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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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Since '76
RJD2 |

RJD2 - Since ‘76
I might just be speculating here - but I’m a little bit confident that RJD2 has taken samba and South American music on this track and chopped them up to make Since ‘76.
The track was a single on RJD2’s second album Since We Last Spoke and it has definitely retained playback value for me after all these years. Hopefully it will do the same for you. Enjoy.
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Lately
Massive Attack |

Massive Attack - Lately
A couple of years ago, I’d been out with a group of friends in Melbourne for far longer and later than I’d anticipated. Home by 1am? Add four hours on to that and you’d be closer to the truth. Despite my sleep-deprived state, this track from Massive Attack’s 1991 debut managed to wade its way through the fog and into my memory during the eventual car-ride home. Too tired to bother asking what the track was, I noted some lyrics down and vowed to Google them when I was a little less narcoleptic.
Blue Lines is critically regarded as one of the best trip-hop albums of the early 90’s, but with tracks such as Unfinished Sympathy and Daydreaming receiving the most attention, this gentle penultimate number may slip past many radars.
Whilst now a partnership of Robert Del Naja and Grant Marshall, the Blue Lines-era membership included a third lad from Bristol - Andy Vowles. The beauty of Lately lies in its simplicity - effortlessly laid-back, but without being boring - evidenced in the fact that it grabbed my attention rather than sent me to sleep during our first encounter.
Shara Nelson was something of a fourth member during the recording of Blue Lines, co-writing tracks and lending vocals, and it is her voice that leads the way, guiding the listener through the murky bass and well-timed industrial hammers of Lately.
I’ll always associate this track with nighttime, but it can be enjoyed any time of day - particularly during this season, for, like Shara, summertime always gives me the blues too.
~R.

Frank Ocean - Pink Matter Remix (Featuring OutKast)
Okay, okay, okay. This feature spot on Frank Ocean’s Pink Matter probably isn’t the type of collaboration most OutKast fans are looking for. It’s not upbeat, it’s not radio friendly or crunk and it is emotionally heavy. But that won’t stop me getting excited.
Frank Ocean’s signature melancholic crooning is dark. At times it is detached, at times it is despairing and vacant and all of these textures are observations made without really trying to decipher the ambiguous intelligent lyrics. Big Boi’s verse is straightforward, vividly depicting voyeuristic perversion and André 3000’s is somewhere in between the other two artists.
For the moment, this track is still available for free download by following the link below and navigating the (downward arrow) link.
Download - Pink Matter Remix

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.

Youth Lagoon - Daydream (Noah Hyde Remix)
I’m about to release a compilation mix of remixes and it just occured to me that I haven’t shared this track I discovered a few months back. Noah Hyde takes control of the mellow Daydream and transforms it into a dancefloor ready banger that still maintains its dreamy soundscape.
Thankfully, the download link is still active so you can legally own a copy by clicking the link below. Enjoy!
Download - Daydream (Noah Hyde Remix)

Last Lynx - Killing Switch
With such a funky, intelligent introduction in the first few seconds, it’s hard not to want to keep listening to this song all the way through. The three lyricists of the Swedish group all contribute a different dynamic to Killing Switch to produce an original, smooth pop track reminiscent of Foster The People and Electric Guest.
This song has been buzzing over the bloggosphere since Last Lynx released this on Soundcloud a few days ago and sadly it has surpassed its download limit so you’ll have to think of creative ways to get your hands on Killing Switch until they release their followup EP in early 2013.
Enjoy.

Sufjan Stevens - Alphabet Street
Sufjan Stevens has managed to divide critics with the symmetry of a tightrope walker since deviating from his folk roots and experimenting with mind-altering electronics on his 2010 standout album The Age of Adz. The man is a self-proclaimed blender of “autobiography, religious fantasy, and regional history,” and I think they left out alien conspiracy.
Seemingly drawing inspiration from anywhere and everywhere, Sufjan Stevens has recently announced his second double disc Christmas compilation album, Silver & Gold, which is due for release in two days. This psychadelic cover of Prince’s Alphabet St will presumably be one of the 58 odes to Santa, or Jesus, or the apocalyptic art of Royal Robertson - I forget.
Enjoy, or if you are the other 50% feel free not to!
Download - Alphabet St






