From the ashes of a fake genre long forgotten, CREEP continues their rise to electronic, gothy pop glory on "Introduction." With an assist from frequent collaborator Planningtorock, this track serves its title well, immersing the listener into a gloomy, operatic world of swelling synths, ghostly call-backs and skewed dance dynamics.
On "Driving East, And Through Her," Case Studies embraces the open road, America, slide guitar, mean women and all that other good shit. It's rambling music – perfect for some domestic brews on the porch as Jesse Lortz's worn vocals and a ramshackle performance wear their looseness well.
Let's welcome Chance The Rapper to the weird-rap continuum. The Chicago MC's biggest moment in the spotlight, this new mixtape entitled AcidRap, is upon us and, in addition to his irresistible ambition, it features Internet favorite singles like "Good Ass Intro" and "Juice," as well as guest spots from Ab-Soul, Action Bronson, Childish Gambino and Twista.
Mixtape Download: Chance The Rapper - AcidRap [WeTransfer]
On "Kees," Great Thunder (Katie Crutchfield of Waxahatchee and Keith Spencer of Swearin) blow it out with the best of their '90s forefathers. Well-written basement music, this is a jam for jams sake – pure release, high volume, loose attitude, life-or-death American rock 'n' roll.
"Pyramid" is Four Tet at his most dancefloor leaning, and this remix by Thom Yorke and his Atoms For Peace clique is just an all-out assault. Like the original was dangled inside a helicopter propellor, it turns into a mixture of jabs, galloping drums and playfully-slapped vocal samples.
On "Softly Draining Seas," 18-year-old King Krule brethren Jamie Issac goes icy, spacious and emotive – a very 2013 sound. It hits right, though – all melancholy and pretty with all the instruments in tune and impeccably produced. And while there's a clear James Blake influence, Issac seems to view smoothness as a path to deeper atmosphere and washy sorrow.
A seemingly odd pairing at first, DOOM's word avalanche collides with Clams Casino's cloudy valleys on "Bookfiend." Neither artist bends their style too much as ol' MF slows it down, turns his drawl to molasses and garbles through dense, one-liner wordplay. Rap as escapism.
Hype be damned! With Savages, the ghost of post-punk past is alive and thriving. Their debut LP, Silence Yourself, is aggressive, visceral, catchy and a bit dangerous, possessing the brutal intensity and energy that has been converting live audiences into disciples all year. Check the whole thing – out May 7 via Matador.
From the smoldering ashes of Wu Lyf comes the awfully-named Los Porcos. "Do You Wanna Live?" is a summer-ready first taste, and it's very much ready for your first boat excursion of the year with light AM warble-disco nods and a roaring guitar solo that ranks up there with the best of the Ariel Pink basement acolytes.
Sneering swamp punk is the realm of "Digsaw" by The Wytches. With a flailing bassline, disaffected surf guitar and nasal vocal intensity, this is going to my new shadowboxing anthem when I walk through the park at night.
