London-based Stay Bless have just released their first single, “Always,” on 37 Adventures (who brought you Pale’s wonderful “Too Much.”) “Always” is a stunning, symphonic pop number that “utilises emotional honesty as its key instrument,” or so says the band, and we couldn’t agree more. The muted, blurry video is the perfect complement to the warmth and thickness of the track. Have a watch above, and get ready for Stay Bless to start asserting themselves into a seemingly endless crowd of breathy, stirring synth-driven pop from across the Atlantic.

STREAM: Stay Bless – “Always”

As we mentioned earlier today, Victoria Bergsman (dba Taken By Trees) just released “Only You” as a single last week along with with a sensual new video. Accompanying those two is a warm remix of the track courtesy of relatively-unknown L.A. producer Belief. The remix gives the track more of a backbone while sounding like a blend of The Blow and Gold Panda, chopped up by Star Slinger. Listen to it below and grab a copy of Other Worlds, released last October via Secretly Canadian.

STREAM: Taken By Trees – “Only You (Belief Remix)”

After one listen of his remix of “Julian,” it’s clear that French producer Monsieur Adi is as smitten by the lovely Swedish duo of Say Lou Lou as we are. Adi adds some zest to SLL’s airy ballad, transforming it into the perfect track for a 4AM dance party that nobody wants to end. Comparisons to Thin White Duke’s remix of Royksopp’s “What Else Is There?” can be drawn here, which is the highest of high praise. Have a listen below, and get ready to fall in love with Say Lou Lou if you haven’t already.

STREAM: Say Lou Lou – “Julian (Monsieur Adi Remix)”

Kid Cudi has tackled hip hop and television, so the logical next step is….collaborations with indie buzzbands? Apparently that’s the case on “Red Eye,” which comes off his soon-to-be-released third album, Indicud. “Red Eye” prominently features BBC Sound of 2013 winners Haim, and by prominently features we mean they absolutely dominate the track. Indicud is set to feature Kendrick Lamar, Father John Misty, the RZA and would-be rap genius Michael Bolton, though Haim’s input is the highlight of the recently-leaked album. Swirling synths, syncopated drum kicks and a beautiful harmony between Mescudi and the sisters Haim make “Red Eye” one of the best tracks of the year so far. Stream it above.

Indicud is set for release on April 23rd on Republic.

Oakland-based indie rock veterans Rogue Wave just announced that they’re releasing a new album on June 4th. Nightingale Floors is set for release on Vagrant, which marks a new direction in the band, as they called Sub Pop home for most of the 2000s before jumping over to Brushfire for their last two albums. While 2010′s Permalight was a bit disappointing for Rogue Wave aficionados, their new single, “College,” marks a return to the more melodic guitar driven melodies that made Asleep at Heaven’s Gate one of my favorite albums. “College” is a warm, uncomplicated number perfect for listening to on a day like today, where Spring might finally be showing signs of life.

Rogue Wave’s Nightingale Floors comes out June 4th via Vagrant.

STREAM: Rogue Wave – “College”

Before I headed down to Austin for a week of chaos, buzzbands and #coolranchDLT’s, I made a short list of bands I would make sure I saw live. At the very top of that list was the UK’s hottest young commodity, Dan Croll. The 22-year-old Newcastle-based Croll first piqued my interest with his first single, “From Nowhere,” and he moved his way up to #1 on my must-see list after his release of “Compliment Your Soul,” one of the most cleverly-crafted and downright beautiful singles in recent memory.

After being thwarted a few times by long lines and insatiable hunger pangs, I was finally able to catch the Croll Show live on Friday at Cedar Door for the ASOS showcase. His set was brief, but his unbridled talent shone through, as he crooned his way through his two hits and a bevy of new tracks. Afterward, Croll stuck around to sign autographs and take pictures with fans, including yours truly, who was completely blown away by his modesty, affability, and genuine appreciation for new listeners. Needless to say, the future is quite bright for Mr. Croll.

STREAM: Dan Croll – “Compliment Your Soul”

Wax Nostalgic first serenaded our earballs with his gorgeous remix of Local Natives’ “Who Knows Who Cares” back in December. It became an instant favorite, clocking in at number two on our best remixes of 2012 list. Today, David Hayes has done his best to try to bring some California over to his hometown of Toronto with a remix of Goldroom’s poolside mood-setter “Sweetness Alive.” Hayes accentuates Say Lou Lou‘s breezy vocals on his take while deconstructing the more up-tempo instrumental elements of the original, smoothing the track out to create the musical equivalent of the ‘Toaster’ Instagram filter. That’s a compliment.

Have a listen below, and be sure to grab tickets to see Goldroom play LIVE — that’s right, a full live band — at All Things Gold on April 11th at U Street Music Hall.

STREAM: Goldroom – “Sweetness Alive (Ft. Say Lou Lou) (Wax Nostalgic Remix)”

Flight Facilities have just recently released a remix of Paul Simon’s classic “You Can Call Me Al,” which has been on every single playlist I’ve made since 1993. I remember hearing the song for the first time back in 1992 (when I was four years old) at a (vice) presidential rally for Al Gore (who had adopted the song as his official campaign song). I’m tho thuper therial about this remix, which breaks the songs beautifully layered sound down into pieces and reconstructs it into something impossibly groovy. The duo is planning on releasing the remix officially later this week, but they posted the YouTube video of the track last Thursday for your viewing and listening pleasure. Good luck watching that video and standing still. Have a listen to a mix they dropped over at triple j recently that features the above remix in it as well.

DOWNLOAD: Flight Facilities – “Triple j Mix Up Exclusives: 1982-1992″

I have two strong memories connected to Ontario-based indie rock outfit Born Ruffians. The first was in early 2009, when I saw them perform at The Black Cat between sets from The Harlem Shakes and Toyko Police Club–the two bands I had come to see. I went home directly after the show and scoured the internet for every track I could find, eventually falling in love with their debut LP, Red, Yellow & Blue. There was something exciting about how they played, as if I had just witnessed all of this potential energy begging to be transformed into kinetic–yet refined–musical power. The second memory I have of Born Ruffians was rediscovering “Sole Brother,” the catchy minimalist number from their 2010 LP, Say It, on a 30-minute-long flight from Santorini to Athens last May. The flight was memorable for a multitude of reasons, and “Sole Brother” has been a staple of every playlist I’ve made since then.

Before I melt into a puddle of nostalgia and gooey lurve for the ‘Ruffian Ryders, allow me to get to the point of this post. The band is back with a brand new single, “Needle,” that’s sure to create a third memory up in the ol’ noggin. “Needle” starts out with frontman Luke LaLonde offering his best Fleet Foxes impression, but around the :49 mark the track begins to embody that aforementioned kinetic energy. Their ebullience ebubbles up and ebursts at the seams, revealing a genuinely wonderful track. Now, if only I could afford to go back to Santorini.

Born Ruffians’ third album, Birthmarks, is due out on April 16th via Yep Roc.

STREAM: Born Ruffians – “Needle”

Building off the success of their promising debut single, “Hey Now,” the trio from — you guessed it — London are back with “Metal And Dust,” the title track off their forthcoming EP. “Metal And Dust” borrows from the soft-instrumental stylings of early Zero 7, or Massive Attack at its most minimalist, though it relies more on gorgeous lead singer Hannah Reid’s calm vocals as she laments a crumbling relationship. Stream it below.

London Grammar’s Metal And Dust will be self-released by the band on February 25th via their Metal and Dust Recordings imprint.

STREAM: London Grammar – “Metal And Dust”