For a Good Time, Listen to: Glass Candy – The Possessed + Geto Boys

Glass CandyJohnny Jewel, house producer and co-founder of the Italians Do It Better label has recently shared two delicious Glass Candy tracks:

1. “The Possessed,” a dreamy glam rock jam that’ll appear on the compilation After Dark II, also featuring Chromatics‘ “Cherry” and “Looking for Love.” According to Gorilla vs. Bear, the track just premiered at a fashion show in Paris (hence the ‘extended runway edit’).

Though After Dark II was announced in July and slotted for an October release, actually release date is still TBD.

2. Geto Boys, a groovy/funky/sexy Glass Candy gem that was originally recorded in 2008, sampling The Geto Boys’ hit “Mind Playing Tricks on Me” and Isaac Hayes’ classic, “Hung Up On My Baby.” Johnny Jewel recently threw the track up on SoundCloud including a free download stating, “Everyone keeps asking me to put this ultra rare 12″ online… Enjoy! xo”

For a good time, listen to Glass Candy, c’mon, don’t be shy:

Glass Candy – The Possessed
Glass Candy – Geto Boys

Swoon-Worthy! Empress Of – Hat Trick

Empress Of SystemsThe ever-so-lovely, intriguing and dreamy voiced Brooklynite, Lorely Rodriguez aka Empress Of, continues to sweep us off our feet with yet another pop gem, “Hat Trick.” The swirling new single can be found on Empress Of‘s soon-to-be-released (April) EP, Systems, via Terrible Records (US) and Double Denim (world-wide).

From her endearing debut 7″ featuring “Don’t Tell Me” and “Champagne,” to her “colorminutes” Youtube clips and curious Craigslist look-a-like website, Empress Of has quickly doused us all in a serious case of swoon.

If you’re headed to Austin for SXSW, Empress Of (a must-see SXSW act) will be making the rounds, including a Gorilla vs. Bear & Yours Truly Showcase, at the Hype Hotel, March 13th. Otherwise, be sure to catch her while on tour with Jamie Lidell throughout March and April.

Empress Of – Hat Trick

 

Pure Experimental Genius! Listen to New Album: K-X-P – II

k-x-p IIIs anyone else obsessing over K-X-P‘s recently released sophomore album, II? If not, you should be. Songs like, “Magnetic North,” and “Easy (Infinity Waits)” are pure experimental genius. The dark, rhythmic, psychedelic, disco grooves of each song easily place you under a blissful electro-hinged spell. The occasional bursts of children cheering and monkeys calling are simply the cherry on top of such sweet and sickeningly addicting sounds.

K-X-P, the Finnish, sometimes trio, hailing from Helsinki consists of, as explained on their Facebook page: “Timo Kaukolampi (electronics, vocals and the ‘K’), Tuomo Puranen (bass, keyboards and the ‘P’), and alternating drummers (the ‘X’ – for the mystery) Tomi Leppanen and, in the studio and on rare occasions live, Anssi Nykänen.”

The self-proclaimed “original-electronic-motorhead-space-trance-spiritual-rock-meditation-freejazz-Godz” made their debut back in 2010, but slightly under the radar. However, the boys are back with a vengeance with the release of II earlier this month via Melodic Records (UK) and Manimal & French Kiss (US).

Stream their entire album on Spotify, or find ’em on SoundCloud. I’ve also included a video below in which K-X-P paired a sampling of “Magnetic North” to Finnish footage of a rejected anti-drunk driving television ad from 1986. It was deemed “too fun” to actually be effective. Enjoy:

K-X-P – Easy (Infinity Waits)

K-X-P – Magnetic North

So Fresh & So Clean! Stream: K.Flay Mixtape – West Ghost

OoK.Flay - West Ghostoh snap! Get ready for some oh-so-fresh and so clean beats. Chicago raised, San Francisco based rapper/hip hop girl, K.Flay, has just released a 9-track “mixtape,” West Ghost. Flay’s innovative lyrics, unbelievably catchy, electro-hinged beats and collaborations are not only worthy of serious repeat action, but are well deserving of EP/album status.

Stream West Ghost in its entirety on SoundCloud and snag the free download here. Show some love and give the girl a follow on Twitter, Facebook + see her while she’s on tour ASAP, before you miss your chance.

K.Flay – West Ghost (ft. Allen Stone)

K.Flay – Appetite for Consumption

K.Flay – Fvcking Crazy (ft. Eligh & Grieves)

Must-See Acts at SXSW 2013

must-see bands at sxsw 2013The anticipation and chaos for this year’s SXSW music fest in Austin, Texas (March 12th-17th) continues to grow at great lengths. The amount of parties, new bands added, RSVPs, lineups and showcases consistently flow in at alarming rates; and it certainly isn’t over yet. The increasing excitement is contagious and overwhelming, especially when you envision just how much amazing music (and people; 60K to be exact) will embark upon the Tejas capital, and all at once.

To contribute to the ever-growing hype, here is a compilation of (40+) absolute must-see acts/bands at this year’s SXSW. Granted, no one’s ever gonna see ’em all (one can only hope!), so these top 6 absolute must-sees are ones you should seriously kick yourself if missed:

1. Mozart’s Sister
2. Autre Ne Veut
3. Doldrums
4. Empress Of
5. Chvrches
6. MØ

p.s. coco stereo will be representin’ in full force at SXSW, March 7th-16th – Let’s get our dance on together!

