trickle (Grimes-y R&B) (soundcloud) (Grimes-y R&B)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cUG9lyn3KdI

Robyn Sherwell - My Hand (rhythm section really elevates this)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iURbUmoG3Qo

astral electronic soul pop, debut track from Melbourne artist Jess Fairfax (aka X ARI)

X-Ari - Float Away
https://soundcloud.com/fairtrax/x-ari-float-away

you tube:
https://youtu.be/4v7-4aljDO4

bandcamp: http://xari.bandcamp.com/releases

not on spotify yet.

via: Pigeons & Planes - DAILY DISCOVERY: X ARI
http://pigeonsandplanes.com/2016/02/daily-discovery-x-ari/

expect a debut ep mid year

now for something totally different - bombastic euro pop from Norwegian artist Alida

a high octane zesty pop track with a strong vocal flow

riyl: Zhala, Dagny

Alida - Leave it all Behind
https://open.spotify.com/track/2pJaiZ7sayXaVmHGjQJeQ0

interview: Spotlight Interview: Alida
http://jajajamusic.com/2016/02/spotlight-interview-alida/

confident uptempo alt-pop in the vein of Ladyhawke / Sky Ferreira from L.A Girlfriend (another new artist from LA - that's 3 new-ish artists from LA this year on this thread)

2 recommended tracks from the debut album

L.A. Girlfriend - XIV
https://open.spotify.com/track/3rZw8wqdaDVT3ZXzLNFUSn

L.A. Girlfriend - Little Do I Know
https://open.spotify.com/track/4C3H5xZQAsCdXYOwbrkV8t

found via:

New band of the week: LA Girlfriend (No 89)
http://www.theguardian.com/music/2016/feb/05/la-girlfriend-new-band-of-the-week

Her album, a blur of pop fizz and indie drizzle, shimmery melodies and shoegaze haze, is almost a concept homage to that whole era, with references to New Order and Pat Benatar, My Bloody Valentine and Laura Branigan, revolutionary British guitar-noise and perky US skinny-tie new wave.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LAgirlfriend/

Album on Spotify:

L.A. Girlfriend - Neon Gold
https://open.spotify.com/album/3b52EjHApqe9sQODQiYD5O

atmospheric dreamy swirly synth pop track from Glasgow artist Kloe

this track was available on soundcloud last year, but finally got a release last friday on a debut ep

KLOË - Feel
spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/70P0jOfZjs2R5nPPQRcXMp
soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/kloemusic/feel-2/s-fc3sy

another excellent Blooms track, atmospheric art-pop noir

Blooms - Give Me Up
https://soundcloud.com/thisisblooms/blooms-give-me-up

luv the fragility of the vocals smerged with swirling electronics.

riyl: Beth Gibbons / Portishead, Insides, Halou

from a forthcoming ep

dark disco synth pop from Sweden?, (according to the spotify stats) from the mysterious Pikko

Pikko - Run
https://soundcloud.com/pikko-936541108/run

spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/2TDGswYidPF11EyKgG4hm4

luv the menacing chunky bass lines and extended reverb synth loops ala giorgio moroder on this track combined with the digitally manipulated female vocalist, JF you gonna luv this track

riyl: Cult Club

I was looking for a description of this music, and this nails it:

'Dark Nu Wave Disco' blends the original sounds of the analogue era into a modern melting pot of Dark disco, Electro Funk and New Wave Synth Pop.
http://www.bigfishaudio.com/Dark-Nu-Wave-Disco

The Pikko vocalist sounds unnervingly like Neil Young on "Transformer Man."

Love the two L.A. Girlfriend tracks upthread, though!

dreamwave hauntology pop

this track is going to be very popular on this thread, an atmospheric hazy dreamy track from Malmo artist, Badlands

Badlands - Echo
https://soundcloud.com/badlandsse/echo

this town is like a ghost town

if you speak your mind you'll hear
an empty echo

this town is like a ghost town

all my teeth are falling out and make 
a dance of...

this town is like a ghost town

there is nothing good in here
i can't make bad

28 January 2016: Echo is the 2nd single off the upcoming album Locus, due in April 2016.

spotify: http://nbhap.com/playlists/amazing-sweden-nbhaps-three-favourite-tracks-february/

via: http://nbhap.com/playlists/amazing-sweden-nbhaps-three-favourite-tracks-february/

BADLANDS is Catharina Jaunviksna, a songwriter and producer based in Malmö. Echo is the second single taken from her upcoming debut album Locus, set for release in April. It’s a song that slips between characters. At times it sounds like a pleasant enough slice of disco-pop. But suddenly, elements like dark, ominous synths enter the mix, and the track shows its teeth and gains a colder edge. Jaunviksna describes it a ‘a club tune, but with that apocalyptic twist’, and there’s something to that. It’s the perfect, emotionally dissonant soundtrack to one of those nights where you oscillate between having the time of your life and stumbling into the worst corners of your consciousness.

correct, Spotify link: https://open.spotify.com/track/5KcM5VXN04BWjPEMEQga0b

dramatic art-synth pop from Denmark's Lucaléy

riyl: The Knife, Fever Ray

Lucaléy - Truth
https://soundcloud.com/lucaleymusic/truth-1/s-KPZ5f

via IMPOSE magazine
http://www.imposemagazine.com/bytes/new-music/lucaley-truth

Danish synthpop duo Lucaléy (Ea Phillippa Tange and Bo Karlsson) aren’t just performers, producers and songwriters, they’re community-focused, running music workshops together for high school students across Denmark. “Truth”, which they premiere with us today, is ethereal Scandinavian pop of the highest caliber, with Tange’s delicate soprano bounding over a flickering field of ambient synth and minimal beats

confident nu-gaze synth pop track taken from the new Mint Julep album: Broken Devotion released February 12th

Mint Julep - Murmur
soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/keithkenniff/murmur
spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/6xG5ykrntS9dqfYgaXo0xp

Ooh! I'd been wondering if there was going to be another Mint Julep album.

bouncy electronic pop from danish artist, Who is Louis

Who is Louis - Fancy Me (edit)
https://soundcloud.com/who-is-louis/fancy-me-edit

"Fancy me" is the first single of our debut album, coming in march 2016!

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/0zFnLDhbmXYHkh5T4rJJ3c

ethereal electronic dream pop from Newcastle-upon-Tyne artist, Keiandra

another track that has "dreamwave hauntology pop" vibes

Keiandra - Icing Sugar
https://soundcloud.com/keiandramusic/icing-sugar

http://colorising.com/?p=30636
The hazy and ethereal tune is a sonic aphrodisiac of experimental electronica and pop, ripe with Keiandra’s warm and dreamy vocals. ‘Icing Sugar’

spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/2WeLP8vJSXO9Uz1VicZwqt

ethereal electronic soul pop from NYC artist Adesuwa

2 tracks taken from the 2016 Air Light ep that was released February 1st

Adesuwa - Wild Light

soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/adesuwamusic/adesuwa-wild-light
spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/4EkSL8Qg1cY1vIJ2bQXDCj

Adesuwa - Firelight
https://soundcloud.com/adesuwamusic/firelight
https://open.spotify.com/track/0ZRZpT27XvoRhvdILaQfZb

this track reminds me of Denai Moore

surely Adesuwa can't remain obscure for long with this talent. Adesuwa is denitia adesuwa odigie (from denitia and sene.)

recent interview: http://www.idolmag.co.uk/music/adesuwa-releases-airlight-ep/

dramatic sensual vocals from Gemma Dunleavy over any icy future bass electronic pop track

riyl: Kelela / Tala

Ziro ft. Gemma Dunleavy - Surrender
https://soundcloud.com/wearecrazylegs/ziro-gemma-dunleavy-surrender

spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/3yyw241A4GYkZjj7tyd6VH

icy futuristic synth pop from berlin based band Fiordmoss (although some / most? members of the band are from the Czech Republic) - luv the moody synths on this track

riyl: Bjork, The Knife, Gazelle Twin

Fiordmoss - Madstone
https://soundcloud.com/fiordmoss/madstone

spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/3TTcnlp1gpErmVUfVKFQf6

more info

http://www.thefourohfive.com/music/article/here-s-fiordmoss-s-new-single-madstone-145
They've been working towards their debut album for quite a while, more so following the release of their Ink Bitten EP from 2013, but now return with a brand new single 'Madstone' - an eerily disturbing, bass drum-heavy track brought together with Petra's vocal, which has an aura or flavour of Björk behind it. It's mysterious and rather intriguing and I'm already craving to discover more.

Pretty, Handsome from San Francisco

this is a strange track, in terms of morphing different styles, at times dreamy, then dramatic, violins, zig zag tempos with pitched bleeps, the female vocalist (Sierra Totten) has a dramatic vocal style that reminds me at times of Billie Ray Martin / Electribe 101

riyl: Kaleida, early 90s band Sunscreem

Pretty, Handsome - Warren Beatty
https://soundcloud.com/popgang/pretty-handsome-warren-beatty-original-mix

spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/5SxpMFlOwDvvIuCONNnFj6

Producer Stephen Tucker and vocalist Sierra Totten make up San Francisco based pop duo Pretty, Handsome. The result is catchy, danceable beats mixed with powerful, emotive vocals. The pair are best friends which is apparent when you see their effortless chemistry during their energetic live shows. "Love, Or Something Like It" marks the duo's first full length album, culminating in 10 original songs that showcase their unique style and enigmatic sound.

taken from the debut album: (released February 17th)

Pretty, Handsome - Love, Or Something Like It
https://open.spotify.com/album/1ByEUGwaDUBhonNv6vxtcg

chilled ambient pop track from Montreal artist, Forever

luv the hazy drifting synths and delicate ethereal vocals

Forever - Heaven's Mouth

Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/mmmorelove/heavens-mouth
spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/13Ri9n78aa6hTvyUYmq3Y4

expansive electronic art-pop from Australian artist, Vera Blue

this is a new remix of the track: Hold (that has just appeared on spotify)

Vera Blue - Hold (BV Remix)
https://open.spotify.com/track/0wSfZ3ndPhOvt1BN1BcnK2

the original 2015 track, hold was very popular on Triple J radio.

groovy leftfield twisted disco pop from Norwegian Duo Smerz who are based in Copenhagen, Denmark

Smerz have been compared to Tirzah

video: just released today: Smerz - Because

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ZiEMnPcmQQ

Smerz - Because
https://soundcloud.com/i-d-online-1/premiere-smerz-because
spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/3XY37pV75Ep9ubtcJNNNPj

discovered via Nialler 9 on his weekly txfm show:
http://nialler9.com/listen-back-to-last-nights-txfm-show-my-100th/

Ooh, the Pr0files album showed up on Spotify today. It is doooooooope.

regarding the Pr0files album, i recommend this track to be added to the playlist:

rhythmic electro-pop

Pr0files - Changing of the Guards
soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/pr0files/11-11-pr0files-changing-of-the-guards
spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/2obwOjX4FAkiL0bQi6tGZr

notice the track starts like Underworld Born Slippy with the slow synths.

many of the tracks on the album are from 2015 and 2014. So their debut comes off more like a compilation so far.

the canadian duo, Mu (Francesca Belcourt and Brittney Rand) that i mentioned upthread have now released their 2016 ep

another track, Debauchery that i have been repeat listening to: luv the floating vocal melodies that blend with the flowing synths

Mu - Debauchery
https://soundcloud.com/soundsofmu/debauchery

spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/4cd8tkOgDmcvGi0PBEqeHa

Brighton's Sea Bed with their uptempo atmospheric synth pop, they describe themselves as an "Organic Electronic Band"

this track has entrancing ethereal vocals and twisting melodies, bouncy rhythms with reverb synth patterns:

Sea Bed - Moving Ghosts
https://soundcloud.com/seabedband/moving-ghosts
spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/0osi2v4e5EA4nVzDOeRORo

this track would sound great as a bouncy shimmering balearic pop track in ibiza in May / June:

Sea Bed - Conqueror
https://soundcloud.com/itseargasmic/sea-bed-conqueror

to be released March 11th as part of an ep

sublime Icelandic ice cool synth pop from Samaris

sonic glacial purity, luv the ethereal vocals

Samaris - Wanted 2 Stay
https://soundcloud.com/samaris/wanted-2-say
spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/29EhFi1fnyuUj6LtxGy5VH

Samaris’ new single ‘Wanted 2 Say’ is released on 12" Vinyl by One Little Indian on 8th April.

Ushered in on a mournful note and a gentle gasp before a d’n’b breakbeat kicks in, ‘Wanted 2 Say’ is Samaris’ most out pop track yet. For the first time too Jófríður’s breathy vocal is sung in English, set against an effervescent arpeggiated note sequence.

Dj Martian, consider starting your own thread for this stuff.

Oh, yes, nothing can go wrong if you start your own thread.

lol, it's a dark dark world out here

Playlist is updated

ILM's Rolling Shambhala Thread 2016 Spotify Playlist

dreamy electronic pop from LA artist, Astronautica

a groovy addictive swaying track that flows sublimely, rolling bassline and smooth seductive vocals. The guitar riffs remind me of The Cure.

