You Can't Fall Off a Mountain

Blackbird Blackbird

2011-01-20T02:08:00.000-08:00

Check this fresh remix of oft mentioned Blackbird Blackbird's "Hawaii" by the talented Chrome Sparks.

Hawaii (Chrome Sparks Remix)

// Chrome Sparks
// Blackbird Blackbird

Purity Ring - Ungirthed

2011-01-20T01:35:00.000-08:00

Enjoy the video for this promising single from Purity Ring. The project is a new, more accessible tangent from members of the neon delusional electro-pop crew Gobble Gobble. Purity Ring appears to be yet another female driven shadowy pop project that further confirms 2011 is shaping up to be the year of the female vocalist. Perhaps this is a fitting homage to the untimely death of frontwoman Trish Keenan from the increasingly influential act Broadcast. Nonetheless, here is a track that is very of the moment and as long as the music stays this good...we can't complain.

"Ungirthed" - Purity Ring (Video by The Tearist)

// Purity Ring

Sean Carey

2011-01-20T00:56:00.000-08:00

Video for "In the Dirt" by S. Carey -

Here is the first video release from Sean Carey, originally known as the drummer for Bon Iver. Accordingly, his 2010 solo debtut, All We Grow, is nothing less than impressive.

// S. Carey

Cassettes Won't Listen

2011-01-18T00:09:00.000-08:00

If you only listen to one song today, make it this one and everything will be alright. Jason Drake, the main man from Cassettes Won't Listen, remixes "Soak It Up" by Houses.

Soak It Up (Cassettes Won't Listen remix)

// Cassettes Won't Listen
// Houses

Music Video: Zoos of Berlin - Electrical Way

2011-01-13T12:50:00.000-08:00

Video by Pomp&Clout:

// Zoos of Berlin

Brendan Austin

2011-01-06T16:55:00.000-08:00

Paper mountains by Brendan Austin.

Starfucker - "Bury Us Alive"

2011-01-06T15:27:00.000-08:00

Written yesterday for Willamette Week's Local Cut:

Today, Starfucker’s new label, Polyvinyl Records, announced that you can start pre-ordering the band’s forthcoming full-length (titled Reptilians)—and get an immediate MP3 download of the entire album when you do. Fans will know that this release has been a long time coming, but let’s recap Starfucker’s tumultuous history…

A little over two years ago, the name Starfucker was never far from the lips of pretty much every musically inclined person in Portland—which, if you haven’t noticed in this town, is pretty much everyone. Led by the ever-quirky multi-instrumentalist/singer-songwriter Josh Hodges, the group had just released its self-titled debut and was quickly being ushered in as one of Portland’s biggest sweethearts. Out of the dance-crazed basements of P-Town’s house show scene, here had a bubbled up an act with staying power. A poppy, hook-laden dance project that even your parents could get down with. As evidenced when Wieden + Kennedy produced an ad that utilized the band’s “Rawnald Gregory Erickson the Second” to push Target pharmaceuticals. It was clear that Starfucker’s music had commercial potential and everyone knew it—if only they hadn’t chosen such an expletive-ridden name.

It was here that the project reached a fork in the road to success which has plagued artists for years—would Starfucker finally make some decent cash for doing what it loved, or stay underground and pile up the street cred? Opting to split the middle somehow, the project ardently crashed into the unknown that lay between. Asking fans to help change its name, Starfucker would become known as Pyramiddd in 2009. Unsurprisingly, the change took virtually all of the wind out of the sails that had once been dubiously stitched with F, U, C and K.

And so, in 2010, Hodges and crew went back to saying “Fuck it!” and readopted their original moniker while releasing a slew of B-sides and a 7-inch in advance of a new LP out this March. Here in 2011, there is a gust of new life in those once-deflated sails and now the day has finally come for the world to hear the latest effort from the resolute and capable band we always knew was there.

Bury Us Alive

The synth-heavy pop banger is an ostensible rallying cry that admonishes public opinion during the dark days of Pyramiddd by proving that even though the name changed, Starfucker never did. With lyrics like “I know nothing ever keeps you safe for sure/ No one ever dug down so far we go” and “No one even listened/ But this death has set me free/ So bury us alive,” it’s certainly clear that Hodges believes what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. As a culmination of its past and telling insight to the group’s perspective on the future, “Bury Us Alive” is a perfect launching point for Starfucker’s rebirth. With the release of Reptilians, 2011 is likely to harbor a new level of success for these hometown heroes—and like proud parents, we should just sit back and watch them go.

// Starfucker

Lyndsey Denyer

2011-01-06T15:24:00.000-08:00

Mixed media work by Lyndsey Denyer:

MillionYoung - Replicants

2011-01-05T18:23:00.000-08:00

Back in October we brought you a single from MillionYoung's then-unnamed forthcoming release that was slated for January on Old Flame. Well today MillionYoung (Mike Diaz) is back with another single from that album, now titled Replicants, which has been rescheduled to drop February 15th. The eponymous new single, like all of MillionYoung's work, is a mesmerizing dance track that has travelled to us from some other galaxy. Jheri over at Get Off the Coast puts it best when he says "This is what the hip kids at Starfleet Academy get down to." Beam me up Diaz!

