We’ll let you into a little secret. We have a huge crush on Yoke Lore.
Based in New York, the pure and heartfelt music created by multi-instrumentalist, dancer, and visual artist Adrian Galvin can effortlessly translate miles across oceans to reach us here in the UK, hitting our heartstrings harder and harder upon every listen.
There is nothing fake about this artist.
Sounds like: Band of Horses, Yellerkin, Yeasayer, Local Natives
Facebook | Twitter | Soundcloud | YouTube
Despite working on music for many years, it finally feels like Russian quartet, Pompeya have found their place.
‘Somebody Else’ is a track taken from their ‘Domino’ EP, produced by esteemed French producer, Fred Falke, and features retro vocals and upbeat funk riffs, lovingly glazed over tropical production. Quite reminiscent of an early Yeasayer.
Listen below.
The EP is out now on Mishu Records and available on iTunes.
US Dates
Tue, Aug 22 // Salt Lake City, UT @ the Kilby Court
Sat, Aug 26 // Des Moines, IA @ Vaudeville
Mon, Aug 28 // Minneapolis, MN @ Amsterdam Bar and Hall
Thurs, Aug 31 // Boston, MA @ The MiddleEast
Sat, Sep 2 // NYC @ The Mercury Lounge
Sun, Sep 3// Philadelphia, PA @ Kung Fu Necktie
Mon, Sep 4 // Raleigh, NC @ The Pour House
Sounds like: Yeasayer, Roosevelt, Hot Chip, Tame Impala
Facebook | SoundCloud | Twitter | Instagram
Yoke Lore collects stories and sounds from the world around him, so it’s no wonder his music has an expansive nature to it.
His latest release is called ‘World Wings’, which Yoke says “is about starting to whip the wings you have to shake things up around you. If you sit still, you’ll be left behind; get up and don’t let anyone tell you to sit down. When things are hopeless, just keep moving.”
The track has Yoke Lore’s prominent off-balanced harmonies, intriguing lyrics, and a steady drum beat throughout. Another great release from an exciting artist.
He’ll be playing SXSW this week.
Sounds like: Band of Horses, Yellerkin, Yeasayer, Local Natives
Facebook | Twitter | Soundcloud | YouTube
Du Tonc
The Du Tonc disco boys have finally put together a playlist for us!
Du Tonc are still one of our favourites, which is handy as their new single, ‘Wonderland’ (which also features on the playlist), is one of their favourites too.
V – La Nouvelle Epoque
It’s pretty apparent we love the 80’s, can’t get enough of this gem. Modern 80’s vibes (if that makes sense).
Severed Heads – Dead Eyes Opened
If there is one track we’ve love to get the parts for and re work, it’s this.
Beyond The Wizards Sleeve – White Cow (Erol Allan Rework)
We’re big Wizard and Erol fans. This is stunning.
Charlie – Spacer Woman (Vocal)
More 80’s spaced out funkiness.
The Cure – A Forest
Think this tracks still get’s better overtime you listen to it.
Du Tonc – I’m On Fire (Bruce Springsteen Cover)
The only cover we’ve done and possibly our our favourite track.
Tears For Fears – Head Over Heals
Tears for Fears are a big inspiration to us, this track is genius (also featured in a rather awesome film).
Johnny Cash – Personal Jesus
Love the Depeche Mode version, but this is just filthy.
Du Tonc – Wonderland
Our favourite song we’ve written.
Midland – Final Credits
Effortless perfect dance floor record.
Sisterhood – Tunnels (Bicep Remix)
Still cane this, get’s better with each listen.
Sounds like: Kavinsky, ROOSEVELT, Summer Heart, MGMT, Day Wave, Washed Out, Yeasayer, Miike Snow, RAC, Goldroom, Set Mo, Luke Million, Neon Indian, Classixx, Holy Ghost!, Blood Orange
Du Tonc
We are big fans of Du Tonc, so had to check out their new B-side, ‘Keep Movin”.
It’s a romantic, disco number with a sexy bass line, that takes us back to retro times and leads us all the way to the dance floor.
It’s counterpart, ‘Wonderland’ drops on 28 November and is the perfect way for Du Tonc to finalise 2016.
Sounds like: Kavinsky, ROOSEVELT, Summer Heart, MGMT, Day Wave, Washed Out, Yeasayer, Miike Snow, RAC, Goldroom, Set Mo, Luke Million
Du Tonc
The Du Tonc boys are back, but with more of a slowed down, dark electronic release than their usual, more upbeat offerings.
