Brooklyn quartet Selebrities make breezy, ethereal tracks lying somewhere near the intersection of dreampop and new wave. “Temporary Touch,” the lead single off their forthcoming sophomore LP Lovely Things, is a brisk pop paean with washy chorus-drenched rhythm guitars, crisp synthetic drums and a lead riff that evokes the magical Flock of Seagulls gem “Space Age Love Song.” Lovers of the John Hughes aesthetic and 80s sound palettes will instantly fall for this gorgeous, romantical track from a band that counts “the mystic haze before the TriStar Horse appears” among its key influences.

Selebrities Lovely Things is due out June 25th on Cascine.

STREAM: Selebrities – “Temporary Touch”

In celebration of reaching 10,000 followers on Twitter, electro heavyweights Oliver have teamed up with like-minded producer Thee Mike B to remix Blondie’s new wave classic “Heart Of Glass” into a retro modern dance number. Grab a free download of the track below.

Oliver’s Mechanical EP is out now on Fool’s Gold.

MP3: Blondie – “Heart Of Glass (Oliver & Thee Mike B Remix)”

Katie Stelmanis, co-founder and lead singer of Toronto outfit Austra, doesn’t think it’s possible for her to “write in a major key,” but she certainly brings major drama in the band’s new video for “Home.” Striking a balance between classical and electronic, the piano driven single expresses anxiety of waiting at night for a lover to return. The video features a melancholy Stelmanis staring at the camera as a whir of backstage activity goes on around her. Her apparent loneliness corresponds fittingly to the lyrics and makes for a captivating video. Who knew loneliness could be so catchy?

“Home” is off Austra’s sophomore album Olympia, available June 17th via Domino Records.

STREAM: Austra – “Home”

Milano Sun shed their summer skin on their latest track “Scandinavia.” The Swedish trio are no stranger to new wave, having dashed a sprinkle of it onto last year’s balearic anthem “Vertigo.” They seriously upped the dosage this time around, however, toning down the sun-drenched instrumentals in favor of retro synths and reverb-heavy vocals. That’s not to say the old Milano Sun is gone, though; “Scandinavia” still packs some explosive pop power in its chorus. The band has paired the track with a mysterious monochrome video, which you can watch above.

“Scandinavia” appears on Milano Sun’s six-track EP of the same name, which also includes earlier singles “Vertigo” and “Already Gone.” Stream it below.

STREAM: Milano Sun - Scandinavia EP

Over the past few years, Wild Nothing‘s name has become synonymous with dream pop. If you’re familiar with the magic of Jack Tatum then you know that’s for good reason. Though it hasn’t even been a year since the band’s sophomore LP, Nocturne, Tatum is already cranking out fresh material from his upcoming EP, Empty Estate, that’s guaranteed to keep fans captivated.

Empty Estate’s first single, “A Dancing Shell”, is the perfect teaser to the seven-track release. The track blends gleaming synths and deep basslines over a luminous, upbeat atmosphere that’s easily reminiscent of The Psychedelic Furs or The Talking Heads. The band whipped up some 80s throwback visuals for the track, which you can watch above.

Wild Nothing’s Empty Estate EP comes out May 14th via Captured Tracks.

STREAM: Wild Nothing – “A Dancing Shell”

Morrissey made it clear this week that he was — and is still – not the biggest fan of the late Margaret Thatcher. Whether you agree with the political leanings of the outspoken singer or not, we couldn’t care less. But what better excuse is there to reminisce on The Smiths and the rest of their heart-on-sleeve, new wave compatriots? And what better way is there to do that than with Hints?

Hailing from the indie mecca of Brooklyn, Hints sounds like the Smiths’ well-produced grandson. That’s not to take away from the band; while they clearly draw their inspiration from the past, they succeed where countless numbers of imitators have failed. They have their sound nailed down, they’re plenty catchy, and most of all, they’re fun. Stream Vol. II, their second collection of singles, below, and make sure to check out the rest of their work over on their Soundcloud.

