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Jenny Hval – “The Seer”

Singer-songwriter Jenny Hval has a sharp, interesting voice that is equally matched by the odd beauty of the music she surrounds herself with. This adventurous personality Hval’s got was also on display through the track I previously posted on this blog, “I Called,” which is much noisier. In contrast, “The Seer” is a chilly ballad where the vocals really lead the way through droning layers of organ and sparse percussion toward the finish. Enjoy!

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James Blake – “Voyeur”

James Blake drops some visuals for the track “Voyeur,” and kills two birds with one stone by promoting his new album, Overgrown, which is dropping on April 8th; plus, the dude is bringing more visibility to the label he’s trying to put together, 1-800-Dinosuar.

The song itself follows a similar pattern to previously released tracks like “The Wilhelm Scream.” James sings beautifully, and subsequently chops and loops his vocals against electronic beats and synths that progress, progress, and progress. It’s an enthralling track, and can’t wait to see how it fits into the rest of Overgrown.

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The Drones – I See Seaweed

On the Drones’ latest release, the band is working with some of their longest and most emotive songs yet.

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Bill Ryder-Jones – “He Took You In His Arms”

With a past that includes being the lead guitarist of UK indie rock band The Coral and later a film score composer, Bill Ryder-Jones isn’t exactly new to the music scene. His next album, however, feels like a debut in some senses, for although it is technically his second solo foray, it differs significantly from 2011′s If…, which was written on the premise of being an “imaginary film score.” The sophomore A Bad Wind Blows In My Heart, if its lead single is any indication, is decidedly more oriented in singer-songwriter leanings. Titled “He Took You In His Arms,” the track doesn’t abandon Jones’ background as a composer and an arranger, but it is ultimately much more focused on a relatively traditional approach to songwriting. His hushed vocals are met by simple yet appropriate piano rock instrumentation, which build especially nicely under him as he repeats the title refrain near the end of the song. “He Took You In His Arms” is fairly straightforward, but it feels earnest, demonstrating the emphasis Jones places on emotional communication over surface-level complexity.

Watch the video for “He Took You In His Arms” above via YouTube, and look for A Bad Wind Blows My Heart on April 8 by way of Domino Records.

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Kurt Vile – “Never Run Away”

Truth be told, I wasn’t really a huge fan of the last Kurt Vile record; however, I think the few tracks he’s dropped thus far from his forthcoming LP, Walkin On A Pretty Daze, have been pretty sweet on the ears. Less meandering, more substance, but still maintaining Kurt’s psychedelic haze and druggy drawl.

Dig on this video, uh, commercial featuring the song “Never Run Away” via the embed above, and look for Walkin on Matador records in April.

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Various Artists – 420 Love Songs (Second 40)

You may remember that about a month ago we posted the first 40 in what a collective of underground musicians are hoping will be 420 love songs. This time, the project has expanded to make room for a lot of new faces; bringing the chances of this thing reaching 420 songs so much higher.

As far as the style, sound of these tracks go, they’re all pretty rough and lo-fi, which I know won’t appeal to everybody. I will also say that a lot of the tracks here, I think, rely on a more abstract portrayal of the love songs. However, there are quite a few tracks that feel pretty inspired from an emotional standpoint, and make this a project worth rooting for. Enjoy!

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Soap&Skin – “Sugarbread” (LOVED)

Austrian singer-songwriter Soap&Skin drops a new video in promotion for her latest single, which comes on the tail of an intense and forlorn sophomore album that I loved last year.

“Sugarbread” features the same vocal stylings, but it’s incredibly heavy with organ and orchestral hits of brass and strings. It’s massive from both a sonic and emotional standpoint. You can pre-order a copy of this 7″ here.

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Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds – Push The Sky Away

I won’t say Push The Sky Away is Nick Cave’s darkest album yet, but it’s easily one of his most depressing–so much so that Cave himself seems too shaken to engage his listeners with the same emotional potency he usually does.

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Giles Corey – Hinterkaifeck

Giles Corey is a the mysterious and atmospheric singer-songwriter project of Connecticut multi-instrumentalist and Enemies List owner Dan Barrett.

Y’all may remember me loving his debut outing under this particular pseudonym, but I’ve been a fan of Dan’s unpredictable work flow for a long time through other projects like Have A Nice Life and Nahvalr.

So, Giles is just a continuation of my love for the lo-fi production, melancholy, and atmosphere Dan typically brings to the table. Those characteristics appear once again on this new EP under the Corey name, Hinterkaifeck. It’s a short, 3-track affair, and features some sharply depressing tracks. Enjoy!

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Grouper – The Man Who Died In His Boat

On her latest installment of tracks–which were formulated at the time of 2008′s Dragging a Dead Dear Up a Hill–multi-instrumentalist Liz Harris brings another collection of ambient-style folk tracks that are opaque, shadowy, and extremely emotive.

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