Listen: New How to Dress Well songs

How to Dress Well's first 7" just came out on Lefse Records, and its a beauty. Like Tom Krell (the man behind HTDW) announced some time ago, he has a lot more stuff coming out. Transparent Records will release his next 7" in just over a week. Ecstasy With Jojo / Take It On is up for pre-order right now at Pure Groove and the two songs can be streamed/downloaded below:

How To Dress Well - Ecstacy With Jojo (Single) by Pure Groove

This all leads up to HTDW's first full length release called Love Remains, coming September 21 also via Lefse. This debut LP will consist of songs Krell has released previously, only in recorded form and properly mixed and mastered. A first album song, You Won't Need Me Where I'm Goin', is up for grabs here as well (via Pitchfork):

MP3: How to Dress Well - You Won't Need Me Where I'm Goin'

Free download: Holy Spirits: The Afternoon's Blood

Here is another great treat as a free download via Bandcamp. The Afternoon's Blood is Holy Spirits' first release and is already being picked up by sites like Altered Zones. The band just made their EP available as a free download, and it is definitely worth taking a minute of your time for.

The EP starts off with the orchestral chamber pop that might remind you of acts like Grizzly Bear, only a bit darker and at times even somewhat grimy. The EP continues this mood, following with Bridges and Contain. At this time, comparisons shift a bit toward Mount Eerie or Vic Chesnutt, only with more falsetto voice. The fourth song in, White Walls, is the EP's highlight. Here, the band starts looking for different sounds and finds them in lush electronic organs and bass synth. Maybe this reminds you a bit of Radiohead during Kid A. As said, this is highly worth taking some time for. Listen/download:

Monster Rally: Palm Reader EP

Highly recommended this is. The Palm Reader EP consists of a couple tracks from Monster Rally's forthcoming album. This is sample-based pop at its best, in my opinion: Think Flying Lotus, only a bit less complex or Madlib, only more exotic. The full-length album is out in September; his EP can be downloaded for free from Bandcamp right now:

Lonely Galaxy: Nutts

Here's a great new song by London's Lonely Galaxy. I'm still hooked on his EP1 (available here), and it looks like he's coming with a new EP shortly. Great news!

MP3: Lonely Galaxy - Nutts

Wu Lyf: I Got Dem Wu Wu Busted Teef Spitting It Concrete Like The Golden Sun God

i got dem wu wu busted teef spitting it concrete like the golden sun god- WU LYF from LYF on Vimeo.

Via Delicious Scopitone

Sleep ∞ Over: La Rose

After the title track, here also is the b-side for Sleep ∞ Over's new Outer Limits 7". It's out on Forest Family Records August 10 and can be pre-ordered right here right now. Edition of 500 on clear vinyl.

Sleep ∞ Over - La Rose
Sleep ∞ Over - Outer Limits

Free download: Guards

Another great discovery via Bandcamp: 60's pop outfit Guards. Their EP can be downloaded for free, and there's even a song with Cults (talking about 60's pop perfection) on there. Download this slice of summer:

Download & Contribute: R. Stevie Moore Tributes

Sick of the Radio has compiled two R. Stevie Moore (this blog is actually named after one of his albums) Tribute albums. That's an impressive 47 songs ready to be downloaded. But the fun doesn't stop there. In fact, Sick of the Radio is asking for people to contribute coversongs for future releases. Songs will be selected by, that's right, R. Stevie Moore himself! Truly a great project. You've got till August 1 to submit songs, so you'll have to hurry though. For more information on how to contribute, check here and here.

The first volume of R. Stevie Moore tributes "Copy Me, Treat Me" features artists like Ariel Pink’s Haunted Grafitti, Dave Gregory (XTC) and Skitanja. Download it here from Megaupload.

"New Wave Moons", Volume 2 can be grabbed here and features artists like Jason Falkner, The Branflakes and Todd Dillingham. You can also listen to both albums below. Keep an eye out for future releases.

Vol. 1 - "Copy Me, Treat Me" by RStevieMooreTribute

Vol. 2 - "New Wave Moons" by RStevieMooreTribute

These New Puritans: Hologram (Salem Remix)

These New Puritans released one of my favourite records this year, Salem will definitely be another contender. Salem's debut album, King Night, is out September 28 via IAMSOUND. (via Pitchfork).