The “anti-pop” track, called ‘Slow Down’, features additional backing vocals from Jenny McCullagh of I Know Leopard.
Despite the slight change in direction, Du Tonc are exactly where they want to be, saying;
“We didn’t grow up making music together, we never had that luxury. This is the first song we’ve made where we both feel like everything in it is exactly what we want it to be, this feels like the beginning and it feels amazing.”
“When you gonna slow down?”. It’s a question we should all be asking ourselves.
Sounds like: Kavinsky, ROOSEVELT, Summer Heart, MGMT, Day Wave, Washed Out, Yeasayer, Miike Snow, RAC, Goldroom, Set Mo, Luke Million
GGFO
Jon Sandler and Luke Moellman are Great Good Fine Ok (or GGFO for regular listeners of their synth-laden music).
They’ve teamed up with Indietronica once again and put together a playlist for us.
Breakbot – Arrested
LUKE: Love the groove on this one. Drums and percussion are sparse and simple but the complexity and funk comes from the synth and guitar rhythms. Lyrics are kind of hilarious to me — likening a romantic encounter to a legal offense? — but it works somehow.
One Republic – Wherever I Go
JON: As a crazy person with a car in NYC, I end up listening to a ton of top 40 radio. When you are suffocated with same 20 songs over and over again, you develop a unique ability to differentiate the “hits” from the HITS. I am not sure what category this song falls into yet, because I’ve only heard it twice, once when they performed it on Jimmy Fallon and once when I just looked it up on Spotify, but I do know one thing, it will soon be on the radio ALL THE TIME. Ryan Tedder is considered one of the best pop songwriters for a reason. From One Republic’s hit “Apologize” in 2006 to their hit “Counting Stars” in 2013 to songs for Beyonce and everyone one else you can think of, this dude never stops killing it. Soon we’ll all be sick of this song and it won’t be cool to talk about it, but for now, enjoy!
Porches – Mood
LUKE: As a producer one of the first things that grabs me about a track is the combination of sounds. The way the elements on this track contrast with themselves in how they give the illusion of space is great. The drums, guitars, bass, and percussion are all super dry, groovy, and right in the front, but the vocals and especially the keyboards are dramatically spacious. The writing is incredibly beautiful as well. Kind of sounds like if Midlake and Prefab Sprout collaborated on a song and James Murphy produced it.
Sia – Cheap Thrills
JON: While I’ve got radio and pop songwriters on the mind, i’d be remiss if I didn’t mention Sia’s latest banger “Cheap Thrills”. Something about a choir of kids singing “I love cheap thrills!” makes me very happy.
Steve Reich – Mallet Quartet: III. Fast
LUKE: Steve Reich has had a huge influence on the music I write. The muted piano part that plays at the beginning of “Always” and continues throughout the track is very Steve Reich to me (although he’d never swing the rhythm quite like that). I grew up playing a lot of mallet percussion, so that’s something that always seems to work its way into my music as well.
Their single, ‘Always’ is out now.
Sounds like: Fenech Soler, Ghost Beach, Yeasayer, Phoenix, Passion Pit, Pistol Shrimp, Penguin Prison, Futurecop!, The Chain Gang of 1974, LANY, Paperwhite
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Soundcloud | Instagram
Step Rockets
Step Rockets are a band from Minneapolis, who like to blend pop melodies with rock-inducing riffs.
They put together an incredible playlist for us. Check it out below.
Miike Snow – For U (Feat. Charli XCX)
Always a big fan of this group. Loving the non-traditional song structure here.
M83 – Go! (Feat. Mai Lan)
This song is a smash! The guitar solo is killing!
Tuxedo – Do It
Could listen to that funky synth bass all night long.
Yeasayer – I Am Chemistry
Their production is always spot on! Pushing the pop envelope by keeping it weird.
What So Not – High You Are (Branchez Remix)
Spicy future bass remix that keeps ya smilin’.
Autograf – Heartbeat
Summertime vibes.
Step Rockets – Love Is Just A Chemical
One of our favorite cuts to play live!
Tora – Latp
Super forward thinking electro-pop.
Chairlift – Ch-Ching
Just one of the many dope dance cuts off their new album. Go check the whole thing out.
Robert DeLong – Jealousy
Can’t argue with the stellar arrangement and production on this track.
Big Grams, Skrillex – Drum Machine
puts his magic touch on this crazy collab. Had to include one trap banger.
