Listen: Lost Film - "try (demo)"

We've had a long time to digest the short output of Lost Film's minimal guitar pop so far, and we can safely say that the three original demos Jimmy Hewitt released earlier this year are some of the most memorable tracks of 2014. They're uncluttered, restraint, distant–yet comfortable all the same. His tunes come equipped with an inescapable calling of suburban imagery, one that's brought about by nostalgic guitar melodies and an almost disconnected vocal delivery from Hewitt. All of this is evident on his newly released demo "try," as Lost Film again never fails to evoke an empty longing in listeners; although, we've come to expect that by now. The track will be on the artist's upcoming full-length release come next year.

"a few years back in my cubicle days, I overheard two of my middle aged coworkers chatting about married life. one of them was recently engaged and half-jokingly asked the other for some advice. darrell, a guy not only known for being close-mouthed but also specializing in sarcasm, took a few seconds and responded with: "just don't forget to try". even though the surprisingly sincere advice wasn't directly given to me, I've always held onto it. This song was written about their conversation."

Listen: Japanese Wallpaper - "Between Friends (Qrion Remix)"

[Off Japanese Wallpaper's 2014 Remixes]

Watch: Panda Bear - "Boys Latin"

The second single from Panda Bear's upcoming Panda Bear Meets The Grim Reaper LP (out 1/12/15 via Domino Records) [Directed by Isaiah Saxon & Sean Hellfritsch]

Listen: How To Dress Well - "Tomb For Anatole"

In lieu of Tom Krell's final 2014 shows, the artist has put out a previously unreleased track from his Total Loss sessions today (via LuckyMe). "Tomb For Anatole" is a heart wrenching song inline with How To Dress Well's cold 2012 LP, combining a slow melody with a trademark sorrowful vocal performance. It's hazy and clear all the same, and Krell always seems to emerge on top of his inner battles with a contrasting clarity. "Here's an old song from 2011-2012 that i always wanted to put out but could never find a place for. It's a sad song but i really love it." Listen to/download "Tomb For Anatole" below.

Listen: Tati Ana - "Leave You (Lucian Remix)"

Lucian has quickly become one our favorite remixers. His slick use of spinning production styles immediately present in standouts works like his "TRNDSTTR" or "Armistice" re-ups show a lot of things to like from the producer, the first of which being his proficient use of synths without overwhelming listeners. With his latest, Lucian continues this pattern by transforming Tati Ana's crawling "Leave You" into an understated banger. Pitched vocals and separated pockets of synth "assaults" create a distinct and admirable piece, one that's inline with his best reworks. In fact, this may qualify as his best: his ability to let the track breathe–which we find to be the most appealing of his vast skill set–is at its height here. Stream the cut below, and download it for free here.

Listen: Caribou - "Second Chance (Shines Re-Tune)"

Los Angeles-based producer Shines takes on Caribou's menacing "Second Chance," the budding constant from the this year's Our Love LP, and manages a remarkable stand-alone rework. A detailed soundscape tempers the original's unsettling pitches with a clear focus that plays complimentary to Jessy Lanza's subdued vocal work. Although not as ominous, the cut retains the same underlying tempo efficiencies that steadily work to intrigue with its soundscape. Shines' acute attention to production is clear by the tracks end, and a suitably tight piece is left in a captivating and encircling fashion. You can stream/download the re-tune for free below, and cop the artist's debut self-titled EP via Color Station.

Listen: GARREN - "Wanna Be There"

Rising San Francisco native Garren Langford has been making waves with his smooth R&B-influenced production outputs, and rightfully so: GARREN shows an incredibly swift ability to employ a mid-tempo and controlled beat work on nearly anything he touches. Unsurprisingly, his newest cut "Wanna Be There" is no exception. Wavering synths and pitched vocal samples collide in perfect unison, lending a weight to an open, breezy affair. The producer is perfectly content with emitting sunlit vibes and, if the result is always as fulfilling as this, there's nothing wrong with that. Stream/download the track below.

