“Miasma Sky” by Baths // Obsidian (Out 5.28.13 via Anticon)

After some stellar guest work, Baths is back with a new full length called “Obsidian” that drops at the end of May. Along with the announcement of the new album, comes a new lead single in the form of the propulsive, twinkling, “Miasma Sky”. The new track is not a giant leap in song development from previous material, but it does have a new sense of confidence and commitment to sticking the landing of a great pop record. Ostensibly, that’s what “Miasma Sky” is - a great pop record,  but it’s also a great bit of electro, synth pop that could serve as Baths’ first real crossover hit (especially given the world’s thirst for all things Postal Service-y these days). Highly recommended!

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6baths, obsidian, electro pop, synth pop, dream pop, idm, riyl:, the postal service, gold panda, groundislava,

“Á tout á l’heure” by Bibio // Silver Wilkinson (Out 5/14/13 via Warp)

Bibio is one of those artists that are well respected, but at the same time feel underrated. When Stephen Wilkinson releases new material, it always seems to be well received, but by the end of the year it’s notably absent on many best of lists. Personally, I find that a little strange considering the sheer listenability of his last several discs, and the fact that he’s so consistently excellent. Today comes the news that Warp is going to once again be releasing a new album from Bibio, this time called “Silver Wilkinson”. The first track from the album is “Á tout á l’heure”, and once again steps a tad further in establishing Bibio as an artist to watch. The track flows with a summery vibe that will benefit the album greatly when it’s released this May - but for now, the dreamy textures found within the swirling synth lines and layered percussion are what really stand out, creating some of those gorgeously hypnotic electro pop beauties that Bibio is so wonderful at building. Highest recommendation for fans of Washed Out, Neon Indian, and Boards of Canada. This song is going to be on repeat for a while. 

6bibio, warp records, idm, electro pop, dream pop, chillwave, riyl:, washed out, neon indian, boards of canada,

“Wait Until Spring” by Cars & Trains // We Are All Storms (2012 // Available Now on Bandcamp)

There’s something about the style of music that Cars & Trains traffics in, that makes me want to go for a long night drive - through dark streets, past the occasionally halo of a street light, until I’m surrounded by dense trees and only the glow of the moon. It’s subtle textures and dreamy, layered electronics paired with lovely folk sounds call to mind the toy-box electronics of Múm as well as the folk-meets-post rock sounds of Adem, and also the languid beauty of the early work of The Album Leaf. It’s perfect music for this time of year. Played on repeat under the night sky. Highly recommended. 

(download) “We Are All Storms” by Cars & Trains (free from Bandcamp)

6adem, cars and trains, electronic, folkwave, idm, mum, post rock, riyl:, the album leaf, dream pop, ambient, instrumental,

“Dead or Dying” by The London Apartments // Signals and Cities are Forever (2009)

The London Apartments’ “Dead or Dying” is an older track that I hadn’t heard in a while and was lucky enough to stumble upon again, this week. It falls into that category of IDM/Post-Rock that seems to float in and out of style every few years, but it’s always a fantastic listen. I remember the first time I heard it, not long after suffering a pretty rough few months, and I got lost in the way that I couldn’t pinpoint whether it felt somber or oddly triumphant. Both, surely - as the song feels like the closing score to a film in which the hero may have succeeded in his/her goal, but lost everything in return. It’s a lovely track that deserves a second listen. A definite recommendation for fans of Boards of Canada, Múm, and The Album Leaf. 

(download) “Dead or Dying” by The London Apartments (via Last.Fm)

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6the london apartments, idm, dream pop, shoegaze, bedroom pop, riyl:, boards of canada, mum, the album leaf, throwback jams, older faves,

“Song for the Black Angels” by Warm Speakers // Worry Not Lonely (Out 10.2.12)

Warm Speakers have been dropping excellent treats all summer in the lead up to the release of debut album, “Worry Not Lonely”. The latest taste comes in the form of the excellent, “Song for the Black Angels”, which starts with a dark, pulsing beat that would sound at home on a Washed Out single, but then in comes the hazy, distant harmony that feels almost like Fleet Foxes gone chilwave. As the track progresses, the synths shift up and the harmonies swirl in and the dark clouds come in and you get a back end that sounds like an Interpol outtake. It’s a hell of a track that keeps things especially interesting by shifting in and out of a particular sound, but always maintains a dark, sexy electronic vibe that deserves multiple listens. Grab the track for free at Bandcamp. 

