Purity Ring, the beloved electro-pop Canadian hailing duo has released a cover of Soulja Boy & Ester Dean‘s “Grammy.” The just-released track already apparently caused such a frenzy, it crashed Purity Ring’s new website. However, you can download + listen to the new track below (also available on YouTube).
Purity Ring has also announced their April 2013 North American tour, which you should check out ASAP, as their (two) shows in San Francisco (playing with Blue Hawaii) have already sold out. Have a listen to appropriately timed cover of “Grammy” now:
Yeeehaaw! It’s officially official: coco stereo‘s goin’ to SXSW! In a series of amazing (and in some cases, extremely lucky) events, everything seemed to come together oh so perfectly and I will be in Austin, Texas for the Interactive + Film and Music festivals. So now that universe has aligned in my favor, I present to you a plethora of new jams from hype-worthy bands:
James Blake, the 24-year-old London-based, “post-dubstep” electro producer has been blowing the blogosphere away this week with his return. Blake recently released an amazingly smooth, crooning, falsetto-hinged and emotionally driven new track, “Retrograde,” which debuted on BBC Radio 1. His sophomore album, Overgrown, is due out April 8th. Listen and watch the video for “Retrograde,” James Blake‘s dynamic return to the music realm:
G3NESIS is a brand spankin’ new and thoroughly addicting female rap/hip-hop group consisting of Kelin Kaardal and Genesis Mohanraj (formerly of Juice). The Vancouver-based duo don just a handful of tracks, “Yes Daddy” being their newest and strongest of the lot, and I’m already eager to hear more.
G3NESIS – Yes Daddy
It’s no secret that people have gone ape-shit crazy for the UK hailing electro-pop trio, CHVRCHES, since their conception merely 6 months ago. The group only dons (now) three songs, their latest track, “Recover” found below, yet their fairytale story of Indie stardom is still going strong and they’re headed to the US. They’ll also be playing with MØin LA at The Echo, for a spectacular combination of electro-pop hype-mania. Be sure to look for them at SXSW and listen to their catchy new synth-tastic release “Recover.”
CHVRCHES – Recover
Lorde is an up-and-coming New Zealand native singer-song writer with an apparent talent and knack for creating catchy pop-tracks that’ll appeal to just about anyone. She’s released a strong debut EP, The Love Club, which you can stream in completion on SoundCloud. Listen to “The Love Club” and “Royals,” two tracks I just can’t seem to get enough of:
Lorde – The Love Club
Lorde – Royals
iamforest is moniker of Vancouver-based chillwave producer Luke Hartle. His latest beauty of a single and release, “Structures” is full of ambient bliss, yet still maintains a strongly defined beat. Find iamforest on SoundCloud, and/or listen + download his tracks on bandcamp.
iamforest – Structures
Azekel is an East Londoner and alternative R&B producer who may be giving Frank Ocean a run for his money. Have a listen to Azekel’s debut single, “That Feeling,” which officially releases, February 25th.
Azekel – That Feeling
Coma is the alias of pop-infused electro synth masters, Marius Bubat and Georg Conrad. They’ll be releasing a new album, Technicolor, due out in April via Kompakt, and “Hoooooray” is their first single from their debut LP.
Am I jumping on The Knife bandwagon? Yes, yes, I am… but at least it’s legitimate.
The Internet was all a buzz last week leaking some, dare I say, shite two-minute blips/webrips and crappy bootleg videos all for an eager listen to new sounds from The Knife. Alas, The Knife has luckily and officially dropped a full 10 minute track via SoundCloud AND a Marit Östberg-directedvideo for their latest release, “Full of Fire.” – It’s a massive, sexy, sensual, synth-tastic banger of a jam that has everyone easily in a frenzy.
The Knife will be dropping a triple LP, Shaking the Habitual, April 18th, 2013 – their first studio album since Silent Shoutseven years ago. The album, (tracklist found below), also features an 11 minute track with Shannon Funchess of Light Asylum(!!) – I can only imagine how unbelievably amazing and intense that track alone will be.
Shaking the Habitual tracklist and count courtesy of Gorilla vs. Bear:
A Tooth for an Eye — 6:04
Full of Fire — 9:17
A Cherry on Top — 8:43
Without You My Life Would Be Boring — 5:14
Wrap Your Arms Around Me — 4:36
Crake — 0:55
Old Dreams Waiting to Be Realized — 19:02
Raging Lung — 9:58
Networking — 6:42
Oryx — 0:37
Stay Out Here (feat. Shannon Funchess) — 10:42
Fracking Fluid Injection — 9:54
Ready to Lose — 4:36
Yeah, yeah, yeah! LE1F‘s new Fly Zone mixtape has finally arrived! The (free) 13-track compilation is, according to The Fader, courtesy of Camp & Street and Greedhead, the Palms Out Sounds side-label run by LEIF.
