Clans – Lust EP

Despite its universal appeal, when it comes to multi-track releases, “sexy” can be shorthand for “boring” – a one-trick pony of songs that sound like they all belong in the same champagne room, all sultry beats and crooning vocals blurring together into a indistinguishable mass that you can move your hips to and then forget about ten minutes later. Not so with Clans’ first EP, Lust. Over the five tracks on Lust, Clans explores different styles and attitudes, while still making sure that each song is suited for dimmed lights and rumpled bedsheets .

From the lush, ambient guitar swells of the title track to the full electro-pop ecstasy of “Needs”, Clans shows a lot of flexibility in sound and lyrical content. There’s the Rhodes-driven R&B stomp of “Easy Love”, an ode to a strictly physical relationship.  The lead single, “Alibi”, is a wry, tongue-in-cheek accusation, and there’s even an unexpected take on Li’l Wayne’s “Lollipop”. If Lust is any indication, there’s no telling where Clans will go next – but we’re definitely paying attention.

Speaking of paying attention, keep your eyes and ears peeled for Clans on an upcoming VINYL MOON release…

Disco Shrine – SOFT FUR EP [+ Release Party Friday 2/19]

The dichotomy of Disco Shrine is inherent in their name. Half party, half spiritual devotional to said party, they are damn serious about having a damn good time. And that’s what their debut EP Soft Fur is all about. Falling in love? Dance it up. Broken heart? Dance it out. Bored? Dance it through. Lazy? Just go home then.

With this sudden heat wave we’re having in L.A. it makes a person want to get out and get weird, amirite? Thankfully local good-time goddess Beating Lights has cooked up just the right concoction for our Friday night. Join the party at The Hi-Hat to celebrate Disco Shrine’s release of Soft Fur as well as sets by King Shelter and Tambourines. PLUS DJ sets by yours truly. And if you can still stand upright after all that, there are some extra pop-up goodies. It’s like a mini music festival but without any camping or dehydration. Rally the troops and see you there!

BLfeb19

[PREMIERE] Inspired & The Sleep – EYELID KID EP

San Diego’s wonderfully weird Inspired & The Sleep just released their 6-track Eyelid Kid EP. If you have been following songs like “Sleeps Well On Knives” and “In my Labyrinth Mind” then you know we are stoked to premiere this collection on The Burning Ear. Eyelid Kid weaves some lovely and interesting soundscapes for your escapist pleasure. Flowing somewhere between a  sci-fi movie and a high-school drug trip, you’ll have plenty of mental company as you drift off with them. “Peripherals” may be my favorite of the new jams but its hard to pick when each one has so much going on. Dive in and explore for yourself.

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[EP STREAM] Opus Vitae – OPUS VITAE EP

Opus Vitae followed up their stellar debut jam “Hold On” with a finger lickin good video for earworm “I’ve Been Wrong”. And now we finally have a full EP that adds the tender “Sail Away” and jangly “Hold Me Closer” to the mix. As a whole, the EP is a stellar opening statement for one of the more underrated bands killing it in LA these days. Such killer guitar work bouncing around ripping drum parts. There is something fresh yet timeless in this indie rock. And I’m looking forward to more.

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X Ambassadors – “Unsteady” + “Free & Lonely”

It’s been a long 2 years for the band called Ambassadors that we fell in love with at our 2012 SXSW showcase. The NoteOn remix of their mega jam “Unconsolable” ended up topping our list of the years best remixes, they then added an X to their name, and recently collaborated with Keljet and The Knocks on some great dance tracks. But all that was just the prelude.

Now we have some proper new X Ambassadors tracks and damn if the main course doesn’t blow those other snacks away. The Reason EP is wall to wall with Sam Harris huge voice and their signature pounding percussion. “Unsteady” picks up where “Unconsolable” left off, beautifully showing off what they can do with the tender side of things, stripping their sound back to those bare X Ambassadors essentials. EP opener “Free & Lonely” is a more raucous affair, perfect for singing/clapping/swaying/air-sax-ing along to. I highly recommend you do all 4 of those when you see them live soon. They are on tour now.

[MP3] Y Luv – TAKE THE RIDE EP (w/ “All I Wanna Do”)

Y Luv - TAKE THE RIDE

oh its just a little bit of feelin’ too fine

Y Luv recently released the All I Wanna Do EP and I subsequently became obsessed with them all over again. “All I Wanna Do” kicks things off with a massive groove, epic guitar riffage, and a chorus that begs for sing alongs (Also a trippy desert adventure/party video). These guys are perfecting their brand of indie psych rock more with every jam. “Fire” has a propulsive synth groove and singer Freddy Janney is almost rapping at times yet the whole thing flows effortlessly. Download the whole EP below and grab soaring slow burner “My Sweet Life” and a radio edit of fan favorite “Driftin”.

Also up for streaming is new track “Just Enough” the guys wrote with Chris Cester of Damn Dogs and Jet. It’s a more stripped back sound for Y Luv but still shows off their knack for catchy rock music.

[LP] C2C – TETRA (w/ “The Beat” + “Down The Road”)

C2C - Tetragoodbye baby, yes i’m going, have no place to go

  • Who: 4 DJs: 20 Syl, DJ Pfel, DJ Greem, DJ Atom
  • What: Indie scratch grooves, like folk, blues, hip-hop, & dance in a blender.
  • Where: Nantes, France + Facebook
  • When: Tetra is out now.
  • Why: Damn, I’m sorry. I’ve been loving this album so damn hard it’s made it hard for me to write about. How will I ever do it justice!? Well, you know what? I won’t. The jams themselves will speak for themselves.

The 4 DJs in C2C got together as far back as 1998, have over a 1/3 million likes on FB, have been covered by TBE fave Bernhoft, and are just now starting to make waves in the US. Their upcoming appearances at Coachella are the single most exciting thing about that desert (fuck)fest. Just watch any of their live videos to get a sense of the mind bending talent and music they dish out. While the quartet ranked #1 in the DMC World Championships four times in a row (2003-2006. Watch the amazing 2005 video here), I have no patience for turntablism for turntablism’s sake. I do have patience for the way they deftly blend insane scratching skills with blues samples to make downright catchy and infectious grooves. Get into it!

[EP] Lorde – THE LOVE CLUB (w/ “Million Dollar Bills”)

Lorde

and now i’m letting you know

New Zealand’s Lorde is not just another indie-pop-girl riding the trend (even though she is Grimes-approved). Even though she is just 16, I feel like something great is going on here. This post is weeks late because I couldn’t figure out which track I liked best. So dive into her waves of tiny swagger and get funky with the chopped beats of “Million Dollar Bills,” the slow burn of “Royals,” or the laid back synth bounce of the title-track. Its all good in Lorde’s hood.