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6warm speakers, idm, chillwave, glo-fi, dreamwave, post punk, electro, riyl:, washed out, fleet foxes, interpol,

“Safe in Sound” by Fotoshop // Lifeforms (2012)

Finland’s Fotoshop makes pretty, electronic-infused shoegaze lullabies. This track, “Safe in Sound”, taken from the recently released Lifeforms, is just such a song. What starts as an airy, idm-esque ambient track builds into an electro-shoegaze dream loaded with twinkling synths, warped blip-beats, and a sing-a-long hook. Great stuff. Highly recommended for fans of Mew, I Break Horses, and SPC ECO.

(stream & purchase) “Lifeforms” by Fotoshop (via Bandcamp)

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6fotoshop, electronic, dream pop, shoegaze, idm, ambient, RIYL:, mew, i break horses, spc eco, m83, finland,

“Tough Lately” by Tours // Stay EP (2011)

Tours have an excellent EP available at Bandcamp and Soundcloud right now, that’s for those who love the late night downtempo dream pop feels. Here, “Tough Lately” is a shimmering, electro-shoegaze track (dreamwave?) that has an airy, floating soundscape not unlike early material by The Album Leaf, Dntel, or Stumbleine. 

(stream & purchase) “Stay EP” by Tours (bandcamp)

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6tours, dream pop, idm, downtempo, shoegaze, electronic, philadelphia, RIYL:, the album leaf, DNTEL, stumbleine,

“Locked” by Four Tet // Fabriclive 59 (2011)

Earlier, I seemed to have overlooked this lovely, subdued new track by Four Tet, so I thought I’d post it up since it has a late night/early morning feel. It actually makes me want to break out that first album of his, not sure why it’s reminding me of some of those tracks. I suppose it’s a little less exploratory than some of his recent work, but nonetheless, it’s a pretty spectacular listen. 

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6Four Tet, kieran hebden, electronic, instrumental, downtempo, idm, fabriclive,

“No Things Left” by R E A L M A G I C // REALMAGIC EP

Drew Englander has a couple of things really going in his favor, one is that he’s a hell of a producer - creating buzzing, shimmering indie-pop beats that sound like a more matured version of the IDM that The Postal Service all but perfected seven years ago. The other thing that he’s got going for him is that he’s got a voice that sounds remarkably like that of Zach Condon. You put those things together and you’ve got the makings of a killer sound (especially on this track) that I’m super-excited to hear explored further on a long play format. You can get this track and one other for free, right now, at the REALMAGIC Bandcamp page.

(R E A L M A G I C @ Bandcamp // @ Soundcloud)

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6REALMAGIC, drew englander, idm, indie-pop, electronic, chillwave, lo-fi, sounds like zach condon, sounds like the postal service, beirut,

“Shells of Silver” by The Japanese Popstars // from the album, Controlling Your Allegiance

Why am I such a sucker for a forlorn electro beat? Make some sad, haunting dance music and my brain goes all mushy. Well, I suppose i should say that in the case of good songs. There are certainly plenty of terrible tracks that fit that initial description. Luckily, this track is one of the good ones. Hell, it’s a downright great song. It sounds a bit like Air and Junior Boys experiencing some heartbreak over a twinkling, melancholic synth pop beat. It’s really, really good.

(“Controlling Your Allegiance” is released 6.21.11 on Astralwerks)

(via danceyrselfclean)

6the japanese popstars, idm, sounds like air, indie, synth pop, Favorite New Music, astralwerks,

“Runaway” by Wonder Bear // Originally by Kanye West

I’m putting together the new podcast/mixtape, but it won’t be ready till tomorrow so in the meantime here’s a primer track. Though it’s a few months old, I am pretty obsessed with this Kanye cover at the moment. It’s strange hearing a pretty female voice sing this track over a dreamy, jittery, sample heavy beat, but it works so well. Give it a spin. I’ll get back to work on the new goodness.

(get the track for FREE at the Wonder Bear Bandcamp Page)

6kanye west, wonder bear, idm, indie, sample heavy, dream pop, covers,