Blog: dipped in dollars

Crimson and I first met the guys in Nyteowl after a set we played in October, and were real surprised to find them in the cities. Their soul inspired vocals, disco aesthetic, and smooth electronics are reminiscent of the infectious sound that came out of the East Village in the early aughts, which makes their presence in Minneapolis all the more valuable. Their Valentine EP will be released through NyteTraxx / Juno Records on the 28th and will feature reworks from Napolean [...]

Way back in December spring seemed as if it would never come, and yet here were are in February, and it's just around the corner. This album by Another is here to usher in the season. I had his track "Helicopter" on repeat a few months back, and foolishly never told you guys about it. The whole release is filled with delicate indie-pop that at times borders on chillwave, while still managing to incorporate some serious beats. Some tracks definitely are more successful than others, but I certainly appreciate the fusion of sounds. You [...]

San Francisco's Avalon Emerson sent over her new track "Warm Up Love" and I am obsessed. It's a pretty minimal house-y track, with just enough to keep me pressing repeat. I don't usually go for this stuff outside of the club, but on this gloomy DC afternoon the claps are hitting just right. She's only got three tracks on her soundcloud , so I am definitely looking forward to hearing more.

Octo Octa has been my favorite deep house discovery this year. His video for "I'm Trying" splices footage from early 1900s serpentine dances with what looks like the clips from one of his gigs, and I'm seeing it as a playful comment on the cultural evolution of dance and music. 100% Silk as an imprint is articulating a kind of diamond-life disco there needs to be more of, and I'm looking forward to hearing more from their artists this year.

Computer-based production can make it difficult to create music that sounds truly alive. While a producer gains impeccable precision and the ability to compose with a multitude of sounds at the whim of a keystroke, he or she can easily lose the warmth and organic architecture that often comes naturally through live instrumentation. On his new EP release, When You're Gone (which is available now through Brainfeeder ), Lapalux unwinds this inevitable tension through a magnificent set of emotive, beat-driven, sonic environments. With a banner reading "THE [...]

Today I have a THROWBACK for you circa 1995. I heard this song on the radio late last Thursday night and the melody hasn't left my head since. This very well may have been Monica's first hit single "Don't Take It Personal (Just One Of Dem Days)". Everything about this song and the video secrete 902s swag which make it quite the nostalgic gem; hairstyles, poofy jackets, HUGE mobile phone, and a payphone cameo. The beat is timeless and simple, and Monica's vocals work effortlessly over the track. While this song is undoubtedly a ladies' [...]

This was one of the first submissions I came across today, and I'm definitely feeling it - I love when that happens. Dalai Lama Renaissance offered up a preview of their forthcoming EP, "I Know You Will". The tracks are smooth, simple and unassuming, which I find totally refreshing. The three track EP is accompanied by a slew of remixes, including one by D.I.D. fave Stephen Farris . You can pre-order the vinyl (released on February 25th) here .

Ninja Tune is letting us stream this Lapalux remix of Speech Debelle 's "I'm With It". The 2009 Mercury Prize winner's lead single is immediately slowed down, and Lapalux establishes a keen environment of transposed vocals that seem to ricochet off of the Kwes -produced original. It's an ideal example of what a remix should be, and you can purchase it along with other reworks by Leo Zero , [...]

After just a few seconds I was in love with this video from TOKiMONSTA . A dark robotic side to the track is contrasted with a warm organic one (beatmaking at its best anyone?), and lets not forget rabbits. Oh, rabbits. I am writing this in the middle of the night, in my opinion, the best time to listen to this. Visuals were directed by Doug Chang .

January was one of the greatest months for new music that I can remember, and these were some of our favorite songs and artists to come our way. Lapalux - Gutter Glitter Grimes - Genesis Ghost Mutt - Sweat Mode Parallel Dance Ensemble - Occupied 813 - Pumbleous Bubbles Hermitude - [...]

Oh gosh, it's Monday again. Start your week off right with this track from Miro Belle . "Matching Saris" is light glitchy pop that's bound to make winter a little bit more bearable. If you like what you here, you can grab the whole album for free .

It's a little more than an honor to have Gavin Handley from Jus Like Music contribute to our Substitute Teachers series. The label started out as a blog, and eventually blossomed into a roster of forward thinking artists who are currently pushing the boundaries of what electronic music can be. He also co-hosts a fantastic radio show on NTS that showcases his phenomenal taste in music. This mix consists entirely of Jus Like Music releases, and all of these artists have material that you must [...]

heRobust hooked us up with Late Night / Morning After , a double LP he's released through Saturate Records this week. Georgia's best beatmaker really surprised me with this one, exploring aggressive bass melodies on Late Night and a balanced, upbeat, and alluring collection of beats on Morning After . You can download both albums for free, but there is also a 73 vinyl / t-shirt package that is well worth [...]

Word has come via Stone's Throw of Australian producer Jonti 's new album Sine and Moon , a free collection of 15 tracks spanning a variety of styles. The album's title matches its sound quite well, as Jonti employs the use of lighthearted samples, light, pitter-patter sine-based synths and some occasional tropics-infused vocal elements while bathing the entire sound in a wash of after-hours, moon glazed placidity. Check our favorites below and download the whole bag of tricks here . [...]

• Jonti - Moon Goddess
• Jonti - Nagoya Train Station 3AM
• Jonti - Nightshift in Blue (Alternate Version)

Eglo Records let us know about their big time birthday bash at Fabric on Thursday, March 8th. Floating Points is going to officially debut the visuals for his live show (which will probably look something like his video for "Sais" ) and Fatima will be performing with the freshly formed Elgo Live Band on top of DJ sets from Alexander Nut , Arp 101 , and Funkineven . [...]

I'm trying to catch up on music I've been sitting with for a month, so here goes. Chicago's Innobushu released his Distraction EP in mid January, and it's a lovely piece of work. Upbeat enough to keep you hopeful for spring, but laid back enough to be described as "essential music for late night reflections". I couldn't have said it better. You can stream the rest of the tracks and grab the files for a low low price here .

I first heard this track by Hermitude while listening to Gilles Peterson over the weekend. Hermitude is a Australian hip-hop group who's members consist of Luke Dubber (aka Luke Dubbs) and Angus Stuart (aka Elgusto). I shared this track with a few people this morning and it became quickly apparent that I needed to make a post ASAP. As Danger so eloquently stated; "Fuck yeah steel drums!" I couldn't have said it better myself. Simply put this song sounds like how summer feels. The two person hip-hop group has a forthcoming album [...]

Devonté Hynes has been making music under many different names, and I am absolutely in love with them all. His latest, Blood Orange approaches nostalgia with the most sublime minimalism and little genre-restriction. "Forget It" is his newest single, and represents the best of a forgotten time in rock music. Grab the rest of the album here for less than $10.

Machinedrum has swallowed the early chunk of 2012, collaborating on new works with Azealia Banks and Om Unit , remixing Bonobo and Gang Colours , and releasing his own SXLND EP on LuckyMe earlier this month. I don't know how he's going to keep up at this pace all year, but hearing this Letherette remix of a [...]

Ernest Gonzales might be better known to some as Mexicans With Guns , but his latest release, Natural Traits , makes his birth name something to remember. I've been sitting with it for a few weeks now, and it's just one of those albums that feels effortlessly good . Sublimely peaceful, it is at once calming and captivating - an admirable achievement for an instrumental album. Its hard to quantify in words, bu this video for "The Voice of Fate (I ♥ You)" perfectly plays into its subtleties and [...]