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!