On My Radar

Soldier, Sailor - And/Et/Y

2012-05-01T00:51:00.001-04:00

Indie

As 12 o'clock midnight rolls around, I caught myself listening to Soldier, Sailor's debut album "And/Et/Y" in the midst of a long weekend of work and cupcakes. Not to mention that this is such a soothing album worthy of listening to on repeat for hours; which rather borders on ... well hooked. Indie folk is the name of the game. There's a certain linger about Erica Bonette's album that doesn't want to leave and I don't want to let it leave. She leaves such a pleasant heirloom amongst the many CD's sitting on my desk. So far, I've put to the wayside my albums consisting of Led Zeppelin's many great hits and the more recent Flying Lotus - Cosmogramma. I have even set my guitar aside for the time being.

But enough of my bantering - and on to the music.

"Soldier, Sailor" is a musical pursuit of Erica Bonnette originating in Valencia, California in 2007. Formerly a side-project called Rabbit Loves Kitten, the name was changed in 2012 as an acknowledgment of the new precedence of song-writing in her life. The music of "Soldier, Sailor" emphasizes lyrics and soft melodies, creating a cozy and mellow atmosphere. Influenced by folk, alternative, and pop, "Soldier, Sailor" forms songs that weave between the genres.

So where do I even begin. The album is full of wistful melodies and a serene sense of comfort, perhaps, the comfort comes from Bonette's voice. I mean, her voice is just so soft and perfect. If you ever considered a night time playlist, be sure to include Soldier, Sailor because an album this daunting and amber deserves some special attention - that kind of attention when you are laying in bed trying to sleep and you can't because you're mind is wondering. It's a kind of attention when you're not so much focused as you are just happy, like you just had a great day and that moment in bed [trying to sleep, but can't] is just you reflecting on the sheer elegance and serenity that your day brought.

Let your mind wonder, but remember to bring it back to really listen closely because with an album like this, you might miss something.

Here's two of my favourites. "Shy" is another stunning track, but I'll leave you to check out her Bandcamp for further listening.

&lt;p&gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://soldiersailor.bandcamp.com/track/something-borrowed"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Something Borrowed by Soldier, Sailor&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;&amp;lt;a href="http://soldiersailor.bandcamp.com/track/love-man-with-the-plan"&amp;gt;Love/Man With the Plan by Soldier, Sailor&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;&lt;/p&gt;

Connect with Solider, Sailor - Facebook | SoundCloud | Bandcamp |

James Blake (Ft. Justin Vernon) - Fall Creek Boys Choir

2012-04-23T19:23:00.001-04:00

Soul Electronic

James Blake released an EP entitled Enough Summer last summer in August of 2011 and I was completely captivated by it. In particular, James Blake's collaboration with Justin Vernon of the renowned indie folk group, Bon Iver caught my ear. "Fall Creek Boys Choir" is the result of their collab. and I cannot get enough of this wonderfully multifarious track.

At first listen, I was quite surprised as to what I was actually listening to. It seemed like such an odd song to me, but after a few more goes I began to realize its beauty. The beauty inherently lies in its awkwardness which I think, is largely gathered from the mix of effects used throughout the song. By far, this is the most beautiful use of Autotune that I have ever heard. That is was largely stood out to me. It really, in essence, muffles Vernon's voice and paves way for a whole new sound that not a lot of people are so accustomed to. It paves way for creativity and originality which definitely scores some points in my books.

I may not know what the lyrics mean in the song, but I want to keep it that way for once. Out of all of the songs that I have heard in my short lifetime, this is one song that I want to remain a mystery. I want to be able to keep my own subjective interpretation of this song without my ideas being misconstrued or impinged upon by someone else's discernment. This is mine.

James Blake and Justin Vernon, being two of my favourite musicians in the game, have created a silhouette for producers to follow in their footsteps. "Fall Creek Boys Choir" has certainly opened my ears to a whole new sound and that initial moment that I listened to this song, was a moment of dissonance that I will not forget. This by my definition of music, is a song. This is the song.

Conner Youngblood - Proportions

2012-04-23T18:37:00.000-04:00

Bluegrass Singer/Songwriter

It has certainly been a while, but we are back and with some flavour that'll tickle your taste buds. Conner Youngblood, has once again astounded me with yet another killer track only this time, he has taken a slightly alternative approach. Youngblood has embraced the lo-fi ambiance perspective of music and created a lustful masterpiece of a track.

