[MP3] EAR CANDY | Oh Land – “White Nights” (Twin Shadow Remix)
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Oh Land (a.k.a. Nanna Øland Fabricius), a former Danish ballerina raised by classically trained musician parents (opera singer mother, theatre organist father) and current Brooklyn girl is ready gearing up to make her mark in 2011. I’ve mentioned her as one to watch this year when she releases her full-length Epic Records debut on March 15. With a love of experimenting and playing around with electronic sounds with a classical twist, cute little instruments, and loop pedals, Oh Land creates an infectious brand of polished (yet somehow organic) electro-pop. Now, fellow Brooklynite Twin Shadow has remixed the heaving drumming and layered cooing of “White Nights” into a swirling electronic synth-laden and drum-heavy cacophony that is sure to have you bobbing your head.
[MP3]: Oh Land – White Nights (Twin Shadow Remix) (right-click, save as)
I’M OBSESSED | School of Seven Bells
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I have no idea how I’ve just now discovered Brooklyn-based School of Seven Bells, formerly a trio consisting of Benjamin Curtis and identical twins Alejandra and Claudia Deheza. (Claudia announced her departure from the band on Oct. 12 via SVIIB’s facebook.) It’s okay, though. Sometimes I like being a little late to the game, because it means I have an entire back-catalogue to check out. In their case, it’s 2 LPs (Alpinisms and Disconnect From Desire, respectively) and 1 EP (Heart Is Strange).
Their sound creates a lush, and sometimes cacophonous (“Bye Bye Bye”), electric dreamscape of layers atop lilting harmonies and an assured drumbeat. For lack of better terms, their music has been described as dream-pop, shoegaze, and of course electronic–but it’s really up to you to decide. For a number of other free legal downloads of their music, check out their RCRDLBL page. (Their remixes are especially good.)
They’ve also recently released the creepy/sexy/eerie music video for “I L U” (from Disconnect From Desire), which can be viewed below. Should I be crying or should I be creeped out–I don’t really know. But it takes the phrase “love even in death” in literal terms. It’s actually kind of sweet.
[MP3]: School of Seven Bells – “Conjurr” (from Alpinisms) [right-click, save as]
[MP3]: School of Seven Bells – “Bye Bye Bye” (from Disconnect From Desire)
EAR CANDY: M.I.A. – “Lemme Hump You” (feat. Blaqstarr)
Yep, I was right.
M.I.A has added yet another ridiculous URL to her recent collection to host her track, “Lemme Hump You” (feat. Blaqstarr): http://www.ithinkyoumightgetshitforthat.com/.
Also, what can I say except that this .gif is aaaaaaawwsoome.
You can listen to the latest self-leaked M.I.A. track below, but if I were you I’d go to http://www.ithinkyoumightgetshitforthat.com/ just to see that .gif above.
COVER CLASH: Fever Ray vs. First Aid Kit (“When I Grow Up”)
Fever Ray vs. First Aid Kit
Fever Ray
Karin Dreijer Andersson, was originally one half of Grammi-winning (Swedish equivalent of a Grammy; those tricky, Swedes!) electric duo, the Knife, with her brother. Now performing solo under the moniker, Fever Ray, she is known for her theatricality (often donning masks and face paint), haunting vocals, and creating dark daydreams with synth textures.
“When I Grow Up” is a Fever Ray original and is the perfect song to introduce new listeners to her music. Honestly, on the first listen her multi-tracked vocals sound almost Bjork-like. The bass line is gripping and the sparse percussion is quite satisfying and carries the eerie feeling effectively. The single melody line repeated throughout pushes the track forward with a sense of movement.
And here’s the video, which I think suits the track perfectly and adds to its eerie tone.
First Aid Kit
And we’ve got 2 Swedes on the docket today! These two sisters from Stokholm had humble beginnings. They started off posting acoustic videos on youtube and tracks on Myspace, and clearly, they’re doing something right, because now they’re touring all over the world. They have a show in Toronto coming up on October 15.
Their version of Fever Ray’s “When I Grow Up” is a beautiful folk rendition with the girls’ signature harmonies. Completely different from the original, First Aid Kit’s vocals are in the forefront while subtle guitar instrumentation and muted percussion is buried in the mix (save for the intro).
Which version do you prefer? Fever Ray’s spooky electronic take or First Aid Kit’s classic folk?
P.S. What did you think of Glee’s cover of Paramore’s “Only Exception”? I hated it.
EAR CANDY: M.I.A. x Diplo – “4thepeopleontheboat” (Demo)
Trriiiiiippy!
Today, we got a listen of a previously unreleased M.I.A. demo, and we owe it all to producer, Diplo (who recently said some not very nice things about the Brit’s latest effort, /\/\ /\ Y /\). He took to his twitter yesterday to post the little surprise:
a lost/new/crazy song i did with @_M_I_A_ -this is only demo… i might leak the real version if u guys want http://4thepeopleontheboat.com/
Maybe this is a peace offering? Who knows. All I know is that I’m liking what I hear.
[MP3]: M.I.A. x Diplo – “4thepeopleontheboat” (demo)
UPDATED (Sept. 29): So I guess it wasn’t a peace offering then. M.I.A took to her twitter today to tell the world that she released the demo, so undue credit shouldn’t be given to “the white dudes”–ahem, Diplo (her words, not mine).
Oh, and she also released: http://yesthelittlepeoplewillneverwinbuttheycanfuckshitup.com/ and http://facebookgooglemyspaceyoutube.com/
Girl be crazy! She’s gonna buy every ridiculously named site until they are no longer.
