Kisses – The Nile

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While we wait patiently to be wowed by new releases in the new year, we thought to share a recent effort from alt-pop outfit Kisses, who released their third album Rest in Paradise this past October. The LA duo has always been a reliable source for groovy dance beats, and standout track off the new LP “The Nile” is no exception. According to singer Jesse Kivel, “The Nile” is a nod to a Rod Stewart track that he felt mirrored some of his more obscure disco favorites from the ’70s. “Both me and Zinzi are really interested in pop artists who ‘went disco’—Paul McCartney, The Stones, Blondie, Rod Stewart, the list goes on. Putting these two worlds together was something we felt destined to do,” Kivel explained to Interview mag. It’s the best, so stream below.

CCP’S TOP 20 TRACKS OF 2015

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Well another year has drawn to a close, which means it’s time for all the ‘best of’ lists in music to emerge. Most of the heavyhitters (Pitchfork, NPR, etc.) have already weighed in at this point, and now it’s time for CokeCanPoetry to toss in our humble, synth-doting hat as well. This year we’ve pared down our list to a selective top 20, which have been conveniently collated in a Spotify playlist below. Yes, we aim to please. Of course, you can click on the artists links for individual past entries as well.

It should be noted that these picks are representative of great records in general, and that selecting the best track is subjective and even arbitrary in some cases. That is just to say that we suffer from an “utter conflict of love and duty” in assembling these best-of lists, as Inverted Audio so aptly put it. In any event, enjoy these tunes anew — plus our top five remixes of the past year below. Thanks for listening and following along with CCP in 2015!

1. Jose Gonzalez – Let It Carry You
2. Natalie Prass – Bird of Prey
3. Unknown Mortal Orchestra – Multi-Love
4. Braids – Sore Eyes
5. Sufjan Stevens – Fourth of July
6. Purity Ring – stranger than earth
7. Leon Bridges – Better Man
8. Farao – Bodies
9. Father John Misty – Chateau Lobby #4 (in C for Two Virgins)
10. Florence + The Machine – Queen Of Peace
11. Panda Bear – Boys Latin
12. Shura – White Light
13. Beat Connection – Illusion
14. Beirut – No No No
15. Mac Demarco – No Other Heart
16. Thundercat – Them Changes
17. Empress Of – How Do You Do It
18. Years & Years – King
19. Youth Lagoon – The Knower
20. Grimes – REALiTi

 

 

TOP 5 REMIXES OF 2015:

 

Lost But Not Forgotten Electronic in 2015

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As stated earlier in the week, we’ve been working on clearing out submissions from the past year to make room for 2016 — and in the process realized there were several noteworthy electronic tracks that never quite made it to post. Thus, we’re just going to drop them here for the sake of expediency.

The following efforts derive from emerging new artists, including debut singles from three-piece electronic band Arbitraire, European electro-pop artist Von Sell, and a London producer called Couros. The list is rounded out by the mysterious downtemp artist Nemea, Berlin-based trio Say Yes Dog, and UK singer/producer Chris Savor. If you’re into the electronic music scene, get these artists on your radar for next year. Stream below!

 

Caravan Palace – Russian

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And now for a group you may not know — a Parisian act called Caravan Palace who caught our attention with their modern-day big band sound. Lauded as an exhilarating electro-gypsy-jazz group by NPR and tagged under “ragtime EDM” by Flood Magazine, the band has received critical acclaim in France for their swinging, early-20th-century Left Bank bohemian sensibilities.

Fronted by vocalist Zoé Colotis and founding members Hugues Payen (violin), Charles Delaporte (upright bass) and Arnaud Vial (guitar) alongside Antoine Toustou (trombone, machines), Caravan Palace cites influences as diverse as Cab Calloway and Daft Punk. Their cheekily-titled third album <|°_°|> was released on Le Plan Recordings this October.

Following a stint at Coachella last year, Caravan Palace will be returning to the US in spring 2016. Listen to “Russian” from the latest LP below — c’est magnifique!

Ephemerals – You’ll Never See Me Cry

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Clearing out the CokeCanPoetry inbox for 2015, there are a few notable submissions we never got around to featuring — so this week (culminating in our year-end ‘best of’ list), we remedy this. One such instance is neo-soul group Ephemerals, who released their sophomore album chasin ghosts this past October. The UK act came together when musician Hillman Mondegreen met singer Wolfgang Valbrun while on tour in France with another project — an intersection which would eventually lead to the band’s formation and current identity as a seven-piece. For a sampling of their capabilities, listen to the soaring piano anthem “You’ll Never See Me Cry.” With soulful gems like this, let’s hope the group is longer lasting than their name would suggest.

