Last week, Mini Viva performed in the Popjustice venue at the Camden Crawl. Click here to see a set of pictures from the night and read some reviews:
«When you hear the team behind nearly all of Girls Aloud's hits are setting up their own record label you've got to be a bit excited. Mini Viva are the first fruits to come from the Xenomania tour of the UK hunting for amazing pop stars and they filled the Cuban Bar on Friday night with a bunch of fans escaping from the skinny jeans of the rest of the festival. Singing that kind of perfect pop you'd expect from the Xenomania team, Frankee and Brit are two tiny girls who are very much in tune with each other. Limited dance routines were perfectly synchronised and you felt like they almost had a connection, knowing exactly what the other was about to do. With plenty of club mixes of limited release 'I Left My Heart In Toyko' already whizzing round the club scene, Mini Viva might be just starting out but have got their act perfectly honed.» Londonist
«The first act I caught on the bill were girl duo Mini Viva. The girls are currently working with Xenomania so look set to release some quality Pop in the near future. Their Crawl showcase seemed to be one of their first gigs, with Britt and Frankee showing off their dance routines to an audience that smiled their way throughout the duo's set. I thought the whole thing was great fun, a tiny bit cheap and cheerful but that may have been the bar setting rather than what was happening onstage. I hope Mini Viva's management dont smooth out their rough edges too much as the girls are highly entertaining as they are.» The Music Fix
Digital Spy has posted a clip with the chorus of "It's Your Dynamite", the b-side of the new Girls Aloud single:
Here's what Digital Spy says about the song:
Operating at the "very banging" end of the electropop spectrum, it features a slightly more old-school feel than what we've come to expect from Girls Aloud of late, but it's by no means outdated. Sarah kicks things off with a gritty vocal placed over a grinding bassline, with the baton then passed over to Cheryl, who neatly leads us to a stomping Hi-NRG chorus.
It's all a bit of a treat for the ears, but giving 'Dynamite' that extra edge is the rave-like sequence that follows each chorus and bears the hallmarks of something Ms. Harding could be found necking vodkas to on one of her infamous nights on the tiles.
"It's Your Dynamite" is available on the "Untouchable" CD single. Pre-order it on HMV.
The new Pet Shop Boys album gets its American release today, via Astralwerks. Both single and double-CD versions are available. The album is currently number one in Amazon's Dance & Electronic chart.
Yes was released in Argentina last week and is soon to be released in Chile, Colombia, Russia and China. In China, the song "Legacy" will appear only as an instrumental on the album. According to EMI, the lyrics "failed the censorship of the General Admission of Press and Publication department".
The offending lyrics are: "Governments fall/Glaciers melt/Hurricanes bawl"; "Resentment remain/both east and west/Police expect/an arrest"; "They're raising an army/in the North/from York Minster/to the Firth of Forth/A pilgrimage of grace/you won't believe it/Such a human face..."
Some recent American reviews of the album:
U.K. girly-pop production team Xenomania bring mirrorball sparkle to alternately anxious and elated ballads. 4/5 Spin
You could be forgiven for fearing Higgins would kill off the last bit of Pet Shop Boys’ regality, smothering it with dance beats and bubbly production. But, in a somewhat shocking turn of events, the paring has actually achieved its goal…and then some. Transcending rote “return to form” clichés, Yes is one of Pet Shop Boys’ best albums ever. 7/10 PopMatters
On their excellent 10th album, the music leans toward the ornate, with snatches of Tchaikovsky and spaghetti-Western atmospherics enveloping the synths and house beats. 3/5 Rolling Stone
When the economy finally kicks the last velvet-rope VIP down to the breadline, Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe will remain in their hot tubs, counting their gold. Because no one writes better dance-pop odes to the Fallen Empire of the Feel-Good Class. B+ Entertainment Weekly
Yes is the sound of the Pet Shop Boys unwinding and returning to their usual fascinations; isolation, fashion, grand arrangements, and witty synth pop anthems. 3.5/5 All Music Guide
Vagabond are in the middle of their tour as main support for James Morrison. If you see them on the James Morrison tour, make sure you pick up one of the snippet CD samplers that are given out at the end of the night as people leave the venue. The 5-track promo sampler includes the following songs:
1. Sweat (Until The Morning) 2. Don't Wanna Run No More 3. I Know A Girl 4. I've Been Wanting You 5. I Said Hello
Mint South has reviewed one of Vagabond's recent shows:
«Second band Vagabond should have been headlining tonight. They really should. Singer Alex Vargos stepped out and immediately stunned the crowd with his spectacular singing voice. Kudos to the rest of the band for turning up to support him, but the music burbled along in the background and was really only there to showcase the vocals. Every note was spot on, every curl and tremble of the voice was well practised and dead correct. Hiding shyly under his mop of hair, concentrated expression and 80s t shirt, Alex really is the ideal front-man; perhaps purchased in flat-pack form from the new IKEA.
