Relax, mellow out and take it easy with Giraffage’s new remix of Labyrinth Ear’s “Humble Bones”. Giraffage, stage name for Charlie Yin, is a relatively new producer coming out of San Francisco. His self-described “dreampop” electronic tunes are the type of songs you listen to on a rainy day enjoying a glass of red wine–or perhaps some herbal remedies if that suits your fancy. If you’re looking for some chilling music, then look no further.

Labyrinth Ear – Humble Bones (Giraffage Remix)Download audio file (humble-bones-giraffage-remix.mp3)
Giraffage | Facebook | Twitter | Soundcloud

Ok Go has done it again.

Since their formation in 1998, OK Go has been known equally for their video musings and note worthy breed of pop rock. Their video for “Here It Goes Again” won a grammy and set the bar really high for any follow up videos the band might put out… and they’ve consistently met their goal. The video for their new single “Needing/Getting” is no different. The video took around four months to set up, four days to shoot, and over fourteen hundred instruments for the car to play.

Yes, you read that right. The band has rigged a Chevy Sonic with gadgets and gizmos that smack, slap, pluck, and pound on various instruments the band has set up on their music desert obstacle course, making this their most in depth offering to date.

Post-dubstep duo Atlas hail from northern England, and make bleakly beautiful tracks. ‘This Is’, featuring Emmo, is a dark minimalist slice of electronic goodness, with the sparse beats making space for the soft intimate vocals to create a truly haunting atmosphere. One to look out for in the future, Atlas are a truly promising prospect.

Atlas – This Is (ft. Emmo)Download audio file (Atlas – This Is.mp3)

F.A.Q. released a remix of Gramitik’s Itz Over from Street Bangerz Volume One this week. The slow, soulful instrumental makes me want to do what Gramitik admits is one of his favorite things to do: smoke weed. Not normally a fan of tracks with no lyrics or verses, but this smooth rendition caught me off guard and before I knew it I was clicking replay. As for my disdain for remixes, dare I say, “Itz Over”?

Download: Gramatik – Itz Over (F.A.Q Remix)Download audio file (gramatik-itz-over-f-a-q-remix.mp3)

South African hip hop trio Die Antwoord (Afrikaans for “The Answer”) first appeared on the scene in 2009 with their debut album $O$. They became a viral phenomenon after the release of the video for the album’s first single “Enter The Ninja”, teaming up with cinematographer Rob Malpage. With the first video the band introduced themselves, their music, and their Zef style to the masses… and got so many  hits to the Die Antwoord website that the host couldn’t handle it and the site was shut down. The band became a sensational internet meme that boosted their sales and got them signed to Interscope records. It’s been about two years since they’ve released anything new and the world can’t help but wonder what they’ve been up to.

Ten$ion is the answer.

Recently the band has left Interscope records after refusing to succumb to a more generic sound and release anything “wack”. Die Antwoord’s sophomore effort is set for release February 7th on the band’s own Zef Imprint, which begs the question: what could they have been doing that even Lady Gaga‘s label (Interscope) couldn’t handle it? I have had the opportunity to preview the album, and am actually really happy that the band stayed true to their roots. Instead of transforming their sound into something more marketable to the American hip hop market, Ten$ion feels almost like a continuation of $O$ with only minor changes.

As the album starts it is immediately clear that the group has put enormous effort in maintaining the energy and momentum they found through $O$ while simultaneously maturing their sound. Each song moves flawlessly from track to track, skits included, and never falters in delivery. The band has elected to include nine actual songs on this record, which means that every song earned its placement in the track listing, and every one is as over the top as its predecessor. Songs like “I Fink U Freeky” and “U Make A Ninja Wanna Fuck” are prime candidates for singles and make this record shine like Ninja’s jewelry. Considering DJ Hi-Tek’s hard hitting beats, Yo-Landi Vi$$er’s creepy vocal melodies, and Ninja’s incredible flow, Ten$ion is unforgettable… and damn catchy.

Die Antwoord ‘Fok Julle Naaiers’ Music Video from Ross Garrett on Vimeo.

Ten$ion is out 2/7 on ZEF Records.

Brighton’s very own Will Phillips has dropped his debut single ‘Plastic Acid’ under the name Tourist. With a spellbinding yet simple construction, this track is pure dance-pop, and the lack of vocals from Phillips gives ‘Plastic Acid’ a slightly psychedelic edge. A sign of good things to come from this talented producer, Tourist’s EP will be out on March 12. Watch this space for more.

“Crisp. Elegant. Percussive.”

The relationship between a person and electronic music is much like the relationship between two people… Three words can mean everything.With “Tears” Submerse has embodied the good vibes attributed to those words from beginning to end- and have been gaining quite a following because of it

The vocal sample pushes the song forward and makes it memorable, the organic tones fill out blank spaces, and the beat is vocal in its own right. Overall the track just feels good to listen to and is the perfect way to soundtrack a Monday morning.

Italian Mauro Remiddi (the brains behind Porcelain Raft) is not yet 30, but he has travelled the world and performed an eclectic range of music, from gypsy folk tunes to Broadway-style piano. His debut ‘Strange Weekend’ is something of a collection of these influences. Highlight track ‘Put Me To Sleep’ has the tribal drums and My-Bloody-Valentine-gone-pop guitars, and washes over you in great waves of reverb and soft vocals. A must-have for fans of shoegaze, ‘Strange Weekend’ is out now on Secretly Canadian.

It is no surprise that we didn’t fully support M.I.A. previous releases. As she continues to evolve her music, there were certain things that just didn’t click for us. HOWEVER, we couldn’t be happier to hear the new single “Bad Girls”, produced by Danja (american megaproducer who has worked with Justin Timberlake, Nelly Furtado, Björk and Britney Spears among many others).

“Bad Girls” is a more controlled song from M.I.A., compared to her previous work that will be available tomorrow January 31st. Featuring attitude filled lyrics and a middle eastern instrumentation and beat that is much more “consumable” (mainstream). Pitchfork Reports that M.I.A. is currently working on her fourth full-length LP, which is set for release this summer. She’s also heavily rumored to appear during this Sunday’s Super Bowl halftime show alongside Madonna to perform their collaborative new single “Give Me All Your Luvin’”.

M.I.A. Will release Bad Girls Tomorrow on Interscope Records

“Colour In Your Hands” is the kind of song electronic music was made for; building like jenga bricks, one layer at a time. D.L.I.D. (Dick Laurent is Dead) drives the analogy forward with a big beat, timed snare hits, and a catchy vocal part that sits on top of the layering, allowing D.L.I.D. and Fink to choose which pieces to pull out, and when, until the whole song gradually begins to tumble and fall apart. When it finally does collapse and fade out, though, you aren’t yelling and hating yourself as you pick up wood blocks… Instead the song leaves you satisfied, but somehow wanting more.

D.L.I.D.- Colour In Your Hands (ft. Fink)
Download audio file (01%20Colour%20In%20Your%20Hands%20(feat.%20Fink).mp3)

via [avengethevirgin]