More than just a macabre title, DEATHS is the musical project of Russian producer and filmmaker Igor Bruso. Signed to UK label Love By Mistake (founded by musical duo IYES), Bruso makes brooding electronica with haunting melodies and heartrending vocals — as evidenced by latest effort “Voices.” Listen to the stunning track, taken from their forthcoming EP below.
New Australian act Slum Sociable have unveiled the first cut off their upcoming EP, TQ. “All Night” is a shimmering mélange of jazz, trip-hop and electronica steeped in slinky synths and soulful vox. Look out for the Melbourne duo’s debut EP to drop October 9 via Liberation Music.
Zola Blood first made their debut in 2014 with their celebrated EP, Meridian. Now the London quartet is back with new single, “Play Out” — the first taste of a two-track EP due out on Pond Life Songs September 4. Recorded with Richard Formby (Wild Beasts, Ghostpoet), “Play Out” tells a late night tale, composed of pulsing synthesizers and a shadowy bassline. The grounding electronic influences lay the foundation for Matt West’ mesmerizing vocals and rich, swirling arpeggios. Play below.
Mammals is the musical brainchild of Sydney-based artist Guy Brown. Also consisting of Henry Wells, Nathaniel Joyce and PJ Wolf, the four-piece released their highly anticipated EP Animalia last month. They supported Of Monsters and Men on their Australian Tour, and recently collaborated on a track with Goldroom. Transport to the Northern Beaches with “Move Slower,” a downtempo tune with soft vocals supported by an atmospheric soundscape.
Brother/sister duo BROODS has made quite the impression on the blogosphere, and with their hit debut single “Bridges” it’s easy to understand why. Produced by the Grammy award-winning (and Lorde producer) Joel Little, the New Zealand siblings Georgia and Caleb Nott are clearly poised for international success with their ethereal atmospheric sound. What’s really blowing me away though is the below remix from NY production duo ASTR, who apply a breathtaking balearic beat and melody that manages to elevate the original in my mind. If you’re in the DC market, you can catch BROODS at U Street Music Hall this Friday, May 2 and ASTR opening for The Knocks at 930 Club June 16.
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
German DJ/producer Tensnake recently revealed the first single off his debut album, Glow, slated for a March 10 release. Download the deep house track, “No Relief,” featuring Tasmanian vocalist Fiora for free below.
About a month ago the following synth track fell into inbox, only to be delivered to my spam folder. Fortunately I was able to recover it before it was too late, as not everyday does a local talent such as The National Pool present itself in my purview.
The Baltimore-based group consists of Bradley White and Kyle Cornett, who have been making chilled out tunes together since 2006. On their track “Better,” the duo explore a verse-verse song structure with the meditative repetition of a simple set of lyrics, counterbalanced by a flurry of synth sounds and the use of a vocoder. The result is a dreamy soundscape, similar to Odesza. Stream below.
poetry in an empty coke can 