de-minimis: June 2015

30 June 2015

drab majesty - 'the foyer'

The tune isn't quite in keeping with the summer weather but nonetheless I'm going to blog it because it's pretty good.

la priest - 'oino'

Oh my, what a track! Sort of Prince meets Ariel Pink. Fantastic!

svē - 'blknbl'

Perfect synth-pop from New York artist SVĒ taken from her upcoming album 'My Religion'.

dikembe - 'surfed in the loft'

I love a bit of nihilist angst-ridden pop music once in a while. This is one of those whiles. A great new track from Florida band Dikembe.

dummy mage mix 260 - bernard + edith

Manchester duo Bernard + Edith have curated this mix for Dummy Mag and it's a belter.

28 June 2015

fraser a gorman - 'book of love'

I'm officially adopting this as my song for the summer. It's that good, it really is.

27 June 2015

la roux - 'bulletprooff'

I don't care what anyone says. La Roux pisses over Kanye West when it comes to who is the better performer.

la priest - 'party zute/learning to love'

Great new tune that has huge nods to Prince.

yazoo - 'only you'

This is one of those tunes that had a profound effect on my childhood. Stunning.

the godfathers - 'birth, school, work, death'

One of THE greatest songs from the 80s. A true classic.

26 June 2015

25 June 2015

sandra kolstad - 'zero gravity state of mind'

Yet another great tune from my iPod, this time Norwegian singer/songwriter Sandra Kolstad with this, the title track from her 2015 album.

my morning jacket - 'only memories remain'

The random tunes on my iPod just get better and better.

unknown mortal orchestra - 'puzzles'

Top tune, getting me through a working lunch.

24 June 2015

chemical brothers - 'three little birdies down beats'

The album 'Exit Planet Dust' is 20 years old today. It's an incredible album that has stood the test of time quite well.

them are us too - 'false moon'

If you're a Cocteau Twins fan then you need to get this band in your life. Their album was out a few months back but sadly has slipped under the radar. We can't have that.

emika - 'rache'

Why isn't this singer world famous yet? With tunes such as this, it must surely be only a matter of time.

houndstooth - 'green light'

I love this track so much, reminds me of those glory days of indie guitar music.

23 June 2015

algiers - 'remains'

Oh my goodness, this is a bloody great tune.

low - 'no comprende'

There's a new album from Low called 'Ones and Sixes' and if this track from it is anything to go by then it could be a contender for album of the year. What a superb tune.

22 June 2015

the chemical brothers feat. st vincent - 'under neon lights'

An unlikely but very welcome pairing for this brand new release from their upcoming new album.

neil young + promise of the real - 'the monsanto years'

Another album available to stream is Neil Young's latest in collaboration with Willie Nelson's sons Lukas and Michah. Sometimes Monday mornings can be fun!

four tet - 'morning/evening'

Oh yes! The new Four Tet album is out on Bandcamp. Excited? You should be.

21 June 2015

thievery corporation - 'bateau rouge (feat. lou lou ghelichkhani)'

This is a lovely mellow track to end on the weekend.

nev cottee - 'follow the sun'

Once described as sounding like Lee Hazlewood fronting Spiritualized, his new album is an absolute belter. You know, that description of him is spot on. Check this out.

20 June 2015

this is the kit - 'silver john'

Their album 'Bashed Out' is one of my favourite albums of 2015 so far and trust me when I say that I've listened to a lot of new albums since January. It's so clever, so well-written, so beautifully performed I can't stop returning to this album as a default on my iPod.

terakaft - 'karambani'

I don't know how these Malians do it but here is yet another fantastic rock band from the African country. Superb!

life in film - 'anna, please don't go'

They've been around for ages now and have released EPs and singles but they've finally gotten round to making a full-blown album with legendary producer Stephen Street and the deluxe edition that I have heard consolidates a fair few EPs and singles into one package. This track for instance is on the album but is around 6 years old now. Still a great track, mind.

charlotte gainsbourg - 'hey joe'

How about an intense and trippy version of this classic?

everything everything - 'distant past'

What a great tune! Bet this goes down a storm live.

outfit - 'on the water, on the way'

So many great albums out at the moment. Here's a superb track from another brand new album this time it's Liverpool band Outfit.

cayucas - 'moon eyed walrus'

I'm currently listening to their new album 'Dancing at the Blue Lagoon' and it's a lovely summer record, hame that the Brighton weather doesn't match up but nonetheless, this is a lot of fun. This particular track reminds me of Vampire Weekend slightly although it's definitely got West Coast influences too.

