It is time for another update from A Different Drum.   There are three new releases in the store this week, so let’s take a look at them:

NEW ARRIVALS:

Covenant “Modern Ruin” (limited 2CD) $18 — The highly anticipated new album from Covenant is now available, and we only have the limited double-disc edition in stock at the moment.  The bonus disc features five bonus remixes of the song “Wir Sind die Nacht” plus two other tracks.   Order the limited edition here :
http://www.adifferentdrum.com/buy/MET700/Covenant-Modern-Ruin-Limited-Edition

Edge of Dawn “Stage Fright” $10 — This new release from the popular industrial dance act features new versions and bonus tracks, adding up to 8 tracks of collectible material for the fans.   Check out the track list and order the CD here :
http://www.adifferentdrum.com/buy/MET698/Edge-of-Dawn-Stage-Fright

Pool Waitress “Into Deep Shallow Water” $11 — This is the new album from a synthpop duo that plays sharp, old-school synths in a very raw, sassy, electro-clash style with bouncy beats and tongue-in-cheek female lead vocals.   Check out the audio samples and order the CD here :
http://www.adifferentdrum.com/buy/MET698/Edge-of-Dawn-Stage-Fright

The VIP Subscriber Series:

A Different Drum is heading into the new year with the VIP subscriber program well underway.   So far, those who subscribed to receive a unique, collectible CD every month (each release limited to 300 physical CD’s) have received several fun releases.  If you are not a VIP subscriber, then these are the CD’s you’ve missed:
Christopher Anton “Destination: X”
Disreflect “Some Brittle Words”
Neuropa “Plastique People”
Haberdashery “2010 Remixes”
E-Gens “Fine! Shine! VIP Edition”
and coming up next month:  Faith Assembly “Dreams from Arcadia”

If you are interested in joining the VIP subscriber program, then you can email me at todd@adifferentdrum.com and request to be put in the line.  There are currently only 200 CD’s per release available for subscribers (100 CD’s go to the artist with each release).   But if there is enough interest from would-be subscribers, then I can look into expanding the subscriber base for future releases.   However, I can’t increase the number of CD’s pressed on these VIP releases until there is sufficient demand.  That is because the hope is to keep each release as a collectible, instantly-sold-out rarity.  So, I won’t make more CD’s than we need.  My view is that the CD buyers in our little synthpop market are the ones who are fueling these releases, so we want to reward them with something unique and limited.

Thanks for your support and interest!
-Todd

Hello once again from the cold land of synthpop.  Not that the music is cold (well…sometimes) but it’s cold outside!  Hopefully I can warm us all up with a new batch of new arrivals in A Different Drum’s store:

NEW ARRIVALS:

Celluloide “Hexagonal” (Limited Edition 2CD) $26 — This popular synthpop act from France is back with a new album, this time mostly sung in their native language.    Prepare for bounce, cool synths with a smooth, relaxed female vocal lead, and it fits the French lyrics perfectly.    The limited edition features a bonus 8-track CD with extra remixes.  Listen to audio samples and order the CD here :
http://www.adifferentdrum.com/buy/BDMCD14/Celluloide-Hexagonal-Limited-Edition

Celluloide “Hexagonal” $20 — The regular edition of the album is also available.  You can also watch a cute animated video for one of the songs on the order page.   Order the CD here :
http://www.adifferentdrum.com/buy/BDMCD14reg/Celluloide-Hexagonal

Alice in Videoland “A Million Thoughts and They’re All About You” $15 — This is the latest offering from the new wave, electronic rockers.   If you like your pop with a little sass, then you’ll enjoy this one.   Check out the audio samples and order the CD here :
http://www.adifferentdrum.com/buy/AOF104/Alice-in-Videoland-A-Million-Thoughts-And-They-re-All-About-You

Absolute Body Control “”Shattered Illusion” $20 — This is a band that has been around since the early 80’s making synthesizer pop music.  Well, I hadn’t really heard of them until recently.   This new album comes 29 years after their first 7-inch vinyl and cassette tape release, yet it still sounds like an underground 80’s synthpop band to me, like something obscure from a lost era.   Listen to audio samples and order the CD here :
http://www.adifferentdrum.com/buy/D1052CD/Absolute-Body-Control-Shattered-Illusion

