Teases & Dares’ Best New Disco featuring AXXE (The Reflex Revision), The WildViolets, John Duff and Cowboy Simple (Flying Mojito Bros)

We’ve been neglecting our disco loving listeners recently so thought it was about time we caught you up with a varied but high quality bundle of bubbly new bops.

The Swedish/Canadian pairing of AXXE (Stina and Douglas) are new to Teases & Dares. We happened across their cleverly titled ‘Disappointment Boulevard’ thanks to The Reflex’s Revision of the track (adored The Reflex’s work on Lou Hayter’s ‘Time Out Of Mind’ remix package). Stina’s vocals drip with laid back old school cool – almost giving a French 60s pop noir feel to the track. Then layer in that chugging Reflex groove and it’s a winner all the way.

The WildViolets are the best upcomers in UK disco and we need to see them live in 2024. ‘Til The Sunrise’ is their new EP on The Disco Express label. The (almost) title track ‘Sunrise’ is appropriately full of solar rays and is giving off the warmest summery disco feels you could ask for. Perfect for both poolside and party time.

Another new name to the blog is John Duff. ‘Do It’ is a track of John’s from a couple of years ago and it’s out again in the form of a new version called The Redux (Nikolai Prange is credited on the Spotify link so hats off to Nikolai if he’s responsible for this). It’s an infectious and squelchy groove with a stellar vocal from John – it funks along quite delightfully.

Last up a new release on the boutique Personal Best records in Australia – we’ve loved a tonne of their releases over the years. Label head honcho Joshua Beagley is 50% of Cowboy Simple – a new project ambitiously aiming to blend disco and country. The classic ‘Wichita Lineman’ song was recently covered by Cowboy Simple and the disco is cranked up several notches thanks to this remix courtesy of Flying Mojito Bros.

Jodie Nicholson – You Wanted This/Love, I’m On Fire (from Safe Hands)

Stumbled across Jodie’s music this week at just the right time. Her new album ‘Safe Hands’ just dropped and we’ve been swooning over it in the past 24 hours since release. It’s one of those records that you send to everyone as soon as you discover it as you are just so keen for people to share in the joy. This album can actually be aptly summarised in a single word – lush. One of our pop buddies we sent the album to came straight back (hey Pete Howarth) and said “oh wow – lush”. That really is the sound. The arrangements are beautiful. The tracks which build and swell (such as ‘You Wanted This’) are truly epic and so addictive. The album contains some more stripped back moments – equally sumptuous – like ‘Love, I’m On Fire’. Jodie’s crystalline vocal ties everything together. In terms of other records to mention in the same breath – this one might just come close to our all time beloved ‘Vs Head Vs Heart’ by Emma-Louise – that’s the sonic space it occupies. Be ready to fall.

Teases & Dares’ Best New Pop featuring Amery, True Blossom, Maya Vik and Gavin Turek

Here’s another round up of the best new pop in all of its forms with this groovy batch touching upon yacht, disco, synthfunk and an RnB slo-jam.

We’ve loved a bunch of Born At Midnite singles and remain very much on board for Amery’s latest solo efforts. Brand new single ‘Hotwire The Nite’ is some shimmering yachtpop with plenty of indie cool. You can almost see the reflection of the sun bouncing from the waterside as soon as you hit play on this and those twinkling soft synths bubble up. Giving a nod to the artwork too which is kinda perfect.

It’s been a hot minute since we’ve heard a mention of True Blossom. The Atlanta faves have announced a new album called ‘Blossom Girl Ultra’ (fab title!) and launched it with the snazzy new track ‘Don’t Deny It’. It might just be our favourite thing they’ve done. Those squelchy Prince-like synths totally hit our sweet and funky spot.

We’re nearing the long awaited release of a new Maya Vik album. We have a new taster track to tide us over and it’s the laid back and dreamy slo-jam that is ‘C.N.B (Cold Norwegian Babe)’. There are hints of Jam & Lewis floating through this gently funky gem. That new record can’t come soon enough.

Another long time T&D fave is Gavin Turek. She’s delivered the goods in the shape of boogietastic newbie ‘Disco Boots’. That creamy rich vocal atop the strutting bassline is pure disco dynamite. We’d be here for a full album of this if you’re up for it Gavin!

Phebe Starr featuring Froyo – Lover

Phebe Starr has been buzzing about on the Australian music scene for a decade or so. We’ve watched from afar, often admiring her pop chops but harboured a secret wish for a REALLY big pop moment to happen. ‘Lover’ might just be the one. In collaboration with Froyo (adored their single ‘Heart’), ‘Lover’ is a soft synthed and gently funky blend of quirky 80s – a bit Wendy and Lisa, solo electro sounding Stevie Nicks, hints of Pebbles’ ‘Girlfriend’ but also the sci-fi indie of They/Live or ‘Head First’-era Goldfrapp. There are so many things we love about this – all of the nods and references combine to beautiful effect. Phebe’s new album ‘Dirt’ will be out on 24 May.

Teases & Dares’ Remix Round Up featuring 79.5 (JKriv), Daytona/Magnus & Kel (Dim Zach), Marie Davidson (Soulwax) and Michaela May (Tholos & Jonny Spalding)

It’s been ages since we’ve batched up the best in new remix action for you but we have four belters for you today.

79.5’s self titled album on Razor-N-Tape was a proper disco/soul delight last year and we’re enjoying the remix EP which recently dropped. Album highlight ‘Our Hearts Didn’t Go That Way’ gets a housed up disco dubby rework courtesy of label boss JKriv.