19 June 2015

robyn & la bagatelle magique - 'love is free ft. maluca'

What a great day for new releases, here's a brand new track from Robyn.

foals - 'what went down'

Oh, this is very good. The new Foals single is a beast.

mercury rev - 'the queen of swans'

It's taken a hell of a long time coming but there's a new Mercury Rev album on the horizon and this is the first track from it. It's not anything new from them, uplifting lyrics, a tune that builds and builds and the inevitable key-change and the high-pitched singing. If you're a Mercury Rev fan then you'll love this.

evvol - 'sola'

I think you'll like this.

18 June 2015

the lowest pair - 'shipwright'

A lovely piece of Americana here.

damaged bug - 'jet in jungle'

Damaged Bug are a side project of Thee Oh Sees frontman John Dwyer and a lot of fun they are too. He's swapped scuzzy, psychedelic guitars for scuzzy, psychedelic synths for a very inspired album.

17 June 2015

sorority noise - 'using'

It's not often I like an emo band but these chaps, a quartet from Connecticut, have something about them that just shines. Their new album 'Joy, Departed' is quite deservedly winning lots of critical praise too and although it's a short album with 10 tracks coming in at just over half an hour it's jam-packed with some fantastic tunes. This is my current favourite.

björk - 'history of touches (krampfhaft remix)'

The first batch of remixes from her Vulnicura album. As ever, they are never easy things to get your head around but they are certainly well-crafted, clever and thought-provoking.

miaoux miaoux - 'luxury discovery'

Glasgow's finest synth-pop maestro is back with a brand new album and online comparisons with the likes of Scritti Politti are extremely observant. I love this track, very fresh sounding and summer-y.

the helio sequence - 'stoic resemblance'

I like this tune a lot, it has a 'Beck' feel to it.

breakage - 'i on u'

I'm a sucker for beautifully crafted drum and bass. This is just superb.

16 June 2015

alice wolf - 'turn to dust'

Their debut album has been eagerly awaited in this household for quite some time and I'm overjoyed that the wait is finally over. I think it could be one of the albums of the year.

the smiths - 'the boy with the thorn in his side'

'The Queen Is Dead' was released this day in 1986 and what an album it was, undoubtedly one of the classic 80s albums.

dusty - 'double agent'

Here's a tune from a very under-rated 2015 album.

15 June 2015

beck - 'dreams'

How exciting! A brand new Beck tune...that's brightened up a tough Monday afternoon.

14 June 2015

nocturnal sunshine - 'believe feat. chelou'

Maya Jane Coles never fails.

flo morrissey - 'show me'

This is a name to look out for in the future, she's a 20 year old from London with a crystal clear singing voice and a very confident style. Her tunes remind me in part of Lana Del Ray, Sea of Bees, Marika Hackman and I've been greatly enjoying listening this morning to her new album 'Tomorrow Will Be Beautiful'. I read a Guardian review and they made a slight criticism that there wasn't enough variation in this album but I think that's unfair as I can hear them and it's not just subtle nuances but major chord structures, tempo there's plenty there to get your teeth into. It's a very accomplished debut album.

13 June 2015

eivør pálsdóttir - 'stories'

In honour of tonight's big win by the Faroe Islands over Greece here is one of the Faroe Islands best known singers.

du blonde - 'isn't it wild'

One of the quieter tracks from Du Blonde - Beth Jeans Houghton's new persona. The quality just shines.

pink floyd - 'pigs on the wing'

One of my favourite Floyd tracks, this particular version has the full guitar solo on it. Lovely.

claude vonstroke - 'dood (kill frenzy remix)'

Keeping with the electronica, here's a man at the top with a game de son monstrously good tune.

ryuichi sakamoto - 'relâché (instrumental mix master)'

Legendary Japanese composer Ryuichi Sakamoto and performer with a slice of early electronic music. Unbelievable That this track dates back to 1981.

jose gonzalez - 'stories we build, stories we tell'

The guitar sound in this tune definitely has a Mali sound to it. Beautiful.

the deslondes - 'low down soul'

They're New Orleans country and blues, sharing not only musical styles but geography with the likes of Hurray For The Riff Raff and they are as brilliant too. I'm a sucker for genuine country music such as this. Great stuff!

mr fogg - 'time to ascend'

It's nice to hear some musicians who eschew the bass-driven music and instead concentrate on harmonies, melodies and all-round song construction. Mr Fogg's new album reminds me of Sigur Ros in a big way, it's ethereal, very light, very melodic, very beautiful.

moonbabies - '24 (album mix)'

Thank the Lord for Swedish dream-pop. This is brand new from Malmö based Moonbabies and it's quite brilliant.

