These are excelent news, indeed. British singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Ali Love has unveiled details about his third album, 'P.U.M.P.'. Four years after 'Love Harder' granted him a well-deserved spot in the pantheon of nu-disco masters, producing awesome singles like 'Smoke & Mirrors' and 'Moscow Girl', it's time for him to move into new territories, where deep house seems to have a major influence.

The new album will feature twelve songs, from which two tracks are already known: 'Emperor', a dark and heavily synthetic techno jam that hints at S&M liaisons, and the just released 'Deep Into the Night', that showcases Love's talent for creating gripping electronic diamonds. He is credited for playing all instruments and keys and doing all the programming on the new LP.

As you can recall, throughout these four years Ali Love hasn't been quiet. He's also a member of Infinity Ink and Hot Natured (which released their excelent debut 'Different Sides of the Sun' last year), both house music projects that surely profited from his involvement and also let him grow as an artist and musician.

While 'P.U.M.P.' isn't released on Crosstown Rebels Records (we'll have to wait until July 14th), listen to the new track 'Deep Into the Night', a soulful tune that raises from Love's impecable chants with deep basslines and playful backvocals, while crystaline effects pour like silvery drops of liquid stardust right into your ears.

Also don't forget to (re)watch his frightful video for 'Emperor'.

Links
Ali Love - Official website | Facebook | Soundcloud
Crosstown Rebels - Official website | Facebook | Soundcloud

He hails from Venice, Italy, and makes nu-disco music with a dark tinge. That's a simple way to describe the work of Guglielmo Bottin, better known by his surname, Bottin, a producer and DJ who is fond of italo-disco, house and funk, mixing all of those genres into a menacing and unpredictable musical journey.

After remixing artists like Lindström, Sally Shapiro, Ali Love, Lost Valentinos and In Flagranti (just to name a few), he received much attention with his 2009 album 'Horror Disco' (his sophomore), released on Bear Funk, a label where he clearly feels at home. That album showcased all of Bottin's strange retro-landscapes, sometimes filled with sensuality and others with urgency and dread. Now it's time for his third album.

Titled 'Punica Fides' (once again via Bear Funk), it will be less experimental and more dance floor oriented. With only nine tracks on the list, the album will still be heavily influenced by Bottin's selective taste in spacious disco and funk, groovy synths and tempting beats. Besides the instrumental tracks, there will be some vocal collaboration: Lavinia Claws and Rodion join the party, but the most surprising appearance will be Steve Strange, the lead vocalist of Visage, the pioneer group of the New Romantic movement that emerged in the 1978 London nightclubs. Bottin had remixed Visage's single 'Never Enough', taken from the group first album in almost twenty years and released last year: 'Hearts and Knives'.

'Punica Fides' will be released on May 20, but while you wait, listen to Bottin's excelent remix of Visage.

Links
Bottin - Official website | Facebook | Soundcloud
Visage - Official website | Facebook | Soundcloud
Bear Funk - Official website | Facebook | Soundcloud

It's finally possible to entirely preview Prins Thomas' third full-length, aptly titled... well... 'III'.

We have to be clear with you: his first two albums left us wandering if he shouldn't just keep making remixes for other artists; they weren't bad albums, by all means, but they also weren't captivating enough. Thomas seemed to have addopted a more quirky and experimental path, trading cosmic for strangeness just for the sake of it. 

But the new album seems to correct that. 'III' is filled with digressions through cosmic nebulae, but also along very mundane landscapes, where even Arab influences are added to Thomas exquisite and mindblowing compositions that also explore krautrock and psychedelic grooves. Sure, dub and nu-disco are still the main directions, here, but there is more focus on those genres and less musical detours. The pace is rather slow, most of the time, but what it lacks in energy it gains in atmosphere.

The album will feature only instrumental tracks, one of wich is almost 13 minutes long and will be out Prins Thomas own label, Full Pupp (actually, the label is celebrating its 10 years of existence and has released several EPs with new tunes from its main artists). 

Hype Machine has the exclusive premiere of the album. Listen to it right HERE (after the jump).

Links
Prins Thomas - Facebook | Soundcloud

He is one of the most unpredictable names in electronic music. It's hard to put French producer Joakim Bouaziz into one or two genres or labels, and even harder to tell someone what his music sounds like, as he's always changing it. Only one thing is certain: his strangeness is always present. 

After the criticaly acclaimed 'Nothing Gold' (from 2011), where he played with leftfield, synthpop and nu-disco, he's back with 'Tropics of Love', a twelve track album that will probably have a broad musical spectre and Luke Jenner (ex-singer of The Rapture) will be featured in one song.

Joakim said he was influenced by modulated synths, Peter Gabriel, Paul Simon and r&b to create the ethereal and outworldly athmosphere of the album, one that can be evidenced by his first single, 'On the Beach', released a couple of weeks ago. It's a cover of Neil Young's original song but it has Joakim DNA all over it. The single will be remixed by Principles of Geometry (who are also ready to release their new album, as we've told you about), CFCF and Joakim, himself, will also recreate the track.