Astronautica - Palm Springs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8BqjeixStI0

spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/4T6bEGS6W1O7My9uD0uNZN

Hypetrak interview: Astronautica
http://hypetrak.com/2016/02/astronautica-palm-springs-video-interview/

new video for Acre Tarn - Dawn Faces, that JF previously mentioned in early January.

the video is rather strange and mysterious. At times it looks like a Dr Who set, great ethereal dark pop that remains in obscurity, i reckon grimes fans would appreciate acre tarn.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I-B3s1Bbfvc

Hypnagogic Pop from Norwich duo Let's Eat Grandma

freestyle skewed hypnotic art-pop

Let's Eat Grandma - Sink
https://soundcloud.com/transgressive-records/lets-eat-grandma-sink-1
spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/1dsescuKplBS798HKHk3h1

one of my fav tracks of the year so far, the expansive icy future beats synth dark pop from Snow Ghosts

the stunning atmospheric intensity of the production, the ethereal mysterious emotional vocals of Hannah Cartwright, the smudgy Swooping synths from Ross Tones (Throwing Snow)

Snow Ghosts - Undertow

https://soundcloud.com/houndstoothlbl/snow-ghosts-undertow-houndstooth
https://open.spotify.com/track/5ROT4M67fc5LKbyfPgatAg

part of the new Houndstooth label compilation: Tessellations
http://store.houndstoothlabel.com/tessellations.html

this review sums up track well:

http://www.npr.org/2016/02/19/467134456/songs-we-love-snow-ghosts-undertow

The part that producer Ross Tones (who also records solo as Throwing Snow), vocalist Hannah Cartwright (who has also records as Augustus Ghost) and multi-instrumentalist Oliver Knowles play is that of grand goth-pop experimentalists driven by English folk motifs and deep bass drones.

Listening to "Undertow," the group's excellent contribution to Tessellations, you'd be forgiven for imagining this song existing in a more metal- and prog-rock-oriented age. Synths and low-end are layered deeper in the background, while finger-picked acoustic and a wailing electric guitar accompany Cartwright's soft intoning about her emotions resembling the tides, all of them deep expressions in the tradition of tony English narrative. Yet somewhere around the fourth minute, this notion is given a shrewd post-punk update, as tom-toms start pounding and an approximation of a 4/4 beat arrives. The beach we suddenly find ourselves standing on is New Order's — also very British and fatalist, and, here, lyrically apropos. Suddenly, Snow Ghosts aren't simply extending the U.K.'s electronic music sprawl toward a grandiose past, they're doing something to reconfigure it.

Hoodlem (Melbourne, Australia) remixed by Ark Patrol (Portland, US)

this is a distinctive track, the female vocalist has a lovely textured soulful vocal style, luv the rippling synths on this track - track featured on this week's Spotify Fresh Finds playlist

riyl: Grace Mitchell

Hoodlem - Firing Line (Ark Patrol Remix)
https://soundcloud.com/heroicrecordings/hoodlem-firing-line-ark-patrol-remix?in=hoodlemmusic/sets/collabs-remixes
spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/33ZnXBqCfUN3ekvdjbQipJ

Ark Patrol strikes back with his take on Hoodlem’s deep and soulful ‘Firing Line’. Another Soultronica classic from this West Coast producer, Ark’s “Firing Line” remix is bouncy and lighthearted; ethereal and ambient.

Also today, Spotify has launched a number of themed Fresh Finds playlists including: Hiptronix that matches this the theme of this thread

Fresh Finds - Hiptronix
https://open.spotify.com/user/spotify/playlist/6tSPShkHtxVL8fWtJqxe7Z
"the sweet spot. Equal parts pop and electronics"

Introducing Fresh Finds
https://news.spotify.com/uk/2016/03/02/introducing-fresh-finds/

New playlists featuring the latest undiscovered artists (you likely haven’t heard) before they take off

including:

Hiptronix (vocal pop)

djmartian, wish you'd post a little less and only share the truly greatest stuff - about 20% of your posts are really awesome, the others seem pretty much like the average spotify highlights or whatever. however thank you for yr efforts and generosity!

Sean, wish you'd post a little less and only share the truly greatest comments - about 20% of your posts are really awesome, the others seem pretty much like the average ILM toxicity or whatever. however thank you for yr efforts and generosity!

djmartian, keep doing exactly what you want to do.

I intended that as a humorous demonstration of the point, but maybe I just contributed to the toxicity.

To say it more productively: "Greatest" is subjective, so if djmartian eliminated 4/5 of his posts, I have no reason to think the 1/5 that remained would be the ones that match my or your tastes. From my point of view, djmartian posts at a perfectly acceptable and helpful rate.

ok, fair enough!

uptempo confident epic synth pop from London duo Avec Sans

riyl: Chvrches

Avec Sans - Heartbreak Hi
https://soundcloud.com/avecsans/avec-sans-heartbreak-hi
https://open.spotify.com/track/4EASghXeRDnfOakTcGT35t

this track was previously available om soundcloud a few years back in demo format, but released for this time in 2016.

groovy electronic pop from Finland, luv the sequenced synths on this track.

Solano + Profettes - Like This
https://soundcloud.com/solinarecords/solano-profettes-like-this-first-single-from-the-upcoming-debut-ep
spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/0L3dpDh9Jz3lDNczw0Jtyn

characterful songwriting, with a strong sense of vocal harmonies. Monotonic beat loops, echoing layers of synthesizers and four talented singers make the music dark but susceptible pop with a light and airy avantgarde grip.

self described as "50% Scott Walker & ABBA, 50% Enya & Giorgio Moroder"

this track blends well with the Solano + Profettes track

dreamy experimental hypnagogic electronic pop, with male & female vocal harmonies and a strong crisp rhythmic feel

Junk Son - Fool
https://soundcloud.com/junk_son/fool

more info:

Premiere: Junk Son - Fool
http://www.dummymag.com/new-music/premiere-junk-son-fool

Junk Son is the moniker of London-based John Dunk,

“I was trying to incorporate rhythmic aspects of trip-hop without using a loop - the beat has the groove and tempo of a trip-hop track, but is sampled from single hits, rather than a pre-made drum track.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uc_Rxijnvew

this is a song by my friend hana, has opened for grimes and purity ring on tour, often works with the producer bloodpop (née blood diamonds) who produced bieber "sorry" and some charli stuff

riyl: that drake song with a chantal krieviazuk feature, the idea of noah shebib producing sarah mclachlan

from youtube: Shot by James Brooks at O2 Academy in Leeds, West Yorkshire, England on March 7th, 2016

quick editing work!

Hana was featured on last year's thread, indeed I posted her debut track, Clay back in May 2015. So, will be tracking her progress this year.

Note, Hana is yet another LA artist featured on this 2016 thread.

Here is a track the follows nicely on from Hana, by Minneapolis duo, Fraea both share similar aesthetics with clarity and purity of vocals over dreamy ambient electronics.

Fraea - Criminal
https://soundcloud.com/fraeafraea
https://open.spotify.com/track/1a26t3GRUGpF1IUnEUi7WA

hypnagogic electronic pop or "Shadow Pop" as self described

Fraea is the Minneapolis-based duo of Jessie Daley and Drew Preiner who together combined to create musing, hypnotic shadow pop. Fraea—a stylized take on Freyja, the goddess of beauty, love and sex, but also death, war and the underworld—encapsulates the idea of opposites coming together to create beauty, compassion and catharsis.

djmartian, wish you'd post a little less and only share the truly greatest stuff - about 20% of your posts are really awesome, the others seem pretty much like the average spotify highlights or whatever. however thank you for yr efforts and generosity!

