Popdose — It’s hard to believe the original incarnation of Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (Andy McCluskey, Paul Humphreys, Malcolm Holmes and Martin Cooper) has been back together for close to eight years. If they blew apart again after 2010′s winning H... more info

Popdose — J.P. Rose gave up the blustery winds of San Francisco, where he fronted electro/pop outfit Hot Challenge, for the sunny shores of Los Angeles. The easy, breezy, beautiful LA weather informs the instantly addictive tracks on his new EP, Seascape. For ... more info

Guardian Music — Danny Boyle's track selections for the Olympics opener ranged from the Sex Pistols to Elgar, and all points in betweenA wide variety of different British musical styles provided the soundtrack to the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympics.Here ... more info

Guardian Music — New Young Pony Club You Used To Be A Man (The Numbers) The Katy Perry-approved NYPC have weathered the storm far better than most of the Day-Glo groups they were unfortunately lumped in with a few years back. Now, they follow up 2010's excellent The ... more info

Guardian Music — These Guildford goodfellas make gently atmospheric electro-pop. It's an offer you can easily refuse …Hometown: Guildford.The lineup: Joel Amey (vocals), James Balmont (bass, guitars, keyboards), Cameron Knight (lead guitars, beats).The background: ... more info

Guardian Music — Photographer whose portraits of Pet Shop Boys juxtaposed shiny pop and crumbling decayEric Watson, who has died of a heart attack aged 56, was an important shaper of 1980s pop photography. His work for Smash Hits during a key era in British pop helpe... more info

Guardian Music — Far from a heavy hauntological trip, this London band's soaring and sublime synth-pop hints at hope after tragedyHometown: London.The lineup: Alex Starling (vocals, guitar), Ian Palmer (drums), Rayna Ferner (keyboards), Dan Whiffin (guitar), Alex Sha... more info

Here Comes The Flood — Brooklyn duo The Last Royals picked up some publicity covering OMD, Prince and EMF. With their electro-pop sound,, it comes as no surprise that their self-titled EP contains five mainstream songs and a superfluous remix. Innocent and mostly harmle... more info

Here Comes The Flood — photo: Nathaniel Wood Bass player Tim Nordwind (OK Go) and singer Drea Smith (He Say She Say, Lupe Fiasco ) are PYYRAMIDS, a left-field dance pop duo who have just released their debut EP Human Beings. After midnight vocals mashed with a sprinkling... more info

Guardian Music — Standard-issue anthemic dark-rock in the manner of early U2/Bunnymen/the Cure. We can picture crowds singing alongHometown: London.The lineup: David Troster (vocals, guitar), Francesco Bondi (guitar, keyboard), Craig Lowe (bass), Jake Sorbie (drums).... more info