Indie Shuffle » piano

Janet LaBelle – Wide Awake Dreaming

Christiana Bartolini — Thu, 16 May 2013 11:42:48 +0000

Sounds like: Brenda Lee, Sallie Ford & The Sound Outside

Song: Janet Labelle - Wide Awake Dreaming [download here]

What's so good?

I’m so pleased to be able to present to you Janet LaBelle’s video for her new single “Wide Awake Dreaming.”

The usually rocked-out retro pop queen has taken it down a few notches with this track. With this change of scene, she still maintains her creative integrity and undeniable talent through and through. The video is visually gorgeous and laden with scenes of spring horticulture and wistful shots of Janet laying in a field of green while serenading her captivated listeners.

This is a classic love song that spans across many decades, truly standing the test of time. Janet has a vintage sound and executes it in a modern and tasteful way while not compromising the integrity of genres past. That’s true talent! Stay tuned for Janet LaBelle’s upcoming fourth album, soon to be announced!

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1. Original post: Janet LaBelle – Wide Awake Dreaming

2. Posted in: indie pop, female vocalist, singer-songwriter, piano, orchestral pop

3. Find more music on Indie Shuffle's Indie Music Blog.

The Naked and Famous & Kids of 88 – A Source Of Light

Philip Friedman — Wed, 15 May 2013 13:53:15 +0000

Visit Indie Shuffle to download.

Sounds like: LCD Soundsystem, The xx, Flight Facilities

Song: The Naked and Famous & Kids of 88 - A Source Of Light [download here]

What's so good?

It’s been a long time since The Naked and Famous released their smash hit album Passive Me, Aggressive You. While the New Zealanders have not announced any plans for a new album, they are in the process of releasing a collection of remixes and B-sides due out on May 20. One of the tracks set to be on the release is a collaboration with fellow New Zealanders Kids of 88.

The track is called “A Source of Light,” and while it is a little more downtempo than we’ve come to expect from the Naked and Famous, it is still worth a listen. Filled with some haunting piano and interplay of male and female vocals, the song builds up with a catchy back-beat and pops of some bright synths. If this is how The Naked and Famous and Kids of 88 chill out, than I am definitely ready to hang out with them.

Keep an eye out for Remixes + B-Sides, and you can try to get your hands on the vinyl version via this link.

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1. Original post: The Naked and Famous & Kids of 88 – A Source Of Light

2. Posted in: Electronic, female vocalist, chillwave, downtempo, the xx

3. Find more music on Indie Shuffle's Indie Music Blog.

Mesita – XYXY EP

Christiana Bartolini — Tue, 07 May 2013 13:24:28 +0000

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Sounds like: Sufjan Stevens, Sea and Cake, Apostle Of Hustle

Song: Mesita - Alone Is Okay [download here]

What's so good?

Mesita is back with a new EP entitled XYXY, a gorgeously orchestrated experimental electro rock journey.

Mesita has the ability to combine delicate effects with harder instrumentals such as drums and booming bass, but the balance is just right. With twinkling piano and refreshing synth, the combination is a difficult one to pursue but Mesita is fearless and open-minded in his composition towards such ambitious sounds. The vocals are always choral and multi-layered, making each song a perfect ballad for a sing-along.

With every new Mesita release, I am in awe over and over again. He continues to reach new heights with each creation, making him untouchable. I urge you to check out Mesita’s XYXY EP and all of his other releases, too. It can open up a whole new realm of wonderment.

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1. Original post: Mesita – XYXY EP

2. Posted in: indie rock, experimental, orchestral, sufjan stevens, piano

3. Find more music on Indie Shuffle's Indie Music Blog.

Lisa Germano – Ruminants

Matt Kramer — Wed, 01 May 2013 13:32:27 +0000

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Sounds like: Emily Haines, New Buffalo, Low

Song: Lisa Germano - Ruminants [download here]

What's so good?

“Ruminants,” Lisa Germano’s breathy waltz about digestion, is weird and beautiful and kind of sad (a musical combination that gets me pretty much every time). It’s also a real standout on her recent album, No Elephants.

I hadn’t heard of Lisa Germano before “Ruminants,” but apparently she’s been busy. No Elephants is her ninth studio album, with a handful a self-releases to add to her portfolio as well. Her prolific habit of music making is a bit of a bummer for me insofar as it’s daunting to discover an artist you find interesting only to learn that you’re about a dozen LPs behind in their work. But alas, while I can’t speak to her career as a whole, I can testify to the fact that upon first listen, I found “Ruminants” to be an absolutely captivating track.

