Botcast Volume One

Welcome to the first Happy Robots Botcast, which aims to bring the best electronic pop music from around the globe for y’all to enjoy.   With the current atrocious weather conditions we’ve been having recently, the robots have taken listening to Boney M and other gay disco, to keep the summer in our hearts. We thought it not fair to inflict our  love of 70s disco on you, instead we bring our favourite new electropop from around the world (well mainly Sweden…) for your listening pleasure, enjoy and stay warm

Love The Happy Robots xx

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Now here’s a bit about the songs…


The  Bridal Shop  - Cloudkick (Happy Robots)
We start off with one of our own,  ‘Cloudkick’ is to be included on the forthcoming Happy Robots Botpop Volume One Compilation.
I remember first hearing the band’s debut single ‘Bay The Moon’ and instantly thinking how refreshing it was to hear an indiepop band flirt with electronics so affectively.  The lovely New Order strings and sweet vocals, I was hooked.  Happy Robots are very happy to friends with The Bridal Shop, look at them, aren't they a bunch of cutie pies?
‘Cloudkick’ have previously been featured as a Forkcast by the nice chaps at Pitchfork and mixes those Balearic beats that the Swedes are into (check Studio, Boat Club and Air France, more from them later) with guitars remensicent of The Wake and Sarah Records bands.
http://www.myspace.com/thebridalshop




The Sound Of Arrows – Danger! (Mr Pedro Remix) (Labrador Records)
Hailed by Labrador as the future of Swedish indiepop,  the Sound of Arrows released their debut ep in May this year.  The original is poppy with it’s Avalaches- esque intro and vocals like a Swedish Steven Merrit, however it’s the remixes which made us Happy Robots. Lotsa cowbells and ultimately very cheesy synths make the remix essential,  I doubt anyone can listen to this without grinning like an idiot.   Download the original from the link below and listen to more of the mysterious Mr Pedro too
Download the original version of Danger!
Mr Pedro




Hercules and Love Affair – Blind (DFA Records)
Remember a few years back with Anthony and the Johnsons appeared out of NYC, won the Mercury Music award and upset the Kaiser Chiefs? Well you’ll be glad he’s abandoned the acoustic guitar (shudder) and instead is making incredibly gay disco, super stuff! Fingers crossed he never thinks about picking up that acoustic guitar ever again.
H&LA Myspace



Air France – No Excuses (Sincerely Yours)
This is from their most recent ep ‘No Way Down’ and is a favourite on the Happy Robots stereo.   With it’s disco strings and catchy pop melody, Air France are the band to bring the POP to the Swedes recent fascination with Balearic beats.  And don’t get me started on my theory about Swedes and bongos…
Air France Myspace




Cut Copy – Hearts on Fire (Modular)
Cut Copy make the perfect pop music, it’s not smart, or clever (or appears to be) and it exists for two main reasons for you to dance and sing along like the nerd that you know you are, What can I say, I love it!  Like a less rock Depeche Mode with a smattering New Order (check out that guitar solo!), they’ve managed to make the 80s sound so fresh and current. 
The robots were lucky enough to see them in Glasgow the other week and they were probably even better live than on record. I for one enjoyed them so much I now own a tee shirt with ‘So Cosmic’ written on it, and I’m NOT a hippy. That says it all really, Cut Copy have the power to make you buy Cosmic clothing, all through the power of their music, now that’s powerful stuff.
This is the latest single from their tip top lp ‘In Ghost Colours’ and is my particular favourite, enjoy.
Cut Copy




Katsen – Constellation (Happy Robots)
Yep, now time for another track from the forthcoming Botpop Volume One, well we do like to treat you!
A duo from Brighton, a band we discovered on (shhh) Myspace, how could Happy Robots not love them?  Sweetly sung but robotic vocals with computerised synthesisers and an insanely catchy chorus.  And of course any band that does dress up and poses with their synths, oh you’ve gotta love it.
Download some of their other songs on (shhh) Myspace




Section 25 – Reflection (Factory/LTM Records)
Yep, a golden oldie to round off the proceedings… Apart from the obvious Section 25 are the Happy Robots “Factory Records band of choice”, they are the band that famously brought techno (techno techno) to Blackpool.
Their album ‘From The Hip’ (produced my Mr. Sumner himself) is easily the best thing to come out of Blackpool like ever, period. Though what else is there in Blackpool apart from donkey’s, weird coloured fountains and the “Pepsi Max Big One”? Oh sorry did I forget the Nolan sisters?
The band’s story is at times heart breaking (read more on their website) and they are still making music and playing live, which I'm not sure is a good or a bad thing but for their moments of greatness we applaud them.
LTM bless them have just released a best of compilation, one day they’ll run out of Factory related reissues maybe, lets hope that's not for a long while (unless it involves Revenge...).
LTM Records
Section 2