Fly Zone, (including “Coins,” LE1F‘s teaser and already deemed massive track), follows last year’s provocative mixtape, Dark York, which thrust the openly gay hip-hop artist into the limelight. Since then, LE1F’s sound and persona have become widely and wildly beloved, which you can see and hear for yourself below.
As Interview Magazine so eloquently stated, “The New York-native’s flow is seamless and entrancing, his quick wit and confidence turning hip-hop taboos into future trends, while his hybrid beats are ambient and airy, never losing their bounce.”
The pop Gods have spoken: “Let there be more AlunaGeroge!” and alas, we’re graciously presented with new and glorious electro pop tracks from (or featuring) the UK-based duo.
Aluna Francis and George Reid have come a long way in such a short amount of time. Having just released their first commercial track, “Your Drums, Your Love” in September of 2012, the group has already been shortlisted for the 2013 BRIT Award of Critics’ Choice. And, just a couple of weeks into 2013, AlunaGeorge continues to deliver fresh electro-pop gems at a steadfast pace, announcing a debut album, Body Music, out June of 2013. It seems as if the duo is putting their fellow “bands to watch in 2013” comrades to shame… except Disclosure that is.
Enter “White Noise” – the recently released track from “garage-house” brother duo, Disclosure, featuring AlunaGeorge. It’s a combination and a collaboration between two extremely hype-worthy acts that has created an electro-pop listening implosion amongst the blog world. The UK-based brothers and producers who make up Disclosure also have a highly-anticipated album due out in March of 2013. (Find Disclosure in the “Top 55 Songs of 2012“).
So with that, I present to you a plethora of AlunaGeroge pop madness: “White Noise” by Disclosure ft. AlunaGeorge, “Diver,” AlunaGeorge‘s latest release from their forthcoming album, and a Frank Ocean cover of “Thinkin’ Bout You” which was recorded in the 1Xtra Live Lounge for BBC Radio.
Disclosure – White Noise ft. Aluna George
AlunaGeorge – Diver
AlunaGeorge – Thinkin’ Bout You (Frank Ocean Cover)
Thanks to the find from PORTALS, I’ve been jammin’ all morning to Newtimers‘ brand spankin’ new 5-track EP, Ego.
The Stockholm-hailing duo consists of Andreas Cavaco and Tim Lundblad – Producers who aren’t new this at all. According to Newtimers’ Bandcamp page, “after writing and producing songs for numerous acts (they’re both signed songwriters/producers), the guys got tired of their perfectionist ways and decided to be spontaneous to the fullest.”
The spontaneity is certainly suiting Newtimers well. The Swedes recently made an impact amongst the Blogosphere with their irresistible, catchy R&B jam, “January Love,” (found below) and Ego is a strong follow-up with its smooth and seductive electro sounds.
Have a listen to Ego below, and give “Game Over” and “She’s a Gun” some serious repeat action:
EXCITING NEWS y’all! Mozart’s Sister, one of the (by far) most talented, yet underrated artists has released another, and self-titled track: “Mozart’s Sister“(!)
Montreal-hailing Caila Thompson-Hannant, (formerly of Shapes and Sizes) is the one-woman electro-pop Queen behind the project known as Mozart’s Sister.She dons just a handful of songs via her self-released Dear Fear EP from 2011, yet each track is drenched with pure electro-pop bliss. It’s simply astonishing that with Mozart’s Sister‘s undeniably catchy beats and soaring, soulful vocals, she hasn’t skyrocketed to major superstardom, because it’s certainly deserved. However, it looks like things are certainly in motion. Mozart’s Sister made an appearance at CMJ music marathon in 2012 catching the eye of a Pitchfork-ist, and has partnered up with Merok Records (Crystal Castles, Majical Cloudz, Active Child, Giza).
“Mozart’s Sister” is the lead track from Mozart’s Sister‘s forthcoming EP, Hello, due out February 25th – Exciting times! Find her on Facebook, Twitter, SoundCloud and/or Bandcamp. ENJOY:
The days are cold (at least in San Francisco), and the new music flow is kinda slow. But (!) despite these hurry-up-and-wait times where new music production seems to be on a fierce hold, I present to you a fresh track roundup! Let’s get on with it:
Foxygen is on just about everyone’s radar. They’ve been deemed a “band to watch in 2013” by many, and all ears are open. The singer/songwriter LA-based duo consists of Sam France and Jonathan Rado. They’re young, yet create the essence of a Velvet Underground/Bob Dylan/Kinks persona.
Foxygen‘s latest release, “No Destruction” will be found on Their forthcoming album, We Are the 21st Century Ambassadors of Peace and Magic, out January 22nd via Jagjaguwar.
