Heavenly Beat - Messiah

“Messiah” by Heavenly Beat // Talent (Out 7.24.12 on Captured Tracks)

John Pena’s Heavenly Beat, has a decidedly more upbeat, (balearic) pop sound than his work in Beach Fossils, and that’s in fairly stark contrast to the work being done by other Beach Fossils off shoots, Diiv and Real Estate, but one thing is clear, the members of Beach Fossils have talent for days. Here, on “Messiah”, swirling synth lines build into an island beat and by the time the hushed vocals slip in, the song shifts into almost a post-punk type thing then back again, blending sounds and genres seamlessly. The overall effect is a dazzling, hypnotic pop track that’s another reason to be absolutely excited about the forthcoming full length, “Truth” (released July 24th, on Captured Tracks). Highly recommended for fans of jj, Keep Shelly in Athens, and Beach Fossils. 

Flock of Dimes - REPLICA

“Replica” by Flock of Dimes // Replica (Online Release) (2012)

“I’m a big fan of Robyn and not too long ago, a song started to take shape in my head with her fingerprints all over it. You can’t really deny something like that when it happens to you, so I finished it.  I am very excited to finally be able to share a recording of this song with you.”

That’s what Jenn Wasner (of Wye Oak) had to say about her new solo track (recorded under her Flock of Dimes moniker), and she’s not fucking around. This killer jam definitely has a Robyn feel, but Wasner’s big, warm voice offers it’s own flavor and I’m happy to just hear it as is. Sure, it would be wonderful to hear Robyn take up Wasner on her offer to take the song and make it her own, but that’s wholly unnecessary when the finished product is so damn special. “Replica” is a twinkling, synthed up, dance jam like Robyn is prone to perfecting, but with Wasner’s voice attached it becomes a soulful, melancholic beauty that stands perfectly on it’s own merits.  

(via danceyrselfclean)

My Favorite - Homeless Club Kids

“Homeless Club Kids” by My Favorite // The Happiest Days of Our Lives (2002)

I suppose I should post something since I am around and have a moment, but I don’t feel like digging through the new stuff just yet, so I thought I’d repost something that’s about a decade old, by a band that no longer exists (My Favorite), but hasn’t aged a day because it’s a track that was never really given the exposure that it deserved. “Homeless Club Kids” is one of my feel-good songs in life, I can always manage to bring myself out of some sort of hole, for at least a few minutes, by playing this track. Granted, on the surface, it’s sort of an chilly, synth heavy dance track, but there’s something so dreamy and warm and welcoming about the song, even as the lyrics delve into semi-dark places (“the ghosts of dead teenagers sing to me while i am dancing”). Point being, it’s one of those wonderful songs that I have in my back pocket at all times, and am always excited to hear, share, or just to discover again. If you’ve never heard it, give it a shot. For fans of Chairlift, Porcelain Raft, and Charli XCX. 

jj - Beautiful Life

“Beautiful Life” by jj // “Beautiful Life” b/w “Burn” (2012)

Swedish duo jj have been back in the studio and today they’ve released an A-Side to their forthcoming (May 8th) 7” release of the same name. It starts as a gorgeous little lullaby about getting wrecked and partying proper and then shifts ever so slightly into a balearic beat dance track with spaced out M83 style flourish here and there. It’s a hell of a song and an exciting track to look forward to in a possible future full length. 

(download) “Beautiful Life” by jj (via Secretly Canadian’s Soundcloud)

New Build - Silence and the Muttering

“The Silence and the Muttering” by New Build // Yesterday Was Lived and Lost (2012)

New Build’s “Yesterday Was Lived and Lost” is one of my favorite albums of the year so far, and it’s genuinely surprising to me that it’s not getting more press, considering it’s made up of two members of Hot Chip (Al Doyle and Felix Martin, and also electronic composer Tom Hopkins). Whatever the case, it’s something that needs to change, as it’s a fantastic album, loaded with dreamy atmospherics, killer synth lines, and memorable melodies. “The Silence and the Muttering” is one of the standouts on the album. It has a distinct 80’s electro synth-pop feel without being kitschy, but the ethereal synths and the earcandy melody take it to another level. It is a perfect kind of jam to hold you over till the next Hot Chip album drops. You can actually stream the whole thing now over at Soundcloud. Get on that. A MUST LISTEN.

(stream and buy) “Yesterday Was Lived and Lost” by New Build (via Bandcamp)

Grimes - Angel (Bonus Track)

“Angel” by Grimes // Visions (Bonus Track Version) (2012)

There are a few bonus tracks floating around out there on various versions of Grimes’ Visions. This gorgeous, dream pop lullaby comes from the Amazon online version. It’s a perfect little slice of electro pop that feels custom made for a late night make out or study or sleep, or whatever it is you do at 2:37am. Sadly, it’s only 90 seconds long and therefore will be forced into repeat for the next few hours. Press play. It’s stunning. How did this not make the album?

