Bright Light & Ana Matronic - Good Luck

Welsh cutie Bright Light (Rod Thomas) teams up with former Scissor Sisters vocalist Ana Matronic with this track from the coming Life Is Easy remix album. The pair recently covered the Pet Shop Boys classic West End Girls in a charity single for NYC's Hetrick-Martin Institute, which serves at-risk LGBT youth.

(Tipped by JMG reader Chris)

Bright Light - There Are No Miracles

Last night I saw this Welsh popster (real name Rod Thomas) at Manhattan's Mercury Lounge, where his well-received set drew heavily from last summer's Life Is Easy, which yielded one of my favorite tracks of 2014. Thomas collaborates with Scissor Sisters member Del Marquis on the latter's Slow Knights project, and the pair performed a duet near the end of the show, which was a nice surprise. Below is the new Bright Light Bright Light single, released yesterday. [Photo credit: Richard Weaver]

JMG Top Ten For 2014

For the second year in a row, my favorite track of the year is by out and openly HIV+ singer/songwriter John Grant, whose collaboration with Hercules & Love Affair spawned a gorgeous modern dance video interpretation of Grant's tale of coming out positive to a lover. Culled from my Spotify playlists, here's my top ten for 2014.

1. John Grant - I Try To Talk To You
2. The 2 Bears - Not This Time
3. Duke Dumont - I Got U
4. Perfume Genius - Queen
5. Royksopp & Robyn - Monument
6. SBTRKT - New Dorp, New York
7. Clean Bandit - Rather Be
8. Dave Aude w/Andy Bell - Aftermath
9. Le1f - Boom
10. Bright Light Bright Light - I Believe

My 2013 list is here, my 2012 list is here. Let us know what your favorites for 2014 have been.

MORE FAVORITES:
Sufjan Stevens - A Little Lost
Erasure - Elevation
Aphex Twin - Minipops 67

Bright Light Bright Light & The Pink Singers - Everything I Ever Wanted

Welsh gay singer/songwriter Rod Thomas, who records as Bright Light Bright Light, has released a charity single for World AIDS Day. Thomas is currently touring with Elton John and proceeds from the single go to the Elton John AIDS Foundation.

Bright Light Bright Light - Arms Of Another

Scruffy Welsh cutie Rod Thomas, aka Bright Light Bright Light, is currently opening on Elton John's European concert tour, which comes to Brooklyn's Barclays Center on New Year's Eve.

Bright Light Bright Light - I Believe

Normally moody and introspective scruffy Welsh cutie Rod Thomas is back with an uncharacteristic EDM stomper. The single and a great 12" remix are up on iTunes today. Thomas is currently on tour opening for Elton John and his new album, Life Is Easy, debuts on Tuesday. Man, I love this track. Play it loud, you're at home today.

Bright Light Bright Light And Elton John - I Wish We Were Leaving

Two weeks ago I posted the audio. Here's the video.

(Tipped by JMG reader Chris)

Bright Light Bright Light & Elton John - I Wish We Were Leaving

I've been posting clips by Welsh gay artist Rod Thomas for seven years and I've always thought he was going to be huge. His latest might finally break him through. Via the Guardian:

The first single and title track from sophisticated electropop connoisseur Bright Light Bright Light, aka Rod Thomas', new EP I Wish We Were Leaving wasn't supposed to be a duet. In a story I think we all can relate to, Thomas was working on the song when he received a phone call from close personal friend Elton John who wanted him to know how much he enjoyed his debut album, 2012's Make Me Believe In Hope. "From then I kept hearing his voice on the track," Thomas explains. "In time I played him I Wish We Were Leaving and he added his vocals. Although it wasn't written as a duet, I love that his voice taking lead in the second verse is a reminder that every relationship has two sides and two voices." For Elton it meant working in a slightly different way to what he's been used to: "Working with Bright Light Bright Light was a challenge for me as I love electronica but am quite ignorant on the recording process. I had to sing in a completely different way which I really enjoyed."

Free Download: Scissor Sisters' Ana Matronic & Bright Light Cover PSB

Get it here. (Tipped by JMG reader Dwight)