poetry in an empty coke can

RMX ROUNDUP: Jack Ü + AlunaGeorge / Seekae + Henrik Schwarz / Ellie Goulding + XYconstant

Posted on April 18, 2015June 20, 2015 by poetryinanemptycokecan

Welcome to another Remix Roundup, a semi-biweekly segment in which we over at CCP bring you the latest and greatest mixes currently buzzing around the blogosphere. The first track in this installment comes by way of Jack Ü, aka the powerhouse duo Skrillex and Diplo who recently dropped a surprise LP with some heavy hitting featured artists including Missy Elliott, 2 Chainz, and Justin Beiber. Our favorite collab by far though has to be “To Ü,” which features UK darlings AlunaGeorge. It’s a dynamic, kinetic dance number that accents Aluna’s alluring vocals. Oh — and there’s some dubstep in there too, lest we forget who’s driving this force.

We’ve also been doting on this deep house remix of Seekae‘s “The Worry” from prolific German producer Henrik Schwarz. We dug the album of the same name that Seekae, the electronic outfit from Sydney released last year, and now Schwarz has gone and spun the single into an epic extended edit. Stream this sleek and serpentine rework befitting of the original’s intrigue below.

Last month we shared the ATB remix of Ellie Goulding‘s “Love Me Like You Do,” and shortly thereafter London producer XYconstant went and upped the ante, delivering an even sexier and more progressive rendition. We love the looped vocals and intricate synth work that make this mix stand above the rest. So listen and love it like you do — what are you waiting for?

Crystal Castles – Frail

Posted on April 16, 2015April 21, 2015 by poetryinanemptycokecan

Well this is an unexpected surprise. Despite the announcement that one half of Crystal Castles, Alice Glass was leaving the band last October, extant member Ethan Kath posted a new track on Soundcloud today called “Frail” — which in true CC fashion is anything but.

With a new vocalist in place on the track (whose vocal gymnastics don’t sound all that dissimilar from Glass’) named Edith, Kath proves that he hasn’t lost his flare for crafting dark and dissonant production ‘scapes. Perhaps the friction between the former duo served as a catalyst for new material? Celebrate the continuance of Crystal Castles in its new form with “Frail” below.

Until The Ribbon Breaks – A Taste Of Silver

Posted on April 16, 2015April 21, 2015 by poetryinanemptycokecan

UK trio Until The Ribbon Breaks captured global attention earlier this year with the release of their debut album A Lesson Unlearnt, even supporting top acts like Lorde, Phantogram, and London Grammar on tour. According to a press release, the electronic outfit derives its name from “the days when gifting mixtapes was the definitive romantic gesture . . . That careful ritual of combing through your record collection, choosing a myriad of musical moods and memories for the recipient to imbibe and devour again and again, until the tape wore out – Until The Ribbon Breaks.”

That’s a motion we at CCP can get behind. Fronted by Pete Lawrie-Winfield and backed by James Gordon and Elliot Wall, the three-piece collective UTRB draw inspiration from both music and film. As a former film student, Winfield believes these two art forms are intertwined, which is a philosophy they actually incorporate into their creative process.

Watch the lyric video for the blues-infused single “A Taste of Silver” below.

Purity Ring – begin again // stranger than earth

Posted on April 15, 2015April 15, 2015 by poetryinanemptycokecan

Purity Ring received plaudits for their second studio album another eternity, released last month via 4AD. Following their futuristic debut Shrines in 2012, the Canadian duo Megan James and Corin Roddick bring a contrasting, softer style to the table on the new album while maintaining their otherworldiness.

Stream standout single “begin again” below, followed by our favorite track “stranger than earth” (only available via Spotify for streaming).

Purity Ring will be playing two sold-out shows at DC’s 9:30 Club May 29, with Braids and Born Gold supporting.

Mirror Talk – 1/M/T

Posted on April 13, 2015April 14, 2015 by poetryinanemptycokecan

Meet Mirror Talk, the LA-based quartet who combine new wave grooves with silky smooth vocals and ’80s soundscapes. In fact their new track, “1/M/T” sounds just like an ’80s power ballad, complete with choppy bass and dancey synths. The single will be featured on the group’s upcoming EP 1997, due out May 19 on Yellow Year Records.

THE COVERUP: We Were Evergreen – Be Like You

Posted on April 10, 2015August 7, 2016 by poetryinanemptycokecan

We’ve got a special treat in store for you today — in a new segment we’re calling The Cover-Up, we’re sharing a refreshingly innovative new cover from French trio We Were Evergreen. A contempo take on the track “I Wanna Be Like You” from Disney’s The Jungle Book, the electropop group give the original a fantastically modern makeover that will have you scratching your head wondering where you’ve heard this one before (had we not just told you).

Regarding the cover choice, the band said: We wanted to revisit a classic tune from everyone’s childhood: the original song not only has a great melody, but the lyrics themselves have a much deeper meaning than what the Disney film shows. By keeping the melodic base but making the arrangements darker, we wanted to bring out the idea lurking behind the song: that universal feeling of envy, the need to fit in – a theme that we already developed in our first album.

