Ah yes, Washed Out. The mellifluous Ernest Greene promised an update in sound for LP two (titled Paracosm) and while lead single “It Feels Alright” didn’t 100% grab us, second track “Don’t Give Up”, with it’s 70’s coke plate meets 2010’s synth-led isolation, most definitely does. Sample “Don’t Give Up” below and get psyched for Paracosm out August 13th on Sub Pop.
Washed Out 
: (Facebook)
Rating: 8.0
Not kiddin’ “Ocean Motion”, new from housewave act Just Kiddin, has on a little bit of a vibe. “Ocean Motion” is a pretty lush, classy little affair w/ beats that nicely straddle a neat subtlety (as not to go too far), while maintaining enough punch to get yr lady/boy moving in time.
Just Kiddin 
(Facebook) (Soundcloud)
Rating 8.2
Summer 2013 just called and is a little bummed w/ what y’all herbs have been calling the track of him/her. Not defeated, Mr. 2013 shot us back this glimmering new bit of uptempo synthpop from Aussie duo Olympics Ayres. The Summer 2013 rec’d “Magic” is excerpted from OA’s upcoming “Episode III” release due August 1st.
Olympic Ayres 
(Soundcloud)
Rating 8.2
Munich newcomers Claire ready a new Remix EP for their excellent “Games” single set for release TOMORROW, June 26th. The song is one of our favorites of the year and so we’re excited to premiere this breezy house re-imagining of the track from new DJ/producer Mowskyy. Sample it below.
Grab a FREE download of the track HERE
Claire 
(Facebook)
Rating 8.5
Even the most stunning/perfect/shouldn’t be touched sort of tracks as Laura Welsh’s “Cold Front” most certainly is are safe with Russ Chimes. The London-based Chimes preserves all the positive qualities of the on trend original Laura Welsh vocal while switching out it’s mod R&B dark pop instrumental for something a bit more club friendly (read: awesome) with a bigger beat. Chimes 100%.
Russ Chimes 
(Official)
Rating 8.4
The successful-in-his-own-name Hot Chip member Joe Goddard sails through another successful bit of modern dance music w/ the piano stabs-driven “Step Together”. Featuring German producer Boris Dlugosch, “Step Together” is described by Greco-Roman’s (the track’s releasing label) co-founder as “an attempt to make synthesizers sound nice”. Really, the overall of the track has quite the pleasant effect, a something like summertime travelogue shots of the English countryside as taken from trains kind of pleasant (at least to us). Step in the name of love (& together) w/ Goddard’s “Taking Over” EP which is out today.
Joe Goddard (Twitter)
Rating: 8.3
Stwo (pronounced like “stew”) out of Paris fixes up a luxury R&B spin on classic Janet Jackson. We couldn’t be more in love.
Stwo 
(Twitter)
Rating 8.2
UK no-info-on-the-web band As†ronomyy (their spelling) scores an impressive debut w/ “Don’t Need You”. Soft-touched guitars as played out of a bathroom, delicate yet trapp-y drumms, hushed melodies, “Don’t Need You” is a sound you are certainly acquainted with; however the track’s execution is totally flawless and easily stands on its own as a highlight of its genre/trend.
As†ronomyy (Soundcloud)
Rating: 8.3
Often I find myself in the South Bay of Los Angeles at what seems to be the standout venue of the area, Saint Rocke… and more often then not it’s for night caps and live music. This past Friday (6/14), I capped off the busy week with a couple of whiskeys and a fantastic set from NYC electro duo Designer Drugs.
The set was streamed live by iRocke, a great new start up that enables you to view endless live shows straight from your computer screen. Shaking the very brick foundation of Sainte Rocke, the UItra Records signee signaled their arrival with massive bass. The air in the venue was dense with smoke and layers of lights. DD fired off Wolfgang Gartner’s “Nuke” and GTA’s “Booty Bounce” while mixing in remixes and originals. One of those originals, “Space Based”, has a new music video out via Noisey (here) and Ultra records where some guy gets the old NSFW switch-a-roo in Bangkok.
The music alone that night, left everyone leaving the club partied out and with different genres of EDM stuck ringing in their ears. Emerging combo Designer Drugs are one to check out.
Words By Brian Litwin
Photos By Brittany Rogy
Deigner Drugs 
: (Facebook)
The Mighty Misun give summer it’s proper start; dropping TODAY (the summer solstice!) a new 10 track EP of summery bootleg re-fixes of their biggest tracks. Mixed by Cousin Cole & main Misun producer Nacey, the duo fit the great Misun vocal melodies over classic bits of soul, pop & dub. You can sample all 10 sun-drenched boots here.
Misun 
(Facebook)
Rating 8.2
Absolutely fantastic! Very little information exists online on “Stay Inside”‘s point of origin Raleigh Ritchie, an artist out of the UK (we’re assuming via accent); literally though, our man has barely 100 follows on Facebook. That aside, “Stay Inside” is so so good; the work of a very special/accomplished artist. We can’t wait for more.
Raleigh Ritchie (Soundcloud)
Rating 8.2
Saa are great. If you’re unfamiliar, the darkly melodic track and video “Against Interpretation” should serve as an appropriate introduction to the b3 fave Anglo-Nordic duo. Saa’s s/t debut EP is due July 8th on UK label Left Blank.
Saa (Tumblr)
Rating 8.2
