New Scottish band CHVRCHES = SYNTH POP BLISS!

Just discovered this ultra pop happy Scottish band called CHVRCHES and they have this FAB pop song called GUN which is out on 14 July. Check it out below.

 

CHVRCHES formed in 2011 and are from Glasgow. The group consists of Lauren Mayberry (lead vocals, additional synthesizers), Iain Cook (synthesizers, guitar, vocals), and Martin Doherty (synthesizers, vocals). They released an EP in March of this year called RECOVER. The band are really a synth-pop dream and I personally cannot wait for their longplayer THE BONES OF WHAT YOU BELIEVE to drop on 23/24 September UK/Rest of the World. The band are also supporting DEPECHE MODE on some of their tour dates.

The band are coming to Australia in early August and their 2 Sydney shows are SOLD OUT. If anyone has a spare ticket please let me know - I'll give you an arm in exchange!

 

CHVRCHES on FACEBOOK

CHVRCHES on TWITTER

CHVRCHES WEBSITE

 

Pet Shop Boys to release new album Elysium this September

Today is definitely a good news day with the news that The Pet Shop Boys will release a NEW ALBUM titled Elysium this coming September. Their 11th studio album was produced by Andrew Dawson and the band themselves in LA. They have released one of the track's from the album INVISIBLE with a short film by Brian Bress. Thanks to Vince for this news. Its interesting that they have veered away from their usual straight forward album titles and gone for something a little more obscure. The song is simple but also mesmerising at the same time and the Keith Haring-esque film is quite cool. I have a feeling this is definitely going to be on the ART side of the Pet Shop Boys (rather than the POP side)! 

Do you remember when Magazines were $1

I was tweeting about Smash Hits magazine the other day when i received a tweet about a new book being published about the history of Smash Hits Australia magazine. What are the chances? It was all a bit serendipitous really. The new book Pop Life! Inside Smash Hits Australia 1984-2007 published by Affirm Press tells the story of Smash Hits Australia which was published from 1984 to 2007 (it lasted 1 year longer than Smash Hits UK)!

Essential Summer Reading!!!!!!!!!

I clearly remember the first issue with Wham on the cover and when i saw it at my local shop in November 1984, i was beyond excited. It was a little bit of England in Australia (well Edwardstown, Adelaide actually - ie boring suburbia)! It was only $1.00 and I think even then that was cheap. It was a fortnightly ritual buying a copy and reading about your favourite (mostly British) pop stars. This was when POP WAS BIG! We are talking major! The other great thing was the humour and wit that was used in the magazine. I still use some of the lines today like 'down the dumper'.  I actually stopped buying the magazine in the early 90's when TV stars started appearing in the magazine. Who really cares what Bruce Samazan has for breakfast! For the pop purist it just wasn't working anymore. I think i moved onto Juice magazine (that didn't last long) and was in my early 20's at that stage.Words can't describe the impact this magazine has had on me. It definitely started my obsession with magazines and contributed to my desire for pop stars to be witty, funny and not boring. You can visit the facebook page for more information about the book.