We've always had a weakness for Polarsets. Newcastle's finest have been melting our faces off with their breezy tropical heat since 2011 when we brought their debut single "Morning" into the world in all its 7" glory. And now with their debut album on the way, they're back with a true return to form, a sparkling studio version of an early favorite, "Just Don't Open Your Eyes Yet". Unsurprisingly, it's an electronic pop sandstorm of weathervaning synths and island percussion that soaks through the summer sweat. Just don't be surprised when all you're left with is a sugar hangover and the perfect tan. The single officially drops September 1st.
STREAM: "Just Don't Open Your Eyes Yet" - Polarsets [exclusive]
It's that time of year again, and after packed out showcases at SXSW 2010 and 2011, we're back with another barnburner for you with our 2012 official showcase. Wrapping up our inaugural Neon Gold Tour at SXSW will be St. Lucia, Savoir Adore and our showcase headliners The Knocks, joined by fellow Neon Gold alums Polarsets and ANR, and the next big things of tomorrow in Brooklyn's Fort Lean and Los Angeles' HAIM. The whole thing's going down at Karma Lounge, just steps from the 6th Street and the epicenter of SXSW at 105 East 5th Street between Congress and Brazos. As per usual, it's 21+ with free entry to those with official SX badges on a first come, first serve basis, so come out early as space is limited and this is going to be a night to remember. Set times and MP3's below - see you in Texas, friends.
We knew there was something special about Polarsets when we put out "Morning" back in the halcyon days of August. That now seems like forever ago in the harsh grips of winter, but the Newcastle trio waste no time taking us back to those simpler times here, injecting Mausi's everlasting summer anthem "Sol" with that full-frontal Friendly Fires-in-Ibiza vibe that they pull off so effortlessly. All we wanted was to thaw out a bit and just like that, they answered our prayers with this thorough remedy, a familiar mirage of the tropics underscored by Mausi's sunbeat vocals and Polarsets' trademark man-of-steel drums. It all adds up to the second release from our DC bros' All Things Go on their brand new vinyl imprint ATG Records (a blog starting a record label? unheard of!) and when the results are this good, you better believe this won't be the last time we get our family tree mixed up with theirs.
New kids on the block Swiss Lips hail from Manchester and come off like the perfect midpoint between Polarsets and The Naked & Famous, young'uns with meticulously textured harmonies that immediately seize you by the ear with their striking immediacy and vitality. Lead single "U Got The Power" has been turning heads for a minute now (we hear Lily Allen is a fan), but it's the arguably even stronger "Grow" that's won us over, and we've got the exclusive mp3 premier here for you today.
Diving into the track headfirst, the urgent, hurried vocals of the verse serve to catalyze the sky-scraping chorus, a perfectly formed starburst of ebullience replete with exultant piano chords and snarling guitar licks that grind their teeth in anxious longing. The unfettered oohs are just as powerful as any whistle hook, the perfect soundtrack to crimes of passion and the headless recklessness of youth. And as the synth sirens go off in your head, the driving, lawless bassline picks you up, without hesitation, and lifts you to higher ground. This shit gives you wings.
So after taking October off to focus on all things CMJ, we're back in the game with All Things Go to bring another massive ALL THINGS GOLD blowout to DC next month. U Street Music Hall is still picking up the pieces from September's installment when Russ Chimes and Starsmith reduced it to smoldering ash with two of the biggest sets we've ever witnessed, and this time we're back with another massive headlining DJ set from the world wide web's finest, The Hood Internet. Then supporting live we've got our favorite Brooklyn partystarters Body Language - who absolutely killed it at Popshop 006 last June - and the much anticipated US debut (!!!) of our latest international additions to the Neon Gold family, Polarsets.
Having witnessed blindingly brilliant shows from both bands in the last six months we can assure you this won't be one to miss, and with The Hood Internet in the mix too - not to mention our resident decks master Lightwaves opening things up - this could well be the biggest one yet. As per usual, advance tickets are available HERE for $10 or $13 day of show. Do the right thing.
Today marks the release date of our brand new single with Newcastle's Polarsets (available for purchase from the Neon Gold Shop HERE), and to celebrate we've got a special remix exclusive in the first ever rework from massively hyped Scotland pop hopefuls Midnight Lion. Hard at work on a tropical island not far from where Polarsets' original “Morning” was born, the Glaswegian natives were busy cooking up this remix over their bonfire, Lord of the Flies-style.
