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Daft Punk – Random Access Memories

The kings of French House return with a new album that pays homage to the roots of their roots.

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When Saints Go Machine – “Love and Respect” ft. Killer Mike

An eerie fusion of electronic music and hip hop on this new track from When Saints Go Machine, “Love and Respect,” which is a cut from the Danish quartet’s new album, Infinity Pool. It’s dropping this week via EMI Records and !K7 Records.

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oOoOO – “Mouchette”

A beautifully eerie new cut from oOoOO titled “Mouchette,” which should be featured on the project’s debut full-length, Without Your Love, toward the end of June via Nihjgt Feelings. Dig the murk and the bass on this one! The vocal samples are an incredibly beautiful touch as well, and reminds me a bit of early Crystal Castles tracks as well. Enjoy!

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Ceephax – Cro Magnox

Ceephax takes a break from his typical acid techno-tinged song production style to create a collection of electronic pieces that sound a bit more epic, cinematic. Numerous cuts of Cro Magnox sound as if they could serve as the perfect soundtrack to a b-movie produced in the 80s–preferably some kind of action, sci-fi hybrid.

Even funkier tracks like “Natural Specturm” have a beautifully eerie quality to them. It’s nice to know that this guy can produce danceable tracks as well as stuff that’s a little more cerebral. Enjoy!

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The Mary Onettes – Hit The Waves

On their third full-length album, the Mary Onettes don’t make much of any significant changes to their sound, but they do deliver some really sharp, catchy jangle pop tunes.

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Rustie – “Triadzz”

The latest offering from currently hot topic Rustie is a single titled “Slasherr,” which saw its release on Monday via Numbers. We heard the A-side, a couple of weeks ago, and the B-side is now available as well. Listen to “Triadzz” above via Rustie’s SoundCloud.

Rustie has proven to be one of the most significant players in the recent surge of trap-influenced electronic dance music, and rightfully so. The producer’s approach bears the colorful, immediate, and danceable mark which is shared by his contemporaries, but also possesses a distinctive personality and level of detail which elevates him beyond many such peers. “Triadzz” is no exception, pairing triumphant synthesizer melodies and galvanizing percussion with his typically vibrant aesthetic and quirky samples. Perhaps the strongest trait of “Triadzz” is its demonstration of Rustie’s knack for not only building anticipation, but making it pay off; when “Triadzz” establishes a “drop,” the climax feels neither cheap nor underwhelming, instead carrying momentum with tasteful yet unrestrained passages of high-powered euphoria. As trap has been growing increasingly more ubiquitous, Rustie makes the proper associations with the movement, but ultimately maintains his own voice.

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STRFKR – Miracle Mile

Once again, the Portland outfit STRFKR drops a collection of tracks that sound like they’re the demos for what could be a pretty good synth pop album. However, that’s not the case; these flat, nondescript indie dance tunes are the album.

 

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juche- Self-Titled

juche is a colorful and relaxing little musical project that came to my attention shortly after I did that Macintosh Plus review. In that video, I questioned the legitimacy of a genre label like vaporwave, and led to a lot of comments and dramaaaaaaaaa.

I did, however, get an interesting message from someone informing me of another up-and-coming musical style called “metro-ko.” At the time I wasn’t really in the mood for a “new genre,” but what I heard on this particular Bandcamp did stick with me. For all intents and purposes, juche is an ambient music project, but it’s ambient music that’s playfully textured with cute synthetics and samples. There’s nothing about the music that’s overtly gripping or forceful, but its light, charming electronics do create a really attractive palette of sound.

There are lighthearted glitches that remind me of the folktronica that dropped in the early and mid 2000s, and there are glittery drones like “dead hand station” on here as well. Most of the tracks on this self-titled release are relatively short and easy to take in. Drift off for a moment and relax.

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Bat For Lashes- The Haunted Man

On her third full-length effort, singer-songwriter Natasha Khan, a.k.a. Bat For Lashes, brings on more instrumentation and co-producers than ever to bring her moody, mystical art pop to a new level.

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Mesita- “XYXY”

A menagerie of precisely placed sounds dance in divine sequence on Mesita’s new single, “XYXY.” A creature of constant flux, the song opens with a beautiful string and horn passage before locking into a tight groove of punchy drums and bass synth stabs. It’s in this  section where Mesita (a.k.a. James Cooley) sings about living life as a closeted homosexual, the confusion and the pain of having to hide who he really was, in unabashed sincerity. Punctuating every chorus to great effect, the song quickly shifts to somber piano, resulting in a dynamic song great for dancing to, but also a powerful musical confession. The song follows this pattern of rigid dance sections and effecting softer moments until about halfway through when the drums and the piano join together, spotlighting the effectiveness of the drum pattern and the delicate beauty of the piano. With its ability to move both the heart and the feet, Mesita’s “XYXY” is definitely a rare breed of song, but also a song that countless numbers of people can relate to.