― sean gramophone, Thursday, March 3, 2016 12:22 PM (1 week ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

Sean, wish you'd post a little less and only share the truly greatest comments - about 20% of your posts are really awesome, the others seem pretty much like the average ILM toxicity or whatever. however thank you for yr efforts and generosity!

djmartian, keep doing exactly what you want to do.

― glenn mcdonald, Thursday, March 3, 2016 1:02 PM (1 week ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

I intended that as a humorous demonstration of the point, but maybe I just contributed to the toxicity.

To say it more productively: "Greatest" is subjective, so if djmartian eliminated 4/5 of his posts, I have no reason to think the 1/5 that remained would be the ones that match my or your tastes. From my point of view, djmartian posts at a perfectly acceptable and helpful rate.

― glenn mcdonald, Thursday, March 3, 2016 1:13 PM (1 week ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

ok, fair enough!

― sean gramophone, Thursday, March 3, 2016 1:36 PM (1 week ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

I actually kind of with sean g here. I don't even drop in this thread that often anymore because I have to wade through a bunch of middling junk to get to an occasional winner, which is why I didn't attach my own name to it this year because I saw this coming. martian, your services are valuable in some ways, but a lot of what you consider "shambhala" is not what's traditionally been the focus of the thread/concept. But whatevs, you do you sir. I'll just drop in occasionally when I come across something worth everyone else's time.

2015: "If you come across something you think fits, then share it. We trust you."

2016: "fuck off with your junk"

Ha! Yeah, I know it sounds every bit as bad as you make it sound. I actually wrote a follow-up post last night and was ready to submit, but my internet dropped out and I had to reboot my computer. :(

The short of it was something like..."Part of it is that what I originally thought of as "shambhala" has either been done to death at this point or it's morphed into something I'm not really into, and that feeling is reinforced listening to all these things martian posts that don't move me at all. iow, get at me when the new Niki & The Dove album drops."

tbh I'm just listening to less of this because it's begun eating itself.

So this thing that doesn't even have a real name yet, of which there are so few examples that even with lots of wrong ones they still all fit in one thread, has now been "done to death", and you can lament a lost "tradition"? Jeezo, man. Nobody makes good moustache wax any more, either.

Let's keep this thread civilised and constructive, Johnny Fever does have a point.

I have reflected on previous years "not pop, not indie" shambhala threads and agree that some of the Hauntology Pop / Hypnagogic Pop / Dreamwave Pop I have been posting this year has been a departure from the original concept. These tracks have been too unstructured / esoteric / abstract compared to the structured songs based approach of most shambhala.

"not Pop not indie" shambhala was itself started as an interzone concept thread.

Pop thread: "that's indie" (this has happened)
Indie thread: "that's pop" (this actually has never happened)

What a dilemma! But I find it happens frequently, so here is a save haven to enjoy songs that straddle the fence.

― Johnny Fever, Sunday, May 13, 2012
Johnny Fever's Not Pop Not Indie Shambhala: 2012 ed.

The second annual edition of this thread wherein JF and 3 or 4 other people mindmeld on the usually girl-led, mostly synth-driven, pop-not-pop music we like.
(Johnny Fever), Monday, July 8, 2013

Johnny Fever's Not Pop Not Indie Shambhala 2013

Even I don't know what belongs here, but if it would feel weird putting it in rolling pop or rolling indie and it seems like something that would appeal to both, then share it here.

― Johnny Fever, Monday, February 24, 2014 10:39 PM (2 years ago)

Johnny Fever's Not Pop Not Indie Shambhala 2014

What is Shambhala? It's hard to say. This is the fourth consecutive year I've started this thread and there's still no clear definition. Often it concerns songs with a pop bent that would never in a million years touch the pop charts, but songs that are still too clean and unscuzzy enough to be ignored by the likes of Pitchfork or Stereogum. It's a largely female dominated category—at least as far as my own listening goes—but it doesn't have to be. There are usually synths, layered vocals, and drum machines. Sometimes the sounds are bright and sometimes they're icy cold. If you come across something you think fits, then share it. We trust you.
― Johnny Fever, Wednesday, January 21, 2015 7:20 AM

Johnny Fever's Not Pop Not Indie Shambhala 2015

traditionally this thread is dedicated to mostly electronic, low to mid-tempo pop...Coincidentally (or perhaps not) a lot of it tends to be by new-ish Scandinavian artists… also, more often than not, it's sung by women.
― daavid, Wednesday, January 28, 2015 6:41 AM

That's turned out to be mostly true. I'm sure there are other sounds that qualify as "not pop not indie," but we all seem to gravitate towards much the same thing.

― Johnny Fever, Wednesday, January 28, 2015 6:45 AM (1 year ago

over the years the bulk of tracks posted

- have been various shades of electronic pop / synth pop with mostly female vocals (particularly of the scandi pop variety) mostly mid tempo
also:
- dark synth pop / minimal synth pop
- balearic electronic pop
- sensual slow placed shambhala (e.g shura / Blooms)
- alt R&B / electronic pop crossover

Using Glenn's Every Noise genre-clusters / The Sounds of Spotify

http://everynoise.com/everynoise1d.cgi?scope=all

analysing Big Tent: Not Pop / Not Indie including Borderline and Outlier Genre Clusters, note Glenn splits Electronic Pop into numerous clusters

From most popular to most obscure, some of these are core to this thread, others are peripheral / adjacent / borderline genre clusters. I have ignored geographic / country clusters.