STREAM: Hints - Vol. II

“A Stone In The Ground” is the first track we’ve heard from Fainting by Numbers, a new collaborative outfit featuring Hot Chip’s Alexis Taylor and German minimal producer Justus Köhncke (of Kompakt fame). It’s a simple but riveting slice of introspective electropop, with heartfelt vocals and a puffy-sleeved 80s slowdance vibe that evokes well-coiffed acts like OMD and When In Rome. The track features creaking synth sounds teetering on the brink of detuned eeriness — a Hot Chip trademark — but remains thoroughly melodic and accessible.

Moshi Moshi will release Fainting By Numbers’ “A Stone In The Ground” on April 15 as an AA-side along with a cover of John Lennon’s “Watching The Wheels.”

STREAM: Fainting by Numbers – “A Stone In The Ground”

Duncan Cooper (a.k.a. Wildarms) sounds like the tropical vacation you’ve been meaning to take. Cooper is Cascine‘s latest pop hero and he’s stolen our hearts with his debut EP, Clear Eyes. The EP takes its name from Friday Night Lights’ Dillon Panthers and, like the fabled football team, is endlessly optimistic. Layers and layers of aquatic synths and hip hop samples create a dense menagerie of sounds that will carry you off into a dream. One by one like cookie crumbs Cooper has been releasing tracks off Clear Eyes and now we’re one step closer to the oasis. We’re excited to bring you the exclusive premiere of “Love Is Just True.” The track sounds like the song that comes on the moment you see the person you’ve been dreaming of appear in the midst of a crowded room.

Keep reading after the jump to hear Cooper’s thoughts on the track. Wildarms’ Clear Eyes comes out February 5th via Cascine.

PREMIERE: Wildarms – “Love Is Just True”

(more…)

Turns out there’s a HUGE difference golden fields and gold fields (and, for that matter, “Fields of Gold”). Google image search “golden fields” and you’ll get exactly what you expect. “Gold Fields,” however, lands you black-and-white photos of miners and their broken dreams.

Well, those miners need to cheer up because Gold Fields is coming to All Things Gold this Thursday and it’s nothing to lose color about. The down under wonders promise to pick your dreams up off the floor and put them back together with their misty mountain pop and jagged little thrills. This isn’t your typical Australian synth parade–these guys change genres faster than Facebook changes privacy settings, yet manage to pull it all together into a cohesive ocean of new new wave.

Don’t miss out. Grab your tickets below and make sure to invite your friends on Facebook.

TICKETS: All Things Gold (Fields)
RSVP: Facebook

STREAM: Gold Fields – Treehouse

STREAM: Gold Fields – Dark Again

STREAM: Gold Fields – The Woods

Solange Knowles’ True EP, released Tuesday, is a striking collection of thoughtful, anti-formulaic pop songs. The EP presents Knowles and songwriting partner Devonté Hynes at the vanguard of a new “between the cracks pop” movement emerging at the intersection of indie and the mainstream. They specialize in music that’s at once familiar and strange, balancing immediate appeal with creative, boundary-pushing songwriting.

The track “Some Things Never Seem to Fucking Work” is a prime example. Like most of the songs on True, it has a sparse, repetitive arrangement that somehow manages to be utterly captivating and intensely melodic. Hynes continues to develop the distinctive sound we first noticed in his solo work as Blood Orange: dark, minimal bedroom pop heavily influenced by eighties new wave music (Soft Cell, Modern English, Prince) and crackling with emotional urgency. A synesthete who hears colors, Hynes describes his life as “an ongoing listening session” and brings an obsessive perfectionism and love of sound to his production work. In Solange he’s found “the best singer he knows,” and their chemistry shows on True. Stream “Some Things Never Seem to Fucking Work” below.

True is out now via Terrible Records.

STREAM: Solange – “Some Things Never Seem to Fucking Work”