"Proportions" is a very ardently expressive track that wholeheartedly grasps the concept of what ambiance is all about. Youngblood has created a track that is great for so many different scenarios that I almost don't know where to begin. Actually, I do and I'm going to start by saying this is perfect for setting up a suave night with your special other. Light some candles, rent a movie (or whatever it is that you do), and lay down the tone with this track. Pack yourselves in for a night to remember with this one because it is deep, it is smooth, and it'll set the mood. Longitude, my fellow Rico friends, longitude.

Also, Conner recently released an EP called Sketches Pt. 1 which you can check out here. There's some really incredible and diverse stuff from him, so be sure to take a listen. Lastly, don't forget to connect with OMR cause we like to here from you guys. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/musiconmyradar Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/musiconmyradar.

Without further adieu, here's Conner Youngblood's latest single "Proportions":

Connect with Conner Youngblood - Facebook | Twitter | YouTube | SoundCloud |

Sameblod - Loud

2012-03-02T15:41:00.004-05:00

Electronic

"Sameblod are an electronic pop duo formed by Frederick Rundqvist and Mikael Mattisson and are based in Sweden's capital Stockholm. After having got to know eachother just over a year ago at school, they shared the same taste and decided to try and work their hand at songwriting and creating music. By February of 2011, Sameblod was born. They released their song Loud from their debut album very recently. Their debut album is set to be released in March 2012."

Loud is such a quaint little track that I really admire. It has a really peppy upbeat vibe going on and that's something that largely seems to capture my attention, especially with electronica tracks. If this is what their album is going to sound like, then I'm a shoe in. Heavy emotional synths is seemingly where my interest lays at the moment. Love it.

Your Song (Butch Clancy Remix) - Ellie Goulding

2012-03-02T15:03:00.001-05:00

Dubstep

Bask in the glory that is Butch Clancy ... BASK IN IT, DAMN IT!

Alright, enough of that. Butch is back with this track which will soon be your favourite Electronic Dubstep song. How do I know this? Because it's Butch fucking Clancy remixing a Ellie fucking Goulding song ... C'mon son!!

Enjoy the eargasmic drops.

Connect with Butch Clancy - | Facebook | Myspace | YouTube |

Paper Lions - Trophies

2012-02-24T17:17:00.000-05:00

Rock

Paper Lions ran into a bit of a scuffle with their record label and needless to say, they are giving out free downloads of their album Trophies. The group is from PEI, Canada and have been playing music together since a very young age and are a very talented group. Here`s what they had to say:

In August of 2009, we raised the money to rent a studio, hire a producer, and record Trophies. A few months later, we were approached by a record label that wanted to release Trophies on our behalf. After a period of negotiation, we signed a deal with that company. They released the record in September of 2010, and everything was dandy.
Fast forward to the present: we have yet to see a paycheque for a single record sold by them. If you bought our record on Amazon or iTunes, or even at a record store, we didn’t get that money. We don’t know why. We don’t know if it’s being held somewhere, or if it’s been spent.
We asked ourselves, what do we do now? Hire a lawyer? That would cost a lot of money and take a lot of time. Ultimately, we just want people to hear the music. And in reality, this experience has given us an excuse to do something we’ve wanted to do for a long time.
So we’ve decided to give Trophies away in exchange for your email address. And we feel pretty good about it.

Here's a quaint little review of the album "Trophies" here at The Broken Speaker.

Free Download (get it while you still can):

Reptar - Sebastian

2012-02-23T22:54:00.000-05:00

Indie

Reptar is back with after a killer debut EP Oblangle Fizz Y'all which I sadly never got the opportunity to post on. Never fear, Sebastian is here. Sebastian being the title of their single which they are offering as a free download if you sign-up for their mailing list; is the latest single from Reptar. To top it all off, Reptar has also announced that they will be releasing their debut full-length album entitled Body Faucet (produced by Ben Allen) this coming May. How exciting is that?

Reptar was praised by Rolling Stone for their "...blend of upbeat rhythms, reggae-infected vocals and psychedelic textures," which is pretty spot on if you ask me. I am reminded of Of Montreal when I listen to Reptar. I kind of think of Reptar as a solid mix between Of Montreal meets The Weekend. There are probably other bands that are more similar to them, but hey, that's what I think of when I listen to Reptar (I'm not so good at these comparisons). As I re-listen to their EP, I can't help but notice that each track has a very distinctive sound and each song is relatively different from their counterparts. I've said it before and I'll say it again, versatility is key for me. Guess what? Reptar definitely shows a high degree of versatility in their music. Very catchy. Very summery. Very tasteful. Very me. That should make it "very you" too.

