Monday 3 November 2014

Gremlins.....Mega Madness Super Badness!

This week has been so much fun and even though Halloween may be over, there is still lots of fun to be had.

I released a special mix of  “Mega Madness” this week.  It was originally sung by Michael Sembello for the 1984 movie Gremlins and I have always loved it. Who can forget the break dancing Gremlin in Dorry's Tavern dancing to Mega madness in pink leg warmers!

~You can see it in action here
http://youtu.be/BcWJaHZBEw0 

It’s so interesting to me how culture, technology and our tastes change over time and how with some careful thought, something old becomes something new.  With Gremlins 3 in the pipeline it is going to be interesting to see their approach to a new movie.  (We have to remember the original Gremlins had no CGI like today and it just makes me appreciate the film even more for the amazing puppetry and animatronics that brought the Gremlins to life)

As always, there’s more music coming soon , but for now, enjoy "Mega Madness" as you rifle through the remains of you Halloween Candy : )

Thank you for joining me on my Quest For Pop adventure

Spencer

Spencer-mega-madness

Saturday 11 October 2014

Spencer Returns To The Quest For Pop

Spencer announces details of ‘Change Your Mind’ Single

From the musician who was described by Pete Waterman Entertainment “truly spectacular” comes a fantastic new single in the form of ‘Change Your Mind’. Embracing the twin pillars of Britishness and pop music, Spencer returns with another sparkling tune.

All-consuming, cinematic

‘Change your Mind’ is featured on ‘The Quest for Pop’ album, whose title comes from the fourth Superman movie, ‘The Quest for Peace’. It’s these kind of retro influences- plucked directly from the often-minimised culture of mainstream entertainment- that sums up the mission statement for this album. It’s all-consuming, cinematic, has oodles of heart, and pulls the audience headfirst into a thrillingly fun journey.  This is retro pop at it’s finest- clean-cut, clever, and with a twinkle in it’s eye.
Spencer’s father worked on the legendary’ Yellow Submarine’ movie and, later, The Beatles animated series, and his son has tried to leave nods to his father’s psychedelic animated work throughout his videos. When it comes down to it, Spencer wants to take you to a time when pop was all about fun, and he will do so using any means available, whether they be song, visual effects, or a Kylie Minogue puppet that crops up in his music video for one of his earlier single, ‘She’s In Love With You’, written by Stock Aitken Waterman. A lack of pretension is a rare thing in the music industry, but Spencer whittles music down to a good time with ease and delight.

Retro Musicianship

And that brings us back round to his new single, ‘Change Your Mind’. Produced by one of Denmark’s favourite producers, Steen Ulrich, the song first came to light when it was performed by Jason Donovan for his ‘Ten Good Reasons’ album. In his version, Spencer adds a dancey simmer to the number, bringing the track firmly into the twenty-first century with staccato synths and a floor-shaking vibe. Here, Spencer has taken a lesser-known piece of heartfelt eighties pop and flipped it round into a sunny slice of retro musicianship.
The single is complemented by a couple of b-sides, subverting the usual buy-it-online notion of a single just being one track. Here, you get your money’s worth, with pulsing dance number ‘I’m Here’ juxtaposed against ballad ‘I Don’t Want to Live on the Moon’, a tribute to Jim Henson, creator of the Muppets and Sesame Street, who originally performed the number as Ernie decades previously. The single is sold in a tin that deliberately resembles an old-fashioned film reel, and comes with a sticker set and a mini comic. Catering to physical-copy fans has never been more fun.

A more soulful side to retro

Here, then, are three tracks that sum up Spencer’s development as a musician. ‘Change your Mind’ offers a chance to step back into the eighties in a highly polished time machine, packed with retro-dance beats and gorgeous vocals, while ‘I Don’t Want to Live on the Moon’ and ‘I’m Here’ give a heartfelt, divinely produced nod to the more soulful side of retro. ‘Change Your Mind’ from ‘The Quest for Pop’ will do to you what cinema did back in the fifties-make you swoon, smile, and have you coming back for much, much more.

Contact Details




Wednesday 18 July 2012

RV Pop Music Reviews: Another retro PWL single sensation from SAW fan Sp...

RV Pop Music Reviews: Another retro PWL single sensation from SAW fan Sp...: I have first featured Spencer 's tribute work on my blog a couple of years ago, when I have bought his first album What have I done tha...

Friday 13 July 2012

The Quest For Pop (It's What I Love) Video Released!





The new single by Spencer, 'The Quest For Pop (It's What I Love)' produced and mixed by Pete Hammond with a video made in tribute to all those who were part of the magic at the PWL Hit Factory. Enjoy!