The bassline led a merry dance in the background with the odd soulful blast of brass. The band are signed to Geffen (single ‘Sweat (Until The Morning)’ was given an airing tonight) and it’s easy to see why: their radio-friendly sounds combined with the perfect voice, non-offensive sound and easy on the eye appearance would make any record label executive give thanks upon receiving their demo. With such a big sound in such a small room, they would do well at an open-air gig or as a stadium support act – and maybe one day will be headlining there themselves.»
The highly collectable 7'' vinyl of Toddla T's remix of "Sweat (Until The Morning)" is available to buy from these stores:
Toddla T's remix blurs the line between dubstep, dancehall and breaks, and features MCing from Mr. Versatile.
Culturedeluxe has published a review of the "Sweat (Until The Morning)" remixes:
«Multinational group Vagabond (Uruguay-Denmark-London-erm, Huddersfield) look set to score high with new single `Sweat (Until The Morning)` despite the original mix sounding like the Lighthouse Family making a comeback with a depressed Tina Turner on vocals. However, the intelligent sods have managed to rope in three very different productions for a rather nifty remix package and it is to this we turn our attention solely.
The first of three mixes (six if you include the instrumentals) is a pleasant but uninspiring mix of glitch and dancehall from Toddla T with additional toasting from Mr Versatile while Plugs make the best use of the vocals on a sunkist, Balaeric re-imagination.
Best of all is the Filthy Dukes `Vocal` Mix which replaces nearly all of the pedestrian original with pulsing synth screeches, Vince Clarke bleepery and sleek house craftmanship. By far the best way to enjoy Vagabond this Spring.»
Vagabond did an acoustic performance of "Sweat (Until The Morning)" for Balcony TV. Watch it here.
According to Xenomania's official MySpace, Vagabond will be shooting the video for their next single in the next couple of weeks (possibly in the US again).
The new Pet Shop Boys album has been receiving positive responses from all over the press, with ratings ranging from 3/5 to 4.5/5.
Eye Weekly writes that Yes is «the poppiest, most accessible record the band have recorded since Very in 1992», while musicOMH says that «they're unleashing their most exuberant album in years», an «upbeat, insanely catchy album that contains barely a dull moment». The reviewer adds that Yes is «one of their best», «a super-concentrated hit of everything there is to enjoy about the Pet Shop Boys: danceable yet everyday pop, with irony behind the warmth and warmth behind the irony».
Digital Spy says that «at Yes's heart is a clutch of utterly joyous pop songs» and that collaborating with Xenomania «hasn't goaded the Pets into trying anything undignified. Yes sounds clean, fresh and contemporary but it never tries to get down with the kids». According to BBC News, Xenomania's influence is most apparent in «the heightened, pulsing beats and shiny, space-age sheen that see the Pet Shop Boys keep in touch with the current sound». BBC Music adds that "The Way It Used To Be" and "Love etc." are «the most perfect fusion of Xenomania and Pet Shop Boys sensibilities».
Time Out magazine assesses that «although the finished result is far more reserved than most Xenomaniacal albums, the PSBs' edge has clearly been refreshed by the collaborative process». However, The Independent declares that the Xenomania collaboration «seems at best unnecessary», while The Guardian writes that Yes «neither benefits nor suffers from Xenomania's attentions».
The Scotsman notes that the timing couldn't be better for a Pet Shop Boys comeback (it's not really a comeback, though, is it?): «after all – synthpop is, inescapably, the sound of 2009». «For better or worse, it's exactly what you might expect a Pet Shop Boys album to sound like in 2009», adds the reviewer. GigWise says that, while Yes won't invoke new revelations, «it does reinforce their importance as an asset to an industry they've largely kept at bay».
Pet Shop Boys' new single, "Love etc.", is now on sale. The "Love etc." two-track CD single (including a new song, "Gin and Jag") and a five-track CD of mixes are on sale in shops and from online retailers. "Love etc." is now priced at £0.50 on 7Digital.