We Were Evergreen released their debut album Towards in 2014 and is currently at work on their second album. Get groovy with “Be Like You” below.

Alex Winston – Careless

Posted on April 9, 2015April 9, 2015 by poetryinanemptycokecan

Alex Winston is the New-York-by-way-of-Detroit songstress who generated a decent amount of buzz in 2012 with her debut album, King Con. Now the classically-trained opera singer turned pop singer is set to release her sophomore LP via 300 Entertainment sometime this spring. Whereas on the last effort she used others’ stories for material, the forthcoming album sees the artist step out of her comfort zone by drawing from her own experiences.

“I’ve never been comfortable writing songs about myself,” she revealed to Stereogum. “It’s always been easier for me to tell stories, so I wasn’t used to being as vulnerable, but . . . I felt like I was doing myself a disservice not making the album personal because I’ve had a few tumultuous years.”

Listen to “Careless,” the lead single off the upcoming album below. Also revisit the stellar Starslinger remix of her earlier single “Sister Wife.”

Our DC readers can check out Winston at the All Things Gold concert series tonight at U Street Music Hall, along with local favorites The Walking Sticks and Louis Weeks.

Trails and Ways – Skeletons

Posted on April 6, 2015October 13, 2016 by poetryinanemptycokecan

Trails and Ways taunted us with their tropical, calypso sound a couple of years ago, and now the Oakland outfit is back with the first single off their forthcoming record, Pathology. On “Skeletons”—recorded in their drummer’s bedroom along with the rest of the LP—the quartet wanted to create a “dance banger,” which they achieved through lithe guitar lines and dungeony synth bass twisting over a heavy club groove.

The much anticipated debut album, Pathology will be released on Barsuk Records June 2 and they’ll be on tour in June and July. You can view the full schedule on their website, but locals can catch their set at DC9 on June 14.

Sufjan Stevens – Should Have Known Better

Posted on April 3, 2015April 3, 2015 by poetryinanemptycokecan

Sufjan Stevens, the musical genius from Michigan released his new album Carrie & Lowell March 31, and by this point you’ve likely already heard a few tracks if you consider yourself a fan. Named after his mother and stepfather, the elegiac album is essentially a cathartic meditation on death in musical form — after losing his mother to cancer in 2012.

Regarding the record’s subject matter, in a compelling interview with Pitchfork Stevens said: It’s something that was necessary for me to do in the wake of my mother’s death—to pursue a sense of peace and serenity in spite of suffering. It’s not really trying to say anything new, or prove anything, or innovate. It feels artless, which is a good thing. This is not my art project; this is my life.

Without question Stevens’ most profound and personal album should be listened to as a whole, but you can hear a couple of our favorite dirges — “Should Have Known Better” and “All Of Me Wants All Of You” below.

Stevens is going on tour in support of the album next week, and will be bringing his majestic sounds to DC’s DAR Constitution Hall May 5.

Tei Shi – Go Slow

Posted on April 1, 2015April 2, 2015 by poetryinanemptycokecan

Another singer being hailed as a breakthrough artist after a successful run at SXSW, Tei Shi is on a bit of a hot streak right now. The chanteuse captivated us with her track “Bassically,” and now she’s shared another effort off her forthcoming EP, Verde — due out via Mermaid Avenue / Mom + Pop Music on April 14. Appropriately mellower than the aforementioned single, “Go Slow” is an airy, mellifluous number accompanied by a metered bassline.

Don’t miss Tei Shi on her upcoming North American/European tour, which kicks off in our very own DC on April 25 at DC9. Find the full tour schedule below.

Upcoming Tour Dates:

4.25.15 – DC9 – Washington, DC
4.27.15 – Great Scott – Allston, MA *
4.29.15 – The Bowery Ballroom – New York, NY *
4.30.15 – MilkBoy – Philadelphia, PA
5.1.15 – MIT – Boston, MA
5.2.15 – Theatre Fairmount – Montreal, QC
5.8.15 – Popscene – San Francisco, CA ^
5.9.15 – Lyrics Theatre – Los Angeles, CA
5.11.15 – School Night – Los Angeles, CA ^
5.14.15 – The Great Escape 2015 – Brighton, UK
5.15.15 – Beursschouwburg – Brussels, Belgium
5.17.15 – London Calling Festival 2015 – Amsterdam, Netherlands
5.19.15 – Pop Up du Label – Paris, France
5.22.15 – Dot to Dot Festival 10th Birthday 2015 – Manchester, UK
5.23.15 – Dot to Dot Festival 10th Birthday 2015 – Bristol, UK
5.24.15 – Dot to Dot Festival 10th Birthday 2015 – Nottingham, UK
6.2.15 – O2 Academy Bournemouth – London, UK
6.3.15 – O2 Academy Brixton – London, UK
6.6.15 – Field Day 2015 – London, UK
6.7.15 – The Parklife Weekender 2015 – Manchester, UK