Bobbie Gillespie & Jehnny Beth - "Remember We Were Lovers"

 Bobbie Gillespie (Primal Scream) and Jehnny Beth (Savages) have announced a collaborative album they've made called Utopian Ashes. First single, "Remember We Were Lovers," is a killer, honkytonk-style ballad. I'm really excited to hear the rest of the record.

Tune-Yards - "Cannonball (The Breeders Cover)"

Off the 40th anniversary 4AD tribute album Bills & Aches & Blues, Tune-Yards provides a spirited cover of The Breeders' classic track "Cannonball."

Kele - "Smalltown Boy (Bronski Beat Cover)"

Bloc Party frontman Kele announced his upcoming solo album called The Waves Pt. 1.  The first single is a skeletal, guitar-based cover of the classic queer pop song "Smalltown Boy" by Bronski Beat. 

Art School Girlfriend - "In The Middle"

Art School Girlfriend (a.k.a. Polly Mackey) returns after two years of silence with the atmospheric, dreamy new single "In The Middle." It will be included on her next album which doesn't have a release date as of yet. The video is directed by her frequent collaborator Tom Dream.

black midi - "John L"

black midi is set to release their sophomore album Calvacade soon, and the first single "John L" is quite difficult to categorize. It is part jazz, no-wave, post-punk, prog-rock mashup that is a stunning mix of noise, cacophony, and ace musicianship which expertly uses silence for tension. The video is equally stunning. It was directed by choreographer Nina McNeely, who worked with Rihanna on "Sledgehammer," and on Gaspar Noe's movie Climax. 

Double Mixte & Desire - "Future Lights"

French duo Double Mixte team up with Desire for this catchy, neon-fueled synth-pop number that channels both label mates Chromatics and New Order's dance floor throb. 

Beachy Head - "Destroy Us"

Members of Slowdive (Rachel Goswell and Christian Savill), Flaming Lips (Matt Duckworth), The Soft Cavalry (Steve Clarke), and Casket Girls(Ryan Graveface) have joined forces to create the supergroup called Beachy Head. Their self-titled debut is out next month. A first taste of the record is "Destroy Us" which features a dense, swirling mix of guitars and swooning synths.

Redlight - "Crystal Rain"

Ghostly 2-step track from the brilliant Redlight. Skittering beats, haunting vocal samples, deep bass, and delicate keyboard melodies are the background of this beautiful track.

Lana Del Rey - "White Dress"

 "White Dress," the third single from Lana Del Rey's new album Chemtrails Over The Country Club, is another shimmering, luscious ode to Americana. The whole album is pretty excellent as well.

Moses Boyd ft. Katy B - "2 Far Gone (Vocal Mix)"

Jazz drummer Moses Boyd remixes this track from his Mercury Prize-nominated album Dark Matter and adds UK pop star Katy B for vocals. It's a great track with skittering drums and deep rumbling bass.

ISLAND - "Octopus"

London four-piece ISLAND returns with a new single "Octopus" which is about the push and pull between rebellious youth and the call of maturity.

Doss - "Puppy"

 Doss returns after a 7-year absence with the delightfully playful track called "Puppy." 

When Saints Go Machine - "When Did Summer End"

 

Danish experimental synthpop trio When Saints Go Machine recently released their new record Emotional. This is their most mainstream record yet, full of beautiful melodies and hooks. "When Did Summer End" is a delicate, moving piano-led ballad with lead singer Nikolaj Manuel Vonsild's fluttery vocals multitracked with lovely harmonies. 

Adelphi Music Factory - "People Everywhere (Can You Feel It?)"

It's Friday! Here is a high-energy house track to get your weekend started off right. Tracks like this really make me miss the dance floor.

 

Austra - "Planningto Risk It (Planning to Rock Remix)"

 

Austra's 2020 release HiRUDiN has been remixed by a host of great producers. In its original mix, "Risk It" takes skittering drum programming, horn samples, and Austra's luscious soprano into heavenly heights. Planning to Rock remixes it into a swirling disco fantasia, with swooping strings and a steady disco beat. It is pure heaven.

Lauren Auder - "Heathen"

Lauren Auder's fantastic new EP 5 Songs For The Dysphoric is another excellent showcase for her orchestral pop. "Heathen" rushes on a driving bassline and atmospheric guitars then bursts into a climax of pounding drums. 

Sad Night Dynamite - "Smoke Hole"

UK duo Sad Night Dynamite has just released their first self-titled mixtape that is a potent mix of pop, electronic, dub, and hip-hop. "Smoke Hole" blends deep basslines, wandering guitars, and a dub/trip-hop feel. 

Jimmy Edgar ft. Messer - "Ready2Die"

Producer Jimmy Edgar recently released his new album Cheetah Bend, which is dedicated to the late producer SOPHIE, who was a friend and frequent collaborator. SOPHIE's influence can be heard and felt throughout the record. "Ready2Die" features monolithic, metallic beats, warped synth lines, but with a pop-savvy burbling underneath.

MATTIE ft. Black Taffy - "Human Thing"

Dallas electronic artist MATTIE teams up with fellow Dallas producer Black Taffy on this mesmerizing, twisting composition that pulsates with dread and danger. 

  

JFDR - "Gravity"

Icelandic singer and multi-instrumentalist Jófríður Ákadóttir, who goes by JFDR, recently released her sophomore album New Dreams. It is full of hypnotic electroacoustic tracks that are always grounded by her exquisite vocals. "Gravity" is a stunningly beautiful song about daring to dream but being held back by reality.

Chloe x Halle - "80/20"

 

Chloe x Halle upgraded their last album with two new tracks and renamed the record Ungodly Hour (Chrome Edition). "80/20" rides a slinky beat that reminds me of peak Aaliyah. The ladies' vocals wrap and intertwine with one another to delicious effect.

Smerz - "Flashing"

Norwegian duo Smerz is known for its complex synth soundscapes with muted, haunted vocals. The surprising centerpiece to their debut album Believer is the moving ballad "Flashing" which finds them giving the most open and warm vocal turn. The song aches over a relationship that is slowly fading away.

Fred again... Ft. The Blessed Madonna - "Marea (We Lost Dancing)"

Fred again... teams up with The Blessed Madonna for this amazing club track that both eulogizes the loss of the dance floor and provides hope that in the future we will get it back and it will be even more special. "What comes next/will be marvelous."