The eagerly-anticipated streaming service Apple Music will be here from 30 June – and, with such a huge iTunes catalog to stream from, you are likely to feel spoilt for choice. It’s a good time, perhaps, for us to drive your attention away from the obvious choice of artists and towards some synthpop musicians that we reckon are unjustly overlooked, but will be releasing exciting new material soon.
Pet Shop Boys
Remember ‘West End girls’, that worldwide hit from 1986? The brilliant duo behind it, Pet Shop Boys, are still very active. Their most recent studio album, 2013’s Electric, attracted probably the most gushing reviews of any of their albums – and they have recently been working on another album with the same producer, Stuart Price. Expect 80’s-style high-energy electropop!
New Order
Remaining on the subject of the 1980s, the British indie band that were Joy Division one decade and a top-selling dance outfit the next are also back soon. Their next album, Music Complete, is expected to become available on iTunes from September 25. Lead singer Bernard Sumner has told British music magazine NME that it is “an electronic-sounding album” and “dance-based”.
Little Boots
Young British synth star Little Boots has gone independent for her third album, Working Girl, having set up her own label, On Repeat Records. Of the released singles from the album, which is set for release on July 10, we particularly like ‘No Pressure’ and ‘Business Pleasure’. Another favorite of ours, ‘Better in the Morning’, is accompanied by this lovably quirky video.