THE WORLD IS IN YOUR PALM.

If you couldn't tell, we're getting deep into Smallpools this summer. The LA outfit has been soundtracking our sunshine in a major way these past few weeks, and now Charli XCX and Twin Idol have come together to remix their gatecrashing debut single "Dreaming," giving the original a spaced-out intergalactic makeover. Smallpools play their debut live show with us on Popshop Brooklyn next month, before heading out on the road with San Cisco on their debut tour. Trust us, you're gonna want to keep a CLOSE eye on this lot.

STREAM: "Dreaming" (Charli XCX vs. Twin Idol Remix) - Smallpools

WAKING EVERYBODY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

Marina & The Diamonds and Charli XCX are two of our favorite popstars/humans in the game, for now and forever. Our efforts to get them to join forces as a superduo (called Sister Sister, obvs) have been well documented, but we suppose for now this incredible new duet will have to do. Never ones to disappoint, "Just Desserts" is a delightful lovestep treat baked to absolute perfection, chock full of bubblegum braggadocio and sugar sweet nothings. The track finds Marina and Charli achieving levels of lady swagger never before seen in the wild, as both come correct over one of our favorite Marina demos of all time ("The Other Foot", where my superfans at), complementing each other perfectly in the process. High fives all around guys.

DOWNLOAD: "Just Desserts" - Marina & the Diamonds + Charli XCX

LET ME LIVE THAT FANTASY.

Ella Yelich-O'Connor (street name Lorde) is only sixteen years old, but she's already been turning heads for a minute now in her native New Zealand, where her track "Royals" has been picking up serious steam on local airwaves. With all the buoyant leftfield charm of Kimbra and the laidback swagger and sway of Sleigh Bells' Alexis Krauss, Lorde shines bright like a diamond in the rough on debut EP, The Love Club. With regal harmonies and her own songwriting idiosyncrasies, Lorde takes us back to the first time we heard the teenage demos of Marina & The Diamonds and Charli XCX with their youthful vitality and endearing quirks. And for us, that's praise of just about the highest possible order.

DOWNLOAD: "Royals" - Lorde

DANCING IN THE DARKNESS.

We have endless love for Charli XCX and her unique blend of femme fatale goth-pop, and her star continues to rise at blinding speeds in the US as she sets out on her first proper tour next week with none other than our own St. Lucia co-headlining alongside her. New single "You're The One" is the epitome of Charli-pop, a driving, pulsing pop anthem, and to mark the momentous occasion of their co-headline run together, St. L has blessed the track with his golden remix touch.

It takes off with twinkling electronics floating mid-air and Charli's vocals riding along the intro as gentle as air, until the first verse drops and the rest is history. Then when the middle eight flips the switch, you're sucked into a wind tunnel of tireless synths and ageless basslines, a magical kingdom of immortality that makes heaven feel like home. The Charli / St. Lucia dates kick off this Saturday at Bowery Ballroom in NYC, before hitting the road in the days that follow, see the flyer above for details on the full run.

STREAM: "You're The One (St Lucia Remix)" - Charli XCX

NEW SHAPES SXSW 2012.

This year, we're getting the New Shapes SXSW team back together again for one more run at the title, bringing you the pond-spanning best of the US, the UK, and beyond in one mega bill. Indoors and outdoors, we'll be using every square inch of the Red Eyed Fly. Outside, we've got Ambassadors, the enchanting Wild Belle, the UK's next great rock band Morning Parade, our resident dreamers Savoir Adore and St Lucia, and of course, the new loves of our life, HAIM. Inside, we've got the equally brilliant stylings of Nathaniel Rateliff, Daughter, Spinto Band, Chet Faker, and the incredible Charli XCX and Ben Howard as the icing on the proverbial cake. And as if that wasn't enough, Andy Rourke of The Smiths (legend) will also be manning the decks all day. It's all popping off March 15th, so get your RSVP in HERE and get involved.

