In honor of the CMJ Music Marathon happening in New York this week, we thought now would be a good time to highlight the Leeds-based group and featured CMJ artist, Adult Jazz. Four years in the making, the British quartet released their complex debut, Gist Is this August. Showcasing a uniquely variegated sound with influences of chamber pop, prog rock, and of course jazz, lead singer Harry Burgess has said that the album explores weighty subjects such as the challenges of communication, empathy, morality, and the search for meaning.
Stream the stirring track “Am Gone,” and if you’re in the NYC area, get jazzed for their CMJ performances below (full schedule here).
Welcome to another Remix Roundup, a semi-biweekly segment in which we bring you the latest and greatest remixes and electronic offerings around. This week’s installment begins with the new Jacques Lu Cont remix of none other than London Grammar (a CokeCan favorite). The Grammy award-winning producer Stuart Price (repping his JLC moniker for this production) delivers yet another exceptional effort, comprised of progressive beats and Hannah Reid’s potent vocals. While we’re used to L’Gramm mixes being of the more ethereal variety, we dig the euphoric dance vibes that JLC brings to the equation here.
On another note, London Grammar is coming back to DC to play another sold-out show at 9:30 Club November 7, so we hope you didn’t wait to get your tix.
Next up is an original production from the LA brotherly duo Casino Gold. We first encountered their lustrous track “Sunbeams” while listening to Goldroom‘s recent Otoñomix, where it was a featured track. Sampling vocals from The Temptation’s “I Wish It Would Rain” alongside slick deep house production, we love Casino Gold’s contemporary take on the classic.
Lastly, we bring it down with Keljet remix of Ayer‘s debut single, “Circle Down.” Dutch producer Keljet infuses some nu-disco life into the lush original by Ayer, the Brooklyn singer/producer duo consisting of Danny Schmittler and Mickey Valen. Keljet’s adds his signature shimmering production style to the Rhye-esque track that is sure to excite your senses. Ayer will be performing in NYC’s upcoming CMJ fest 10/21-25, so definitely check out the schedule if you’re in the NY area.
Gather ’round Coke Can denizens, we’ve got two tickets to give away to the sold-outTV On The Radio show on Sunday, November 16 at DC’s 9:30 Club. If you missed your chance to grab tickets to see Tunde, Kyp, and the rest of the lads make music, well now’s your chance. Enter to win by leaving a comment below or sending a tweet to @CokeCanPoetry.
They’re sure to be in good form as they parade their latest wares from their forthcoming album Seeds, notably among them the new single “Happy Idiot” (which you can preview below). Even if you’re new to TVOTR’s scheduled programming, we highly encourage you to check them out. Their recent fare boasts seriously catchy melodies backed by resolute basslines, while their older releases run the gamut from lo-fi funk to semi-orchestral threnodies.
Standout tracks from their back catalog include “Ambulance,” “Will Do,” and “Wolf Like Me.” To whoever wins: if they play “Blues From Down Here” or pull out their a capella cover of the Pixies’ “Mr. Grieves,” please leave our contributor Jon a message telling him how it was.
We’re basically obsessed with all things Future Classic, which hosts the likes of Chet Faker, Chrome Sparks, and Flume — and Seekae, the up-and-coming trio from Sydney is no exception. They dropped their debut album The Worry in September, containing downtempo tracks such as “The Stars Below” (below), and the textured “Test & Recognise” that Flume introduced to the masses with his epic rework. In contrast from the latter, “The Stars Below” is more of a progressive ballad (or anti-ballad), bathed in seductive synths that hold you in suspense until the desolate ending. Stream below, and pick up the full LP on iTunes.
TV Girl is a postmodern pop band out of LA who released their debut album, French Exit this past June. The group incorporates looped samples, 80s-like synths, trip hop beats and catchy low-pitch vocals in what amounts to lovable lo-fi bubblegum pop. Piano, harps, xylophone and woodwind are also orchestrated in their songs, making for an easy and breezy listening style. Stream the track “Birds Don’t Cry” below and pick up the album on iTunes.
Banoffee‘s back with a new single—which, while part of her debut EP released in August—wasn’t officially dropped on Soundcloud until this week. Refusing to conform to any one genre, the Australian artist’s sound is a fresh eclectic blend of 80s synthpop and 90s urban soul in what may best be described as new wave R&B.
Lighter than Banoffee’s previous offerings, “Let’s Go To The Beach” is a bouncy, ebullient track imbued with her staple syncopated beats and layered synths. The track really takes off at 1:53, breaking out into a sportive and rollicking beach number (seasonable in Australia although not so much here).