'Tropics of Love' will be released on Tigersushi (Joakim's own label) around May 26th. Check the original and CFCF's remix right now.

Links
Joakim - Official website | Facebook | Soundcloud
Tigersushi - Official website | Facebook | Soundcloud

It's not really a new Röyksopp album featuring Robyn and it's not exactely a Robyn album featuring/produced by Röyksopp; it's rather a new project where both acts collaborate as if in a band.

The result is a mini album, entitled "Do it Again" and it will be released on 26th May. It will come out as the product of several writing and recording sessions between the three artists, who became aware that what they were creating was something entirely new that could be mutual and not exclusive. The Swedish singer and the Norwegian duo had already worked together in their own previous albums: the unforgettable track 'The Girl and the Robot' from Röyksopp's 2009 'Junior' is still a marvellous electropop hit and, one year after, they would return to produce the strange 'None of Them' for Robyn's 2010 'Body Talk'.

The mini album comes after the announcement of the Do It Again Tour which will take the three artists for a ride around the world. The shows will feature a Robyn-part, a Röyksopp-part and, finally, a part where both acts will be equally featured.

'Monument', the first song taken from the mini album (which will have five), can now be previewed. Robyn and Röyksopp are two of Opus Sound's favourite Scadinavian acts, so we'll be following them closely.

Links
Röyksopp - Official website | Facebook | Soundcloud
Robyn - Official website | Facebook | Soundcloud

Joshua Eustis is a name that, at first, might not ring any bell, but if we told you he's the surviving half of Telefon Tel Aviv, that will surely shed some light on who he is. 

Following the tragic death of his friend and bandmate Charles Cooper two days after the release of their third full-length, 'Immolate Yourself', in 2009, Eustis decided to postpone all tour plans and found himself with a difficult decision to make: what to do with Telefon Tel Aviv. The answer may arrive several years after, in the form of Eustis new project, Sons of Magdalene.

'Move to Pain' is an album about death, pain, suffering and the outcomes for those who have deal with such feelings at a close range and still have to remain and keep going on. The first material of what now are the album's songs was written by Eustis back in 2007, after his father was diagnosed with cancer. Cooper love the songs so much he told Eustis they should use the in a future Telefon Tel Aviv album; unfortunately, that never happened. Eustis held on to those songs and, between 2009 and 2010, he intermitentely written the rest of the songs. Now, five years after Cooper's departure, Eustis (having toured with Nine Ich Nails in 2013) still carries the weight of such a loss and he hopes the release of the album eases the burden that this batch of songs have become.

'Move to Pain' will feature nine songs and will be released on June 24, on Portland based label Audraglint. Only then he'll be ready to come back to Telefon Tel Aviv.

We're rather anxious to catch the first glimpses of Sons of Madgalene debut album, and we'll try to keep you posted.

Links
Sons of Magdalene - Soundcloud
Telefon Tel Aviv - Official website | Facebook | Soundcloud
Audraglint - Official website | Facebook

Having released their first album in 2005, French duo Guillaume Grosso and Jeremy Duval (aka Principles of Geometry) are not an easy listening. Their electronic music is filled with sonic landscapes where strangeness, desolation, machines and, sometimes, horror have the same importance as nature and ambiance. Principles of Geometry don't seem to be comfortable in just one genre, so they tend to switch their paradigms from album to album. Downtempo and drone experiments were the bulk of their self-titled debut, whereas unexpected injections of krautrock, rock and psycadelia painted their sophomore album, 'Lazare'. And in 2012 they invested in IDM, synthpop and electro while creating 'Burn the Land & Boil the Oceans'.

Now, two years after, they're revealing the first single from 'Meanstream', their fourth album and once again, new lands are being discovered by these two artists. This first taste, titled 'Streamsters', is a downtempo song with sensual grooves and warm rhythms that trully sound completely different from most of Principles of Geometry's previous work. The beats sugest a retro scenery, blending r&b structures with synthetic patterns. The Alessi Brothers (70s/80s legendary duo) provide lush vocals to the song, adding to its already rich and sumptuous dynamics.

The full album will also feature the Alessi Brothers in two more tracks and will be released April 28 on French musician and producer Joakim's label Tigersushi Records.

Links
Principles of Geometry - Official website | Facebook | Soundcloud
Tigersushi - Official website | Facebook | Soundcloud
Alessi Brothers - Official website | Facebook

American Tom Krell, better known as How To Dress Well, has anounced his third album, 'What is This Heart?', will be released on June 23. Following his sophomore album, 'Total Loss', which came out on 2012, Krell has worked with artists like Shlohmo, Active Child and Jacques Green, lending to their tracks his hazy vocals.

The new album - dropping on British label Weird World - will feature twelve songs, and is said to be influenced by names like Prince, Burial, Tracey Chapman and Lou Reed, although it is probable that his ventures with some today's most appraised artists may also find their place into the final work.

