Nouvelle New Wave is a new independent French label mainly focused on the italo disco and dream pop vibes. They’ve posted a pretty fine four song compilation to their soundcloud today entitled Preface. Each song is smooth electronic sunburned funk. The Carlea track currently has me completely engulfed:
And this remix from it is pretty badass as well:
Hear the full thing at the Nouvelle New Wave soundcloud. More on these folks soon!
As far as compilations go, this has got to be one of the best I’ve heard in a while. Mexico’s Bad Pop has gone and put together a spectacular compilation, Materia Obscura, full of some of my favorite artists such as Beat Culture, Nomadic Firs, PARENTZ, Pariah Carey, and Steffaloo and introduced me to some new ones like Dalliance and Bedroom. You can download here for free or contribute a donation to help raise money for the production on cassette. Meanwhile take a listen to these:
So it’s pretty much a fact that Baltimore has the greatest music scene in the entire universe. Maybe that’s a bit over the top…probably just the greatest in the world. Yeah, I’m a bit biased, but whatevs. If Bmore is the greatest, then perhaps Friends Records is the greatest record label in the world. It’s hard not to feel that way when listening to their EPIC new comp, Friends Records 2011. It’s available in a limited edition double cassette format as well as digital (which is free!! Go get it!). This thing packs in over 2 hours of sweet tunes from faves such as Future Islands, Dan Deacon, Lands & Peoples, Height, Secret Mountains, Weekends, Celebration, Co La, Moss Of Aura, Violet Hour, Lonnie Walker, Soft Cat, and much more. The best part, though, are the unexpected wonders – like this gem from Beth Varden (of Violet Hour):
mp3: Beth Varden – I Can’t Stand
The only problem with it in general is that once I get to Flock Of Dimes…I just keep playing “Prison Bride” over and over and over. So friggin’ good.
mp3: Flock Of Dimes – Prison Bride
Again, this compilation deserves your ears – go grab it here.
Anaheim’s ZOOM LENS label has consistently rocking some sweet electronic experimental jams since I found out about them last year (notably Young Henry and Party Girl). They’ve just put out their 7th LP – ZOOM LENS V.A., a compilation that is well worth the free download. It features stand out tracks from Smoke Room, Young Henry, Thought Tempo, Party Girl, The Bilinda Butchers, and more. Here’s two that deserve immediate attention:
mp3: Young Henry – Vanish
mp3: Thought Tempo – Lava
Download the full thing here.
ZOOM LENS Links: Bandcamp | Website | SoundCloud | Facebook | Twitter
I’ve never been a big “covers” guy. I don’t know why, that’s just how I’m wired I guess. Especially when it comes to two people – Bob Dylan and Neil Young. In my humble opinion, folks should just stay away from those dudes and their fine fine tunes. Well a new Neil Young tribute album has me contemplating a change in that philosophy. Universal Electricity has put together one hell of a tribute album to Neil Young titled Headed For The Ditch which can be downloaded for free here. Its filled with a WIDE variety of sound interpretations of Young’s work by the gamut of killer new bands including Teen Daze, Emily Reo, Foxes In Fictions, Teen Daze, Vacation, Breakfast In Fur, and Ghost Animal. Here’s two of my faves:
mp3: Vacation – Barstool Blues
mp3: Foxes In Fiction – Tell Me Why
Download the full thing here.
Every so often I stroll on over to the fabulous free digital single label Beko DSL to see what I’ve been missing out on. Last week I found a lot of crazy good stuff there including a COOLRUNNINGS release that is FIRE. In addition to that I’ve been drenching my ears in the sonic bliss of two compilations from Clan Destine Records and LSR. Both are so good and so deserving of your free download. Here’s some of all of that:
mp3: COOLRUNNINGS – Midnight Rudy
mp3: COOLRUNNINGS – Brunettes
mp3: GHXST – IXNYC from the Clan Destin Comp
mp3: Terror Bird – Can’t Tell What’s Real from the LSR Comp
I just found about Loveasaurus Records, a Baltimore based recording collective. Basically they are a volunteer run audio recording collective – a noble/innovative/grand idea. Read more about the history/mission here. Onto the music – they have just released their first album, a compilation entitled EatAHeart. As you can imagine it is filled with a wide range of sounds, but most of them are solid. Head over to their bandcamp to download it for free. Here’s a few of my faves from it:
mp3: Sea Couch – Absorb
mp3: Ike Shark, Inc. – Call U Later
