Paris Radio :: Tangled Shadow

Got sent this new track "Tangled Shadow" by LA artist Paris Radio. Paris Radio is the solo project of Tony Aguiar formerly of LA rock band Voxhaul Broadcast. For this new project he wanted to venture more into the electronic side of music that he loves and didn't get to explore much with his previous band. I have to say he is off to a great start! "Tangled Shadow" is an exquisite electronic pop song that was inspired by the nervous anticipation of his first date with his future wife. It is filled with guitars, synths and soaring melodies, as well as those underrated pauses that he uses to great affect. I think he captured that feeling of falling for someone just right.  

Check out that tune via his soundcloud below. We will be keeping our eyes and ears out for this up and comer. So should you.

Death in Saturn :: Fool My Heart

The immensely talented lead singer for Miami band Kodiak Fur is getting ready to roll out a new project called Death in Saturn. We have a whole EP to look forward to, but in the meantime he's sent us the first taste in the form of debut single "Fool My Heart" which we are digging! It has a great shoegazey/lo-fi type of feel to it.

Check out the newness below and we'll keep you updated when the rest of that EP is released. Sure there will be shows to follow soon as well. 

Faust the Man :: True Will

It had been quite some since we heard from Miami artist Hopeless who we posted about previously here. Seems he's been busy working on a new project called Faust the Man. The first single he is releasing is called "True Will". It's a great track that reminds of the days of 90's industrial music and artists like Meat Beat Manifesto. It features him rapping apocalyptic themes over cool beats w/samples, synths & scratching. Catchy stuff!

He's gonna be working on new material for a possible album to come. We'll keep you posted on that. For now check out the excellent first single "True Will" which he is giving away as a free download.  

Happy Accidents

Some friends of mine have a new indie pop project they've been working on called Happy Accidents. Really loving what I'm hearing. They definitely have a great ear for pop music and catchy melodies. Check out an original tune of theirs "Postcards" as well as a remix they did for Icona Pop's track "All Night" which they are giving away as a free download. Can't wait for the album to come out. For now here's a first taste.

Phalen and Wills

If you were like me, you spent a lot of time in 2005 rocking out to Diamond Knights. What an awesome LP that was! Sadly the band hasn't released anything since but that doesn't mean that lead singer Morgan Phalen (second from right in above photo) hasn't kept himself busy. Not only has he collaborated with Phenomenal Handclap Band but he was also featured on two tracks off the most recent Justice record.

I recently saw that he posted on his Facebook that he had a soundcloud up under the name Phalen and Wills. After checking it out I found two delightful short but sweet tracks. I hope this isn't all we hear from them. "The Off His Rocker Office Rocker" is a quirky acoustic little song (think Brian Wilson) while "Elijah" is a more experimental rock track with a heavy hitting guitar and a more distorted vocal from Phalen. I like both directions and the diversity. Check them out!

Big Black Delta

Big Black Delta is the new project of multi-instrumentalist Jonathan Bates formerly of LA band Mellowdrone. Seems he has worked with the amazing M83 as a touring guitarist as well as provided vocals for their upcoming album. His reps sent his debut album for review as well as first single "Capsize" to give away from the album which is scheduled for release September 26th on Come Home Records. Great sounding slightly out of tune dark noisey pop fun. Really digging it. Maybe you will too? Listen/download "Capsize" below and if you dig it I'd be on the lookout for the album. Good stuff!


MP3: Capsize - Big Black Delta

Rewards

Rewards is a project from Aaron Pfenning co-founder of Chairlift. Seems he has departed from Chairlift and is now focusing on Rewards, a moniker he's used since 2003. His new release is gonna be the single "Equal Dreams" which will be released on DFA Records on July 25th. It features guest vocals by Solange Knowles and guitar work by Blood Orange aka Lightspeed Champion on the b-side "Asleep with the Lights On". "Equal Dreams" is a nu-disco sounding track that fits well into the DFA soundscape. The b-side is pretty sweet as well. A bit more on the electro-pop side. You can stream the tracks directly on DFA's site here.

In addition to the single he did a DFA DJ Mix for their series DFA Radio Mixes. Number 17 in the series. Seems I have some catching up to do. You can listen to/download the mix via the widget below. Good stuff. Enjoy!


Rewards - dfa radiomix #17 by DFA Records

Win Win :: feat. Lizzie Bougatsos

XXXChange, DJ Chris Devlin (both producer/DJs associated with Spankrock, and One More Day crew), and Ghost Dad released this undeniably catchy dance track featuring Lizzie Bougatsos of Gang Gang Dance (via Fader). They're releasing a full length under the name Win Win via Vice Records and are said to be collaborating with Andrew WK, and Alexis Taylor of Hot Chip. Are you excited? I am. Check out "Releaserpm" below.


MP3: Releaserpm - Win Win

Brian Eno

The legendary Brian Eno has finally decided to release another landmark onto the world of electronic music after a 5-year hiatus. This is one man that won't release a record just for the sake of it, and luckily, everything he's done has been nothing but remarkable. For this album he sought out two outstanding musicians, one is guitarist Leo Abrahams and the other composer Jon Hopkins. One of my favorite record labels, U.K.'s Warp Records, has brought on this musical giant for the November 2nd release of Small Craft on a Milk Sea. Now that we know the track listing, it was only about time that Eno would drop the first bit of ethereal noise upon us. The layering with use of drone bits and improvisational chords creates a texture that leaves the song lingering in your room, making you ache for more. What can I say? I'm dying for this release. Pre-order here now. Luckily, you can go ahead and purchase the first single.