Best line of the song: “There’s no need to be an asshole, you’re not in Brooklyn anymore.” Enjoy:
Foxygen – No Destruction
Mike Tucker, the blonde, giant (almost 7 foot-tall) producer also known as Blood Diamonds (and one of Grimes’ many BFFs) has collaborated w/ex-A$AP member, Dominic Lord. The result? Some seriously funky hip-hop. Have a listen to “Barcode” now:
Blood Diamonds – Barcode ft. Dominic Lord
*This track’s apparently been put on ‘Private’ now – Don’t you just love that? Listen to it on SoundCloud then.
MØ
Karen Marie Ørsted akaMØ, the Copenhagen-hailing electro-pop princess who’s made serious waves amongst the blogosphere with just a couple of tracks, has graced us with, “Glass,” yet another gem. Some are calling her the ‘Scandinavian Grimes’ though I think the two have sounds, and personalities entirely of their own, both of which are still entirely addicting. Have a listen to MØ‘s third song to date:
MØ – Glass
I can hardly contain my excitement for Doldrums‘ upcoming album, “Lesser Evil” (out 2/25 on Souterrain Transmissions/Europe, and 2/26 on Arbutus Records/North America). Airick Woodhead isthe Canadian mastermind behind Doldrums, and he’s stead-fast to producing some of the freshest, most interesting experimental/electro music out there. “Anomaly” is Doldrums‘ latest release from his highly anticipated forthcoming album:
Doldrums – Anomaly
Brothers in Law is a new lo-fi, shoegaze, indie-pop outfit out of none other than Pesaro, Italy. According to The 405, Brothers in Law have recently gone from duo to trio and will soon release their second EP, Gray Days, on 7″ vinyl, limited edition, via We Were Never Being Boring, CF-records and MattaLab. “Holy Weekend” can be found on Gray Days due out February 16th. Stream below:
Brothers in Law – Holy Weekend
I stumbled upon Widowspeak via Captured Tracks, and boy, I’m glad I did. The “western-tinged” indie-pop/rock n’ roll group composed of Molly Hamilton and Robert Earl Thomas transcends you into a dreamy bliss. Their second LP, “Almanac,” is due out January 22nd, (but you can stream the entire album on SoundCloud right now).
Windowspeak – Thick as Thieves
Flight Facilitiesis a funky electro pop production based out of Australia. Remember their 2011 jam, “Crave You” featuring Giselle? Regardless, the duo has recently released, “Clair De Lune,” a breathtakingly beautiful track featuring Christine Hoberg, with haunting video to match:
Flight Facilities – Clair De Lune (ft. Christine Hoberg)
Indians is the moniker of Copenhagen-hailing, Søren Løkke Juul. Having just played his/their first show almost a year ago, the band has already impressively performed a whirlwind tour with Bear in Heaven, Lower Dens, Beirut, the CMJ music marathon in Brooklyn, and more. In continuance of their success, Indians has just signed with 4AD, will release their debut album, Somewhere Else, out January 28/29th, and will embark on a full-blown 38 show North American tour with Other Lives.
As a right of passage with the 4AD family, Indians has created an interesting and beautiful “4AD Session” set on Osea Island, a small island in the estuary of the Blackwater in Essex. The session filmed in an entire day, starts with “I Am Haunted,” continues with one of my faves, “Magic Kids,” and ends with “New.” According to 4AD, “With the intention to capture the sense of air and atmosphere in the music, each track was recorded in a different location, moving the band and cameras in order to introduce a new element that reflected the change in song…While still flecked with the surreal ambience of Søren’s air-tight compositions, the full-band performance adds a foreboding sense of wonder that provides a fitting introduction into Indians’ very own natural world.”
Watch Indians‘ 4AD Session, have a listen to “Magic Kids,” and download “I Am Haunted,” as well as Indians’ very first guitar song, “Cakelakers.”
As corny as it may sound, I have this tremendously special place in my heart for Javelin, hence, when I see a new track release (i.e. “Nnormal“), I’m filled with complete and utter glee.
In 2009, I had stumbled upon Javelin and was immediately blown away by how fresh and unique their tracks were. I searched everywhere for their music and really only came across their Myspace page… ‘cus you know, people used Myspace back then. I contacted the Brooklyn-hailing cousins, George Langford and Tom Van Buskirk, and asked how I could get my hands on their ridiculously addicting sounds. Tom replied, “Thanks for asking! You could paypal us and we’ll send you a folder of mp3s. What do you think??” I wound up paypalling $7 and was graciously given (what then consisted of) four album/EPs worth of Javelin jamz (2009’s LP Jamz n Jemz, 2010’s LP, No Mas, 2012’s EP1 and EP2). This is why I’ll forever love and be an avid Javelin fan, aside from the fact that their sound is funkier than most.
“Nnormal” is Javelin‘s latest release from their forthcoming album, Hi Beams, out March 5th via Luaka Bop:
coco stereo 