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The New Me by Conspiracy of Owls
If you like el Beach Boys, you will like these kids. Highlights include No Hero, Raving Mad, The New Me (audio posted above), and Ancient Robots (video below).
Bravo, guys. Your music is like Gold Bond on a hot day.
Conspiracy of Owls new album out on vinyl and cassette via Hamburger Records.
They used to be in another band from Detroit.
STAR SLINGER // ELIZABETH FRASER [COCTEAU TWINS REWORK]
New track for y’all. Reworking one of my fave bands Cocteau Twins.
Right. On. Star. Slinger. “Heaven or Las Vegas” is classic dopeness. I also dig the slide guitar in the Japancakes cover version.
On a similar note, Dunian used a Cocteau Twins sample in his excellent “Mind Body Mind”. I had to write him on myspace to confirm the sample was from “Essence” off of the Four-Calendar Cafe album. If any remixers are listening, please please do a remix of “Pur”.
Watch the “Mind Body Mind” video below:
TV Girl samples “Hello It’s Me” by Todd Rundgren in “If You Want It”
Damn you TV Girl for taking my idea and having a dope name. You didn’t just use the horn breakdown tho. No, you had to use the whole f’ing hook. Actually, I’m not too mad because your new melody goes perfectly with the sample like avocado in tomato soup.
Previously, Todd Rundgren is a genius.
Funky II by Turning Torso
I just played this album thru three times (3x) today because it’s damn easy to workgroove to. Although it has a few standouts (Funky Junkie, Walker, Bossa Nube, Funky II), it’s the combination of the guitar work, the rough (but precise) drumming and the creative production (rando samples!) that make the project work as a whole.
Any of these songs would work on a solo acoustic guitar around a campfire but there is a certain depth in the lo-fi chill vibe that will have you spinning this in the background of your apt. In other words: “would buy on vinyl”.
Get it on bandcampy for freeeeeeee.
Almost reminds me of some of that chill juice that Tommy Guerrero put out a few years ago but less Jack Johnson and more Whack Johnson.
These little releases are smooth and classy. Such a tease.
“He would make her like Winter” is the best song name I’ve heard since “Slow Motion Tag Team”.
I hope these releases are merely foreplay for what is to come.
Thanks to YVYNYL / yer darling daily / Stadium and Shrines for the hot tip.
Oh how we love these no-filler nuggets.
The EP format has been around longer than the LP format, and it seems to be making a comeback as of late. This year there were tote-loads of quality EPs (partial thanks to Bandcampy for that) and we had a tough time limiting this list to 5.
(in alpha order)
Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. - Horse Power EP
*******
Check out our MUST DIE Top 20 Albums list and stay tuned for our Honors Menchy (the gems that didn’t make the cut).
Backflip (In the Sauna) by Vondelpark
This is like cucumber slices for the eyes of your soul.
Read about him here.
Download here.
Order vinyl here.
A Fight for Love - Ocean
Slick new stuff from brand new Parisian label Hands in the Dark Records. Duo Gaëtan Didelot and Julien Perez’s sound is decidedly breezy, even tropical. Not that I believe in ‘seasonal’ tunes, but the waves of synth drive this track like a lazy day of cruisin’ on crystal blue waters in yr bermuda shorts. That sounds about right for any time of year.
Preorder the End of Summer EP, out next week on the label’s webstore.
