Bombay Bicycle Club has released another solid single off their forthcoming album, So Long, See You Tomorrow. Listen to “Luna” below, and get psyched for the release of the LP on February 3.
POETRY’S TOP TRACKS OF 2013
It’s that time of year again — the time in which the year’s best ear candy is served up in one delicious location for your listening pleasure. Unlike last year, however, I’ve streamlined my ‘best of’ index into a selective top ten list — so you KNOW they’re the cream of the crop.
Cheers to CHVRCHES, Disclosure and Arctic Monkeys amongst others for bringing us their indie A-game in 2013. So basically, well done to the UK; thanks for the aural alchemy. All of these artists made an impact on the music scene this past year in a major way — so if you see some cross-collaboration, well, there’s a reason. Without further ado, I present my top picks for 2013:
1. Disclosure – Latch (ft. Sam Smith)
Bonus: Disclosure – “F For You” (TEED Remix)
2. CHVRCHES – “Recover”
3. Dillon Francis – “Without You” (ft. TEED)
4. AlunaGeorge x Disclosure – “White Noise”
5. Arctic Monkeys – “Do I Wanna Know?”
6. MS MR – “Think of You”
7. Bombay Bicycle Club – “Carry Me”
8. BANKS – “Change”
9. Kanye West – “Blood On the Leaves”
10. London Grammar – “Strong”
Bonus: London Grammar – Wasting My Young Years (Sound Remedy Remix) + Free DL
And last but not least, the award for Best Remix of the Year goes to:
Grizzly Bear – “Will Calls” (Diplo Remix)
Bombay Bicycle Club – Carry Me
Bombay Bicycle Club is gearing up to release their fourth studio album (untitled as of yet), via Island Records in February 2014. In anticipation of the LP, the London quartet have released the first cut “Carry Me,” along with this accompanying cutting-edge interactive video.
Personally I love me some BBC, and I dig this release so hopefully this is a sign of good things to come. Stream “Carry Me” via Spotify below, along with a rad Tanlines remix of their track “Dust On the Ground.”
Dan Croll – Home (Yuksek Remix)
Braids – Lemonade
Props to my Canadian friend Jon Keypour for this one, who introduced me to the Montreal-based indie/art-rock group known as Braids. Their dreampop sound is experimental in nature — akin to Animal Collective if their vocalist were female.
The kaleidoscopic track “Lemonade” is off their debut album, Native Speaker, which while a couple years old is still relevant. The Canadian quartet recently released a new album and is currently on tour in Europe.
Wild Belle – Another Girl
Wild Belle — whose live show was one of the surprise standout performances I saw last year — is coming back to DC this Tuesday to play at U Street Music Hall. If you’re not already familiar with the Chicagoan brother-sister duo, I suggest you get acquainted as their brassy blues and reggae-inflected songs are not to be overlooked.
In “Another Girl,” vocalist Natalie Bergman croons about being “another experimentation.” Stream the torch-like track below and check out the official western-inspired video released last month if you’re so inclined. Lastly, DO catch the charismatic duo live if given the chance.
Erlend Øye – La Prima Estate
Erlend Øye, one half of Kings of Convenience, one quarter of the Whitest Boy Alive, and collaborator with Royksopp is primed to release a new album sometime next year. Although the Norwegian has yet to announce a release date, this is joyous news for fans of the folkateer. The album, La Prima Estate will be sung entirely in Italian — adding to the charm of his latest project. Enjoy a preview of the first single off the album below.
Bonus: A video of one of my early favorites from KOC. This melancholic track makes me utterly, supremely and absurdly happy.
Geographer – This Is How We Walk On The Moon (Arthur Russell Cover)
Referred to as “the first modern musician” by Nico Muhly, Arthur Russell is the late New York composer whose experimental music ranged from avant-disco to classical cello compositions. Russell influenced a generation of artists to come, including Devendra Banhart who wrote:
I moved to New York because of Arthur Russell — he’s my favorite musician. Over the last two years, I’ve listened to him constantly and have been reading [Tim Lawrence’s 2009 Russell biography] called ‘Hold On to Your Dreams’ about how downtown, experimental, underground disco and classical composition and all those scenes blended together.
That said, enjoy this quality rework of Russell’s “This Is How We Walk On The Moon” by San Francisco-based indie band Geographer. A free download is available here.
Clubfeet – Cape Town (Panama Remix)
Electronic group from Down Under, Panama recently released this remix of Clubfeet’s “Cape Town,” rendering an average synth-pop track from their fellow Aussies into a torrid tropical affair. Infusing the disco number with piano, percussion, and a sick bassline, Panama stirs up a potent combination of chilled out, calypso-laden bliss.
Transport yourself to Cape Town and grab the track GRATIS below.
“everybody buy me a drink, it’s my birthday”
And another one of my favorites from Panama – “It’s Not Over.”
Andrew Bird – Imitosis (Four Tet Remix)
How this accomplished artist managed to slip under my radar until 2013 is beyond explainable — Andrew Bird, the classically trained violinist and one-man band originally from Chicago is a truly gifted musician. His brooding and improvisational vocal style is reminiscent of Rufus Wainwright. Thankfully through Indie Shuffle — who reposted the Four Tet remix this year — I’ve been introduced (better late than never?).
NPR describes his music as “an eclectic mix of gypsy ballads, jazz, folk and rock.” Interestingly, Bird also claims to rewrite his songs for the audience every night, which is apparent just by listening to a few different versions of his live tracks. I’m partial to the acoustic version of “Imitosis” below.
“Imitosis” is a track off his acclaimed 2007 album Armchair Apochrypha – and Four Tet does a nice job on the remix, keeping it close to the original with a slightly updated feel.
Stream his live concert from 930 Club circa 2007 over at NPR.
And if you’re lucky enough to be anywhere close to Bird’s upcoming tour destinations, do yourself a favor and go see this insanely talented man live.
Tour Dates:
7/25 Bearsville, NY
7/26 Bearsville, NY
7/28 Newport, RI
8/2 Happy Valley, OR
8/3 Happy Valley, OR
8/17 Sterling Heights, MI
11/14 Davis, CA
11/15 Santa Cruz, CA
11/16 Santa Cruz, CA
11/18 Arcata, CA
11/19 Chico, CA
11/21 Santa Barbara, CA
poetry in an empty coke can 