HERCULES & LOVE AFFAIR’S ‘BLUE SONGS’

A new San Francisco sound that skillfully blends styles from various eras. With numerous guest vocalists, it’s an album that keeps you engaged.

Release Date | August 16, 2011

Label | Moshi Moshi

‘Blue Songs’ is the second album by the American house music group HERCULES & LOVE AFFAIR. Released in the UK on January 31, 2011, it came out in the US on August 16. The album features many guests, including Kele Okereke of Bloc Party on “STEP UP,” as well as Kim Ann Foxman and Aerea Negrot.

ALEXANDER’S ‘ALEXANDER’

American folk songs. Simple pop with a voice that lulls you to sleep and acoustic guitar accompaniment.

Release Date | March 1, 2011

Label | Vagrant Records

‘Alexander’ is the debut solo album by Alexander Ebert, also the lead singer of Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros and Ima Robot. He released his self-titled album in North America on March 1, 2011.

CAT’S EYES’ ‘CAT’S EYES’

Pop music that sounds like a soundtrack to a 1960s horror film.

Release Date | May 3, 2011

Label | Kooyp / Cooperative Music USA / Downtown Records

CAT’S EYES, a duo comprising Faris Badwan, frontman of the British indie rock band The Horrors, and Rachel Zeffira, a Canadian opera soprano and multi-instrumentalist, brings a gentle, symphonic quality to pop music. They held their first live performance in an extraordinary setting: St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican. According to a press release, seven cardinals were in attendance during the daytime performance amidst the crowd.

TOTALLY ENORMOUS EXTINCT DINOSAURS’ ‘TROUBLE’(Single)

The most exciting dance artist of 2011. A new sound in electro.

Release Date | October 18, 2011

Label | Polydor

TOTALLY ENORMOUS EXTINCT DINOSAURS, a duo from London, UK, consisting of Edmund Finnis and Orlando Higginbottom, oscillates between clear musicality and dance. They tour the world, featuring unusual instruments, confetti cannons, and, of course, dancing dinosaurs.

WHEN SAINTS GO MACHINE’S ‘KONKYLIE’

A collection of emotional songs that might remind you a bit of Peter Gabriel. Great indie dance vibes.


Release Date | June 21, 2011
Label | !K7

CASIOKIDS’ ‘AABENBARINGEN OVER AASKAMMEN’

When listening to K-Pop without knowing it’s Korean, don’t you sometimes wonder why you can’t understand the Japanese lyrics? Similarly, when listening to Norwegian pop, you might wonder why you can’t understand the English. Even if I don’t understand it, I love this electro-pop!

Release Date | October 11, 2011

Label | Polyvinyl

CASIOKIDS is an electro-pop ensemble from Bergen and Stavanger, Norway, formed in 2005.

HOORAY FOR EARTH’S ‘TRUE LOVE’

The fact that each song sounds like it’s by a different band is a testament to their talent.

Hooray For Earth is a rock band based in New York, formed when singer and multi-instrumentalist Noel Heroux began recording at home. The group first appeared as Hooray For Earth in Boston in late 2005. The original lineup consisted of Heroux, bassist Christopher Principe, guitarist Gary Benacquista, and drummer Seth Kasper. However, after Kasper left the group in March 2009, they added drummer and multi-instrumentalist Joseph Ciampini.

AUTUMN’S ‘SYNTHESIZE’

Although this was originally released in 1981, its digital release in 2011 made it a completely new experience. A masterpiece of electro-pop.

Release Date | March 3, 2011

Label | Minimal Wave

‘Autumn’ was a legendary project started in the late 70s by two Belgian teenagers, Peter Bonne and Geert Coppens, to experiment with the potential of analog synthesizers. They formed a band in the early 80s and quickly became a prominent force, sweeping through Europe’s electro scene.

NIKI & THE DOVE’S ‘THE FOX’(EP)

It’s like Kate Bush and Kylie Minogue had a child!


Release Date | June 14, 2011

Label | Minimal Wave

Before fronting the art-pop group NIKI & THE DOVE, Malin Dahlström was the vocalist for the disbanded rock band Dora Steinsno, following her time with Midaircondo.
She performs solo live shows and performances under the name “Namedisdishdance,” applying various effects to her whispery vocals, throughout Sweden.

BLOOD ORANGE’S ‘COASTAL GROOVES’

A skillful blend of indie rock, alternative pop, and electro.

Release Date | August 8, 2011

Label | Domino Recording Company Ltd.

BLOOD ORANGE is an alias for Devonté Hynes, also known as Lightspeed Champion and a former member of the disbanded band Test Icicles.
His first release under the name BLOOD ORANGE was in June 2009 via his personal blog.

PETE AND THE PIRATES’ ‘ONE THOUSAND PICTURES’

Every year, new Britpop bands emerge, and artists like Kaiser Chiefs and Belle and Sebastian release new albums. PETE AND THE PIRATES feels like a fusion of all those bands.


Release Date | May 23, 2011

Label | Stolen Recordings

PETE AND THE PIRATES is an indie rock band from Reading, England. With their blend of edgy punk and mellow pop, their songs can be sweet, fun, melancholic, abrasive, and gentle. Their distinctive, captivating songwriting seems to exist between the thoughtful shadows of Flying Nun Records’ Tall Dwarfs and Neil Young. The band was formed in 2005 and consists of five members: Tommy Sanders (vocals), Peter Cattermoul (bass/vocals), David Thorpe (guitar), Jonny Sanders (drums), and Peter Hefferan (guitar/vocals).

NICOLAS JAAR’S ‘SPACE IS ONLY NOISE’

A futuristic DJ/club soundtrack!


Release Date | February 7, 2011

Label | Circus Company

Born on January 10, 1990, Nicolas Jaar spent most of his childhood in Santiago, Chile. Upon returning to his birthplace in his teens, he became fascinated by artists like Mulatu Astatke, Erik Satie, Ezekiel Honig, and Villalobos’ “thé au harem d’archimède.” In 2004, at the age of 14, he began creating organic electronic music. He debuted with ‘The student EP’ on Wolf + Lamb Music at 17. At 18, he continued producing music and playing in clubs worldwide. Now 19, he is studying at Brown University in Rhode Island while planning releases on various labels, including his own imprint, Clown and Sunset.

DISCODEINE’S ‘DISCODEINE’

Experimental pop and an adventure into dance.


Release Date | February 2011

Label | Dirty / Pschent

Discodeine is a French duo formed in 2007 by Pilooski and Pentile. Before finding common ground in their shared love for sci-fi films, obscure club music, and cuisine from southwestern France, they had each released critically acclaimed work over the previous five years. They are signed to France’s Dirty and have already released numerous tracks.

TEEEL’S ‘AMULET’

Electro-pop should be pretty, easy to listen to, and bright—otherwise, what’s the point!

Release Date | February 22, 2011

Label | Moodgadget

TEEEL (Jim Smith) is an electro-pop artist from New Jersey.
His music, inspired by Italo disco, electro, and 80s new wave, spans a wide range from hypnotic electro-pop to dreamy disco and dark electronica.