So, courtesy of Reptar and Vagrant Records, enjoy a free download of Sebastian!

Connect with Reptar - Website | Facebook | YouTube |

School of Seven Bells - Ghostory

2012-02-22T04:14:00.001-05:00

Alternative

School of Seven Bells album entitled "Ghostory" is coming out on February 28th which is just next week and in all the excitement they have made their entire album available as a stream. How freakin' awesome is that?

Album Review
Ghostory is an album full of eerie indie rock alternative sounds encompassing the very essence of what creativity stands for. Alejandra Deheza brings a very interesting sound to the table with her soft angelic intonations. Benjamin Curtis, the other half of SVIIB is responsible for the masterful production quality and guitar. Recently, the band underwent a few changes and downsized to two members from the previous three. This is what really impresses me. A team of two have created a beautiful album full of edgy guitar riffs, deep lyrics, and a very distinct sound that is so seldom occurring in a lot of music nowadays. The duo is taking the music industry by storm and proving that again, indie/altern. rock sounds can mix and mesh very nicely with the odd electro synth melody which is shown strongly in Lafaye and Reappear. Later on, White Wind really emphasizes the more upbeat synth melodies and shows the mixing between the electronic aspect of the song with the more alternative sounds.

An album, partly based on the idea that everyone comes with their baggage, hence "Ghost" in "Ghostory". Everyone has their story and each person lives their lives differently experiencing different things in different ways. That is what makes us unique in a sense, is that we all have a very different story to tell, but as that story moves forward, it can often lead us to some tough and dreary times throughout our lives. This is where the touch on death and partly where their eerie sound probably derives from. SVIIB, in my opinion, seemed to have touched upon a very tough subject with this album and I think that is where a lot of the emotive responses are elicited throughout their tracks. Death is a hard topic to talk about, but SVIIB does just that quite endearingly and it intrigues me. Awesome chilled out, thought-provoking album with some really fitting synth waves and angelic vocals to really hit it home. Great listen.

So in part with The Hype Machine, here's Ghostory by School of Seven Bells.

Check out previous posts on SVIIB if you would like more info. on them:

1) School of Seven Bells - Lafaye (Scissor Sisters Remix)

2) School of Seven Bells - The Night

Connect with School of Seven Bells - Website | Facebook | YouTube | iTunes |

Conner Youngblood - Sketches Pt.1

2012-02-20T21:29:00.003-05:00

Bluegrass Singer/Songwriter

I have followed Conner Youngblood for quite some time now and I have to say, he is one of my all-time favourite artists. I have been absolutely loving his tunes since I first started listening to him just about over a year ago. I have previously posted on tracks of his like Monsters, Drift, and his Lil Wayne/Float On mashup which are stunning chill tracks. One thing that really gets me about Conner Youngblood is that he experiments with different sounds which you can hear in his mashup and his track Monsters which showcase his versatility as an artist. That to me is what shows a good artist, is there versatility.

Anyway, Youngblood has done something really special and has released a mixtape almost a month ago with a few new tracks. This is a good day. No, this is a great day. In particular, the one song that really stands out to me is Australia which he released in 2011. I find it is just such a chilling tune between the lyrics and the drums. I really liked the video he made on the making of Australia. It was really interesting to see what goes into making a song behind the scenes. Every artist has a different method of how they compile a song and all of the instruments and it was really cool to see how Youngblood does it (video below). On a side note, I even featured Australia in our Best of 2011 Indie Mix which you can sift through in your spare time here.

Sketches Pt. 1 is the name of the mixtape. That can only mean one thing: there will be a Sketches Pt.2? I hope so, but until then, enjoy the bliss of his tracks from Pt.1. I guess I shouldn't get a head of myself now should I.

Enjoy a full stream and a free download of his blue-grassy mixtape "Sketches Pt.1" below:

[Free Download] Conner Youngblood - Sketches Pt.1

Connect with Conner Youngblood - Facebook | Twitter | YouTube | SoundCloud |

Gentlemen Thieves - Grand Prix

2012-02-20T19:37:00.005-05:00

Electronic

Gentlemen Thieves released a track called Grand Prix a few months ago and I am really late getting to this. Grand Prix is a really cool and really fresh electro track that definitely deserves some attention. I'm particularly enjoying the switch from the electronic aspect of the song to the guitar riffs mixed in between. I thought it's a really nice touch. This song will be featured on Gentlemen Thieves EP which is currently in the making. You can also download the track for free from their Facebook page here. Enjoy!