Hemisphere of origin aside, you can catch Banoffee performing stateside at CMJ’s Music Festival happening this month in New York. Check out her schedule below, and purchase her album (via Two Bright Lakes) on iTunes.
Banoffee CMJ Dates:
10.22 – Aussie Beat Pie – Santos Party House – 8:50-9:15PM
10.23 – College Day – Rosenthal Pavillion – 9:45-9:55AM
10.24 – The dFM + Vitalic Noise – Mondrian Soho Hotel – 7:00-7:25PM
10.24 – The Green Room – Knitting Factory – 9:00-9:25PM
Flying Lotus’ suite of singles off the upcoming You’re Dead! LP — slated for release October 7 — runs the gamut of diametrically opposed servings we’ve come to expect from cutup savant Steve Ellison. Clocking in at 2:40 and 3:54, “Coronus, The Terminator” and “Never Catch Me,” respectively, are two of the longer cuts on an album comprised of uncharacteristically short tracks. Thankfully, our expectations of frenetic jazz samples and live recordings mashed together with the warmth of Flylo’s signature production are met on Lotus’ latest release, harkening back more to the psychedelia of Cosmogramma than the laconic Until the Quiet Comes.
On “Never Catch Me,” Kendrick’s machine-gun verses nicely ride the wave of Pastorius-like basslines, floating along smoothly with an accompanying piano line and slick drum programming that keeps pace with the track’s overall flow. Lotus has a keen ear for bringing experimental jazz to the fore in what is otherwise a highly contemporary package, and this track does not stray from the format.
As for “Coronus, The Terminator” arguably one of the album’s finest tracks — Lotus significantly dials up the thickness and dials down the BPM. From the opening licks of shimmering triangles and claves (it sounds like those instruments but who knows), this track is lush. Soulful melodies in the vein of an old spiritual drip viscously throughout, fleshed out by a warm lo-fi hiss. For an album conceived around meditations on death, “Coronus” drives home an aspect of weighty, peaceful release in that regard.
If you’re so inclined to see FlyLo live (with support from Thundercat), his upcoming tour should bring him to a city near you.
October 2014
• 09 Orlando, FL, The Beacham
• 10 Miami, FL, iii Points
• 11 Atlanta, GA, The Tabernacle
• 12 Chapel Hill, NC, Cat’s Cradle
• 13 Washington, DC, Lincoln Theater
• 14 Philadelphia, PA, Tower Theater
• 15 New York, NY, Terminal 5
• 17 Boston, MA, Paradise
• 18 Burlington, VT, Higher Ground
• 20 Montreal, QC, SAT
• 21 Toronto, ON, The Danforth Music Hall
• 23 Detroit, MI, Royal Oak Music Theater
• 24 Chicago, IL, Concord Music Hall
• 25 Minneapolis, MN, First Avenue
November 2014
• 07 London, The Roundhouse
• 09 Austin, TX, Fun Fun Fun Fest
• 11 Phoenix, AZ, Marquee Theater
• 12 Santa Ana, CA, The Observatory
• 13 San Diego, CA, North Park Theatre
• 14 Los Angeles, CA, Wiltern
• 15 Santa Cruz, CA, Catalyst
• 17 Portland, OR, Roseland
• 18 Seattle, WA, Neptune
• 19 Vancouver, BC, Commodore Ballroom
• 21 Salt Lake City, UT, The Complex
• 22 Denver, CO, Fillmore Auditorium
While we were hard pressed not to dedicate this edition of Remix Roundup to the surge of Odesza “Say My Name” remixes, we restrained ourselves. So instead, we’re kicking off this week’s installment with WKND‘s rendition of Jai Paul’s stellar track “BTSTU,” which frankly we feel didn’t get its due. The German producer mashes up the captivating JP original with a cover by Niia. Since getting turned on to “BTSTU” we haven’t been able to get enough, and this luscious deep house rework keeps us equally enthused.
Naturally, we couldn’t escape this week’s roundup without sharing at least one of the Odesza mixes which have been sprouting up all over since the inception of the TSIS contest. While we’re psyched about the awesome amount of innovation the contest has inspired — and appreciative to those artists who’ve shared their efforts with us — there are simply too many to feature all. (The moral of the story may be that it helps to have good raw material). And though we do not recommend trying to listen to them all in one sitting, we do encourage everyone to check out the fresh new crop of talent before the contest ends October 27.
