Author Archives: michelleg

[Acoustic] Disclosure – Latch ft. Sam Smith

Posted by michelleg - May 13, 2013
Disclosure - Latch Acoustic

If you’re like us, you’ve probably looped Disclosure‘s “Latch” track to the point of record-scratching — it’s a stellar jam and one that’s pleasantly led to the UK duo’s generous amount of press coverage as of late. But all the credit can’t go to the production; Sam Smith‘s impassioned vocals are impressive in their own right and with this acoustic version, flushed with beautiful string and piano work, we get to see just how impactive his voice really is. He’s emotional, but so commanding at the same time. Treat yourself below, and be sure to revisit the original, too.

Latch (Acoustic Live)
Soundcloud

Original “Latch”:

Latch ft. Sam Smith
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[Album Stream] She & Him – Volume 3

Posted by michelleg - May 1, 2013
SheAndHimVolume3
She & Him
Never Wanted Your Love
Buy

The cutesy, ever-catchy duo She & Him are gearing up to release their brand new album, Volume 3, on May 7th via Merge Records. We gave you a sneak peek of the LP with “Never Wanted Your Love” (above), but if that track’s not enough sweet vintage pop for you, fear not, dear ninja, as the whole record is streaming more than a week before its official release, courtesy of NPR. Enjoy.

Stream She & Him’s Volume 3.

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Jhameel x DWNTWN x Giraffage – Move Me

Posted by michelleg - May 1, 2013
Jhameel x DWNTWN x Giraffage
Jhameel x DWNTWN x Giraffage
Move Me
Soundcloud

Most of the artists involved in “Move Me” — and it’s a bit of a star-studded bunch — have graced The Music Ninja’s pages in the past, so posting this was a bit of a no brainer. (Plus, the track is part of a compilation put out by well-regarded French label Kitsuné!) Jhameel, DWNTWN and Giraffage come together for a real pleaser, full of cooing vocals and lush, sparkly production. And when the chorus descends upon you, it’s almost like being wrapped up in the many folds of a velvety blanket — its warm charm is nearly inescapable.

Download “Move Me” and the entire Kitsuné AMERICA 2 MiniMix by Jerry Bouthier here.

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[TMN Premiere] Viceroy & French Horn Rebellion – Friday Nights (Jessie Andrews Remix)

Posted by michelleg - April 30, 2013
Viceroy & French Horn Rebellion - Friday Nights
Viceroy & French Horn Rebellion
Friday Nights (Jessie Andrews Remix)
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Earlier in the month we hipped you to Viceroy and French Horn Rebellion‘s funky “Friday Nights”, a nu-disco tune so catchy it makes every day feel like a crazed, boozy jumping off point to the weekend. The collaborative pair will soon release a remixes EP, and it’ll include this awesome rework by Jessie Andrews, a Los Angeles DJ and actress. Andrews strips away the funk, instead nicely replacing it with crunchy, spiraling effects that’ll take you on a few dizzying loops and  powerful buildups that might leave you more than a little floored. The remix imagines the original as a thrilling house track and gives us yet another reason to scuffle up the dancing shoes. Check it out above.

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[Awesome] Daughter – Get Lucky (Daft Punk Cover)

Posted by michelleg - April 28, 2013
daft-punk-get-lucky
Daughter
Get Lucky (Daft Punk Cover)
Soundcloud

This weekend, folk trio Daughter take on “Get Lucky”, the ubiquitous new comeback single by Daft Punk (whose official artwork is above). It’s exactly what you might expect, in the most unexpected way, and a definite “must listen”. Check it out.

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Snakehips – On & On ft. George Maple

Posted by michelleg - April 28, 2013
Snakehips - ft George Maple
SNAKEHIPS
On & On
Soundcloud

Get cozy on the couch and turn up this weekend gem, “On & On”. It’s a pleasing, ultra-smooth, soulful pop track, which owes much of its sparkly production work to London duo Snakehips and its silkiness to vocalist George Maple. If Maple’s name sounds familiar, it’s because we’ve spotlighted her beautiful R&B-esque vocals before — not just for her original song “Fixed”, but also for her collab with Aussie electronic artist Flume.

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[Indie/Soul] Young Fathers – I Heard

Posted by michelleg - April 28, 2013
Young Fathers - I Heard
Young Fathers
"I Heard"
Download

Call it catch-up Sunday, but I think it’s better to post a song that’s 23 days old than to never expose it to the masses at all. “I Heard” by Scottish trio Young Fathers is one such track; it’s hardly “hot-off-the-presses”, but it doesn’t make it any less write-up worthy. The cut is difficult to neatly categorize, but know this: it’s soothing, but rapturous, and offers a fresh blend of indie rock, soul, hip-hop and other unnameable, but creative elements. Plus, that light and cool falsetto is hard not to latch onto. Check it out above, and also peep its newly-released official video here.

Young Fathers’ new album, TAPE TWO, comes out June 11th via Anticon.

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