MASHUP MONDAY

Mixing things up with a little cross genre action, we have KanyeXM83 by The White Panda, Ice CubeXCFCF via the good people of The Hood Internet, and finally, Quad City DJsXMaroon5. I don't know who's responsible for that, and I'm not sure I want to.

OLOFF

No album, 

No information,

Just a couple of serene tracks named after dialogue from "The Room".

Enjoy.

SWIMWEAR

(sorry, no video available)

Get in there with Swimwear! Dappled Cities' Tim Derricourt lays down bubble-bright and bouncy beats with his new side-project. Neon and energetic, with sunset shadows of thought, "The Kissing Machine" is the perfect come down jam for your next beach party. 

Download the full E.P. (name your price) at the above link, and keep it groovy.

THE PENELOPES

(Double video day, Yay!)

Put on your goove shoes, here comes The Penelopes! If your business is pleasure, then board the S.S. SWANK and sail the sultry seas. Flying the French-disco flag, The Penelopes will move all but the most land lubbery of limbs with the indulgent energy of a dance-floor pirate.

Check out the bands site here to donload their first single "NOW NOW NOW".

SAINTS GO MACHINE

(double video day, Yay!)

Warm and expansive, Danish dreamers Saints Go Machine sing songs of love and mortality. Antonyesque vocals and soulful strings imbibe the tracks with a meditative reverie, at times dark and at times joyful. 

Check out the official page for show-times and videos, or browse their soundcloud for some downloadable remixes. For a more subdued sound, check out SGM's parallel project: Kenton Slash Demon.

M83

This has to be one of my favorite music videos of all time; directors Fleur & Manu somehow manage to get me emotionally invested in a group of nameless characters in under five minutes. That takes skill. 

Midnight City is the first single off of "Hurry Up We're Dreaming", the latest in a string of emotionally gripping masterpieces by French chillgaze genius M83 (Anthony Gonzalez). Summoning the breathless romance of 80's blockbusters, M83's sounds are witchy, warm, and poignantly reassuring; which is to say perfect for your next make-out session.

The band is currently on tour: find out more at their official website.

TED (the movie)

OK, so, several things held me back from posting this. A: this is a music blog damnit, 2: I HATE Family Guy and Thirdly, two words: C.G.I. That being said I love buddy movies, I love Mark Wahlberg, I love absurdist humour, I love Marky Mark, I love swearing, and God Damnit, I love Mark Wahlberg.
Yada yada yada, go see this movie, it has Mark Wahlberg cursing at imaginary animals.
Or with them.

 Whatever.

ALPINE

(WARNING: video is mildly NSFW)

Sharp, sultry, slow, and smooth, Melbourne's ALPINE offer a fine soundtrack to the morning after. With a brutal beat married to high and haughty vocals they summon a sound both regal and velveteen, perfect for leading a march or asserting your own right to rule over whatever fiefdom you may command.

Hear more on soundcloud, or head over to the main site to purchase the full album.

BEAT CULTURE

Dreamy and dreary, jazzy and kind, Beat Culture is making memory sounds. Seventeen year old Sunik Kim is making waves with Tokyo Dreamer, his second release; the album is ten tracks of stuttering soot&sea-soaked sweetness, guaranteed to lower your blood-pressure. Get the full release gratis,and be sure to check out his first album, Goldenbacked Weaver (also free, how cool is that?).

STEPDAD

Prepare yourself for a musical beating from Stepdad! The new single My Leather, My Teeth, My Nails from the Grand Rapids quartet is swooningly poppy and insulin sweet. Optimistic and silly, there's an aura of childish enthusiasm and wonder surrounding the bands songs. THRILL! to the bubbly synth, MARVEL! at the bright shiny vocals! STREAM! or download the full 10 track Ordinaire ep at Stepdad's official site!

VIRTUAL BOY

By turns sharp, soft, spectral, and glitchy, Virtual Boy's Debut Album is perfect for an early morning wakeup jog. "Only One" feels like it could have made it onto Air's Talkie Walkie, while conversely "Motion Control" (by far the 'hardest' song on the album) evokes eDIT or The Glitch Mob. All in all, it's a departure from an earlier, more 8-bit sound, such as on the Symphony no. N0ne ep. (Definitely worth a listen).

Download the above track "Memory of a Ghost" here, or check out the official blog for more free tracks, tour dates, and what have you.

SECRET MUSIC

Brooklyn's own Secret Music want to rock you. Amped out vocals over adrenaline inducing guitar fuel this highly rockable drop. Get a two track taste of their self-titled album (produced by Passion Pit's Ayad Al Adhamy , he has  been busy) for free or throw down some shrapnel and get the whole lot.
Secret Music is currently touring the US, so go see 'em!

TEAM SPIRIT

 

(warning: video is NSFW)

While spring may only just be starting, TEAM SPIRIT's "Fuck the Beach" has me pre-emptively contemplating my annual Summer Playlist. The side project of Passion Pit synth player Ayad Al Adhamy, TEAM SPIRIT is a high energy guitar blast to the face. You can listen to a few more songs on their bandcamp page, but unfortunately the only way to get an album legaly is at one of their live shows.

Here's hoping they come out west!