Magnus and Kel have both leant their equally smooth vocals to quality projects recently. One being a collaboration with Daytona. The summery vibe of ‘Love The Way’ has been afforded a nighttime neon glow thanks to Dim Zach with full on 80s drama aplenty.

Soulwax always save their best work for Marie Davidson – see their legendary take on ‘Work It’. It’s no surprise they’re back on remix duty for Marie’s recent banger ‘Y.A.A.M’. Play those two remixes back to back for guaranteed melodic techo transcendence.

It’s a second shout out for Michaela May this weekend. Her ‘Abyss’ collection just dropped and it includes a slice of sophisticated synthwave supremacy thanks to Tholos and Jonny Spalding’s subtle rework of ‘Crying At The Radio’ which now feels like a lost Laura Branigan classic.

Teases & Dares’ Best New Pop featuring Nikka Costa, Michaela May, Harriet and Margaret Berger

Four of the best new pop tunes for you right here and we’re bringing pop in a bunch of different forms. We’ve got some funk pop, 80s pop, yacht pop and some good ole Scandi electro too.

‘It’s Just Love’ is the third single taken from Nikka Costa’s forthcoming ‘Dirty Disco’ album and it’s the release of the summer we are looking forward to the most. Nikka continues to channel Prince circa ‘Controversy’ through to ‘Parade’ and it’s making us so darn happy. There’s nobody better to keep that squelchy and taut pop funk sound alive than Nikka.

Michaela May released her ‘Abyss’ collection yesterday (too short to be an album , too long to be an EP!). It brings together the stellar run of singles she’s had as well as a couple of newbies and a pulsating remix too. ‘Beautiful Thing’ is the standout for us – it’s like 5 of your favourite 80s pop classics rolled into 1. Michaela’s pure pop voice manages to recall both Martika and Olivia Newton-John. The production is punchy and bold and we gotta love those power synths.

We have to admit to a touch of nervousness when we learned that Harriet was covering one of our all time most adored songs – the yachtpop classic ‘Sailing’ by Christopher Cross. We need not have worried because in the always reliable and classy hands of Steve Anderson on production, this rework is just sublime – tear inducing even. Dare we say it there’s even more emotion in this new take and of course Harriet effortlessly delivers that crystal clear blue vocal.

A touch late with this one but no better way to round out this crop than with some scintilating Scandipop. Margaret Berger picks up from where she left off with ‘Oblivion’ and gathers momentum with her comeback with the Royksopp-esque ‘Karma Is A…’. Those bubbling and icy synths work a treat and we love Margaret’s vocal on a thumping pop track like this.

Blow Pop – 2 Jobs/I Think I Like You

Blow Pop is the brilliantly monikored Bubble and Xantham. We were bemoaning how boring and safe some of the big pop releases were on New Music Friday and then we came across ‘2 Jobs’ and it delivered everything we needed. First up the song includes one of the most genius lyrics we’ve heard all year in “all day, CEO, all night CE-ho” and it sets the scene nicely for the tale of Bubble and how a woman’s work is NEVER done. Musically there is just so much going on – to give you a flavour we’re going to say it’s Self Esteem meets The Subways with some Say She She. It rocks, it funks and the chorus packs a wallop. ‘2 Jobs’ is part of a diverse sounding 3 track single (see ‘I Think I Like You’ for a major pop bop). Can we also say that single artwork is bloody fantastic. Thanks Blow Pop for a massive injection of fun into our musical weekend.

Dabeull & Reva DeVito – Look In The Mirror

Dabeull’s collaborations with HolyBrune have always delighted us here at Teases & Dares – consistently classy affairs. Another T&D featured artist in the form of Reva DeVito is the latest to cook up some magic with Dabeull and we’ve picked their track ‘Look In The Mirror’ to share with you. It’s taken from Dabeull’s new album ‘Analog Love’ which, guess what, also includes some sonic treats with HolyBrune (and other names too). Back to Reva and it was her ‘Goodbye For Now’ record which made us a fan. She co-writes ‘Look In the Mirror’ – it’s delicious and authentic sounding disco with flashes of early 80s funk too.

ALANA – Motherless Money (including Franky Boissy & D-Stone Remix)

A laid back disco house groover with Handmaids Tale-esque lyrical content was not what we had on our bingo card for most played new tune of the week but that’s exactly where we are! It’s a very big T&D welcome to ALANA and her stunning ‘Motherless Money’ release. The Henry Binns (from Zero 7) produced single version is the lushest thing we’ve heard this year. Then add the Balearic meets squelchy acid vibes of the remix courtesy of Franky Boissy and D-Stone and this Salon Phonics Records release really becomes a value for (motherless) money affair! “Did you sign the NDA” is a lyric line destined for ALANA merch – can we speak that into existence?

Dead Pony – Rainbows

We’ve stumbled across a punk banger this afternoon and it’s lead us down a Dead Pony rabbit hole – we’re not a bit sorry about it. On first listen two of our favourite bands were recalled in Shiny Toy Guns and Be Your Own Pet. Both of those bands know how to rock but also sure craft (well, crafted in the case of the sadly defunct Shiny Toy Guns) a walloping pop chorus. Speaking of a chorus, the one on ‘Rainbows’ is monster sized and I hope the band are ready to hear this screamed back at them at their forthcoming live gigs and festival experiences. ‘Rainbows’ achieves that rare feat of the perfect blend of synths and guitars in a way Metric would be pleased with. On the visuals, Anna stomps her way through the music video with the boys thrashing along beside her – they appear a tight unit already with charisma by the bucketload. Being behind on a new music discovery is not always a bad thing, by coincidence the band’s album ‘Ignore This’ just dropped so our timing turns out to be about right!