Spanish guitar-influenced songwriter Charlie Cunningham, our man spent two years studying the instrument in Seville, announces new EP with title track “Outside Things”. The exotic-ness of Charlie’s guitar playing palette is an anchor to “Outside Things” creating a far-off and refreshing take on UK songwriter pop. Sample the soulful “Outside Things” below and look for Charlie Cunningham on tour this month with King Creosote.
Charlie Cunningham 
(Facebook)
Rating: 8.8
Sometimes the best songs are the ones that surprise. LA-based, electronic-soul band Idesia finds new ways to massage your ears on their recent single “Nu”. The opening drum beat finds me thinking of Radiohead’s “Morning Mr. Magpie”; but then the bass drops, and I’m looking around for Pino Palladino. Still somehow, lead singer Sophie Dimitroff could make even my econometrics homework seductive. By the time the chorus comes around, I am thinking no more. Enjoy “Nu” here, and grab a free download from their bandcamp. Review by Leora Mitzner
Idesia 
(Bandcamp)
Rating 8.3
Aussie artist Aywy. recenly graced us with the fabulously upbeat and jazzy track “Ascension” (co-created with UK producer Sh?m). Aywy.‘s new project, Persona, is set to release soon and judging by its first track (which hit yesterday) it promises to be one of year 2014’s best . The amazing “Voyeur” is a strong and memorable premier track so irresistably sexy from the gate that you may find it on repeat. Aywy. samples Tinashe’s “2 On” beautifully and efficaciously meshes the angelic muse of her vocals with soft, sensual male vocals and a slow escalating synthy beat; all with a very lovely and quieting result. Review by Erin Shay
aywy 
(Soundcloud)
Rating 8.4
Joey Bad continues to nearly solo carry the banner for young & talented rap. “Christ Conscious” is the very good, gritty, NY-sounding second single from Joey B’s forthcoming debut LP B4DA$$ .
Joey Bada$$ 
(Facebook)
Rating 8.5
Joey Bada$$
New Aesop band Sylas who impressed on sublime debut “Hollow” excel for a second time on the more pop-focused “Shore”. Aesop will be releasing Sylas’ debut EP on November 24th.
Wonder Wonder is a new UK duo endeavoring to release one new track per month for twelve months. The playful vibe-y “Shark” is the second song in the series (following up last month’s Hypem topping “Body Gold”) and is a showcase for a very talented new writing team. On to November.
Wonder Wonder (Facebook)
Rating: 8.8
“Empire” by L.A.-based band Diveliner is another excellent entry in the new 80N7 compilation for Rough Trade (We covered Gorgeous Bully’s great track last week). The King Krule-esque “Empire” is a dreamy, reverb-laden, refreshing bit of guitar-driven (at least in parts) music that is really really good. Listen.
Diveliner (Facebook)
Rating 8.4
“With You” is excerpted here from Parisian producer Stwo’s new Nothing Was the Same-inspired beat-tape. In announcing the release, Stwo called the third Drake LP, “one of the best releases of 2013, and probably one of my favorite Rap / Rnb albums ever”, and saying that “I feel like any of these beats could be a great fit with Drake on them”. Ball in Aubrey’s court.
Stwo 
(Twitter)
Rating 8.2
The MMG chief joins Massillon, OH’s own bossman Stalley on “Everything a Dope Boy Ever Wanted”. The soul-driven ride out with the top down Beat Billionaire instrumental is a hanging curve-ball of a beat that Ross and Stalley could knock clear into the bleachers with eyes closed and swinging a foam bat. Stalley’s debut Ohio LP is out October 27. Welcome back, Lebron but Stalley been home.
Stalley 
(Facebook)
Rating 8.3
“White Lies” is the excellent return single from L.A. indie pop band Milo Greene. “White Lies” represents a bit of a stylistic shift for Milo Greene. The lo-fi, organic instrumentation of the band’s s/t 2012 debut has been exchanged for a synth-driven modern pop sound and while the amplitude of change is vast; the qualities of great pop songwriting, sparkling melodic phrases and forward-thinking arranging have not been replaced out and “White Lies” is a great Milo Greene song. Milo Greene’s sophomore LP Control is out January 27th on Elektra.
Milo Greene (Facebook)
Rating 8.2
“Falling Short” is new from Liverpudlian singer Holly Fletcher a/k/a Låpsley. The centerpiece of many highlights within “Falling Short” is Ms. Fletcher’s restrained but heart-wringing melodic phrasing and vocal performance. “Falling Short” is taken from a new release compiled by Radio 1 DJ Annie Mac entitled, Annie Mac Presents.
Låpsley (Soundcloud)
Rating 8.4
Our friends from The North Rainer + Grimm take on another stunning flip, this time in the form of Drake-affiliated internet faves Majid Jordan‘s “A Place Like This”. Already a stellar B3-backed track “A Place Like This” gets the late night booty-shaker treatment the Torontonian duo. In a seemingly vast and endless sea of monster remixes on Soundcloud, R&G continue to set a standard. We can’t wait to hear some original tunes! Reviewed by Brian Litwin
Rainer + Grimm 
: (Soundcloud)
Rating: 8.7
