Meshel Ndegeocello + Cat Power :: Don't You Want Me (Human League Cover)

Ran into some cool covers today wanted to pass along.

The first one is from Meshel Ndegeocello who is releasing a covers album called Synonym on October the 2nd. He covered The Human League's classic new wave track "Don't You Want Me" with Cat Power and turned it into a completely different chill and downtempo version of it.

Check out that beaut below...

Melf :: WAVES feat Rebekka Garden

When I do posts I usually play the track over and over for inspiration while I'm writing. On soundcloud when the track ends it usually goes straight to another track. As I was doing the last post for Opal Blue this track WAVES ft Rebekka Garden by Melf was the following track. After listening to Opal Blue's track several times I got hooked on this one too! Funny how many ways there are to discover new music.

Anyways seems Melf are from Norway and my wife says this track reminds her of the style of Erykah Badu. What do you guys think? Regardless it's a neat little track which if you like they are giving away as a free download. Gotta love that! Check it out below...

The XX :: Together (U&I vs. David Dann Remix)

Got sent this great remix by David Dann vs U&I for The XX track "Together" from the new Great Gatsby movie. Great chill remix for one of the all time best chill bands. I can hear this on repeat all day. Best part is you can download this beaut for free. Gotta love that. Check it out...

Clancy :: Make Up

London electronic artist Clancy that we've written about several times, most recently here, contacted us about his brand new single "Make Up" and just like everything that's come before it is Grade A quality. This one is a real chill nu-disco tune that is right in time for the summer. Check it out below and if you dig it, it's free for the taking. Sweeeet!

Dirty Gold

Guess I'm feeling the super positive vibes of the San Diego California bands this week. Just discovered the band Dirty Gold on Spotify and am in love. Maybe it's the ocean air from being home in Miami, but I am digging the breezy vocals and the island life sounds coming out of the guitars in every single one of their tracks. If I didn't know a Mojito had as much calories as a Big Mac I might even sip one. Check out "California Sunrise". Acoustic video and mastered track below.


MP3: California Sunrise - Dirty Gold

Corduroi

In the mood for some eccentric electronic? Check out Austin's new glitch-pop genius Corduroi. He has been busy creating some pretty interesting music lately. Most recently of which is his heavy-on-the-samples track "The Everglade Leafhouse" that borrows from Animal Collective, Sufjan Stevens and Dirty Projectors. Also check out his awesome and innovative video for "All Ways". After you enjoy these two gems here, I highly recommend head on over to his Bandcamp page and listening to his debut album Anything For Now, in particular the super chill track "My Dear".


MP3: The Everglade Leafhouse - Corduroi

Borracho :: Health Remix

Canadian duo Borracho! who we wrote about previously here have been away for a bit, at least compared to their frenetic pace of the last year or two. Now they return with this excellent remix for LA band Healths track "U.S.A. Boys" which is much more subdued and ambient than anything I've heard from them before and much different from Healths usual sound which is much heavier. That's what remixes are for right? Real good stuff you're gonna wanna download to your collection. Check it out and see for yourselves. Bonus points for the full quality 320 bit rate version they sent our way.


MP3: U.S.A. Boys (Borracho! Remixx) - Health  320 kbps

Here's also a video clip they put together for the remix.

Casa Castile

If you like your electro-pop to be considerably chill, then you are gonna want to check out the enjoyably eccentric, and quite refreshing to be honest, sounds of Nashville based artist Casa Castile. Both the acoustic laden tracks 'Time Machine' and 'Lights, Flashes' as well as the more atmospheric namesake for his upcoming EP titled 'Vake' do well to showcase his uniquely mellow, somewhat experimental and at times almost folky, electronic sound. Casa Castile is rather new on the scene, but I feel his unique outlook will start gaining him some ground in the blogosphere very soon.


MP3: Vake - Casa Castile


MP3: Time Machine - Casa Castile


MP3: Lights, Flashes - Casa Castile

jj

Elusive Swedish band jj, who perhaps should have even been contending for the album-of-the-year list with their amazing, hit filled release jj nº 2, have somehow slipped our radar up till now. Having just signed with label Secretly Canadian, who also recently signed indie greats Yeasayer, jj are set to release their full length follow up jj nº 3 on March 9th, along with their first U.S. tour on the road with the xx!! Unfortunately for us here in Miami, no Florida stops as usual, but if you can shoot up to Atlanta March 23rd, or New York the 30th or 31st, it'd be well worth the trip! The xx is actually sampled, along with Charles Manson, Akon and various others, in a brand new track jj did for Swedish Radio called '5 minuter med jj'. It's quite possibly the raddest thing I have heard in a long time.


