Mark Lanegan – Beehive

 

While we are waiting for the new album from Mark Lanegan (out literally in the next few days!), he has just shared with us “Beehive” – a sweet new single coming along with this “romantic” video. The song was composed together with Rob Marshall (Exit Calm) and it features guitar contributions from Greg Dulli (The Afghan Whigs).

The tenth Lanegan’s solo album, Gargoyle, will be released on 28th April. Waaaheeeey!

 

Slowdive – Star Roving

Slowdive are back! The band from Reading, England, have just unleashed their first new song in the 22 years, “Star Roving”. And a new album is on the way later this year through Dead Oceans. On their Facebook page, Slowdive wrote:

When the band decided to get back together in 2014 we really wanted to make new music. It’s taken us a whole load of shows and a few false starts to get to that point, but it’s with pride and a certain trepidation we unleash “Star Roving”. We really hope folks enjoy it, it’s part of a bunch of new tracks we’ve been working on and it feels as fun, and as relevant playing together now as it did when we first started. 

Slowdive split in 1995, shortly after releasing their last album, Pygmalion. They came back together in 2014 for a summer world tour, and in 2016 they announced they were working on a new album.

 

The xx – On Hold (Official Audio)

 

The xx have confirmed their new album is on its way and will be released January 13,2017 via Young Turks. It is titled I See You, and it has 10 songs on it. To make the news even more exciting, the duo dropped a new track, “On Hold”, which you can listen to above. The song features a sample from “I Can’t Go For That (No Can Do)”, the 80s classic single by Hall and Oates.

“On hold” might be a bit of a surprise for The xx fans, as it sounds quite different to what the guys got us used to. It still floats between atmospheric electronica, dream pop and delicate indie rock though, so all seems to be in the right place.

 

Bonobo – Kerala [OFFICIAL VIDEO]

 

Simon Green, much better known as Bonobo, has just announced a new album, Migration, and shared the first single off it , titled “Kerala”. The LP (out January 13) is a follow-up to 2013’s The Norths Borders. It features some fine guests on it, including Rhye or Nick Murphy (fka Chet Faker). So here’s something to look forward to in the new year!

The “Kerala” video was directed by Bison and it stars Gemma Arterton.

Migration tracklist:

01 Migration
02 Break Apart [ft. Rhye]
03 Outlier
04 Grains
05 Second Sun
06 Surface [ft. Nicole Miglis]
07 Bambro Koyo Ganda [ft. Innov Gnawa]
08 Kerala
09 Ontario
10 No Reason [ft. Nick Murphy]
11 7th Sevens
12 Figures

 

Austra – Utopia (Official Video)

 

Toronto-based electronic outfit Austra have just announced their third album, Future Politics, to be released early next year. It will be a follow-up to 2013’s LP Olympia and 2014’s EP, Habitat. In addition to this great news, the recording project led by Katie Stelmanis has also shared a minimalistic, yet absorbing new video for the first single from the album, “Utopia”.

On their Facebook page, Stelmanis said: “Each person’s fantasy of the future is valid and possible and one should never feel like their imaginations can’t become the truth. I’ve written new music while following this path and am completely terrified (partially excited) to share it with you.”

Future Politics will be released January 20 with the following tracklist:

1. We Were Alive
2. Future Politics
3. Utopia
4. I’m A Monster
5. I Love You More Than You Love Yourself
6. Angel In Your Eye
7. Freepower
8. Gaia
9. Beyond A Mortal

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Massive Attack – The Spoils ft. Hope Sandoval

Massive Attack recently teamed up with Hope Sandoval (Mazzy Star) for a new track , The Spoils, and now they also released a follow up video for it, starring Cate Blanchett.

The clip directed by John Hillcoat shows Blanchett’s head being gradually and slowly transformed until it turns into stone. As sad and deconstructive as this process might look like, along with the angelic Hope’s vocals, it actually leaves you with some sort of a resurrection feeling. Tempting to say, a Hope feeling.

The Spoils was released along with another song, Come Near Me, on Massive Attack’s new 2-track EP.

 

 

Poolside – And The Sea

 

Los Angeles duo Poolside just treated us with a new summery gem, “And The Sea”. The band of Filip Nikolic and Jeffrey Paradise have certainly been known to all daytime disco lovers already, but if you haven’t heard of them, it’s now time to do your homework. Fresh, warm ocean breeze, that’s what best describes the new single. Delicate vocals floating through the tropical melody make it a truly summery tune that will accompany you, whether you actually are on the beach or the beach is just in your head. Chilled, positive, sunny vibes all around!

Plus, you can download it for free!

 

 

 

 

 

Fair Weather Friends – Love Won`t Make It Easier (Official Music Video)

 

Long, long, long overdue new single from Fair Weather Friends is finally out, and is accompanied with a video full of summer and positive energy. ‘Love Won’t Make It Easier’ is said to be introducing a second LP by the Polish electropop band, however no details have yet been released.

