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Crush (Jennifer Paige cover)
Jai Paul |
Jai Paul - Crush (Jennifer Paige cover)
Holy guacamole Batman!
Jai Paul, one of my most highly anticipated artists has just released his debut album unannounced, six years after premiering his first track BTSTU.
The unconventional approach in which he’s released it is nothing short of what I have come to expect from the mysterious England-based artist. The untitled tracks have been uploaded onto Bandcamp without any warning from Jai Paul’s record label XL. Blogs are speculating on the authenticity of the album, but people familiar with the Everlasting demo leaks will recognise many of the mastered versions of material that has previously surfaced on the internet (such as his hit Jasmine).
The album is spliced full of obscure film dialogue and skits but there are still plenty of gems to be found on the album. One highlight on the album is Track 7, thought to be a cover of Jennifer Paige’s 1998 pop single, Crush. You can check out the rest of the album here.
Download - Crush
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Evening Ceremony
Active Child |
Active Child - Evening Ceremony
One reason to be thankful for Stephanie Meyer is that despite writing some inexcusably trashy vampire-romance books, her Twilight franchise has garnered some impressive soundtracks. The latest of her books to be remade into a movie will be The Host.
Active Child has released Evening Ceremony for the soundtrack and it is a low-key, ambient piece with a layered production style that makes for the perfect accompaniment to the falsetto of Pat Grossi.
Thankfully, you don’t have to like Twilight to appreciate this.
Enjoy.
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Chix
Jai Paul |
Jai Paul - Chix
One of the most promising r&b acts from the 00s and the 10s is Jai Paul. He has such a revolutionary approach to production, fusing symphonic synthesizers, an etherial voice and a mysterious persona that would make the most reclusive hermit seem like a showpony.
Like the limelight Jai Paul has recieved so far, Chix is short-lived. The 50 something second track is over before it can really morph into a fully recognised song but there is more than enough presence and feeling behind the song than 94% of music on the radio at the moment.
If you aren’t up to speed with Jai Paul’s criminally short catalogue of demos and leaks, I suggest you get acquainted with the recently released (or leaked?) mixtape Everlasting which features all of the music he has made that has surfaced to date.
You can download all 10 tracks for free from here and finish off the mix in 20 minutes flat. Much more efficient than the speed it has taken Jai Paul to actually make the music. Listen to this in the meantime, as we can only hope against hope that an album does eventually does materialise from the incognito British icon.
Enjoy.
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Even If We Try
Night Beds |
Night Beds - Even If We Try
If a slight breeze were to blow, or a drop of rain were to fall anywhere near this song, it just might break - that’s how delicate it is.
Night Beds are a band based in Tennessee, consisting of Winston Yellen, Ben Kaufman, Aly Holland, Ryan Ellis, Joe Hutchinson, Taylor Zachry. This track surfaced a few months back in November and admittingly, I completely forgot about it until hearing it again recently. The timing could not be riper, as Night Beds are due to release their first full length album after ten years of making music together and a slew of EPs. Keep an ear out if you like what you hear, as Country Sleep came out of February 5th.
Fans of Bon Iver, Youth Lagoon and Jeff Pianki are sure to find pleasure in this tender, minimalist, falsetto-laden lullaby.
Download - Even If We Try (control-click & save as)
Cold War Kids - Miracle Mile
One of the best vocalists in indie music would have to be Nathan Millett (example A). So it is with great jubilation that we share the indie rocker’s triumphant return to form in this single Miracle Mile from the Cold War Kids’ upcoming release Dear Miss Lonelyhearts.
The track is fast, upbeat and has the markings of a live staple in their sets. I can imagine having a lot of fun hearing this at a Cold War Kids concert in the future. At this stage the details are sketchy, but it seems likely that Dear Miss Lonelyhearts will see a release date in 2013. If Miracle Mile is anything to go by, the album will be worth the wait and will continue to expand the band’s following with a mainstream audience as well as (hopefully) appealing to their older fans.
Enjoy!
Here We Go Magic - Tunnelvision
Escapism, in the pure sense of the word, is something I always strive to have when listening to my ‘chilled’ music. Few musicians can manage to give me this sensation in their music, however Here We Go Magic are one of those special bands who manage to portray soundscapes that are greater than the sum of their individual instruments to allow for a transcendental listen.
I just came across Tunnelvision, a gem from their debut 2009 self-titled album. I’m off to check out more of their music and to fall in love with their back catalogue.
Here We Go Magic have just recently obtained their goal to fund a live EP that features some of their performances in European cities on their 2012 tour, so keep out an eye for that project by pledging exclusively here.
Download - Tunnelvision (right-click & save as)
Enjoy.
Night Beds - Even If We Try
Falsetto vocals, violins and a lush melody makes this Colorado band’s music worthy of a feature.
Admittingly, I haven’t checked out the group in much detail, but according to their feature on Indie Shuffle, we should be able to expect a debut album from Night Beds around February 2012 (whoops, 2013).
Enjoy!
Leaves of Green - Caving In
Holy guacamole James Madole (aka Leaves of Green), your falsetto is incredible. Are you and Bon Iver related?
The up and coming 21 year-old songwriter has wasted no time recording a debut album and releasing two non-album singles in the course of a year. If Caving In is anything to go by, you can expect Leaves of Green’s future material will start turning heads internationally.
Download - Caving In (name your price on Bandcamp)
