Skyes are a new outfit out of Brooklyn currently working on their self-titled EP. Their debut track, “A Girl Named Jake” is a sizzling pop song with fluttering synths and dreamy vocals from DA Knightly that stun in the final chorus. If you’re in the NY area, catch the quartet this Saturday at Brooklyn’s Glasslands Gallery with Fenech-Soler and Junior Prom.
Kevin Parker of Tame Impala surprises us with this reinterpretation of Michael Jackson’s “Stranger in Moscow.” The cover clearly retains the Aussie psychedelic-rockers identity using a cosmic blend of delays, reverbs, fuzz and phasing. A perfect sound to escape from this boom of new album releases.
If you’ve not yet heard of Malaysian singer-songwriter Yuna, I implore you to spend some time getting acquainted with this rising star. Breaking onto the North American stage in 2012 with her self-titled debut, the already internationally-acclaimed artist released her follow up album Nocturnal this past fall.
Filled with velvety vocals and melodic instrumentation, highlights of the album include the sultry song “Falling,” produced by Danish instrumentalist Robin Hannibal of the musical duo Rhye. Watch the video for this enticing, disco-infused number below. Also a standout from the LP is the infectious single “I Wanna Go,” produced by Mike Einziger of Incubus. Check out a refreshing remix of the track by Parisian producer Belarbi below.
Another outstanding interpretation comes by way of Canadian duo Adventure Club with their insanely seductive rendition of Yuna’s earlier single “Lullabies.” Demonstrative, bass heavy and drop-laden, the mix only serves to amplify Yuna’s already emotionally-charged, signature soul-pop sound. Download both of these mixes (for free!) on Soundcloud today, and pick up Yuna’s new album on iTunes here.
Chris Martin may be making news lately for his “conscious uncoupling” with Gwyn, but as you may’ve also heard he has his new album Ghost Stories coming out April 19. Cbeck out the superb Urban Contact remix of Coldplay’s new minimalist single “Midnight” below and consciously calm yourself over the stars’ split. A free download is available on the Urban Contact’s facebook page here. Next up in this issue of Remix Roundup is the sexy rework of BreakDLaw’s “Paint Me Like A French Girl” by ManiezzL, aka Austrian producers Max Manie and Scheinizzl. With the pulsing synths and lively house beat, you’ll be “eager and keen” to stream below. Finally we have Future Classic’s latest act L D R U, collaborating with fellow Aussie Yahtzel on the ebullient track “The Only One.” Find this fantastical fusion of tropical bass and ambient beats gratis on Soundcloud.
Panama have put out another amazing single with the US release of their EP Always via Future Classic earlier this month. True to the Aussie group’s epithet of purveyors of nostalgic electronic sounds, “Strange Feeling” is a warm, piano-driven track with hopeful indie house vibes. Listen below and pick up the free Casino Gold rework replete with wobbling synths as well.
https://soundcloud.com/wearepanamatheband/panama-strange-feeling-1
Following up their critically-appraised album Slave Ambient in 2011, Philadelphia rockers The War On Drugs released Lost In The Dream earlier this month. Written by the band’s frontman Adam Granduciel on the heels of a breakup, the album tackles themes of loss, isolation, and depression. In the end though, Granduciel ultimately achieves an honest, heartfelt, and hopefully healing record that’s been lauded even more than the last. Stream their single “Red Eyes” below, and if you’re in DC catch them at 930 Club April 18.
Much has been written about the Minneapolis art-rockers Poliça, and frankly it’s criminal they haven’t been featured on poetryinanemptycokecan before. That said, the collection just wouldn’t be complete without their inclusion. So bear with me if you’re already hip to them — and if you’re not — by all means carry on. What started out as an offshoot from producer Ryan Olson’s project Gayngs would rapidly become the vocoderized electropop phenomenon known as Poliça. The following tracks “Dark Star” and “Lay Your Cards Out” derive from their 2012 debut LP Give You The Ghost, an album nocturnal in nature and described by Olson himself as “night as hell.” By far their most beguiling track, “Dark Star” consists of vocalist Channy Leaneagh’s smouldering vocals swept over swaths of synths, steady basslines and sweltering horns. So if you’re not already acquainted with this electronic wunderkind, stream below and be sure to check out their upcoming June tour dates below.
Upcoming Tour Dates:
5/31, Indianapolis, IN @ Radio Radio
6/2 Buffalo, NY @ Tralf
6/3 Toronto, Canada @ Mod Club
6/5 Cleveland, OH @ Grog Shop
6/6-7 Chicago, IL @ Lincoln Hall
6/8 Columbus, OH @ The Basement
6/9 Cincinnati, OH @ Southgate
6/10 Millvale, PA @ Mr. Smalls Theatre
6/11 Asheville, NC @ The Orange Peel
6/12 Manchester, TN @ Bonnaroo
6/14 Raleigh, NC @ Lincoln Theatre
6/16 New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom
6/17 Brooklyn, NY @ Music Hall of Williamsburg
6/21 Stodtlen, Germany @Southside Festival
6/22 Scheessel, Germany @ Hurricane
6/24 Munich, Germany @ Freiheiz
6/25 Dusseldorf, Germany @ Zakk
6/29 Ewijk, The Netherlands @ Down the Rabbit Hole
SPEAK is a new Austin-based band who recently released the stunning single “Weiss + This Much I Know.” The tranquil track begins with an Americana sound, slowly advancing into a beautiful progression of chords and leaving me wishing the song didn’t have to end at 3:18. Looking forward to hearing more from these guys. In the meantime, pick up the complimentary track here. And if you’re in NY, catch them opening for RAC at Rough Trade in Brooklyn tonight.
Another installment of Remix Roundup to get your Saturday night started off right. In a brilliant move by Bonobo, Simon Green uncovers the 1977 track “Les LaBas” by French jazz instrumentalist Henri Texier. With a South American-feel to it, this epic recast will transport you to someplace tropical in no time. Next up is The Knocks remix of HAIM‘s “If I Could Change Your Mind,” which transforms the original pop number into a seductive after hours edit. Finally, continuing the tropics theme is Sydney-based Thief, whose track “Closer” gets dressed up in calypso vibes by New Zealand duo Weird Together. Fresh off a showcase at SXSW and the release of his EP, Thief’s PJ Wolf is poised to bring his minimalist electropop sound to the masses this year. Best of all, every single one of these tracks is available for FREE DL by following the respective Soundcloud link below. You’re welcome.
Berlin producer Robot Koch has announced the release of upcoming album, Mirror, scheduled to drop April 25. Collaborating with Danish singer Sebastian Lind and producer John LaMonica, “Trouble (Robots Don’t Sleep)” is the name of the first single. From the song’s rousing percussion to the rumbling vocals, this one is undoubtedly, a heartbreaker.
poetry in an empty coke can 