Catiline

“Catiline” by Fight Bite // Fight Bite (2012)

Fight Bite is the dream pop solo project of Leanne Macomber (Neon Indian). She makes haunting, ethereal dream pop soundscapes that sound like their being broadcast from some other plane of existence. Gauzy, hypnotic atmospherics layered over gorgeous vocal harmonies. Think something like Beach House and Sigur Ros  collaborating in a haunted house and you’re almost there. Fight Bite’s new self titled album is available now on Bandcamp, Spotify, and Soundcloud. Give it a listen, or press play above to hear the lush, ghostly album opener “Catiline”. This is one of the best albums that I’ve heard all year. Highest recommendation for fans of Beach House, Mum, Julianna Barwick. 

Teen Daze - Hold

“Hold” by Teen Daze // All of Us, Together (2012)

The new Teen Daze album is loaded with gorgeous ambient soundscapes and truthfully you could pick any of them and find a winner, but this late evening, I’ve found myself with a particular track on repeat. The cascading synth lines and humming electronics of “Hold” have kept me company this evening (though truthfully, you are doing yourself a disservice by not purchasing all of “All Of Us, Together”). There is something oddly inviting about the cool, chilled sounds that permeate through the track. It’s a beautiful bit of ambiance that is more than just static sound. It’s an invite to experience something greater, and that greater is the new full length, “All of Us, Together”. 

 (order) “All of Us, Together” by Teen Daze (Via Lefse Records)

Port St. Willow - Tourist

“Tourist” by Port St. Willow // Holiday (2012)

Port St. Willow is the pseudonym of artist, Nick Principe, who also happens to be a lifelong friend of Peter Silberman, of the The Antlers. I only bring up the connection to Silberman’s band because often times on Port St. Willow’s excellent new album, he gives The Antlers a run for their money on crafting dark, atmospheric dream pop. In fact, on album standout, “Tourist”, Port St. Willow layers on the atmospherics and stormy production in a way that sounds like it could be a b-side to The Antler’s excellent, Burst Apart. Principe’s vocals are clear and beautifully mixed with the surrounding sounds in a way that actually brings to mind some of Jeff Buckley’s later work. “Holiday” is available now at Bandcamp and I highly recommend it to fans of The Antlers, Jeff Buckley, and Department of Eagles. 

(stream & purchase) “Holiday” by Port St. Willow (via Bandcamp)

Ocean Floor For Everything

“Ocean Floor for Everything” by How to Dress Well // Total Loss (Autumn, 2012)

Tom Krell’s How to Dress Well is one of my favorite things in the world. Hands down. In my opinion, the man has done no wrong so far in his career and now that he’s finally announced his new album (following last year’s excellent Just Once EP), we’ve got a taste of the new material and it’s magnificent. Once again, he slips into lo-fi R&B soundscapes, manipulating his voice to act as an instrument that glides over abstract beats and ambient textures. Of course, I can do no justice with a description, it’s best you just press play and hear one of the best songs to drop this year. Highest recommendation for fans Top Girls,  Active Child, and Balam Acab.

(download) “Ocean Floor for Everything” by How to Dress Well (via HTDW Soundcloud)

Mister Lies & Different Sleep - Vermont (Baptism) (Out Now via Absent Fever)

“Vermont (Baptism)” by Mister Lies & Different Sleep // Mass EP (2012)

Speaking of Mister Lies, here is the second post of the day from the up and coming Chicago producer. This time in his collaboration with producer, Different Sleep. You can stream the entire collaborative EP over at the excellent Soundcloud of, Portals. The ambient/gospel themed is a downtempo beauty with airy loops and beats hovering over each other as the atmosphere builds to something positively ethereal. Check it out. For fans of Air, Zero 7, and Washed Out. 