The Sounds of Spotify

Synth Pop: https://open.spotify.com/user/thesoundsofspotify/playlist/71wpwg8KzRxx240DcJx2EE
Indie R&B: https://open.spotify.com/user/thesoundsofspotify/playlist/2xblssDewgd1AA5R7Lap6w
Indietronica: https://open.spotify.com/user/thesoundsofspotify/playlist/0yqVOsxA2U4P260ad60QuU
Alternative Dance: https://open.spotify.com/user/thesoundsofspotify/playlist/5LwcdWTCx2JoWeVVWOYsGj
Dance-Punk: https://open.spotify.com/user/thesoundsofspotify/playlist/6c6EDGbcWdOSUvTaaUENyg
New Rave: https://open.spotify.com/user/thesoundsofspotify/playlist/3ZlEqn2WSADG2wVMPhKHsd
Nu-Gaze: https://open.spotify.com/user/thesoundsofspotify/playlist/2gUFVgxO2AeWSFSmg2kQvl
Trip Hop: https://open.spotify.com/user/thesoundsofspotify/playlist/2wrc23l7JdQVcpPIcDGaed
Chill Out: https://open.spotify.com/user/thesoundsofspotify/playlist/3LYkOCbYOfNbUgyz9DyThk
Downtempo: https://open.spotify.com/user/thesoundsofspotify/playlist/5zxj55xrB53As97uvt5x8x
Dream Pop: https://open.spotify.com/user/thesoundsofspotify/playlist/2A5zN7OTP4n64gEtsFEO2Z
Chillwave: https://open.spotify.com/user/thesoundsofspotify/playlist/5pDD5tz9aQULzowpuKMSep
Shimmer Pop: https://open.spotify.com/user/thesoundsofspotify/playlist/1HxlHisjJGDQLJzg35NVIy
Electrofox: https://open.spotify.com/user/thesoundsofspotify/playlist/3oBf8kc02esfPC3PUuSZks
Shiver Pop: https://open.spotify.com/user/thesoundsofspotify/playlist/1FcWxTM72potsWHiPQKmZC
Alternative R&B: https://open.spotify.com/user/thesoundsofspotify/playlist/0Hwb2a9DJdom4yoe5V41K9
Grave Wave: https://open.spotify.com/user/thesoundsofspotify/playlist/2Ndvcc1Qz9mNbQemnforB5
Hauntology: https://open.spotify.com/user/thesoundsofspotify/playlist/7yKED2Klt77liZOLVAwzma
Balearic: https://open.spotify.com/user/thesoundsofspotify/playlist/3FDQXSzsETVYzbrfOEEJnQ
Shimmer Psych: https://open.spotify.com/user/thesoundsofspotify/playlist/1Q4lGxGOt6A6K9CdELz8jG
Metropolis: https://open.spotify.com/user/thesoundsofspotify/playlist/70z5dMlsS9fPudWdQ9ebqP
Vaporwave: https://open.spotify.com/user/thesoundsofspotify/playlist/6R9NIMDGt0sK7k1EggBAhj
Minimal Wave: https://open.spotify.com/user/thesoundsofspotify/playlist/61AMB6Oddyl1hEUBd9A9sc
popgaze: https://open.spotify.com/user/thesoundsofspotify/playlist/30FpFGBFN7Jlu4ElSv5vTE
Etherpop: https://open.spotify.com/user/thesoundsofspotify/playlist/3eoGAwNztSSx7Pi6dC6GFn
Gauze Pop: https://open.spotify.com/user/thesoundsofspotify/playlist/6gaLUOiIgrnSFt2qmmUIMr

regarding when I post on other threads:

for the more glossy / commercial pop - i post on the pop thread

i have posted the more abstract electronic experimental pop, including vaporwave on imago's time travel, e.g Track of the year so far in terms of arty electronics - minimal experimental-techno meets spoken word Propaganda type female vocals - 11 minutes track Astronomy Domine - Black Flowers

― djmartian, Friday, February 5, 2016 8:33 PM on
No thread for 2016 -> 4032 -> 8064 -> 16132? Surely some time travel mistake!

for the more traditional dream pop / shoegazer - I post on the indie thread

most of the balearic tracks - i post on the balearic thread, however the more electronic pop croosover balearic tracks i post on this thread

returning to...

the Hauntology Pop / Hypnagogic Pop / Dreamwave Pop of 2016
is a developing interzone between art pop, ambient pop, balearic pop, hazy chillwave, electronic pop, glitch pop, electronic dream pop / Nu gaze and indietronica.

key characteristics: Unstructured approach / hazy / dreamy / atmospheric / ghosting / drifting / esoteric / exotic / different.

these tracks would come under the broader framework of "not Pop not indie" but due to the unstructured / esoteric / abstract approach it's a separate conceptual aesthetic.

So from now on it's probably best if i create my own separate public spotify playlist for these niche genre-clusters and mention this also on imago's 2016 Time Travel multi themed experimental thread. I'll sort a spotify playlist sometime next week. If there is enough interest maybe start a new thread? as Imago's time travel deals with numerous art / experimental genres.

I will carry on posting on this thread with the more core shambhala synth / electronic pop re: "Sometimes the sounds are bright and sometimes they're icy cold."

I really didn't mean to hurt anybody's feelings, honestly. Like I said, it's mostly me not being as much into the latest wave of this stuff.

Return of the real Shambhala:

Stockholm:

Soldier's Hearth - Randy (spotify
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KYSepGZDr_w

Tromsø:

Synne Sanden - the pilot (spotify)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i793qejEp6A

A long way from Dum Dum Girls (lots of love for New Order here):

Kristin Kontrol - X-Communicate (spotify)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YrAfGtpLiQ4

Ha! I was just wondering yesterday when something from Kristin Kontrol was going to come out...except I couldn't remember what name Dee Dee was using now! This is good.

i was going to post that Kristin Kontrol track, now for a another comeback...

new Ladyhawke track

Ladyhawke - Sweet Fascination, Taken from Ladyhawke's third album, Wild Things, released 3rd June.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d_sbMRkYetY

spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/1mHKaMKIKZ5n5MihLhOjjI

London based artist Kelly Lee Owens (who previously has done vocals with Daniel Avery)

groovy electronic balearic pop, ethereal vocals, swooshing icy synths, there is a controlled calmness to this track.

riyl: Fever Ray

Kelly Lee Owens - 1 of 3
https://soundcloud.com/kellyleeowens/1-of-3
spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/47AnYWgB690DkRHHBQM5my

good review @ http://highclouds.org/kelly-lee-owens-1-of-3/

Sanpaku's last post is so essential

electronic pop from South African artist now based in London, Gina Kushka

luv the vocal versatility on this track

including at times the booming vocals with an intense cinematic vibe

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cBCxEOoXGnk

Gina Kushka - Hurtproof
https://soundcloud.com/ginakushka/gina-kushka-hurtproof-prod-jay-weathers
spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/3auXEcbn7G1ahcdeSnrgan

Amatorski - Hear Me
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=odlxvhYj_ik

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eUFAqiW7yyg

Really enjoying Teen's Love Yes. Amazingly fun 80s synth-worship. The album starts strong (Tokyo and All About Us are great) and continues stronger (Free Time (above), Superhuman, Noise Shift), interspersed with sweet little saxophone intros. They are the band I wanted Haim to be.

one of my fav tracks of 2016

electronic pop from Melbourne's Evangeline

the remix by William Black (Los Angeles, California) adds a bouncy-groove to the track, evangeline's vocals are sublime

Evangeline - My Kingdom (William Black Remix)
https://soundcloud.com/williamblack/evangeline-my-kingdom-william-black-remixnest-hq-premiere
spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/25r8S6C8mwHquIouFObEXh

Evangeline
http://www.evangelinemusic.net/
https://soundcloud.com/evangelinemusic

The Teen album is great

this track at times reminds me of Liz Fraser and Massive Attack, from Swedish artist Adiam

Adiam - Runaway

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FALOp2DJ47Y

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/4AFyNdKvJBUUkC3C1kTmpz

interview: http://www.loveispop.com/interviews/an-exclusive-interview-with-swedens-adiam/

Sweden’s Adiam makes delicous, dark pop that splits the difference between Lykki Li and Marina and The Diamonds, having the starkness of the former and the insanely catchy beats of the latter. Or perhaps she’s better described as Fiona Apple meets Little Boots, melding Fiona’s tormented and vengeful lyrics with Boots’ irresistible electronic textures. There are several artists you could compare Adiam’s songs to, but you can never pin her down to just one artist. There simply isn’t anyone whose songs she mirrors exactly. Even comparing her to all of the above artists doesn’t quite do her justice. She’s truly an original, thanks to her lyrics, which are both deeply personal and open to interpretation, and her music, all of which thus far has been produced by TV on the Radio’s Dave Sitek

note, Adiam previously recorded as Adiam Dymott, and JF mentioned her on ILM back in 2009!

