Billie Eilish - "CHIHIRO"

Billie Eilish's third album Hit Me Hard And Soft is a striking collection of ballads and dance tracks that fully displays her amazing talents. I don't think there is a misstep on the entire record and by far my favorite track is the mid-tempo song "CHIHIRO," named after the main character of Hayao Miyazaki’s Spirited Away. There are so many facets to the music that get increasingly complex as it unfolds.

Ride - "Essaouira"

From Ride's solid new record Interplay, "Essaouira" is an epic 7-minute atmospheric journey featuring a slow build of echoing guitars and trip-hop beats that unleashes into a heady shoegaze storm.

Bleached Cross - "Grief's Eternal Wound"

Chicago post-punk/darkwave band Bleached Cross shares a split EP called Columns of Impenetrable Light with The Truth Faith. "Grief's Eternal Wound" is a propulsive rocker with commanding vocals, roaring guitars, and squealing synths.

Gesaffelstein - "The Urge"

"The Urge" is a thrashing electroclash track that is the lovechild of Suicide and The Jesus and the Mary Chain, full of louche swagger.

Pretty Sick - "Streetwise"

Title track from Sabrina Fuentes' (aka Pretty Sick) upcoming EP. It's a bratty, dark-humored experimental pop song with squelchy beats, buzzing bass, and sardonic lyrics like "Light as feather/Stiff as a board/You might look like Madonna/But I know you're just a whore."

Helsloot ft. Beacon - "Never Tried"

Dutch producer Helsloot joins forces with Beacon for this epic progressive house track. 

Blushing - "Sugarcoat"

The title track off the Austin, TX shoegaze/dream pop quartet Blushing's new record gives serious Lush/Warpaint vibes with its reverb-drenched guitars, oceanic bassline, and ethereal harmonies. The entire album is like a blast from the 90s-alt rock realm. I dig it.

Decant (ft. Kosie) - "Beverly"

Although this song is from last year, I just discovered this Bay Area trio and have been mesmerized by their dark electronic pop. The atmospheric "Beverly," a collaboration with Kosie, features ghostly vocals, Portishead-like keyboards, and an air of melancholy and regret. 

Porij - "Endlessly Waiting"

Manchester quartet Porij's debut album Teething is a delightful mix of downtempo electronica mixed with more upbeat dance tracks. I'm drawn to the tantalizing "Endlessly Waiting" about longing for someone who is away and makes your life feel grounded and safe. 

Soft Kill - "Ready To Die"

Portland's Soft Kill returns with the super solid album Escape Forever. My favorite track is the Depeche Mode-meets-The Cure "Ready To Die" with chiming synths, echoing guitars, and frontman Tobias Grave's initially subdued vocals that slowly morph into anguished cries.  

Willaris. K ft. The Presets - "World Collapsing"

Melbourne producer Willaris. K joins forces with Australian dance music legends The Presets on the epic dance track "World Collapsing." 

Storefront Church - "The High Room"

LA musician Lukas Frank who records under the moniker Storefront Church provides a preview from his sophomore album set to be released later this year. "The High Room" is a grandiose pop drama with swooning vocals and sweeping strings. 

Sega Bodega - "Deer Teeth"

Irish-Chilean producer Sega Bodega's third album is the otherworldly Dennis. You never quite know with him if you will get a massive club banger or esoteric ambient exploration. "Deer Teeth" bridges the gap expertly with pillowy synth landscapes, treated vocals, and clashing drum programming.

 

Shygirl ft. Empress Of & Kingdom - "4eva"

Killer club track from Shygirl with Empress Of and Kingdom. Infectious basslines bounce all over the thumping beats. 

Kiasmos - "Dazed"

Kiasmos (the duo comprised of Icelandic composer Ólafur Arnalds and Faroese musician Janus Rasmussen) are set to release their second album II in July. One of the first preview tracks is the contemplative "Dazed" with its deceptively simple piano melody, whispered electronics, and subtle beats.

Bad Omens ft. HEALTH & Swarm - "The Drain"

Bad Omens team up with industrial/noise rock outfit HEALTH and electronic artist Swarm on the dark, pulsating track "The Drain" that samples the Bad Omens' track "The Death of Peace of Mind." The song will appear on Bad Omens's upcoming Concrete Jungle (The OST) album. 

