Hailing from Portland, Oregon, the young Turks of Rare Monk have a sonic resilience that’s like everything and nothing you’ve ever heard. While the obvious signposts are there to guide you (Modest Mouse, Sonic Youth, Phoenix), Rare Monk combine their love of both 90s and contemporary Indie Rock with a fevered Pop intensity, before shooting the whole thing into outer space to see what comes back. As frontman Dorian Aites puts it, “Although we draw upon many genres for inspiration, we’ve been creating our own thing based on nothing other than the idea that, ‘these are the songs we wrote cause they sound cool’”. Continue reading “rare monk | ain’t no sunshine | bill withers cover”
how to dress well | repeat pleasure |part 1 of 3 | what is this heart? | trilogy | official video
The trend running through each of Tom Krell’s records as ghostly R&B singer-songwriter How To Dress Well so far has been for each one to sound like he’s stepped a little further forward from behind the smoke. With last year’s Total Loss, Krell found a new directness in his vocal-led arrangements and starkly open lyrics, and his upcoming What Is This Heart? looks to be even more soul-baring; “Repeat Pleasure”, the first official single from the album, is a funky handclapping anthem that features full-on falsetto belting as Krell explodes with catharsis on the line “Even broken my heart will go on.”
In the first of a three-part video series, Norwegian director Johannes Greve Muskat and creative director Luke Gilford take a glossy yet earthy approach to bringing Krell’s vision to life in a way that takes it beyond pop music and into the reverent realm of fables. Focussed around the heartbreak of other characters, with Krell himself making spectral cameos, the clips spin a universal and simply told tale of love, loss and risking everything. Peace. Continue reading “how to dress well | repeat pleasure |part 1 of 3 | what is this heart? | trilogy | official video”
alice russell | hurry on now (fkj remix)
In regards to the Alice Russell track “Hurry On Now,” producer FKJ (French Kiwi Juice) said,“I was streaming some Alice Russell tracks and found out that this a capella was available… completely fell in love with it and remixed it straight away. So here is my interpretation.” As with everything else this new young lion producer has put out this too is golden. Enjoy. Peace. Continue reading “alice russell | hurry on now (fkj remix)”
movement | movement ep
Jesse James Ward, Lewis Wade and Sean Walker are the Sydney-based band Movement. The trio’s self-titled debut EP is happily now available to stream, in advance of its release May 2 (AUS), May 5 (UK/EU), May 6 (USA) respectively. The good folk at Dazed premiered the 4-song EP yesterday, featuring two previously unheard tracks. You can now listen to it in its entirety below. Continue reading “movement | movement ep”
white reaper | white reaper ep
From the increasingly fertile DIY scene of Louisville, KY, emerges the kick ass band White Reaper – an incandescent power trio who is ready and willing to blow out eardrums far and wide.
The band – formed by Tony Esposito (vocals/guitar) and twin brothers Nick (drums) and Sam Wilkerson (bass) — combines sparkling hooks and fluid, fluttering rhythms to create psychedelia-tinged garage punk that make heads bob without sacrificing an ounce of sonic bite. Continue reading “white reaper | white reaper ep”
cosmo sheldrake | the moss | live at the village
Live Session for Cosmo Sheldrake‘s single ‘The Moss‘. Directed and shot on location by Gallivant Film at Bekonscot in Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire which is the oldest original model village in the world. It portrays aspects of England mostly dating from the 1930s. Peace.
james vincent mcmorrow | cavelier | kiings remix | lyrics
The music crafted by the beloved James Vincent McMorrow is beautiful as is, yet along comes the very capable producer Kiings and he makes JVM’s track “Cavalier,” simply transcendent.
Rarely does it get any better than this, no? Kiings ferrets and teases out a sultry orchestration resplendent with sinful sounds which instantly elevate the already gospel-tinged and spirit-esque vitality of James’s pristine vocals and lays it atop such unadulterated brashness. Each beat is a masseuse’s deft fingers working it all out until your ears hang their heavy head wrung out but alas sated. Staccato beats provide steam engine propulsion, taut synth work urge a listener towards the 7th deadly sin and your ears relish within it endlessly.
I am definitely looking forward to more of the Kiings experience, this guy he is going places and all of them
point heavenward. Peace.
P.S. Many thanks to my beautiful muse Teddi Stavee, you can whisper sweet nothing in my ear any time. Continue reading “james vincent mcmorrow | cavelier | kiings remix | lyrics”
annie ellicott | the going prayer
The Going Prayer – Annie Ellicott from The New Honey Shade on Vimeo.
The music of Oklahoma-native Annie Ellicott is composed of a rural folksome jazz-tempered quintessence. This is an otherworldly beauty which caresses a listener’s ear like the whisperings of angels.
The first song from her anticipated album, The Going Prayer is all gem-like refraction; a soul tome washed clean of all pretense. This is no faux artistry here, this is a woman standing on solid euphonious ground.
Ms. Ellicott’s as yet untitled debut release is scheduled to drop Fall 2015. “So when this body no more can hold the high tide, I can fall into the sea, arms opened wide.” Beatific. Buoyant. Badass. All three descriptors are more than apt. Rest assured I will keep you posted about this very talented artist. Peace.
chet faker | built on glass | talk is cheap | official video
Chet Faker has been plying his trade for a minute or two now, making it look easy as he drops track after track of irresistible music. And now this certified soul-man has gone and dropped his debut tour de force, Built On Glass (Downtown Records) and there isn’t an ounce of fragility within a light year of this release. Peep the Toby & Pete-directed video below.
The tracks are boisterous and sensual just like everything else Mr. Faker has touched in the past few years. Yes, he keep it frosty and no doubt he is moving with confidence. Get Built On Glass via iTunes. Peace. Continue reading “chet faker | built on glass | talk is cheap | official video”
lyla foy | mirrors the sky
Lyla Foy gives listeners a glimpse into her forthcoming debut album, Mirrors the Sky with the track Feather Tongue and it drops like molten lead from a shot tower. Kerplunk! This is sweetness dousing your heart with pure evanescence.
In an recent interview with her label (Sub Pop) the 25-year old artist said, “When I first started writing for the project, I wanted everything to be really focused on the melodies, but also really simple and minimal,” says Foy. “Just using a lot of bass, and simple drum patterns. So it was completely different to anything I was doing at the time. I wanted to try something new, and that one song happened and I felt like it was the beginning of something.”
Mirrors the Sky is out now, but you can check out the tracks, Feather Tongue and Easy after the jump. Peace. Continue reading “lyla foy | mirrors the sky”