Jordan Jeffares, the mind behind Atlanta’s Snowden, de-trapifies Purity Ring’s “Fineshrine” into a calming acoustic version fit for a night by the fire. Get comfortable and stream the cover below.
Just to be clear: It’s Oliver Wilde. Not Olivia. Although we welcome those of you looking for celebrity news to stick around and listen to “Flutter,” the latest track from this Bristol artist. “Flutter” is a downtempo alt-folk track — or in the words of Mr. Wilde, “lo-fi glitch tinsel” — that’ll hit the spot if you’re looking for a strange, soothing break to your day. Fans of Deer Hunter and Atlas Sound should take notice. Stream “Flutter” below.
STREAM: Oliver Wilde – “Flutter”
“Little Numbers,” for all its playful lightness, is a remarkably assured debut single from Valeska Steiner and Sonja Glass, the duo known as BOY. In anticipation of a set of US tour dates in May, they’ve recorded a live acoustic version of the track for MTV Iggy.
The video – filmed with intimate clarity in the back room of a fabric warehouse – shows the bones of the track, the structure that underlines and elevates BOY’s breezy candy-sweetness. This live version of “Little Numbers” is pitched a few steps lower than the original, making Valeska’s fine-tuned voice run both rougher and more delicate – she still sounds like Feist, but more Broken Social Scene-era than “Mushaboom.” Here, too, the blithe tambourine-handclap instrumentation of the album version is replaced by a warm, confidential guitar backing that might bring Jose Gonzalez to mind. Watch the video above.
BOY’s debut album Mutual Friends was released in February on Nettwerk.
STREAM: BOY – “Little Numbers”
Did you know that Iron & Wine‘s name comes from a dietary supplement called “Beef Iron & Wine” that Sam Beam found in a general store while shooting a film in Georgia in 2001? In the intervening 12 years, Mr. Beam has stopped shooting movies about what I assume must be the Oregon Trail, and started consistently turning out solicitous, simple and melodic folk songs that have grown more lush and impressionistic over time.
Iron & Wine’s new album, Ghost on Ghost, came out today on Nonesuch Records, and if your musical tastes are trending anti-subtle these days (I think I spent yesterday listening to dub remixes and Drake exclusively) try their video for “Joy” out as a reintroduction. It is detailed and mesmerizing – director Hayley Morris projects hand-painted watercolor animations onto stop-motion assemblages of paper, wood and bone – and “Joy” emerges as an love song of ambivalence and shaky promise. Watch it above.
It’s hardly rare for artists these days to find some common ground between pop and folk music. More often than not, the final product can be described as “cute,” “whimsical,” or something else of the fluffy variety. Rarely, though, do you find music that manages to capture these two genres in their rawest forms.
Enter Misty Miller. The London singer-songwriter is gearing up to release her sophomore EP, Next To You, and today we’re happy to be premiering of its tracks, “I’ve Got Everything.” “I’ve Got Everything” doesn’t rely on much other than a bare-bones acoustic guitar and Miller’s folk sensibilities. As minimalist as it is, though, Miller’s knack for pop melodies shine under her sweet, earthy vocals. Listen below and see for yourself. You can also check out some of Miller’s other tracks — “Anything For You” and “Little Drummer” — after the jump.
Misty Miller’s Next To You EP is set for release on May 19th via Relentless.
STREAM: Misty Miller – “I’ve Got Everything”
Dallas Green is not an easy man to pin. Originally known as the melodic-vocals frontman in Canadian screamo outfit Alexisonfire, he forsook the band (who have since broken up as a result) and hardcore metal altogether to pursue his acoustic solo side project City and Colour full-time.
From City and Colour’s upcoming fourth album, Northern Wind, “Of Space and Time” is a perfect example that Green may be on to something. Open, spacious and breathable, the waltzing track rolls effortlessly on hushed brush drums, easy-strummed acoustics, atmospheric lap steel, cello and Green’s accessible buttery baritone. It’s a mark of a maturing artist who traded heavy distortion and top-of-your-lungs aggression for space and time, and the 180-degree metamorphosis feels completely natural. Stream it below.
Northern Wind is slated to drop Summer 2013 via Cooking Vinyl in the UK/Europe and Dine Alone Records elsewhere.
STREAM: City And Colour – “Of Space And Time”
Thao And The Get Down Stay Down are back with more of their bare-bones, low-key folk on “Kindness Be Conceived,” a track off their upcoming LP We The Common. Joanna Newsom joins the crew on this track, and while it isn’t quite rollicking, it’s definitely toe-tapping, knee-slapping and catchy as all get-out. The tune is airy like a summertime breeze, perfect for closing your eyes and dancing in circles on cool grass.
Thao And The Get Down Stay Down’s We The Common is set for release on January 29th via Ribbon Music.
Rising Belgian producer Sebastiaan Vandevoorde – formerly Villa, currently Moonlight Matters – has just put together a great rework of popular UK singer-songwriter Ben Howard’s uplifting track “The Fear”. This is a rare instance of acoustic guitar and four-on-the-floor dance production coming together in a way that sounds not at all unnatural and actually very good. The song revolves around Howard’s bombastic, percussive guitar riffs, offset by understated bowed strings, slap bass and some upbeat drums – a formula that sort of reminds me of this beloved 90s classic. The lyrics deliver a simple but sincere message that everyone can relate to: don’t let yourself miss out on things just because you’re afraid to give them a go. Preach. Download below.
Blake Mills is a guitar virtuoso. Asked about Blake, Jackson Browne said “Who makes these people?” The Los Angeles native comes from the same school of thought as Browne, Dawes, Fiona Apple and many others. Blake’s approach is a chilled out vibe that hides a reckless abandon, a willingness to put everything about yourself on the line for a dream. His album Break Mirrors conveys this through expertly crafted riffs and modern lyrics that remind us a time forgotten.
Blake was generous enough to spare some time with ATG a week and half ago and I think you’ll get a better understanding of the man, his music and his motivation after a read. See Blake Mills with Fiona Apple on June 26 at the Warner Theater. And if you have twelve and half minutes to kill, I highly recommend his Red Bull Soundstage episode that both has some incredible home footage and b-roll.
MP3: Blake Mills – History of My Life
MP3: Blake Mills – Hey Lover
Alex Winston hails all the way from Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. After a handful of EPs, Alex worked alongside production wizards and All Things Gold alum The Knocks on her debut album, which was met with critical acclaim. Though she’s classically trained in opera, she’s covered music greats from Chuck Berry to The Rolling Stones, and her songs have been remixed by the likes of Beach Fossils and RAC. Tomorrow night you can catch her as she makes her second stop in DC, alongside local outfit Long Walks on the Beach.
Grab a free download of her stellar Sister Wife EP here, and buy tickets for her show at U Street Music Hall HERE. Doors open at 7PM.
STREAM: Alex Winston – “Velvet Elvis”
STREAM: Alex Winston – “Everlasting Light”