Germano’s melancholic vocal delivery, the inclusion of animal noises in the song, and the strange high-pitched metallic digital drones that bubble up subtly throughout the verses of the otherwise classical waltz all contribute to a certain peculiar ambiance and musical quality that makes my ears stand at attention.

I love music that defies the expectations of the listener (even if just in small ways), and ”Ruminants” does just that. With its 3:4 waltz format, its bizarre subject material, and equally interesting production elements, “Ruminants cultivates a uniqueness that had me revisiting the track again and again.

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1. Original post: Lisa Germano – Ruminants

2. Posted in: female vocalist, dream pop, lo-fi, chill, singer-songwriter

3. Find more music on Indie Shuffle's Indie Music Blog.

Lana Del Rey – Young & Beautiful (The Great Gatsby Soundtrack)

Anu — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 19:38:52 +0000

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Sounds like: Lily Allen, Cat Power, Marina & The Diamonds, MS MR

Song: Lana Del Rey - Young & Beautiful [download here]

What's so good?

I’ve never really understood, or rather jumped on, the Lana Del Rey backlash bandwagon. It’s difficult for me to doubt her authenticity because she substantiates her presented persona in a way that’s irreplaceable; I don’t mean that we couldn’t go on without her music, but that I couldn’t imagine anyone else being her.

Maybe Tavi Gevinson understood the psychology of Del Rey best when she said, “[Lana] has many different qualities that women in our culture aren’t allowed to be, all at once, so people are trying to find the inauthentic one.” However, it’s the multiple personalities that makes her enigmatic persona attractive, and by default then, her voice, which seems as organic an extension as possible.

“Young & Beautiful” comes from The Great Gatsby soundtrack and dilutes her friction to its purest, most alluring form. “Will you still love me when I’m no longer young and beautiful?” she haunts, “I know you will,” with the supporting drama of an imagined full electronic orchestra.

If you’re also as interested in hearing this soundtrack in full, as you are in seeing the movie, then check out a preview here.

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1. Original post: Lana Del Rey – Young & Beautiful (The Great Gatsby Soundtrack)

2. Posted in: female vocalist, indie, indietronica, lana del rey, piano

3. Find more music on Indie Shuffle's Indie Music Blog.

Apparat – A Violent Sky

Matt Kramer — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 11:31:41 +0000

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Sounds like: SOHN, Deptford Goth, Blue Sky Black Death

Song: Apparat - A Violent Sky [download here]

What's so good?

“A Violent Sky” is a bit of a departure from the largely IDM and electronic catalogue of music I associate with Apparat, the stage name of Berlin-based musician Sascha Ring. However, given the experimental trajectory of his career and collaborations, I guess change shouldn’t be wholly unexpected.

“A Violent Sky” is part of a recent release of tracks called Krieg und Frieden (war and peace, if you haven’t been keeping up with your German 101). The record is based on performances of a score Sascha was commissioned to compose for what appeared to have been a pretty avant garde theatrical adaptation of Tolstoy’s classic War and Peace.

From reading reviews of the project, it sounds like there’s a lot of artsy subtext at work here. Since the play was in German, and a lot of the reviews were too, I don’t know much about all that. What I do know is that I really like this song. It has a great cinematic quality, and it’s piano driven orchestral build plays like an analog parallel to some of Apparat’s earlier ambient electronic work. Ring’s plaintive vocals provide impactful punctuation to Krieg und Frieden’s otherwise almost totally instrumental tracklist.

All in all, “A Violent Sky” is a refreshing and somewhat unexpected find from an artist always worth keeping an eye on.

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1. Original post: Apparat – A Violent Sky

2. Posted in: experimental, ambient, Experimental electronic, orchestral, idm

3. Find more music on Indie Shuffle's Indie Music Blog.

Denai Moore – Gone

Anu — Sat, 06 Apr 2013 15:24:18 +0000

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Sounds like: Birdy, Norah Jones

Song: Denai Moore - Gone [download here]

What's so good?

I’m about to move to the UK to find religion, because these soulful singers are rising up across the pond. I’m beginning to understand how my foreign friends brave the stifling weather; honest music will always be enough to keep you both warm and connected.

Perhaps it’s strange to compare Denai Moore to James Blake, but he immediately came to mind. “Gone” possesses a similar sense of patience and presence. As Moore sings, “Your autumn leaves scattered like sores/But it scarred from the molten sun/You’re the one I think of when I wake/Until the morning starts and the evening breaks/And I found you in all my fears/And I found you beneath my tears/And I found you had gone,” she manages to make the most unforgiving lyrics sound too beautiful to resist. Few singers can make sadness feel like a blessing.