Trust - Sulk (Single Edit)

“Sulk” by Trust // TRST (2012)

Trust are about to drop their album, TRST on Toronto’s Arts & Crafts label (Broken Social Scene, Stars) and this new single, is pretty much all the music that I need to hear to ensure that I’ll be all over the full length. “Sulk” is a dark, melancholic, goth-pop rave-up that can just as easily have you dancing as it could have curled up in the corner, crying into your drink. It’s a gorgeous, eerie soundtrack to all future halloween dance parties. A must listen for fans of Hercules and Love Affair, Hot Chip, and early Depeche Mode.

B02 Do You Not Feel Loved? (Original Album Version)

“Do You Not Feel Loved?” by New Build // Do You Not Feel Loved 12” (2012)

Since Hot Chip are not currently releasing new goodness, it’s nice to have their band members in active mode. Felix Martin and Al Doyle are releasing new jams under the name New Build and they’re something special. Finding a meeting place between Hot Chip and Pet Shop Boys, this throbbing beat and shimmering synth line will tide me over just fine until some new Hot Chip finds its way into the world. Absolutely must listen for fans of Hot Chip, Pet Shop Boys, and Cut Copy.

(stream) “Do You Not Feel Loved? (and remixes) by New Build (via Soundcloud)

The Golden Filter - Age Of Consent

“Age of Consent” by The Golden Filter // Power, Corruption, & Lies: Covered (2012)

MOJO’s excellent new collection of covers based on New Order’s synth pop classic Power, Corruption, & Lies contains a lot of songs that are great and play it easy on the cover. No surprises, just solid interpretation. Then there’s The Golden Filter’s take on fan favorite “Age of Consent” - and it’s almost completely unrecognizable. I say this not as a slam, but mostly just to give you a heads up that you could possibly listen to this synthed out electronic take on the track and never realize that you were listening to a cover of a beloved New Order song. The melody is almost entirely deconstructed, and it’s not until about three minutes in that everything starts to click - then the melody finds its way back to the original and in the last half something truly special happens when the track shifts into an ethereal dream for the dance floor. It takes a minute to get going, but the payoff is worth the effort. Pick up the entire compilation in the latest issue of MOJO, available now. 

Charli XCX - Nuclear Seasons (Balam Acab Remix)

“Nuclear Seasons (Balam Acab Remix) by Charli XCX // Nuclear Seasons (2011)

Balam Acab does that special Balam Acab magic here on a remix of Charli XCX’s already stupendous “Nuclear Seasons”. Here, the remix strips and re-configures almost every part of the song, changing it up from a synth pop dance beast to an ethereal, twinkling, otherworldly beauty. It’s a pretty radical shift, but it works on so many levels. Highly recommended. Also, you can grab it for free from Charli XCX’s Facebook page. 

(download) “Nuclear Seasons (Balam Acab remix)” (via Facebook)

Eight and a Half - Scissors (Small Black Remix)

“Scissors (Small Black Remix)” by Eight and a Half // Scissors (2011)

Small Black have stayed away from the “official” releases this year, but their mixtape and remix work have been nothing shy of killer. This remix of “Scissors” from Eight and a Half (a band consisting of members of The Stills and Broken Social Scene) takes the original’s dark, brooding post punk sounds and shifts them on their head - adding a glowing, buzzing synth-pop sheen that maintains the melancholic vibe, but takes it from the bedroom to the dance floor. A killer remix worth all sorts of plays. Get it for free from RCRD-LBL.

(download) “Scissors (Small Black Remix)” by Eight and a Half (via rcrd.lbl)

Glass Candy - Halloween

“Halloween” by Glass Candy // ///BODY WORK/// (TBA)

Still another eight hours of Halloween to celebrate, so why not keep the audible treats coming. This new track from Glass Candy is a sexy, electro celebration of today’s goodness. Definitely something to celebrate. 

(download) “Halloween” by Glass Candy (via p4k)

Future Islands - Balance

“Balance” by Future Islands // On The Water (2011)

This track has been making the rounds today, but oddly it would appear that it’s just been sitting on Thrill Jockey’s Soundcloud page for the past two months. I suppose I should pay closer attention to these things. At any rate, the track is another twinkling, 80’s indebted synth pop gem that bares a resemblance to a more danced up version of early The The. You can download it for free at Pitchfork to tide you over until the October release of On the Water. 

(download) Future Islands - Balance (via P4K)