Listen: Captpizza - "Day I Saw U (Redux Edit)"

Paris-based producer Redux has released another jam today with his edit of Captpizza's "Day I Saw U", and we couldn't be any happier with the track. The beat maker puts his own spin on the already-vibing tune by adding much-welcomed tempo changes (although only slightly), dynamic production, and muted, pitched vocal samples that spin our heads. The piece crawls along impressively, surrounding listeners in mesmerizing soundscapes with an effortlessly hazy aura. It's impressively spacey, kick-back tracks like these that make Redux an artist to watch. Stream the track below and download it for free here.

Watch: My Drunken Haze - "Carol Wait"

[Directed by Angeliki Hatzi]

SimpleDiggs' Albums Of 2014

(Photo: DylanKY)

This year in music hasn't necessarily been the most giving in regards to mainstay, resonating releases. As the number of widely accepted, critically acclaimed, and personally anticipated albums that failed to hold our interests mounted up, we constantly found ourselves a little let down as 2014 progressed. Accordingly, a number of releases we thought for sure would be on here a few months ago (The War On Drugs, Tycho, Isaiah Rashad, & more) didn't stick with us as much as we thought they would. With that being said, more than enough gems surfaced that sufficiently filled out our stereos, and some would most likely still top any list (Fear Of Men, Real Estate, SALES). That's the type of year 2014 has been: not without its ups and downs. Regardless, you can find the albums we've loved the most after the jump, as well as a 2-hour Spotify playlist from our favorites. Check back in a week for our completely ludicrous list of favorite songs.

Listen: Purity Ring - "Push Pull"

Listen: Hayden James - "Permission To Love (Oshan Edit)"

Oshan accomplishes something really astonishing with his new "Permission To Love" edit. By employing layered synths, funk-like rhythms, and bubbling soundscapes, the Sydney-based producer flips the tune into a captivating "future" beats piece. This may be attributed to the fact that Oshan releases have been something of a rarity lately, but the rework is surprisingly refreshing on multiple levels. It's a triumphantly dynamic track with mesmerizing turns that further cements and confirms the producer's budding status. Oh, and +1 for the Vice City artwork. Stream/download the edit below.

[via]

LIVE REVIEW: How To Dress Well at TivoliVredenburg - Utrecht, Netherlands [11/01/14]

By Ken Baldino

How To Dress Well’s Tom Krell “likes sad music but also likes to live a happy life,” as he told the Utrecht crowd during one of his many chatty breaks between songs. This idea is fundamental when considering the live performance of one of pop music’s most haunting artists. The balance between banter and soul-baring sonic outpouring is a delicate one, but one that it seems the native Coloradan must have. Interactions with his band and audience are, literally and figuratively, time to catch his breath, to come up for air, lest the weight of performing such emotional material drag him into the lonely abyss. 

Listen: Spazzkid - "Truly ft. Sarah Bonito (Tomggg remix)"

Japan-based producer Tomggg is infectiously proficient: it seems like every track he touches glows with a bouncing efficacy, one that jam-packs a busy number of irresistible, lightly assaulting sounds. With his remix of Spazzkid's "Truly",  the artist gives a hyper-speed version of the already-catchy tune by adding trademark whirling production with impossibly up-beat tones. There may be a lot going on, but Tomggg avoids an overwhelming density because of his ability to create soaring soundscapes. What results is a surprisingly harmonious rework that truly induces euphoria on multiple occasions.

Listen: Sea Pinks - "Art Imitating Life"

[Off the Dreaming Tracks LP out on CF Records]

Listen: Abhi//Dijon - "ECS"

Maryland duo Abhi//Dijon probably snuck their way onto our year end lists with their impressively low-key self-titled EP, employing their brand of whispering R&B to a vulnerable effect. Their first release since the EP comes in the form of "ECS", a Myself & Others exclusive that explores the same fleeting, slick, and fragile melodies that we've come to expect (and love) from the two. Check out the single below.