Replicants

// MillionYoung

Music Video: Destroyer - Kaputt

2011-01-05T15:25:00.000-08:00

For those who've never heard of Vancouver B.C.'s Destroyer, you've been missing Dan Bejar in your life. His soon-to-be-released (1/25) album Kaputt on powerhouse indie label Merge is being labeled by some as "Destroyer does chillwave." While that's a lofty description for a guy whose music is often compared to the ever-changing David Bowie, the new record is surely a departure from the typical eccentric indie songwriter stylings that Bejar has been churning out since '95. Whatever you want to call it, it's already being heralded as an "album of the year" candidate come this next December. (Didn't we just get done with all that noise?) Nonetheless, here's the album's first music video for the eponymous single "Kaputt":

// Destroyer

AND AND AND

2011-01-03T16:06:00.000-08:00

Somewhere between the bottom of the bottle and the next cigarette exists a kind of melancholic glee. A laugh at the absurdity, a cry for the futility, a cockeyed smile of humility. Out of this very precise moment of substance-laden equilibrium comes the music of Portland's AND AND AND. Like the duality they embody, AND AND AND possesses a dynamic ability to deliver songs of woeful lament with an earnest energy. Which isn't to say that every track is uptempo, but each song is a battle cry for the painfully alone. That's slightly ironic considering this group checks in with six members to the stage; complete with horns, a host of guitars, homemade drums and more than likely a case of beer. And despite what might be interpreted as a creative process that is fueled by some sort of alcoholic haze, these guys are remarkably industrious. In a little over a year of existence, the sextet has released two LP's and four mixtapes. With so much music, these guys need a legit means of digital distribution ASAP, but for now you can check out a few of our favorite tracks from the deluge right here. Picking favorites is not easy either, not only because of their eclecticism, but there are so many damn good tracks. So crack a cold one, or with six members and six releases maybe you should just grab the whole six-pack, and chill out with AND AND AND.

Fresh Summer
Ain't Shit Changed
You Can't Hide

// AND AND AND

Happy New Years!

2010-12-31T17:36:00.000-08:00

Happy New Years from // YCFOAM and our friend Andrew Nabuco aka Casa Castile:

More content coming 2011! Sorry for the downtime.

// Casa Castile

::M∆DE::IN::HEIGHTS::

2010-12-27T14:49:00.000-08:00

Here's a brand new side project called ::M∆DE::IN::HEIGHTS:: from Sabzi of Blue Scholars in collaboration with friend Kelsey Bulkin. Like Blue Scholars, the project draws from a diverse array of influences. You'll find that the first song "Skylark Interabang?!" features a sample from Sufjan Stevens' song "Concerning The UFO Sighting Near Highland, Illinois". The duo has released their debut EP, Winter Pigeons, over on their Bandcamp.

Skylark Interabang?!
All The Places

// ::M∆DE::IN::HEIGHTS::

Xavier Chassaing - Scintillation

2010-12-15T17:44:00.000-08:00

An experimental film combining stop-motion from 35,000 still images and projection mapping by Xavier Chassaing.

New Single From Toro Y Moi

2010-12-14T02:34:00.000-08:00

Not much that hasn't already been said, needs to be said about Toro Y Moi (aka Chazwick Bundick). His new album, Underneath the Pine, is due out February 22nd on Carpark. A lot of people expected that he would go in less electronic, albeit still nostalgic, direction after the release of his 7" single "Leave Everywhere", but it seems with this new single, "Still Sound", from the forthcoming album, that he will find a way split the middle. Say what you want about chillwave, but if this track is any indicator, Chaz is continually proving that he is indeed genre-less.

Still Sound

// Toro Y Moi

Jam of the Day: The Hood Internet - Just Wanna Dance Yrself Clean (Jay-Z vs LCD Soundsystem)

2010-12-14T02:00:00.000-08:00

Jocelyn Catterson

2010-12-13T17:35:00.000-08:00

Photos by Jocelyn Catterson.

Sin Fang Bous - "Clangour and Flutes"

2010-12-13T17:29:00.000-08:00

Video for "Clangour and Flutes" from Sin Fang Bous' debut Clangour (2009). If you haven't heard of this Icelander yet, then you've been missing out. Sindri Már Sigfússon is his name and he's also the main musician behind the more well-known project Seabear. We're eagerly awaiting a new release sometime in 2011, titled Summer Echoes under the shortened name Sin Fang on Germany's Morr Music. You can hit the jump to see a brand new live video of a track from that album called "Two Boys".

// Sin Fang Bous

The Babies

2010-12-10T18:42:00.000-08:00

It's hard to justify using the word "supergroup" with a band like The Babies since a good majority of the public has probably never heard of the project's that initially put these individuals in the spotlight, but within the esoteric confines of the music blogosphere this is indeed a "supergroup". Coming out of the incestuous Brooklyn music scene that seems to show no signs of stopping, The Babies are comprised of Vivian Girls frontwoman Cassie Ramone, Woods bassist Kevin Morby, Bossy drummer Justin Sullivan and Nathanael Stark of Bent Outta Shape. Lo-fi, energetic garage music - exactly what you'd expect from a combo like this. Which means there isn't anything particularly innovative about The Babies, as is the case with most supergroups you could say, but it's their experience and the blending of their sounds that is the treat to see, or rather hear. Amidst busy schedules, The Babies are squeaking out a debut LP February 8th on Shrimper and west coast fans can in fact see them next month, or maybe beyond that - they are relocating here to write their second record before hitting Europe. We can all just watch as The Babies grblow up.