12 June 2015

jaakko eino kalevi - 'double talk'

Finnish multi-instrumentalist, Jaakko Eino Kalevi has a quite fantastic album out this week. His day job is driving trams in Helsinki. How cool is that?

gengahr - 'heroine'

I'm greatly enjoying their new album tonight. Every track a fresh slice of pop.

sarah cracknell - 'red kite'

Here's the whole of the Saint Etienne singer's new solo album streamed courtesy of those nice people at NPR. Lovely stuff.

arthur baker's slam dunk'd mix tape for thump magazine

As the title says, legendary producer Arthur Baker produces a mix for THUMP magazine.

krill - 'foot'

What a fantastic track to get us all through the last push on Friday afternoon before the weekend.

black cab sessions - laura grove

I do love a great Black Cab Session.

11 June 2015

mcalmont and butler - 'yes'

This song is now over 20 years old. How did that happen?

10 June 2015

daughn gibson - 'it wants everything'

With a voice that harks back to 80s Merseyside rockers Black, Daughn Gibson is quite compelling as a singer. There's just something about him that lifts a tune that could easily have been cheese central into something very cool indeed. His new album is chock full of great tunes in fact, none better than this. Chris Isaak eat your heart out.

kind of like spitting - 'blue period'

I had an email from the Count Your Lucky Stars label about this album from Michigan band Kind of Like Spitting and I'm really pleased that they pointed this in my direction. I love it, it's just the right side of melancholy but with a great lo-fi Pixies feel to it. I didn't think this kind of garage rock was being made anymore but I was proved wrong. What a great band!

pins - 'curse these dreams'

I think I much prefer their new album to their debut. They sound a lot more comfortable together now and have put together some very nice riffs to their tunes.

public service broadcasting live in concert

Taken from a Faits Divers Show, here are 4 tracks recorded at the venue 'Le Consortium' (Contemporary Art Center) in Dijon, France.

0:00 Signal 30

3:30 Night mail

9:20 Spitfire

13:34 The Other side

howling - 'signs (rødhåd remix)'

One for fans of Atoms For Peace, this one.

ceremony - 'the party'

I do love a band that broadcasts its influences proudly. Ceremony's love affair with Joy Division is quite clear for all to see. Love this track.

09 June 2015

the sandwitches - 'play it again dick'

The San Franciscan cult band have today released their new and final album release. Most of their work is still out there on Bandcamp however so all is not lost but I'm sad to hear that this will be the last. This is quite a way to sign off.

high wolf - 'wild at heart'

Best described as experimental psychedelic pop/rock but it's extremely listenable despite the weight of that description. It reminds me of Gaslamp Killer or Gonjasufi, such is the range of styles sampled. Great stuff indeed.

the glitch mob - 'head full of shadows'

Taken from their brand new EP 'Piece of the Indestructible' here's a monstrously good tune.

jonteknik - 'large hadron collider'

Jonteknik is back with a great new tune. Loving the breaks on this one.

circuit des yeux - 'fantasise the scene'

Her new album is tough going, I won't lie. There's a lot that has repeatedly gone over my head despite several listens. This track however, is extremely accessible and quite brilliant.

leftfield - 'little fish'

This is a monster of a tune from their new album. I can't recommend it highly enough.

unknown mortal orchestra - 'stage or screen'

Let's start the day with a great tune.

08 June 2015

todd terry boiler room mix

It's a bit of an oldie but well worth it nonetheless.

ffs - 'piss off'

The Franz Ferdinand/Sparks collaboration have released the video to their track 'Piss Off'. The album is out too. Can't wait to hear it.

son lux - 'you don't know me'

It's the third album from the erstwhile TV advert music composer with the band becoming a trio too as 2 new members have joined. It's a very clever album indeed. He's taken lots and lots of influences and made them completely his own. I can't get over how incredibly complicated the arrangements all sound, it must have been a nightmare to produce but the effort was well spent. How best to describe it? It's sort of like a male PlanningToRock with fuzzy, scuzzy, glitchy electronic music with distorted almost operatic vocals. Highly recommended.

maribou state - 'steal (feat. holly walker)'

The Hertfordshire duo have just released a beautifully produced new album and it has a lovely crisp minimalist feel to it. The stand out track for me has got to be this.

07 June 2015

dj cam - 'inside the strip club'

It's a hell of an idea from the legendary French producer, DJ Cam. This is an unofficial soundtrack to the TV series Miami Vice. There's a fair few musicians who would crash and burn in the attempt but DJ Cam just soars.