Just listened to the Teen album again in full...it is seriously brilliant. Will stop spamming about it (maybe), but the opening track gives a really good measure of their whole vibe:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vJM6VTUpKGw

Teen's "Better", from their last record, is one of the best songs of the past five years.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kjLGlG68oh8

weirdly, I much prefer the new stuff. this is a bit repetitive for me

I absolutely adore this track, both the production and vocals, multiple repeat plays

Future Bass pop from Wet Paint (Halifax, Canada)

Wet Paint - Setting the Stage
https://soundcloud.com/wet-paint/setting-the-stage

uptempo confident future bass gliding zesty electronic pop, who is the mystery female vocalist? what a voice, dynamic swooping velvet vocals.

via: PressPlayok http://pressplayok.com/blog/2016/03/16/wet-paint-setting-the-stage/

On Setting The Stage the Halifax boys enlist a mystery vocalist for something that sounds like the title track for the sci-fi film of our dreams – it’s zippy, exciting, and great fun to listen to.

Rooxx from Finland, the female vocalist on the track is Ringa Manner

ethereal Cocteau Twins circa Heaven or Las Vegas meets ABBA harmonies / melodies meets modern scandi synthpop, however in the context of 2016 it does have distinctive memorable charm

ROOXX - Moving On
https://soundcloud.com/solinarecords/rooxx-moving-on
https://open.spotify.com/track/2gVPddTMs5GSxjiEtOa3UT

Glenn Mcdonald described the track as "Stately ABBA-esque synth-pop power-ballad." on his weekly new particles playlist earlier this month
http://www.furia.com/newparticles/2016-03-11.html

ROOXX
http://solinarecords.com/rooxx/
ROOXX aka Jori Sjöroos is a Finnish musician and producer. He is well known for being the composer and producer for the Finnish band PMMP and the core behind bands like Magenta Skycode, Fu-Tourist, This Empty Flow and Thergothon.

Debut Rooxx album due in the Autumn.

I'm anti-Wet Paint for stealing the name from a superior 00s band.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xcL0lkcvv0g

*note to forks: this^ doesn't get added the shambhala playlist

heaven forfend

Loving the Kristin Kontrol track! Is any of the Dum Dum Girls stuff anything like it. I've never paid attention to them.

DDG are great, but sound nothing like this.

London based trip-hop / dark electronic pop band HÆLOS have just released their debut album: Full Circle. This is the current single, Separate Lives that has lots of atmospheric layering.

HÆLOS - Separate Lives

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IY0JVKORfR4

spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/track/6oPe6k9KWO72G5WMcVvnxq

"X-Communicate" reminds me of the tracks Sophie Ellis Bextor did with Freemasons a circa 2010.

Ohlayindigo Norwegian artist now based San Francisco

strong vocals on this electronic pop track:

Ohlayindigo - Golden Chains
https://soundcloud.com/ohlayindigo/ohlayindigo-golden-chains
https://open.spotify.com/track/7INjGfp8PYqIIxWeuRHTu3

gauzey electronic pop from new brother and sister duo Follin

this track reminds me of Sky Ferreira

Follin - Memories
https://soundcloud.com/follinofficial/memories
https://open.spotify.com/track/12Lv5SHoJBHJWjP2119hWt

"Cults frontwoman Madeline Follin and her brother, Richie Follin of Guards (and Willowz) formed a new band recently named Follin. " http://www.undertheradarmag.com/news/listen_follin_memories/

Follin
https://soundcloud.com/follinofficial

With this project, Madeline and Richie wanted to do something different than they had ever done before. Inspired by distorted synthesizers, drum machines, samples, harmonizers, tape effects and atmospheric sounds, they experimented with new instruments and different vocal styles. Having come to music through the same bloodline, they share a musical voice that made their writing process second nature and continues to shape the way in which they write and record. The songs were recorded at Stockholm Syndrome Sound studios in Bushwick and in their mother’s living room in NYC.

keep listening to this addictive quirky rhythmic art-pop Prince Rama track on repeat, there is a Kate Bush vibe to the vocals.

Prince Rama - Fantasy
https://soundcloud.com/carparkrecords/prince-rama-fantasy
https://open.spotify.com/track/3ajaVZz2y5yD9uKd0kldcA

Described aptly by Glenn Mcdonald as
Ceaseless-energy mosaic-pop made of broken bits of St. Vincent, Devo, Kate Bush and Propaganda.
http://www.furia.com/newparticles/2016-03-04.html

chilled and groovy electronic pop track from Ardency (LA based duo) with the dreamy Canadian vocalist Icelandia

love the fresh and crisp production sound that glides along throughout the track

Ardency ft. Icelandia - Crystals
https://soundcloud.com/ardency/crystals-feat-icelandia
https://open.spotify.com/track/7xKv3G2lzB9V0X3C1OT1MW

Playlist is updated for March

ILM's Rolling Shambhala Thread 2016 Spotify Playlist

Roniia from Minneapolis, Minnesota

dark mysterious electronic pop ala The Knife with Liz Fraser song to the siren ethereal inspired vocals

Roniia - Run
https://soundcloud.com/tgnp/roniia-run

spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/4gThvGgb9VsDbzupYPRQjR

part of the
Roniia - Sisters ep
http://roniia.com/album/sisters-ep

RONiiA (pronounced Row-nee-a) is Nona Marie Invie (Dark Dark Dark), Mark McGee (Father You See Queen, Marijuana Deathsquads) and Fletcher Barnhill (Joint Custody, FUGITIVE). Together they produce a mysterious world full of departure, rejection, and love made from dark beats and scuffed up synths. Electronic music that is stripped of its gloss, as wildly innovative as it is original.

Cool

That Teen album is quickly becoming one of my favourites of the whole year, it's so great

Yeah, just yesterday I fully immersed myself in the Teen album and it is luscious.

dramatic expansive dark electronic pop from Plaitum (Colchester, England)

the dense forceful swirling production combines with the ethereal vocals of Abi Dersiley

Plaitum - Jagwa

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E-YYdJfHtCE

https://open.spotify.com/track/31YXTQI7xrw906QdwmOJ2A

Yeah, just yesterday I fully immersed myself in the Teen album and it is luscious.

