Public Memory - "Butcher"

Well, since Halloween is sort of upended this year due to the pandemic, I guess I can post something spooky to make it at least feel like Halloween.  Darkwave producer Public Memory releases "Butcher" from his upcoming record Ripped Apparition.  Stuttered beats, moaning synths, and his uniquely haunting vocals make this the perfect Halloween track.

 

Ela Minus - "dominique"

 Brooklyn-based Colombian singer/producer Ela Minus has a fantastic new record out called acts of rebellion.  "dominque" is a perfect dance track for our times.  Its hypnotic synths bubble over throbbing beats, like darkwave New Order, with the narrator singing about being stuck inside, not seeing friends, and only drinking coffee and liquor.  I suppose we can call the music pandemicwave.

Autechre - "Metaz form8"

 Last week, IDM titans Autechre released their new record SIGN. Strangely, it is not a cryptic, genre-bending work, but it is surprisingly warm and inviting. The ambient centerpiece "Metaz form8" is one of the most beautiful pieces in their arsenal. It sounds like being immersed in a warm, placenta-like womb, and is easy to get lost in its embrace.

CXLOE - "Swing"

 From her EP Heavy Part One, Australian dark-pop singer CXLOE lays down a mix of lurking synths over a chopped beat on single "Swing" while her vocals coil seductively around it. 

Gorillaz ft. Beck - "The Valley of the Pagans"

 

Gorillas team up with Beck for this gloriously fun party song. It's a good way to get your week off right.

Ariana Grande - "positions"

 

From her upcoming album that should be released by month's end, "positions" is our first listen.  It's a slow-burning track that focuses on Ariana's lovely voice.

Diplo ft. Rhye - MMXX - XII

 

From his lovely ambient album MMXX, Diplo teams with Rhye for this gorgeous song that mixes chime-like synths, a barely-there beat, and Rhye's evocative vocals.

HEALTH/XIU XIU - "DELICIOUS APE"

 

From their excellent collaborations album DISCO4::PART 1, "DELICIOUS APE" is a suitably epic track featuring avantgarde popsmith XIU XIU.  There is an undercurrent of dread on this track that never fully forms but instead carefully descends into the middle section as a calm oasis of shimmering synths and textured guitars.  Then it arises again for the ending section, slowly building to a suitably HEALTH conclusion.

TSHA ft. Gabrielle Aplin - "Change"

Dance track from producer TSHA that draws from acid house with a lot of squiggly bass.  The song is about how sometimes you just, for no reason, fall out of love with someone.  

King Princess - "Only Time Makes It Human"

 Funky, discoesque new track from King Princess.

Tourist - "Siren"

 

British producer Tourist recently released a new single called "Siren."  It has a lovely shuffling breakbeat with chiming synths and ghostly vocal samples. It will transport you to another world.

Low Island - "Don't Let The Light In"

Bouncy bit of synthpop from Low Island.  There is a funky undercurrent that just makes you want to dance. 

Future Islands - "Glada"

Future Islands' sixth album As Long As You Are is one of their best, full of their trademark soaring synthscapes and Samuel T. Herring's emotional voice.  Lead track "Glada" is about finding yourself deserving of love again.  I love these lyrics:

"In the dawn
For far and long, as I have been
The last time around
Now finding a friend

Who am I?
Why do I deserve the sea again?
After all I’ve done
And finding love in the end."

Shamir - "Running"

From his new self-titled album, Shamir releases this alt-pop track "Running" that is about being in a group of toxic friends and ridding them to focus on his mental health.  The track is buoyed by a rocking beat and killer chorus.

 

Blackbird Blackbird - "Time"

Los Angeles based producer Blackbird Blackbird takes the maxillest approach on latest single "Time."  It has lots of frenetic percussion and bright synths and is an infectious track.

fanclubwallet - "Car Crash In G Major"

 

fanclubwallet releases a new song "Car Crash In G Major" whose deceptively sunny melody belies its gallows humor lyrics.  

Lost Horizons (Simon Raymonde of Cocteau Twins) ft. John Grant - "Cordelia"

 

Lost Horizons, Simon Raymonde of Cocteau Twins and former Dif Juz drummer Richie Thomas, are set to release a double album in December called In Quiet Moments.  The enlist John Grant for vocals on the ghostly track called "Cordelia."  The song captures the spirit of This Mortal Coil's work and Raymonde's work with Harold Budd.

Róisín Murphy - "We Got Together"

 

Róisín Murphy returns with her majestic new dance record Róisín Machine.  It's another great dance album this year where I could literally post every song from it.  I love the chugging rhythms of "We Got Together" that makes you just want to get hot and sweaty on the dance floor. 

Tycho ft. rum.gold - "Run Away"

 

Tycho releases this dreamy new track featuring the velvety vocals of R&B star rum.gold.  It's a lovely way to start a week off.

Purity Ring - "Better Off Alone (Alice Deejay cover)"

 Purity Ring release this surprise cover of late 1990s Eurodance classic "Better Off Alone" from Dutch DJ collective Alice Deejay.  They bring their own sound to the track which is quite beautiful.

Jónsi and Robyn - "Salt Licorice"

 

Jónsi and Robyn team up for this fun and bizarre track called "Salt Licorice."  It's produced by PC Music producer A.G. Cook and appears on Jónsi's new solo album called Shiver which is out tomorrow.