TAKE IT OFF. TAKE IT IN.

Like an invitation you weren’t expecting to get, Atlas Genius knocks on your door and creeps into your peripheries in stealth mode. Fair warning: “Trojans” will invade your head, all dressed up in a clever disguise of earnest vocals riding a hooky riff that easily approaches Phoenix-esque levels of infectiousness. And then there’s that driving bassline gliding over a frenetic bridge with athletic ease, the kind of thing cruise control dreams are made of. It pulls up outside your window, blasting from a fully functional boombox, shouldered by some dude in a trenchcoat holding the weight of the world. It won’t leave. And then you realize you never want it to. If you need protection from generic brand “party indie”, try this one on for size.

MP3: "Trojans" - Atlas Genius

GOLD025: STRANGE TALK

Well here we are 25 releases in on our biggest year to date, so we figured it was only right to celebrate hitting the quarter-century mark with our biggest release ever. We first introduced you to Strange Talk as the shining stars of the Class of 2011 here at Neon Gold High earlier this year, and now we're thrilled to be bringing their debut self-titled EP into the world next month as our first ever vinyl and CD release. Shit just got real all over again.

Many of you will already be familiar with the Australian foursome's lead single "Climbing Walls", but now it's time for a proper introduction with their debut EP proper Strange Talk. Coming off like the perfect hybrid of Friendly Fires and Phoenix with a bit of that Down Under electro touch thrown in for good measure, the Aussie four-piece are one of the most polished and exciting new acts we've heard in ages. Fully equipped with an arsenal of stadium-ready anthems, "Climbing Walls" is all shimmering synths, cascading bass surges and expert delay pedal use, while next single "Eskimo Boy" shines as the bands flagship anthem, churning synths and heavy basslines slowly building up to the kind of dancefloor-swallowing breakdown Neon Gold dreams are made of. Elsewhere, "Is It Real" and "We Can Pretend" beg to be blasted with the top down on the open roads of summer as producer Eliot James (Two Door Cinema Club, Bloc Party), earns his 2011 Music Producers' Guild Breakthrough Producer of the Year award with some of his finest work yet. Look no further, your summer has arrived.

MP3: "Climbing Walls" - Strange Talk

Coming May 2nd on limited edition 12" vinyl and CD, you can grab lead single "Climbing Walls" above and stream the EP in its entirety below. Preorder is available now from the BRAND NEW Neon Gold Shop* which we've been hard at work on for months and hope will make your Neon Gold shopping experience everything you'd ever hoped it could be and more. Limited to 1500 copies worldwide (500 vinyl, 1000 CD), this is basically our biggest release yet so, y'know, let's fucking celebrate.



*this is a brand new webstore so please don't hesitate to alert us to any bugs you encounter in the comments.

KEEP TRYING TO RUN AWAY.

So now that we've all had some time to come down in the wake of New Years and get our heads about ourselves, we suppose it's time we introduce you to some of the exciting new acts we've got passing through our ranks in the year to come. First up in the Neon Gold Class of 2011 are Australia's Strange Talk, who's debut EP will see the light of day as our first full-fledged CD and vinyl release in the coming months.

Like the perfect hybrid of Friendly Fires and Phoenix with a bit of that Down Under electro touch thrown in for good measure, the Aussie four-piece are one of the most polished and exciting new acts we've heard in ages. Bursting onto the scene late last summer already fully equipped with an arsenal of stadium-ready anthems, the spectacular "Climbing Walls" is their first formal offering, all shimmering synths, cascading bass surges and expert delay pedal use. The kind of guitar band Neon Gold dreams are made of, Strange Talk look set to do big things in 2011 and we're pleased to report that "Climbing Walls" is only the very tip of the iceberg, so get acquainted below and watch this space closely for more in the months to come.

MP3: "Climbing Walls" - Strange Talk

MIXTAPE.

After a successful first conquest of the UK last month, everyone's favorite electro playboys Yes Giantess return to England next month for further synth-pop escapades, but first they've got an oven fresh mixtape to drop for y'all. Mixed by London DJ powerhouse Kris Di Angelis and featuring tracks from the band's biggest influences mixed in with fresh new hits and some of their own original material, The Mixtape is 60 minutes of pure elation. There's Journey, there's Phoenix, a little Mariah, some Kylie, not to mention artwork featuring some totally badass, totally bloodthirsty wolves... What more could you ask for? Check the tracklist and download the mix below, fire up the grill and turn up the stereo, your perfect summer playlist just arrived.

Journey - Don't Stop Believin'
Muscles - Sweaty (Shazam Remix)
Yes Giantess - You Were Young (Acapella)
Michael Jackson - P.Y.T.
Kylie Minogue - Boombox (JBAG Mix)
Kylie Minogue - Wow (Single Mix)
Prince - Little Red Corvette
Yes Giantess - Demons
Gui Boratto - Beautiful Life
Phoenix - Heat Wave
autoKratz - Always More (Goshi Goshi Mix)
Giorgio Moroder - What A Night
Yo! Majesty - Don't Let Go (Acapella)
Lily Allen - Not Fair (Kris Di Angelis & Ben Dobie's Circus Mix)
Yes Giantess - You Were Young
Erasure - A Little Respect
Mariah Carey + Jay-Z - Heartbreaker
Yes Giantess - Tuff N Stuff
A-Ha - Take On Me (Twelves Remix)

Brilliant.

MP3: Yes Giantess: The Mixtape [exclusive]

In other Yes Giantess news, the band make their triumphant return to New York this Thursday opening for Fake Blood at what is sure to be the week's hottest party. Presented by the imitable Palms Out Sounds crew, the show is going down at a new, as-yet-unnamed venue located at 213 N. 8th Street. Yes Giantess take the stage at 9:45, there's an open bar on vodka from 9-11 and, um, it's fucking free before 11 with a RSVP to list@gbh.tv. Let's be real, you quite literally have no excuse not to be there.

MP3: "Stuck On Repeat" (Fake Blood Remix) - Little Boots