Diorama ‎– Even The Devil Doesn't Care

Diorama ‎– Even The Devil Doesn't Care
(2013) Accession

Diorama's eighth album, and boy, this one shows progression!
As of late, I've been a bit tired of Diorama's calm mid-tempo songs. They always make great songs, but I've been wanting something more. And here it is. This album has the best use of guitars in electronic music I've ever heared. Usually I don't want guitars in my electronic music. But when executed as well as on these song I can only bow my head in awe! Great album, and I really mean album. I don't think there's any succesful singles to be found here.

Sigue Sigue Sputnik Electronic - Flaunt It

Sigue Sigue Sputnik Electronic - Flaunt It
(2011) Not On Label

This is, of course, an electronic re-recording of  Sigue Sigue Sputnik's legendary "Flaunt It" album, made by the original singer Martin Degville. There may have been other musicians involved, for instance I don't really know what "re-recorded by Lloyd Price" means? But never mind, it's a great update of the original master piece. Sputnik for the 2010's!

Trust - TRST

Trust - TRST (2012)
Arts & Crafts

It takes a brave man to actually purchase a record this ugly in a record store. Fortunately for Trust, most record sales nowadays, at least for me, is made on-line. But don't judge the record by the cover. This is excellent dark synth-pop. Dark and not especially melodic or poppy, more in the way that Continues makes synth-pop. Maybe not for everyone, but I really like this album. And in case you don't like it right away - give it some time to grow on you. It certainly did on me!

Bizet Boys - Ride 'Em Carmen

Bizet Boys - Ride 'Em Carmen 7"
(1989) Parlophone

This is a one-off single by Sigue Sigue Sputnik mastermind Tony James. As you can judge by it's name it's a pop tune with samples from Bizet's "Carmen". It sounds like M.A.R.R.S. "Pump Up The Volume" with opera samples, or maybe like Sigue Sigue Sputnik with less samples and no guitar.

Lana Del Rey - Born To Die

Lana Del Rey - Born To Die (The Paradise Edition) 2CD
2012 Interscope

I mostly like, and write about, somewhat underground artists. But not this time. This dark pop album was one of last years biggest surprises for me. I totally adore "Summertime Sadness"! But there are alot of good tracks on this 2CD special edition release. Tiamat did a great cover of the title song on the limited edition of "The Scarred People". Get this if you like your pop songs dark and beautiful!

Mental Discipline - Constellation

Mental Discipline - Constellation
(2012) skyQode

Wow! This must be THE futurepop album of 2012! Just like the Paralell Project CD "Fusion", this album is written by a single mastermind, in this case Alex Mental, but the vocals are sung by different artists. The 2011 EP "Falling Stars" had somewhat prepared me for a great follow up album, but not quite to this extent. Standout tracks are the Felix Marc sung "Fall To Pieces", "Disguise (Feat. Culture Kültur)" and "My Madhouse (Feat. Carved Souls)". The Paralell Project CD was very dynamic, holding different kind of songs and both male and female vocalists. This album, on the other hand, is only about club smashers. It's packed with potential futurepop hits! Note that the CD version holds an exclusive bonus track, not available on the download version. Get both versions on Bandcamp!

Ikon - The X-Files

Ikon - The X-Files (2012)
Not On Label

This is a special Ikon release in many ways. We can start with the most obvious thing - the cover; It's a reinterprenation of the artwork for the long deleted 1997 CD "The Final Experience". The record itself is a limited edition charity release where all proceeds from the sales goes to Very Special Kids. The CD contains rare tracks and cover versions that have not been included on the recent re-issues of "In The Shadow Of The Angel" and "Flowers For The Gathering".