Yay! Really hoping this takes off on here. I'm listening to it every day at the moment.

keep listening to this addictive quirky rhythmic art-pop Prince Rama track on repeat, there is a Kate Bush vibe to the vocals.

This is also great. Same label too (Carpark)

Rivrs, London based electronic pop band signed to Charli XCX's Vroom Vroom label

luv the flow to this track, chilled vibes, sensual vocals, bubbly synths

RIVRS - Friend Lover

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=11sLYwpAdSc

https://open.spotify.com/track/2fqQ3AWZdJT6BUboN8md2W

Prince Rama were one of my favorite accidental discoveries at SXSW last year!

RONiiA (pronounced Row-nee-a) is Nona Marie Invie (Dark Dark Dark), Mark McGee (Father You See Queen, Marijuana Deathsquads) and Fletcher Barnhill (Joint Custody, FUGITIVE). Together they produce a mysterious world full of departure, rejection, and love made from dark beats and scuffed up synths. Electronic music that is stripped of its gloss, as wildly innovative as it is original.

― djmartian, Saturday, 2 April 2016 14:44 (Yesterday) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

This is dead good

icy Electronic Pop from Sweden by Raindear (Rebecca Bergcrantz)

Raindear - I'm the Ice
https://soundcloud.com/raindearmusic/im-the-ice-2
https://open.spotify.com/track/7CMNzqoAiHBYMaNll76Sj6

the return of LA's Nite Jewel

Nite Jewel - Boo Hoo
https://soundcloud.com/nite-jewel/boo-hoo-2
https://open.spotify.com/track/7wUKpTK2TH1cxWXSnfKHUu

via: http://www.gorillavsbear.net/nite-jewel-boo-hoo

Doing my part to keep Shambhala is up to date:

La Femme - Sphynx (spotify)
The video, like other La Femme imagery, might not be safe for work.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XOic6pVAN30

White Sea - Arcadia (spotify) (Morgan Kibbey of Ths Romanovs and M83's Saturdays = Youth)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F4vfQ0EFPhQ

ARO - Cocaine Style (spotify)
I'm usually not one to ogle, but this woman is achingly beautiful.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-0gxrnoCg3I

"Cocaine Style" is brilliant but I had no idea she was the Other Osbourne daughter

Ha! All I ever knew about her is that she refused to appear on the MTV show, so I don't think I've ever seen what she looks like.

this nadia nair track is pretty massive: https://soundcloud.com/nadianair/blow-2

dark electronic pop from London based artist Slovenlie

Slovenlie - Disaster
https://soundcloud.com/slovenlie/disaster
https://open.spotify.com/track/1EsyvobZG0Y9zRNXinM0qG

more info:
Discover London-based musician Slovenlie and her debut track 'Disaster'
http://www.thefourohfive.com/music/article/discover-newcastle-born-glastonbury-raised-london-based-musician-slovenlie-and-her-debut-track-disaster-405-premiere-145

Currently in the studio with Neil McLellan (The Prodigy) and Steve Dub (Chemical Brothers, Leftfield) expect much more from Slovenlie throughout the year and beyond

xp That's good. I really liked her track "Hardships" from last year.

Haven't formed an opinion yet about the Slovenlie track.

ANYWAY, the Camp Claude album is out today!!

This isn't an official shambhala thread entry, just a note to point out that Rangleklods no longer exist because they now go by the name Blondage and have released a rather duddish new song: https://soundcloud.com/i-d-online-1/premiere-blondage-dive

TS: 4 Non Blondes, Blond Ambition, Blondage, Blond:ish, Dumblondes, Three Blonde Mice, or Venetian Blond as worst bandname.

Is there actually someone using the name Three Blonde Mice?!

Probably not anymore, if you want it.

I never learned what a rangleklod is. I always assumed it was some obscure implement for animal husbandry, or perhaps a festival shoe.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dzDEFFSsRx8

hmmm why can't I hear new niki & the dove -- "tech issues" according to twitter?

icy electronic pop from Auckland, New Zealand artist So Below

groovy pulsating track with arpeggiators and dreamy female vocals

So Below - Far
https://soundcloud.com/sobelowsound/far

https://open.spotify.com/track/0GesbuYRUkYatwr1iYg8TT

ok the kristin kontrol album is gonna rule me

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vvfH4rhFjTU

Yep! That's a VERY STRONG 2-for-2 so far.

new video for the latest single: Remind Me by Swedish artist Noonie Bao

Noonie Bao - Remind Me

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vnjSkmMdm34

there is a new 4 track release by Ryan Driver and Thom Gill- I guess this would be described as indie r&b?

http://isthisthomas.bandcamp.com/

I'm really digging this Prince Rama album so far. Sounds totally different to the stuff I heard from them before, which was very very post-AC chillwave.

Perhaps better suited for the Not House Not R&B Shangri-La, but the vocals are wispy enough for an honorary mention here:

Smerz - Because
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ZiEMnPcmQQ

today in "things that were apparently recorded just for me," Laura Groves covers The Cleaners From Venus: www.thefourohfive.com/music/article/laura-groves-turns-lo-fi-pop-into-something-that-sparkles-on-gamma-ray-blue-14

her voice sounds a lot stronger on this than on her previous recordings — I guess the melody stays in a comfortable range for her

That url seems to be dead (just takes me to main page).

:(

aw, whoops. here's the soundcloud link: https://soundcloud.com/deekrecordings/laura-groves-gamma-ray-blue

Playlist is updated for April.

ILM's Rolling Shambhala Thread 2016 Spotify Playlist

From Holland:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VK5GA49GeIs
Eefje de Visser - Staan

That's lovely.

yes!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ispry9ERCoU

stunning

Oh shit, a full Cult Club album just popped up on Spotify today. I had no idea it was even coming.

that Kristin Kontrol album is an absolute joy, the perfect intersection of so many different things I love.

The Kristin Kontrol album reminds me of CRJ's Emotion in that the opening track is so mind blowing that the rest of the album, while uniformly excellent, cannot help but feel like a bit of a letdown in its inability to ever match the opener.

I suppose I can't disagree with that

The Eefje de Visser album is very good, though Scheef is the standout imo.

https://youtu.be/0WXMkk8WURE

Just came to post about the Cult Club album but I see JF beat me to it by a few weeks. I've been checking in on Cult Club every couple of months to see if they were up to anything and was surprised tonight to see an album was out. Sounds great so far. For those who don't do Spotify, it's a free download (if you give up your email) in any digital format from their label's Bandcamp:

https://domestica.bandcamp.com/album/cult-club-play-with-lies-2016-ref-dom07-s

Would love to have this and the 12" on vinyl but coming in at over $50 with shipping from Spain I'll have to be content with the free download.

