video mashup // world remix
Planet pieces recontextualized into video wonder.
ambient // folk electronic
Set adrift on an open sea of morning sunsets; wrapped in silk sheets with bubbly sounds permeating your skin’s pores; Marsen Jules’ Les Fleurs pulls its way into every nerve of your body – wrestling gently with layers deep inside, feeding your heart impulses of tranquility, while soothing and effortlessly lifting away the surface of every day. Escape, forget, dream.Close your eyes and drift away.
Marsen Jules – Coeur Saignant
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icelandic pop-folk // electro pop
The charming debut of former Gus Gus singer, Icelandic-born Hafdis Huld, is a fun jaunt of quirky contemporary pop. Her girly voice crosses between the eccentricity of Cerys Matthews and fragility of Emiliana Torrini; her songwriting’s sweet but with macabre twists; and her arrangements never bore. Hafdis’ electronic noise, instrumentation of keyboards, xylophone, and especially the surprising country sound of banjo, amount to some bizarrely catchy musical romps.Delicious wit and great seriousness.
Hafdis Huld – Diamonds On My Belly
Hafdis Huld – Tomoko
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singer-songwriter // blithe folk pop
While I can appreciate any artist who can adeptly play and loop the harmonica, guitar and bells for a single song, and often incorporates the banjo, ukulele and even kazoo in her live show; part of me would expect this instrumental overkill to hide a less-than-stellar voice. But not Priscilla. Her voice can only be described as ethereal, and carries a sense of hope and innocence in songs whose lyrics aren’t always so untarnished. This, plus the hint of vulnerability in her music, makes you want to hold your breath and bask in her subtle storytelling. Close your eyes and have a listen.Gentle wanderings between nostalgia and daydream.
Priscilla Ahn – Lullaby
Priscilla Ahn – Dream
post-rock // shoegaze
Originating from Austin’s diverse, musical underbelly, Silent Land Time Machine draws its influences from such cult hits as Godspeed You! Black Emperor and A Silver Mt. Zion. This one-man symphony features the viola, violin, guitar, accordion, piano and anything else he can get his hands on. While he credits much of his instrumental inspiration to violist Anni Rossi and Zion’s Sophie Trudeau, his dynamic self-recordings successfully create his own polyphonic brand of music. It’s the perfect music to attach to the soundtrack of your sentimental memories and dreams.Nostalgic polaroids flip past while your odometer flips forward.
Silent Land Time Machine – Everything Goes To Shit
Silent Land Time Machine – The Thing This Doesn’t Mean Is Nothing
Words and music contributed by Abhinav
afro-beat // hip-hop
Funky good times and flavorlicious rhymes from the Afro-beat legend Tony Allen. Hooking up with artists like Damon Albarn, Ty, and Unsung Heroes, Home Cooking delivers a diverse course of intellect, style, and hip-happenin’ vibes to keep any party alive. Whether you’re looking to dance or sit back and feel the groove, it’s all in there.Delicious flavors for your mind and booty.
Tony Allen – Every Season ft Damon Albarn & Ty
Tony Allen – Crazy Afrobeat
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argentinian singer-songwriter // latin guitar // downtempo
The energy of Up, Bustle and Out, the passion of Gotan Project and the chill-out feeling of Thievery Corporation combine to form Federico Aubele’s rich sound collage. His hypnotic guitar lines and mellow rhythms cross and layer with jazz and Latin music, for a thrilling, yet soothing sound. Federico is releasing his long-awaited album Panamericana in September, a follow up to his seminal 2004 album Gran Hotel Buenos Aires. “En el desierto” perfectly captures the feeling of this passionate new album. Distinctly Latin and sensual.
Federico Aubele – En El Desierto
Federico Aubele – Ante Tus Ojos
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british singer-songwriter // pop folk // folk-baroque
Although Notes On: Love (2005) is the debut album, recorded with the former Verve guitarist Simon Tong, Petra Jean Phillipson has years of experience in music, writing and collecting songs for about eight years. Unavoidably, her vulnerability and emotionality reminds me the beautiful sadness of Nina Nastasia, yet Petra Jean has the strength of Polly Jean Harvey and Shannon Wright. Her honest lyrics, haunting murmurs, choruses and melodies, and overall powerful sound, balances between spooky and bewitching.Contemplative and compelling work.
Petra Jean Phillipson – I Want The Impossible
Petra Jean Phillipson – Play Play
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Freddie Cruger – Pushing On (feat. Linn) (from VA – Shapes 07 2007)
Flevans – 12 Apostles (from Cold Hands EP 2007)
Groove Armada – Get Down (from Soundboy Rock 2007)
laptop folk // avant-pop
Reminding us of simple joys, refreshing as summertime lemonade flavour, The Matinee Orchestra brings a lot more loveliness than one could expect from so called laptop music. From ice-cold tender textures of Múm to the quirky playfulness of CocoRosie and the innocence of Psapp’s toys’ recordings, rich electronic sounds and instrumentation of harmonica, violins, glockenspiel, warm and relaxed guitar tones weave into the softest sound. Genuinely tranquil and warming, they are taking you on a magic journey through the day.Soundtrack for daydreaming.
The Matinee Orchestra – Run For Cover (It’s Going To Rain)
The Matinee Orchestra – Imagination Of A Watermelon
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