These New Puritans: Hologram (Salem Remix)

Also check out Salem's track King Night from forthcoming album again:

Salem - King Night

Free download: Green Gerry

The first listens of Green Gerry's new album have literally left me speechless. Odd Tymes is probably one of the most amazing discoveries in quite some time. The band originates from Athens and Los Angeles and creates dark, dense and mostly acoustic music. I keep thinking of a modern times' Syd Barrett. The album was fully recorded in GarageBand, once more showing the potential of DIY-aesthetics; everybody owning some basic equipment can give shape to great music and interesting ideas. Too bad the album doesn't come in some kind of physical form, ‘cause I would love to hold a copy between my fingers. Highly recommended this is:

Contact Risk's 40 best records of 2010 so far

1. Joanna Newsom – Have One On Me


2. Beach House – Teen Dream


3. Wu Lyf – Concrete Gold / Heavy Pop 12”


4. Flying Lotus – Cosmogramma


5. How to Dress Well – Can’t See My Own Face EP


6. Wavves – King of the Beach


7. Baths – Cerulean


8. These New Puritans – Hidden


9. Damien Jurado – Saint Barlett


10. Cloud Nothings – Turning On LP


11. The National – High Violet


12. Gayngs – Relayted


13. Twin Sister – Color Your Life


14. Liars – Sisterworld


15. Wildbirds & Peacedrums – Rivers


16. Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti – Before Today


17. Best Coast – Crazy For You


18. Pavement – Quarantine the Past


19. jj – jj n° 3


20. Danger Mouse & Sparklehorse - Dark Night of the Soul

21. Tame Impala – Innerspeaker
22. Broken Social Scene – Forgiveness Rock Record
23. Spoon – Transference
24. Women – Public Strain
25. Lonely Galaxy – EP One
26. Johnny Cash – Ain’t No Grave
27. Zola Jesus – Stridulum EP
28. Julian Lynch – Mare
29. Green Gerry – Odd Tymes
30. Herzog - Search

31. Wild Nothing – Gemini
32. Best Coast – Something in the Way 7”
33. Wolf Parade – Expo 86
34. Roky Erickson with Okkervil River – True Love Cast Out All Evil
35. Cults – Go Outside 7”
36. Pocahaunted – Make It Real
37. Small Black – Small Black EP
38. LA Vampires & Zola Jesus – LA Vampires & Zola Jesus
39. The Magic Lantern – Platoon
40. The Besnard Lakes – Are the Roaring Night

Free download: Wise Blood

Got some really great and free music from Bandcamp again last week. First off is Wise Blood, expect more later this week. Dubbed 'future music' by the band itself, they indeed sound remarkably fresh, with a mix of contemporary pop, hip hop and sect-like chanting:

Download: Trillwave Mixtape

The Hood Internet compiled this pretty hip mixtape, including all usual chillwave suspects combined with a lot of rap artists; from the likes of Ice Cube and Jay-Z to Why?. This will surely skyrocket your mood. Check out the pretty impressive tracklist and stream the whole thing below or download right here.

Tracklist:
1. Phoenix x Why? - Shoeing Horses In 1901
2. Young Money x Javelin - DepRock
3. The-Dream x Kevin Drew - Bodhi Shawty Weekend
4. Air x Mike Jones - La Femme D'Monsieur Jones
5. Kanye West feat Lil Wayne x DJ Signify - 1993 Barry Bonds
6. Pharaohe Monch x The Black Lips - Drop I Mayor
7. Birdman x Washed Out - Feel It On The South Side
8. Doom x The Flaming Lips - Air You A Hypnotist?
9. Lloyd Banks feat Juelz Santana x Neon Indian - Beamer, Drips
10. Jay Electronica x Toro Y Moi - Freak Exhibit
11. Jamie Foxx x Röyksopp - Alcohol Forever
12. Mando Diao - Dance With Somebody (Hood Internet Remix feat GZA & Cadence Weapon)
13. Hieroglyphics x Genesis - That's Who
14. Gucci Mane feat Plies x Lindstrøm & Christabelle - Wasted Love
15. Big L x Bibio - Dwrcan 'Em Up
16. Puff Daddy feat The LOX x Volcano Choir - All About The Islands
17. Iyaz x The Big Pink - Velvet Replay
18. Ice Cube x CFCF - It Was A Rainy Day
19. Anti-Pop Consortium x Maps - I Dream Of Capricorn
20. Aesop Rock feat Rob Sonic x Tobacco - Dark Pink Goo
21. Dominique Young Unique x Yacht - I'm In Love With A Hot Girl
22. De La Soul x Jamie Lidell - What's The Stakes
23. Jay-Z x Phoenix - And The Definitive Winner Is...
24. Trey Songz x The Radio Dept. - Trey-dio Departmentz
25. Drake x Beach House - Walk In The Park Is Over

