Brooklyn based—and previously mentioned—Yeasayer made quite the impression last year with their sophomore album Odd Blood. They recently appeared on Triple J radio’s Like a Version segment While they usually err more towards the experimental/electronic side of the genre spectrum, this cover of Seal’s “Crazy” is pure folk-rock. The group channels Seal’s acoustic version with all the ferocity and talent of their previous efforts, and the results are magnificent.
It’s songs like these that make me wish for sunnier days in California. La Sera—which means “The Will” in French—is the latest project from Vivian Girls’ bassist and occasional vocalist Katy Goodman. The tracks below come from her recently released album La Sera, and they just beg to be played somewhere sunny, preferably near a beach or some laidback place where you can lay down for a few hours.
The title-track “Devils Hearts Grow Gold” is definitely the more relaxed of the two the tracks, and has an air of indie-pop that is simply irresistible to my ears. Sounding like a more upbeat and articulate version of ASKA’s phenomenal “There Are Many of Us,” the track hearkens back to a mixture of beach-pop and folk. Imagine somewhere between the delicacy of ASKA and the sunniness of Vivian Girls, and maintain all the quality you find both, and you will have this relaxing track.
Her self-titled debut record, La Sera, can be purchased online through Amazon or iTunes.
La Sera – Devils Hearts Grow Gold
Bonus: La Sera – Never Come Around
I’m not going to pretend that any of you are familiar with the original “Contrast” as performed by the German band Microtrauma, and that’s probably because the song isn’t even out yet. But while you cannot listen to the original track, you can listen to UK-based Max Cooper’s phenomenal remix of it.
The track immediately hits you with strong beats that hold true for the whole track, and—at least in my opinion—vaguely resemble the work of Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross for the fantastic The Social Network soundtrack. While there is no vocal work or any lyrics to speak of, the track possesses a certain measured, but elaborate beauty to its arrangement. Perhaps one of the most phenomenal things about this remix of “Contrast” is how versatile is. While the strong beats could easily place it in a club environment, the dulled down siren in the background practically allows it to go anywhere. It’s a beautiful piece of music that I wouldn’t mind listening to on repeat as I work or travel.
Microtrauma – Contrast (Max Cooper Remix)
[via Indie Shuffle]
By now, Noah Lennox’s Panda Bear needs no real introduction. Despite its earlier release as the third single from his new album Tomboy in December, the experimental/electro artist has given us the album version of “Last Night At The Jetty.” The track sounds slightly sharper and more polished than the single version we’ve been familiar with for some time now, and the result is therefore—somehow—even better than the original. It’s going to be interesting to see this fantastic track in context of the full album.
Tomboy is being released independently by Paw Tracks on April 12th.
Panda Bear – Last Night At The Jetty
Practically an indie superstar, the previously mentioned James Blake has been enjoying quite a year with the release of his debut album. Recently appearing on Zane Lowe’s show on BBC Radio 1, the London musician covered Joni Mitchell’s splendid “A Case of You” from her album, Blue. Much like his previous cover “Limit to Your Love,” Blake takes to the piano and delivers a soulful and masterful performance. While it may not sway the most devout of Mitchell fans, it is certainly an honorable—and beautiful—cover of one of her most famous songs.
[via We All Want Someone To Shout For]
I am pretty sure everyone is familiar with The White Stripes’ famous and Grammy winning single “Seven Nation Army.” In honor of the band’s recent demise, the Los Angeles based electronica group The Glitch Mob has remixed the popular song and given it some of the dirtiest electro synths possibly imaginable. While the remix doesn’t necessarily depart too heavily from the original arrangement that The White Stripes’ set up, it’s a fantastic, dirty, and electric remix, and an amazing tribute to a band that will surely be missed.
Did I mention it’s dirty?
The White Stripes – Seven Nation Army (The Glitch Mob Remix)
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The serious looking fellows you see above are Cold Cave, an electro rock/pop quartet from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The group’s debut album Love Comes Close came out two years ago to generally warm reviews, a single that was featured in a number of television ads, and quite the following. While the debut album focused mostly on the electro-pop side of the quartet, based on leading single “The Great Pan is Dead” off of their new album, Cherish the Light Years, it looks like they are placing a greater emphasis on the rock side of the quartet
The track immediately starts out with a heavier amount of instruments and a strong drum line, and—start to finish—never quite lets down from this more heavy approach. The vocals in “The Great Pan is Dead” are somewhere between the intensity of The Bravery’s Sam Endicott and the strong baritone of Joy Division‘s Ian Curtis. The brass section that makes appearances after every chorus is vaguely reminiscent of The National’s in that they are extremely skillfully arranged to produce a fantastic effect. After this track, I find myself calling them a heavier, quicker, and electro version of The National, and that certainly can’t be a bad thing.
Their sophomore album, Cherish the Light Years, is being released by Matador Records on April 5th.
Cold Cave – The Great Pan is Dead
