What with Vince Clarke living in semi-retirement in rural Maine and New Order suddenly realizing after 30 years that they don't like each other all that much, it's a hard time to be a fan of synthesizer dance pop from the '80s. Until the Presets' second album comes on, that is. The Sydney-based duo of singer Julian Hamilton and synthesist Kim Moyes is straight-ahead old-fashioned electro-pop circa 1984, when the fusion of the Human League and Giorgio Moroder was complete but the cold, hard demands of techno and house hadn't yet asserted themselves outside of Detroit and Chicago. Tracks like first single "My People" and its surging follow-up, "This Boy's in Love," have the characteristic blend of steely synths, thumping electronic beats, and Motown-derived soul-tinged vocals that characterized the predominant strain of mid-'80s synth pop. It's not entirely retro -- "Eucalyptus," the Daft Punk-like "Talk Like That," and the soaring "A New Sky" would sound at home in any mainstream club DJ's set circa 2008 -- but the overall feel of the album from its arrangements to the sci-fi-themed cover art and even the album title (which several artists used for songs back in the day, from the Monochrome Set and Lords of the New Church to the Motels and Mental as Anything) harks back to the day when the Fairlight CMI was the height of musical sophistication and Jellybean Benitez and Arthur Baker were the hottest remixers on the block.
The Hot Freaks! , as we've stated previous, are a big part of the Monolith Music Festival this year. We'll be highlighting some of our favorite bands that are playing over the next few weeks, just in case you aren't up-to-speed... Add The Presets to the list of Aussie bands determined to pack dancefloors these days. With a grittier, more industrial sound than fellow Aussies Cut Copy , ...
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--- - |- I had been aware that the Presets had a new album coming out, but not until I listened to it did I know how great of a new album they had. Their first album, Beams, finds the Melbourne duo thrashing through a series of dark lo-fi electro rave-ups and a few surprisingly melodic tunes, most notably "The Girl and the Sea".Their new album, Apocalypso, builds on all aspects of their sound....
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The Bang Bang Deejays remix album 'D Is For Disco, E Is For Dancing' has already been mentioned on these pages when we posted their remix of the Presets track 'Kicking and Screaming' and thanks to the good people at Modular here's the ridiculously good disco dancing retouch from Australia's Shazam of the recent single from Swedish duo The Tough Alliance that [...]
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--- - |- The Presets - "Talk Like That" (YouTube) During his recent interview on BIGSTEREO, K.I.M. mentioned the video for "Talk Like That" directed by Jonas & François (who also did the "D.A.N.C.E" video) — well, here it is. Watch a creepy Presets' fangirl dance around and destroy their instruments. Who hasn't been there? Kinda brilliant. ~~- The Presets
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The Presets are still kicking and screaming in our ear one year on from that monster cult classic of an album aptly titled Apocalypso.Their album opener and beast of a track “Kicking And Screaming” is set for an official release come June and they have made a video from their perspective.They have played to sold [...]
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Yeah, we know this made the rounds last week but we’ve been holding for clearance from Modular. One of our favorite Canadian producers (we have a ton of them), disco maestro CFCF, remixes the latest single “Talk Like That” (off their latest album “Apocalypso”, digital only release from Modular and it’s out now) from Aussie [...]
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The Presets "Apocalypso" that followed their critically acclaimed 2006 debut "Beams" on Modular has dominated the airwaves, media and dancefloors across the globe since it's 2008 release. Such achievements were acknowledged at this years prestigious ARIA Awards, Australia's answer to the Grammy's. They received awards for the following categories, and 3 ARIA Artisan Awards, including [...]
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Aussie crew The Bang Gang Deejays follow up their "Light Sound Dance" mixcd that came out last year with a double disc monster called "D Is For Disco, E Is For Dancing" (released on Modular). To promote the release they're offering up their take of the track "Kicking And Screaming" originally done by fellow Australian [...]
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Aussies Cut Copy come to TX next week, and our friends at the Granada have hooked us up 5 pairs of tix to give away for Tuesday night's show. Email us at gorillavsbearcontests@gmail.com if you'd like to go, and I'll pick the winners on Monday. Their homies the Presets will kick off the party, and while I've never really gotten into them, CFCF's consistently tight remixes always tend to make me ...
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--- - |- I had been aware that the Presets had a new album coming out, but not until I listened to it did I know how great of a new album they had. Their first album, Beams, finds the Melbourne duo thrashing through a series of dark lo-fi electro rave-ups and a few surprisingly melodic tunes, most notably "The Girl and the Sea".Their new album, Apocalypso, builds on all aspects of their sound....
More >
From The Presets' MySpace. Their videos have been amazing lately. Apocalypso is still one of my favorite albums from last year. If I Know You represents one of the more sublimely opulent moments from the multi award winning second album by The Presets, Apocalypso. Built from a somber chord progression and poignant tale of bitterness and lessons learned, If I Know You echoes of lonely night dri...
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 "Apocalypso")
