The Electricity Club went 'Back to the Phuture' for a one-off club night at La Beat Route in the heart of London's Soho. Back To The Phuture's mission statement is "connecting the dots on electronic music", bringing together the best of past and present.

This special event was held was to launch a series of summer appearances, which will culminate in the opening night of Bestival 2010. More inside »

Sarah Blackwood has been a striking presence on the music scene since 1995. First as the singer of DUBSTAR, she scored hits with lush Stephen Hague produced kitchen sink dramas such as "Not So Manic Now", "Stars" and "No More Talk".

Following three albums Disgraceful, Goodbye and Make It Better on Food Records and increasingly muted interest from a public still drunk on 'Cool Britannia', DUBSTAR disbanded and in 2002, Sarah was recruited to front female synthpop duo TECHNIQUE. More inside »

If you haven't heard of the Swedish band COVENANT you have been missing out on what can arguably be called one of the most ingenious, enduring, and addictive EBM bands in existence.

Since teenagers, lead singer and songwriter Eskil Simonsson, keyboardist and main lyricist Joakim Montelius, and computer/keyboardist Clas Nachmanson had shared not only a love of electronic music but of science and philosophy. Their passion is what eventually drove them to form COVENANT, the band name they chose to describe their mutual, spiritual bond of brotherhood. More inside »

The next Back To The Phuture radio show on BBC 6 Music will be a Synth Pop Special featuring studio guests ORCHESTRAL MANOEUVRES IN THE DARK.

As well as playing classic tracks from DEPECHE MODE, SOFT CELL and JOHN FOXX, there will be new songs from future synth stars HURTS, FENECH-SOLER and DELPHIC. More inside »

In the tradition of some of Manchester's finest, here are the 'new' young men of DELPHIC, who continued their meteoric rise with a second date in Manchester in as many months.

Last time it was at Sankeys, this time at The Ritz and its sticky sprung floor. A 16 point neon star adorned the ceiling of The Ritz, by the end of the night it wasn't the only star visible. More inside »

The Electricity Club are pleased to announce that our very own Chi Ming Lai will be DJ-ing at the renowned London electro clubnight Bedsitland on Saturday 12th June 2010.

The main attraction of the evening will be a live set from synth duo FUTURE PERFECT who will be performing songs from their debut album "Dirty Little Secrets" at 10.00pm. Chi will be hitting the decks from around midnight for an hour so expect to hear songs by acts that have been featured on The Electricity Club - plus maybe a few new ones which may lead to the ultimate discovery.

Bedsitland is at The Lexington (Upstairs), 96-98 Pentonville Road, London, N1 9JB. Entry is £5.00 at the door.

Incidentally, one time HEAVEN 17 support act THE MODERN have been confirmed to play at the Bedsitland 2nd Birthday Party on Friday 16th July 2010 which will be at their new home of The Buffalo Bars on Highbury Corner.

With special thanks to Tracy McKenzie of Bedsitland.

www.bedsitland.co.uk
www.myspace.com/bedsitlandclub
www.futureperfect.org.uk/
www.myspace.com/futureperfectproject

HEAVEN 17's debut album "Penthouse and Pavement" was a landmark achievement, combining electronics with pop hooks and funky disco sounds while adding witty social and political commentary.

Due to technological constraints the band were unable to perform the album live but also had no desire to join the touring circuit. However, with the advances in technology, the album was performed for the first time to a sell-out gig of over 2000 people at the Sheffield Magna on 6 March 2010. As well as performing "Penthouse and Pavement" in its entirety, they played several BEF tracks from the period such as their cover of LOU REED's "Perfect Day" as well as their hits "Temptation" and "Let Me Go".

During a short break from the editing suite at the BBC, Glenn Gregory took time out to talk to The Electricity Club about this seminal album, playing live and doing acoustic HUMAN LEAGUE covers: More inside »

Back to the Phuture have announced that a number of free tickets will be made available for their Bestival launch party on Tuesday 25th May 2010.

Celebrating the start of their appearances across the summer, culminating in the opening night of Bestival 2010, the event will take place at La Beat Route (Moonlighting), 17 Greek Street, Soho, London W1D 4DR. More inside »

HURTS are aiming to take the synthesizer duo into the 21st Century. Monochromatic like early OMD and enigmatic like classic PET SHOP BOYS, the whole myth around them has solely been based around the magnificence of the song "Wonderful Life".