The Chemical Brothers – Wide Open
Digging Beck’s vibey vox and understated production from the Chem Bros.
Neon Indian – Polish Girl
More acid please!
Cut Copy – Lights & Music
These Aussies know how to keep the dance floor interesting.
J Dilla – Shake It Down
Wouldn’t be a Step Rockets playlist without at least one big flow cut.
The Step Rockets’ EP, ‘Future Nature’, is out now via Harbour / Caroline Records.
Sounds like: Atlas Genius, Mainland, Cold War Kids
Website | Soundcloud | Facebook | Twitter
Yoke Lore
Yoke Lore made a playlist for us. We have a feeling hip hop is a big influence for him…
OK SO I MADE A PLAYLIST: Yoke Lore’s Guide to Hip Hop
So I don’t resume to know everything that’s going on, but I love hip hop with a passion and try to keep an eye on people that Kanye and Drake are ripping off.
Hip Hop is a huge part of American culture and a huge part of American history which like many art forms has it’s roots in community identity and subtle insurrection. With the rap demagogues controlling the radio, branding themselves, and becoming pop stars, hip hop is alienated from its foundations in the subversive music of early America.
Like Folk or Hardcore, Hip Hop has in the past always been about and for the community. With Beyonce writing 6 songs about her cheating husband, and Kanye ostentatiously releasing songs called ‘I love Kanye’…the community gets left behind. These are some artists that I think really represent and speak for their communities. Whether or not these songs themselves are socially aware, these artists are (in my humble opinion) keeping real hip hop alive.
Kodak Black – This is the slowest hardest weirdest catchiest song here. Trap gold. Kodak is huuugggee in the south and hasn’t really gotten to much airplay but his shows are nuts and they’re enormous. He really does something no one else does. Get into it.
Anderson Paak – I love this song. This is the banger. This is a real thing. You all know those people who are like fiends when the drugs come out. I love how he takes something so simple and kind of funny and makes it bang, makes it important. He could say anything and it would mean something.
Jay Electronica – This is JAY ELECTRONICA and MOBB DEEP TOGETHER…there’s nothing more to say.
Deathgrips – this song is kind of the dark horse? black sheep? whatever. It’s not like the rest, but it eludes to the bands relationship to hardcore which is so important to their whole identity so I thought i would throw this in there for fans of Guillotine who want to know where the hell it came from.
SZA – Ugh so smooth. ‘I love you like I like to get high’ — perfect.
SZA – I couldn’t resist putting another track from this EP up. Its an old EP that she did and I think she got signed and is going to be huge and those labels will put their claws in, but for now I just want to bask in it.
Thundercat – This song does everything and so does Thundercat. He is almost singlehandedly keeping jazz alive in modern hip hop. Thank you BRAINFEEDER for keeping the world safe.
Princess Nokia – Princess Nokia is dope and she writes a lot about trying to be a strong woman in a world dominated by the glorification of weak women. I dig it and I think its important.
Ratking – These are some friends of mine from NYC. My folk band Poor Remy used to open for them in BK basement shows and we’d thrash together. I was always amazed by the kind of devotion they inspired in these city kids. They sing about their city and its troubles. They were of the people and the people love them for always remembering it.
Antwon – he just keeps it weird, and its important to keep it weird. pc.
‘Safety’ is the 3rd offering from Yoke Lore’s forthcoming debut EP ‘Far Shore’, due out today, 6 May, via B3SCI Records. He’ll also make his US live debut this summer in NYC at The Well on 8 June.
Sounds like: Band of Horses, Yellerkin, Yeasayer, Local Natives
Facebook | Twitter | Soundcloud | YouTube
ELEL
ELEL are a band who write “world pop” music, reflecting the musical culture of their hometown of Nashville as much as their diverse influences, which include Prince, Wilco and Beach House.
Their latest release, ‘Animal’ is a sharp pop number, with incredible dynamic range, worthy enough to attract all types of listeners.
“It’s a loud song about a soft moment between two people,” says band leader, Ben Elkins.
“I love writing music from my imagination, and sometimes that can be energetic and grand. But my lyrics are usually based on everyday life, which is much calmer. It’s exciting to let those two versions of my reality meet each other in a song like this.”
‘Animal’ has been taken from their upcoming debut album ‘Geode’, to be released via Mom + Pop (Flume, Hinds).
Sounds like: Yeasayer, Miike Snow, Alt-J, Tame Impala, CHAPPO, Arcade Fire, Phoenix, Jungle
Website | Soundcloud | Facebook | Twitter