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múm // early birds

It isn’t fair nor it is an easy task to try to put the band Múm into any one category, so I won’t. Especially, when they are so much more than just another Icelandic pop band. In terms of their position in the wide and ever evolving constellation of music these folk hold a singular place in my heart. Not many bands are so expansive, in that Múm will touch your heart and your head simultaneously. On June 1st the band released a compilation of material ranging from 1998-2000 (roughly), and it is beyond wonderful. I have two treats for you after the jump. One is a new video for “Hvernig Á Að Særa Vini Sína” (How to Hurt Your Friends) directed by Máni M. Sigfússon. Secondly, I have a new (downloadable) single entitled “0,000Orð“. The latter track is all kinds of dreamy accoutrement, the kind which makes perfect accompaniment to a (sought after) tranquil existence. Peace. Continue reading “múm // early birds”

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digits // death and desire

Are you in need of a little something chill to listen to after the sun goes down? Toronto transplant, and current Berlin resident, Digits (Alt Altman) creates a smoky and tender blend of Electro/R&B music that’ll melt your heart. Listen to the track, “So Cold” and you’ll soon understand why I am so enamored. This song is only one of twelve on the highly seductive, and acclaimed Death And Desire release. If ever you needed a body of music to set “the mood” this is it. You can get it as a FREE DOWNLOAD, as well as Digits latest release Lost Dream at digitsmusic.com. How’s that for instant gratification? And although you don’t have to, throw him a few dollars, consider it a down payment for the future services of the perfect musical wing man. Peace. Continue reading “digits // death and desire”

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heavenly beat // tradition

John Pena is the smooth like butta’ incarnation of Heavenly Beat and the lovely song, “Tradition,” just melts in your eardrum so sweetly. This song is all pastel and muted color galore. But, it is also effortless and packed to the brim the sensuous and chill. You may want to listen to a few of this bands other gorgeous tasting songs at iTunes. Desire. Messiah. Faithless. Suday. All of them totally bathed in chillwave aesthetics, and that’s a good thing. Also, Heavenly Beat will be dropping their debut album Talent on July 2th via Captured Tracks. Peace. Continue reading “heavenly beat // tradition”

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noosa // ep

A couple of months ago I reviewed the first single, “Fear Of Love” by electronic / acoustic dreamscape duo Noosa. I loved it! Now, Noosa is back with a brand sparkling new 5-track EP and its a joy to behold sonically. Yes, like their previous efforts there is beautiful music galore. The EP opens with the somber and expansive song, “Walk On By” and it has an ethereal and mysterious beauty reminiscent of the Cocteau Twins. However, Sky Barbarick‘s vocals are earthbound and hug your ears like dreamy poetic cloud cover. The second track, “Sail” is a broad sweeping uptempo song filled with quiet joy bursting at the seams.  With the third track (and first single), “Fear Of Love” multi-instrumentalist Matt Buszko unfurls the synths and let’s a cavalcade of sensuous music intertwine sonorously with Sky’s smoky vox. My favorite, “Light Rays” is threaded throughout with sweet acoustic melody, enough to lull you into magical starlit reverie. This song is a beautifully bright lifeline of which I am thoroughly, and hopelessly, tangled within. The final track, “Mirrors” closes the EP, but it doesn’t stifle its mood. “Mirrors” is a song which fosters reflection and introspection, but above all it speaks of reassurance. This EP is rife with beauty and tenderness and a contemplative vibe. We were right to want more and this EP displays excellent songwriting and an eclectic blend of sounds. It is tranquility put to song and shot through with selfless love. This mini-ablum represents many moods, and this body of work is easily enjoyed singularly or soudtracking a tranquil evening with good friends. Listen the all the songs here after the jump. And to get this beautiful EP into your permanent collection it is available on iTunes. Peace. Continue reading “noosa // ep”

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giraffage // feels

San Franciscan Charlie Yin is the musical mystic behind the holistic sounds known as Giraffage. Listen to the tracks “Feels” and discover what it feels like to listen to an assortment of happy sounds commingling joyously together. After the jump I’ve also included Giraffage’s slow love making soundscape Comfort (2011) for your auditory pleasure. Peace.

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iamamiwhoami // sever // drops // Video

When watching or listening to the audio/visual projects of iamamiwhoami right away you know you’ve stumbled off the beaten path, and so far it’s a good thing. Here, in the artsy landscape of iamamiwhoami you’re constantly discovering something, if not special, then at a bare minimum interesting. Swedish singer/songwriter, and dare I say performance artist, Jonna Lee appears to have tapped into a fantastical world where reality is highly stylized and emotionally revelatory. It isn’t a hard guess to determine that many how the works are concerned about facing one’s fears and being vulnerable. And in this latest round of songs/videos we are treated to a barely clad (vulnerable)  JL and she’s bringing an entire arsenal of emotion to bare. Immediately you get a sense of barely restrained trepidation, and that better days are long past and longed for. Then there is the matter of the hairy beast man thingy and it’s right out of a Jeff Soto painting. What does its presence represent? Fear? Undefined desires? Indecisiveness? I suppose the proper artsy response would be to interpret, or intuit it in whatever way you want to. And so we’ll leave it right there. Enjoy this duo of videos, and come back and visit again for the next installment of corresponding acts, the songs/videos “good worker” and “play” will be out soon. And, you we can anticipate the album Kin, which is scheduled for a June 11th release. Peace.  Continue reading “iamamiwhoami // sever // drops // Video”

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How To Dress Well – Suicide Dream 3 (Solar Bears Remix)

Tom Krell is a painter of the abstract. Dips his brushes into the night sky, and drags horse hair across the canvas of your numbed nerve endings. What he has managed to do with so little is to construct the grandiose into small pill-sized songs. Songs much like dreams, in that after you awake, you rub the fleeting fragments out your eyes and try to reassemble them before their beauty evaporates forever. From his Just Once EP we are given “Suicide Dream,” and it’s the proverbial bullet with butterfly wings. Here it is expertly reinterpreted by Solar Bears, and boy does it leave a soft bruise on your threshing heart. I also added “Decisions,” let it coil around your ears like bejeweled vibrations, and reverberate dulcet tones within the six chambers of your delicate heart. Peace. Continue reading “How To Dress Well – Suicide Dream 3 (Solar Bears Remix)”

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Black Light Dinner Party – Gold Chain

All it takes is one listen and you’re hooked. Unlike so many things in life Black Light Dinner Party doesn’t take long to fall in love with. Their music is lush and filled with just enough honey sweetened sound goodies to satisfy your ear tooth. Check out the video for the song “Gold Chain” which provides further evidence that a cherished thing can be lost, and even sometimes found. Also, you got to love seeing Ron Jeremy doing a cameo with his clothes on, eh? Peace.

Black Light Dinner Party – Gold Chain from dreambear on Vimeo.