MP3: 5 minuter med jj - jj


MP3: Ecstacy - jj


MP3: Things will Never be the Same Again - jj

Hot Chip Teaser Track and Contest

From Hot Chip:

As a little teaser for you all, we’re giving you the chance to get the title track from Hot Chip’s forthcoming album. Just fill in your details below!

You’ll also be entered into a competition to win all formats of the album and the new single “Ready For The Floor” (released January 28th).
Read the Terms and Conditions.

"Details below" are found right here. (Oh and the teaser track and title of the album is Made In The Dark).

Look at the nice (clickable) banner Hot Chip made for us bloggers. At least some bands are noticing the impact blogs are making.

Get Out From Under the Covers

This is a very short post. Just a wake me up. Ease into the chilly (Miami) morning. It was in the high 50's this morning! DANG!

We had a great time last night once again at Apt 407. Jonathan and I had a blast DJ'ing back and forth for a bit. Just please no requests for The Killers. I don't mind suggestions, I try not to be too harsh (they could easily be at home drinking but decided to come out...) but I have to draw the line somewhere. And they're a good band, just not what I'm into playing right now. Maybe when they become retro. To that guy that asked for The Strokes, I might play that next week, who knows. I think it's to shake the dust off of Is This It (can you believe that came out almost 7 years ago?).

Anyways, this song is a - I guess - a mash up of Radiohead and Bjork performing Bjork's song Unravel. Radiohead most recently peformed this on a web cast last Saturday called Thumbs Down. You can pick that up just about every where just Google it. It is a pretty decent quality recording and it includes some quirky banter between the band.

MP3: Thom Bjork - Unravel {Pocket Mix} (YSI)

The pictures are here from acclaimed toy photographer Brian McCarty. He has a new calendar coming out for 2008 (we're that close... I already told you Thanksgiving is next week...). I'm a huge fan of (hate the term) designer toys. It's kinda funny what constitutes a toy and yet can make it an untouchable collector's item. Fuzzy line between using it for it's purpose (playing) and admiring it for it's aesthetics (art). Is it still valuable if the arm pops off? Or if its paint wears out?

Miami Boys Friends With You's Malfi
(they're blowing up son!)


Jeremy Fish's Silly Pink Bunny Van


Amos Toys' Vortigern's Machine's Harvey and Jubbs

Mono Never Sounded So Good...

Mono in VCF hail from Tacoma, Washington and are probably one of the best unsigned bands you are likely to hear this year. Their sound is Classic 60's Pop and reminiscent of bands like early Goldfrapp, Nancy Sinatra or maybe even a band with a similar name Mono.

I found out about them on the Obscure Sound Blog and was blown away.

It's like music from another era. Majestic, grand and beautiful!

Even Jarvis Cocker is a fan! He picked them to open for him when he was in Seattle.

I'm sure it won't be long before these guys are signed and huge! Just check out these three amazing tracks and you will be convinced. A perfect late night soundtrack!

Enjoy...

MP3: Escape City Scrapers (YSI)

MP3: Spider Rotation (YSI)

MP3: The Only One (YSI)

Stop Bugging Me

The summer rains have begun. With that comes the bugs. Mosquitoes to be exact. There is a reason there are not any songs about Mosquitoes. They suck.

Bees, and lady bugs, and butterflies... that is a bit more acceptable. When I hear these songs, all I can think of is, "WHY AM I AT WORK?"

Lady Bug - May I have a drink of nectar?
Bee - Is that all?
Lady Bug - A nectar and tonic?
Bee - Yeah that's more like it.
Lady Bug - A double!
Bee - Yeah!
Lady Bug - Just let me be your ladybug.
Bee - Maybe baby.

MP3: Bumblebee Unlimited - Lady Bug (Larry Levan Mix)
MP3: Sa-Ra - Rosebuds (Redux)
MP3: Digable Planets - Where I'm From