Update: Gentlemen Thieves has also more recently released their 2nd track from their upcoming EP entitled Playboy. You man also take a listen to that here on their SoundCloud.

|Free Download| Gentlemen Thieves - Grand Prix

Connect with Gentlemen Thieves - Facebook | Twitter | Tumblr | YouTube |

School of Seven Bells - Lafaye (Scissor Sisters Remix)

2012-02-20T18:15:00.000-05:00

Indie

School of Seven Bells is set to release their new album "Ghostory" on February 28th and I am really excited. They have a very distinct sound that I really enjoy listening to. In anticipation of the release of their album, they have released a couple of tracks. First, School of Seven Bells released The Night and more recently released Lafaye with the accompanying Scissor Sisters Remix.

Take a listen to both Lafaye and Scissor Sisters rendition of Lafaye below. Really great whole-hearted indie rock that really pays tribute to the multi-talented duo. I am still so excited for the album to come out!

The Scissor Sisters remix also added a very nice electronica sort of spin to the song with their interesting vocal edits at the beginning to the intricate instrumentals such as the piano chords that you can catch if you listen closely and the drum patterns which fit extremely nicely with the song. A really awesome rendition of the track which really appeals to the kind of music I enjoy listening to.

Connect with School of Seven Bells - Website | Facebook | YouTube | iTunes |

Blind Pilot - We Are The Tide

2012-02-19T15:50:00.006-05:00

Indie Folk

It's been a bit hard to find the motivation to write these and I apologize; as short as they are. Working full-time here in Ottawa you'd think I'd find some sort of inspiration from this beautiful city but no, nothing seems more precious than regular sleep.

Since there hasn't been a post on Blind Pilot here before it would be more sensible to start from the beginning with their release album '3 Rounds and a Sound', but I've decided to do that later. Their most recent album, We Are The Tide is a build on their successful initial release.

Blind Pilot is an indie-folk group hailing from Portland, Oregon. If I had to compare them to anyone else I'd say they sound somewhat similar to Horse Feathers. Unfortunately I can't do that because they do have their own distinct sound. This is highly evident in their vocals provided by Israel Nebeker. If you're looking for a group well beyond capable of blending trumpets, banjos, acoustics and vocals into a wonderful melodic masterpiece of an album, this is a good place to start.

To truly appreciate aforementioned blending I'd recommend some good speakers or some decent headphones. Proceed to crank the volume over 50%, sit back and appreciate every little inclusion. While not being instrumentally intricate, the combination of subtle strums and hums coupled with some elegant vocals provokes an almost gratuitous emotional response.
Of course if you want quality I'd highly recommend picking up their album.

Connect with Blind Pilot - Official | Myspace | Facebook | Twitter

Krewella - Killin' It

2012-01-26T14:30:00.000-05:00

Dubstep

Krewella kills it. Now how about that?

Connect with Krewella - Facebook | YouTube | SoundCloud |

WU LYF - Heavy Pop

2012-01-26T14:13:00.001-05:00

Click to listen to more from WU LYF

Indie Rock

WU LYF - Go Tell Fire to the Mountain (Released June 23, 2011)

Heavy Pop is such a hard hitting tune which really paints a picture for modern rock to come. Roberts raspy vocals bring such strength and fortitude to the song. Especially in their performance on Letterman, you can hear the heart that is put into the song. You can see the effort it takes to make such a sound. This is talent.

Heavy Pop brings to justice the essence of their musical style. Indie rock or heavy pop, whatever you want to call it, it is still a marvellous tune. Heavy Pop is the perfect way to end off an all-around amazing album Go Tell Fire to the Mountain.

Look out for more from WU LYF. After all, their first television debut was on Letterman. Expect to hear more from the band soon. Topping my playlist this week is Heavy Pop by WU LYF. This song has probably one of my favourite introductions ever.