This epic piece of cinematic melancholy features as all good pop music should, light at the end of the tunnel. It is only one song but very few acts manage to produce a song as brilliant as this in a lifetime, let alone on their debut. But with MIRRORS knocking on the door and Nordic duos such as VILLA NAH and THE SOUND OF ARROWS looking to gatecrash the newly focussed male-fronted electro party, HURTS really need to deliver now. More inside »

MARSHEAUX release their brilliant cover of BILLY IDOL's "Eyes Without A Face" exclusively as part of a download only compilation called "Peace". Also featured is the return of DUBSTAR with their version of THE PASSIONS "I'm In Love With A German Film Star" along with tracks by MARC ALMOND, RYUICHI SAKAMOTO, SALLY SHAPIRO, MIKRO and JORI HULKKONEN.

Put together by DJs BUFFETLIBRE in partnership with Amnesty International Catalunya, it aims to raise funds to support human rights causes throughout the world.

The entire 180 song collection can be downloaded for a charitable donation at www.buffetlibredjs.net/peace.html

The highly rated VILLA NAH made an in-store live appearance at Urban Outfitters in Oxford Street as part of a short British tour to support the imminent physical release of their excellent debut album "Origin" which was made available in advance for the occasion.

Consisting of Juho Paalosmaa and Tomi Hyyppä, their haunting crisp, uncluttered sound has already won a number of admirers including Sebastian Muravchix, singer of acclaimed electro-Italo act HEARTBREAK who was present to observe proceedings. More inside »

Following the recent Pan-European volcano dramas, LA ROUX finally got round to taking the 'Gold' tour to the Reading Hexagon, a venue better known in the past for snooker finals!

With a large number of teeny boppers now discovering the joys of electronic pop, the security shrewdly let the very young kids over the barrier which was very sensible and safe. Elly Jackson entered onto stage wearing a long robe like a boxing champ and started off with the brilliant "Tigerlily". More inside »

Unfortunately, Back To The Phuture have had to announce a change of line up for their Bestival launch party on 25th May 2010. Due to schedule changes, HEAVEN 17 will now not be appearing at the event.

However HEAVEN 17­s Martyn Ware will be doing a DJ set along with VISAGE­s Rusty Egan and Mark Jones. The evening will also feature a live performance by KIDS ON BRIDGES.

Apologies for any inconvenience caused to competition entrants. Sadly, circumstances were out of the control of The Electrcity Club.

You may wonder why a review of Muse is showing up on this, an electro-pop dominated website. They're not exactly pop but have elements of the same catchy melodies that sit firmly in your brain; not fully electronic but indulge in lush keyboards and symphonic sounds that at times can compete with bands the likes of Visage, Human League, and New Order... More inside »

Despite proclamations in 2009 by their singer Karen O that the YEAH YEAH YEAHS had adopted the synth, the resulting "It's Blitz" album was actually a polished guitar based new wave record with hints of glitterball seasoning.

But with CHEW LIPS, you actually get what YEAH YEAH YEAHS probably would have sounded like if they really had gone electronic. More inside »

PARRALOX have announced they will be performing in the UK on 20th May 2010 at Bar Music Hall in London's trendy Shoreditch.

This is part of a small European jaunt which also takes in the 'Electro City Moods' Festival in Berlin on 14th May and Dresden on 15th May. They will also be playing in Gothenburg on 16th May. Full details on all dates can be found on PARRALOX's website and MySpace.

They will be returning to the UK in the summer to play the 'Infest' Festival at the University of Bradford during the 27th - 29th August Bank Holiday weekend. Also appearing will be other electronic based acts like cult German industrial duo DE/VISION and British synth popsters NORTHERN KIND. Please note that the performance schedules have still to be confirmed

Meanwhile, the fabulous "Isn't It Strange?" from their album "State Of Decay" is available as a 15 track CD single. In its original guise, it came over like MADONNA covering "Touched By The Hand Of God" produced by the PET SHOP BOYS.

But this release features a variety of remixes including one by GARY NUMAN collaborator and co-manager Ade Fenton. As can be expected, this version is quite dark and takes on a discordant form of mutant electro while the extended mix is blissful dance heaven. As an extra treat, there are the exclusive bonus tracks "Empty", "Don't Listen To Me" and "Kangaroo Island" plus a mix of previous single "Hotter" by one time Vince Clarke protígí Robert Marlow.

"Isn't It Strange?" and "State Of Decay" are released on Conzoom records

www.conzoomrecords.de
www.parralox.com
www.myspace.com/parralox
www.infestuk.com