The drowsy, experimental wash of Shlohmo meets the gritty, dream-inspired sonic ramblings of Teems on the “Wen uuu” remix. It’s the latest sample from Shlohmo’s recent Vacation remix EP. If you like what you hear, stay tuned. We’re very stoked to hear another remix EP is on the way from Shlohmo fettering works by Salva, Grounislava, Airhead and Nicolas Jaar. Wow.
Chicago MC Add-2′s debut LP, Save. Our. Souls. doesn’t have a release date yet, but it’s already attracting a healthy buzz. Add-2 was signed to Team RMG by the mighty Common, and his recent single, “Going, Going, Gone” was produced by 9th Wonder. Very cool, yes. Dig it…
Looking for something a little heavier? Add-2′s got you covered. Check out this thump…
Los Angeles producer Static Shock (whom you may recall from his Furious + the Static Shock days) surprised us recently with his latest, LEMMIEHOLLA@CHU. The EP plays like an agoraphobic steam of consciousness, where random noises and instrumentation are layered in chaotic arrangements. There’s a certain awkward comfort to the collection, which sounds vaguely like a set of Nicholas Jarr demos. It’s cool. And we’re curious to hear more from The Static Shock as he evolves from his “tough pop” phase with Furious.
This is cool. Last we heard from Brooklyn sextet White Rabbits, they had this indie rock sound with a strongly rhythmic, almost tribal, edge to it. We liked they’re sound. But we’re impressed with the new, dance-noise direction they’ve taken on “Temporary”, a single from their forthcoming LP, Milk Famous (due March 6). To be honest, we dismissed the song when we noticed it was featured at Rolling Stone, but when we saw that Sterogum had it posted, we decided to give it a spin, and we’re pleased to say we hardly recognized what we heard…
We don’t know much about LA bass duo The Two.Fifteens, and despite our (admittedly half-ass) efforts to learn more about them, we didn’t come up with much before writing this post. But were not sure it matters. We think The Two.Fifteens want to keep the origins of their shadowy, choppy and bumpy beats shrouded in obscurity. And to be honest, it lends to the group’s hazy, magnetic aura.
Below, we’ve got a couple tracks for you to check out.
First, it’s a track from The Two.Fifteens’ The Commute Vol. 1 (free download). Here’s the swervin’ and knockin’ “Ballad of El Guapo”…
Download “Ballad of El Guapo” [XLR8R]
Second, here’s the haunted, slow-burning “MBISON” from the group’s more recent Stripes (free download)…
There’s a strange, droning geometry at work in Dustin Wong’s odd approach to songwriting. Rather than a series of brush strokes, Wong seems to strategically apply paint to a brush and then drag that brush along along the canvas until the paint runs out. It’s fresh. We’re impressed. And we’re looking forward to hearing the rest of his forthcoming LP, Dreams Say, View, Create, Shadow Leads (due February 21).
Boston VHS-affected beatsmith Com Truise has always impressed us with his brand of 80s-pixelated synth-tech. And we’ve always wondered what he listens to when he’s not making beats. Now we know. On his Check Yo Ponytail mix, Com Truise pulls out some of the most obscure, strangest and catchiest 80s goth/synch/new-wave we’ve never heard. Yes, a lot of it sounds like great theme music for crappy 80s TV dramas. Sure, some of it sounds like the daring soundtrack of an 80s cop movie. Eighties hip-hop is even represented.Yes, we recommend you download it now…
LA Resident? Com Truise is playing the Check Yo Ponytail club night at the Echoplex on Tuesday, February 7th (which is, like, today… so get on it quick).
By this time (February), we were expecting at least three mixtapes from prolific NoLa MC Curren$y. Last year he put out at least four mixtapes and two proper albums. Most of them ripped, one of them (Verde Terrace) made our list of 2011 best albums. While we would understand if Curren$y decided to take 2012 off (it will take us at least a couple of years to get bored with the material he put out last year), Spitta’ has no plans to slow down. It’s February, and he’s already got a (pretty cool) mixtape, Here, that you can grab right, um, here.
One of LA’s illest underground producers, Exile, quietly put out his debut as an MC, 4TRK MIND. And you know what? He’s pretty good behind the mic. Here’s a clip featuring a very sick assist from Fashawn:
Download “Oh Word (Keep On Rising) (f. Fashawn)” [Potholes In My Blog]
Exile’s turn towards emceeing wasn’t a total surprise, we were impressed with his rhyming on Intro to The Outtro, one of 2011′s strongest mixtapes. Dig (the totally rad) “Klepto”…
With the title track from Michigan producer RxGibbs forthcoming EP, Futures, we’re taken on a stylish journey through an urban landscape during the early morning hours, blurred by the passing touch of MDMA, and echoing with chopped memories from the night before. The track is driven by a strong pulse, the faces are blurred and this could be the first endless-repeat classic (think Washed Out’s “Feel It All Around”, Flume’s “Sleepless”) of 2012. We’re anxious to hear more from Futures, but we’ll have to wait until February 21st.
Nicolas Jaar – With Just One Glance (f. Scout LaRue) – mp3
Ceremony – Hysteria – free mp3
A$AP Rocky – Pretty Flacko – free mp3
Asher Roth – Choices (f. Action Bronson) – free mp3
Blonds – Kite – free mp3