[via]

November 2014 Mix

(Photo: DylanKY)

DOWNLOAD: 

SIMPLE DIGGS NOVEMBER 2014 (37mb)

Tracklist after the jump...

Listen: PVLMS - "Memories"

Oklahoma-based producer duo PVLMS offer up a simple, vibes-heavy soundscape with "Memories". The cut is a steady climb of calming and mid-tempo synths that blend to a soothing affair, one that completely enshrouds listeners in lush tones. The pace at which the melody moves notably mesmerizes with its slick turns and screwed vocal bits. This is unsurprisingly inline with their recently-released Compassion EP, a diverse collection of tunes with an underlying controlled-tempo and experimental direction. "Memories" is a hypnotic affair and further shows how easy it is to get lost in PVLMS' (short) discography. Listen to the track below.

Watch: Chimurenga Renaissance - "They Pray In Vain"

[Directed by Kyle Seago]

Listen: Clark - "An Accident In A Stationary Shop (1998)"

Listen: How To Dress Well - You And I Are The Same mix

[HTDW + friends]

Watch: TIO - "Lips Like Wine"

[TIO][via]

LABEL PROFILE: Color Station

There’s an undeniable sense of admiration that accompanies Brooklyn/Los Angeles based label Color Station. Only four months removed from their inaugural release, the imprint impressively lays claim to a roster of six versatile artists and four noteworthy releases already. Boasting a confident introductory period full of promising gems is remarkably surprising considering their short existence so far, and only points to a stronger presence ahead. With impassioned optimism, the blooming imprint looks to the foreseeable future with no intentions of slowing down.

Art forward. Zero rules. Two key components that find themselves embedded in just about every aspect of Color Station. With their artists, it manifests in a wide range of sounds anywhere between (but most certainly not limited to) untethered electronic experimentation to gripping pop melodies. Their roster excels in this diversity, yet each signee explores their respective musical directions with a connecting fervent desire to progress. It’s a forward-thinking attribute expressed that mirrors the culminating function of the independent label: to create and perceive music without boundaries. 

DIY-creative Troy Keon helms the project with an immediate vibrancy that seems at least partly (if not entirely) responsible for Color Station’s romantic artistic direction. We got to chat with the co-owner about the label’s inception, ideals, and plans for the future. You can also find the just-released Bewilderbeast deconstruction of label mate White Royal’s “Be Terrestrial” below, a massive display of dissonant tones and ideas.

Listen: Hannah Diamond - "Every Night"

[Out on PC Music + download on iTunes]

Listen: Sun Angels - United Kingdom EP

The consistently prolific Cascine releases another quick gem in recent signee Sun Angels' United Kingdom EP. The 3-track project is a quick flash of diverse electronic exploration, with shifting tempos and moods seamlessly traversed on each track. "Night Gym/Fight Music", for example, emits exotic, jungle-like rhythmic drums before suddenly progressing into an entirely unrecognizable mash of layered soaring synths. It's a refreshing spin on the climbing builds littered throughout today's electronic scene, and the oddly comforting skill set that the producer shows to posses invokes a feeling of satiability. And that's what we have in United Kingdom, a short-but-fulfilling release that serves as a promising introduction to the newly joined label member. Stream the release below/cop it here.

Listen: Black Coast - "TRNDSTTR (Lucian Remix)"

Lucian really sets it off on his rework of Black Coast's "TRNDSTTR". No, really. The NY-based producer makes quick work of a vocally led rise before completely flipping the track on us; blaring, intermittent synths hit out of nowhere with an in-your-face intensity that literally dropped our jaws. As if to pick up the pieces, the artist rides out a bouncing beat with a vibrant confidence that handedly brings listeners back down to earth. All of this is done with a tangible ease, as it's clear that Lucian possesses the skill to do this on the regular. Check it out below/download here.