Run Me Over
Meet Me in the City

// The Babies

Jam of the Day: Beastie Boys - Intergalactic (Gentlemen Thieves Remix)

2010-12-10T18:41:00.001-08:00

Greatest Hits - Uptown Girls

2010-12-10T14:47:00.000-08:00

Video by Natalie Rodgers.

// Greatest Hits

Leila Garfield

2010-12-10T13:49:00.000-08:00

Photos by Leila Garfield.

Teen Daze - Beach Dreams

2010-12-06T18:01:00.000-08:00

Vancouver BC's Teen Daze just dropped his new EP, Beach Dreams. Departing from the previous electronic chillwave sound, Beach Dreams is still nothing short of chill and this guy is indeed making waves lately, so keep your eye on him. West coaster's can catch Teen Daze this week as they're currently part of an absolutely choice tour with Fort Lauderdale's Millionyoung, Portland's The Great Mundane and Savannah's Sunglasses. Grab the EP over on Bandcamp and get your tickets fast!

Beach Dreams
Let's Fall Asleep Together

// Teen Daze

Jam of the Day: Gumar and His Magical Midi Band - Sliding Down Rainbows (The Great Mundane Remix)

2010-12-06T17:22:00.000-08:00

Catch the rad visuals and phenomenal editing in the video version from our friends at Into The Woods. Shot at Portland's Reed College.

// Gumar and His Magical Midi Band
// The Great Mundane

Dirty Gold - California Sunrise

2010-12-06T01:21:00.000-08:00

Video by Panaframe.

// Dirty Gold

Winston Chmielinski

2010-12-05T10:06:00.000-08:00

Paintings by Winston Chmielinski.

William Mackinnon

2010-12-04T09:56:00.000-08:00

Paintings by William Mackinnon.

Young Galaxy

2010-12-02T15:16:00.000-08:00

Peripheral Visionaries
Outside The City

// Young Galaxy

Nicholas Hance McElroy

2010-12-02T11:08:00.000-08:00

Photos by Nicholas Hance McElroy.

Chris Scarborough

2010-12-01T23:08:00.000-08:00

Drawings by Chris Scarborough.

Cosmo Speedway

2010-12-01T03:20:00.000-08:00

Shane Reed and Nick Grosvenor have graced us with an impressive homemade video for their lovely song "Lights On" under their dual alias, Cosmo Speedway. You can find the track itself on their latest album Alligator / Alligator. Shane nearly burnt down his apartment during the making of this video. Apparently bright lights and dry brush don't go well together.... This top-notch production is composed of roughly 3,600 still images, was shot with an Olympus C-8080 still camera, and all in, cost the band $386. Now that's indie ingenuity! Check it out after the jump.

// Cosmo Speedway

Blouse

2010-11-29T18:59:00.000-08:00

With acts like Beach House, Warpaint and Twin Sister, having a breakout year - 2010 has seen the rise of several dream-fueled, shadowy pop projects centered on the power of their female vocalists. With the end of the year quickly approaching, 2011 will likely continue to see this seductive trend manifest with even more breakout acts. That being said, Portland's Blouse is likely to be one of those on next year's list. They certainly have all the right elements for impending success - plunging drums percolate with oozing bass tones and analog synth to paint an umbral image that provides the perfect backdrop for the group's siren-like female vocals. Mildly danceable and trance-inducing, it's easy to get lost bobbing your head along to the group's alluring sound. Despite dropping only their second public track, "Shadow", today, the future already looks bright for this dusk-laden project. We're eagerly awaiting an official release, but for now you can grab those two tracks over on Bandcamp.

Shadow
Into Black

// Blouse

Jam of the Day: Marina & The Diamonds - I Am Not A Robot (Clock Opera Remix)

2010-11-29T10:36:00.000-08:00

// Clock Opera

Kate Shaw

2010-11-28T18:43:00.000-08:00

Paintings by Kate Shaw.

Unknown Mortal Orchestra

2010-11-27T18:50:00.000-08:00

Even in the era of the internet, the information age, it can still be surprisingly hard to track down any facts about a person, place, or thing; more specifically in this business - a band. Like many much-hyped acts of late, a clandestine, minimal approach to introducing your project to the world can sometimes garner maximum results. Such is the case with Unknown Mortal Orchestra...

With nothing but a Bandcamp, a four-track EP, an association with Portland and the name Ruben attached to the UMO moniker, there isn't much to go off of in a journalistic sense. We certainly have some questions. Questions like is this a solo project or a group? Is this a new side project of a bigger name? And who is this Ruben fellow? We also have some guesses. Like Ruben Neilson from Portland/NZ-based Mint Chicks?

Regardless, we do know that the music certainly speaks for itself. Clattering drums bounce around simple riffs with radiant retro tone and blurred falsetto vocals, all masked under a reverbed, fuzzy haze - in short perfect lo-fi pop. Yet through all of the muddled noise and melancholic undertones, there is something innocent and pure captured in UMO's debut self-titled EP. Jumping through time and space to harness fresh takes on classic genres like soul and psych, while proving that the pop guitar solo is not quite an anachronism yet, it's hard to resist leaving this 4-track beauty on repeat. Perfect for a good old fashioned shindig with friends or an underwear-clad boogie while making eggs the morning after, you can grab this memory-making release from equally cryptic label The Sound of Sweet Nothing.

