I just came across the Korg Volca range (amazingly in a total search fail Korg don't have a single page for the range on their site). A bunch of tiny synths that sound great, are reasonably fun to play and cost about £100 each.
Wolves in the the Throne Room have released their new album Celestite which consists entirely of what are normally the sweeping synth introductions to metal albums. It sounds like the offspring of ambient and prog rock or a compilation of all of Cradle of Filth's opening tracks.
If that sounds dismissive then I think its because its unexpected, I actually like the sound of the album and while I like my electronica a little more downbeat than church organ sweeping I acknowledge that is a logical progression in Wittr's musical development.
For me this is the soundtrack of anyone who is young and recently moved to London.
The Wooden Birds sound a lot like early Death Cab for Cutie but with poppier lyrics. Really enjoying both of their albums to date.
I was following up what Richard Moult had recently released and I came across this micro-label called Wild Silence dealing in experimental acoustic music and field recordings. There's some pretty interesting stuff on there including Moult's Aonaran album.
Women's Hour caught me by surprise with their arch name hiding an unusual slick indie pop sound.
Their sound reminds of things like the Cocteau Twins mixed with the production quality of The Dears. A lot of the synths remind me of Eighties pop but the sound is fuller and more sophisticated.
Glen Johnson's new album is out, Same Sex reminds of things like his work as Textile Ranch rather than the previous solo album.
I was pretty immune to the charms of Water Fountain in previous incarnations, but this version from Glastonbury is pretty enjoyable. Particularly with the counterpoints and vocal harmonies.
I'm really starting to love The War on Drugs Lost in the dream. It's a beautiful spacey, dreamy pop rock with a strong melodic bent that reminds me of Springsteen.
The Underground Lovers are an Australian band that stand at Beck-esque intersection of indie rock and electronica. Their album Weekend is filled with absolutely outstanding pop songs. It's one of those rare releases where every track feels fresh, interesting and a winner.
Led Zeppelin have not one but two all-female tribute groups: Zepparella and Lez Zeppelin.
I actually prefer the female fronted versions of their songs as it subverts some of their lyrical tawdriness.
So after having a hankering to hear the Whole lotta love riff I actually had two different versions to choose from.
Zepparella seem an amazing technical group of musicians with great technique but I preferred the slightly rockier and grungier LezZep's version.
New Young Pony Club and Band of Skulls are coming off the player to make room for some more summer electronica.
Loving Ben Babbitt's mix of electronic pop, ambient minimalism and bluegrass in his soundtrack for episode 3 of Kentucky Route Zero
Pulsing hypnotic dance music that you can listen to from the rather fabulously named I Break Horses
Summer embers is an amazing compilation from 14tracks (associated with music store Boomkat) that is one of my favourites of theirs from last year.
Put out at the start of autumn its is a mixture of indie summer pop featuring great tracks from Forest Swords, Ensemble Economique and my favourite White Poppy, whose track Darkness turns to light kind of defines the whole compilation.