Electric Feels: Your Weekly Electronic Music Recap

Joe Goddard - So Much

Although you may be more familiar with his work as a leading member of UK indie-dance group Hot Chip, Joe Goddard has been pushing out some incredible music on his own accord through his solo project. 2011's solo break-out Gabriel (and its accompanying, dizzying Soulwax remix) is still one of the catchiest dance singles to come from the UK this decade, and his 2017 album Electric Lines further established the prolific musician as one of electronic's best. In 2018 he returns, eyeing off the top with a dancefloor-ready two-side So Much / Human Touch, with the two tracks perfectly complementing each other with their disco-house roots and anthemic pulse. So Much is the leading highlight of the pair, bringing together a digitalised vocal line with a bubbling production that gradually builds momentum over the long-winded nine-minute duration, which at its peak moments, blossoms into a synth-drenched funk that'll remind you of his production expertise.

Maribou State - Feel Good feat. Khruangbin

Speaking of big UK dance names, last month saw the return of much-loved British duo Maribou State, who burst out of the gates with a spiralling lo-fi number titled Turnmills. As it turns out, the single - one of the best electronic tracks of the year so far in my opinion - is the first from their upcoming returning album Kingdoms In Colour, which will arrive through Counter Records on September 7 ahead of some huge international shows (and hopefully, an Australian return later in the year). Feel Good is the second taste of their album and it picks up where Turnmills ends, uniting glitchy vocal chopping with a chiming house production that wouldn't feel out of place on a Bonobo record, blending organic and synthetic instrumentation in a way that very little are doing right now. Uniting with Houston-based trio Khruangbin for the occasion, Feel Good is somehow nostalgic yet forward thinking, bringing classical house sounds into the future with their own Midas touch that is sure to be further spotlighted as the release date for their new album draws closer.

GANZ - Let's Fly Away Together feat. LUNA MAY

Dutch producer GANZ has always been one of our international favourites. His typically synth-focused productions and remixes helped usher in a new era of electronic music alongside Australian front-runners like Flume and Wave Racer, with the musician and label-head continuing to push boundaries and genre limits with every release since. Let's Fly Away Together is the first taste of his forthcoming Skin In The Game EP due out later in the year and it's an absolute delight, joining forces with Australia's own LUNA MAY for a crashing return single that is all about contrast. Let's Fly Away Together opens with a soft synth melody and LUNA MAY's bright vocals, which give the single this airy, refreshing feel before a crashing, bass-centric choral break-down sweeps in and disrupts that light feeling. This contrast between light and heavy productions makes Let's Fly Away Together quite a journey, and one definitely worth taking ahead of the full EP release in the next few months. 

Yù Yī - Peaches feat. Ellen

There's not much to be known about Yù Yī, other than their name being really frustrating to type out 50 times with all the little accents, and that their debut single Peaches is an absolute epic. Featuring the slightly sensual, R&B-tinged vocals of another newcomer going by the name Ellen, Peaches is a refreshingly bright and sun-soaked funk-infused moment, bringing together this woozy R&B vocal with a gliding production driven by this funky, slightly Kaytranada-esque bass-line and punchy synth work that combines with these playful melodies and percussive twangs to give the single that summery vibe. It's the first taste of their upcoming debut EP FRÖÖTI, which is sure to keep pushing these fun and exciting sounds as Yù Yī breaks out and becomes an Australian up-and-comer worth keeping a close eye on.

Akouo - Painted On feat. La'Vel

Tasmanian producer Akouo is another name we've been following throughout the years, from his early reworks of Flume and Gambino to tracks such as last year's Montaigne collaboration Feel That, which pushed Akouo further into the limelight than his ever been before thanks to its slick and radio-ready pop-leaning sound that was both accessible and forward-thinking. Last week saw his first single for 2018 arrive, Painted On, with the synthy, hip-hop-leaning collaboration with La’Vel marking his first track since signing to the ever-incredible Trench Records label - who boast a roster including Miss Blanks, Moonbase and Herzeloyde, amongst many other boundary-pushers. Painted On is a bit of a change of pace for the Tasmanian production heavyweight, whose hip-hop influences are more present than ever amongst the single's heavy-textured production and La'Vel's quick-paced vocal. That said, it still features that characteristically great production finesse that Akouo has solidified over the past few years, and we're stoked to see him diversify his sound and continue to push his limits with every release.

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