Ffuny Frends
Thought Ballune

Who is Unknown Mortal Orchestra?

// Unknown Mortal Orchestra

Matthias Heiderich

2010-11-26T22:14:00.000-08:00

Photos by Matthias Heiderich.

Jam of the Day: Blackbird Blackbird - Float On (Modest Mouse Cover)

2010-11-26T20:32:00.000-08:00

// Blackbird Blackbird

Marius Bercea

2010-11-26T18:07:00.000-08:00

Paintings by Marius Bercea.

Jam of the Day: Sigur Ros vs. Mobb Deep - Shook (Emancipator Mash Up)

2010-11-25T00:42:00.000-08:00

Caroline Keî

2010-11-24T17:00:00.000-08:00

Photos by Caroline Kei.

Matt Root

2010-11-24T16:37:00.000-08:00

Paintings by Matt Root.

Artist Interview - Emay

2010-11-23T00:38:00.000-08:00

If you keep your hand squarely on the heartbeat of the music blogosphere like we do, you've probably felt a quickening pulse at the mention of Seeing Suge. Which means you've probably heard of the project's sole MC - Emay. Partnering with much-hyped producers Star Slinger and Blackbird Blackbird, the trio has quickly garnered the attention of writers and fans of both hip-hop and chillwave alike. We recently caught up with the group's young MC to tell us a little more about himself, his plans for the future, how a guy from Ontario spans the globe to collaborate with artists in Manchester and San Fran and what the hell it's like to be blowing up at only 18. Check out the interview after the jump.

So Emay tell us a little about yourself.

My name is Mubarik and I'm a music producer and rapper from Ontario, Canada. I love movies and apple juice.

How long have you been making music?

Technically I've been doing music since about the year 2000, but that was just messing around on my older sisters keyboard. I've been recording and producing since the year 2006 though!

In life and music - what are your biggest artistic influences?

My biggest influences have to be religion, and emotions in general. In terms of in music it has to be DJ Premier, J Dilla, DJ Toomp, Nas, Sonic Youth, Slowdive, Enon, AZ, Mount Eerie, Ramona Falls, Guided by Voices and a lot more.

You mentioned Slowdive. Your next album, still untitled, is said to be centered around sampling that band's shoegaze sound. How did you decide to go in this direction, and when can we expect the album?

I've been wanting to do this project for like 2 years now, but I didn't have the recording equipment or the proper skills to accomplish it, but now that I'm more comfortable with what I can do. I've upped the ante and have been working hard at finishing this album! It should be out during the first quarter of 2011 for sure. Hoping to have all the tracks recorded before January. So far Sleep is the only track from the project I've let loose, and that isn't the final mix of it. I really hope people like it, it's pretty in-depth, but still has bright elements to it!

That depth is certainly evident in your existing material. Your lyrics are pretty contemplative and atypical for such a young guy on the scene. Explain a little bit about your writing process.

I actually really dislike my writing style at times because of how fragmented and vague it may seem, but I guess it all works out because my thoughts are always fragmented and vague as well. I usually just hear an instrumental that I think I'd sound legit on, sometimes I do a little brainstorming before I write, but sometimes I literally just pour out whatever I feel onto a sheet of paper. It really depends on how I'm feeling at the time that determines how I write. Also, what I choose to write about always depends on what the instrumental sounds like obviously, and a lot of the times I feed off of what the beat-maker feels about the instrumental, whether it's me or someone else like my dude Star Slinger.

People might not know it from your flows, but you're only 18. How do you think your age influences your music?

I think my age influences my music a whole lot. Especially when it comes to subject matter. Although some consider my subject matter to be generally really mature, there are always certain areas in my work that are insanely immature and teen-like. It probably isn't as obvious yet, but I've yet to release a full project that contains my raps and my production together for the entire project, but people will be more aware of what I mean when that's released.

Your 19th birthday is coming up here pretty quick, any plans?

I usually don't do that much on my birthday, will probably do a mini party at home with my family. Cut a little cake and call it a day. (Laughing)

People who follow you a bit more might know this already, but you recently turned out a well-received remix of Karen O and the Kids' soundtrack for Where the Wild Things Are. What’s the story behind the Emay, Karen O and the Kids project?

I actually didn't even expect that to do as well as it did. My dude Austin from Vinyl Meltdown always sends me music to check out, and he had sent me the soundtrack to the movie, and I was pretty much blown away on the spot, and decided to do that project. It was probably the most fun I've ever had making instrumentals since I was so used to specifically making beats for other rappers and such. It's actually kind of funny how I heard Karen O's music before I even watched the film.

You more than likely saw the movie then, what did you think?

I thought it was amazing. I think they did a perfect job of projecting the book into a full length film. My favorite part was probably when Rumpus was going nuts in the forest with the other beasts. It really brought back memories from when I'd read the book in kindergarten. Spike Jonze is a genius.

Your work as Emay definitely put you on the map, but in someways this recent project, Seeing Suge, seems to have put you on a whole new level. It doesn't hurt to have two much-talked about producers in your corner. How did you get involved with Blackbird Blackbird and Star Slinger?

