[LP] Joe & Will Ask? – VIKINGS (w/ “Santander”)

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With previously posted Joe & Will Ask track “Freya” kicking off Vikings you know it starts right. And if you know the legendary status of their previous jams then you can imagine it continues just as right. And then you could toast to having been 100% correct so far. Cheers. This London duo continues flying under too many radars as they drop glitchy,  bouncy, funky, groove jams that openly beg for low lights and high body movement. They may not be dancefloor crushers to everybody but the kinetic mood they set is undeniable. “Santander” builds up and then pulls back, leaving various trails of a beat in its path. Its a journey you just have to give yourself to.

Stream Vikings in full here.

[LP] Whitey – LOST SUMMER (w/ “Brief and Bright”)

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you should dive into this night like its the only one we’ve got

  • Who: R.J. Whitey
  • What: Electro dance rock, like Alex Clare, Gemini Club, Young Empires
  • Where: Los Angeles + Facebook
  • When: Buy Lost Summer now.
  • Why: Whitey is a dude I haven’t rocked out to since pre-TBE days when “Wrap It Up” was my jaaam. Apparently he has been regularly releasing music and albums since them but the guy’s success is so underground I didn’t even know about it. Thank goodness I got my hands on his new album Lost Summer because “Brief and Bright” is one of my new favorite songs. A big beat stomp that demands to be turned up! The album is full of other jams like 1st single “Saturday Night Ate Our Lives” and “People” so dive into them below and then get caught up on one of the most talented and underrated guys making electronic indie dance music.

[LP] Jessie Ware – DEVOTION (w/ “110%”) + BONUS CORNER

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no if you’re never gonna move, oh my love, you’ll make me come to you, but i’m still dancing on my own, still dancing on my own

Jessie Ware is so killing it right now. The former back-up singer for TBE alum’s like Jack Peñate (Where is he these days?), Man Like Me, and SBTRKT already dropped one of the years best songs with “Wildest Moments.” Now that I have been selfishly getting acquainted with her debut LP Devotion, I can finally come up for air long enough to make sure you get on board. It’s beautiful, sexy, and will probably stop you in your tracks on more than one song.

JESSIE WARE BONUS CORNER:

1. I was just thinking about that Jack Peñate connection and remembering that his backup singer from the 2009 tour (with Miike Snow!) struck a chord in my mind at the time. A quick zip through my iPhoto revealed these. She is looking a lot fitter these days but it’s still hott to know I was only an arms length away from her…

Jessie Ware on tour with Jack Pe̱ate РSeptember 2009. Maxwells, Hoboken, NJ.

2. Star Slinger on “Wildest Moments”

3. Joe Goddard on “Night Light.”

[LP] The xx – COEXIST (w/ “Sunset”)

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when i see you again and i’m greeted as a friend, it is understood that we did all we could

If for some reason you haven’t been mellowing out to The xx’s new LP Coexist for the past few weeks then let this serve as a reminder to get with it. The subtle evolutions in their sound are slipped into Jamie xx’s slightly bigger beats and the result – while perhaps not as addictive as their debut – is fantastic. Basking in the jumpy beat of “Sunset,” its clear how his attention to perfection is evident in every sound you hear. Not to mention the perfect complimentary vocals of Romy & Oliver. However, for the full experience you’ll have to catch them live.

[LP/VIDEO/REMIX] Jupiter – JUICY LUCY [w/ “Juicy Lucy (Needs A Boogeyman)] + Little Boots remix

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swims like a dolphin, fresh like a turtle

  • Who: Boy/girlfriend combo Amélie and Quarles
  • What: Space funk disco, like D.A.R.E., Sam Padrul, Toro Y Moi,
  • Where: Paris, France + Facebook
  • When: Buy debut LP Juicy Lucy now.
  • Why: The stellar “ANDY” remix of Jupiter’s “One O Six” was my first introduction to the duo and after that remix made the Best Of The Year list I had to do some research on the original. That led me to their full album, which led me to much chair-dancing at work. Track after track of sparkling, unabashed, disco magic that does not disappoint  The title track is perhaps my favorite and a great video for it actually came out today. Who is Juicy Lucy? Find out below. Then groove on to the Little Boots remix!


[LP/LIVE] Dragonette – BODYPARTS + The El Rey Theatre, Los Angeles, 09/25/12

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Dragonete have done a lot of awesome things since they last dropped the solid Fixin To Thrill three years ago, becoming a unique crossover creature and “underground pop” gem. My feeling on Dragonette is that they always have 2-3 amazing songs per album and the rest fall flat. I kinda had that expectation again as I covered new single “Rocket Ship” but then I got into the album and am slowly realizing that Bodyparts is something else. Seeing songs like massive first single “Let It Go” live on Tuesday made me realize that these 3 Canadians are getting bigger and tighter with each pass.

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[LP] The Sweet Serenades – HELP ME (w/ “Can’t get enough”)

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hard to leave when you look like that and are all ready for more

♫ The Sweet Serenades – Can’t get enough

  • Who: Martin & Mathias, the “woodsmen of indie pop.”
  • What: Scruffy indie pop, like Summer Camp, Nicky Blitz, Two Gallants
  • Where: Stockholm, Sweden + Facebook
  • When: Buy new LP Help Me! now.
  • Why: You may remember these handsome fellows from one of my top albums of 2009. The Sweet Serenades have one of those shaggy pop sounds that is just loose enough to keep my ears interested while maintaining enough pop sensibility get me addicted. First new single “Moving On” teased us with more of their signature handclaps and “ooh ooohs.” New single “Can’t Get Enough” is a familiar tale of of insatiable lust that prominently features a kazoo. ‘Cause thats just how these dudes roll. It also has a funny video. Get down with the rest of the album ASAP. “Run (Run Run)” is a badass bass jam, “Terminal 2” has a knee-slapping honkey tonk vibe, and “Bright Lights Big City” upgrades the traditional “ooh oooh” for the rarer “bom bom bom.” Well played.

[LP] Tycho – DIVE (w/ “Hours”)

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♫ Tycho – Hours

  • Who: Scott Hansen
  • What: Tropical Spacewave , like Poolside, Com Truise
  • Where: San Francisco, CA + Facebook
  • When: Buy Dive now.
  • Why: When he isn’t designing gorgeous things or running the addictive blog named after his design moniker ISO50, Scott Hansen makes beautiful music that defies everything you thought you knew about the word ‘chillwave.’ His instrumental songs are true journeys, taking you over hills and through valleys, across plains and into the darkness behind your eyes. The grooves emerge like dawn’s first rays of sun and the beat seems to follow the rhythm of the wind. Its all very soft and palatable, yes, but see his band live and its an epic and transfixing experience.