Listen: J Tropic x Alyss - "September (cover)"

A lot of skepticism can accompany any Earth, Wind & Fire cover, let alone the instantly recognizable melody of "September", but J Tropic and Alyss handle the ubiquitous tune with such fervent care that it takes a moment to fully realize this is the same inescapable song we've been subjected to for the past few decades. This alone should merit appreciation, as the two supplant a stand-alone rework with budding synths and smooth tones that encourage a reinvigorated interaction with the familiar cut. We can't say this was unexpected, though, as the singer-producer collaboration has already yielded two stunning showcases of R&B-meets-slick production ("Who U Are"/"Love Up"). With their "September" cover, both artists further establish themselves as promising new creatives we need to keep an eye on.

Listen: Alex Burey - "Inside World"

There's a quiet air of reflection in South London-based singer/songwriter Alex Burey's modest sound that can be likened to all the redeemable qualities of the always-soft King Krule: it's dense, contains an understated inhabitance of nostalgia, and often prefers to accomplish more with what's not said. As such, "Inside World" is an exemplary output of human warmth, as Burey emits restraint honesty that enshrouds listeners with an aura of invading comfort. While it's hard not to conjure up images of empty city streets and lonely late-nights fraught with aimless wanderings, these accompanying visuals come without alarm. The single revels in its self-introspection, and let's us know that sometimes it's okay finding solace in isolation. This is tranquility at its finest. The track will be on the upcoming Inside World EP come January 15th via Burey's own Pling Recordings.

Watch: Headrooms - "Pillow Talk"

Amsterdam-based producer Headrooms pairs dizzying visuals with his vibrant single "Pillow Talk", a blur of sonically plush tones that constantly sit on the edge of blowing over in exuberant fashion. Instead, the artist adopts a restraint-albeit-spinning style that consistently engages throughout. The track is off the Pillow Talk/Silly Chats 7" via Groove College. [Visuals by Gregmack]

Listen: Flamingosis x A Sol Mechanic - Brother EP

Producers Flamingosis and A Sol Mechanic team up on the 4-track Brother EP, a promising deluge of mid-tempo nostalgia that's an entirely encompassing, gracefully breezy trip. The two both effortlessly inhibit future-funk synths and tones that surround listeners within a veil of pure bliss, showing a wholly welcomed natural pairing. What results is a finely crafted collection of tunes that flow, spin, and encapsulate with an ease that encourages kicking back and letting the vibes completely take you. Stream the full EP below and download it via name-your-price here.

[Stereocure/Rootnote]

Listen: Andreya Triana - "The Best Is Yet To Come (Lapalux Remix)"

[Lapalux reworks Andreya Triana for her Everything You Never Had Pt. II EP]

Listen: Matte Wood - Matte Wood EP

Cascine never fail to disappoint, adding Matte Wood's self-titled EP to an already-strong catalogue of solid releases so far this year. Out on their digital singles sub-label (CSCN), producer James Jano contributes three living, pulsing tracks that exist somewhere between light fixation and full-blown hypnotic fascination. Check it out below.

Watch: Saint Pepsi - "Fall Harder"

[Directed by Alex Girav]

Listen: Foxes In Fiction - "Ontario Gothic (Alternative Version)"

Check out a stellar stripped down version of Foxes In Fiction's "Ontario Gothic", the standout title track from the LP of the same name (released earlier this year via Orchid Tapes). The cut was recorded for the Japanese release of the record, and features an even cleaner structure that emits a beauteous radiance through its simplicity. Stream the track below and download it for free here.

[You can still download Foxes In Fiction's Ontario Gothic LP via name-your-price on Bandcamp.]

Listen: Tallows + Celadon City - "Sea Sick"

Check out the collaboration between Oklahoma-based acts Tallows and Celadon City in "Sea Sick". The production marriage of a dense and underlit soundscape with the backseat vocals of Tallows frontman Josh Hogsett relays a flickering notion of despair; Hogsett discharges an emotional deluge of remorsefully honest lyricism that hits home on a number of levels. With opening lines "Before we get sea sick", it's immediately apparent that the following four-and-a-half minutes is brimming with a personifying introspection that's only intensified by a waning vocal delivery. Stream/download the collaboration below.

