GOLD027: ANR

ANR is truly Miami's finest. They're like a buddy cop duo whose lethal weapon is their interminable arsenal of experimental pop hooks, and we're honored to welcome them to the force on their next single out later this month. Take Exhibit A-side: "It's Around You". The radio filter intro foreshadows the immortal feeling you get when the synths surges drop nearly a minute in and the track engulfs you in a shimmering galaxy of anthemic choral shouts and pop majesty. Each humming pulse is like lightning in a bottle until drum layers and vocal layers are added and the chorus ultimately crashes into beautiful oblivion. It's strangely uplifting despite the minor chords and elegiac harmonies, perhaps thanks to the soft xylophone drops and a masterfully orchestrated brass section. As the moody trombones are counterbalanced by the kind of adulatory trumpets Mark Ronson would be proud of, ANR are guilty of squashing your conscience and unleashing your id.



And if that wasn't enough, we give you the Exhibit AA-side on the flip: "Blood on Blood", mixed by none other than the inimitable Ben Allen, fresh out of the studio with Reptar and Walk The Moon. A seemingly harmless piano progression lulls you into a false sense of security and maintains its composure until the chorus just loses it altogether with groaning electronic switches and a massive vocal melody, a manic force to be reckoned with. Then there's that classical piano break in the bridge that takes you completely by surprise, but it serves as a meticulously planned stopgap that even bloodhounds couldn't sniff out. As soon as it picks up where it left off, the beat is back with an eye-for-an-eye vengeance. It's all very cinematic and would make for an incredible epilogue to their brilliant "Big Problem" video (easily one of the year's best). ANR have absolutely killed it on our next release and if that makes us accomplices, then so be it. We're not ones to talk a big game (note: we are), but if you let it into your heart we promise this will be one of your favorite singles of 2011. Preorder is available now from the Neon Gold Shop, and you'll be able to experience in all its glory for yourself when it drops August 29th.



MP3: "It's Around You" - ANR

NEON GOLD AT THE GREAT ESCAPE.

So Monday night was a fucking blast, but if you missed out on the fun worry not, as we'll be going harder, better, faster, stronger Friday night in Brighton at our official Great Escape showcase with Walk The Moon, Post War Years and Wolf Gang at The Loft in central Brighton. Together with our bros-in-arms Chess Club, we'll be bringing you three of the best bands the festival has to offer late night from 11pm to 3am, plus DJ sets from our beloved ANR running things on the decks the first half of the night and the brilliant and beautiful Icona Pop girls killing it into the early hours. Set times and streams ahoy, see y'all in Brighton.

11:30pm: Walk The Moon // STREAM: "Lisa Baby"

12:30am: Post War Years // STREAM: "The Whole World On Its Head"

01:30am: Wolf Gang // STREAM: "The King and All of His Men" (LP Version)

FEELING DEBONAIR.

Just touched down in Londontown and it feels oh so good to be back, and what better way to celebrate than throwing down big style at our Notting Hill Arts Club showcase tonight? We come bearing future superstars as Walk The Moon make their UK debut on our Neon Gold stage tonight, but we're every bit as excited to see Newcastle three-piece Polarsets make their London debut in the main support slot. They first graced our radar late last year with their massive hooks and blissed-out electronic pop sound and have since rapidly become one of our absolute favorite new bands in the UK. It's a beautiful lineup, a beautiful day and with tickets at the low low price of only £6, you're not gonna want to miss this.

Back to Polarsets for a minute though, they're the stuff Neon Gold dreams are made of and just absolutely tick alllll the boxes - cowbells for days, layers upon layers of shimmering electronics, meaty bass lines, golden vocals (highly) reminiscent of Two Door's Alex Trimble... you do the math. Someone better sound the alarm because we're on a straight up party anthem high alert over here.

MP3: "Leave Argentina" - Polarsets

POPSHOP004: WALK THE MOON + SAVOIR + ANR

With the dust settled on SXSW and everyone finally beginning to feel human again, it's time to get back in the New York groove with another round of amazing live music at Popshop, coming at you hard and fast on April 7th. We've got the hottest new band in the game and the toast of SXSW 2011 headlining in Walk The Moon, with support from starry eyed Brooklyn dreamweavers Savoir Adore and Miami's finest ANR. Then as per usual we've got Absolut bringing the drink specials early with 2-for-1 drinks from 8pm-9pm, plus Lightwaves lighting up the decks all night long.

You should have the hang of this by now, but as always it's going down the first Thursday of the month at Tammany Hall (152 Orchard between Stanton and Rivington) in the LES, and tickets are available HERE. We're also making the show FREE after midnight (space permitting), for those of you who hate live instruments but still want to get your dance on with Lightwaves until the early hours. And just a reminder - the first three Popshops all sold out in advance, so GET YOUR TICKETS EARLY. It breaks our heart to see people turned away at the door, so please save everyone the emotional anguish and don't sleep on this one. Set times and downloads/streams below, see you next Thursday.

09:00pm: ANR // DOWNLOAD: "Endless Fields of Mercury"

10:00pm: Savoir Adore // STREAM: "Bodies"

11:00pm: Walk The Moon // DOWNLOAD: "Anna Sun"

12:00am: Lightwaves // DOWNLOAD: "Loveliest Creature" (Lightwaves Remix)

NEON GOLD SXSW 2011.

Going to Austin next week? Then you're gonna want to make sure you keep your schedule clear on Wednesday, cause it's all going down at Bat Bar for our official Neon Gold showcase. Little Red. Walk The Moon. Alex Winston. Clock Opera. Penguin Prison. The one and only Ellie Goulding. We've got them all under one amazing roof on the first night of SX, the perfect way to kickstart your SXSW 2011 experience. As it's an official showcase it's badges and wristbands only (we don't make the rules y'all), but we've got a special day party on the Saturday for those of you keeping it real at SX this year without an official badge. Look for an announcement on that by week's end, but for now behold the lineup for our official night below and mark your calendars. You won't want to miss this.

08:00pm: Little Red // MP3: "Rock It" ('96 Bulls Remix)

09:00pm: Walk The Moon // MP3: "Anna Sun"

10:00pm: Alex Winston // MP3: "Sister Wife"

11:00pm: Clock Opera // MP3: "A Piece of String"

12:00am: Ellie Goulding // MP3: "Under The Sheets" (Baby Monster Remix)

01:00am: Penguin Prison // MP3: "The Worse It Gets" (Elof Remix)

THIS HOUSE IS FALLING APART.

We hit Vegas for the bank holiday last weekend, and while listening to The Killers as we cruised into the Sin City was a little too cliche even for us, we found the next best thing in Walk The Moon via our friends at All Things Go. Formed in 2009 in Cincinnati over a mutual love of Local Natives and Animal Collective, they combine the nowhere town ambition and anthemic hooks of their aforementioned Sam's Town forefathers with an endearing Midwestern charm and a knack for addictive pop melodies. "Anna Sun" is the triumphant lead single off of their 2010 self-released full length debut i want! i want!, and with its stadium-sized chorus and brilliant accompanying music video it's one of the biggest songs we've heard from an unsigned band in an age, the kind of stuff British A&R dreams and major label bidding wars are made of. The band play NYC tonight at 9pm at Pianos, any A&R's who aspire to be good at their jobs might want to be in attendance.

MP3: "Anna Sun" - Walk The Moon