#183 – Welcome To St Lucia

I was sent a copy of the newest Kitsuné mix the other day and I’ve been trying to listen to it but I’m having problems. These problems are due to the first song, by St Lucia, being so damn good that I have more or less put it on repeat and not listened to the rest of the mixtape.

Regular readers will be only too aware of my (and the other writers’) love for all things electronic. Specifically the sunny, slightly camp electronic stylings of Cut Copy and Architecture In Helsinki, so the first song on Kitsuné America fits the bill nicely.

St Lucia is Jean-Philip Grobler

#152 – Tom Vek On Noisey

Do you like Tom Vek? We do. Rather a lot, it should be said. His electronic garage-rock sound is exciting and superbly well crafted by an artist with, frankly, a prodigious talent. He did his best to avoid all kinds of attention for six years, only to pop back on the surface of the earth with last summer’s Leisure Seizure. It was good.

#83 – Weekly Roundup

Another week gone. And it’s been a pretty big one too. I quit my job on Friday  and I’m off halfway around the world today. So as my final roundup for a while I’m putting up some good songs! First up is hot off the press by the people behind HEARTSREVOLUTION. I remember the first ever Kitsuné compilation I got was number 6, which, for the record, is a bloody good one! They had a song it back then called ‘Ultraviolence’, which I really enjoyed. So imagine my happy face when this was sent along. It’s a fascinating song with a jarring melodic loop in the background that sets off Leyla Safai’s vocals wonderfully. The whole thing is melodic and very re-listenable. You’ll want to play it back-to-back a couple of times before you’re satisfied you’ve got all you can from your first listen(s).

HEARTSREVOLUTION – I.D. [Buy]

Now for a producer called Bibio. This song is another electronic one, yet it’s a funky as anything from the 70’s. And it’s got an 80’s flute synth in the background. It’s a bit of an odd medley, but it’s very good fun. Bibio is James Wilkinson and he’s been making music for way over 10 years now. This is the only song I know by him, but I’ll soon change that. Enjoy ‘K Is For Kelson’.

Bibio – K Is For Kelson [Buy]

Beirut are one of those bands that I go back to again and again.

#80 – Weekly Roundup

Another week’s gone. Sadly, so has another weekend. So let’s bury our heads in the sand at the prospect of another week of work and listen to some music. Here’s what I’ve been listening to over the last seven days…

To start things off, here’s a new song from Animal Farm. It’s got a great chilled, old school jazzy vibe and a cool bassline. It’s pretty conscientious lyrically (well, it’s not rapping about guns and dolla) and the chorus is fly. Oh, it also features Talib Kweli.

Animal Farm – Test Of Time Feat. Talib Kweli [Myspace]

From some old-sounding hip-hop to some very contemporary stuff, here’s the lead single off Theophilus London’s debut album Timez Are Weird These Days that’s due to drop on July 19th. It’s a great blend of electronic, indie/rock and rap that’s probably got a legacy in the original mash-up album from Linkin Park and Jay Z. Which, for the record, I liked when it came out. I was about 12/13 though, so I make no apologies for that. Mr London is the master of networking and talking himself up and in that respect this is the perfect single to take us to his album; he introduces himself (once or twice) and isn’t afraid to blow his own trumpet. With any luck the LP will live up to his hype. In the mean time, listen to this and let us know what you think of it. If you like it you can retweet it here and get it for nothing.

Theophilus London – Last Name London

Now to move a long way away from rap. The below track is by The Coppertone, which is the name under which Amanda Zelina records.

Music For Horses no. 5

Grum / David E. Sugar

Rupert reporting: please listen to these two songs, it will only take 8.5 minutes of your life. Ideally make a cup of tea and drink it during this period. The first is by the electro artist Grum. I would also strongly advise  listening to the song ‘Heartbeats’ by the same artist, which is truly breathtaking, but not in-keeping with the relaxed theme of these posts. ‘La Lights’ is suitably 80’s with a really catchy chord sequence throughout. Soothing vocals and floating synth pads make this a great song to have an afternoon nap to (based on personal experience).

Grum – L.A. Lights