flume

Flume & Chet Faker – “Drop The Game”

Australian producer Flume just released a commercial mixtape where he featured a slew of different singers and rappers, so he’s obviously works well with others.

His next project consists of several tracks hammered out with a collaborator from his recent past, Chet Faker. The title: Lockjaw EP. It’s currently looking at a November 26th release date in the U.S., and the first single from it is a moving ballad that’s been paired with some great visuals via the embedded video above. Enjoy!

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Angel Olsen – “Forgiven/Forgotten”

Singer-songwriter Angel Olsen goes electric and heavy on this new track from her forthcoming record, which is set to drop via Jagjaguwar on February 18th! The title of this thing: Burn Your Fire For No Witness. While I’m not huge on this mid-paced, slightly lo-fi garage rock sound, Angel’s intensely passionate vocals still burn through the chaotic production. With a voice like this, I’m game for surprises this album has to offer. Enjoy!

Check a review for Angel’s previous release right here:

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Marissa Nadler – “Dead City Emily”

Massachusetts Singer-songwriter Marissa Nadler is about ready to release July, the follow-up to her mini-album The Sister from 2012. “Dead City Emily” is the first song to drop from it, and it basically gives us what we have come to expect: deftly plucked guitars, poetic lyrics, and ghostly beautiful vocals. Nadler has a knack for adding little touches to her songs that sound just perfect, such as the light synth washes and vibraphones (or steel drum?) that flit through this song. The album was produced Randall Dunn (Sunn O))), Earth), and if this song is any proof, it will be a dark, cavernous, spectral listen.

July is out on February 10 via Sacred Bones, her first release since 2009 that is not being self-released, and first on this label.

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Emeli Sandé – “My Kind of Love” ft. Ab-Soul (Remix)

Ab-Soul has hopped on a remix of Scottish singer-songwriter Emeli Sandé’s 2012 single “My Kind of Love.” This remix was dropped in conjunction with the single’s belated US debut, just this week. Thankfully, Ab-Soul’s strong flow and mature bars have made the wait well worth it. Give it a listen above!

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Ólöf Arnalds – The Matador EP

In lieu of her upcoming string of live shows, Icelandic folk songstress Ólöf Arnalds (formerly of múm) has dropped a free four-track-long EP of previously unreleased material. Above, give a listen to “Af stað,” originally written by Arnalds for Björk and Sigur Rós’ 2008 Náttúra concert in Reykjavík. You can stream and download the full EP, as well as find info on her upcoming tour dates here via her Bandcamp page. Enjoy!

Earlier this year, Arnalds released her third studio album Sudden Elevation via One Little Indian. Notably, it was her first LP to be sung entirely in English.

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Basia Bulat – “Tall Tall Shadow”

Earlier this week, Canadian folk artist Basia Bulat dropped her third studio album, Tall Tall Shadow. Give a listen to the LP’s dynamic title track above. The song opens with plinking organ keys and Bulat’s sober croon, but this quickly gives way to a propulsive drum beat and piano part, and Bulat’s singing for the remainder of the track is delightfully bouncy and utterly captivating. If you like your folk with a bit of pop, then look no further!

Tall Tall Shadow is out now via Secret City Records.

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Sun Kil Moon – “Richard Ramirez Died Today of Natural Causes”

Mark Kozelek has been extremely busy. After releasing last year’s Sun Kil Moon album Among the Leaves, he has released a slew of live albums, a collaboration with Desertshore, and a collaboration with Jimmy LaValle of The Album Leaf on this year’s magnificent Perils from the Sea. Now, he has announced a new Sun Kil Moon album, entitled Benji, due out in February, and here’s the first track to drop from it. Kozelek’s lyrics are still written in the same literal, story-telling fashion, and he’s still singing in that trademark Kozelek way. However, the piece as a whole has much more urgency than a lot of his output in recent years, especially with those off-kilter background vocals. And then those drums kick in at the end and it brings it all full circle.

Look for Benji on February 4, via Kozelek’s own Caldo Verde.

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Anna Calvi – “Suddenly”

British singer-songwriter Anna Calvi has shared the opening track from her upcoming sophomore album One Breath. “Suddenly” is the most dynamic of the project’s three singles, the other two being the electric art-rock stomp “Eliza” in August, and the simultaneously haunting and triumphant “Sing to Me” earlier this month. “Suddenly” begins gently enough as something of a muted art-rock dirge, but it explodes on the chorus with crunchy guitar tones, hearty bass, crashing percussion, and some glorious chanting from Calvi. Give it a listen above!

One Breath is slated for release on October 7 via Domino.

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Molly Drake – Self-Titled

Turns out the legendary Nick Drake had a musical mother as well! Molly Drake is a collection of 19 songs, written and recorded at home in the 50s. Five of them are available for stream on her BandCamp page, and they consist solely of simple, sparse piano and Molly’s lovely, pretty voice.

Stream those songs and buy the entire album digitally via the link above, and look out for the physical release on October 15 via Squirrel Thing Records.

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Violent Mae – “Hole In My Heart”

Connecticut duo Violent Mae has shared a track from its upcoming self-titled debut. On “Hole in My Heart,” Becky Kessler, winner of “Best Singer-Songwriter” at the 2012 Connecticut Music Awards, proffers an enchanting vocal melody and crisp guitar part. Drummer Floyd Kellogg, frontman of fellow New England act You Scream Scream I Scream, adroitly backs her; resulting in a smooth, sultry piece of indie rock.

Violent Mae is due out sometime this fall via Casa de Warrenton.