Connect with WU LYF - Facebook | iTunes |

Ugly Kids Club - Self-Titled EP

2012-01-19T06:05:00.000-05:00

Click to listen to more from Ugly Kids Club

Alternative

Ugly Kids Club is a Nashville based duo contrived of Grammy-nominated rock producer Steve Wilson and his rock counterpart Aliegh Shields (vocals). They have just released their Self-Titled EP on iTunes and Amazon.

The two create a very grungy rock sense infused with electronic beats greatly influenced by The Kills, Sleigh Bells, and M83. Their music pays homage to their uniqueness in terms of their personalities and creative talents alike. Their music is inordinately edgy and dark vibrating at a frequency level otherwise known as vibrant. Vibrance is visceral in and among the mix of a song and is largely derived from sheer passion to the music which Ugly Kids Club masterfully portrays throughout their music. From the amount of time spent learning guitar and finding your own creative pathway all the way to the release of their EP, Ugly Kids Club show their experience and their talents tastefully throughout their tracks.

Their music is mysterious, yet catchy and dark, but cheerful all while remaining extremely savory to listen to. So sit back, relax, and soak in the experienced sound of Ugly Kids Club. Here's their fourth and my favourite track from the EP entitled "Justitia".

Check out their YouTube page for a video for each song off of the EP.

I'm a very mellow person, so naturally I gravitated towards One Small Instrument. Hopefully, you like this one as much as I do. I also really liked Diamond In Your Fire which has a more laid back feel in comparison to the rest of the EP. My Soul and Sheepskin definitely show the more edgy dark side I mentioned earlier.

Cults - You Know What I Mean

2012-01-18T09:09:00.000-05:00

Click to listen to more from Cults Self-Titled album

Indie Rock

Fronted by Madeline Follin and her vocal prowess, Cults has been a band that took off on the interwebs after the release of their song "Go Outside." This track spread pretty profusely in conjunction with the accompanying video.

Cults self-titled album was released June 7th, 2011. It is very catchy most likely accredited to the more pop-like side of their music. It is also very charming and fresh (our day in age), but almost vintage like the type of album you might stumble on while browsing your local record store. I feel almost ashamed having listened to their music digitally rather than on vinyl. The vintage feel comes through their crafty guitar melodies while their "fresh" sound loosely derives from the softly integrated synths and samples.

My favourite song from the album is a rather short one, but I find is the most powerful. The song starts out smoothly and progresses into an explosion of beautifully executed high-pitched vocals near the end. The beauty of this track lies in its ability to explode showcasing its rock goodness, but then casually relaxes into this slow intricate sound. This repeats as a cycle near the end of the song. As it builds and builds and builds, you come from a relaxed state and quickly grow into a peppy, jump out of your seat kind of song. That, and the lyrics are just so playful.

Cults - You Know What I Mean by cultscultscults

Youth Lagoon - July

2012-01-16T06:49:00.000-05:00

Click to listen to more from Youth Lagoon

Indietronica

From the likes of home-recording artist Trevor Powers to the intimate and intricate sounds that a synthesizer could ever conceive of making, comes the modest sounds of The Year of Hibernation (title of the LP). A title that couldn't ring true any more so than Hank Moody and his love for women (Californication reference). By ring true, I implied the amount of time spent cooped up in the metaphorical confinements of life. I realize that is a very pessimistic choice of words, but the beauty of it is is that they do not reflect the album in any way. The album is actually a very peppy, nostalgic-ridden piece which I'll get in a little more detail further on.

The Year of Hibernation is by far one of favourite albums with each track really hitting home those soft minimalistic melodies and progressions. 22-year old Powers writes melodies that you don't forget like those Disney movies that you watched as a wee-little one. Nostalgia kicks in and then suddenly, you realize the transition from song to song is effortless as if they meld into one. This isn't an album full of distinct tracks - it's an album full of a singular beatitude (pun intended). Now take his very gentle vocals, have yourself a bowl of popcorn and take a trip down memory lane with my favourite track off of the LP - July.

My first step towards listening to Youth Lagoon was watching the video for July, so I'm making it the same for you.

Youth Lagoon - July from Tyler T Williams on Vimeo.

Butch Clancy - Hard Eight |Free|

2012-01-15T02:17:00.000-05:00

Dubstep

Butch Clancy has gone through a little bit of trouble recently after his laptop crashed and even though he hasn't recovered his hard drive yet, he still managed to release a new track.

I have always been a huge fan of Butch Clancy and for a good reason. He essentially gained a lot of recognition lately from his Foster the People's Remix and also gained some more recognition once Nonstop released his dubstep dance video to the track (all of which you can view here).

