GOLD037: POP ETC

We’ve had boundless love for California this year, but it’s time to bring it back home for a hot second on our next release. Former west coasters now living in Brooklyn, the Morning Benders re-emerged earlier this year as the synth-fueled POP ETC, taking their already sun-blessed melodies to a whole new level of pop brilliance. At the center of the resurgence is "YoYo", one of our absolute favorite songs of 2012, and we're thrilled to be teaming up with Rough Trade to roll out the 7" on Neon Gold later this month. 

"YoYo" shines and stuns from the very first synth drop, like the ‘80s love child of Yes Giantess and Chromeo, complete with a spoken word bridge and some of the fiercest hooks we've ever heard this side of Top 40 radio. As it throttles from zero to ANTHEM in seconds flat, Chris Chu's future-tuned vocals float in on golden chords of nostalgia, and when the glittering chorus finally washes over you, it's clear that you've got a serious smash on your hands.

On the flip, mixtape highlight “Hungry Like The Wolf” provides the perfect counterpart to the breezy bliss of “YoYo” - all ravenous synths and skyscraping choruses - and together, they can brighten up literally any day of the year. The physical release drops next week just in time for their NYC live debut proper alongside HAIM at Popshop, but preorder is now available HERE, so get your order on and own a piece of the heat for yourself.

TIME ON MY SHOULDERS.

Another day, and yet another reason to salute St. Lucia as New York's new pop savior. With an outpouring of original material that's been nigh-on flawless to this point, it was only a matter of time before he took his talents to the remix trade, and in a turn of events that should come as a surprise to precisely no one, the result is exquisite. It's London's next huge things Morning Parade who are wise enough to join St. Lucia on his maiden voyage to the remix promiseland, and the NYC pop maestro doesn't disappoint here, taking the Parade's already epic stadium anthem of a new single and elevating it to even greater heights.

The original is a force to reckon with in its own right, and the remix steamrolls along like a younger, rougher-around-the-edges Thom Yorke, as St. Lucia effortlessly swaps the original's superpowered guitars for groaning synths and heartwrenching strings. You'd be forgiven for assuming the song's climax arrives with those uproariously massive choruses, but just wait for the breakdown. After a brief sonic respite, the electronics kick into high gear and escalate until they culminate in a legendary arpeggio that sounds like the product of Yes Giantess tripping spaceballs and George Lucas drinking from the fountain of youth. It's a special one, sounding at once vulnerable and simultaneously too big to fail, and we're proud to bring you the exclusive download ahead of The Saint's performance at Popshop Thursday night. Expect sonic miracles, and don't miss out on the last few $10 early bird tickets (less than ten remaining!) HERE.

MP3: "Us & Ourselves" (St. Lucia Remix) - Morning Parade [exclusive]

IN A TIDAL WAVE OF MYSTERY.

Don't know if y'all got the memo, but summer's here in a big way and it's time to throw the top back and turn the radio up on some serious summer anthems. Enter LA's Capital Cities, who arrive just in time with a little sonic head rush called "Safe + Sound", an easy, breezy, beautiful slice of effervescent electro-pop that even comes complete with a massive "trumpets in da club" bit that absolutely kills it. This is a full-bodied concoction of happy-go-lucky lyrics and syrupy cloud nine harmonies that have them coming off like Yes Giantess with the beards of My Morning Jacket and the solid gold hooks of Empire of the Sun to boot. NOT MAD.

MP3: "Safe + Sound" - Capital Cities

NEON GOLD PRESENTS: THE NAKED & FAMOUS.

After storming through London last week, our Kiwi heroes The Naked & Famous make their way to New York for their debut US shows this week, lighting up an already sold out show at the Mercury Lounge on Friday before taking it across the bridge to Brooklyn Bowl on Saturday. We're thrilled to announce we'll be putting on the latter (in affiliation with Filter and GBH), complete with Savoir Adore supporting live and our bros for life Yes Giantess on the decks all night long. It's a late show (just the way we like it) starting at 11:30 with bands on at 12 and 1, and with tickets only $5 on the door (or FREE WITH RSVP) it just might be the best night that money can buy next weekend. To ring in the occasion, we've got an exclusive remix of the band's triumphant Neon Gold anthem "Young Blood", courtesy of Australia's Thieves of Aon. It's 6 minutes of unadulterated hands-in-the-lasers dancefloor fury, the sonic equivalent of Lindsay Lohan on a three day coke-and-ecstasy bender. You've been warned.

MP3: "Young Blood" (Thieves of Aon Remix) - The Naked & Famous [exclusive]

USA IS FOR LOVERS.

There's a synth-pop epidemic taking over Massachuesetts and we're totally down with it. Carrying the torch lit by former Neon Gold alumni Passion Pit and Yes Giantess, Worcester newcomer Dom threatens to outshine both of them with his debut Sun Bronzed Greek Gods EP, out on Burning Mill Records next month. The whole thing is nothing short of amazing, but it's lead track "Living In America" that's dominating our stereo as one of the absolute best tracks we've heard all year. It basically sounds like Fear of Tigers producing that first Passion Pit EP, which as you can imagine is pretty much the best thing ever. Dom has completely and utterly restored our faith in new music, this shit is MAGIC.

MP3: "Living In America" - Dom

NEON GOLD AT SXSW 2010.

The time has come. We've mentioned it here and there over the past few weeks, but now it's time to formally bring back the curtain on our official showcase at SXSW 2010. Over the last few months we've pieced together a dream line up, plucking our favorite young talent from both sides of the Atlantic. We've got our go-to partystarters Yes Giantess crushing it in the late night slot, our main man Samuel getting things going early on, one of our favorite musicians of all time in Guillemots frontman Fyfe Dangerfield, and the one and only Marina & The Diamonds (hot on the heels of her NYC debut with us) headlining the night and rounding out what we expect to be one of the premier lineups of the week. Shit is going down Thursday night at Lamberts (401 W 2nd Street) from 10pm until late, official SXSW badge required for entry. Running times as follows:

10:00pm: Fyfe Dangerfield // MP3: "When You Walk In The Room"
11:00pm: Samuel // MP3: "Fader"
12:00am: Marina & The Diamonds // MP3: "Hollywood" (Gonzales Version)
01:00am: Yes Giantess // MP3: "The Ruins"

The venue is not large and will reach its capacity, so come early if you want a piece of the action.

SCATTERED BY YOUR HAND.

We alluded to the pretty sick remix package that's come together around our upcoming next single with Yes Giantess, and while Big Stereo debuted the brill Baby Monster remix last week, today we've got the undeniable highlight in the form of another out of this world rework by London's Fear of Tigers. The whole thing's basically just a high energy build up to the 2.5 minute mark, at which point Tigers just lets loose with an explosion of his signature electro fireworks, all screaming synths cascading back and forth across the night sky while Yes Giantess make out with your girlfriend on a picnic blanket on the field below.

MP3: "The Ruins" (Fear of Tigers Remix) - Yes Giantess [exclusive]