[via]

Listen: Kero Kero Bonito - "Build It Up"

[Kero Kero Bonito]

Listen: Chromatics - "Shadow"

If you haven't been keeping up with Johnny Jewel's soundcloud over the past month, you've been missing out on some really solid, unreleased material from artists on his Italians Do It Better imprint. He recently dropped "Shadow", a slowly building Chromatics ballad that's immediately lush and invading in a sonically encompassing way. A soothing meld of vibrantly washed out guitar tones, dreamy synths, and vocoded vocals hits like a wall of understated opulence that feels straight out of the 80's. Stream/download the track below.

Listen: Secret Attraction - "Yours"

Phoenix-based producer Derek Wise (Secret Attraction) makes wonderfully bliss, hazily synth-driven tunes that makes contact in all sorts of ways. It makes sense, then, that he's releasing his upcoming Miss You Bad EP on Stratford CT., the imprint that prides itself on an extensive roster of naturally chill beatmakers. The first track from the release is "Yours", a layered experience of soothing tones and subdued elation. Through an almost lo-fi aesthetic, Wise relays a subtle euphoria that radiates just enough to create a fully-forming, harmonious piece. Check out the single below.

[via]

Listen: Shaunic x Joseph L'Étranger - "Git It"

[Shaunic x Joseph L'Étranger]

Listen: Nancy Sinatra - "Bang Bang (J.Pennyworth Remix)"

[J.Pennyworth is gearing up to work on his debut EP. Check out his winding remix of a classic Nancy Sinatra cut above in anticipation.]

Watch: Les Sins - "Why (ft. Nate Salman)"

[Directed by Matt Renoir]

Listen: X&G - "Home ft. Kidä"

[X&G x Kidä]

Listen: Anna of the North - "Sway (et aliae Remix)"

It seems we've become more enamored with producer et aliae's remixes as of late, as she constantly releases improved, spaced-out and airy versions of already-exemplary tracks. Next up in line of hazy reworks is an edit of Anna of the North's "Sway", a cut that's already decidedly subdued and low-key. Throw in et aliae's affinity for washed out soundscapes built around drowned vocals, and the resulting recipe is a quietly soaring, stunning barrage of bliss. As if we expected anything else from the artist at this point.

Listen: The Derevolutions - "Bad King Kong"

Boston pop outfit The Derevolutions are ahead of the game right now in regards to uniqueness; nothing sounds like these guys right now. Seriously. The best part is, they're consistently getting better. "Bad King Kong" is the group's bounciest to date (a bold statement considering their vibrant body of work): the tune works an infectious groove that's so dynamic that we constantly found ourselves genuinely delighted throughout its winding twists and spins. Stream/download the track below.

Listen: Giraffage - "Chocolate"

[No Reason EP out November 18th on Fool's Gold]

Listen: TĀlĀ - "Unfinished Business"

[Off TĀLĀ's upcoming Alchemy EP]

Listen: OWLLE - "Fog (Andrea remix)"

Parisian producer Andrea seamlessly pairs OWLLE's "Fog" with an understated-yet-bombastic soundscape, where aqueous rhythms clash with anything and everything within the confides of cloud-rap atmospheres and trap-styled tones. If you're looking for grandiose, fog-enshrouded beats á la Clams Casino, this is a good place to start.

Listen: Azekel - "Chronophobia"

Versatile singer/songwriter/producer Azekel has released a new track in "Chronophobia", a traversing soul-tinged jam that features everything from pulsing synths to soaring horns. While the exceptional production is wholly welcome, the highlight is clearly the smooth R&B vocals from the artist: Azekel navigates the varying intensity levels with a breathtaking and commanding performance that solidifies "Chronophobia" as his most fulfilling single to date.

Listen: Fantastic Fantastic - "The Night"

Synth-pop duo Fantastic Fantastic have quickly established themselves as a band to watch with only a few tracks under their belt. With their third single in "The Night", it's clear that this designation is warranted, as the two show an affinity for infectious rhythms and melodies. The vocal dynamics and bouncing instrumentation show to be an irresistible pairing, producing a likability that's hard to deny. +1 for the artwork (via Jordy van den Nieuwendijk).

