50 FOR 15
APRI L T O WE RS
Soaring 80s-style electropop
WHO THEY?
Nottingham duo Charles Burley and Alexander Noble. Pals for
a decade, they began writing as April Towers last June, when
their previous band (indie outfit The Frontiers) fizzled out. Cue
a smart change of direction, the first fruit of which was duly
unleashed online last August.
WHY APRIL TOWERS?
Their sound thumbs a ride from 80s electropop, through 90s
house, and with a smidge of breakbeat chucked in along the
way. Their first single, ‘Arcadia’, made all the right noises.
Literally. That dang-dang-der-dang-dang Human League
synth rumble, the fit-to-pop percussion (drum machine set to
‘bursting’, tom-tom rolls galore), a Depeche Mode vocal twang
here, a huge sing-along chorus there...
TELL US MORE
Nottingham, it would appear, is something of an electronic
hotbed – Indiana, Ronika and Shelter Point at the sharp end
and a host of whippersnappers coming up on the rails, including
OneGirlOneBoy, Owyl, Frolikks and Loophole Project. And April
Towers are more than doing their bit, having already secured
some Radio One daytime play. A new single is on the cards for
early this year.
Y ELLE R KIN
FR ANK I E K NI GHT
Strings meet synths folktronica
Late-night soulful electropop
New York duo Adrian Galvin (folk sensibilities) and Luca
Buccellati (electronic know-how) do a neat hybrid of moody
folktronica/floorflilling goodness, which gives them a refreshing
edge when stacked up against your run-of-the-mill synthpop
bands. Debuting in 2013 with an EP called ‘Solar Laws’, Yellerkin
combine ambient leanings with uptempo tracks that jar against
somewhat sombre lyrics (see ‘Vines’, on which they gently
intone, “Because the days, they feel like murder”). But don’t be
fooled by the many brooding moments, because cuts like the
banjo-toting ‘Tools’, which builds to a dramatic, synth-heavy
climax, shows Yellerkin aren’t devoid of energy. They have
already wowed the crowds at SXSW and their earthy howl is set
to grow ever louder this year.
If you like the soulful end of this electronic business, Brighton’s
Frankie Knight is going to be pushing all of your buttons this
year. Check out her ‘Wade’ EP on the London/Vancouver XVI
label. Bloc Party and Rob Da Bank are among her fans. With a
voice like kittens, it must have been tempting to push those
dulcet tones right up in the mix, but Knight does things a little
different and lets the music do some of the talking too – from
warm keys to deep bass rumbles to bright blips and bleeps. And
she’s by no means the only act on XVI Records worth keeping
an eye on. Watch out for the return of fellow Brightoner Ruby
Taylor and her seaside electronica and ethereal popsters Yumi &
The Weather, who have new stuff ready to drop.