New Phantogram

I was just passed Phantogram's single off their latest album, Nightlife EP, and I can't stop listening. It's a departure from some of their earlier and darker sound, but a very welcome one. Supremely danceable, it earned the award of Pitchfork's best new track in October.

Don't Move

It's worth posting a couple of other hot tracks off the album. Actually, they're all good, but this will give you a feel for it.

Nightlife


Make a Fist

R&B Break

Any time of day is appropriate for these songs. Morning, night, late night (wink wink) or whenever else you might have a hankering to listen to a song. I adore soul-ish/old R&B, something about people singing well pulls at the heart strings. Anyway, this isn't your typical R&B or soul - it's an eclectic mix of semi-related jams.

Feeling Good (Cover of Nina Simone) - My Brightest Diamond


My Brightest Diamond is a project led by British singer-songwriter Shara Warden. Her voice reminds me a little of Ellie Goulding, maybe that's why I'm hooked. This cover really does justice to the original, and that's saying a lot.

Tim Maia - Imunização Racional (Que Beleza) off Racional, Vol. 2 (1976)


Tim Maia - Imunização Racional (Que Beleza) off Racional, Vol. 1 (1975)


Tim Maia is considered by some the father of Brasilian soul. I believe it, this song is rapidly becoming one of my favorites ever. Both versions above are recorded by him; the first is funkier and the second leans a bit more to the soul side.

We Almost Lost Detroit - Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr.


Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. is a Detroit-based indie band. This isn't strictly R&B, but it's a cover of Gil Scott-Heron and it's really good so I wanted to include it.

Sometimes (Remix) feat. the Brand New Heavies - J Dilla


And last, I found this because I've been on a Dilla kick recently. So yeah. The beat is hot, the singing is hotter.

New Neon Indian

Neon Indian is a chillwave band from Texas behind the amazing Psychic Chasms. I remember listening to that one a lot a couple of years ago, and so I jumped at the chance to pick up their latest album, Era Extraña, which came out two months ago. It retains a little bit of their chaos, but ventures away from their underwater sound into more into floating melodies. Here's a little preview, I recommend you give it a listen. The hook on Polish Girl is really awesome, in some ways making it the Deadbeat Summer of this album.

Polish Girl - Neon Indian


Halogen (I Could Be A Shadow) - Neon Indian

Summer Indie Electronica

Whenever it starts getting hot I start searching for light, floating music. Today was miserably hot, and reminded me pull out some jams that were the essence of this past Spring for me.

Definitely one of my favorite Indie electronica bands out there, the Australian Miami Horror reminds me of old Cut Copy. See for yourself.

Summersun - Miami Horror


I Look to You (feat. Kimbra) - Miami Horror


Holidays (feat. Alan Polomo) - Miami Horror


And oh my oh my, oh Mylo. The dude is scottish and produced this after giving up on a PhD in Philosophy to pursue music dreams.

Zenophile - Mylo


Paris Four Hundred - Mylo


The third artist that I was jamming to a lot today was Linus Loves. My buddy Wishom turned me on to this British duo.

VH1 - Linus Loves


Stand Back (feat. Sam Obernik) - Linus Loves


And a new find, Friends - Sneaky Sound System

Smorgasbord

This has no logic or particular theme, but instead a random assortment of gems that I've been collecting.

Zambezi (Mbira version) - Tinashé

Tinashé is a Zimbabwe-born, British singer who sounds in this song like an African-influenced Jason Mraz. Here he rocks the Mbira, I'm so jealous of people who can make music out of something so simple.

Kemo' yoo Keke - Anbuley

She was born in Austria to Ghanaian parents, and took up a love of their music. Some fusion of Afrobeat and house, this song is super fun. A free high-quality download can be found on the Seayou Records soundcloud here. Hat tip to Tropical Bass.

Walk This Land - EZ-Rollers

A jazzy DnB song relying heavily on the conga and related drums for its beat.  It reminds me a little bit of Chase and Status' Against All Odds.  I found this one on the Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels soundtrack, it came on during the movie and I had to go hunting to find it.

Fill My Coffee - Arkist

A light dubstep tune released within the past couple of months, super chill bassline with a cascading high synth melody. Reminds me a little bit of Nosaj Thing, actually. Arkist is going big, keep your eyes peeled.

Coffee Break - Zed's Dead

This seemed to fit within the coffee theme, it was released earlier this year and got huge play on Hype. It's also very chill for Zed's Dead, centering around a soulful sample.

Forever

I've been wanting to do this since the summer, and I am finally getting around to setting it up.  I'm planning on posting anything that I'm currently listening to on a daily-ish basis, a mix of indie, electronic, hip hop and whatever else I feel like, new and old. Expect music from all over the world.  So get ready.

The first song has to be the inspiration for this blog, a jam if I've ever heard one.  I don't remember how I found this, but I think it may have been because Bassnectar used to (and still might) throw this down in his sets. Put on good headphones or plug into speakers.

Strawberry Jam Forever - A.Skillz


Here are another couple of other songs from the summer that I wanted to post:

Chrome Optimism (Kush Arora's Tropical Bass Remix) - Dubblestandart with David Lynch and Lee Scratch Perry


Tremor (Chancha via Circuito ft. Wenceslada Remix) - Caracol


Pun Ain't Dead - Munchi (Mooooombahton to the max)


Mexican Mavis - Boy & Bear (Reminiscent of the Fleet Foxes)


Lassitude - Dj Fresh (a massive DnB track)