Regardless of where he got his recognition from (since it's all about the music anyways), Hard Eight is a wicked track! I'm really starting to slack on the dubstep posts (mainly because I haven't heard that much lately that I really like), but I am definitely a fan of this one. I'm also a little out of practice when it comes to reviewing dubstep (there are only so many ways to describe the infamous wub), so I'm going to keep this one short. Enjoy the tune!

Free Download: http://bit.ly/y9jD2E

Hard Eight *Dl link in description* by Butch Clancy

Connect with Butch Clancy - | Facebook | Myspace | YouTube |

Maya Laner - Why Don't They Let Us Fall in Love (Ronettes Cover)

2012-01-14T23:44:00.000-05:00

Click to hear more from Local Hero

Indie Pop

Maya, a member of Local Hero, has recently released her own rendition of the 1963 classic Why Don't They Let Us Fall in Love by The Ronettes and I must say that this is an absolutely stunning cover!

Maya has such a talent and at only 18, she is able to produce such a high quality track. Not only is she a talented singer, but she also recorded the rest of the song using an instrumental ensemble including a ukulele, acoustic guitar, and an accordion. That is pretty impressive.

Alright, so I'm a little late getting to this review (as I have seen a few other blogs post it already), but i just can't resist. Between her contribution to Lady Wisconsin and this cover, I am extremely excited to hear more. The band's career as a whole is going to explode. Just wait.

Update: I am already finding myself singing along to this cover. I'll admit it.

Free Download: http://bit.ly/xYTjj0

Why Don't They Let Us Fall in Love (Ronettes Cover) by Local Hero!

Connect with Local Hero - Official Website | Twitter | Myspace | SoundCloud |

Little Jungles - Nothing Will Grow

2012-01-13T03:33:00.001-05:00

Lo-Fi Psychedelic Rock

Little Jungle's first single from forthcoming album "I Would Kill For Some Sunlight" was released on January 1st.

Nothing Will Grow is a nice reminder of a good ole fashioned trippy 60's-style guitar riff matched with a cold beer and your feet up with your head tilted back. It's just like the good stuff. Even a line as simple as "Moving on" takes a heavy toll of the satires of life. Sometimes you just need a chill tune to remind you of that. What better way is there to start off your Friday the 13th?

Still, Nothing Will Grow is a sign of what is to come, and that is an album that I am looking forward to. With a display of a song like this, I have no choice but to be excited. Get your midnight mojo going with Nothing Will Grow and take a peek at the video for an added disconnected effect.

&lt;p&gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://littlejungles.bandcamp.com/track/nothing-will-grow"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Nothing Will Grow by Little Jungles&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&lt;/p&gt;

Connect with Little Jungles - Bandcamp |

School of Seven Bells - The Night

2012-01-12T18:20:00.000-05:00

Click to listen to more from School of Seven Bells

Indie

In light of the release to come of their new album entitled Ghostory, School of Seven Bells has since released a couple tracks (The Night, Lafaye) Ghostory is a highly anticipated indie rock/alternative album (due out on Feb. 28th through Vagrant Records). The band has recently undergone some changes and has downsized to two members from their original three with guitarist/producer Benjamin Curtis and vocalist Alejandra Deheza.

Tha album is based on the concept that everyone comes with their baggage or as Deheza quite aptly put it, "“Everyone has ghosts. They're every love you've ever had, every hurt, every betrayal, every heartbreak. They follow you, stay with you." I also want to note that the album title is very fitting considering the concept behind the album and their unique style of "ghostly" music. This is their third album (following Disconnect with Desire) and I must say, I am extremely excited to hear what is to come! The tracklist and other info. regarding the album release is available here on Vagrant.

The Night (the first single release from the album) is a wonderful song full of Deheza's lustrous eidolic vocals and those renowned experimental alternative guitar riffs. Take a listen and enjoy!

School of Seven Bells - The Night by Vagrant Records

Connect with School of Seven Bells - Website | Facebook | YouTube | iTunes |

Without A Word (Project Primer Remix) - Birdy |Free|

2012-01-11T20:27:00.000-05:00

Click to listen to more from Project Primer on SoundCloud

Cinematic Electronica

Project Primer is an electronica duo based out of Toronto, Canada and have shown some very interesting styles of music throughout their musical journey. Their adaptations of the classical piano mixed with modern electronic melodies has spurred a very ambient and chill style. Almost an intelligent style, if you will. With the release of an EP entitled Experiments, Project Primer is already on their way to gaining some recognition from the local crowd.