If you liked Fair Weather Friends’s first album, Hurricane Days, and songs like ‘Fake Love’, or the older classic, ‘Fortune Player’, you will be delighted to hear they haven’t dropped in quality one bit. Seamless combination of synthesizers, guitars, drums and a catchy melody, again proves to be more than enough for a successful dance tune.

The video also fits perfectly with the summery climate of the song. The band members are cycling through the French Riviera and the Alps in Austria. They decided to take up the challenge and test their skills on the Tour de France route – successfully! The video was shot by Mariusz Rychłowski and it’s dedicated to Eddy Merckx, one of the greatest bicycle racers of all time.

 

*Fair Weather Friends – electropop, dance band from Poland, set up in 2011. After releasing their first EP, Eclectic Pixels (2012), they quickly became associated with alternative music which links modern electronic sounds and some old school dance tunes from 70s and 80s. Band members: Mateusz Zegan, Michał Maślak, Maciek Bywalec, Paweł Cyz.

 

Okkervil River – Okkervil River R.I.P. (Official Video)

 

Okkervil River, Texas rock band led by Will Sheff, have just released a brand new video for “Okkervil River R.I.P.” from their forthcoming album, Away. The idea for the clip is quite unusual: Sheff buries himself to visualise the lyrics of the song – an elegy to the band’s past years. In the statement about the new album the singer reflected on the difficult time the band has been through:

2013-2015 had been a strange time for me. I lost some connections in a music industry that was visibly falling apart. Some members of the Okkervil River backing band left, moving on to family life or to their own projects. I spent a good deal of time sitting in hospice with my grandfather, who was my idol, while he died. I felt like I didn’t know where I belonged. When there was trouble at home, a friend offered me her empty house in the Catskills where I could go and clear my head. New songs were coming fast up there, so I set myself the challenge of trying to write as many as possible as quickly as possible. I wasn’t thinking about any kind of end product; the idea was just to write through what I was feeling, quickly and directly. Eventually, I realized I was writing a death story for a part of my life that had, buried inside of it, a path I could follow that might let me go somewhere new.

The beautiful clip perfectly illustrates the emotional, contemplative mellow ballad. The video was written and directed by Sheff and beside himself, it also features actor Tim Blake Nelson as a priest.

Away will be released 9th September via ATO Records. 

okkervilriverawayhirescover-compressed

 

 

Grimes – Flesh without Blood/Life in the Vivid Dream

 

The queen of quirky synth-pop Grimes has just shared a self-directed double video for “Flesh Without Blood” and “Live in the Vivid Dream”, both from the upcoming album, Art Angels (out Nov 6). This clip is filled with so many colours that is worth watching even if you are not a big fan of her new pop-ish style.

 

Faith No More – Sunny Side Up (Official Video)

Yet again Faith No More are proving that ageing is for losers. The video for “Sunny Side Up”, the 3rd single off their new album , Sol Invictus, is just a great combination of creativity, sarcasm and fun. Our metal guys get “older” and perform in a “boring” retirement home… See how it goes!

Cool Uncle (Bobby Caldwell & Jack Splash) – Break Away (feat. Jessie Ware)

 

Soul singer Bobby Caldwell and producer Jack Splash just teamed up to create a really cool duo, with a really cool name, Cool Uncle. And what’s even more cool here is their new single, Break Away, with some lovely contribution from Jessie Ware. The full album will be out November 13 and I’m pretty convinced it will be f*cking cool!

 

Kamp! – No need to be kind

So, Kamp! is back and it seems to be a strong comeback. The Polish electronic trio has just shared the first single off their new LP, but you can already feel the smooth, melodic synthpop vibe, which has become some sort of their trademark by now.  The guys are also going on tour, and unofficially yet, but apparently will be back in Dublin in December. Hoorrraaay! No need to be kind, but that’s actually very kind!

1 RDJ – First

 

Just came across this and it instantly made my Friday. Sound debut from 1 RDJ. Catchy beat, fantastic progressive chords and expressive piano transitions all together will send shivers up your spine. I can smell a disco hit coming our way. The track will officially be out on August 3rd.

Blood Orange – Do You See My Skin Through The Flames?

 

New song from Blood Orange is a masterpiece of its kind. The atmospheric ambient filled with smoky sax, jazzy piano and dreamy synth makes a perfect background for an important message. In the lyrics, Dev Hynes talks about racism. violence and the Charleston massacre. 11 minutes of a very personal, touching and beautiful track. Worth listening.

Róisín Murphy – Evil Eyes

Irish electropop artist Róisín Murphy just served us a new, self-directed video for “Evil Eyes”, off her recent album, Hairless Toys. It’s a fascinating and unpredictable clip, in which she acts as a hysterical woman. So full of personality. What a legend that woman is!

