..reads as a timeline for a straight man’s life: Fast food, beer, money, boner pills, catheters.

Electro-house god Breakbot’s debut album, By Your Side, will put a smile on your face, a pep in your step and burn away all feelings of negativity.

This morning I woke up feeling very deflated. The weather outside is grey, I had a crappy meeting and it kind of went from there. Typically when I feel this way, I tend to stupidly indulge feelings of doom and gloom by putting on depressing, fuzzy, shoegaze-y type tunes from someone like Slowdive or Still Corners. However, today I decided to buck that trend and put on music that makes me feel happy. My choice? Breakbot’s cute debut album, By Your Side.

Breakbot is the recording moniker of French DJ, Thibaut Berland, and he’s been cranking out danceable tunes for the last 5 or so years. Personally, most of the contact I’ve had with his music has come in the form of remixes that he’s done for electro-infused artists, such as Royksopp, Air, Van She, Sneaky Sound System and MANY more. His trademark sound reminds me of a few things: 70s disco, old-school Michael Jackson, and 70s TV show theme songs – all of which you can’t really go wrong with.

On a day where I was feeling anything but inspired to write, Breakbot has gotten me back to that autumnal feeling of romance and happiness that always seems to kick in around this time of year. Just a wonderful record all around.

Have a listen to my favorite track off the album, One Out Of Two, two.

*Breakbot’s debut album, By Your Side, is out now, via Ed Banger Records.

**If you’re in the US, purchase the album from Beatport here: http://www.beatport.com/release/by-your-side/960525

http://www.facebook.com/breakbot

Breakbot “One Out Of Two”

In a little preview of what will end up being one of my top EPs of the year, MS MR’s musically dreamy horn-laden masterpiece, Ash Tree Lane, gets today’s Song-a-Day honors.

MS MR is a duo based in NYC, comprised of lead singer, Lizzy Plapinger and Max Hershenow. And that’s about all we know. They’ve kept any details about themselves private, for the most part, and forced the music to do the talking for them; which, in this case, is a wise choice.

Their debut EP, Candy Bar Creep Show, is a lyrically dark, beautifully produced collection of 4 songs which, while not new to my ears, remind me of why I’ve been so anxious for these guys to get noticed. Musically, I’m most often reminded of Siouxsie & The Banshees’s epic cinematic production, especially on songs like Bones. But, in my mind, the real attraction here lies in Lizzy’s STUNNING low voice. Her approach reminds me of a 1950s jazz singer without sounding jazzy, if that makes sense. It’s deep, powerful and one of the best voices on a female artist I’ve heard in the last few years.

I’m pretty sure MS MR are still unsigned, as they self-released “Candy Bar Creep Show” last month. Are A&R people fucking deaf?! Somebody needs to fund a full-length release for these guys ASAP. Wake the fuck up.

Have a listen to “Ash Tree Lane” below.

http://www.msmrsounds.com/

MS MR “Ash Tree Lane”

New Zealand’s Kids Of 88 have significantly upped their synthpop game on their magnificent sophomore album, Modern Love.

Falling somewhere between Van She’s wonderful “Happiness,” The Naked & Famous’s “Passive Me, Aggressive You” and Monarchy’s “Around The Sun,” Kids of 88’s new record still has the attitude of their first album, but makes a decided shift away from guitars and towards perfectly produced, catchy-as-hell synth-driven tribal-ish pop. (Was that enough adjectives for you in one sentence?)

The band is comprised of just two members: Lead singer, Sam McCarthy, and keyboardist, Jordan Arts. They received lots of exposure here in the US with their music being featured on several TV shows – mostly crime related (CSI, etc). While their debut was full of hooks and and plenty of heavy beats , this time around there’s more of a chill atmosphere to their tunes with songs like the sexy “Euphoria,” the dance-y “Zion” and the smooth “Feel The Love;” which suits my taste just fine.

Since hearing the album for the first time last week, I’ve been thoroughly addicted to the entire record; there’s not a bad track on it. Add them to the crop of albums of the year, for sure.

I’m a little confused by their choice of singles to release thus far, so I’ll just expose you to my own personal choice for best song, Feel The Love, below.

*Kids Of 88′s 2nd album, Modern Love, is out now via Dryden Street.

http://www.kidsof88.com/

Kids Of 88 “Feel The Love”