(stream) “Mass EP” by Mister Lies & Different Sleep (via PRTLS Soundcloud)

(buy) “Mass EP” by Mister Lies and Different Sleep (via Absent Fever’s Bandcamp)

Mister Lies - Cleam

“Cleam” by Mister Lies // Hidden Neighbors EP (2012)

Mister Lies is 19 year old, Chicago based producer, Nick Zanca (recently profiled in a Pitchfork “Rising” article). I had stumbled upon his work on Bandcamp a while back, but managed to lose it in the shuffle of constant releases, which makes me feel especially foolish after revisiting it in my “new music” folder after seeing the Pitchfork piece. It’s just been sitting there, without my attention, and that’s an absolute shame because Mister Lies is doing something that I’m always game for, revisiting trip-hop. Sure, it’s not exactly the trip-hop sounds of the late 90’s, but it’s definitely in the same vein as those late night drive records with a sexy (and sometimes melancholic), downtempo beat. “Cleam” is the track that will stand out for fans of Burial and maybe even How to Dress Well, as it’s dark, otherworldly beat is wrapped up in ghostly vocal samples that are both warm and inviting, and chilled to the core. Definitely something you’ll want to be checking out. Highest recommendation for fans of Burial, How to Dress Well, and Massive Attack. 

(stream and buy) “Hidden Neighbors EP” by Mister Lies (via Bandcamp)

Sacred Animals vs. Steffaloo, "On Fire"

“On Fire” by Sacred Animals vs. Steffaloo // On Fire (2012)

Months back when Steffaloo released “On Fire”, I remember thinking that it was a pretty, contemplative ambient/folk track, but it didn’t especially grab me much outside of the initial listen. Fast forward to a couple of days ago and FADER premieres a new spin on the track courtesy of Dublin’s Sacred Animals, and It’s a wholly different experience. Gone are the quiet, hushed guitars and in their place are shimmering, otherworldy synths and jittery, chopped percussion that build and swirl around the original vocal, making it into something spooky, ethereal, and downright pretty. Definitely check it out. For fans of M83, Keep Shelly in Athens, and Korallreven.

Radio Slow Riot - Episode Eleven

RADIO SLOW RIOT // EPISODE ELEVEN (4.20.12)

The delay between these mixtape/podcasts seem to be growing during these busy months, but if anything, it truly allows for a stronger over compilation. This episode is all new music (with a couple of recent re-releases for good measure) and brought with no interruptions (outside of the intro), and a focus on dream pop and lo-fi with the occasional shoegaze and ambient track peppered throughout. You might also notice there are several covers this time around and that’s purely coincidental, as there just happen to be some great covers popping up as of late. I digress. I’ll leave the music in your hands. 

Please share/reblog with others if you like what you hear and or support any and all artists that strike your interest. Stream or download as you wish. Thanks for listening to Radio Slow Riot. 

FEATURED MUSIC (click the name for band info)

• “Heaven” by The Walkmen
• “Eat Yourself” by Novella
• “Do What I Came to Do” by The Fresh and Onlys
• “Chew” by Yuck
• “Saturnine” by Half String
• “No. 1 Against the Rush” by Liars
• “Totally True” by Violens
• “No Title (Molly)” by John Maus
• “Bambi Slaughter (Kurt Cobain cover)” by Dive
• “Dream Analysis” by Jesse Ruins
• “Sun Burns” by Blue Boats
• “Perth (Bon Iver cover)” by Avec Sans
• “Kill for Love” by Chromatics
• “Hollywood Forever Cemetery (Father John Misty cover)” by Tashaki Miyaki
• “Even the Blind” by Echo Lake
• “Can’t Hear My Eyes (Ariel Pink cover)” by His Clancyness
• “Unravel (Bjork cover)” by POP ETC
• “Every Little Thing She Does is Magic (The Police cover)” by Memoryhouse
• “Red” by Lost in the Trees
• “Pisces Scattering” by Lake R▲DIO 
• “Angel” by Grimes
• “Nova Anthem” by Lower Dens
• “I Only Have Eyes for You (The Flamingos cover)” by Beck
• “here, in heaven 4 & 5 (Remix by CFCF)” by Elite Gymnastics

(DOWNLOAD MP3) /// (STREAM OFF SITE)

(previous eps) Slow Riot @ P|M|W   

Please support the artists that you find and enjoy. Buy their music, merchandise and tickets to see their shows. Supporting them is the only purpose in doing this blog. Contrary to the opinions of some, music blogs are a great way to discover new music, but there will only be so much new music to go around if these artists can’t afford to support themselves through their art and commerce. Only use these mixtapes as a guide to find something to throw your (financial and emotional) support behind.

