Seaside, surf-pop duo Cayucas dropped their sophomore LP Dancing at the Blue Lagoon via Secretly Canadian this week. Twin brothers Zach and Ben Yudin expanded their musical aesthetic on the album, imbuing their tropical and typically Californian sound with a more personal tone and overall riper quality. Stream the jangly and sun-washed tune “Moony Eyed Walrus” for a taste of the LP below. DC locals can catch Cayucas playing Rock & Roll Hotel August 3, with Hibou supporting.
Just when you start to think you’re becoming aurally jaded, a Scandi indie-folk goddess emerges out of the ether to restore your faith in the new music scene. Such is the case with Kari Jahnsen, the London-based Norwegian singer-songwriter known as Farao. She just released her new single “Bodies,” which will be featured on her forthcoming debut LP Till It’s All Forgotten — out on September 11 via Full Time Hobby. The album, on which Jahsen composed and performed nearly all the instruments was produced by Mike Lindsay (of English group Tunng) and mixed by Grammy award-winning producer Andrew Scheps (Hozier, Lana Del Ray). The beauty of “Bodies” is that it unwinds in an unexpected fashion, expanding in all different directions all the while retaining its bedazzling and melodic musical core.
Farao’s first US tour kicks off in NYC this fall and concludes in LA. Full dates below — but DC brethren can catch the chanteuse at DC9 September 23.
Upcoming Tour Dates:
9/10 – Sebright Arms – London, UK
9/17 – Rockwood Music Hall – New York, USA
9/22 – Smiling Buddha – Toronto, CA
9/23 – DC9 – Washington DC, USA
9/24 – Boot & Saddle – Philadelphia, USA
9/26 – Music Hall Loft – Portsmouth, USA
9/29 – Hotel Café – Los Angeles, USA
Today marks the release of a surprise album by none other than bass wizard Stephen Bruner, professionally known as Thundercat. The mini-LP, which was announced only a few days ago is entitled The Beyond / Where the Giants Roam and was released on Flying Lotus‘ label Brainfeeder. FlyLo actually co-produced the lead track “Them Changes,” which is a funky and jazz-infused jaunt about the crimson aftermath of a love gone wrong. The number also features notable jazz musician Kamasi Washington on sax. We can’t say enough good things about this one, so listen below and then head over to iTunes to purchase / hear the album in full.
It’s time for another Remix Roundup, and this week we’ve got a full line-up of soul-powered, dance-packed mixes. First up is a retake of a track by disco’s new pop princess, Gavin Turek. Having released her single “Frontline” this spring, the dance homage to Donna Summers has now been given the remix treatment by TOKiMONSTA. TOKi, who is one of our favorite female producers in the biz dials up the drama and dazzling deep house vibes on the original, while keeping Turek’s invigorating vox at the forefront. The remix package for this track drops June 26 via iheartcomix’s new label 1INFINITY.
Next is a rework taken from AYER‘s new EP, In My Headphones. The Brooklyn artist, who’s been featured on our remix segment before has crafted quite the soulful electropop song with the eponymous single off the EP. Fellow Brooklyn group TKDJS turn the track into an energetic house number replete with dark synths and deep bass lines. Pick up a free download for your headphones here.
Last but not least, we’re throwing it back with a spectacular rework of Whitney Houston‘s iconic track, “I Wanna Dance With Somebody.” God knows how much we loved Whitney in the ’80s, and thankfully Halogen gives us the chance to revisit “The Greatest Voice of All Time” in this century with a new twist on the classic. The Atlanta-based production duo apply a vibrant house backdrop to Whitney’s heart-stopping vocals, and the result is a rousing dance number that will make you wanna feel the heat with somebody — as well as to snag the track gratis on Halogen’s Soundcloud page.
Australian act Alpine had one of our favorite albums of 2012, A Is For Alpine. Nearly three years later, the six-piece released new album YUCK this month on Ivy League Records for which they’re already receiving critical acclaim. Their second studio album was inspired by 1960’s pop and built on the group’s repulsive reaction (“yuck”)—and simultaneous exploration of—”first world problems”: awkward dates, a distaste for romance, lust lost, plastic vanity, foolish attraction and ego against egos.
