Wind-Up Doll With No Place To Be

Musical bible Illegal Tender first introduced me to eighteen-year-old London singer Spark earlier this year. At the time, there were scant details about her and just a few demos up on her Myspace.

The track that grabbed my attention most was one called 'Revolving', with its lyrics about wind-up toys and layered vocals. Boutique label Neon Gold seemed to take a shine to this track too and, now that it's been given a lick of production paint, they're set to release it as a limited edition single.

I had the pleasure of meeting SPARK (aka Jess Morgan) when she supported Marina and the Diamonds in Dublin back in May and she seemed slightly overwhelmed by the level of interest she had been receiving all of a sudden. Let's hope she's come to terms with the attention in the meantime because this track looks likely to send the hype machine into overdrive.



The track has also been given a gorgeous string-laden 'reworking' by the ever-dependable Monsieur Adi, which I think I might even prefer to the original arrangement.

Spark - Revolving (Monsieur Adi Rework, Allegro in C Minor)



I know for a fact that there are a clutch of pop gems in her arsenal yet to surface online but, until they do, I'll gladly make do with grimy b-side Wrap and this charming rendition of 'Damage Done' for The Mahogany Sessions that I stumbled upon over on Breaking More Waves:

I Don't Need Blue Blood

Hannah Yadi is unsigned but, with the likes of Mr Midas Touch Neon Gold currently fawning over her, this is unlikely to be the case for long.

All the songs on the 23-year-old Londoner's Myspace are pretty decent but it's her most recent track 'Guillotine' that really sets her apart from the slew of aspiring alt-pop princesses currently clambering for our attention.

Sounding like a more cocksure cousin of Marina and the Diamonds' 'Mowgli's Road', the track sees Yadi framing layers of dramatic vocals with pounding drumbeats, choppy keys and synthy flourishes, the overall effect being pretty disarming.

Yadi - Guillotine



The track is currently labeled 'demo', although I'm not sure quite how she intends to improve it. Download it here. Right now, like.

[Image: Jack Davison]

I Get So Unholy...

I first stumbled across big-voiced Birmingham belter Clare Maguire when she featured in Illegal Tender's 'tips for 2009' and I immediately fell in love with the demo for her track 'Strangest Thing'.

Over a year and a half later and the final version of that same track has surfaced and, oh boy, was it worth the wait. I defy you to tell me that this isn't a little bit special.
Clare Maguire - Strangest Thing by thebubbleboy

You liked that? Well, I suggest you download the track for free over on Neon Gold.

Clare's debut single proper is due in September. An album will follow in the new year. The countdown begins...

The Caged Bird Sings

The more I hear from New York wunderkind Penguin Prison, the more I'm convinced he's poised to deliver one of the finest pop albums of this year.

After the initial teasers of 'A Funny Thing' and 'Animal Animal', he's today released a second double whammy on Neon Gold's record label.

'The Worse It Gets' is a tidy little disco-tinged number, laden with catchy hooks, while synthpop slow-burner 'Something I'm Not' is, to my ears, the best thing we've heard from him to date.

Oh, and both tracks have been made available as free downloads. Nice.

Penguin Prison - The Worse It Gets (Free Download)



Penguin Prison - Something I'm Not (Free Download)



Starsmith is apparently set to unleash a big remix of 'Something I'm Not' but, for now, I'm kinda taken with the club-friendly Friends Electric Remix:

Oh. My. God.

I'm currently getting ready for some Stephen's Day silliness and my preparations are being soundtracked by a Marina & the Diamonds track on loop. Shocking, right?

Her forthcoming single 'Hollywood' has been remixed by English electro-pop wonderkids Fenech-Soler and the results are quite marvellous.

The re-swizz sees Marina's sprightly pop tune transformed into a housey club-monster, the 'Oh my god' breakdown in particular being a late contender for musical moment of the year.



Yum. Download the MP3 for free from the infallible Neon Gold.

Sheet Music

The wonderful new Ellie Goulding single, 'Under The Sheets', was given its radio premiere a couple of days ago and has now materialised online in decent quality.

The single is being released by Neon Gold Records and, seemingly, we can expect to see 'Starry Eyed' as her first major-label release. The track was produced by Ellie's partner-in-crime Starsmith and, if you listen closely, you'll hear him on backing vocals.

Pick Up A Penguin

Neon Gold Records is, in my opinion, the most exciting record label on the scene at the moment. Not only was Neon Gold responsible for first bringing Passion Pit, The Sound of Arrows and Marina and the Diamonds to the masses but pretty much every song posted on the label's blog is an anthem-in-waiting.

The latest exclusive Neon Gold track is a rather stonking remix of Erik Hassle's already-quite-brilliant track 'Hurtful' by hot prospect Penguin Prison. The remix strips away some of the melancholy of the original, slipping some synths and a cow-bell under Hassle's vocal and transforming him into an anguished disco diva.

You can download the track here but this is a sneak preview:



[Image: Bjorn Iooss]

Stars In Your Eyes

The Gospel According To Neon Gold have an exclusive download of the utterly gorgeous 'Starry Eyed' by Goldsmith (the collaborative project of singer Ellie Goulding and up-and-coming producer Starsmith).

If this pair continue to play their cards right, Goulding could potentially feature alongside Little Boots, Florence and the Machine, Polly Scattergood, Elly Jackson and Marina in the contenders for this year's pop princess crown.

[Image: Myspace]

Starry Eyed Surprise

Not content with releasing records for the likes of Marina and the Diamonds and Passion Pit, Neon Gold Records continue to provide some choice recommendations on their blog.

Their latest endorsement is London-based producer Starsmith. I've previously gushed about Ellie Goulding and, in particular, my fondness for her more recent electronica-influenced material. The man responsible for her slick-beat accompaniment is none other than Mr. Starsmith (aka 'Fin'). Neon Gold have kindly posted Ellie and Fin's genius update of Sam Sparro's 'Black and Gold' here. They collaborate under the name Goldsmith (Goulding and Starsmith, geddit?)

Starsmith is working on more tracks with Goulding and has posted some tantalising youtube snippets on his myspace. He's also done a cracking track with Mr. Frankmusik, called 'Miss Jeckyll and Hyde', which is certainly worth a spin.

It seems there's a slightly brilliant electropop scene a-brewing over in London.

More, please.

[Image: Myspace]

Going for Gold

Neon Gold Records are my favourite record label of the moment (Island Records being my least favourite after their disastrous mismanagement of poor Annie's second album campaign)

First, they brought us Passion Pit, whose 'Sleepyhead' is one of my favourite tracks of the past few months. Then they gave us Marina and the Diamonds, who will be a superstar by the end of the year if there's any justice in the world at all, at all.

Now, Neon Gold are set to unleash Boston-based synth-rockers Giantess. Occupying a space in the musical spectrum somewhere between MGMT and Friendly Fires, Giantess's tunes are
illogically infectious.

Neon Gold have kindly posted their tracks 'You Were Young' and 'Tuff 'n' Stuff' on their blog, so right-click here and here to download the tracks.

Kudos to Illegal Tender for twigging this one first.

[Image: Myspace]