Part-Time Heroes – “Words” (Fybe:One Remix) & “Heaven Won’t Make Your Wish Come True” ft Colonel Red (Stream)

Couldn’t decide which new track I thought was more incredible from Ross Wakefield and Toby Vane aka London’s Part-Time Heroes, so I ended up posting ’em both! Taken from “Holy,” the third single… Continue reading

“Our Vinyl Weighs a Ton (This Is Stones Throw Records)” – Stones Throw Records Documentary (Official Teaser)

The consistent quality of leftfield hip-hop, soul, and jazz label Stones Throw Records is unparalleled.   “Our Vinyl Weighs a Ton (This Is Stones Throw Records)”  (Official Teaser)   Out 2013. More info… Continue reading

Teen Daze – “Discipleship”

Vancouver’s Teen Daze sonically articulates the beauty of discipleship using upbeat LOL Boys-style jazz cymbals and dreamy chillwave synth swashes.   Teen Daze – “Discipleship”   Teen Daze‘s new album The Inner Mansions… Continue reading

Eveson – “Things You Say” (Amen Version)

Glastonbury, UK drum ‘n’ bass producer Eveson laces his “Things You Say” track with a slowed-down Amen break to simultaneously create some beautiful downtempo jungle and some beautiful uptempo chillout.   Eveson –… Continue reading

Humus ft Ekow – “Love Affair” (Official Video)

Full-blast future-doo-wop neo-soul from Finland. Heikki Soini and Tiia Marjanen team up with rapper Ekow from Helsinki hip-hoppers the Megaphone State for a rare English-language excursion on “Love Affair.”   The duo also… Continue reading

Barney Artist – “Mystery” (Official Video)

Late night Monday night London hip-hop vibes.   “Mystery” is the third single to be taken from Barney Artist‘s #BAEP EP.    

Bat for Lashes – “All Your Gold” (Hercules and Love Affair Remix)

Bat for Lashes aka Natasha Khan’s latest parlor pop single “All Your Gold” mines and mimics the eccentric, operatic success of stars Florence and Marina (and their Machine and Diamonds respectively), but it’s… Continue reading

Letherette – “Shoo Be Doo”

Tell me this ain’t a dope loop.   Taken from the Chi-Lites’ classic “I Just Want to Hold You.” Listen to the sample lifted from the original at 3:05. More beats from the… Continue reading

LV ft Ruffest – “Ultando Lwaka” (Official Video)

South African emcees and kwaito specialists Ruffest (pictured below) meet South London Hyperdub beatsmiths LV.     This one has some serious bounce.    

FaltyDL – “Straight and Arrow” (Four Tet Remix)

Another day, another completely mind-blowing Four Tet remix.   FaltyDL – “Straight and Arrow” (Four Tet Remix)   It’s all about those shuffling, crusty and battered hi-hats that sound like they were frisbee’d… Continue reading

Mano D’iShango aka Tysmé – “Future School (Ipòp Elòj)” (Free Download)

Guadeloupe’s Tysmé fuses 90s hip-hop flows in French with the electronics of the early 2010s.   “Future School (Ipòp Elòj)” is produced by Toronto beatmaker Sunclef.   Free download of Tysmé’s latest album… Continue reading

The Wonderful Sound Of Induce! – “Pretty”

The Miami-based, Prince-ipled, and just plain wonderful sound of Induce!   The Wonderful Sound Of Induce! – “Pretty”   More sonic exclamations from The Wonderful Sound of Induce! here.    

Rhye – “The Fall”

Los Angeles duo Rhye return with more Sunday afternoon soul.   Rhye – “The Fall”   Listen to the pair’s stunning debut single “Open” here. Rhye‘s The Fall EP is released October 9… Continue reading

Homeboy Sandman – “Not Really” (Official Video)

Relaxed rhymes from Homeboy Sandman that are so spacious you could sail a zeppelin in between bars and not even touch the sides. Flute loops and piano keys courtesy of the producer Jonwayne.… Continue reading

The Insomniax ft Roses Gabor – “Friday Comes”

It’s always Friday somewhere. Kind of. Well, technically, it isn’t, but it would be nice if it was. London’s Kai Gama and Dr Sydney Velvet are the MCs, producers, and brothers otherwise known… Continue reading

The White Lamp – “Make It Good”

Nothing like a Rhodes-y stomp, scattered scat vocals, and shaking shakers coming together to literally make it good. An absolutely fantastic tune.   Who is/are the White Lamp? Rumor has it that it’s… Continue reading

Gizmo ft Nick Hakim – “Lift Me Up” (Official Video)

Boston bassist, composer, and producer Gizmo lifts souls with soul.   More songs from Gizmo‘s latest album Red Balloon here.    

Immanu El – “On Wide Shoulders” (Official Video)

Waves of Elliott Smith and Sigur Ros summit and swell on this song by Swedish melodic post-rockers Immanu El. “On Wide Shoulders” is graceful and driving, like the steady, patient course of a… Continue reading

Breezy Lovejoy – “Paradise”

Breezy, lovely, joyful electronic soul from Los Angeles’ Breezy Lovejoy. A new favorite. Fans of Plantlife and 4hero’s later output will most definitely dig.   Breezy Lovejoy – “Paradise”   “Paradise” and eight… Continue reading

Bennetrhodes – “Share in Love”

Nod your head to Japanese jazzist Kan Sano‘s latest beat project: Bennetrhodes.   Listen to more of Kan Sano’s music (including a free download of his “Everybody Loves the Sunshine” cover) here.  … Continue reading

Benjamin Francis Leftwich – “Midnight City” (M83 Cover) (Acoustic Version)

His name may make you think of a mustachioed, top-hatted Victorian industrialist aristocrat rather than a 23-year-old singer-songwriter-guitar strummer from York, England.   Benjamin Francis Leftwich – “Midnight City” (M83 Cover) (Acoustic Version)… Continue reading

The Nextmen vs Joe Dukie of Fat Freddy’s Drop – “When We Fight”

The dub reggae lilt of New Zilla’s Fat Freddy’s Drop vocalist Joe Dukie gets a propulsive bass-step boost from the Nextmen.   The Nextmen vs Joe Dukie of Fat Freddy’s Drop – “When… Continue reading

Flying Lotus – “Putty Boy Strut” (Official Video)

FlyLo continues to fly over standard musical boundaries here on “Putty Boy Strut” with what sounds like wandering robot whines and an army of androids keeping time by uniformly clapping their metallic pincer… Continue reading

The xx – “Angels” (Four Tet Remix)

Romy, Oliver, and Jamie aka the xx and Kieran Hebden aka Four Tet are all masters of intricacy, mood, and restraint. Hear Four Tet’s dark ‘n’ stormy remix of the band’s single “Angels,”… Continue reading

Dave Aju – “Homegrown”

If you use unorthodox instruments to build your kicks and snares, it’s only a matter of time before king-of-the-oddly-sourced-beats (banging on pipes under the kitchen sink in a 4/4 rhythm, anyone?) Matthew Herbert… Continue reading

Rockwell ft Kito & Sam Frank – “Childhood Memories”

This one sounds like a beefed-up version of Jai Paul‘s “BTSTU.” Rockwell sheds a few bpm’s from the drum ‘n’ bass tempo territory of his previous output to deliver this heavyweight slab of… Continue reading

Poolside – “Only Everything” (Official Video) (Free Download)

Daytime disco duo Poolside uncover the neon nocturnal wildlife of urban Los Angeles.   Download the ravey strut of “Only Everything” for free from the good folks at Scion AV here.    

Warren Xclnce – “Say Goodbye” (Free Download)

Say hello to unsigned London beatmaker Warren Xclnce.   Warren Xclnce – “Say Goodbye” (Free Download)   More Xclnce here.    

Melody’s Echo Chamber – “Endless Shore”

Some magnificent French psychedelia to get your Friday started right. Paris, France’s Melody Prochet enlisted Aussie psyche-rocker and Tame Impala frontman Kevin Parker to produce this swirling, cosmic jam.   Melody’s Echo Chamber… Continue reading

Andrew Ashong & Theo Parrish – “Flowers”

  End of summer tune.   London-via-Ghana musician Andrew Ashong teams up with Detroit techno svengali Theo Parrish to create nine minutes of rattling, soul-infused, slow house.       Andrew Ashong &… Continue reading

The Versatile Vocal Talent of Kwabs aka Kwabena Adjepong (Video)

This voice!     London’s Kwabs demonstrates his majectic vocal versatility at Buckingham Palace as part of the BBC TV series Goldie’s Band: By Royal Appointment, hosted by the renowned British drum ‘n’… Continue reading

Azealia Banks – “1991” (Official Video)

Brace yourselves for the incoming and imminent 90s house music revival.   Expect loads more Crystal Waters house keys and Soul II Soul swing in your musical future.    

Disclosure ft Sam Smith – “Latch”

  The brothers from Surrey, UK return with “Latch.”       Disclosure ft Sam Smith – “Latch”           Disclosure’s production is enviably precise.          … Continue reading

Star Slinger – “Take this Up” (Free Download)

Free newness from the Slinger.   Star Slinger – “Take this Up” (Free Download)   Love the explosion of four-to-the-floor house sunshine at 2min 24sec.    

How to Dress Well – “Cold Nites” (Live at Way Out West 2012 in Gothenburg, Sweden)

Soaring, ethereal R&B and experimental beats from Brooklyn’s Tom Krell aka How to Dress Well. Here he performs his song “Cold Nites” in a candlelit church in Gothenburg, Sweden as part of the… Continue reading

Sure Thing – “Holding You Tight” (Official Video)

Bristol, England goes boogie! Sure Thing is a live boogie funk outfit fronted by the legendary drum ‘n’ bass DJ and producer DJ Die (who also spins disco under the name Laminate Radio),… Continue reading

Get Down Edits – “Sneakin’ In The Back”

If you ever need to mix your way out of Massive Attack’s “Blue Lines” into a lazy saxophone lounge jazz set, this one is for you.   Get Down Edits – “Sneakin’ In… Continue reading

Capital Cities – “Nothing Compares 2 U” (Free Download)

Impressive, very impressive, how Los Angeles’ Capital Cities have managed to transform Sinead O’Connor’s teary, heart-stricken ballad into a joyful, future disco stomper.   That free download is here. Fingers crossed for the… Continue reading

Caught in the Middle of a 3-Way Mix: Ninja Tune’s Solid Steel Radio Show – August 31, 2012 – Part 1 & 2 – DJ Cheeba, DJ Moneyshot, and DJ Food Mix the Beastie Boys’ Paul’s Boutique Album Using the Original Sample Sources (Free Download)

DJ Cheeba, DJ Moneyshot, and DJ Food get it together to mix a very special radio show for Ninja Tune. Taking its name from a track on the Demos & Outtakes compilation, Caught… Continue reading

Bibi Tanga & the Selenites – “My Heart is Jumping” (Mathieu Schreyer Remix ft Computer Jay)

KCRW 89.9FM Santa Monica’s Mathieu Schreyer jumps and bumps on this remix of Paris, France’s Bibi Tanga and the Selenites “My Heart is Jumping.”   Bibi Tanga & the Selenites – “My Heart… Continue reading

Marlow – “I Don’t Care About Anything (Being With You)”

Smokey Robinson’s “Being With You” gets a house shuffle rework courtesy of Germany’s Marlow.   Cowbell included.    

Flying Lotus – “Until the Quiet Comes” (Short Film Directed by Kahlil Joseph)

It’s finally here, and it was worth the wait. Flying Lotus on the beat, Kahlil Joseph on the direction, Storyboard P on the dance. (You should click on all of the above links,… Continue reading

Hidden Orchestra – “Vorka” (Official Video)

Edinburgh, Scotland’s electronic jazz collective Hidden Orchestra returns with “Vorka.” The title references Slavo Vorkapic, a well-regarded Serbian filmmaker who produced short montage pieces in the 1930s for Hitchcock and other film directors.… Continue reading

Wrongtom Meets Deemas J – “Jump + Move + Rock” (Official Video)

Wrongtom meets Deemas J meets East London meets hazy dubs meets surprisingly engaging 80s homemade reggae vibes.   Love how from 3min 13sec onward Deemas J just decides to go and explore a… Continue reading

City Calm Down – “Movements” (Official Video)

City Calm Down (great name) are a four-piece live electronic outfit from Melbourne, Australia, who have quite possibly titled their band after fellow Melburnians (real word, I checked) Architecture in Helsinki‘s song of… Continue reading

Naytronix – “Baby Don’t Walk Away” (Official Video)

Sofa soul. Future funk. Naytronix is the solo project of Nate Brenner, bassist for tUnE-YaRdS and Beep. Fans of Jonti and Sonnymoon will no doubt dig.   “Baby Don’t Walk Away” is second… Continue reading

David Byrne & St Vincent – “Who” (Official Video)

Martin de Thurah‘s video for this voluminous, expertly written song is as imaginative and whimsical as that parping horn melody.   “Who” appears on David Byrne and St Vincent‘s upcoming full-length, Love This… Continue reading

Beat Generation – Article on Seattle’s Annual Decibel Festival of Electronic Music Written by Dan Digs for City Arts Magazine

I wrote about Seattle’s annual electronic music extravaganza Decibel Festival for this month’s issue of City Arts magazine. You can read the story here. At its heart, this newness is what Decibel is… Continue reading

Roger Robinson – “Spaceship” (Official Video) (Free Download)

Songs about space always have a certain inherent beauty.   “Spaceship” is taken from the forthcoming solo album New Broken Things by King Midas Sound vocalist Roger Robinson. Download the song for free… Continue reading

JJ DOOM – “Guv’nor” (Official Video)

JJ DOOM is the collab between leftfield hip-hop’s rapper-producer Jneiro Jarel & London-born, metal-masked MC DOOM.   Viewing notes: 1.  Saying “Ello guv’nor!” in an overly angular Cockney accent is oddly satisfying. Dropping… Continue reading