Thursday, February 25, 2010

SCATTERED BY YOUR HAND.

We alluded to the pretty sick remix package that's come together around our upcoming next single with Yes Giantess, and while Big Stereo debuted the brill Baby Monster remix last week, today we've got the undeniable highlight in the form of another out of this world rework by London's Fear of Tigers. The whole thing's basically just a high energy build up to the 2.5 minute mark, at which point Tigers just lets loose with an explosion of his signature electro fireworks, all screaming synths cascading back and forth across the night sky while Yes Giantess make out with your girlfriend on a picnic blanket on the field below.

MP3: "The Ruins" (Fear of Tigers Remix) - Yes Giantess [exclusive]

Monday, February 22, 2010

CRASHING TO THE GROUND.

It's no secret we love Penguin Prison here at Neon Gold, as everything from his original material to his remix work never ceases to astonish us. Tonight we've got an exclusive offering in the form of the latter, his unreal remix of Jack Penate's "So Near", which might just be our favorite rework from him since that initial Marina remix he dropped for us when we first hit him up last spring. From the moment that ominous windswept intro kicks in to its epic synth-laden conclusion we're 100% smitten, and we very much hope you'll feel the same way. Dude is like a pyromaniac the way he's constantly lighting up the remix scene. For. Real.

MP3: "So Near" (Penguin Prison Remix) - Jack Penate [exclusive]

Sunday, February 21, 2010

TEARING ME UP.

60's influenced girls with guitars are hardly our usual speed here at Neon Gold, but we'd be lying if we told you we haven't been completely hooked on Alex Winston's "Animal Baby" since she first breezed across our radar a few weeks back. Hailing from Detroit, the Motor City native just moved to the concrete jungle where dreams are made of to work on her debut album with our dudes The Knocks, who are fresh off killing it in the studio with our dear friends Samuel and Ellie Goulding. But yeah, Alex got here like yesterday and already has major label A&R's beating down her door, so cop "Animal Baby" below and definitely keep an eye out for this one.

MP3: "Animal Baby" - Alex Winston

Thursday, February 18, 2010

MARINA HITS NYC.

At long last, the time has finally come for Marina & The Diamonds to hit the United States, and we're over the moon to be putting on her first-ever US show at The Bell House on Sunday, March 14th. We firmly believe Marina to be one of the best performers of our generation, and we couldn't be more honored to be putting on her stateside debut next month. The night is also the launch of Popjustice NYC, with whom we'll be promoting the show, and we're pleased to announce support for Marina in the form of a full band performance from the amazing Erik Hassle and The Knocks tearing it up on the wheels of steel in between sets. Marina will also be performing the next night at Le Poisson Rouge in Manhattan, before heading down to Austin, Texas for a string of shows at SXSW (among which will be our official Neon Gold Showcase, more details on that coming soon), before returning for a proper US tour later in the year. This is absolutely going to be one of the best events we ever put on, so roll over to Ticketweb to cop your tickets now, they will go fast.

In other news, The Family Jewels is out on Monday (though you can stream it in its entirety here) in the UK and is easily one of our favorite albums of the last five years, so pop down to the shops next week and show it the love it deserves. Seriously people, pop music needs Marina more than your wallet needs that tenner.

Monday, February 15, 2010

GOLD015: PENGUIN PRISON

We're pretty sure Penguin Prison is the best thing to happen to electronic music since electricity itself, so to say we're thrilled to be bringing his next single out on Neon Gold in March would be a significant understatement. His album is shaping to be all kinds of amazing, and this next single is an exciting first taste of things to come. A piping hot AA-side release out March 22nd and featuring "The Worse It Gets" and "Something I'm Not", it's a serious departure from the lighthearted pop fare of his debut and an accurate indicator of the eclectic diversity that's to come on his hotly-anticipated debut LP later this year. "The Worse It Gets" comes off like an incredible pop smash from MJ's paranoid phase, while "Something I'm Not" lights up the flipside with a speaker-busting onslaught of immense bass sounds and ominous synths. Together, they comprise one of the more exciting releases we've ever brought out, and we're thrilled to bring you an exclusive first taste with "Something I'm Not" below.

MP3: "Something I'm Not" - Penguin Prison [expired]

Sporting another handsome round of artwork from the brilliant FRAUGRAU, the single's available to preorder now and you can do so from the Neon Gold Shop or are UK friends over at Puregroove. With remixes coming in from our dudes Starsmith and RAC, as well as a few other friends, watch this space for those and much much more Penguin goodness in the coming weeks.

Sunday, February 14, 2010

UNDERTAKER TAKE ME UNDER.

We've been pretty Neon Gold-centric on the blog as of late, but guess what? There's some pretty good music happening beyond the realm of all things neon and gold in 2010, and one such thing is Pittsburgh's 1,2,3. They're hardly our usual "thing" per se, but their debut anthem "Confetti" is all kinds of amazing. Recognize.

MP3: "Confetti" - 1,2,3

Saturday, February 13, 2010

GOLD 014: YES GIANTESS

Yes Giantess first exploded onto the scene last summer with their triumphant AA-side single "Tuff N Stuff" / "You Were Young", which sold out faster than any other Neon Gold release to date and made them one of the most talked about new bands in the US pop scene. After two amazing sold out US tours supporting the likes of Little Boots and La Roux, as well as a coveted slot on last autumn's NME Radar Tour with Marina & The Diamonds and Golden Silvers, the guys are back with an explosive new single on Neon Gold next month.

A marked departure from the bro-pop party anthems that made up their debut single, "The Ruins" veers towards the other end of the pop spectrum, all dark, brooding synths and massive rumbling bass riffs. Fresh off his work as the principle producer on Ellie Goulding's hotly-anticipated debut album, Starsmith is at the reigns on the production here, turning in more of his signature synth wizardy and chart-ready dance beats. The flipside featurs "Call My Name", a babymaking jam for all the ladies out there, as frontman Jan Rosenfeld bumps and grinds like the R&B lothario he was born to be. Together they mark a distinct evolution for the band and an exciting taste of what's to come for Yes Giantess in 2010.

MP3: "The Ruins" - Yes Giantess

Sweetening the deal even further is a remix package featuring reworks from the likes of Neon Gold favorites Fear of Tigers, Baby Monster, Clock Opera and more, which we'll be unleashing over the coming weeks in advance of the single's March 8th release date. Limited to 500 copies worldwide as usual, preorder is available now from the Neon Gold Shop for our North American customers, while our international friends can find the single stocked exclusively through Puregroove. This Valentine's Day, give her the gift she'll never forget. A receipt for your preorder purchase of The Ruins 7". Seriously, do it.

Friday, February 12, 2010

MORE THAN ANYTHING.

We're not sure why Kate Nash is trying to be Karen O on this new track of hers, but we are sure that the little strings bit towards the end is quite literally very nice.

MP3: "I Just Love You More" - Kate Nash

(Sorry for the absence. We're back now. More hot jams forthcoming.)