The Hood Internet x Mishka - TRILLWAVE by hoodinternet

Free download: Coma Cinema

I already bumped into Coma Cinema’s great video for Only some time ago (watch below), and love these great words on their site: "The music you'll find below is currently free for you to download and listen to. If you feel the need to compensate us, we only ask that you share the music with others."

You should definitely download their beautiful album Stoned Alone right here. You can also get a cassette version from Arcade Sounds.

Coma Cinema - Only from Tyler T Williams on Vimeo.

Forget You All The Time

This is an almost heartbreaking session by Cloud Nothings. Filmed by The Fader, here you can hear a stripped down version of the band with just two acoustic guitars and vocals. It gives you an idea of how beautiful and rich this band's melodies really are, once you remove all electrics, drums and noise. It's almost hard to say which version of the band is favourite. Maybe an acoustic album would be a serious option for the future?



Also check out the acoustic version of their Turning On album's Hey Cool Kid, and compare versions below:

Cloud Nothings - "Hey Cool Kid" from The Tripwire on Vimeo.

MP3: Cloud Nothings - Hey Cool Kid (acoustic)
MP3: Cloud Nothings - Hey Cool Kid (electric)

(via Transparent)

Nite Jewel: Falling Far

Nite Jewel has a new EP on the way in collaboration with members of Teen Inc, The Samps and Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti. Am I Real? will be out on vinyl August 16 via Gloriette, listen to the fantastic track Falling Far right here:

Nite Jewel - Falling Far

Lord Huron: Into the Sun

Here is a nice and fresh discovery: L.A. based Lord Huron, who just have a new EP Out called Into the Sun. This sounds a bit like an exotic Fleet Foxes, which is pretty good actually:



(via Delicious Scopitone)

Listen: Wild Nothing's Evertide EP

Wild Nothing released their splendid album last month through Captured Tracks. Gemini is loaded with light-hearted pop lullabies that can make you feel like there’s not a worry in the world. They’ve also just released a new EP (Evertide, 3 tracks) via Warmest Chord, a new label releasing limited edition special artwork. The physical Wild Nothing release (with beautiful glow in the dark screenprint designed by Franz Vesolt) is already sold out, but you can listen to two of the EP’s tracks on Bandcamp. Or buy all three for just 1 dollar:

Free download: Mount Pleasant

Jonathan Phillips has been releasing music under his lo-fi moniker Mount Pleasant for quite some time now. His music is very expressive and very dark. Like Xiu Xiu for example, the music is sometimes hard to grasp. Listening to his discography gives you an idea on how uncompromising this music really is, and that, in my opinion is really admirable.

From an interview with Salient:
I make most of my music at home, in my bed, I guess. I do record songs in friends’ living rooms, sometimes at like two in the morning. I record all the songs using the free software on my MacBook, GarageBand, and into the little inbuilt microphone. It doesn’t really add up to a “top quality” sound or anything. The guitar never sounds good and there are generally like six vocal layers to cover up how stark the vocals sound. The writing of the songs is generally like intuitive, like stream of consciousness lyrics that I edit out. Mostly the songs work with piano or a harp loop, something like that, it’s just like loops and destroyed samples and lots of delay and reverb. I really believe in delay and reverb, I think they are the two most important things in a song.


You can download a lot of music from Mount Pleasant's site. Some beautiful gems are there to be discovered by your ears. I'd recommend you at least download the Dissolute, Dissolute, The Flood and Rio Joy albums.

Gauntlet Hair: Our Scenery (video featuring Will Oldham!)

Probably the most melodramatic video you've seen in a while, although Gorilla vs. Bear tells us that it does feature a very young Will Oldham. How cool is that:

BABY JESSICA X OUR SCENERY from PAT VAMOS on Vimeo.