Ugh. Josef Salvat. The London-hailing singer/songwriter consistently releases smooth, sexy, emotionally driven slow jams, each one more addictive than the next. He’s giving sexy slow jam counterparts, Rhye, SOHN, Autre Ne Veut and How to Dress Well a serious run for their money. Luckily for us (but maybe not for them?) Josef Salvat has released yet another ‘ugh’ inducing, heart-swooning, hip swaying track.
“Every Night” is one of two tracks that’ll be released on a double-single, due out December 9th via Fingers & Thumbs. Have a listen and I dare you not to melt:
Wet is a new up-and-coming Brooklyn-based trio creating some steady hubbub in the music blogosphere. They’re producing ridiculously catchy, beautiful and refreshing pop songs (with heavy themes) at a consistent rate. Today, their self-titled EP is officially out (stream below), which has been a bright and sparkling joy in my listening life as of late.
The band just joined Neon Gold Records (Ellie Goulding, Haim, HAERTS, MØ, etc.) and any fans of say, MS MR, Ellie Goulding, Haim, and maybe even Purity Ring will get a definite kick outta Wet.
If you’re gallivanting through the madness at CMJ Music Marathon in NYC this week, Wet is playing tonight (10/15) at the Bowery Ballroom, The Fader Fort at Converse Rubber Tracks, as well as the Santos Party House for Neon Gold’s Showcase (with HEARTS) on Thursday, 10/17, and Baby’s All Right on Friday, 10/18.
Stream Wet‘s self-titled EP below, on SoundCloud, BandCamp, or better yet, purchase it on vinyl.
Juana Molina is no stranger to the public eye. In the late 80s, she started her career as a famous comedic actress in Argentina. A decade later, Molina pursued music full-time. As Ian Cohen stated on Pitchfork, “…over the span of three albums she became the first comedian ever to successfully lose the jokes and become a “serious” musician while keeping her sense of humor.”
It’s been five years since Juana Molina‘s last album but her electronic folk, captivating vocals, and insane guitar and percussion combinations are still as riveting and magnetic as ever. Yes, her songs are sung in Spanish, but even if you don’t speak the language, it doesn’t matter, as the experimental music is magical all on its own.
Have a listen to “Sin Guia No” and “Eras,” two new singles found on Juana Molina‘s forthcoming album “Wed 21,” due out October 29th via Crammed Discs.
MØ baby has a new video for us y’all. The up-and-coming Copenhagen-hailing electro-pop princess also known as Karen Marie Ørsted has released a new video for her single “Never Wanna Know.” It’s made in typical MØfashion – Black and white with a hodgepodge of old random clips, and her seemingly dancing around in her room somberly.The new pop song has a sad Lana Del Rey-esque beach vibe to it, and it’s dig-worthy. Not sure if this entirely makes up for her cancelled San Francisco show yesterday, but it helps.
Have a listen and watch the video for “Never Wanna Know,” which can be found on her forthcoming EP Bikini Daze due out October 20th.
Sometimes you need some seriously sweet, soulful, groovy, get-down, funky jams to reassure you that everything in life will (probably) be all right. Luckily, I’ve come across a slew of new groovy jams that’ll get you vibin’ in no time. So let’s cut to the chase:
George Evelyn is the house, trip-hop, electro producing Brit behind Nightmares on Wax. He’s back with a new EP, Feelin’ Good, and it’s FUNKAAAY! “Be, I Do” a single from the LP will have you hooked for dayz, and there’s a psychedelic video to match featuring behind-the-scenes tour and studio footage. Don’t say I didn’t warn you about the listening addiction you’re about to ensue:
Nightmares on Wax – Be, I Do
Lady is the smooth, 60s soul-inspired, modern R&B group and moniker of Nicole Wray (who, at 17 was the first person signed to Missy Elliot’s Goldmind Records) and Terri Walker. However, as BrooklynVeganrecently reported, Lady lost a lady and Walker is no longer part of the group, as she’s working on a solo album. But, the show must go on, and though Lady is minus one, Wray is currently on tour belting out soulful gems from their recently release self-titled debut album. Now ride this soul train… c’mon ride it:
Lady – Tell the Truth
Lulu James is the 21-year-old, Tanzanian-born, UK-based vixen who packs a punch with her powerful voice. Her latest sultry, pop single “Sweetest Thing” embodies her self-proclaimed “21st century soul” sound. The funky break-out artist is also supporting Ellie Goulding in October during her UK tour – Now that is sweet. Have a listen:
Photo by Daniel Dorsa as featured on PORTALS music blog.
Roberto Carlos Lange akaHelado Negrois one of the most magnetic and magical performers to see live. There’s nothing crazy or outlandish about his sets, but his voice is whimsical and romantic and his eclectic, ambient, electric beach jams from space have a way of moving your hips and locking you into a cloud of dreamy musical bliss.
