Cascading Keys

“Cascading Keys” by Alice Cohen // Pink Keys (2012)

“Cascading Keys” is the perfect name for this shimmering bit of synth pop, as the track kicks off with a flood of synth and piano notes flowing over one another before it all gels and the beat kicks in to start up a killer synth pop jam. Alice Cohen’s vocal melodies are layered over one another and form something like a strangely beautiful 80’s pop song that you’ve never heard before. It’s a great track and definitely something you’re going to want to hear a few times as soon as possible. Highly recommended for fans of Grimes, John Maus, and Nite Jewel.

“Pink Keys” is due out June 12th, via Olde English Spelling Bee

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.

Twin Shadow: Five Seconds

“Five Seconds” by Twin Shadow // Confess (Out 7.10.12)

New music from Twin Shadow is always an exciting thing and this new single from his forthcoming sophomore album, Confess, is definitely something to be excited about. Sounding something like what I would imagine it would sound like if Prince were fronting New Order (during the “Power, Corruption, and Lies” years), this jam just flat out rips. Gone are the chill, glo-fi dreaminess of the past and in their place is a muscular, soulful, post punk vibe not all that unlike TV on the Radio. Highest recommendation. 

(download) “Five Seconds” by Twin Shadow (via Twin Shadow site)

Grand Resort - Night Is Dark

“Night is Dark” by Grand Resort // Night is Dark (Single) (2012)

Grand Resort is the moniker used by NY based musican, Andres Pichardo, and he traffics in the a particularly pretty type of dream pop that recalls autumnal vibes and city nights all at ones. Cassette-Rewind brought him to my attention and I’m thankful he has because I’ve been spinning “Night is Dark” (as well as Grand Resort’s two free tracks available at his Bandcamp). The charm in particular comes from the dreamy, early era New Order style guitar line that plays over the track while rising and falling synth lines, and twinkling percussion fill in everything but the killer melody, which are held tight by Pichardo’s warm voice. Absolutely highest recommendation for fans of Minks, Craft Spells, and Beach Fossils. 

(download) “Night is Dark” by Grand Resort (via Grand Resort’s Soundcloud)

(via cassette-rewind)

Purity Ring - Obedear

“Obedear” by Purity Ring // Shrines (Out on 4AD Records on 7.24.12) 

Purity Ring have been releasing a string of excellent digital singles and 7 inches the past several months, and this new track “Obedear” is the first taste of the impending full length coming this summer. What’s really exciting is that it feels like all of the pre-release tracks, as wonderful as they were, were just a primer for the excellence that awaits on “Shrines”. “Obedear” comes in on a dark, ominous hum, and then splits into an array of twinkling synths and warped beats over sexy, chopped and distorted vocals. It’s almost a throwback to the heyday of great trip-hop jams. There’s something mysterious and enticing about the dark atmosphere of this electro pop cut and if “Shrines” is anything like it, i’m going to be a very happy listener. Highly recommended for fans of Keep Shelly in Athens, Grimes, and Charli XCX. 

(download) “Obedear” by Purity Ring (via Pitchfork)

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)

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)

New Order - Elegia  (Full Version)

“Elegia (Full Version)” by New Order // Retro (BoxSet) (originally 1985, re-issued 2002 & 2012)

Lately, this full-length, 1985 tribute to Ian Curtis has been making the rounds as it’s about to be included on a vinyl New Order re-issue for the first time outside of the “Retro” box-set from ten years back. Originally, a 5 minute truncated version appeared on “Low-Life” but now is as good a time as any to revisit to sprawling, gorgeous full length hymnal (nearly 18 minutes long) tribute to one of the greatest front men of all time by his former bandmates. 

Ask (Brothertiger Cover) - The Smiths

“Ask” by Brothertiger // Originally by The Smiths

I somehow missed this when posted early last month, but allow me to rectify that with a post in the present. Brothertiger have gone and put their shimmering stamp on The Smiths’ classic “Ask. Luckily, Brothertiger hasn’t strayed far from the original, instead just doing what they do best (dreamy synths, layered vocals, glo-fi production), while adhering to the brilliant melody and hook of the original. A must listen for fans of the original or fans of Brothertiger in general. A wonderful take on the classic. 

(download) “Ask” by Brothertiger (The Smiths cover) (via Bandcamp)

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)

Liars - No.1 Against The Rush

“No. 1 Against the Rush” by Liars // WIXIW (2012)

New Liars and it’s so good. More krautrock than the last album, but synth heavy and almost feeling like an outtake from some excellent Liars/Bear in Heaven collaboration that only exists in my mind. I’m in love. This is the best I’ve heard Liars sound in ages and I’m suddenly greatly excited for an album that I didn’t know was on it’s way until today. Highly recommended. 

John Maus - No Title (Molly) (Smugglers Way FlexiZine)

“No Title (Molly)” by John Maus // Smuggler’s Way (Record Store Day Release) (2012)

Here’s another taste of one of the releases that you’ll be on the lookout for come Record Store Day (4/21/12). This time from the Smuggler’s Way comp (being released by Domino and Ribbon) that features the previously released new Real Estate jam, as well as new stuff from Dirty Projectors, Cass McCombs and many more. Those other releases pending, it’s going to be tough to top this new killer from John Maus. “No Title (Molly)” is a pulsing, driving, new wave cut that is as infectious as anything I’ve heard in ages. Absolutely a must listen!

(download) “No Title (Molly)” by John Maus (via Ribbon Music)

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)