Arooj Aftab - "Raat Ki Rani"

Grammy-winning Pakistani singer Arooj Aftab channels her inner Sade on this achingly beautiful song. It will appear on her upcoming album Night Reign. 

Caribou - "Honey"

Caribou (aka Dan Snaith) has released its first new music under that moniker since 2020. "Honey" is a slamming club banger with UK-garage-like beats and jeep-rattling bass.

Local Natives - "Throw It In The Fire"

Gorgeous, melancholy track off Local Natives' latest album But I'll Wait For You. The harmonies are spot on.

Nia Archives - "Blind Devotion"

Nia Archives' debut record Silence Is Loud is the perfect marriage of experimental jungle beats and pop sensibilities. "Blind Devotion" pairs intense, skittering drum programming with forlorn keyboards and Nia's aching vocals.

Mount Kimbie - "Shipwreck"

Languid, guitar-centric track off Mount Kimbie's excellent new record The Sunset Violent features hazy vocals and subtle electronic flourishes.

dj poolboi ft. DJ Cinema Quartier Latin - "know each other so well"

dj poolboi's style, aka Austin, Texas resident Adam Ansley, has been defined as emo house, blu-wave, and music for the bike ride home in the dark. His latest record into blue light definitely lives up to those descriptions. "know each other well" has a late-night, lonely feel. 

Fabiana Palladino - "In The Fire"

Fabiana Palladino, daughter of the legendary bassist Pino Palladino, has worked behind the scenes for a long time, providing backing vocals for artists like Jessie Ware and Jai Paul. Her self-titled debut is out now and is a sleek collection of sophisticated pop songs. "In the Fire" is a smoldering midtempo track that recalls Tin Drum-era Japan. It's lovely. 

+/- (Plus/Minus) - "Borrowed Time"

"Borrowed Time" is the first music from +/- (Plus/Minus) in over 10 years. It's a quirky indie-electro track built around a feature on a Moog Matriarch synthesizer that randomizes octaves so you don’t know where any single note will land. It also features hyperkinetic drumming and dreamy, harmonized vocals.

Ibibio Sound Machine - "Mama Say"

Ibibio Sound Machine's new album Pull The Rope will be released next month. "Mama Say" is an infectious dance track with funky synths and West African vocal inflections; with an ending that takes a Talking Heads Remain In Light-era turn. This record is one of my most highly anticipated of the year

Tatyana - "Down Bad"

Tatyana's debut album It's Over is a strikingly assured collection of avant-pop bangers. "Down Bad" rides squelchy synths over LCD Soundsystem-like dance-punk beats.

King Yosef - "Dredge"

Yosef Pelletier (aka King Yosef) released this latest double single recently. "Mist of Pain" is an intense, Ministry-esque industrial hardcore track, while "Dredge" tones down the aural assault, leaning into more atmospheric territory, like when Deftones channel their inner goth child.

HEALTH - "Be Quiet And Drive (Far Away)(Deftones Cover)"

I saw one of my favorite bands, LA industrial noise trio HEALTH, live last night and it was one of their best live performances I have seen. A highlight was their cover of Deftones' classic track "Be Quiet And Drive (Far Away)." 

Beyoncé & Miley Cyrus - "II MOST WANTED"

Truly one of the best duets in a long time. 

Vampire Weekend - "Mary Boone"

All of the songs released so far from Vampire Weekend's upcoming album Only God Was Above Us have been excellent, which gives me high hopes it will be another classic. The most recent teaser track "Mary Boone" is my favorite. It starts as a stark, piano/strings-based ballad until the beats (sampled from Soul II Soul's 1989 hit song "Back To Life (However Do You Want Me).") kick in. 

PUSH - "Fader"

Tulsa, OK dream-pop/shoegaze act PUSH's new record Where You Are just came out and I love the song "Fader" with its interplay of atmospheric electric and acoustic guitars and ghostly harmonies. 

Lysistrata - "Artifice"

 

French trio Lysistrata toe the line between Sonic Youth-like noise rock and At The Drive-In-like post-hardcore. Their latest record Veil documents this push and pull expertly. "Artiface" is one of my favorite tracks, its tightly coiled opening bleeding into an unhinged finale of blazing guitars.

Peel - "Cycle"

LA duo Peel (Sean Cimino and Isom Innis from Foster the People) will soon release their debut album Acid Star. "Cycle" is the fifth preview of the album and is a languid, spacy track that calls to mind Tame Impala in all their glory.

