EMA* – California (NAT)
EMA, South Dakota singer Erika M. Anderson, is angry!
This is a little poppier and more angular than my normal diet but I have also been feeling an increasing sense of frustration recently and the sound of her venting struck a chord with me!
RjK
*Artist #417
This guy was another who I found reading reviews of this year’s of SXSW festival in Texas. I don’t know too much about him other than he is super fresh and from the musical hotbed that is Montreal.
The track reminds me a little of BTSTU in that it is arresting, electronic and more than a little hypnotic. I hope he come up with a little more to back it up than Jai Paul though. What ever happened to that guy? I clearly gave him the kiss of death!
/RjK
*Artist #412
Craft Spells* – Still left with me (NAT)
This is 4 minutes of pop perfection. Regardless of how pretentious and jaded I become I will always be an utter sucker for that. This pulls off the neat trick of being at once urgent yet languid at the same time. The melody and heavenly synth remind me a little of a more upbeat version of The Drums or New Order.
These guys are from Stockton, CA. I suspect it is significantly nicer than Stockton-on-Tees which strangely came up during the course of my manic and meandering conversation on Saturday.
RjK
*Artist #406
Hint* – Aliens Enter (NAT)
Seems like Hip Hop is very much my current flavour. It appears to be the only genre that is moving me of late. I am sure it will pass soon enough as the waxing and waning of these things seem to be cyclical.
The reason I was drawn to this today (apart from the infectious beat) were the shots of Austin, Texas (Hint’s home town) in the video. This brought back very happy memories of being there this time two years ago at the South by Southwest festival and which is also now in full swing again this year. It is always a good showcase for rising artists so I will try to read some reviews and do some research in the coming weeks and pick out some recommendations for you.
It is strange and refreshing to hear a female rapper, especially one this young.
RjK
*Artist #403
Peasant* – The flask (NAT)
I don’t know a great deal about this guy but have been enjoying this tune very much recently. It is breezy and has a low-fi sound that reminds me a little of Best Coast.
It also marks artist number 400 in my meandering blogging voyage. Look out for a post over the weekend with the 10 freshest artists I have stumbled across so far. Thanks for sticking with me.
RjK
*Artist #400!!
Funeral Suits* – All those friendly people
I was sitting beside the singer of this band at a wedding in December. When he told me he was in a band but I assumed they were small time. I was surprised to hear them played on 6music this week. Good for them.
The track is quite fun too. It’s simple, youthful and easy on the ear. Slightly strange video though, a little reminscent of Miami Horror.
RjK
*Artist #395
Another’s Blood – Foreign Nights (Jewellers Remix) (NAT)
I know virtually nothing about these guys apart from the fact this is spellbinding. It has an otherworldly sound with a pretty interesting video here to match.
RjK
*Artist #391
MNDR* – I go away (NAT)
RjK
*Artist #385
Hypnotic Brass Ensemble* – Black Boy (NAT)
This is one of the freshest tracks I have heard in a while. Hypnotic Brass Ensemble are a Chicago-based family brass band (oh, the interesting journeys this blog has taken me on). I love how rich the sound is, also the vocal is strong, wise and wistful.
RjK
*Artist #381
I first came across this guy, who hails from Zimbabwe via Caribou, the mathematician, musician and man of many aliases. He has a side-project called Daphni and he sampled this song on one of those tracks. It has a fresh sound and an insistent air which makes it very compelling.
RjK
*Artist #380