Absolute Body Control “Tapes 81-89″ (5CD) $56 — I mentioned above that the history of this band goes back to the very early 80’s.  Most of that history was released on cassette tapes.   This CD box set includes the music from those old tapes, so you can really hear the underground music these guys were cranking out in the early days.   You can see the complete track list and order the box set here :
http://www.adifferentdrum.com/buy/D1051CD/Absolute-Body-Control-Tapes-81-89

Haushetaere “Syndicate” $20 — This is a new act imported from Europe with a female vocal lead and generally dark, moody music.  They tend to cover much of the spectrum from darkwave to futurepop and industrial dance.   With song titles like “Sunshine is My Destroyer” and “Cold Feel” you know that they play electronic music on the more gothic side of the spectrum.  Listen to audio samples and order the CD here :
http://www.adifferentdrum.com/buy/AM1162CD/Haushetaere-Syndicate

Welle:Erdball “Die Singles 1993 - 2010″ (10CD box set) $60 — This large, impressive box collects 10 CD’s of singles covering this unique German band’s history.  They’ve always been a bit on the crazy side, singing in German of retro technology, making me think of acts like Devo with a lot of flare and a unique identity.   There are 3,000 of these boxes worldwide, and you collectors can grab it here while I have a couple left.   You can see the complete track list and order here :
http://www.adifferentdrum.com/buy/SPV308750Box/Welle-Erdball-Die-Singles-1993-2010

Covenant “United States of Mind” (limited edition colored vinyl) $24 — This piece is for ultra fans and collectors only!  It is a vinyl release of the classic Covenant album on picture-disc with the band photo on one side and the album artwork on the other.  There are 500 numbered copies worldwide.  You can order it here :
http://www.adifferentdrum.com/buy/covvyn/Covenant-United-States-of-Mind-Limited-Picture-Disc

Various Artists “Advanced Electronics Vol. 8″ (2CD+DVD) $30 — The next in the popular series is here, once again featuring 2 CD’s of the latest industrial dance and electro music, plus a DVD with bonus video clips and life performances.   You can see the complete track list  and order here :
http://www.adifferentdrum.com/buy/SPV3087422CD/Various-Artists-Advanced-Electronics-8-with-DVD

I’ve also updated the Synthpop Radio Player to include some new tracks from these releases.   You can listen to new music here :
http://www.adifferentdrum.com/Player/

That’s all for this week!   Thanks for your support, and have a wonderful day!
-Todd

Hello friends of A Different Drum!  Let’s welcome the new year!

I’m sending only a brief update today, and another will follow shortly.  Today I want to mention one new arrival in the store, then let you know about a limited EBay-only offer.  I haven’t done one of those EBay specials in a while, so I thought I’d do it again this week.   But don’t worry, it is not an auction– you can simply click to buy and pay immediately.

NEW ARRIVAL:

Covenant “Lightbringer” (MCD) $8 — We now have the new CD single by Covenant in stock, featuring 5 versions of the title track, plus 2 bonus tracks!   You can see the complete track list and order the CD single here :
http://www.adifferentdrum.com/buy/MET695/Covenant-Lightbringer

SPECIAL EBAY OFFERS:

I just listed three little combo-packages on EBay, each with 3 CD’s.   You can buy the 3-CD back for only $12.99 plus shipping.  That’s a great deal for some quick synthpop.    However, you can’ t really mix-and-match.   If you want a couple of the CD’s and the other is something you have, then maybe consider giving the extra as a gift, and you’ll still be getting a great deal!  There are 10 of each set available, so they go to whoever orders first.

You can see the first deal here :

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=180609011697

You can see the second deal here :

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=180609013393

And the third deal is here :

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=180609014172

If this works, then maybe I’ll do some similar packages in the near future.   I’m just hoping to introduce more of you to some new music that maybe you haven’t tried before.

A MUSICAL COLLABORATION IDEA:

Attention all of you who are electronic musicians, vocalists, or who simply would like to contribute your talents to a collaborative music effect…

Please look me up on Facebook (look up Todd Durrant or go to http://www.facebook.com/todd-durrant ) because I’m opening up a discussion on my wall about an idea to get together in a small town near where I live and collaborate on a synthpop album that would be recorded from start to finish in about 3 days– everybody in a room together, sharing files, sounds, ideas, skills, and whipping up the biggest group-effort in the genre…but all for fun!     Anyway, so I don’t have to reply to a lot of emails and individual questions, let’s have the discussion on Facebook.    Heck, even if it doesn’t happen, we can enjoy the fantasy, right?

Well, I’ll be back in touch soon!    Thanks for your support!
-Todd