The lead track off the LP, “Foolish” consists of breezy vocals from female frontwomen Phoebe Baker and Lou James, tropical synths and buoyant beats. The band and their particular brand of quirkpop is rounded out by Christian O’Brien (guitar), Ryan Lamb (bass), Tim Royall (keys) and Phil Tucker (drums).
Stream “Foolish” and revisit standout track “Hands” from their debut LP below.
Another day, another solid Australian electronic act. The Melbourne three-piece known as I’lls (and pronounced “isles”) is comprised of Simon Lam (drums, vocals), Hamish Mitchell (keys) and Dan Rutman (guitar). The guys, who are classically-trained jazz musicians call themselves “the outcasts of jazz — jazz rogues.” Having enjoyed success in their native Australia, they are on their way to breaking out overseas thanks in part to the support of artists like Chet Faker for their distinctive left-of-centre pop sound. Their new single, “Let Me Have Just One” is an intriguing and evocative track that will be featured on their upcoming EP, Can I Go With You To Go Back To My Country.
Stream below and look out for the EP to release July 6 via Solitaire.
Australian outfit Miami Horror have just released their second LP, All Possible Futures via Dine Alone Records and are currently on tour in North America in support of the LP. The new record is ripe with post-disco dance jams inspired by ’80s rock groups along the likes of Talking Heads, New Order and INXS — as well as iconic pop stars such as Paul Simon and Michael Jackson. The sunny disposition on the album can be attributed to the band’s time spent writing and producing the album in LA.
Listen to the catchy lead single, “Love Like Mine” and check out their stateside tour dates below. DC peeps will have the chance to see Miami Horror live in concert at U Street Music Hall June 19.
After much build-up, Trails & Ways finally dropped their debut album Pathology via Barsuk Records earlier this month. While recording and producing the LP, the Oakland quartet generated a lot of buzz over the last couple of years, embarking on two national tours and opening for Mac DeMarco, Phox, Stars and Tycho. The second single off the album, “Say You Will” is a sleek and sinewy number steeped in four-part harmonies, rhythm guitar, plucky synths and a syncopated bass.
Written by their bassist Emma Oppen, here’s what she had to say about the song: “Two years ago I met someone very special, and had the experience of falling in love in a matter of hours. In my delirium, I imagined making an ultimatum: Say you will, or don’t say anything at all. A few months later, I wrote the bass line in the back of the van on our first summer tour, and made the first demo recording of the vocal melody against the droning fan of a venue bathroom.”
Stream the song below and say you will pick up the album on iTunes. Friends in the DMV area can catch them performing at DC9 this Sunday, with fellow Oaklanders Waterstrider supporting (full list of June tour dates below).
Hibou is the handle of young Seattle-based artist Peter Michel who recently signed to Barsuk Records. Last week he shared the lead track, “Dissolve” off his forthcoming record, due for release September 18. The self-titled debut LP was written, recorded and played by Michel in the walk-in closet of his apartment — fueled by summertime fancies such as surf-pop melodies, ’80s synths, and soda pop! “Dissolve” is a dusky, warm, and luminous electronic track fused with distorted vocals, sonically similar to Trails & Ways.
Hibou will be touring across North America this summer opening for Cayucas, so be sure to scope out the tour dates below.
British songstress Shura has been captivating us with her singular sound since the release of debut single “Touch” just over a year ago. “It’s like someone’s taken something really shiny and rubbed it with sandpaper,” Shura says speaking of her ’80s-esque pop sound which reminds us of early Madonna. On her new number “White Light,” Shura combines influences diverse as Arthur Russell-inspired disco and the undulating psych-rock of The War On Drugs to create another dynamic and refulgent effort.
While Shura is currently at work on her debut album, look out for “White Light” to drop July 24 via Polydor. Stream the single along with the equally dreamy track “Just Once” below. Those in the Tristate area can also catch Shura performing at Mercury Lounge in NY July 28.
poetry in an empty coke can 