poetry in an empty coke can

Marian Hill – Wasted

Posted on February 17, 2015February 17, 2015 by poetryinanemptycokecan

Philly electropop duo Marian Hill are back with a new EP and stellar lead single, “Wasted.” Made up of Jeremy Lloyd (production/songwriting) and Samantha Gongol (vocals/songwriting), the rising duo have a singular style that consists of sliced vocals, silky synth lines, sultry electronic soundscapes and even elements of trip-hop. With playful lyrics and punchy percussion to boot — as demonstrated on the latest track — Marian Hill can rest assured their immense talent isn’t wasted on us.

Marian Hill’s second EP Sway released today via Photo Finish / Republic Records. Stream “Wasted” and check out their upcoming tour dates below.

Marian Hill 2015 Upcoming Tour Dates:

VMX ROUNDUP: Parra for Cuva + Anna Naklab / Jai Paul + Adam Port / Disclosure + Flume / Metronomy + Soulwax / GRiZ x Chet Baker

Posted on February 14, 2015February 18, 2015 by poetryinanemptycokecan

This edition of Remix V-Mix Roundup is getting supersized this week in honor of that amorous (or odious, depending on how you look at it) holiday that falls every February 14. Regardless of your position, we wouldn’t be curators of poetry if we didn’t bring you the best in new music that the spirit of the holiday inspires. So without further ado, enjoy these Valentine-themed mixes.

To start, we have the rousing rendition of Chris Isaak‘s “Wicked Games” from Parra for Cuva. The German producer’s tropical touch and upbeat production — coupled with Anna Naklab‘s sumptuous vocals — makes for a stunning and well, wicked cover.

Speaking of covers, the blogosphere went crazy in 2013 when Jai Paul‘s album featuring fabled cover of Jennifer Paige‘s 90s smash pop song “Crush” leaked via bandcamp. Since the album and original cover were later retracted, we leave you with this rad, percussive-heavy house edit from Berlin-based producer Adam Port.

Disclosure‘s “You & Me” was an instant hit in 2013, but when they asked Flume to do an official remix, the result was a staggering, sonically-realized ladykiller. Stream this massive mix below.

Of course, what Valentine’s mixer would be complete without the inclusion of Metronomy‘s “Love Letters”? The Soulwax revision from the 2014 single is an entrancing, disco-infused dance-floor pleaser, replete with a sultry trumpet interlude. If you weren’t already, get in the groove below.

Finally, we invite you to listen to an underappreciated track from the Detroit-based electronic artist GRiZ. Reimagining Chet Baker‘s classic “Fall in Love Too Easily,” GRiZ refashions the timeless piece into a modern and dance-ready remix. You’d be a fool not to fall for this track.

If that’s not enough for you, check out last year’s singles specials here.

Unknown Mortal Orchestra – Multi-Love

Posted on February 9, 2015February 9, 2015 by poetryinanemptycokecan

Last week Unknown Mortal Orchestra announced the release date of their new album, Multi-Love, due out May 26 on Jagjaguwar. This will be the group’s third studio album and follow-up to their 2013 record II. UMO also shared the title-track, which according to a press release is a reflection on relationships: “airy, humid longing, loss, the geometry of desire that occurs when three people align. Where [frontman Ruban Nielson] addressed the pain of being alone on II, Multi-Love takes on the complications of being together.”

Stream the swoon-worthy track and check out their upcoming North American tour dates below.

UMO North American Tour Dates:

06/02 – Boston, MA @ Brighton Music Hall
06/03 – Montreal, QC @ Theatre Fairmount
06/04 – Toronto, ON @ Lee’s Palace
06/05 – Pontiac, MI @ Pike Room
06/06 – Chicago, IL @ Lincoln Hall
06/08 – Minneapolis, MN @ Triple Rock Social Club
06/09 – Omaha, NE @ Waiting Room
06/10 – St. Louis, MO @ Firebird
06/11-14 – Manchester, TN @ Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival
06/13 – Atlanta, GA @ Terminal West
06/14 – Carrboro, NC @ Cat’s Cradle
06/15 – Washington, DC @ U Street Music Hall
06/16 – Philadelphia, PA @ Boot & Saddle
06/17 – Philadelphia, PA @ Boot & Saddle
06/19 – Brooklyn, NY @ Warsaw

// LSBV // – Smoke N Mirrors

Posted on February 5, 2015February 5, 2015 by poetryinanemptycokecan

LSBV

London duo LSBV (short for Little Shoes Big Voice) dropped a lovely new piece of dreampop in the ether this week — a track called “Smoke N Mirrors.” Made up of Jack Durtnall and Emily Harvey, the British two-piece released their debut EP, Little Things last year and continue to assert themselves with instantly accessible singles such as this one. Enjoy the whimsical gem below.

Osca – Sleeptalk

Posted on February 3, 2015February 3, 2015 by poetryinanemptycokecan

Following their EP Blood, Osca have debuted their first single of the new year — a b-side to a track due out in March. Set against subdued guitar and melancholic synths, frontman Jack Kenworthy’s gorgeous vocals are on full showcase on “Sleeptalk.” The London quartet certainly know how to build anticipation, as with b-sides like this, the analogue seems almost superfluous. Stream the starry track below.