Jaakko Eino Kalevi ft. Farao – Everything Nice (Popcaan cover)

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Farao had one of our favorite albums of 2015, so when we saw she’d collaborated with fellow Scandinavian artist Jaakko Eino Kalevi on a Popcaan cover we couldn’t help but pay attention. If you’re not familiar with Popcaan, you’ve probably at least heard him on his contribution to Jamie XX‘s 2015 smash album In Colour. In any case, it’s a cute story how the collab and cover of Jamaican dancehall artist Popcaan came together. Kalevi explains: “I got obsessed with ‘Everything Nice’ about a year ago in Iceland when I met Kari [Farao]. She was singing it all the time and soon I was singing it too, even without hearing the actual song. It became my power song.”

Sprinkling some tropical disco vibes on the original, Kalevi and Farao turn the more subdued Popcaan track into a bright pop banger. Get into this nice lil’ ditty below.

The Arcs – Outta My Mind

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If you haven’t heard by now, The Arcs is the side project of The Black Keys‘ Dan Auerbach. The supergroup–which boasts the talents of Richard Swift, Leon Michels, Homer Steinweiss, Nick Movshon, along with contributions from Kenny Vaughan, Mariachi Flor de Toloache and Tchad Blake–came together to create the critically acclaimed album Yours, Dreamily. “Right from the drop, Yours, Dreamily, ignites like a cigarette flicked on a stream of gasoline,” declared NPR Music. The LP was recorded in roughly two weeks through spontaneous, informal sessions throughout the country, and spans from garage-rock to psychedelia to the blues. See for yourself by spinning the record’s reverb-soaked first single “Outta My Mind” below.

As part of the album tour the collective will be performing two shows in DC next week–December 14 and 15 at 9:30 Club.

ELEL – Kiss Kiss

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We had the pleasure of interviewing ELEL back in March just before the release of their debut EP, and now they’re back with another delightful track called “Kiss Kiss.” The indie-pop collective from Nashville — whose music is often described as “world pop” is layered with swirling keyboards, guitars, horns, percussion, and rollicking drums, creating a resoundingly catchy and overall affirming sound. Stream “Kiss Kiss” below and look out for the group’s debut album Geode to drop via Mom + Pop Music in early 2016.

RMX Roundup: Empress Of + ABRA / ON AN ON + RAC / Delaire + Delorean

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Semi last-minute edition of Remix Roundup this weekend, because why not. Empress Of produced one of our favorite records this past year, and now her tourmate, ABRA the darkwave duchess has reworked her single “Standard.” While the original is excellent in its own right, ABRA’s edit adds a frenetic, skittering element with a characteristic dark-pop edge that fans of Empress Of are sure to appreciate.

Next is the recent RAC remix of Minneapolis’ trio ON AND ON‘s early 2015 track “Drifting.” Elevated by RAC’s graceful electronic beats, André Anjos twists the track into a fuller, more dynamic recast using the original acoustic-leaning cut as a framework. Notable is Nate Eiesland’s vocals, which even when while yowling “I gotta get out” during the chorus still sound exquisite.

And last but not least is a reinterpretation of a song by newcomer Delaire from purveyors of dreamy electronic music, Delorean. As usual, the Spanish quartet made an outstanding choice by borrowing the beautiful debut track, “Belief” from the UK chanteuse and bringing it into the limelight with their stunning, diffuse and synth-injected rendition.

Tigers Are Bad For Horses – Messenger

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At CCP we love all things local, and we especially love when local entities demonstrate real potential. That’s why when we first heard the sounds of DC-based Tigers Are Bad For Horses, we immediately agreed to feature their new EP. Today marks the release of the alt-pop duo’s debut EP, TABFH, the first compilation since their formation in 2014. Comprised of Mellen and Lyell, Tigers began when the former sang on one of Lyell’s film scoring projects. They quickly became a musical dyad, informed by a range of influences from Bonobo to Bon Iver — but eventually forging their own blend of piano-infused, jazz-influenced electronic pop with multi-layered production and lilting vocals.

Tigers Are Bad For Horses will be celebrating the release of their debut EP in DC tonight, and headlining Rock & Roll Hotel December 19 so if you’re in the area come on out to support this local talent.