The song was written with, and produced by, Xenomania, and was planned as the first single from early on in the sessions for the new Pet Shop Boys album. «We worked on that song from May last year until just before Christmas,» Neil Tennant told Music Week. «Brian [Higgins] kept endlessly tweaking it, but I’ve never got sick of it. It sounds like us, without really being like anything else we have ever done.”
The single has been very well received and is being acclaimed as the duo's best single in many years. Read a few bits from reviews:
musicOMH: «their catchiest single in years, cocks an elegant snook at the high life.»
Music Week: «a promising first card to play – a hook-stuffed but understated Xenomania co-creation with a fascinatingly peculiar, call-and-response chorus.»
The Sunday Mail: «a lovely bit of electro pop. It's uplifting, catchy and dancey.»
Virgin Music: «the middle aged men of pop have, along with Xenomania, created a right old proper pop sensation.»
Prefix Mag: «it finds the duo staying a lot truer to the quality and form of their earlier work than a lot groups working on their third decade together.»
"Love Etc." is a song written by Neil Tennant, Chris Lowe, Brian Higgins, Miranda Cooper, Tim Powell & Owen Parker and produced by Xenomania. Credited on programming & keyboards are Chris Lowe, Fred Falke, Sacha Collisson, Brian Higgins, Matt Gray, Tim Powell and Owen Parker (who also plays guitar).
Two EPs are available on iTunes and other digital stores. The tracklistings are:
1. Love etc. 2. We're all criminals now 3. Vulnerable 4. Did you see me coming?
1. Love etc. (Pet Shop Boys mix) 2. Love etc. (Gui Boratto mix) 3. Love etc. (Kurd Maverick mix) 4. Love etc. (Frankmusik Star & Garter dub)
"Vulnerable" and "Did you see me coming?" are from the new album Yes, which is released next week.
Gabriella Cilmi's new single in the UK, "Save The Lies (Good To Me)", gets its official release as a maxi-CD today. Also available to buy are two digital EP bundles, one with remixes and the other with cover versions of Justin Timberlake's "Cry Me A River" and of the old standard "Fly Me To The Moon" (which has been recorded by Frank Sinatra, Connie Francis, Tony Bennett, among others).
The new radio version of "Save The Lies (Good To Me)" includes extra layers of vocals and synths. The song was written by Gabriella Cilmi, Miranda Cooper, Brian Higgins, Tim Powell, Bob Bradley (who was previously responsible for the opening bass riff on Sugababes' "Red Dress") and Saint Etienne's Bob Stanley & Pete Wiggs.
The single has been receiving mixed reviews. While some praise her attitude, enthusiasm and varied sonic styles, others have criticized the song's "cheap faux-feminist ‘empowering’ lyric" and Gabriella's similarities to the singer Anastacia, "notably in her contralto voice and noisy growl":
-- Teletext Planet Sound: «The Aussie sounds lean, mean and keen to show you a good time. Combining Sugababes production values with a tune that echoes Kylie & Robbie's Kids, it's pop with attitude.» 8/10 -- Manchester Evening News: «It's got hit running through it like a stick of rock. Shameless hussy.» 3/5 -- Digital Spy: «She may only be a whippersnapper, but Cilmi is already displaying the chameleon-like quality that every popstar needs.»
These are the formats and track lists of the single:
CD-Single 1. Save The Lies (Good To Me) – radio edit 2. Sweet About Me – Live Version 3. Cry Me A River – Live Version 4. Fly Me To the Moon
Digital downloads - EP1 (buy on iTunes) 1 Save The Lies (Good To Me) - radio edit 2 Save The Lies (Good To Me) - Kinky Roland mix 3 Save The Lies (Good To Me) - Mason vocal mix 4 Save The Lies (Good To Me) - Mason Dub mix 5 Save The Lies (Good To Me) - Out Of Office club mix 6 Save The Lies (Good To Me) - Out Of Office dub mix
Digital downloads - EP2 (buy on iTunes) 1. Save The Lies (Good To Me) – radio edit 2. Sweet About Me – Live Version 3. Cry Me A River – Live Version 4. Fly Me To the Moon
Xenomania is a songwriting and production house based in Kent, England. It was founded by songwriter and producer Brian Higgins.
Since 1996, Xenomania have written, produced and remixed tracks for a string of successful artists including Girls Aloud, Pet Shop Boys, Sugababes, Dannii and Kylie Minogue, Saint Etienne, Cher, Gabriella Cilmi and many others.
