Testerosa Music- ZHU x Gallant

Grammy nominated Stephen Zhu, better known as ZHU absolutely never ceases to impress me. He is so experimental within the electronic space without ever compromising melody or fluidity in the production of his tracks. Plus, he's got those incredibly cool sultry & delicate vocals that pair ever so nicely with his beats.

"Testerosa Music", is his most recently released track and its pretty firrrrrre.  It's got great energy and movement throughout like his previous track release "As Crazy as it Is" but instead of the reggae edge he gives us a progressive rock bassline.

Happy listening :)
MF

Percussions - Digital Arpeggios

You may think Percussions the DJ sounds similar to something you've heard on my blog before although this is my first post of any of his tracks. However, Percussions really is just Four Tet disguised as his alter ego. Not sure why exactly he chose to release various tracks under a different name but regardless of his name, he comes through with that same incredibly captivating trancy electronic sound. "Digital Appreggios" is his latest release from August of this year. Its melody is sophisticated and mystical as we've seen previously from Four Tet but with a much more playful and energetic vibe that will put you into the happiest of moods.

Happy listening :)
MF

Rudimental ft. Bobby Womack - New Day

Happy listening :)
MF

Moon Taxi- All Day & All Night

Moon Taxi is an alternative indie rock band from Nashville that recently released their 4th album. "All Day & All Night" is off the brand new album Daybreaker.  The melody provides an uplifting and playful energy good when you are in the mood for a nice easy listen.


Happy listening :)
MF

Razor Love by Neil Young

Neil Young is an artist that has really aged well for me, Growing up, I expressed an avid interest in the rock & roll music my parents played but blues/folk took a little longer to resonate with me. Neil Young's music took even longer and I found myself connecting to it on a track by track basis. The first Neil Young song I ever loved was "Albuquerque" and this track "Razor Love" was the second.

I discovered "Razor Love" while watching the show Transparent (which happens to have one of the best soundtracks ever produced). There is just something so special about this brassy gentle melody that startles the spirit and fills the listener with sharp emotion. Its absolutely beautiful.

Happy listening :)
MF

Zhu x A-Trak x Kez Namdi- As Crazy As It Is

I give you "As Crazy As It Is" produced by ZHU and A-TRAK ft. KEZ NANDI. This follows the release of ZHU's "Automatic" ft. ALUNAGEORGE to premiere as the highly anticipated Genesis series. This track has a very fresh beat mixing balkan-like reggae sounds and is quite different form anything we have heard from him previously. 


Happy listening :)
MF

AUGUST 2015- NYC Concert Update

7/29-- Beat Connection @ Webster Hall
8/1-- Star Slinger @ Output
8/1-- Snarky Puppy @ Watermark
8/1 -- Dr. John @ Central Park Summerstage
8/5 -- Yo La Tengo @ Damrosch Park
8/5 -- Hot Chip @ Webster Hall
8/8-- Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs @ MoMa PS1 Warm Up
8/8 -- Jamie xx @ Terminal 5
8/9 -- Glass Animals @ Central Park Summerstage
8/12-8/15 -- Galactic @ Brooklyn Bowl
8/17 -- Mac Demarco @ Bowery Ballroom
8/19 -- Morning Teleportation @ Brooklyn Bowl
8/23 -- Maya Jane Coles @ Verboten

New Ratatat Album- Magnifique

Stream Album on Spotify here :

Happy listening :)
MF

Ibeyi- River

Ibeyi is a French/Cuban downtempo indie rock duo made up of twin sisters Lisa-Kainde Diaz & Naomi Diaz. Their songs are in both English and Yoruba, which is an ancient language from Nigeria that their ancestors brought to Cuba. 

Their music is dynamic, soulful and experimental. "River" is off of their self-titled debut album. The track is rhythmic and layered with an indie neo soul vibe. 

Ibeyi is joining Jungle at a FREE Summer Stage show in Central Park on June 20th. Got to say this is one of the shows I am most excited for this summer :) 

Similar to: Nneka, Mapei, Naomi Pilgrim

Happy listening :)
MF

Whilk & Misky- Burn With Me

Whilky & Misky are an jazztronic neo soul duo consisting of Nima on synthesizer and Charlie's vocals. In addition to their extremely clever group name, their music isn't half bad either. The recently released track 'Burn with Me' is edgy and laid back with a textured and developed rhythm. The track was released as a follow up to their successful debut EP. A new full album is on its way with estimated release Summer 2015.

