Jam of the Day: Hemlock Ernst & Kenny Segal - "Down"

When I read that Samuel T. Herring of Future Island was releasing a rap album I was initially perplexed and confused. On paper, it sounded like the ultimate vanity project that would be at best a curiosity and, at worst, a total embarrassment. Turns out, after reading this article from Stereogum.com, Herring has been rapping in his hometown of Baltimore since before he was actually singing. He has now released Back at the House, a collaboration with LA producer Kenny Segal that is surprisingly a pretty damn good rap record. One of my favorite tracks on the record is "Down." It starts off with haunting Satie-esque ambient piano chords, entering in with a skittering drum beat and washes of synths. Herring provides impressive machine gun fire rhymes down on top.

Jam of the Day: Shygirl - "BB"

Shygirl returns with this bass-heavy club track produced by Sega Bodega.

Jam of the Day: One True Pairing - "Only God Can Judge Me"

Tom Fleming, formerly of Wild Beasts, releases his first solo album under the moniker One True Pairing. His stunning baritone is the highlight of this synth heavy track.

Jam of the Day: Beck - "Uneventful Days"

The first taste from Beck's upcoming album Hyperspace is the low-key, synthpop of "Uneventful Days," produced by Pharrell Williams. While the music is subtle, the song really focuses on a very heartfelt vocal from Beck.

Jam of the Day: Cigarettes After Sex - "Touch"

"Touch" is an achingly gorgeous track from Cigarettes After Sex's latest record Cry. They have conquered the market for atmospheric noir-pop.

Jam of the Day: Another Sky - "Life Was Coming Through The Blinds"

Another Sky draws from the deep wells of both Radiohead and Talk Talk on their new EP. The title track meshes jazz-flavored drums, subtle piano, intertwining guitars, washes of synthesizers, and haunting androgynous vocals. It's quite stunning.

Jam of the Day: Roland Tings - "Always Rushing (ft. Mild Minds)"

From his upcoming album Salt Water, Melbourne producer Roland Tings releases this shuffling dance track that often goes into unexpected directions. I especially like the hints of acid-house he throws in.

Jam of the Day: Panda Bear - "playing the long game"

Animal Collective member, aka Noah Lennox, working with producer Rusty Santos releases this new single under his Panda Bear moniker. It's a bass-heavy track, punctuated with washes of synthesizers and Lennox's muti-tracked voice.

Jam of the Day: Caribou - "Home"

Caribou, a.k.a. Dan Snaith, returns after a five-year absence with new single "Home." It's a warm, groovy track built off a sample of Gloria Barnes’ "Home."

Jam of the Day: Blue Hawaii - "Still I Miss U"

Montreal synthpop duo Blue Hawaii (Braids’ Raphaelle ‘Ra’ Standell and Alexander ‘Agor’ Kerby) just released their excellent fourth record Open Reduction Internal Fixation. I'm drawn to the single "Still I Miss U" with its tender synths and aching chorus. Anyone that has gone through a breakup and misses their ex will understand the sentiment of this beautiful track.

Jam of the Day: Kim Gordon - "Sketch Artist"

Former Sonic Youth bassist Kim Gordon has released her first solo album No Home Record. "Sketch Artist" is a dark, Death Grips-like sonic exploration. If you enjoy this track, you will really enjoy the full album.

Jam of the Day: Poliça - "Driving"

Poliça returns with When We Stay Alive, their first record since 2016. Our first taste of the album is the sensuous and seductive pull of track "Driving."

Jam of the Day: RIDE - "Repetition (Gabe Gurnsey Remix)"

RIDE has released an excellent new album called This Is Not A Safe Place. I have already posted their song "End Game" but I decided to post this Gabe Gurnsey remix of their track "Repetition." It's a furiously addictive dance remix that gets your day started off right. I have also included the original version as well for context.

Jam of the Day: DIIV - "Acheron"

Shoegaze band DIIV returns with its excellent new record Deceiver. It was hard to pick just one track that stands out, so I went with the epic closing track "Acheron," which slowly builds to a ferocious climax.

Jam of the Day: Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds - "Waiting for You"

Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds' 18th album Ghosteen is a haunting song cycle meditating on loss and grieving. The album is the first one released since the accidental death of Cave's son Arthur. It asks the big questions about life but is never heavy-handed or maudlin. For me, the record is most touching during the quiet, contemplative moments. Cave's voice is so emotionally bare and resonant on "Waiting for You." Stark piano chords and subtle electronics provide the perfect canvas.

Jam of the Day: bülow - "Upside Down"

Nineteen-year-old Canadian singer bülow is steadily gaining momentum with her pop skills, winning the Juno award as 2019 Breakthrough Artist of the Year. From her new EP The Contender, bülow mines darker territory with the stark, trap-inspired song "Upside Down."

Jam of the Day: Rhi - "Swagger"

I read a description of London-based singer-songwriter Rhi that seemed fairly apt; that she is the lovechild of James Blake and Lana Del Rey. She has just released her sophomore record The Pale Queen, which is filled with dreamy, hazy tracks like "Swagger."

Jam of the Day: Telefon Tel Aviv - "standing on the bottom of the ocean"

Josh Eustis has released the first album under the Telefon Tel Aviv moniker in over 10 years after the death of founding member Charlie Cooper. Dreams Are Not Enough is a fascinating album dealing with love and loss. "standing on the bottom of the ocean" is ghostly synthpop that questions existence and death, with pointed lyrics like "What good are we/If we can't see?/The things we knew/
They can't save you."

Jam of the Day: The Juan Maclean - "Feel Like Movin'"

More euphoric house music perfection from The Juan Maclean and Nancy Whang of LCD Soundsystem. This is the perfect song to get you amped up for the weekend.

Jam of the Day: Chromatics - "Light as a Feather"

Chromatics dropped a surprise album this week called Closer to Grey and it was well worth the wait. "Light as a Feather" pushes their sound into a slightly new direction. Utilizing synth loops and a breakbeat sample, there is a hip-hop, almost industrial feel to the track, with Ruth Radelet's breathy vocals pulling you in close.

Jam of the Day: Boy Harsher - "Send Me A Vision"

Darkwave duo revisit their EP Country Girl and have expanded it into a full length now named Country Girl Uncut. "Send Me A Vision" is a darkly seductive track that will lure you onto the dance floor.

Jam of the Day: YACHT - "DEATH"

Dance-punk band YACHT's new album Chain Tripping was created using AI software that found new melodies in their older songs. Regardless of this odd procedure, they still create great music. I am drawn to the sunny and funky grooves of "DEATH."