Author Archives: Matthew Bloss

[Dream-Pop/Indie] Current Joys – Fear

Posted by Matthew Bloss - February 15, 2018

Current Joys
Fear

Current Joys, the hazy indie solo project of LA-based artistic chameleon Nicholas Rattigan, has been making waves behind a recent slate of singles & videos that have this writer’s full attention. Rattigan’s credits are many, from work as the frontman for two-piece Surf Curse, to solo work authored under numerous aliases, to directorial work for indie-rock sweethearts Girlpool; the multi-talented songwriter never seems to pigeonhole himself into any one corner. Most recently, Rattigan has been making music again under his solo incarnation, the aforementioned Current Joys, and we’ve been happily consuming his many rumblings to pace 2018.

“Fear”, a lurching indie-pop ballad tracked by a simple 808-sounding drum line, a very Brooklyn inspired jangly, reverb-tinged guitar loop (fitting as Rattigan recently maintained residence in NYC) and his aching vocal refrain, is one of the latest additions to Current Joys’ expanding catalog; and with every passing listen, manages to worm its way even deeper into our psyche. Its simple structure and intoxicating melody never seem to release its grip throughout the tune’s entirety, letting its listener dive deeper into Rattigan’s mind and songwriting with every passing verse. A Different Age will see release on March 2, and as Nicholas Rattigan is set to embark across a U.S. Tour (full dates can be found after the jump) with the likes of Porches and Zola Jesus, we’re gearing up for its release and a chance to catch Current Joys in the flesh.

Stream “Fear” above, and check out Current Joys’ full tour dates by clicking the link below.

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[Electro-Pop] Chromeo ft. The Dream – Bedroom Calling

Posted by Matthew Bloss - January 31, 2018

Chromeo, the stylish, iconic duo of Montreal natives and high school best friends Dave 1 and P-Thugg have established themselves as two of pop music’s most notable tastemakers since their effervescent reverberations first began making their universal rounds all the way back in 2004. Behind sterling LP’s She’s In Control, Business Casual, Fancy Footwork, and White Women the pair have cemented themselves as this generation’s leading voice of pop infused synth-funk, and to pace this year, they’ve announced the release of the group’s fifth full-length release Head Over Heels.

We’ve already had the chance to hear the LP’s leading single “Juice”, and today Chromeo have dropped off the second offering from Head Over Heels, “Bedroom Calling” featuring The Dream. The tune follows Dave 1 & P-Thugg’s established blueprint of tightly wound, popping drums, sparkling synths and crooning vocals; but with the addition of fellow funk-distributor The Dream, “Bedroom Calling” finds its own seat firmly among the duo’s established catalog. About the track Chromeo shared: “We’ve been obsessed with The-Dream since ‘Fast Car’ from his first album. To us, he’s a modern day funk auteur, like Prince or El Debarge. This song pays homage to our favorite work of his.” Stream “Bedroom Calling” below.

[Synth-Pop] Penguin Prison – Keep Coming Alive

Posted by Matthew Bloss - January 23, 2018

It’s been a few years since we last checked in with synth-pop producer, multi-instrumentalist, vocalist and songwriter Chris Glover; who is known much more widely under his artistic alias Penguin Prison. One of the most talented musicians we’ve fallen in line with over the years, Glover never fails to produce wondrously polished, pristine work. Recently, the pop virtuoso began teasing the release of another addition to the Penguin Prison puzzle. The EP Turn It Up will see release on February 9th and while he’s already shared the title track, today we’re offering Turn It Up‘s second single “Keep Coming Alive”. The tune follows Glover’s effervescent indie-pop blueprint, featuring rollicking guitar licks, snapping snares and a bevy of warm synths which creates a song that feels both familiar to his oldest fans, but cleaner in nearly every inch of production detail to simultaneously show off a clear evolution in craft.

While Penguin Prison was once a near daily staple in our steady diet of music, we’ve seen his releases dwindle in numbers over in the time since his Lost in New York release. Opening up about his recent work, Glover shared: “On the night of November 8, 2016 I initially wondered how I could even keep being an artist. It seemed like making art was trivial at that moment. Upon further reflection I realized that of course the world needs people to make music and film and all kinds of art. It can get very hard to keep coming alive while it seems like the world is trying to cut you down. You have to keep reminding yourself every day.” We can’t relay how touched by these sentiments, and happy to be featuring new Penguin Prison music in the process.

In support of Turn It Up, Penguin Prison has also announced a new slate of tour dates which you can read after the jump. Stream “Keep Coming Alive” below.

Check out Penguin Prison’s Upcoming tour dates here:

[Indie/Synth-Pop] Yoke Lore – Goodpain (Blondage Remix)

Posted by Matthew Bloss - January 16, 2018

YOKE LORE
Goodpain (Blondage Remix)

Soundcloud

Brooklyn based indie-pop auteur Adrian Galvin (formerly of Walk the Moon) spins lush webs of synth soaked pop music under the Yoke Lore moniker, and closed out 2017 with the release of an excellent EP: Goodpain. This past weekend, Yoke Lore’s Goodpain was buoyed by the release of an accompanying Goodpain Remixes sister-EP featuring indie mainstays including Yeasayer, Chad Valley, Shy Girls and more; and we’ve been happily consuming it in the time since.