Listen: cln - "Satisfy (ft. Lou Millar)"

It's hard not to be impressed by Brisbane-based 19 year old cln. The youngster is constantly putting out dizzying material that never ceases to amaze us, and his newest single is no exception. Featuring vocals from Lou Millar, cln wounds lyrical sharpness with impeccable production of his own. The resulting marriage of slick and mesmerizing tones presents a tightly wound project that crawls towards its soaring high: a barrage of synths that disorientates and delights all the same. Stream/download "Satisfy" below.


[via]

Listen: White Royal - "Notice (BAILE Remix)"

Brooklyn-based producer BAILE has released another daunting track in his rework of White Royal's "Notice". The artist leads the Color Station label mates' beautifully restrained tune further into a down-tempo spiral, inducing calmness through repetition and pitched vocals that hauntingly hang in the air. The ruminating soundscapes that BAILE adopts so effortlessly caught our attention with previous releases, and his skill is fully exemplified here within the brooding beat. Check it out below, and pre-order the single here (out November 18th).

Listen: TEK.LUN - The GreenBox EP

[on HW&W]

Listen: Fortune - "How I feel"

The Flow-Fi originator Fortune has reached a million plays on his Soundcloud and decided to commemorate the milestone by releasing the first single off the upcoming Venha Comigo EP in "How I Feel". Check out the vibes-heavy cut below.

Listen: Rvdical The Kid - "Free Spirit"

Baltimore-based producer Rvdical The Kid will be releasing a little four-track EP in the near future, and he's shared the first single in "Free Spirit". The pulsing beat features a plethora of twisting horns and exotic soundscapes that entice and impress. There's an immediate hint of a slightly off-kilter melody, but it's a welcome unfamiliarity as the track emits a radiantly swift blend of funk, a permeating soul sample, brooding drums, and much more.

Listen: Guy Akimoto - "So Far Away"

London-based label Activia Benz has steadily been supplying electronic tunes as part of their Singles Club project. The imprint "is an ongoing curated playlist of original tracks from electronic artists from around the globe", putting out a new cut from diverse producers every two weeks. The first single this month comes from Guy Akimoto in "So Far Away", a beautiful vocoder-laden composition that takes advantage of the trade off between lush synths and a constant booming bass. Stream the song below and download it here.

Listen: Flamingosis x Yung Bae - "Groovin'"

Yung Bae and Flamingosis team up for a blooming day-time disco jam in "Groovin'". The duo of producers inhibit laid-back vibes with pulsing and steady bass lines, inducing images of poolside summer days. Fortunately, we have no problem kicking it with summer vibes year round.

Listen: Yumi Zouma - "Alena (Ricky Eat Acid Remix)"

[via]

Listen: AudioOpera - "Last Form"

[AudioOpera's "Last Form" is brimming with infectious production inline with previous Secret Songs releases, with its spinning synths and whirring atmosphere of sonically lush tones providing an exemplary insight into the collection of diverse contributions.]

Listen: Travis Bretzer - "Promises"

Edmonton, Canada's Travis Bretzer is planning to release his Waxing Romantic LP come February 24th via Mexican Summer. If lead single "Promises" is anything to go by, it appears the project will be chock full of light-hearted pop tunes that effortlessly capture and float catchy melodies through our heads. Bretzer is vocally endearing here, propping up weighted lyrics with a simple and relatable delivery. You can stream the single below and cop the mp3 here.

LIVE REVIEW: The Menzingers at Paradiso - Amsterdam, Netherlands [10/08/14]

By Ken Baldino

Given the prevalent themes in The Menzingers’ songs—loss, loneliness, longing, and nostalgia, just to name a few—their live performance might justifiably bear a bit of that weight and be infused with some distance.  But no, nothing could be further from the truth.  They are The Menzingers, after all, a punk band whose music, even in studio recordings, leaps from the speakers with an in-your-face authenticity.  In their live set, it simply erupts.