Now out with a remix of Birdy's Without A Word, Project Primer is showing their diversity in the electronic genre by showcasing their talents. It was quite an interesting remix which was full of epic synth reverberations and some heavy delay. To spice things up a bit, Project Primer remastered their remix and stepped it up a notch with their remixing and producing abilities.

The remastered remix is definitely much better and has a few new additions to the song. Aside from the song sounding much cleaner and ear-pleasing, they have added in some very fitting synthesizers to change up the song about halfway through and made it much more interesting. Vocally, Birdy sounds stunning on her own and her live version of Without A Word is heart-wrenching. Project Primer took an already amazing vocalist and put that reverb/delay spin on them. The very nuance of the track is by its very fabric, the beauty which lies within.

Project Primer has done a masterful job on their remix! Spot on. If you like chill, then I'm sure you'll like Project Primer.

'Like' Project Primer on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Project-Primer/254425881263630.

&lt;p&gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://projectprimer.bandcamp.com/track/without-a-word-project-primer-remix-by-birdy-remastered"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Without A Word (Project Primer Remix) by Birdy |Remastered| by Project Primer&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&lt;/p&gt;
Birdy's live performance of Without A Word:

Intothenorthsea - Self-Titled

2012-01-11T19:57:00.001-05:00

Click to listen to more from Intothenorthsea and their Self-Titled album

Indietronica

Intothenorthsea is a very well versed band ranging from IDM rhythms to guitar rock riffs and a very interesting set of vocals. Interesting in the sense that they are very unique. Unique in such a way that creates the indie-esque underground music genre today. That is to say Intothenorthsea is a fantastic band and has been well received by the likes of OMR, but a few other music bloggers as well.

Indietronica as I like to call it. Intothenorthsea acquaints themselves with the very essence of what it means to push the boundaries of musical genres. With the emergence of quite a few different genres in the last few years, indietronica may very well be what is next. That might seem like I am saying a lot, but without the bands that try new things, music would become very dull. Revolutionary sounds made the IDM industry in 2011. Why not go a step further and add some "solemn guiter/lyrics" and intrumentals?

Either way, I think Intothenorthsea has made a beautiful album and one that I have enjoyed listening to over the past couple of weeks. I hope you will feel the same.

&lt;p&gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://intothenorthsea.bandcamp.com/track/gyrating-in-the-snow"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Gyrating in the Snow by IntotheNorthSea&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&lt;/p&gt;

Connect with Intothenorthsea - Facebook | Bandcamp |

Little Star Dweller - All About Me (Chillout Mix)

2012-01-11T19:18:00.002-05:00

Click for more tracks from Little Star Dweller

Chillout Electronica

Ahhhh, yes. This is such a beautifully composed tranquil track. Little Star Dweller has some really amazing work and I this chillout mix definitely impressed me.

There's something very serene and oddly special about chill tracks. They seem all the while more intricate than your usual upbeat songs, but maybe that's just me. I am very honoured to have the opportunity to listen to such a song.

All About Me takes some very detailed routes with the mixture of the heavy hitting drums and inspiring vocals. As soon as the vocals hit, you know the song is going to take you on dauntless journey into the laid back of your seat. The vocals emit a nice sense of urgency and in essence really compliment the melodic synth syncopations layered over the liquid-esque arps quite nicely. Lastly, the climax is blended expertly with the bridges of throughout the song. There is the perfect amount of heart-wrenching vocals with ambience. Amazing production from LSD.

All About Me (Little Star Dweller Chillout Mix) by Little Star Dweller

Update:

From LSD's upcoming Catch A Killer EP, here is a teaser video of the Stars single.

Worship - Collateral (Draper Remix)

2011-12-24T20:38:00.000-05:00

Ambient Electronica

Wow. Draper just released his remix of Worship's Collateral. This is such a beauty of a song and it really makes me just want to kick back and relax. This song definitely takes me to another place especially as soon as the vocals kick in. It's so serene and well ... angelic. Draper nailed it with this one. Very nicely done.

I'd just like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy Holiday. I hope you enjoy this tune as much as I do. Let's bring in the New Year!

Connect with Draper - Facebook | Twitter | SoundCloud | YouTube |