Welcome back to another edition of Fresh Finds, the one-and-one destination for all things new music in the electronic music sphere. We’re here to sift through all those weekly new release playlists to bring you the best of the best, conveniently packaged for your enjoyment.
This week’s edition features a new track from BICEP, an exciting new album from German DJ Nils Hoffman, and lots more. Keep reading and, who knows, maybe you’ll find your February earworm.
• ALBUM: Nils Hoffmann – Running In A Dream
There’s no denying the influence of German EDM on Nils Hoffman’s sound, though what jumps out upon first listen of his latest album, Running In A Dream, is the considered and educated approach to music making that I suspect takes root in his classical piano background.
Released through Anjunadeep Records, Nils’ new album picks up where his sophomore album, A Radiant Sign (2022), left off. With features from Vancouver Sleep Clinic, The Kite String Tangle, and Rae Morris (to name a few), this latest effort is remarkable in its tenderness and unapologetic romance. With beautiful songwriting (“Lonely”, especially) and a soft blend of future house beats, Running In A Dream is an exciting, viscerally emotional new work from one of electronic music’s most exciting young voices.
• ALBUM: VASSY – Supreme
Fresh off her EDMA Icon Award win, Australian singer-songwriter and producer VASSY dropped her highly anticipated album, Supreme, last week. Drawing influences from a remarkable variety of genres, Supreme is an eclectic and oftentimes anthemic expression of VASSY’s generational talent.
With its mix of reggaeton-infused dance tracks and pop ballads, the album takes its listeners on a journey that runs the emotional gamut. Released through Palladium Records and Position Music, Surpreme’s highlights include “Pursuit of Happiness”, an unapologetically bombastic funk-infused pop track, and “Our Moment”, a take on the inspirational ballad that’s underscored by a lifting score and strongly showcasing VASSY’s excellent vocals.
• TRACK: BICEP – “CHROMA 001 HELIUM”
Former bloggers turned internationally renowned DJs, Irish duo BICEP have had a pulse on the scene since their debut album, Bicep, in 2017. Their sophomore record, Isles (2020), broadened the duo’s already impressive reach, with tracks like “Apricots” garnering them chart-topping placements and significant acclaim. After a 3-year hiatus, the duo returned in early February with their new single, “CHROMA 001 HELIUM”, a darker-than-usual single that bravely embraces the harder side of techno all the while staying true to BICEP’s signature sound.
• TRACK: Electric Polar Bears – “Animals”
Fresh off a collaboration with none other than Paris Hilton, Electric Polar Bears return to the radio waves with “Animals,” a brooding techno track featuring stunning vocals from British alt-pop songwriter Bertie Scott. With it’s sensual builds and irreverent synths, “Animals” is an exciting new addition to EPB’s rapidly expanding discography.
• TRACK: Above & Beyond – “Crazy Love”
A lovechild between English DJs Jono Grant and Tony McGuinness and Finnish DJ Paavo Siljamäki, Above & Beyond has been pushing the boundaries of EDM since the late nineties. Their latest single, featuring the smooth vocals of Zoe Johnston, is a dive into transcendence, awash with pulsating synths and at whose center is a beat that just won’t quit.
And that’s a wrap to this week! To stay up to date with the latest in electronic music, including exclusive coverage of some of the genre’s biggest festivals and more editions of Fresh Finds, make sure to check back here at Nexus Radio.
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