Empress Of - "Lorelei"

Lorley Rodriguez's latest album as Empress Of, For Your Consideration, is her finest work so far; there are no bad songs on it. "Lorelei" is a spiky electro-pop track with intricate drum programming and a warm vocal turn.

Matte Blvck - "Vows"

"Vows," the latest single from San Diego synthpop act Matte Blvck, is giving serious Depeche Mode vibes, and I am here for it. 

Cold Cave - "She Reigns Down"

Ultra-dark goth synthpop duo Cold Cave returns after a three-year absence with their new single "She Reigns Down," a fantastic dance track with dark keyboards, pounding beats, and Wes Eisold's brooding vocals.

Two Shell ft. FKA twigs - "Talk To Me"

Enigmatic UK dance duo Two Shell teams up with FKA twigs on "Talk to Me," a hyperactive dancefloor filler.

Ariana Grande - "we can't be friends (wait for your love)"

 

The second single from Ariana Grande's album Eternal Sunshine is either a song about leaving her ex or about her relationship with the media. At any rate, it is a glistening synthpop track that knowingly echoes Robyn's anthem "Dancing On My Own."

Gouge Away - "Spaced Out"

"Spaced Out" is a pure rager on Florida post-hardcore band Gouge Away's new album Deep Sage.

 

Mannequin Pussy - "Sometimes"

Philly indie punk band Mannequin Pussy's latest album I Got Heaven is riding a huge wave of buzz and critical acclaim. I really love the pop-punk rush of their single "Sometimes." 

DIIV - "Soul-net"

DIIV's latest single is the slow-burning track "Soul-net" which features The Bends-era Radiohead-like guitars that carefully wrap around one another. It will feature on the band's upcoming full-length Frog In Boiling Water.

Smerz/Allina - "Dangerous"

Norwegian duo Smerz (aka Henriette Motzfeldt and Catharina Stoltenberg) created a fictional pop star called Allina (in collaboration with the French womenswear line All-in Studio) and released an EP that chronicles Allina's rise and fall. "Dangerous" is a slinky, sexy Aaliyah-esque future R&B stunner.

Lauren Mayberry (Chvrches) - "Change Shapes"

Chvrches's lead singer Lauren Mayberry has slowly been releasing solo material over the past few months (and even headlining a fun solo tour in the process). Her latest single "Change Shapes" is a 90's electro-pop showcase that is super catchy and fun. 

Kim Gordon - "I Don't Miss My Mind"

Sonic Youth legend and icon Kim Gordon's new solo album is an intense set of industrial trap pop that is constantly intriguing. "I Don't Miss My Mind" mixes scuzzy, Vivisect VI-era Skinny Puppy beats with industrial electronics.

Lesser Care - "Intuition"

El Paso, Texas post-punk act Lesser Care shares the single "Intuition," which is propelled by thunderous drums, oceanic basslines, and chiming guitars.

Whitelands - "Now Here's The Weather"

London shoegaze quartet Whitelands recently released their record Night-Bound Eyes Are Blind To The Day and, if you like the sweet spot between Slowdive's Just For A Day and Souvlaki, you will adore this record. I love the closing track "Now Here's The Weather" which tackles the heady subject of racism over a rush of raging guitars and a monolithic bassline.

Amiture - "Cocaine"

Armiture's first record The Beach was a synthpop/dark wave lover's dream, full of sexy beats and dark synths. Their sophomore record Mother Engine goes deeper and darker into almost Portishead-like trip-hop. The haunting track "Cocaine" is one of the most evocative songs on the record, with singer Jack Whitescarver comparing his lover to the titular drug over a languid beat and noir guitars.

Charli XCX - "Von Dutch"

"Von Dutch," the first single from Charli XCX's upcoming 6th album Brat, is a hyperactive club banger.

TTSSFU - "I Hope You Die"

Manchester-based artist TTSSFU (a.k.a. Tasmin Stephens) is a self-proclaimed DIY-shoegazer, and she channels that into the dreamy track "I Hope You Die" which sounds like Mazzy Star if they were a Krautrock band. It appears on her new EP Me Jed & Andy, which is inspired by the 12-year love affair between Andy Warhol and Jed Johnson.

St. Vincent - "Broken Man"

St. Vincent enters the Nine Inch Nails phase of her career with the stunning industrial guitar rager "Broken Man." This is the heaviest thing she has ever done and I, for one, am here for it.