2 Forms of Anger - Brian Eno

Altar Eagle

If there had to be a looping soundtrack to my childhood reminiscing dreams, Altar Eagles would fill that void just perfectly. Brad Rose and his wife Eden Hemming-Rose must have taken out the best snippets of My Bloody Valentine and added a tinge of drone in order to create the dream inducing Mechanical Gardens. I love the hint of dark-wave, slightly gothic undertone that they deliver on this album. Lounging around while listening to their album is pretty therapeutic. Recently released on Type Records, hopefully you have a similar reaction.


MP3: Honey - Altar Eagle


MP3: Breakdown - Altar Eagle

Crystal Cadillac

Our good friend Cosmo (aka Brett Thorngren) who we've written about before here is the epitome of a mad scientist, a mad musical scientist! I'll be hanging out with Brett at a club, he'll get an idea for a song, head out and by the next morning have a fully completed track. It's pretty insane. I guess that's how genious minds work.

Anyways Brett has recently teamed up with long time Miami artist Gil Bitton former lead singer of Endo to start a new project called Crystal Cadillac. They've sent over their first EP which includes a cover/mash up they've done with the classic Siouxsie and the Banshees track "Cities in Dust" and their original track "Love & War". The result, pure dance floor gold!

In addition to the mash-up and their original version they've also recruited fellow Miami native/friend Ryan Evans who we've written about before several times, most recently for his excellent La Roux Remix here, to do a remix of the track. That too came out exquisite. He slowed down the track to great effect, making it a more chilled out version of the original.

Here are those three tracks for you to sink your teeth into. At the pace Brett works I have a feeling we'll be seeing a full length album like next week. No, but real soon I'm sure. We'll keep you updated.


MP3: Love & War/Cities in Dust (Siouxsie & the Banshees Mash-Up/Cover) Cosmo Radio Edit - Crystal Cadillac  320 kbps


MP3: Love & War - (Cosmo Extended Mix) - Crystal Cadillac  320 kbps


MP3: Love & War/Cities in Dust (Siouxsie & the Banshees Mash-Up/Cover) Ryan Evans Remix - Crystal Cadillac  320 kbps

Pony + Whatever/Whatever

Peter PONY Clement is a fixture in the NYC downtown nightlife and art scene as a DJ, songwriter, promoter, dancer, and performance artist. He originally came to study at F.I.T. but ended up crossing paths with producer/DJ duo Bryan Mette and Justin Strauss (Whatever/Whatever). Now, with PONY writing and performing the lyrics and Bryan and Justin on the boards they started work on a debut EP.

You can definitely hear the Whatever/Whatever influence on the single "Friction" and the vocals kind of remind me of a gothic Trouble Andrew. Can't wait to hear what this collaboration comes out with! Check out the single and Bryan Mette's remix under alter ego Carlton Bank$ below.


MP3: Friction - Pony


MP3: Friction (Carlton Bank$ Remix) - Pony

All Saints Day

An old friend of mine Gregg Foreman (one of the talented musicians often supporting Catpower) recently posted a track he worked on with Katy Goodman (of Vivian Girls) via his facebook and of course I jumped on the opportunity to check it out. The result is a dream filled three minutes of reverb guitars and echoed vocals entitled "It All Will Change". Three minutes I really wish was five but I guess it's good to tease your audience and leave them wanting more. They're going under the name All Saints Day and I am excited for more from them!


MP3: It All Will Change - All Saints Day

NewIslands

About to get hectic in Miami as WMC starts today! Not sure how many posts I'm gonna be able to do this week, especially since our WMC event is Tomorrow at Purdy with Boy Crisis, so kinda wanted to get a few posts in today so it can hold you guys off for a bit. If you're in town we better see your asses at Purdy Tomorrow! Check out all the info for the event here.

Last week I got this excellent remix from Is Tropical for a London band called NewIslands. Turns out NewIslands is the new project from the ex-lead singer for The Departure (David Jones). No wonder I like this track so much. I loved The Departure's first album and that amazing voice of his. Must have played 'All Mapped Out' a million times circa 2004/2005 when The Bravery, Franz Ferdinand and The Killers were the big new thing. I like to call that era the indie rock peak. So many amazing memories of those years. Anyways without further ado check out this excellent remix, plus their video for the track. Their debut album will be out soon. We'll be keeping our eyes peeled.


MP3: Out of Time (Is Tropical Remix) - NewIslands

Kris Menace

Love how a good remix can breathe new life into a song. Like this Kris Menace remix of Bag Raiders 'Shooting Stars'. I love that track, but kinda got sick of it just cause I've been playing out for so long. This remix by Kris Menace kinda changes all that. Thanks Kris! Thanks also to my friend Tanya for posting it on Facebook!

P.S. According to Kris's myspace seems he will doing a new project called Black Van that will be released on DFA records soon. You know if it's on DFA it's gotta be some amazing shit. Can't wait!

P.S.S. Read the other day on Pitchfork that Tim Goldsworthy has split from DFA records which he helped co-create with partner James Murphy. Kinda bummed. Seemed it wasn't too much of an amicable split either. Read the post here.


MP3: Shooting Stars (Kris Menace Remix) - Bag Raiders