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PREMIERE: Choir Of Young Believers - Paint New Horrors
(Photo: Nina Mouritzen)
Choir Of Young Believers is on some alternate universe, orchestral ‘50s prom tip on their latest, “Paint New Horrors” and we are so into it! Cold Danish crooning, powder blue strings, straining guitars and an utterly soaring breakdown paint a world that tragically does not, nor ever could, exist (other than in your eardrums). So go ahead, plug in Rhine Gold over on Ghostly and take a sonic trip into the The Twilight Zone.
DOWNLOAD: Julia Stone - It's All Okay (Active Child Remix)
Julia Stone is one half of Angus & Julia Stone, whose long list of accolades includes five Aria awards (Australia’s version of the Grammys), platinum status and a soundtrack spot on the last Twilight movie. In layman’s terms? Massive, moody, black forest pop that you should know about. Here, lead song “It’s All Okay” from her upcoming solo effort is given a dip by angel-cum-ethereal-musician Active Child, whose subtle take is all organic swells, tinkling choir strains and cathedral-shaking bass. All okay, indeed, especially when By All The Horns comes out on May 29.
STREAM: R. Kelly - Feelin' Single
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So, here's the scoop on this one: R. Kelly, our protagonist, goes to the club. He runs into an ex-girlfriend. He does not find this to be a favorable situation. He then does what Kellz does when backed into a corner. He goes out and finds someone new! With disco underpinnings and a light weekend vibe, Kelly is mining the late-'70s this time around and it's quite fantastic.
DOWNLOAD: St. Lucia - Closer Than This (Light Waves Remix)
A Charles In Charge-esque sitcom needs to be created for this Light Waves remix of St. Lucia’s “Closer Than This.” Something where pastel-swathed kids in stylish shoes can ride roller coasters, sunbathe on yachts with white zinc noses and bake ecstasy cookies for their New Year’s gathering in the Maldives. You know, just a plain ole peachy-keen Balearic party television show opener, that’s all. Add it to the rest of the Closer Than This remix EP, gratis right here.
DOWNLOAD: Oberhofer - Runaway (Kanye West Cover)
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If there’s anyone who should take on the self-aggrandizing King Midas of hip-hop, it’s Oberhofer, if only so that we may hear the kid’s choir-like swoon on such choice words as “douchebags,” “assholes” and of course the modern-day Shakespearean turn of phrase, “sent this bitch a picture of my dick.” We didn’t think Kanye West’s thoughts could turn so inviting and caring, but in this chamber-pop wash of a song imploring anyone good to “Runaway,” they do, oh they do.
STREAM: Animal Collective - Honeycomb/Gotham
Animal Collective’s got a new 7-inch on Domino coming June 26 called Honeycomb/Gotham, which holds two tracks called (duh) “Honeycomb” and “Gotham.” As we’ve come to expect, they’re both sonic Rorschach tests. Though the cool thing here is they manage to capture each end of the band's aural spectrum, whose range swings from rapturous Christmastime-in-a-yurt yelpings to intangible sadsack yowlers where the guitars seem to be committing a long yet honorable psych death. “Honeycomb” is cartoon flip-flop mania, “Gotham,” the sweet, sweet droning crash. Both great, both streaming on the band’s website, both ready for pre-order on iTunes now.
STREAM: CocoRosie - We Are On Fire
A-side, A-side! Get your A-side listening needs to CocoRosie’s single “We Are On Fire” (recorded with stretchy, lissom producer Dave Sitek) right here, bursting with flute bits, finger snaps and streams of wettish trip-hop and electronica trickling about in what could double for a Sneaker Pimps track. Though with the synth gongs, cat scratch fever vocals and operatic breakdowns, this one takes a silk sheet formula and updates it for the weirdo set. The wax proper drops June 5 on Touch & Go, so get it.
DOWNLOAD: Turbo Fruits - Sweet Thang
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Twiddling gee-tars, slacker-in-love lyrics and some truly earnest backyard drumming make “Sweet Thang” true to its title indeed. This first listen off of Turbo Fruits’ third album Butter sounds like running through an overgrown field with skinned knees chasing after your crush. You know, jangly and hopeful and just a little bit burnt.