Cyril Hahn – Last ft. Joel Ford

Long time no hear from Cyril Hahn, but here he is! The freshly released song was created together with a producer Joel Ford. It’s a first single from Hahn’s new EP, and accordingly it’s called “Last”. Have a listen!

TAME IMPALA – Eventually

How nice of Tame Impala to share with us yet another track  before the full release of their third album, Currents! “Eventually” just confirms that there’s something big to wait for! Beautiful, psychedelic ballad which takes you to the mysterious, surreal and happy world of 70s. Majestic masterpiece!

 

Disclosure – Bang That

‘Bang That’ – advise brothers Lawrence in their new track, which premiered yesterday on Annie Mac’s BBC Radio 1 show. And it already caused some hot discussion and quite a lot of criticism that Disclosure don’t sound like Disclosure anymore. Well, we probably shall wait for their new album to decide. And for now let’s just dance to the old-school groovy house rhythm!

Carly Rae Jepsen – All That (Audio)

 

Carly Rae Jepsen just debuted a new song and it’s a huuuuge milestone in her career (remember ‘Call Me Maybe”?! – yes, it’s the very same singer). The new ballad ‘All That’ is all about 80s – dreamy, emotional synthpop, very much Prince-alike. This is a shocking progress in Jepsen’s music production, let’s hope she keeps it up! ❤

Hot Chip – Need You Now (Official Video)

 

Hot stuff from Hot Chip to brighten up this gloomy morning! The band have shared another song from their upcoming album, Why Make Sense? (out May 18). ‘Need You Now’ comes along with a cool, time-bending and surreal video in which Alexis Taylor is chasing his other self. Deep, but still very light and dancey electronic tune, absolutely fantastic!

Jamie xx – Loud Places (ft Romy)

What a happy Friday morning! Jamie xx has just shared a video for his latest (and how beautiful!) single ‘Loud Places’ (featuring The xx’s lovely Romy Madley Croft). The song forms part of his debut solo album, In Colour, (out June 1st). The LP will include his previous singles ‘Sleep Sound’, ‘Girl’ and some tracks recorded in collaboration with other artists like Four Tet or Young Thug. How delightful! ❤

Blur – There Are Too Many of Us

Oh, there they are! Blur, yes, Blur with their new, yes, new song! ‘There Are Too Many Of Us’ is the second released single off their upcoming, long, long-awaited album, The Magic Whip (out 27 April). Mild, tender, nearly metaphysical – sounds like the album will be a very nice step out of britpop into some space, alternative rock.

Of Monsters and Men – Crystals (Lyric Video)

Good morning with some Icelandic freshness from Of Monsters and Men! After 4 years since their debut album, the band finally announced their new LP, Beneath the Skin (out June 9). And here’s a teaser – the first single off the album, ‘Crystals’ coming along with a lyric video. If you liked Me Head is an Animal, you won’t be disappointed. Indie pop just as you would expect  🙂

 

Grimes – REALiTi

New track from the lovely Grimes and it’s pretty sweet! ‘REALiTi’  is not gonna be included on the new album,  so she just decided to release it as an extra bonus. The video is a series of footage taken during her shows and travels through Asia. As for the never finished song (that’s what she says), it’s class! Dynamic rhythm and those delicate vocals, Ladies and Gentlemen, old Grimes is back! Welcome to unREALiTi!

Django Django – First Light (Official Video)

 

My beloved British Django Django are finally back with the second album Born Under Saturn (out May 5th) and here’s the brand new video for the first released comeback single ‘First Light’. Not my favorite visuals, but the dynamic psychedelic tune surely makes up for  less important little flaws. Class!

Jessie Ware – Champagne Kisses

 

Now, clearly I’m biased, but couldn’t help but share the new Jessie Ware’s video. This time it’s ‘Champagne Kisses’, another gem from her stunning album, Tough Love.  Nice colorful visuals and the vocals, of course, can’t go any better. Simple, beautiful ❤

 

Listen / watch also:

 

Thom Yorke – You Wouldn’t Like Me When I’m Angry

So, here comes Thom Yorke with a fantastic end-of-the-year present. Radiohead frontman shared a new single ‘Youwouldn’tlikemewhenI’mangry’ from his most recent album, Tomorrow’s Modern Boxes (releasing on Bandcamp via a pay-what-you-wish model). As we could easily expect, the song perfectly combines chilly electronic beats with dreamy, calm vocals, building the story up throughout. Genius!

 

Jessie Ware – You & I (Forever)

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Watch the new video from Jessie Ware for ‘You and I (Forever)’ off her new album Tough Love. The clip shows the artist with her friends (including her husband Sam Burrows and Miguel) frisking in a photo booth. Perfectly synchronized with this lovely, graceful song. Oh Jessie, you never disappoint!

 

Listen / Watch also: