Here We Go Magic - Casual

Casual. Cuz, y'know, this sort of thing happens everyday.

mp3: Here We Go Magic - Casual

Also check out one of the best jams of the year...

mp3: Here We Go Magic - Collector

Girls - Carolina

This is sort of an unexpectedly feel-good progressive track from Girls. They manage to keep it interesting and tied together with just two chords. From a hazy country morning to a party on the beach, "Carolina" gets around, and its over before you know it.

jj - You Know

The complete love cycle of a crushing teen in one shot. So simple yet perfectly captured...

The Radio Dept. - The One/Never Follow Suit

Any day The Radio Dept. puts something out is a great day. Earlier this year, Clinging To A Scheme set the bar for mature song writing and brilliant musicality in the electronic, shoegaze pop genre. Now, the team are putting out their latest single "Never Follow Suit" as part of an EP of the same name. Only the first two songs are available in mp3 format at the moment, but they say enough. The upbeat, Ace of Base-y vibe of the opening track, "The One", compliments the terrific title track like bread and butter. Enjoy...

mp3: The Radio Dept. - The One
mp3: The Radio Dept. - Never Follow Suit

Update: Za video...

Memoryhouse - Heirloom

Canadian (yay!) duo Memoryhouse honestly sound their inspiration comes from locking themselves in a dark, foggy house. Dreamy synths and soundscapes are almost overdone nowadays, but this duo balance that ambience with the relatively natural sounds of echoing guitars and vocals plagued with concern. "Heirloom" is the B-side of the Caregiver single, released today.

mp3: Memoryhouse - Heirloom

Update: Here's the video...

Also, the A-side of the 7" and an intimate performance from Yours Truly...

mp3: Memoryhouse - Caregiver

Balam Acab - See Birds (Sun)

What do you see...

mp3: Balam Acab - See Birds (Sun)

The Tallest Man On Earth - Love Is All

This is the moment the world goes quiet to the solitude of spindling guitars, and serenity floats on every note struck. It's almost off-putting, how a raspy voice can just overwhelm the softness of it all. But give it time. At the end of every verse, the voice and the music quietly trail in harmony,  like a subtle unexpected embrace. "Here come the tears, but like always, I let them go" he growls. The Tallest Man on Earth has a heart.

mp3: Tallest Man On Earth - Love Is All

Warpaint @Yours Truly

Here's an all-girl band that demands to be taken seriously. Not being sexist or anything, it's just that Warpaint has got that edge and musical complexity that isn't so prevalent with all-girl bands. Yours Truly gives this cozy talent showcase with two tracks from their latest release, The Fool.

Also, something new...

mp3: Warpaint - Undertow

... and something old...

mp3: Warpaint - Elephants

Violens - Violent Sensation Descends

This band isn't getting the attention they deserve. Their bombastic debut album, Amoral, sounds like 80's pop-rock on acid, and occasionally it's almost Smiths-like. With all the musical morphing, it's a lot to take in, but their bold synth-acoustic sound is hard to overlook.  More than a month after its released, though, we haven't heard much from Violens aside from this video of "Violent Sensation Descends", a song they've been playing for over two years now! It's only the tip of this underrated iceberg of sound that's just about ready to explode. They're on tour now, check them out.

mp3: Violens - Violent Sensation Descends

Some more free music from Amoral...

mp3: Violens - Acid Reign

Nosaj Thing - Fog (Jamie xx Remix)

Nosaj Thing's haunting debut LP, Drift, was one the most unique electronic albums of 2009. Its sound unmistakable, and after more than a year of non-stop touring and an upcoming remix album, Nosaj is definitely getting a lot of love. Jamie, that guy going crazy with the push-button beats in The xx, totally disintegrates what is already an awesome track into this trippy, ghostly remix.

mp3: Nosaj Thing - Fog (Jamie xx Remix)