Stripes - Ecstasy (New/Old 009)

Was looking up Nena of 99 Red Balloons fame and came across the fact that she was in a band called Stripes before forming Nena. This was the catchy single they had back in 1980. It's really good. There was even a video for it on Youtube.

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NJooNoN54K0

Acti - Zathan (Original Mix) (Hype 0366)

Epic beats, rolling pianos, dynamic chants, this club track has it all. Released by Big and Dirty records. And it is.

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NmClRL-hXzs

Pet Shop Boys - Inside A Dream (Hype 0365)

Infectious beat on this Pet Shop Boy track. Taken from their latest album Electric released this year. PSB are in Toronto on September 25th at Sony Centre.

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dz1KSxk35cU

Prefab Sprout - Mysterious (Hype 0364)

Great new track from Eighties outfit Prefab Sprout taken from their new album Crimson/Red. At least that's what I think it will be called. The album title has changed a couple of time. Out on Icebreaker Records.

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9usNVXfpPyI

DVBBS & Borgeous - Tsunami (Hype 0363)

Toronto born, LA based outfit just released this dangerous sounding club track on Doorn Records. Nice!!!

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0EWbonj7f18

Washed Out - It All Feels Right (Hype 0362)

Nice watery cut and paste track from Washed Out. Taken from the new album Paracosm out on Subpop Records. Washed Out are in Toronto at the Opera House (East End) on September 15th.

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qJILRWBKnQ4

Medicine Long as the Sun (Hype 0361)

Medicine are back after ten years of silence This swirling buzzy track is taken from their new album To The Happy Few. This brings back memories of their 1992 album Shot Forth Self Living which got a lot of play on the stereo back in the day. The album is out on Captured Tracks, the same label who just reissued Shot Forth Self Life and The Buried Life as deluxe editions.

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PbvFSzdBra8

Comet Gain – Avenue Girls (Hype 0360)

Alittle bit of twee from Comet Gain. Out on Wiaiwya records. Its actually a singles club. You get 7 seven inch singles in the set and there is only 77 available of each single. Neat!!! Early Nineties all over again

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OVNp0f-4gj4

Kenneth G Stay Wierd (Hype 0359)

Wow. Club track off the Hysteria Records label by Kenneth G. Taking alittle 808 State sensibility and mixing it up with some quirky frequency sounds. Reminds me of Warp Records of old. LFO, Testone, Tricky Disco.

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QRO8PxkAhSQ

Minks - Margot (Hype 0358)

Breezy bubbly pop. Nice!! Minks new album is out tomorrow on Captured Tracks and its called Tides End.

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bg90PScRviw

Angel Haze - No Bueno (Hype 357)

Video: http://youtu.be/leM5gEV0tOM

For those of you who happen to be in Chicago for this year's Lollapalooza, here is one pick for Sunday afternoon: Angel Haze, a 22-year-old female MC out of Detroit, Michigan.  This talented young lady certainly does not hold back in her hard-hitting lyrics.

Incidentally, highlights from the first two days at Lollapalooza have included an upbeat Atlas Genius, a very much on-form New Order (who played songs including Blue Monday--of course--as well as Joy Division classics like Transmission and Love Will Tear Us Apart), and a really solid, lively, satisfyingly-enthusiastic performance to end the evening in style by Mumford and Sons.

Tomorrow (Sunday) we shall discover whether The Cure still have it, after Angel Haze hits everyone with some raw words.  Also look out for Alt-J, Vampire Weekend, and Grizzly Bear, although you will struggle to see both of the last two given the logistics.