Standing tall among Yoke Lore’s impressive offering of remixes is Danish electro-pop duo Blondage‘s sparkling treatment of the EP’s title track “Goodpain”. Blondage unravels Lore’s original melody, infusing their revision with a healthy dose of soulful piano stabs, and a bent take on its hooky synth line. Instrumentally, the pair manage to simultaneously gloss up their version of the tune, while also painting flecks of a more minimal approach to pop music throughout. Be sure to check out the rest of Yoke Lore’s Goodpain Remixes EP, but until then stream Blondage’s remix of “Goodpain” above.

[Indie/Dream-Pop] Ravennas – Meet in a Garden

Posted by Matthew Bloss - December 6, 2017

Ravennas
Meet In A Garden (prod. by DoM)

Soundcloud

Worming their way into your ears on this beautiful Hump Day is up and coming Seattle duo Ravennas. Comprised of childhood friends Ben Grant and Paul Dutton, Ravennas have been playing various shades of music together in some form since grade school, while their debut single “Meet in a Garden”, which was produced by tastemaking favorite DoM, sees the brand new project fusing a foundation of psych-pop, indie-rock and electro-pop. Clearly, the pair have cultivated an aural chemistry and understanding of each other’s musical prowess which can already be heard on “Meet in a Garden; an introductory tune which carries the kind of sharpness usually reserved for artists much further along their creative journeys.

Dutton’s reverb-laden, jangly guitar hearkens back to the blue print laid on some of those treasured early Captured Tracks releases, while symmetrical two-step drum pacing and a chugging bass line underpin its vocal track beautifully. About the collaboration with DoM, Dutton remarked: “DoM has a profound ability to follow his instincts and started shaping the song, shortening different sections and vibing the song out more so that it wasn’t so clean and dry.” Hearing such proficiency and direction on the duo’s debut single is quite promising, and you can be sure we’ll be anxiously awaiting the next offering from Ravennas, which is expected out early 2018. For now, sit back and enjoy “Meet in a Garden” above.

[Electronic] The Range & Jim-E Stack – With You (Yaeji Remix)

Posted by Matthew Bloss - November 14, 2017

Brooklyn based genre-eschewing producer James Hinton, better known as The Range, has stormed through this year on the heels of 2016’s excellent long-player Potential. Hinton’s aural aesthetic has been one steeped in unique textures and reverberations, as he’s primarily built his vocal samples -especially on Potential– around obscure YouTube videos with no more than a few hundred plays at most. The Range’s fluid blend of hip-hop inspired drum foundations, and larger than life synth pulses have always been quite suited towards the remix realm, which is why we’re so excited about his impending Remixes EP out this Friday on Domino. Remixes will be a 4-track affair, with remixes of his Jim-E Stack collaboration “With You” and “New Lots” (from his recent 12” release), as well as one of our favorite singles from 2016 “Florida”.

Today, we’re rolling out 24 year-old South Korean born, New York based DJ, rapper, singer and producer Yaeji‘s intimate reworking of “With You”. Yaeji’s uniquely subdued blend of house, pop, trap, and rap coalesce perfectly behind Hinton’s glossy stems, creating a softer, more heartfelt take on the original. Not to mention, Yaeji re-recorded all of the vocals using her own voice to lend an even more personal touch to her revision. With such an innate understanding of a multitude of sonics, it’s no wonder she’s been getting coined by some major outlets as ‘House Music’s Most Exciting New Voice’. Check out Yaeji’s remix of “With You” below, and be on the prowl for the rest of The Range’s Remixes EP to unfurl this Friday.

[Techno] George Fitzgerald – Burns

Posted by Matthew Bloss - November 7, 2017

It’s been just over two years since we’ve been privy to any new music from tastemaking producer George Fitzgerald, who released his debut LP Fading Love in 2015. Luckily for us, the English artist has blessed us with latest single “Burns”. Premiered as Annie Mac’s Hottest Record In The World on BBC Radio 1, “Burns” sees Fitzgerald effortlessly blending the radio friendly aesthetic of his native house and garage with the muted robotics and tinny percussion of warehouse-leaning techno. Leaning on fortified melody, “Burns” manages to maintain a healthy swath of house based soul, while rolling through arpeggiated synths, stacks of vocal samples, and understated techno drums to bring home its central thesis. About his latest tune Fitzgerald remarked: “The track started life as a studio experiment making a beatless chant out of loads of contrasting vocal samples, and then morphed over time. It works as a moment on a dancefloor but at heart it’s meant to be quite meditative, which I guess is where I’m at right now.” Which we agree, is the choice word about his latest work: “meditative”.

Rumors have been swirling around Fitzgerald’s full-length followup, and we’ve found out that it will be slated for an early 2018 release. “Burns” is out now via Domino Recording Co. offshoot Double Six Records, which you can stream below and buy here.