The Holidays are the talk of the Oz music press. Equal parts sunshine, vibes, and smooth rhythms, the band builds on the oft-plundered sound of the shoegaze forefathers adding a pop sensibility and tunefulness that separates them from their other hard chilling peers. “Broken Bones” is our choice record from their Post Paradise LP from last year. Get into it below.
The Holidays – Broken Bones via circle square triangleRating: 8.0
This song couldn’t feel any better for a beautiful day’s cruise… anywhere. The vibe is light and jaunty in all the right ways. “Beautiful Trash” comes from New Zealand born, Australian producer, Lance Ferguson best known for his guitar work with The Bamboos. With a tasteful touch from the talented multi-instrumentalist Megan Washington, it’s the perfect preview to the forthcoming Her 12 Faces LP which drops official on March 7th.
Rating: 8.1
Â
The Streets computers and blues video Mike Skinner shows off his true genius with the debut of a “chooseyour own adventure” style YouTube video. Based off The Streets final album Computers and Blues (due out February 7), the video includes superb music with a story that shows how idle hands are the Devil’s playground, karma really can be a bitch, and making breakfast for your neighbors may result in a kickass acoustic guitar/vocal duet; this is one of the most impressive things I’ve seen in a long time.
Contributed by Alex
Get more from the The Streets on b3sci HERE
Rating: 8.8
ATL producer heRobust flips the script on KP & Envyi’s one-hit wonder 90’s jam. Ever the conservationist, heRo dutifully preserves the refs to “Tenderoni”, “Swerving”, and “Physical Action”. Word.
heRobust – Shawty Swing My Way (Busted)Rating: 8.0
New killer shit lifted off Gilles Peterson Worldwide. Ninjasonik rep BK, they link up here with the Spank Rock dudes for an A+ collab. The beat bangs.
Ninjasonik – Global (Feat. Spank Rock)Rating: 7.9
Anything Esthero (also co-producer on the track) touches is premium shit. “Don’t Pass Me By” by Atlanta singer-rapper-songwriter Spree Wilson is no exception. Esthero’s production/influence fit the broadly influenced Spree superbly. The warm tones of guitar feel something like Curtis Mayfield-era Impressions or “Just My Imagination”, the ambient bits of electronic percussion in the rhythm track sound as if they could be on an Esthero record, the melodies reveal themselves birthed from the best of pop & r&b.
Spree Wilson – Don’t Pass Me By (Feat. Esthero)Rating: 8.1
Contributed by Erin Routson
Even though their homebase is covered in snow and ice, midwest loyalists Flosstradamus take U.S. Royalty’s “Equestrian”, run it through an 8-bit bubble noise machine, add Paul Simon vibes, and end up with something that leaves everyone mentally tan. Keep it on repeat til you can stop taking vitamin D supplements.
U.S. Royalty – Equestrian (Flosstradamus Remix) via RCRD LBLU.S. Royalty purchase / Flosstradamus Facebook
Rating: 8.2
Boddika guested on Benji B’s Radio 1 show last week and let loose this Joy Orbison untitled track in the mix. Rumored to be named “Ellipsis”, the tune is a bit of departure for Joy O with cascading pianos and smooth house-esque breakdowns.
Joy Orbison – EllipsisRating: 8.3
Barcelona group Debilos, formerly Debilorithmicos, released “Turn My Clock” as a single and multiple remixes, with Anqui contributing sweet vocal lines. Watch the video and listen to the Check One Remix.
Debilos – Turn My Clock (Check One Remix) via YYYDebilos “Turn My Clock” (Original Version) feat. Anqui from El Chavo on Vimeo.
Rating: 8.3
Let us recite from broken bibles on streetcorners
Follow dogs on docks
Speak wild songs
Throw stones
Say anything
Blink at the sun and scratch and stumble into silence
Ages is 20 year old Southern California based producer Michael Lundy.
Ages – A Coney Island of the MindPurchase Failures via Bandcamp
Rating: 8.7
“Knees”, by UK act Peter and Kerry, plays like moving images on a screen, pages of photos slipped through thumbs, memories unwound. The quiet rhythm and piano driven track features some simply gorgeous harmonies exchanged between the song’s two leads, Tape Club labelmates Peter Lyons and Kerry Leatham. The melodies just seem to suspend at times, those spaces in time between moments. Those times that are observational, still, one still point in a life-filled whirlwind. The duo’s “Friends, Clothes, Photos” EP is due in March.
Peter and Kerry – KneesRating: 8.5