The Men I Trust album from last year was one of my silent favorites, so I'm glad they're staying active. The bass work in this is phenomenal.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TNsSBhl_2LI

I really don't know what you're all hearing in that Cult Club album, it just sounds like an average 80's pastiche to me.

Weaves - Human

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zs4c_virYnc

https://soundcloud.com/fastcut/ice-choir-unprepared maybe slightly out of place in this thread but I really like the new Ice Choir song, it's very Prefab Sprout

pr0files album is great, not sure how i missed this until now

Sure is! One of my tops of 2016.

From the indie side of the fence, the cloudtop vocalist by far the most interesting part.

Pumarosa - Cecile
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UEUSvZtfIDU

They're superb. Really looking forward to more.

Wow, this new Totemo EP is one of the most beautiful things I've heard all year. It is 17 minutes you will not regret.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yK07Ox4bxEo

наадя (Naadia) should have more listeners than sharivari and myself. Her new one, Хорошо, is thisthready.

Playlist is updated.

Belatedly, the new Samaris single.

Samaris - Wanted 2 Say
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ilqhgHiQ1l4

More recently, uptempo Trentemøller

Trentemøller - River In Me
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0KMLyQjI5mI

The new Sleigh Bells is fantastic:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gLCZDsd2E10

More indie, but the execution on the chorus makes this one stand out:

Blondfire - True Confessions
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gjNHCaf8v1c

hello fellow shambhala-heads. Determined to find the time to find more music from now on. I've been meaning to go through the 2015 thread but haven't managed it as it's too big, any recommended highlights?

I've barely heard any good new music, last actual purchases were probably Suzanne Sundfor and Kristin Kontrol (which I have been enjoying more than I thought I would)
oh just seen that's been getting lots of love on here, good good!

Either I'm just not feeling the shambhala that's out there this year or I'm just burned out on all of it, but I'm listening to mostly other kinds of things this year. As I said on fb the other day, "I'm letting all that stuff go to voicemail now."

^^this is like me w/ country this year.

offhand, my fave shambhala singles from 2015 (all followed up by albums in 2016) came from shura, niki & the dove, ngaiire, and school of seven bells.

I hear a lot of stuff I think is nice, fine even if on paper it ticks all the right boxes but only occasionally something I really really get into. It's a numbers game I think, and there are more and more artists with a similar sort of sound so it all gets watered down.
But then again I download the odd sort of thing I think is 'hmmm not bad I suppose' then a year or two later I listen again and really love it. (Today it was Austra)

Thanks for the recs, will have a listen.

Suggestions for those playing Shambhala catch up:

2014: Ballet School - The Dew Lasts an Hour, iamamiwhoami - Blue, Lamb - Backspace Unwind, Mr. Twin Sister - Mr. Twin Sister,
2015: Allie X - CollXtion EP, Kaleida - Think EP, Kate Boy - One, Susanne Sundfor - Ten Love Songs, Tamaryn - Cranekiss, V.V. Brown - Glitch
2016: Kristin Kontrol - X-Communicate, Pr0files - Jurassic Technologie, Shura - Nothing's Real

got, got, need...
Good list, thanks! Ballet School were one of my favourite finds from the 2014 list.

Empress Of were also in there and I think there's new stuff or at least a proper album (produced by David Wrench) I need to go and listen to.

Her album last year was so-so, but her one-off single from this year "Woman Is a Word" is so very good.

Sanpaku you are truly a God among men

the new cathy davey would probably fit in well here

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ZPcmtyiUBk

Playlist is updated.

There's been some amazing stuff here recently, thanks to everyone. Especially looking forward to hearing more of Eefje de Visser.

Jezabels - Pleasure Drive (new single from Aussie indie outfit)

https://youtu.be/dMV_O_z6-6U

― Lurkers of the world, unite! (Sanpaku), Saturday, 6 February 2016 09:39 Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

Good news... Some fool decided to poll the entire album (which I love)

"Let's go back to the island" – The Jezabels' Synthia

and it's going about as well as this guy's evening

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=atSmcn0nflo

Eefje de Visser is great. I haven't listened to her current album very much yet, but her previous album, Het is, is very good.

She has a great live band, check out this complete show from 2014.

Ah! I finally found a new thing I like.

https://kroy.bandcamp.com/track/bones

Full LP due later this month. Might be good.

Can't remember where we were talking about Haerts but I've just seen they've got a "new" single (this Jan afaict) and have also covered 'Everybody here wants you'.

This might skew a bit more indie than most of what gets posted here, but this still feels very this thread-y:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QayMoveq03o

I am really enjoying the Synne Sanden album. It's the kind of Shambhala-by-numbers I enjoy, a really good not-pop album of weird textures and post-diva singing. The fleeting appearance of jazz saxophones helps.

Also "Cocaine Style" is still remarkable.

Listening to Synne Sanden now. I like.

On the teen-pop end, the video wears its Amanda Palmer influence in the merkins. Infuriatingly catchy.

HOLYCHILD X Kate Nash - Rotten Teeth
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSkQLGpnbzc

I clicked on that despite seeing Kate Nash's name. I shouldn't have.

Playlist is updated; for a year where there was some hue and cry about the ebb of shambhala, there's still plenty to explore: 125 songs and 8 hours or so on tap.

ILM's Rolling Shambhala Thread 2016 Spotify Playlist

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jxN4eUJ52qQ

^ Don't know if this belongs here but it's good!

that's great

I really liked their EP from 2014. Glad they didn't just disappear. This is nice!

have y'all talked about maggie rogers here? she's v shamhala in sound if not necessarily in pharrell cosign

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a0jXvW1ZS2M

Phases by Cellars is fast becoming one of my most played albums of the year. Nighttime Girl is a real song of the year contender for me. It's all about the gorgeous rising harmonies.

https://youtu.be/yPCCioS75jY

xp - That is exactly what I thought as I heard a clip for the BBC Sound of 2017 award shortlist. I think I like this one better:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PNWsW6c6t8g

playlist is updated.

utterly in love with this
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pv76dqcSkuE

lol @ the video, tres jamiroquai chic

no 2017 thread or interest, eh?
I dig this Owo album.
http://www.okayafrica.com/audio/owo-new-ep-afro-diasporic-sounds-of-summertime-brooklyn/

My favorite Norwegian album of last year, probably not as interesting if you don't speak the language but still catchy

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IxFUVjkPTng
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_SNEG_cOa5Q

where are Johnny Fever and Sanpaku to start the 2017 version of this thread? I would myself, but this one of those areas where everything I love about it is always news to me.

Just been listening to 'Twist' from this thread's playlist - thought it must actually be from the 90s so surprised to hear it was from 2016! Quite liking it but not sure how much of that is nostalgia...

and yeah, as always, I'm still catching up. new thread welcome...?

Anyways, the 2016 Spotify Playlist is updated and finalized.

ILM's Rolling Shambhala Thread 2016 Spotify Playlist

Better late than never

Not Pop Not Indie Shambhala 2017 Thread