The beginning feels like the moments immediately preceding a force majeure rainstorm, as the fog settles and you struggle to make out familiar shapes on the horizon. You hear Rob Howe’s voice dragged through the sand with loops and layers, as Midnight Lion trade cowbells for handclaps and more tribal beats. The final minute and a half evolves into an uplifting triumph of epic hero montage music - the kind of stuff Michael Bay trailer dreams are made of, only with loads more substance. This year's already seen no shortage of lessons in the art of the life affirming remix from our partners-in-crime Captain Cuts and Xaphoon Jones, and if this is anything to go by, Midnight Lion have been taking note. Consider this the next chapter then.
We are pleased to announce our next release, featuring the Newcastle dance-pop trio, Polarsets. We've been holding off on a full-course Polarsets education until now, but rest assured, class is now in session. Already veterans of the Neon Gold stage after supporting Walk The Moon at our last London showcase earlier this year and each of their infectious Ibiza-channeling singles are further proof that they are masters of crafting hip-popping island vibes. The A-side, "Morning", serves as a wake-up call to all the conservative indie pop bands out there - from the first cowbell strike, the single moves like a flashdance assembly line that picks up tropical steam with each added high hat and steel drum. It's an idiosyncratic mix of Delorean and Two Door Cinema Club that pops you in the jaw with grand aplomb. Once it jumps back into the middle eighth and snaps back to reality, it's all about the bass drum thumps and massive vocal hooks because Polarsets are now officially the big fish in a small pond.
The flipside, "Sunset", plays like a musical anagram of "Morning". The trademark cowbells emerge unscathed and still intact even after Polarsets laid siege to the A-side. The intro to this redux is a welcome respite from their full-frontal onslaught of frantic drum kicks and serves as a seamless segue into a bouncy castle chord progression that gets along so well with Rob Howe's angelic pipes. The tension builds with multiple drums feeding off each other, working in conjunction towards achieving the final dream. The release feels like a full day spent watching stars burning out and being born anew, all the while sitting on top of the world adjacent to the one who matters most. It just feels right. Out August 8th and available now for preorder from the Neon Gold Shop and flaunting heart-stopping art direction from the never not brilliant FRAU GRAU, this is one "Morning" you won't want to sleep through.
Model Worker are a fourtet from Chicago whipping up fresh symphonies that straddle several decades of glam-pop mastery. “Automatic Love” immediately has a familiar tint to it, kind of like a sober Julian Casablancas fronting Polarsets while rocking shades of early Depeche Mode. Listening to "Automatic Love,", you’ll know exactly how the crowd felt when Marty McFly killed it on stage with that sound that was a throwback to him but new wave to the blissfully unaware in attendance. Besides, we're the last ones to complain about a grinding synth line that just won't let up cause it so badly just wants to get down. Boys and girls, the time has finally come to pop the top of the Delorean and crash back into the ‘80s. Ride on? Right on.
Just touched down in Londontown and it feels oh so good to be back, and what better way to celebrate than throwing down big style at our Notting Hill Arts Club showcase tonight? We come bearing future superstars as Walk The Moon make their UK debut on our Neon Gold stage tonight, but we're every bit as excited to see Newcastle three-piece Polarsets make their London debut in the main support slot. They first graced our radar late last year with their massive hooks and blissed-out electronic pop sound and have since rapidly become one of our absolute favorite new bands in the UK. It's a beautiful lineup, a beautiful day and with tickets at the low low price of only £6, you're not gonna want to miss this.
Back to Polarsets for a minute though, they're the stuff Neon Gold dreams are made of and just absolutely tick alllll the boxes - cowbells for days, layers upon layers of shimmering electronics, meaty bass lines, golden vocals (highly) reminiscent of Two Door's Alex Trimble... you do the math. Someone better sound the alarm because we're on a straight up party anthem high alert over here.
We've always had a weakness for Polarsets. Newcastle's finest have been melting our faces off with their breezy tropical heat since 2011 when we brought their debut single "Morning" into the world in all its 7" glory. And now with their debut album on the way, they're back with a true return to form, a sparkling studio version of an early favorite, "Just Don't Open Your Eyes Yet". Unsurprisingly, it's an electronic pop sandstorm of weathervaning synths and island percussion that soaks through the summer sweat. Just don't be surprised when all you're left with is a sugar hangover and the perfect tan. The single officially drops September 1st.