It all started when I was on myspace listening to random bands and I had stumbled on Kiss Kiss Fantastic's page and loved their stuff. After browsing their page I saw someone named [at that time] Bye Bye Blackbird make a comment on their page and decided to click on his page to see what he had as well. After listening to his Happy High EP I was pretty blown away and had to hit him up! I asked him if I could remix his "Ups and Downs" track from that EP and it all started from their pretty much. After like a month or so of just chatting it up he told me about Star Slinger and I dug his stuff immensely also. So after a couple months of just talking and what not, we thought of doing a three way collaboration, and this seemed like the typical "talk about it, but it isn't going to actually happen" type of deal, but in the end it just happened to fall into place really well. We're all pretty busy with our solo stuff but we ARE working on a full project gradually. The internet is a really powerful tool. If it didn't exist this collab wouldn't of happened, and I probably wouldn't be making music.

Well the future is certainly looking bright for you. Fantasy 5-Year Plan. Hit us.

To have a shit load of dope albums. (Smiles)

If things stay on course it's likely you could have the opportunity to work with quite a few different artists. If you could collaborate with any band, musician, or artist, dead or alive who would it be and why?

Somebody I definitely want to work with is Yann Tiersen. He's just a phenomenal composer.

Coffee or Tea?

Tea anyday, but I still fucks with coffee. (Laughs)

Would you rather make girls dance or make girls cry?

I guess I'd rather make them cry, but they have to be smiling while they cry. (Laughs)

Lastly, any advice you can give for up and coming artists trying to make waves in the scene?

Utilize all the resources available to you and experiment, experiment, experiment!

Thanks for your time Emay.

//

As a young, level-headed, forward-thinking hip-hop force, it seems that Emay is certainly a name to watch. You can bet that we certainly will be. You can grab Seeing Suge's single "Breaking" (plus bonus tracks from each individual artist) over on Bandcamp. Also be sure to check out that Where the Wild Things Are remix over at Vinyl Meltdown. Lastly, we'll keep you up to date, but don't forget to keep an eye out for Emay's forthcoming yet-to-be-named release sometime early next year. We'll leave you with Emay's latest single "If You're Breathing".

If You're Breathing

// Emay

Fabrizio Mingarelli

2010-11-21T12:18:00.000-08:00

Photos by Fabrizio Mingarelli.

Danny MacAskill

2010-11-21T09:45:00.000-08:00

While this post may be a bit off topic from our usual content, Way Back Home is a beautifully shot short film directed by Dave Sowerby, showcasing the incredible bicycling skills of Danny MacAskill. There is some relevance though, with a gorgeous sountrack from Portland's own Loch Lomond, and recently posted The Jezabels, Way Back Home is a wonderful Sunday afternoon adventure. Now let's go do something extreme! Minus the red bull. Brah. Check out the entire film after the jump.

// Danny MacAskill

The Jezabels

2010-11-20T14:39:00.000-08:00

The Jezabels, a four piece group from Sydney, Australia, have toured the country opening for Tegan & Sara, Katie Noonan and Josh Pyke, as well as headlining shows in their own right. The Jezabels have received heavy rotation on the radio in Australia and have a growing fan base world wide. This fall they played in New York at the CMJ Music Marathon and Film Festival. Check out a couple tracks off of the Dark Storm EP and She's So Hard EP below. If you like what you hear be sure to snag the full lengths via itunes.

Easy to Love
Mace Spray

// The Jezabels

Little People

2010-11-19T19:58:00.000-08:00

Start Shootin'
Basique

// Little People

Niki & The Dove

2010-11-17T02:11:00.000-08:00

Niki & The Dove is the project of vocalist and main songwriter, Malin Dahlström, as well as, keyboardist and guitarist, Gustaf Karlöf. Hailing from Sweden, Niki & The Dove combine epic choruses with dramatic drum styles to make songs that soar. The first song "Mother Protect" contains a couple incredible moments, specifically the thunderous mid-song break that features Malin singing "You can't keep me down I am done, I am furious" as though the world were ending. Definitely worth a full listen. The second song, "Under The Bridges" oscillates between a rhythmic, eerie, almost dark sound and a chorus alive with euphoria. The first three minutes of the song are quite enjoyable, although the last four minutes seem to drag us to a place far away from this planet. Props to HMK for the find.

Mother Protect
Under The Bridges

// Niki & The Dove

Girl Talk

2010-11-16T16:19:00.000-08:00

Gregg Gillis, the mastermind remix DJ behind Girl Talk comes at us with another full length album called All Day. You can pick up the entire album for free here.

// Girl Talk

Skateistan: To Live and Skate Kabul

2010-11-15T21:38:00.000-08:00

Skateistan: To Live and Skate Kabul is a powerful short film documenting a co-educational skateboard school founded in 2007 in Kabul, Afghanistan, where war torn children from all ages can come skate, learn, create and escape the horrors of war in a safe and positive environment. Cheers to the youth of Kabul!

Watch the full 9 minute documentary after the jump.

// Skateistan

Hayv Kahraman

2010-11-15T20:29:00.000-08:00

Paintings by Hayv Kahraman.

Levek

2010-11-15T00:53:00.000-08:00

Chief
Look On The Bright Side

//Levek

JJ

2010-11-14T00:13:00.000-08:00

Here are a couple new pseudo covers from the Swedish pop duo, jj.

Let Them
I'm The One / Money on My Mind

// jj

Heart Music Group

2010-11-12T16:38:00.000-08:00

This EP was a collaborative effort between Heart Music Group and all the artist involved. One of them being UK DJ Star Slinger. All the tracks are previously unreleased. Download the whole EP for free here.

COOL RUNNINGS - I am You (Star Slinger Remix
Foul Chen - C/U (Star Slinger Remix

// Heart Music Group

Lord Huron

2010-11-10T20:01:00.000-08:00

The soft swish of the foamy ocean rushing to greet the sunny beach and then just as quickly, it scurries away, back into oblivion. The most ancient love/hate relationship. A brief moment of sun saturated bliss and then haphazardly back into the endless depths. In and out. In and out for millions of years. Today however, at this moment, you awaken as so many castaways have - sprawled, haggard, soaked - on the sunny shores of some remote island. Stumbling down the shoreline you start to hear the faintest traces of music in the distance...

Running towards the sound, hurtling lush streams and skirting ritualistic stones, the decibels rise, yet it doesn't really get any less hazy amongst the backdrop of the vast pulsating electronic ocean and the wind rushing through the inland psychedelic forest that abruptly melts into the sand. The sound seems to be coming from some figure in the distance. Closer and closer, it takes the shape of a man - standing still, staring straight back at you. Torn slacks and a ragged necktie, tribal paint and guitar in hand. Here stands a city kid who has immersed himself in the sound of the island.

He was born by the name of Ben Schneider, but he goes by the name Lord Huron.

Equal parts tropicalia, fuzz-pop, and good ol' American songwriting, placing Huron's hometown (no he doesn't actually live on a lost island - let down right?!) might not be immediately obvious. Like his contemporaries, Local Natives, he too calls Los Angeles home. Here in southern California, he has aptly crafted a sun-kissed project that slides in peacefully amongst the genre-jumping waves rolling up to our digital shores. With two esteemed EP's already cut, a remix by blog sensation Teen Daze and a slew of positive hype from some of the big guys, the future is bright for Mr. Schneider. Get your hands on his latest release, Mighty, over on Lord Huron's bandcamp. With the warm breeze of tropical tracks like titular "Mighty" or more conventionally mainland tunes like "Son of a Gun", it's clear that you and Lord Huron will be fast friends and the island will live in harmony.

Mighty
Son of a Gun

Bonus:
Into the Sun (Teen Daze remix)

// Lord Huron

Jam of the Day: Lil Wayne & Trina vs. Passion Pit - Ambien (Sleepy Trip)

2010-11-09T22:04:00.000-08:00

// Brenton

Smith Westerns - Weekend

2010-11-09T12:41:00.000-08:00

Check out the new opening track from breakout act Smith Westerns' new LP. Find it on their forthcoming sophomore release, Die it Blonde. Look for it January 18th via Fat Possum.

Weekend -

// Smith Westerns

Macklemore & Ryan Lewis

2010-11-09T00:16:00.000-08:00

These are two tracks from an older EP by Macklemore & Ryan Lewis called The VS. EP. The first song, "Irish Celebration" samples from a Beirut song called "Scenic World". In this celebratory song, Macklemore pays homage to his Irish ancestors by blending a hiphop kick with classic Irish melody. Definitely worth a listen. The second song, "Otherside" actually samples the Red Hot Chili Peppers' "Otherside".

Irish Celebration
Otherside

Li Wei

2010-11-08T20:45:00.000-08:00

Photos by Li Wei.

Stephan Balleux

2010-11-08T20:21:00.000-08:00

Paintings by Stephan Balleux.

Adam Friedman

2010-11-07T12:02:00.000-08:00

Paintings by Adam Friedman.

Trophy Wife

2010-11-07T01:28:00.000-07:00

Microlite
Take This Night

// Trophy Wife

Maria Park

2010-11-06T16:42:00.000-07:00

Paintings by Maria Park.

In-Flight Safety

2010-11-05T15:54:00.000-07:00

Torches
Model Homes

// In-Flight Safety

Pepper Rabbit

2010-11-04T01:46:00.000-07:00

Older Brother
Babette!

// Pepper Rabbit

Police Academy 6

2010-11-03T23:12:00.000-07:00

This is a must listen collaboration from Police Academy 6 and unouomedude.

Icarus ft. unoumedude
Fill in the Blanks ft. Top Girls

// Police Academy 6

CLAPS

2010-11-03T22:44:00.000-07:00

From the No Party EP:
Red Dress
Lost

// CLAPS

Paco Pomet

2010-11-03T20:36:00.000-07:00

Paintings by Paco Pomet.

Jam of the Day: Bear Hands - Crime Pays

2010-11-02T15:26:00.000-07:00

// Bear Hands

A Place We Like

2010-11-02T15:20:00.000-07:00

Following Twin Shadow's recent remix of Hooray for Earth's "Surrounded By Your Friends", comes a lovely collaborative cut from Twin Shadow and Hooray For Earth. Maybe this is the start of something awesome. Both of these Brooklyn-based projects are having a fantastic year, although it seems like most anything musical in Brooklyn is having a fantastic year. Twin Shadow's debut full-length Forget has been racking up marked record sales and garnering attention from major outlets like Rolling Stone, while Hooray for Earth has been the sweetheart of many notable blogs and considered by many to be one of the best shows at this year's CMJ Marathon. We can only hope that there is more to come from this potent pairing.

A Place We Like (Hooray For Earth vs Twin Shadow)
Surrounded By Your Friends (Twin Shadow remix)

// Twin Shadow
// Hooray for Earth

Laura Torres

2010-11-02T14:35:00.000-07:00

Photos by Laura Torres.