Similar to: Milky Chance, Chet Faker

Happy listening :)
MF

Good Morning, Good Music

Happy listening :)
MF

Jordan Bratto & Chance the Rapper - Prisoner

I'm not typically a fan of most popular music, but I can definitely get down with some of it. Always like to give it a listen and see if anything jumps out at me. In the world of pop music this week, the track "Prisoner" by Jordan Bratton and Chance the Rapper is doing it for me. It's cute, nothing extraordinary but definitely charming and shareable. The melody is pleasant with a bit of a modern soul pop vibe.

Happy listening :)
MF

NoMBe- California Girls

California Girls is NoMBe's first single off their upcoming EP "Mood Indigo" The track has that easy going bluesy and gentle alt. Rock energy that many "California" songs present. Th rap sequence toward the end has a cool Gorillaz meets Asher Roth vibe followed by an atonal electro-dubby sound that brings the song to an end. I like the lyric repeated in the end "Oooooh how I like the coast of west coast pheromones". Happy listening :) MF

Chancha Via Circuito- Jardines

Pedro Canale, better known as Chancha Via Circuito is an American producer of Afro-dance meets digital cumbia. Originally from Buenos Aries he mixes the sounds of current American dub/trip-hop electronic with drum beats and Latin flavor. Chancha Via Circuito was noted as an artist to watch by NPR's Tiny Desk Concert.

Happy listening :)
MF

Made In Heights- Forgiveness

Made in Heights never disappoints. Check out their newest track.

Happy listening :)
MF

Modest Mouse- Pups To Dust

If you haven't yet checked out the new Modest Mouse album 'Strangers to Ourselves' you are doing something wrong. 'Strangers to Ourselves' was released on March 17, 2015, the bands first release in 8 years!! Modest Mouse stayed genuinely consistent to their sound although so much time has lapsed so if you were a fan back in the day, you'll be surprisingly delighted to hear this. And to those of you who love "Float On" and don't know their music much further, I bet you too might find yourself positively delighted.

Happy listening :)
MF

Caribou- Leave House

Dan Snaith, better known as Caribou played in a couple of bands before he landed on his solo act in 2007. This track is from Caribou's 2010 Album titled Swim. Critics have created genres like "folktronica" and "neo-psychadelica" to describe his sound and I think they pretty much nailed that on the head. Although his production and recording are done solo he often has a couple instrumentalists join him on stage for live performances.

Happy listening :)
MF

Re-Work of the Week:

"Lovely Day" by Alt-J (2014)
ORIGINAL: "Lovely Day" by Bill Withers (1977)



Here is "Lovely Day" a bonus track of Alt-J's latest album 'This is All Yours'. The vibe of the track is completely different than the upbeat, sunshiney R&B original which was released by Bill Withers in 1977. This version adds a melancholy twist to a track with the word "lovely" in the title. The slowed down tempo mixed with Joe Newman's beautifully haunting voice gives this cover by Alt-J a contemporary and dark ambience.

Happy listening :)
MF

Galactic- Quiet Please

Since this blog is new, before I talk about this specific track I'd like to give the band Galactic a proper introduction (because if you don't know you should). Galactic is the perfect portrayal of the liveliness and unique sound that is New Orleans funk music. Their music fuses rock, funk, hip hop with authentic mardi gras Indian mantras and makes everyone listening want to get up and dance.  Whether your music taste is limited to radio pop & EDM music, or you are a music snob like myself, you will enjoy and appreciate what these guys are bringing to the table. At each of their live performances, they showcase  multiple up and coming less popular NOLA musicians who are always exploding with talent.

Now this track, ooooooo this track. This acoustic unconventional melody soothes the soul and excites the mind. It's interesting, beautiful, and its warm.  The track is long, and the melody bounces around as the song progresses. "Quiet Please"was recorded on one of their earlier albums Vintage Reserve in 2003. On their most recent album Carinvale Electros (2012) they basically repurposed the melody but made it 10x more discordant for the track "Ash Wednesday Sunrise" .

Happy listening :)
MF

Amason- Kelly

First song new blog ;)

I bring to you Kelly by Amason. I discovered this song on the '6th and Brushy' playlist created by the Spotify Spotlight account. The playlist is an accumulation of highlights from the Spotify tent performances at SXSW 2015. The track is up-tempo and airy sounding with a blend of male & female vocalists. Hearing this song for the first time reminds me exactly of how I felt the first time I heard the song "Little Talks" by Of Monsters and Men. There is something inherently special about it that is difficult to describe but undeniably there. Repeat for days there.

Happy listening :)
MF