Meet: Hype-Worthy Electro Goth Pop Duo: Azar Swan

Azar SwanThank God for fresh goth-pop! The dark, deep, sultry, industrial, synthastic electro beats that make up goth pop seem to have been slightly dimming in the limelight as of late (okay, by like, a few months). However, the hype-worthy Brooklyn based group, Azar Swan, is reviving goth-pop to blinding proportions.

The duo, Zohra Atash and Joshua Strawn (formerly of Religious to Damn) don just two songs: “Lusty,” their latest and appropriately titled release, and “Amirka,” their cult-like following inducing debut single, which thrust the band onto the blogosphere’s radar late last year.

Azar Swan recently opened for Tamaryn at the Music Hall of Williamsburg in Brooklyn, and rumor has it, their debut album is due out sometime this spring – Eagerly looking forward to it! In the mean time, find Azar Swan on Facebook, Twitter, and SoundCloud.

Azar Swan – Lusty

Azar Swan – Amrika

Listen to New Sultry, Soulful Track: Alice Russell – Twin Peaks

Alice Russell - Twin Peaks

Alice Russell

One of my most beloved possessions is a 4 disc compilation entitled, “Superstars of 70s Soul,” that my mother bought after watching some PBS program. When it arrived, the moment those sweet sounds soothed and grooved my ears, I was sucked in for a lifetime of hopelessly loving soul. The compilation is full of THE best soul singers and groups including: Chaka Khan, Al Green, The Emotions, James Brown, Gladys Knight, Rick James, The O’Jays, L.T.D. and more. Soul music is unbelievably catchy, sultry, funky, soothing, emotionally driven and timeless, which certainly isn’t easy to capture. However, in the words of Chaka Khan, I’ll tell you somethin’ good:

Just the other week, Alice Russell, the Brighton, UK-based soul and blues singer, succeed in producing the epitome of a soul superstar worthy track: “Twin Peaks.” It’s an amazingly sexy, sultry and groove inducing track that’ll capture your ears for hours. The steadfast to stardom single is from Russell’s forthcoming album, To Dust, due out February 25th. Now give it to me baby:

Alice Russell – Twin Peaks

Valentine’s Day Mixtape! Ft. Rhye, HTDW, Blue Hawaii, Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti, Sean Nicholas Savage, ERAAS, UMO & More

Blue Hawaii

Blue Hawaii

It’s Valentine’s Day! Everyone get crazy! There are obviously widely and wildly opinionated ideas regarding Valentine’s Day, but if you wanna divulge in the L.O.V.E. and/or hate for the red and pink candy coated day, go right ahead. However, as homage to the day people love to love and loathe, I’ve compiled a Valentine’s Day mixtape of sorts, specifically for YOU – My Valentine. Now, have a listen to these sinfully sweet tracks:

Rhye – Open

How to Dress Well – & It Was U (Elite Gymnastics Remix)

Blue Hawaii – Try to be

Sean Nicholas Savage

Sean Nicholas Savage

Sean Nicholas Savage – You Changed Me

Unknown Mortal Orchestra – So Good at Being in Trouble

Rihanna feat. Mikky Ekko – Stay (Erol Sabadosh Remix)

ERAAS – At Heart

Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti – Baby (Mature Themes)

Stream: Taste of Savage – Sean Nicholas Savage Covers ft. Mac Demarco, Doldrums, Majical Cloudz

Taste of Savage - His Pupils Singing His MusicAs a toast to Sean Nicholas Savage, the eccentric pop artist and vital key to Montreal’s continuously growing music scene, Arbutus labelmates and Canadian cohorts have compiled a 17-track compilation covering Savage’s songs. The collection, entitled: Taste of Savage – His Pupils Sing His Music features Doldrums, Majical Cloudz, Mac Demarco, Mozart’s Sister and more – All of our favorites in one!

According to Arbutus, the tracks, “ranging from anthems to obscure gems – are anthologized on this release. As the first act ever to release on Arbutus, a community has developed surrounding Savage, his songwriting, charisma and his social philosophies.

It is a true honour to present such a mix of genre and creative thought – and this is what’s captivating about the compilation. A group of artists brought together not by genre but by circumstance: a shared home, one which Savage represents as a primary character in the Canadian music scene.”

Stream Taste of Savage below, and download all 17 tracks over at Arbutus:

Taste of Savage – His Pupils Sing His Music

Listen: Selebrities – Everywhere (feat. Erika Spring & Lissy Trullie)

Selebrities - EverywhereAwww, how sweet. For Valentine’s Day, Selebrities, the Brooklyn-based electro “voguish summertime goth” group (Maria Usbeck, Jer Robert Paulin, Josh Paulin & Max Peterson) have given us a treat in the form of a Fleetwood Mac cover. Teaming up with pals Erika Spring & Lissy Trullie, the cover of Fleetwood Mac‘s 1987 hit, “Everywhere” is a dreamy, catchy little number that should certainly warm your heart. Have a listen + download “Everywhere” below, and pretend this valentine is JUST for you. 😉

Selebrities – Everywhere (feat. Erika Spring & Lissy Trullie)