Jam of the day: Dirty Gold - California Sunrise

2010-11-01T22:53:00.000-07:00

// Dirty Gold

Star Slinger

2010-10-31T15:34:00.000-07:00

Once again here comes UK DJ Star Slinger with another fresh remix. This time he pays homage to Elizabeth Fraser, Lead Singer of The Cocteau Twins. Download all kinds of free Star Slinger music at the link below.

Elizabeth Fraser (Cocteau Twins Rework)

// Star Slinger

Pretty Lights

2010-10-30T16:42:00.000-07:00

Some smooth beats new and old from Denver's Pretty Lights. Also known as Derek Smith, he recently dropped a new EP titled Glowing in the Darkest Night - his third this year. This busy guy is also on tour currently. Check out the fall tour dates and download some free music courtesy of Mr. Smith over at the Pretty Lights page.

Finally Moving (2006)
Drift Away (2010)

// Pretty Lights

Mac Miller

2010-10-29T15:32:00.000-07:00

Malcolm McCormick, better known as Mac Miller, is an 18 year old American-Jewish rapper from Pittsburgh. Mac signed this year with Rostrum Records. This is the same label as friend, and fellow alum of Taylor Allderdice High, Wiz Khalifa. Enjoy a couple tracks from his latest mixtape K.I.D.S.

The Spins
Good Evening
Don't Mind If I Do

// Mac Miller

Jam of the day: Is Tropical - South Pacific

2010-10-28T20:23:00.000-07:00

// Is Tropical

Lucrezia Tettoni

2010-10-28T18:06:00.000-07:00

Paintings by Lucrezia Tettoni.

Hailing from Sydney, Australia, Lucrezia Tettoni, is a multi talented artist/creative with more ambition than Lebron James. When she's not making fantastical paintings of tribal-like arrows, or delicate explosions of color and texture, her and her equally talented co pilot, Jen Mehigan, channel the works of other creative individuals from around the globe, through their beautiful art book, "Dust & Dessert". We are excited to see what's next for Lucrezia and Jen, as they continue to explore new ways of sharing their creativity with the rest of the world.

In the meantime, snag a copy of Dust & Dessert here.

More of Lucrezia's incredible work after the jump.

Shimmering Stars - I'm Gonna Try

2010-10-28T16:36:00.000-07:00

Video by Salazar.

// Shimmering Stars

Esben and the Witch

2010-10-28T16:28:00.000-07:00

Misty phantoms and shrouded specters swirl ominously around the unsure mind who wanders through the graveyard dangerously past their bedtime. Is it the light playing tricks? Or the lack of light? Perhaps the lack of sleep? Or maybe this is just really happening. Listening to Esben and the Witch would surely not help your paranoia at all, but it would certainly set the mood. The only constant would be is that these guys are definitely for real. As concrete as a tombstone, Brighton, England's trio Esben and the Witch is the perfect ghostly addition to your Halloween playlist this weekend. Ethereal female vocals and dark flourishes of minor tones boil with biting electronic beats for a truly delicious blend of the paranormal. Their debut LP, Violet Cries, isn't out until January 31st, but thanks to label Matador you can jump the gun and hear a few singles below.

Warpath
Marching Song

// Esben and the Witch

Mansions on the Moon

2010-10-27T15:09:00.000-07:00

Love Is Going To Destroy Me

To download the full Paradise Falls EP click here.

// Mansions on the Moon

Casa Castile

2010-10-27T03:10:00.000-07:00

Moving slowly through the alleyway of some dark, drenched street full of clandestine scripture and discarded vernaculars of a familiar urban life, there is a light around the corner. A luminous phosphorescence at the end of this murky stretch. A radiant spectrum of burnt tones, diffused through the shell of grey crystal from which it comes. Amongst the piles of torn and saturated scraps of dub, chillwave and 60's pop revival, lies the beautifully imperfect gem that is Casa Castile. This gem is the glowing bedroom project of Nashville's Andrew Nabuco and it's probably one of the most innovative sounds to surface in recent months. From the off-kilter funk of "Time Machine" to the spectral twists and turns of solid songwriting like "Lights, Flashes", or the purely eclectic electro of "Vake", there's a little something for everyone. Even after several listens, you can't really finger what's so special about this sonic blend and that's just fine with us. His blissfully fresh upcoming 6 track EP Vake is available for listen over on Casa Castile's Soundcloud.

Time Machine
Lights, Flashes
Vake

// Casa Castile

Jam of the Day: MGMT - Congratulations (Erol Alkan Remix)

2010-10-27T02:06:00.000-07:00

// MGMT
// Erol Alkan

Baths - Pop Song

2010-10-27T02:05:00.000-07:00

New track from the ever-rising Baths aka Will Weisenfeld. Check out his latest debut release, Cerulean, from earlier this year. A top contender for many people's "Best of 2010" lists come December. His video for the single "Lovely Bloodflow" is certainly one of our favorite visual releases for thus far.

Pop Song

// Baths

Soars - Throw Yourself Apart

2010-10-26T15:44:00.000-07:00

Video by Jamie Harley.

