Meet Salt Ashes, an über-promising 22-year-old UK dark synth-pop princess. (I know — already sold, right?)
While she’s been slowly building up in the background for a few years now, Mizz Ashes’ is officially stepping out with her debut single “Somebody,” released on January 14 on Radikal Records.
Imagine, if you will, if Kylie Minogue tippy-toed her fabulous Louboutins into the studio with Norwegian electronica duo Röyksopp. Or guested on Daft Punk‘s Random Access Memories. Or took a ride on a white horse with Alison Goldfrapp. That, essentially, would be “Somebody”: It’s a sleek, sexy disco gem coated in breathy vocals and dark ‘n stormy stabs of synthesizers and flashing lights — which is to say that it’s utter perfection.
As PopJustice pointed out, the short-but-sweet press releases manages to drop just about every perfect reference in as well, which is always great when the music’s actually good too:
Obsessed with Giorgio Moroder’s blend of disco and epic dark atmospheres, Salt Ashes first sprang to attention with her cover of Depeche Mode’s ‘Black Celebration’. Salt Ashes has spent the past year honing her own songs in the studio, creating her signature electronic grooves, and drawing influence from artists as diverse as Madonna, Kate Bush, Daft Punk and MIA.
Yes, yes and yassss.
The song’s B-side, “Kiss A Little Dove,” is also amazing — just in a completely different way. It’s a drippy electro-ballad that creeps along on a minimal beat and finger snaps, eventually evolving into a kind of demented disco midtempo. Tres chic.
In the legendary words of Cheryl Cole, Salt Ashes is right up my street.
“Somebody” was released on January 14. (iTunes)