RMX ROUNDUP: VÉRITÉ + backstroke. / Jack Garratt + Prides / Young Summer + Avec Sans

Posted on January 31, 2015June 20, 2015 by poetryinanemptycokecan

Welcome to another Remix Roundup, in which we bring you the latest and greatest mixes currently stirring up the blogosphere. Starting us out is the new backstroke. remix of VÉRITÉ‘s “Echo,” off the recent remix collection of her debut EP by the same name. 2014 was a breakout year for the NY-based alt-pop artist, who will be on tour in March — stopping at DC9 March 12. We love DC producer backstroke’s revision of the VÉRITÉ track with its driving synths and 80s-infused soundscape that perfectly compliments the soft and sonorous vocals of VÉRITÉ. Trust us that you’ll want this rendition ringing in your head long after you listen below.

Next we have the new Prides remix of the Jack Garratt original, “The Love You’re Given.” Taking the soulful electronic track from the British singer, Scottish synthpop group Prides gives it a beautifully polished makeover with luminous synth lines and smooth production style. Stream the effort below.

Finally, UK production duo Avec Sans have resurfaced with their impressive rework of the Young Summer single “Severing Ties.” Similar to VÉRITÉ, last year was a favorable one for the DC-based songstress Bobbie Allen (aka Young Summer), who received a good amount of acclaim in 2014 for her debut LP Siren. The shimmering pop ballad gets a dance reboot from the UK act, spinning it into a grittier electronic number. Locals can catch Young Summer performing at DC’s U Street Music Hall February 20.

Panda Bear – Boys Latin

Posted on January 29, 2015January 29, 2015 by Jon

“Boys Latin” is the second single off the new album from Noah Lennox — aka Panda Bear, Animal Collective’s ursine contemporary. As with the best of his previous offerings, the track subsists on chunky, grooving drums and a fried bassline that sounds reminiscent of the chattering low end of a Van de Graaff generator. The rhythm section’s groovy bedrock lays a great foundation for Lennox’s echoing vocal repartee to bounce across the left and right channels, suspended in that dreamy snapshot of exploring the woods that Panda Bear’s boyish voice so readily evokes.

Lennox’s new LP, Panda Bear Meets the Grim Reaper — in which the themes of death and personal growth are explored — was released earlier this month via Domino Records and is available for purchase on iTunes.

Death Cab For Cutie – Black Sun

Posted on January 28, 2015January 29, 2015 by poetryinanemptycokecan

Death Cab for Cutie have revealed the new single off their forthcoming album Kintsugi, due out on Atlantic March 31. The album title, as bassist Nick Harmer relayed to Rolling Stone refers to a “Japanese style of art where they take fractured, broken ceramics and put them back together with very obvious, real gold. It’s making the repair of an object a visual part of its history.”

This lovely imagery and philosophical conceit also serves as a metaphor for the band’s professional evolution, after founding member Chris Walla exited the band last year. Fortunately, the parting was amicable and Walla is still involved creatively. “Black Sun” is a simple, elegiac track combining synths and distorted guitar — not dissimilar from early DCFC. Stream below.

Natalie Prass – Bird of Prey

Posted on January 26, 2015March 12, 2016 by poetryinanemptycokecan

Former member of Jenny Lewis‘ backing band, Natalie Prass is a Nashville-based singer-songwriter set to release her first full-length record this week. She recorded the album in the attic studio belonging to her label, Spacebomb Records, where she collaborated with former high school bandmate (and Spacebomb founder) Matthew E. White. Supported by the label’s house band, Prass’ melodious vocals are supplemented by lush strings, piano, horns and woodwind — a polished collection “nourished by reverence for past eras of big band and jazz and infused with the crisp detail of late ’70s and early ’80s R&B,” as described in a press release.

The lead single on what is unmistakably a breakup album, “Bird of Prey” proffers a good introduction to the warm, retro and sentimental style that Prass so effortlessly inhabits. Plaintive lyrics like ‘You don’t leave me no choice but to run away / You are a bird of prey / With a heart like the night’ as she croons on the chorus are sure to resonate with many.

Prass’ self-titled debut is out tomorrow. Listen to “Bird of Prey” and “Why Don’t You Believe In Me” below. And if that’s not enough, you can stream the album in full over on Pitchfork.

DC residents can catch the songbird live February 4 at DC9.

Tropics – Rapture

Posted on January 23, 2015January 25, 2015 by santiago

Chris Ward of Tropics knows how to use a repetitive snare. The London artist’s new single “Rapture” will capture your ears through a reverberated piano, accompanied by double-layered vocals. Innovative Leisure label strikes lyrical gold again with this talented multi-instrumentalist, who will be releasing his sophomore effort February 16. “Rapture,” the title track off the forthcoming album, is a seductive song about the struggles of experiencing a deep connection in an urban city. Stream below.