// Soars

Tapes 'n Tapes - Freak Out

2010-10-26T12:09:00.000-07:00

New single from Tapes 'n Tapes forthcoming album OUTSIDE. Due out January 11th (1/11/11) on the bands own label ibid Records, this is the first new material from the band since 2008's Walk It Off.

Freak Out

// Tapes 'n Tapes

TV Girl

2010-10-26T03:00:00.000-07:00

The ebullient adolescence of San Diego's TV Girl is addicting. The duo just released their self-titled EP for free over on their Bandcamp. While "I Don't Care" is somewhat reminiscient of of lo-fi punk outfit Wavves, TV Girl oddly enough sounds like a current day Sugar Ray on the standout "If You Want It", but maybe that's just us? Overall, filtered vocals and punk underpinnings groove with some solid, upbeat electronic work for a diverse debut that's not your everyday chillwave release.

TV Girl - I Don't Care
TV Girl - If You Want It

// TV Girl

Langdon Graves

2010-10-25T22:06:00.000-07:00

Drawings by Langdon Graves.

Runaway

2010-10-25T17:31:00.000-07:00

See Kanye's much hyped feature length music video after the jump. Some beautiful imagery, but we can't say much for Mr. West's acting skills. Listen for the new track "Monster", with unlikely collaborator Justin Vernon of Bon Iver, in the last track of the video.

Bikini

2010-10-24T15:58:00.000-07:00

Here is one of our new favorite bands from New York City, Bikini. Bikini is the dual efforts of Nigel Diamond and Olivier Bonnard. Check out some tracks below from their forthcoming debut RIPJDS EP, out in November via Lefse. In honor of one our contributor's birthday this last weekend, we dedicate this first song "I Remember Being Young" to Dan Fuller. Time is a bitch, buddy!

I Remember Being Young
Acheerlaeder
Tonight

// Bikini

Mark Warren Jacques

2010-10-21T16:09:00.000-07:00

Paintings by Mark Warren Jacques.

Jam of the day: Active Child - When Your Love is Safe (Classixx Remix)

2010-10-21T15:31:00.000-07:00

// Active Child
// Classixx

Yuko Oda

2010-10-20T12:44:00.000-07:00

Drawings by Yuko Oda.

Sun Airway

2010-10-20T01:00:00.000-07:00

Keep and eye on these guys. Sun Airway is the project of Patrick Marsceill and Jon Bathmus. They are set to drop their first full-length album titled 'Nocturn of Exploded Crystal Chandelier'. I just bought my tickets to see these guys when they come to Seattle at The Crocodile on November 2nd. Pick up your tickets here.

Infinity

//Sun Airway

Oh Naoko

Via Pitchfork

Gauntlet Hair

2010-10-19T22:14:00.000-07:00

Here is the single from Denver duo Gauntlet Hair's forthcoming Out Don't.../Heave 7" on Mexican Summer. The pair only has one official release thus far - the brief I Was Thinking 7" via GvB's Forest Family Records. Their debut full length is supposedly coming soon, also on Forest Family. All you west coast kids can catch their howling, reverb-laden brand of rock quite soon as they'll be on tour come November. If that means you, hit the myspace below for dates. Most importantly though, hit the tracks below for some serious jams.

Out, Don't...
I Was Thinking

// Gauntlet Hair

Jen Mehigan

2010-10-19T01:33:00.000-07:00

Mixed media works by Jen Mehigan.

Jen Mehigan's paintings take us to a state of terror, ecstasy, wonder and awe, all through her intutive use of color, application and appropriation. A burning house in and of itself is a horrifying image. A burning house with a technicolor-ed splotch of paint - engulfing the already catastrophic moment - quickly becomes sublime. Her constant push and pull, between found imagery and painterly mark-making, alludes to an unexpected harmony that's incredibly exciting.

Aside from studying and creating lovely works in Sydney, Australia, Jen & partner in crime, Lucrezia Tettoni, manage to curate, edit and produce an art, photography and literary book/zine/periodical called "Dust & Dessert". Be on the lookout for this creative young lady, as I'm sure we will be pleasantly surprised in the near future.

In the meantime check out some more of her work after the jump.

Hervé Demers

2010-10-18T22:55:00.000-07:00

Photos by Hervé Demers.

Erin Mcsavaney

2010-10-18T22:26:00.000-07:00

Paintings by Erin Mcsavaney.

The Morning Benders

2010-10-18T14:59:00.001-07:00

Via La Blogotheque:

// The Morning Benders

First Aid Kit

2010-10-18T11:25:00.000-07:00

First Aid Kit is a Swedish folk duo made up of sisters Johanna (19) and Klara (17) Söderberg, whose vocal harmonies and folk-influenced songwriting remind us of a female version of Fleet Foxes. In fact they actually do a cover of Fleet Foxes Tiger Mountain Peasant song.

From: The Big Black and The Blue

Hard Believer

Enjoy one of our favorite tracks as of recent after the jump, it's a cover by First Aid Kit called When I Grow Up, originally by Fever Ray.

//First Aid Kit

When I Grow Up by First Aid Kit

From: Drunken Trees

You're Not Coming Home Tonight

Cursed Kids

2010-10-17T20:36:00.000-07:00

Yet another side project from Mikey of Blackbird Blackbird. This one's called Cursed Kids. Check out their bandcamp.

Eugene

//Cursed Kids

Jam of the Day: Phoenix - Lizstomania (Shook Remix)

2010-10-16T19:40:00.000-07:00

// Shook