The Bohemian Bystander

Welcome To The Room... Electra Hart

2011-09-11T04:19:00.002+01:00

You may be forgiven for thinking that this "new" artist looks rather familiar, and you'd be right. Introducing the new alter ego of Marina & The Diamonds, whose jaded return marks a surprising, yet strangely not unexpected, change in sound.

Electra Hart embodies "the lies, illusions and death of the American Dream". The emotional first track, Fear & Loathing, has the world-weariness of a gambler who's lost all her money in Vegas, while the video suggests that Marina (sorry, Electra) has returned to the casino's hotel. There, she cuts her hair just short of Britney-esque levels in a bid to escape herself.

The transition continues as the next song sees Ms Hart heading to the dancefloor, with the polished and upbeat, yet still idiosyncratic, Radioactive. There's something off-putting about the sudden shift in pace - the song is produced by Stargate (Norwegian knob-twiddlers for Rihanna, Ne-Yo) and is clearly a calculated stab at nabbing a David Guetta-style chart hit at last.

Even though there's a different vibe, the song's lyrics are classic Marina, chronicling a fear of love and a relationship breakdown - another chapter in the life of a singer whose unique selling point is her proud self-awareness.

It's undeniable that Marina/Electra has one of the best set of pipes in pop music today, yet there's something unnerving about her dogged introspection. It would be refreshing to hear her move away from her neuroses and cover new ground.

Despite those drawbacks, the Electra Hart enterprise could give her the success she needs. After coming 2nd on the BBC Sound of 2010 list (behind Ellie Goulding), her debut album The Family Jewels slid down the charts without providing any smash hits.

The name thing is confusing mind, but fear not! Her official releases will still come under her usual moniker, so no messy scrobbles on last.fm. For those of you after a more familiar recording of Radioactive - there's an acoustic version available to download for free on her website now. The original is released on 3rd October.

Florence + The Machine | What The Water Gave Me

2011-09-10T04:50:00.001+01:00

Florence + The Machine whirls back onto the scene with a flick of the lace and a whiff of granny's perfume. Not much has changed here - the lead single from the upcoming (and so far untitled) 2nd album has Florence Welch getting in touch with her inner Virginia Woolf, accompanied by the usual references to drowning and mythical beings. Although What The Water Gave Me (inspired by the Frida Kahlo painting of the same name) starts with a familiar sense of foreboding and builds into a satisfying finish, there's also a distinct lack of stylistic progression. Let's hope the album has something new to offer. Until then, here's the video:

St. Vincent | Surgeon

2011-09-10T04:20:00.000+01:00

After 2009's Actor was inspired by Woody Allen and Disney films, it seems St. Vincent is this time taking in James Bond movies for her upcoming 3rd album Strange Mercy. With a hummed intro reminiscent of You Only Live Twice by Nancy Sinatra, the Manhattan-based baroque pop favourite (real name Annie Clark) is up to her usual tricks again. Surgeon lulls you into a false sense of security with comfy vocals, before warped guitars signal a drastic change of pace. Aside from that and the worrying refrain best call a surgeon / come cut me open, it's a kooky but pleasant affair. Listen up below:

Tove Styrke | Call My Name

2011-09-10T03:11:00.001+01:00

Following the moody, chic High & Low from earlier on in the year, Swedish Idol 2009 finalist Tove Styrke is taking another stab at UK chart success with Call My Name. Think Robyn's pulsating beats making friends with Sky Ferreira's effervescent charm. The best bits are the echo segments, and there's something strangely reminiscent of Seven Wonders by Fleetwood Mac in the electronic bleeps and bloops of the chorus. There's no video as yet, but you can satisfy your ears at least with the audio clip instead:

Charlotte Gainsbourg | Terrible Angels

2011-09-09T20:04:00.000+01:00

The Anglo-French daughter of the infamous 60s smoothie singer Serge Gainsbourg returns this week with the first cut from her upcoming 4th album Stage Whisper. Terrible Angels (no, not a CocoRosie cover) is worlds away from the casual strut of Heaven Can Wait, with all the stomp and circumstance of a Supernature-era Goldfrapp hit. The track, like her last album IRM, is produced once more by Beck, and packs almost as many punches as there are in the video:

Lana Del Rey | Video Games // Blue Jeans

2011-09-09T19:17:00.000+01:00

Smokey-voiced American chanteuse Lana Del Rey has all the orchestral drama of Florence + The Machine and the brazen, pouty attitude of Gwen Stefani. Her videos are a mish-mash of old movie footage and shots of Lana, ratcheting up the melancholic feel, while the lyrics mingle passion with slang (think Littlest Things by Lily Allen) for a heady concoction of emotion and street smarts. The double A-side single is available for pre-order on her website now, but if you just can't wait 'til the release in October, then keep hitting those Youtube play buttons!

Check out the oddly uplifting Video Games:

And the unexpectedly wistful Blue Jeans: