This isn’t the first rap video of late to greatly increase the potency of the song it portrays by being filmed entirely in black-and-white. Perhaps best known for directing Kanye West/GOOD Music’s “Mercy”… Continue reading
Waajeed (he of the Platinum Pied Pipers, Bling47 and a founding member of Detroit’s Slum Village), Brooklyn chanteuse Dede Reynolds and jazz-trained producer and composer Tim K first met at a bar beneath… Continue reading
My favorite parts of this new Foreign Exchange track are those piano chord drops and those stand-out Stevie Wonder-ish synth bass burbles. The Foreign Exchange – “Call It Home” (Official Video) … Continue reading
If you like Bonobo, you should definitely listen to Bristolian beatsmith Phaeleh (pronounced “fella”). Phaeleh – “Tokoi” (Official Video) Phaeleh‘s first ever North American tour begins this week. Catch… Continue reading
25-year-old, Cape Town, South Africa musician, producer, and ad jingle writer John Withers is the brainchild behind John Wizards. Featuring Rwandan singer Emmanuel Nzaramba, his recently released self-titled debut album draws from Ghanaian highlife,… Continue reading
“Six Space Shuttles and 144,000 Elephants” is quite possibly my new favorite song title. Lonnie Holley, born on February 10, 1950 in Birmingham, Alabama, is the seventh of twenty-seven children. Childhood was chaotic:… Continue reading
Fitz Ambro$e originates from Cape Breton Island in Nova Scotia, Canada and currently lives in Tokyo. Here he teams up with Richmond, Virginia’s Ohbliv to produce Zen Vapors: a 14-track musical collage of beats,… Continue reading
This is that hip-hop of superlative quality produced by one of my musical heroes: 4hero’s Marc Mac. T.R.A.C. ft Yahzeed Divine – “This Is That” (Produced by Marc Mac) Get… Continue reading
My favorite track from Gilles Peterson‘s latest Brownswood Bubblers comp. This subtle jazz-soul stomper has the Mahogani sound all over it. Paul Hill – “Need Me Some U” Saturday sun-filled… Continue reading
My new favorite tune from Lost Midas, the very talented beat producer and songwriter, sporting an impressive mustache and an even more impressive, next-level, Minority Report-filmed-in-Silverlake, hipster edition of Google Glass in the video… Continue reading
Jungle godfather Shy FX takes a break from the frenzy of drum ‘n’ bass and opts to expertly concoct some simmering, hazy reggae instead. Shy FX ft Liam Bailey – “Soon Come”… Continue reading
Fresh from supporting José González‘s band Junip in New York last week, East London’s suitably red-bearded James Mathé, otherwise known as Barbarossa, combines a large, simple Black Keys-ish garage rock-soul guitar riff and tussled… Continue reading
Enchanted, psychedelic, folk vibrations on this brand new Washed Out song, sounding not unlike a dialed-down, Sunday morning Tame Impala. Washed Out – “It All Feels Right” (Official Video) “It… Continue reading
This five-year-old knows how to bust a move. Jungle – “Platoon” (Official Video) “Platoon” is released via Chess Club Records on July 15. More from London’s Jungle here. … Continue reading
Future-funked acid house all day. Watch the accompanying video that resembles the 3D graph blueprints on the 4D desk of some 5D cosmic alien architect. Simian Mobile Disco & Bicep – “Sacrifice”… Continue reading
West Midlands, UK producer Stephen Wilkinson bka Bibio returns with Silver Wilkinson, a new album of his lo-fi, 70s-soaked, indie electronic soul sound. Lead single “À Tout à l’Heure” couldn’t be more organic… Continue reading
Singer-songwriter Valerie June was raised in Jackson and Humboldt, Tennessee, one hour from Memphis and two hours from Nashville, which serves as an accurate musical GPS for her blues- and country-influenced sound, aptly… Continue reading
This funky bassoon bassline is destined to heavily soundtrack my summer. Omar is the man. Omar – “The Man” (Official Video) “The Man” is taken from Omar‘s forthcoming new album,… Continue reading
Mournful, synth-strong, cosmic soul from LA’s Computer Jay. Computer Jay ft Orfeo – “Hardships” (Official Video) “Hardships” is the first single from Computer Jay’s Savage Planet Vol. 2.
This agitated, gritty heatwave loop from Eglo’s mysterious new signing, Strange U, believed to be a moniker of UK hip-hop stalwart Kashmere the Iguana Man. Although why anyone would even think about adopting… Continue reading
Perth, Australia’s Ta-ku has rapidly become one of my favorite beatmakers of this, and probably any, year. Ta-ku – “Clap for Me” (Official Video) Suff Daddy and Ta-ku’s Bricks & Mortar… Continue reading
This video: Best. Drunken Yoga Class. Ever. Atoms For Peace – “Ingenue” (Official Video) Amok, the new album from Thom Yorke’s other band Atoms for Peace, is out now on XL… Continue reading
That Belgian centipede funk. BRZZVLL – “Kevin” (Official Video) More delightful sounds from Antwerp’s finest live jazz collective BRZZVLL (pronounced “Brazzaville”) here.
Late night sounding right. Ivy Lab ft Frank Carter III – “Afterthought” More Ivy Lab here.
A strong return from the great intelli-dubstep hope of 2011, here looking like a trendy Stig from Top Gear in the video below. James Blake – “Retrograde” “Retrograde” is taken from… Continue reading
The video for Liverpool’s Wave Machines’ “Ill Fit” actually fits the song quite nicely, if you equate subtle, gently-sung wafts of future pop-funk with running around large buildings in London really fast while… Continue reading
Australia’s Hiatus Kaiyote is easily a Neon Milk favorite. Their debut Tawk Tomahawk was one of the best albums of last year and their track “Mobius Streak” was number 18 in my top… Continue reading
Pet sounds from the uniquely gifted child of light that is Lil B. Lil B – “I Love You” (Official Video) #Based #Rare #ILoveYou #Tears #Pets
Canadian Pastoral both in scene and sound. Montreal indie-folksters Half Moon Run pair Fleet Foxes vocal melodies with shimmering post-rock guitar. Half Moon Run – “Full Circle” (Official Video) Listen to… Continue reading
First-person music videos are usually pretty powerful pieces of art. Without asking permission, both Gomez’s “See the World” and, more controversially, the Prodigy’s “Smack My Bitch Up” temporarily reverse the normal artist-fan relationship… Continue reading
DJ Benji B, arranger Grant Windsor, and their 16-piece string ensemble reorchestrate 12 future soul and beat culture standards live on BBC Radio 1. Click below to watch what is undoubtedly the… Continue reading
Toro Y Moi aka Chaz Bundick goes on a New England adventure akin to a modern-day chillwave Moonrise Kingdom. Toro Y Moi – “So Many Details” (Official Video) “So Many Details”… Continue reading
This bassline is probably my favorite in rap right after ATCQ’s “Buggin’ Out” and Dead Prez’ “Hip Hop.” Jeru The Damaja – “Ya Playin’ Yaself” (Official Video) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5IpZCd0bdCE Shouts going out… Continue reading
Hypnotic kick-drum stomps and Instagrammed roller-disco vibes courtesy of New York producer FaltyDL and Ed Macfarlane of St Albans, UK indie-dance trio Friendly Fires. FaltyDL ft Ed Macfarlane of Friendly Fires –… Continue reading
Mini-Jessie Ware the singer meets mini-Julio Bashmore the producer. There are many best moments in this video, but the bestest is at 1min 49sec. Jessie Ware – “Sweet Talk” (Official Video) … Continue reading
Too early? Cornershop ft TRWBADOR – “Every Year So Different” (Official Video) From director Chris Curtis: “The song inspired me to go down a rabbit hole of bygone, bucolic happenings and… Continue reading
LA’s Jason Chung is the somewhat palindromic Nosaj Thing. Nosaj Thing – “Eclipse/Blue” (Official Video) “Eclipse/Blue” features vocals by Blonde Redhead’s Kazu Makino. It is the first single off Nosaj Thing‘s… Continue reading
90s jungle forever! Footage from One Nation’s New Year’s Eve 1997 drum ‘n’ bass event featuring DJ Hype, DJ Zinc, DJ Brockie, Mickey Finn, Skibadee, MC Det, and MC Stevie Hyper D. … Continue reading
Soulful French rap by Lille, France’s Pink Tee. Pink Tee – “It’s Yours” (Official Video) It goes without saying that Pink Tee has got the colorful patterned shirt game on lock.… Continue reading
Some real rhyme origami here from Homeboy Sandman. Homeboy Sandman – “Illuminati” (Official Video) Homeboy‘s poetry is illuminating.
Nothing but pure funk and positivity every time from Pasadena, California’s Mr. Damon G. Riddick. Watch him perform new track “Trying 2 Survive (In the Big City)” live in Bangkok, Thailand below. … Continue reading
17-year-old Flatbush, Brooklyn native Joey Bada$$ continues to shine with his tight and talented throwback rap. Joey Bada$$ ft Chuck Strangers – “Fromdatomb$” (Official Video) Joey Bada$$‘s latest mixtape featuring his… Continue reading
Future organic garage and dubstep rhythms from Leeds, UK live electronic seven-piece Submotion Orchestra. They join the ranks of my top-rated, best-loved Orchestras, which include Cinematic, Hidden, and BBC Concert. What Reprazent are… Continue reading
Sydney, Australia’s Harley Streten bka Flume melds warm electronic pulses and pitch-shifted R’n’B stylings. Flume ft Jezzabell Doran – “Sleepless” (Official Video) The 20-year-old’s self-titled debut album is out November 9… Continue reading
Hyperdub‘s resident MC and regular Kode9 collaborator the Spaceape pours forth future poetry on this solo endeavor. Spaceape – “On the Run” (Official Video) Experimental, tribal, anxious African rhythms.
San Pedro, Los Angeles, CA rapper Blu and hip-hop producer Exile caught my ear earlier this year with “The Great Escape,” which featured expertly cut beats and catchy, phased vocal samples, plus the… Continue reading
That starry soul-hop from outer space-via-Amsterdam. La Melodia is MC Melodee and producer I.N.T. I can easily hear Pharrell’s falsetto and his signature live drums lacing a remix of this one. La… Continue reading
Copenhagen, Denmark’s Karen Marie Ørsted is MØ. The tried-and-tested pop sound staple that is the handclap cleverly and effortlessly forms the backbone and steady propulsion of “Pilgrim.” MØ – “Pilgrim” (Official Video)… Continue reading
