“Distance” is new from veteran New York soulstress Emily King. On the track, the piano-driven easy sounds of “Distance”‘s slow dance-ready instrumental well complement Ms. King’s sweet, playful, thematically perfect vocal. We like it a lot.
Emily King 
(Official)
Rating 8.2
L.A.-based low-tempo producer Shlohmo is the latest A-list collaborator (TEED, SOHN) for current top of the indie heap songstress BANKS. Shlohmo’s soft-touch, languid, churning palette is a nice match here on “Brain” for BANKS’ hazy pop-cognizant alto.
Banks 
(Facebook)
Rating 8.6
The eminent and distinguished Washed Out spins a stunning world-beating rework of Moby & Damien Jurado’s “Almost Home” single. Mr. Greene’s mix captures a sound that (at least in my mind) would soundtrack some sort of super well-shot of great importance travelogue on the BBC, probably narrated by David Attenborough or Michael Palin or someone of equal worldly stature and status. The shimmering temples of Bagan, the Villa of Diocletian in Croatia, the stone churches of Lalibela, all flying by in 10000p definition to the magisterial tones of Washed Out’s mix. Moby’s Little Idiot label will be putting out the “Almost Home” single on 02/24.
Washed Out 
: (Facebook)
Rating: 8.0
The very consistent Communion Records latest release is “Floating Arks”, new from Kent UK band STORY BOOKS. Previewed from the band’s forthcoming sophomore EP “From Post to Post”, “Floating Arks” is made up of all the component parts of a track that can flat out level Radio 1; including: a great melodic tune, just the right dashes of hope and melancholy, and a pitch perfect piano-tinged instrumental. “From Post to Post” gets a March 17th release on Communion.
Story Books 
(Facebook)
Rating 8.4
L.A.-based trio and B3SCI Presents alums Incan Abraham share single #1 from their debut Tolerance LP. “Concorde” navigates a neat balance between a very current indie sound (you may hear hints of bands like Grizzly Bear and PAPA) and a (in a good way) melodic accessibility that gives the track a quite powerful magnetism and charisma that helps to separate it from other bands/songs that just have the “very current indie sound” component of that equation. Tolerance is out April 8th on White Iris Records.
Incan Abraham (Info)
New from Ninja Tune is the indie 2014 quiet storm of UK artist Actress’ track for “Rap”. From Actress’ upcoming Ghettoville LP (the follow-up to the very long time ago 2008’s Hazyville), “Rap” while modern in its syrupy R&B references is special/worth your time because of Actress’ command of mood and pacing (and production) which are all truly standout (as is the track). Ghettoville sees a release on January 28th via Werkdiscs/Ninja Tune.
Actress (Ninja Tune)
Rating 8.4
Swiss artist Delakeyz blends deep house, jazz & a touch of more modern indie beats on “Snapositive”. As a full piece, “Snapositive” succeeds on its wholeness; each counterrhythm, every pulse of kick drum is perfectly timed and skillfully connected into the broader instrumental. “Snapositive” is included on Delakeyz’s new “Organic & Smooth” EP.
Delakeyz 
(Official)
Rating 8.3
Parisian crew ANTHEMS release “Up In Mine”, their debut track for the great French label 25 Years and Running. “Up In Mine”, which is produced by labelmates Champions League, features soothing Balearic influences and textures interweaved w/ a sparkling (& quite melodic) female vocal. Into it.
ANTHEMS 
(Facebook)
Rating 8.2
The ever consistent Knocks deliver a further solid outing w/ new track “Comfortable”. Featuring BK risers X Ambassadors, “Comfortable” strides an accessible line between 80’s pop hedonism and modern indie breaks (your weird creepy uncle that was big in 1985 and girls in Bushwick that weird dresses w/ bird patterns on them now share a new favorite song). The ineffable Neon Gold will be releasing a new Knocks EP on Feb. 18.
The Knocks (Facebook)
Rating 8.1
“Love Letters”, the title track to Metronomy’s upcoming follow-up to 2011’s The English Riviera, is the London-based band’s latest single. Today the band confirmed on Zane Lowe’s Radio 1 show that a video for the manic kinetic track will be directed by Michel Gondry. Love Letters is due March 10.
Metronomy 
(Official) (Twitter)
Rating 8.3
Ed Thomas, the songwriter behind Bondax’s “Giving It All”, reveals a new track in the form of the spare, rhythm-driven R&B-tinged pop of “Hurt”. Closely packed, condense, an efficient machine, “Hurt” succeeds on both its imagination (the nexus of vocal, beat and atmospherics created on the track is next level) and its simplicity (the track’s spaces are magnetic).
Ed Thomas (Facebook)
Rating 8.4
The mighty Marian Hill announce new EP “Play” with the excellent new single “One Time”. Neatly balancing jazz influences in the melody with modern arrangement and rhythmic elements all while tying up the track within a compact and cool Marian Hill minimalist frame. The path to successfully blending jazz and contemporary sounds is lined with seemingly endless traunches of hokey garbage (Email subject line: Hey! Check Our Band, We Blend Miles Davis w/ Radiohead!) but the Marian Hill (taste and adeptness at selecting for the right arrangement help) sound just really really works. “Play” is out March 4th.
Marian Hill
: (Facebook)
Rating 8.3
