Lemaitre – Wait feat. LOLO
Norway’s nu-disco duo Lemaitre signed to Astralwerks Records (Swedish House, Chemical Bros, Kooks . . .) earlier this year to release their latest work, Singularity. The four-track EP received mixed reviews, with many claiming the group’s deal with Astralwerks came hand-in-hand with a shift in their sound–departing from the nuanced indie dance instrumentals of earlier releases like The Friendly Sound and the Relativity EPs, and adopting something much more vocal and pop-centered. We’d have to agree, though on its own and taken out of context, Singularity is still a wonderfully easy listen. Our favorite from the album, Wait, holds up to their older style more so than the others, and has been a go-to for a while now. Check out the Elephante remix too: a loud electro flip that manages to retain the funky flavor of the original and build on a few ideas from the bridge. Hopefully we hear more like these in the future from Lemaitre, though it’s probably safe to say that The Friendly Sound days are behind us.
Check out Lemaitre here.
Artist Spotlight: Jakubi
Jakubi just released a new single, Couch Potato, and I didn’t even have to listen to know it was worth sharing. Figured, if it’s anything like the material they’ve put out so far, it’s gold. The Australian quintet gave the music world a great first impression when their first three promo singles — Holiday, Can’t Afford It All, and Feels Like Yesterday — all reached #1 on HypeM, effortlessly blending elements of funk, soul and hip-hop with a unique flair. But even if you hadn’t come across Jakubi then, you probably heard Kygo’s remix of Can’t Afford It All: his tropical spin on the opening talkbox riff of lead singer and keyboardist Jerome Farah went big towards the end of last summer.
Bonobo – Kong/Ketto (Live)
Last year pioneering electronic artist Simon Green, or ‘Bonobo’, produced what many would call his flagship album: The North Borders. It built on the charmingly experimental style that we had come to love over a period of four albums and 15 years of growth. Emotive, complex, transformative, it also saw the introduction of a cast of new vocalists to accompany Bonobo’s arrangements both in the studio and on the stage. Less than a month after the album’s release The North Borders Tour began, a caravan of sound stopping in North America, Germany, France, Russia and more featuring both Bonobo’s solo DJ sets, as well as elaborate performances with his 12-piece live band.
EP Spotlight: Anna Lunoe – All Out EP
After enduring months of teasers and promos, Anna Lunoe’s All Out EP is finally all out. Fresh, smooth and sophisticated, it’s a standout in a male-dominated industry that seems to be saturated with uninspired, dull content. Anna is an innovator, citing inspiration from “Sheila E, DJ Spindarella, Kim Deal, Frente, Teena Marie . . . and all other innovative babes.” And this EP is a welcome breath of fresh air, boasting four unique and intricate tracks with a powerful and unabashed feminine edge.
EP Spotlight: Seasons – Alexander Lewis
As the summer quickly winds down and fall rushes in, we have a great season to look back on. Over the next several days we’ll be sharing a few of our most favorite cuts from this summer, and as we transition, reflecting both on the past and the future, it felt fitting to start with Alexander Lewis’ Seasons. A fusion producer from New York, Lewis brings together a strong electronic blend of jazz and hip-hop. Independent label and music collective Flow-Fi recruited him as their first artist to feature on TapeTracks, a biweekly promotion series that produced a handful of great new sounds this summer. Seasons includes two songs: Life is Sweet, a collaboration with Brooklyn’s loud and proud Brasstracks, and the Seasons single itself.
Howl – Sports Challenge
This track is bristling with character from start to finish. Bookended by vinyl pops, chimes, and deep-blue 7th chords, the heart of the song centers around a few strong synth-and-kick hits and some busy but tasteful drum interplay that quickly moves the piece forward against a backdrop of cascading white noise. The computerized flute line, just on the border of sounding cheesy but honestly too damn catchy to hate on, is what makes the song for me (especially when Howl bends the pitch up and uses it as a riser). With this being his first original release, Howl is another brand new producer to watch.
Check out Howl here.
Basenji – Heirloom
Future Classic is an Australian label and touring agency that has managed the likes of Flume, Flight Facilities, Chet Faker, What So Not, Cashmere Cat, Wave Racer, Panama . . . too many to mention. Long story short, they’ve just added Sydney bass producer Basenji to their ranks, announcing his first release for the label, Heirloom, along with a launch party to kick off a debut Future Classic tour. Really looking forward to upcoming tracks like Heirloom–Basenji’s coming out swinging.
Mura Masa – Miss You
Another young gun that’s been gaining speed lately. Producer Alex Crossan, at 18 years old, has only been making music for 3 years but already signed to Jakarta Records out of Germany. The label released a compilation, Summer In Jakarta, at the start of the season, and Mura Masa filled his slot with Miss You. This song will not leave you alone. From music-box chimes to synth plucks and arps, it’s packed with too many different flavors to taste in one play, so don’t be surprised if you find yourself leaving this one on repeat for awhile.
Check out Mura Masa here.
Get a free copy of Summer In Jakarta here.
The Knocks – Classic (feat. Powers)
The Knocks just released this instant summer classic today. The boys B-Roc and JPatt have proven time and again that they have some serious chops when it comes to capturing a feeling, but this nu-disco-inspired track is something different. Soaked in sun, shining with glossy guitars, and driven forward by a smart, fresh bassline, I’d even venture to say that this is their best yet.
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