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Anamanaguchi – Planet
Anamanaguchi are a four piece chiptune-rock outfit from NYC that has actually played at UConn before in one of our Mischief After Dark Concerts. After hearing this new song, I’m convinced that we need to have them back again so I can hear this song live. If you’re not familiar with the term “chiptune” it refers to mixing 8-bit sounds found in Gameboy/NES games into rock music, which at times can turn out extremely cheesy, but in this case it turned out to be extremely infectious. It’s packed full of romantic, swooning chords and an insanely catchy chorus. The nerd inside me is brought to thoughts of an ending to a Super Nintendo game with the hero getting back together with his girl, and having them hover-bike into the sunset while cyber-dolphins jump over them and prism-like flowers blow in the breeze. The song is sweet, epic and a lot of fun. Their new album, appropriately titled “Endless Fantasy” is out on May 14th.
https://soundcloud.com/anamanaguchi/planet
DJ Rashad – Let It Go
Hoping to diversify the Hot New Tracks playlist a bit, I’m including a new track by the prolific Chicago footwork producer DJ Rashad, called “Let it Go.” Footwork is a style of electronic dance music characterized by really choppy, syncopated beats over minimalistic rhythms, micro-looped drums and a slew of soulful samples that are weaved in to the mesh. This song is no deviation from the structure, but it definitely shows his strength in the field. The main synth background sounds like it was taken from the game “Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past” and squeezes in some cool samples, one of which sounds like it came from the song “Easy” by Mat Zo & Porter Robinson, unless the sample that they used came from something else. It’s a fiery, club banger that you’ll probably hear if you head down to Chicago to some footwork clubs. I guarantee it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qPecFEVst_c
James Blake – Digital Lion (ft. Brian Eno)
James Blake, the wonderful songsmith from the UK has his sophomore album coming out this year and BOY O BOY, am I looking forward to it. I’m still listening to his 2010 debut and I even included it my favorite winter albums. Blake has a knack for making wonderfully smooth and emotive soundscapes for his already smooth, soulful vocals. His stuff is seriously next level. This is only his second album and he’s already got the help of Eno on production! On another track of his album, he has RZA from Wu-Tang Clan on it. If that doesn’t tell you anything about the caliber of this musician I don’t know what will. This is a great track that fits in well with Hyperdub label 2-step/future garage, but with crazy wonderful vocals over it.
https://soundcloud.com/1-800-dinosaur/james-blake-digital-lion
Justin Timberlake – Tunnel Vision
Believe it: a Justin Timberlake song off of his new album appearing in the HOT NEW TRACKS. His new album is a pretty groovy and stylish affair, blending tons of decades of pop together into a pretty cohesive package. This song, Tunnel Vision, is probably my favorite off the new album, as it has the most interesting beat and grooving melody. This is all opinion, by the way. You could totally dismiss the album due to its pop sensibilities but I think it’s a really great effort of a pop album. Timberlake has another coming out in November; so if you’re enjoying this, make sure to keep a look out in a few months.
The Knife – A Tooth For An Eye
Sweden’s The Knife have always stood out to me as a group that’s odd. But they take that odd-ness and use it to make music that is so unbelievably creative that they shatter new group with every new release. Their upcoming album, Shaking the Habitual, is one of my most anticipated releases of 2013, mostly on account of their previous work and especially the first two singles they’ve released so far. The first song being “Full of Fire” which I’m pretty sure I blogged about earlier in the year, which boasted a nine minute length and industrial, inhuman synths pounding away at your subconscious. This song, still as intense as “Full of Fire,” brings shimmering synths plinking away in each ear with crazily syncopated rhythms that overlay like you’re looking at a ton of oscillating light arrangements. Karin Dreijer Andersson’s vocals are as warped and distorted as ever and the instrumentals are wickedly twisted. It’s a great Knife song and if you’re into odd sounding electronic songs from Sweden then I fully endorse you listening to this.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W10F0ezCTIQ
Shlohmo x Jeremih – Bo Peep (Do U Right)
Now I’ve featured Shlohmo three times on this weekly feature, but who is this other guy? Jeremih? You mean BIRTHDAY SEX Jeremih? Yes it’s true. That Jeremih. You can’t be serious. Well, if this song’s beat were crafted by any other person besides Shlohmo (well maybe Ryan Hemsworth) it wouldn’t be on this list. Shlohmo has a knack for making airy yet bouncing beats that are the perfect backdrops for spectacularly smooth RnB like this. It reminds me of The Weeknd, in terms of the darkness that is floating around the track, but the songs lyrical material is not nearly as dark. This song is just a smooth as hell semi-banger that you could put on to just chill out. Personally, I think grooves like this should be illegal. Aren’t we having a population crisis right now?? This isn’t helping!
https://soundcloud.com/shlohmo/bo-peep-do-u-right
Vampire Weekend – Diane Young
2013 has been shaping up to be one of the best musical years in a long time. Some indie-rock heavy hitters have been coming back to the scene with not only their signature sound but with a fresh, 2013 tune up. Vampire Weekend definitely fits this bill. They have their third LP coming out this year, entitled Modern Vampires in the City, and Diane Young is the first track we’ve heard off of it. It has some great horns, a hard drumbeat, real hip references and Ezra Koenig’s signature vocals bouncing in and out of the instrumental. It’s a really fun song that adds some sweet variety to Vampire Weekend’s catalog. I can’t wait for the full length!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mX46e4GtlXM