Two songs taken from the forthcoming album, 'Repeat Pleasure' and 'Words I Don't Remember' showcase perfectly Krell's music: whispered vocals entangled in fragile compositions, experimental pop and r&b structures melted into acustic sceneries and electronic matrixes, stitched with faint hints of synthpop. While 'Repeat Pleasure' is more enthusiastic and lively, 'Words I Don't Remember' sounds confessional and intimate. The 30 years old musician has already declared the mood of the album to be delicate, sensual and coated with overwhelming joy, so both these tunes seem to substantiate the veracity of his words.

Take a peek at both of them and show How To Dress Well some affection.

Links
How To Dress Well - Official website | Facebook | Soundcloud
Weird World - Official website | Facebook | Soundcloud

Sad news: Frankie Knuckles has left us.

For those who never heard of him, he's an influencial figure in the creation and evolution of house music, being dubbed "The Godfather of House".

Born in 1955 in the Bronx, New York City, he moved to Chicago during the 70's and started DJing there. Previous contact with important DJ's like Larry Levan and Ron Hardy and his partnership with other (future) seminal artists like Derrick May, David Morales and Jamie Principle contributed to the design of a new genre and all of its subgenres: House.

In the 80's he began to work as a producer and there are many albums and songs by other artists that were credited to him. He also was a proficuous remixer, giving new life to songs by artists like Lisa Stansfield, Michael Jackson, Diana Ross, Chaka Kahn, Cerrone and, more recently, Hercules & Love Affair, Hurts, Depeche Mode, Climbers and Duke Dumont. Even though he worked with high profile artists, he remained comfortably in the shadows of the undeground scene. Most of today's house music artists cite his name while talking about their background musical influences and in 2004 he relased a new album with original songs, almost ten years after the previous one, called 'A New Reality'.

He kept working on what he loved until the very end. On the 31st March of 2014 he was found dead at his house. His death was reportedly related to diabetes complications. He died where all of his life and career were built: Chicago.

RIP, Frankie.

I don't know how he does it, but Sam Smith always manages to touch my heart and soul with his songs. They're just like small dew dropplets, with simple lyrics and musical arrangements, but roar like a storm of the century in terms of conveyed emotions. Maybe the secret is quite obvious: when singing about love, every person who has loved and been loved can relate to the expressed feelings. But Sam Smith sings about mythical love, impossible love, uncorresponded love... and he does it with a poignant truthfullness that would probably disarm even the most stony heavymetal fan. And then there is that voice of his...

For those who don't really care about the music you listen to in the radio, maybe the name Sam Smith doesn't ring a bell. But think about the omnipresent Naughty Boy's single 'La La La' and Disclosure's 'Latch' and you'll most likely know whom we're talking about. Yes, it was Sam singing in both those songs. Adding to his collaborations, Sam Smith also released some wonderful originals. 'Nirvana' is still our favourite and the distorted vocals in 'Safe With Me' keep delighting us even after all this time. Trully, 'Money on My Mind' is the only one that hasn't convinced us yet.

His new song, 'Stay With Me' is a ballad about needing someone by one's side, even if love is not equally felt. Sam's voice floats like a prayer around the piano chords and the tambourine snare. It's such a delicate song, so simple yet so profound...

Sam's debut album, 'In the Lonely Hour', will be released on Capitol Records, on June 17th and we can hardly wait.

Links
Sam Smith - Official website | Facebook | Soundcloud

'Selectadisc' - that's how Ronika's debut album will be called. The british singer and producer, born Veronica Sampson, will release 'Selectadisc' on June 2nd. The album will be a sugary treat, if only Ronika will keep up with what she's been giving us for the past 5 years - and the latest single sounds like she will.

'Shell Shocked' is a pure and shiny diamond captured right from the 80's and brought to the present day, reflecting Ronika's hability to craft great nu-disco, synthpop and electro-funk infused songs. She sounds like La Roux's sweetest cousin or a Little Boots' gone even retro-er. Whichever the case, we love her.

The album will feature 14 tracks and there are a few older singles getting their second chance, like 'Wiyoo', 'Only Only' and 'In The City', but here at Opus Sound we're curious about the new tracks, because the released ones have already proven Ronika's vitality and interest.

Listen to Shell Shocked and feel your blood sugar levels increase.

Links

Roonika - Official website | Facebook | Soundcloud

It's not totally unexpected. Bufi's new EP will be released on portuguese label Discotexas. Titled Selvage, the new three tracked EP of mexican Mateo Bufi finds a comfortable spot among works of other critically aclaimed artists related to the label: Moullinex, Xinobi, Mirror People, Jesse Oliver or Rebeka, just to name a few.

Besides the title track, which is a deep and addictive synthetic jam, there are another two: I Call You plays with distorted arppegios that envelope the house structure while Papers is the ovni track, a progressive tune that sounds a bit unexpected and uninspired.

Bufi's Selvage drops April 25.