OUTDOORS

12:15pm: Ambassadors // STREAM: "Unconsolable"

01:15pm: Wild Belle // STREAM: "Keep You"

02:15pm: Morning Parade // STREAM: "Headlights"

03:15pm: Savoir Adore // STREAM: "Dreamers"

04:15pm: St. Lucia // STREAM: "Before the Dive"

05:15pm: HAIM // STREAM: "Better Off"

INDOORS

11:45am: Nathaniel Rateliff // STREAM: "Shroud"

12:45pm: Daughter // DOWNLOAD: "Love"

01:45pm: Spinto Band // STREAM: "Take It"

02:45pm: Chet Faker // STREAM: "Terms and Conditions"

03:45pm: Charli XCX // STREAM: "Nuclear Seasons"

04:45pm: Ben Howard // STREAM: "The Wolves"

NEW SHAPES NYC: DJANGO DJANGO + MORE

Because one of anything is never enough (and for those of you who can't/won't make it out to Brooklyn), we're ready to announce round two of our pre-SXSW New Shapes weekend. It's all going down in Manhattan at our new live headquarters Santos Party House two days later, on March 12th. This time out we've got Clock Opera and Charli XCX back for another round of blinding pop brilliance, as they open things up for another one of London's finest in experimental popstars Django Django. These New Shapes shows will most likely be our biggest shows of the spring and considering how fast tickets are selling for our Brooklyn show the Saturday prior, we highly recommend snapping up a pair HERE before it's too late.

STREAM: "Default" - Django Django


STREAM: "Once And For All" - Clock Opera


DOWNLOAD: "I'll Never Know" - Charli XCX

BLOOD WILL DRIP THE COLOR GOLD.

Charli XCX keeps the hit streak alive with her latest offering "I'll Never Know", recorded as part of some Red Bull/Fashion Week thing that we don't totally understand but are FULLY down with if it means new Charli for our ears, which - thankfully - it does. We'd venture to describe it to you in some kind of detail, but Yasi over at Cultist pretty much smashed it with her whole "drinking pina coladas at the beach with Robert Smith" thing, so we'll just quit while we're ahead and point you to the download link below. As well as the ticket link to her first ever US show (with Niki & The Dove! and Clock Opera!), which we'll be putting on at Knitting Factory next month.

DOWNLOAD: "I'll Never Know" - Charli XCX

NEW SHAPES BROOKLYN: NIKI & THE DOVE + MORE

By now you're likely well familiar with our annual New Shapes extravaganza every CMJ, but now it's time to introduce it to the spring as we establish a new Neon Gold tradition. The weekend prior to SXSW will henceforth be celebrated (by precisely no one but those attending) as New Shapes weekend, as we look to bring those of you unable to make the trip down to Austin our picks to steal the show as the reigning acts of SXSW. This year's festivities will be a two night affair, popping off Saturday March 10th in Brooklyn with a second night to follow Monday March 12th in Manhattan.

It all kicks off at the Knitting Factory March 10th, as we bring you a triple threat of our favorite new international acts in Niki & The Dove, Charli XCX and Clock Opera, plus one of the best new bands in the NYC in Ghost Beach. For Niki & The Dove it'll be their first NYC headline play, while Clock Opera and Charli XCX will be playing in our fair city (and on US soil in the case of Charli) for the first time ever. All signs point to this being one of our biggest events of the spring and tickets have already been selling like hotcakes on the back of the Knitting Factory's soft announce last week, so move swiftly and get your tickets NOW before it's too late.

DOWNLOAD: "The Drummer" - Niki & The Dove


DOWNLOAD: "Mother Protect" - Niki & The Dove


STREAM: "Nuclear Seasons" - Charli XCX


STREAM: "Lesson No. 7" - Clock Opera


DOWNLOAD: "Too Young" - Ghost Beach

ALL WORTH MY WHILE.

Charli XCX is pretty much our favorite new ladysinger in the game for 2012, and her debut album is way up there on our most anticipated debuts of the year list. With two flawless singles already in the mix and another one on the way (trust us, it's amazing), she hits again with this free Valentine's Day giveaway, appropriately titled "Valentine". We'll be putting on her debut US shows in NYC and SXSW next month, so stay tuned for more details on those and - in the meantime - Happy Valentine's Day friends. See y'all at Hearts of Rage tonight?

MP3: "Valentine" - Charli XCX