Helado Negro‘s 2013 LP, Invisible Life has been a serious staple of constant listening pleasure since its release in March. As luck would have it, Lange has been hard at work and recently released his latest EP, Island Universe Story Two (which you can buy here, and on cassette!) via Asthmatic Kitty Records. At the beginning of August, Lange tweeted out a list of 50+ artists and songs, all of which were apparent influences when creating the EP, some of which include Stevie Wonder, Ice-T and… Eddie Murphy? Interesting choices, especially after you have a listen. The new EP is full of crazy beats, exotic synth and fuzzy, dreamy vocals that’ll make you scream for more Helado Negro aka black ice cream.
Stream Helado Negro‘s new EP on Bandcamp or Spotify and be sure to catch the man in action. He’s currently on tour along with Javelin, Spiritualized, the Breeders, John Cale, Big Boi, Suuns and The High Highs.
Helado Negro – We Will You
Helado Negro – Enters
For all you recording and sound engineering aficionados, here’s a mini documentary by Weathervane Music showing behind-the-scenes footage of producing/recording a Helado Negro song. (Watch even more videos from this recording here).
Experimental art-rockers,Yamantaka // Sonic Titan have been on radars and piquing serious interest ever since their raving 2011 debut album, YT//ST and, “Lamia,” an Adult Swim Single Series release last year. The self-proclaimed “Asian diasporic psychedelic noh-wave opera group,” is a mouthful to say, but luckily a delightful earful as well.
The 6-piece group hailing from Canada describes their sound as a fuse of “noise, metal, pop and folk music into a multidisciplinary hyper-orientalist cesspool of ‘eastern’ culture in giant monochrome paper sets.” Still with us? The group says they blend “Noh, Peking Opera, Buddhist Ritual Punk, Taiko Shows, Tokusatsu, Performance Art, Rock Opera and a cardboard ‘NEVERFLAT’ style of 2.5D set design.” All of this bizarreness wrapped up in one band? You betta believe it!
In eager anticipation, Yamantaka // Sonic Titan have just released a new gem, “One” which can be found on their sophomore LP, UZU due out October 29th via Suicide Squeeze (US) and Paper Bag (Canada) – Exciting! Have a listen and download “One” now:
Last night, I attended the SF Mixtape Society‘s quarterly mixtape swap at the Make-Out Room. The concept is simple: You’re given a theme (this quarter, it was: CAMP), you interpret as you wish, and put together your very best rockin’ mixtape. Then, you slap some sweet artwork on said rockin’ mixtape, drink beers, swap mixtapes via raffle and vote for your own fave.
The event brought out an array of different people, age ranges, creativity and interpretations, however, essentially it brought together a plethora of mixtape aficionados and new music lovers alike. Bonus: Free beer if you actually put your mixtape on a cassette. What’s not to love about it? So with that, here is coco stereo‘s very own camp-themed mixtape, complete with a free download. Enjoy campers!
Pale, the mysterious, semi-somber, electro-poppin’ London-based duo who, up until this point have kept their faces in the shadows, recently and appropriately released a new track, “Fearing Faces” complete with a video (showing you guessed it, face!).
Over the last 9 months or so since Pale‘s emergence, the two have released a handful of tracks, all which have launched major curiosity and buzz amongst bloggers and music lovers alike. Pale is apparently headlining their first show in Paris and London, August 28-29th.
Keep up with Pale on Facebook, SoundCloud and/or Twitter and enjoy putting a face to their addicting sound in the video for “Fearing Faces.”
Just in case you didn’t hear the news (‘cus you know, it only happened 9 days ago, which is apparently 6 months in music blog land), James Brooks, the seemingly gentle, sensitive, Canadian, BF of Grimes, K-pop enthusiast, and (now sole) proprietor of (what was) the electro-pop project, Elite Gymnastics is having an existential crisis… Okay no, he just wanted a new band with different name, or two.
Back in August of 2012, Josh Clancy left Elite Gymnastics, and since then, James Brooks released a track or two, though he obviously had other ideas in mind, such as a fresh start. At the end of July this year, Brooks announced that Elite Gymnastics was now “defunct” (sad face) and his new project Dead Girlfriends was in full force – He even released an EP, Stop Pretending (happy face!). However, just 4 days after the revealing of Dead Girlfriends, Brooks has changed the project name to Default Genders, stating on his site:
The name sort of had an effect i didn’t want, and it took me a little while to think of another phrase i could use that contained words that start with D and G so the artwork with claire’s drawing would still make sense. it doesn’t roll off the tongue as easily but thematically it makes more sense i guess
i apologize to anyone who’s inconvenienced by this but especially to anyone who was upset or offended or grossed out by the old name, and to the other band that was using the name first
Don’t sweat it James! Now that the name is sorted, have you listened to the new tunes? “Stop Pretending,” the title track from Default Genders‘ EP is by far the most addicting, and almost “Omamori“-esque (favorite Elite Gymnastics jam). Watch the video (complete w/Karaoke sing-a-long words!) starring what looks like a giant stuffed Totoro:
coco stereo 