Jesse Ruins - Dream Analysis

“Dream Analysis” by Jesse Ruins // Dream Analysis EP (2012)

This track has been floating around Soundcloud for a little while now, but it was finally released about six weeks back on Captured Tracks (also collecting their other online singles), and that’s as good of a time as any to highlight one of my favorite up and coming dream pop and ambient bands. “Dream Analysis” floats by on a humming synth line and the layers just effortlessly add to the chilled, dreamy vibe. Twinkling piano keys, buzzing ethereal synths, otherworldly vocal loops, it’s all just perfectly executed. It’s a lullaby for the late night come downs. When the excitement of a good evening doesn’t immediately dissipate and needs a lovely little track to help bring you to your night’s end. Highest recommendation - for fans of Keep Shelly in Athens, I Break Horses, and M83. 

(order) “Dream Analysis EP” by Jesse Ruins (via Captured Tracks)

h e r e, i n h e a v e n 4 & 5 (CFCF Remix)

“h e r e, i n h e a v e n 2 (CFCF Remix)” by Elite Gymnastics // Ruin 3 & 4 (2012)

“Here, In Heaven” has been reworked by a few artists to pretty wonderful effect (How to Dress Well springs to mind), but it’s Montreal producer CFCF that does the most remarkable work with it, turning it into a melancholic, strings and piano chopped ballad with all the markings of a sprawling, gorgeous cinematic score. It’s going to be available on the Ruin 4 package with the other remixes, but you can also download it now from the Ruin site. Absolutely highest recommendation. 

(download) h e r e, i n h e a v e n 2 (CFCF Remix) (via Elite Gymnastic’s Ruin site)

Radio Slow Riot - Episode Ten

RADIO SLOW RIOT // EPISODE TEN (3.14.12)

These are fewer and further between these days, but I promise you that this episode is worth the wait. In fact, this might be my favorite in a very long time. I keep it just music this week (aside from a short intro) and the 90 minutes run the vibe from upbeat post-punk energy to lo-fi jangles to dreamier electro pop onto ethereal and ambient night music. It’s a well oiled machine this one. The next couple of mixtapes will come faster than recent episodes and in the future there will be some surprises. In fact, if this one gets a good reaction, I might go back to the downloadable zip files with the mp3s separate from the stream. If the reaction is good for this one, I will upload the zip file in a couple of days. If not and no one really cares, then I really need to try harder apparently. At any rate, I hope you enjoy this episode of Radio Slow Riot because it’s loaded with goodies. 

Please share/reblog with others if you like what you hear and or support any and all artists that strike your interest. Stream or download as you wish. Thanks for listening to Radio Slow Riot. 

FEATURED MUSIC (click the name for band info)

• “Geist” by Dive
• “Backwards” by Black Marble
• “Hidden Structures” by Holograms
• “Nonesuch” by Tanlines
• “Strange Call” by Yeti Lane
• “How Far We’ve Come Now” by La Sera
• “Expressway to your Heart” by Sun Airway
• “Killing Time” by Veronica Falls
• “Exactly Nothing” by Real Estate
• “Living Comfortably” by Dunes
• “Remember” by Little Chords
• “Neptune” by Lemonade
• “Silence and the Muttering” by New Build
• “Museum Day” by s/s/s
• “Window” by Crushed Stars
• “I Need to Sleep” by Snow in Mexico
• “Myth” by Beach House
• “Moni Mon Amie” by Julia Holter
• “Return to Form” by Daniel Rossen
• “Amor Fati (Daytrotter Piano version)” by Washed Out
• “False Astronomy” by Mister Lies
• “Colourvision” by Stumbleine
• “Your Hand” by A Whisper in the Noise

(DOWNLOAD MP3) /// (STREAM OFF SITE)

(previous eps) Slow Riot @ P|M|W   

Please support the artists that you find and enjoy. Buy their music, merchandise and tickets to see their shows. Supporting them is the only purpose in doing this blog. Contrary to the opinions of some, music blogs are a great way to discover new music, but there will only be so much new music to go around if these artists can’t afford to support themselves through their art and commerce. Only use these mixtapes as a guide to find something to throw your (financial and emotional) support behind.