ISSUE #29
Never Come Back - Morgan Geist Remix
by Caribou and Morgan Geist
Caribou has released what we can only assume to be the first of many remixes of Never Come Back off his latest album Suddenly (which we absolutely love). Teaming up with New Jersey-based producer Morgan Geist, this remix takes an already clubby hit and amplifies it ten-fold. This remix takes the defining characteristics of Caribou's anthemic version and adds elements of Morgan Geist's Detroit Techno-inspired sounds to deliver some much needed energy to sweat to during our seemingly endless state of quarantine.
Check out the remix here as well as Caribou's LP Suddenly here!
Too Late
by Washed Out
Teasing his upcoming album since the release of Mister Mellow in 2017, Washed Out's latest single, Too Late is a dreamy pop song that conjures feelings of loneliness, heartache, and isolation. Probably not the best thing the listen to if your emotional and/or mental state are currently bruised. But, rest assured, we are very much looking forward to more music from Washed Out in the coming days!
Check out the single here, also check out the official music video for Too Late below!
Aries (Featuring Peter Hook and Georgia)
by Gorillaz
A historic team-up between musical icons Gorillaz, Peter Hook, and Georgia: Aries is a time machine that takes you to the late 80s synth-pop scene. The third installment of their Song Machine series begs the question: should we expect a Gorillaz LP in the future? According to the band via NME:
"Song Machine is a whole new way of doing what we do, Gorillaz breaking the mould 'cos the mould got old. World is moving faster than a supercharged particle, so we’ve gotta stay ready to drop. We don’t even know who's stepping through the studio next. Song Machine feeds on the unknown, runs on pure chaos. So whatever the hell’s coming, we’re primed and ready to produce like there’s no tomorrow."
We’re very much stoked for future releases of Song Machine and the continuation of legendary collaborations. Check out Sound Machine Episode 3 here!
The New Abnormal
By The Strokes
The first album in 7 years from one of the most influential rock bands of a generation comes with high stakes - but The Strokes live up to the challenge, delivering 45 minutes of earworm riffs and vocals that sound both bored and urgent at once, a feat Julian Casblancas is singularly suited to. The New Abnormal, produced by Rick Rubin, covers a broad spectrum of sound while remaining firmly anchored in The Strokes sonic legacy - experimentation with regular callbacks to the classics to keep us engaged and delighted all the way through. There are more synthesizer passages this go around, a few more somber buildups, but they pay off with raw vocal moments and straining guitars more often than not. The New Abnormal feels new and exciting while still taking me back to my first guitar lesson at age 10, trying desperately to learn Reptilia.
Favorite tracks: The Adults are Talking, Bad Decisions, Eternal Summer.
Mountain of Memory
By Emancipator
Just in time to soothe the minds of a panicked world, Douglas Appling has released his 6th studio album as instrumental chill out colossus Emancipator. We’ve covered this influential band before, consisting primarily of Appling and longtime collaborator LAPA on violin (and often accompanied by 2-3 touring musicians to form the Emancipator Ensemble) and this album is very much familiar territory. Thoughtfully programmed electronic drums lay the backbone of a landscape ripe with emotive synth and guitar melody, trembling flutes and chopped samples, all blowing in a wind of lush strings, both plucked and bowed. Emancipator albums are an hour long almost to a one, and Mountain of Memory is no exception - a perfect length for the level of nuance and storytelling Appling manages to compress within each track. Much longer and the songs blending into one another becomes less impressive and more of a slog - any less and we’d be left needing more.
Favorite tracks: Dodo, She Gone to the River, Himalayan.
Crescent Lake
By Manatee Commune
From Washington state native Grant Eadie comes a 4-song EP of pure dappled sunlight through clear water. A classically trained multi-instrumentalist, producer and energetic live performer, Eadie has been on the festival circuit since 2014, an impressive feat considering his youth. Crescent Lake is a wonderful demonstration of the laid-back energy his music revolves around, driving enough to fill a dance floor but calm enough to read or lounge by some water to. Minimalism naturally grows into celebratory and effervescent climaxes throughout this EP, of which not a second is wasted. I personally cannot stop looping Majestic Diver, and can’t wait to see Grant perform live again this August at Summer Meltdown.
Favorite tracks: Majestic Diver, Thalassaphobia, Pools.
We hope y’all are staying indoors, saving lives and wracking up plays for all of your favorite artists. We love you! Stay safe!
♥ Zach and Mando