Amidst the chaos though, the one remix that’s stayed with us is the Jordan James edit (currently no. 5 in the rankings). We love that the Australian producer keeps the sultry vocals of Zyra at the forefront over a shimmering stratum of synths, even brassing it up in the bridge with the addition of some French horns.
And finally, in celebration of Caribou‘s much anticipated album Our Love that drops via Merge in the US and Canada October 7, stream the title track below. Collaborating with Owen Pallett (as if Dan Snaith releasing a new album wasn’t exciting enough), Pallett helps Dan to achieve greatness by adding some spectral strings and sparing baroque riffs. In an interview with Stereogum, Dan explains: “When I sent it to Owen and asked him to write parts I was talking about the arrangement and layout of the song as a kind of chess game where the parts move around one another in a sort of dance.” The result is pure electro-alchemy.
Purchase the album Tuesday on iTunes, and be sure to catch his show at DC’s Black Cat if you’re in the area November 15.
PHOX first stole our hearts whilst seeing them perform live this last summer at DC’s The Hamilton. The Wisconsin indie folk band made up of six close friends exudes Midwestern charm and mutual adoration for one another on stage. Lead singer Monica Martin is at once charismatic and relatable—whose soulful vocals lent themselves effortlessly to the intimate venue. Although their songs are filled with latent themes of heartbreak, their breezy almost retro-sounding music is also a joyous and heartwarming affair.
Which is why when we heard that PHOX’s hit single “Slow Motion” had been remixed by Partisan Records labelmate Sylvan Esso, we could scarcely contain our excitement. The North Carolina duo put their inventive art-pop spin on the track to dazzling effect. Stream the mix below, along with a couple of our favorite PHOX tracks.
Both groups released their eponymous debut albums earlier this year, available on iTunes. Don’t miss your chance to see these spectacular artists live — check out upcoming tour dates below!
PHOX On Tour:
10/2 – Dallas, TX | Granada Theater*
10/4 – Houston, TX | Warehouse Live*
10/6 – Nashville, TN – Marathon Music Works*
10/7 – Atlanta, GA | Variety Playhouse*
10/10 – Austin, TX | Lambert’s
12/6 – Portland, ME | State Theatre^
12/7 – Northampton, MA | Calvin Theatre^
12/8 – Providence, RI | Lupo’s^
12/11 – Columbus, OH | The LC Pavilion^
12/12 – Cincinnati, OH | Taft Theatre^
12/13 – Chicago, IL | Aragon Ballroom^
* denotes w/ Paolo Nutini
^ w/ The Head and The Heart
Sylvan Esso On Tour:
10/18 – Irving, TX | Cultivate Festival
10/23 – Baltimore, MD | The 8×10
10/24 – Philadelphia, PA | Union Transfer
10/30 – Saxapahaw, NC | Haw River Ballroom – SOLD OUT
10/31 – Saxapahaw, NC | Haw River Ballroom – SOLD OUT
11/8 – Oakland, CA | Fox Theater*
11/9 – Davis, CA | The Davis Graduate
11/10 – Sacramento, CA | Memorial Auditorium*
11/14 – Los Angeles, CA |– Shrine Auditorium & Expo Hall*
11/15 – Santa Barbara, CA | Santa Barbara Bowl*
1/15 – Atlanta, GA | Variety playhouse
1/16 – Charlotte, NC | The Neighborhood Theatre
1/17 – Charlottesville, VA | Jefferson Theater
1/23 – New York, NY | Terminal 5
1/24 – Uncasville, CT | Wolf Den at Mohegan Sun
1/31 – 2/4 – Riviera Maya, Mexico | My Morning Jacket’s One Big Holiday
Hot off the release of new album In Return via Counter Records earlier this month, the Seattle-based duo Odesza — who’ve experienced a steady stream of success over the past year — have sold out more than half of their fall tour dates. Standout track off the LP “Say My Name” features the vocals of Zyra alongside their signature inventive soundscapes, and some additional chopped vocals from Madelyn Grant. Incidentally, there’s a slew of remixes of this song happening as part of the This Song Is Sickofficial remix contest. So if you’re dying for different variations of the tune, head over to the contest page and vote for your favorite before it ends October 17. Listen to the original below, along with some of our other faves, “Always This Late” and “Sun Models.”
Odesza is performing at DC’s U Street Music Hall TONIGHT! If you missed your chance to get tix, you can still purchase the album here.
poetry in an empty coke can 