Dance/Techno Music

This week Sam Sparro gets a digital release. The Australian native’s self-titled full length, chalk full of electronic funk, bridges the gap between Daft Punk and Jamiroquai via an 80’s Howard Jones vibe. One of the best dance albums to come out of Australia this year, along with countrymen Cut Copy who released their brilliant album In Ghost Colours back in March.

To test drive Sam Sparro before committing to these 15 tracks, grab “Black and Gold”, the free single of the week. That single recently spent several weeks in the top ten in the UK and still sits firmly in the top 40 at number 15.

Former free single of the week, “Blind”, is included on Hercules and Love Affair their self-titled debut which also drops this week. Think everything you love about dance music splashed with disco and deep, rich vocals. Hercules and Love Affair could be the best floor filler to appear this summer.

Iceland’s answer to Radiohead, Sigur Ros release their new ambient album Með Suð Í Eyrum Við Spilum Endalaust. Their follow up to 2005's Tak, produced by Nine Inch Nails and U2 producer Flood includes some of their most upbeat material ever. First single off the album, “Gobbledygook”, with a strumming guitar and a breezy feel, sounds like the perfect electronic summer beach campfire song, if only you could sing along with the incomprehensible lyrics.

The album cover art was shot by New York-based visual artist Ryan McGinley who has had exhibits of his naked friends running through fields displayed at such prestigious galleries as New York’s MoMA. He won the International Centre of Photography’s Young Photographer of the Year in 2007.

Other new releases to check out include Black Devil Disco Club’s Eight Oh Eight, and The Chap’s Mega Breakfast.