“Move Me” (Feat. Marta) by Lonely Guest

One upcoming album we are excited to hear in its entirety is the self-titled release by the collective known as Lonely Guest. The project was conceived and produced by Tricky, with vocals by Joe Talbot (IDLES), Marta, Kway, the late Lee "Scratch" Perry, Oh Land and others. You can join in the enthusiasm with album track "Move Me" (Feat. Marta) below.

Lonely Guest will be out October 22 via False Idols.

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Ghostpoet - Dark Days & Canapés

Ghostpoet is Obaro Ejimiwe, a shapeshifting musician of considerable talent.  On Dark Days & Canapés, his new album, he delivers stories perfect for those wee morning hours when things slow down and one has to decide whether to go to bed or just head out for pre-dawn breakfast and start the new days.  The power of Ejimiwe's art doesn't derive from tempo, volume, or hooks, but rather from the shaded atmosphere, jazzy accents, guitars jumping in like startled flocks of birds, skittering beats, and the languid but anxiety-tinged vocals.  He adeptly addresses the heaviness of the times with a lyricism and empathy that infuses what could be a very bleak set of themes with a triumphant humanity.  This is an album that presents a worthwhile change of pace for indie music fans.  If you only have time for one track, test drive "Immigrant Boogie" below.  But we highly recommend a deeper dive.

Dark Days & Canapés is out now via Play It Again Sam.







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"San Pedro", by Doprah

Christchurch, New Zealand's Steve Marr records and performs as Doprah.  His latest track, "San Pedro", featuring Indira Force on vocals, is a good introduction to his talent.  Distinctively atmospheric and inventively rhythmic with an insistent bass line, it has an urgency that much electronic music lacks.  You can listen to it here, and/or watch the video.  You also can download the track free at from the Bandcamp link.  "San Pedro" will be on Doprah's upcoming album, Wasting.



Here is the video for the track:

Doprah | San Pedro | Music Video from Julian Viktor Vares on Vimeo.

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"Water Me" by FKA Twigs

FKA Twigs is a London artist who has self-released one EP, titled EP1, and will be releasing the four-track EP2 later this year on vinyl and via digital download.  She creates intriguing electro-pop, and also makes interesting videos to accompany the music.  The second track on the upcoming release is the subject of the video below.

She originally performed under the name Twigs, but added "FKA" at the request of another artist using Twigs.



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Samaris - Samaris

Sometimes quiet albums get lost a bit in the indie pop world, and that is especially the case when the artist isn't well know.  It would be a shame if that happened to the self-titled debut from Iceland's Samaris.  The album is characterized by intelligence and adventure in the conception, and competence and flair in the delivery.  Yes, it is quiet -- it doesn't so much grab you as surround you like a mist.  It also is exotic.  The teenagers comprising Samaris create their sounds with electronics, percussion and a clarinet.  The vocals have a chant quality, and the lyrics are taken from 19th century Icelandic poems.  Considering the instruments, arrangements, pace and vocal style, a stab at providing a genre tag would yield trip hop.  But this is one of those pieces of music that must be heard to be appreciated.  Here is standout track Góða Tungl --



And here is the striking official video for that track --



Þórður Kári Steinþórsson provides the electronics, Áslaug Rún Magnúsdóttir plays the clarinet and Jófríður Ákadóttir's is the vocalist.



The album combines two previous EPs and includes four remixes.  Samaris is out now on the One Little Indian label.  It is available on vinyl and CD, and via digital download.

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New Electronic Discovery: UNA - The Laughing Man

UNA is an electronica/jazz/art-rock trio - Jennifer Cook on vocals, Richard Larsen on keys and production and Eddie Barajas on turntables. She's a terrific singer, and they do a great job putting together a soundscape to support her. Whether on piano, electronic keys or synths, Larsen keeps this grounded near the jazz genre. The addition of Barajas' turntables carry this into the realm of what's commonly known as "trip hop" - and there you go.

Me? I like the vocals best of all.
Here's a teaser video with some music and some talk about the record and their sound:



Here's lead track "The Astronomer":


I'm told an album of remixes will be out in May, featuring Nightmares on Wax and The Herbaliser, to name a few. This album is out now.

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Free Stones Throw Download: Vex Ruffin - Eulogy EP

Vex Ruffin is a wildly creative artist, melding a variety of influences both strange and sublime... Bauhaus, Public Image Ltd., Joy Division, and probably a few I don't even know.

Check it out:



And go to the Stones Throw website to download.

Here's a video for "Losing Control", a single released in 2011:



Also appearing at the Stones Throw Showcase at SXSW (with Stones Throw founder Peanut Butter Wolf, among others):

If I was going to SXSW, this would be something I would not want to miss. Stones Throw is putting out an absolutely amazing variety of music... of course, very creative hip-hop, but also a great deal of stuff like Vex's which just smashes together a variety of influences, samples and styles - from indie rock to darkwave to grunge - to great effect. Spend a little time on their website after you download the EP, you won't regret it.

REVIEW: Young Magic - Melt

Melt, the full length debut from Young Magic, probably sounds like nothing else you've heard lately. And I think that's a good thing. Every listener discerns different influences, but to me it sounds like a wonderful mash up of African rhythms, synthesizer dream pop, and trip hop, with a rubbery, elongated bass running through it. Here it standout track "Sparkly", which will serve to lure in all but the most resistant potential listener --


The band is based in Brooklyn, but quite appropriately for a band with such global influences, that is simply the current resting place Isaac Emmanuel and Michael both are from Australia, who traveled around the world separately before ending up in New York. Melati Malay, the other member, is from Indonesia. And the wanderlust not only informs the band's background, but the album itself. There are recordings from ten different countries, and contains samples of music from the band's travels mixed with the programmed percussion and synths; male and female vocals float over the mix.

Track three, "You With Air" --


The production on Melt is lush, and nearly all tracks bring little details to the party that flesh out the sound and distinguish Young Magic from their peers. The album is about textures and related nuances. Even the vocals seem part of the fabric of sound, rather than a separate statement, and are mostly chorus and often have a chant-like quality. But that is and observation, not a criticism; the approach fits the concept well.

"Night In The Ocean" --


If the question is whether there is a current album that is both relaxing and exciting, accessible and somewhat exotic, the answer it Melt. The album is released this week on Carpark Records. The band is touring this spring and will be at SXSW next month.

"Drawing Down the Moon"

Drawing Down The Moon from Young Magic on Vimeo.

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