This single comes from Denai’s debut four-track EP Saudade and is available for pre-order now on iTunes. You can also check out the track, “Flaws,” on SoundCloud, which offers an acoustic folk feel, but plays second-string to the power of “Gone.”

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1. Original post: Denai Moore – Gone

2. Posted in: female vocalist, folk, bon iver, singer-songwriter, UK

3. Find more music on Indie Shuffle's Indie Music Blog.

Swim Deep – She Changes The Weather

Justin Lam — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 17:19:37 +0000

Visit Indie Shuffle to download.

Sounds like: Wildcat! Wildcat!, High Highs, Zulu Winter

Song: Swim Deep - She Changes The Weather [download here]

What's so good?

So, it was getting pretty late here in Perth and I was contempt to just head off to bed after a hard day at work. Just before I could turn off my computer, I was greeted by Swim Deep’s newest single “She Changes The Weather” via a friend’s post on Facebook. Turns out that this is literally the most beautiful song I have heard this year.

We’re no strangers to Swim Deep, but this single is a welcomed change of pace from their usual grungy surf pop/rock. That two-minute intro built on that wondrous reverberating piano really does wonders in capturing your heart and imagination — I think I was almost in tears from pure happiness.

If that wasn’t enough, the lyrics “She makes me feel like I can see for miles/She changes the weather in my bones, seem like it’s never getting cold” are oh-so-warm and heartfelt. The boys from Birmingham have really outdone themselves on this occasion. Every second of this song is filled with pure beauty and adoration.

Taken from their upcoming debut album Where In Heaven Are We, “She Changes The Weather” has got me very excited indeed.

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1. Original post: Swim Deep – She Changes The Weather

2. Posted in: indie pop, indie, dream pop, dreamy, piano

3. Find more music on Indie Shuffle's Indie Music Blog.

The Cinematic Orchestra – To Build A Home (Ft. Patrick Watson)

Jason Grishkoff — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 19:10:03 +0000

Visit Indie Shuffle to download.

Song: The Cinematic Orchestra - To Build A Home (Ft. Patrick Watson) [download here]

What's so good?

Patrick Watson’s releases are perhaps some of my favorite folk / orchestral albums to date. The man has a remarkable talent, not unlike Andrew Bird and/or Rufus Wainwright.

Still, one of his crowning moments was not on his own work, but when he joined The Cinematic Orchestra for this masterpiece: “To Build A Home.” For me, it stands as one of the most beautiful tracks on the internet, albeit slow and painfully poignant.

While I apologize if you find this to be a downer of a SOTD, I’m hoping that it makes you feel more warm and fuzzy than depressed :)

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1. Original post: The Cinematic Orchestra – To Build A Home (Ft. Patrick Watson)

2. Posted in: folk, acoustic, piano, patrick watson, cinematic orchestra

3. Find more music on Indie Shuffle's Indie Music Blog.

Sunday Night Chill: TOKiMONSTA, Shlohmo + More

David Peter Simon — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 01:48:14 +0000

Seems like we’re all just waiting for the weekend or the next big adventure. Just because. And when we get there? Gone in a flash. No pause, back to the routine. The grind.

Sometimes it can be hard to just take a moment and relax. To live outside your conception of time. I guess I’m thinking of something I recently read, from a guy named Mazzucchelli: ”To live is to exist within a conception of time. But to remember is to vacate the very notion of time.”

Take some time to remember. Vacate your notion of time and enjoy this week’s Sunday Night Chill with a heavy dose of nostalgia. Sit and rejoice with memories past. It’ll do you some good. Like coming up for air after a long time under.

1. Original post: Sunday Night Chill: TOKiMONSTA, Shlohmo + More

2. Posted in: Electronic, ambient, chillout, chill, Sunday Night Chill

3. Find more music on Indie Shuffle's Indie Music Blog.

Song: dné - Reading, Then Eye Contact [Downloa d]

Song: myk. - I'm Not Lost [Downloa d]

Song: Owsey - We Are Your Friend (Asa Remix) [Downloa d]

Song: Burial - Shell of Light (Shlohmo Remix) [Downloa d]

Song: TOKiMONSTA - Almost Free [Downloa d]

@peace – Flowers

Anu — Tue, 19 Feb 2013 13:49:03 +0000

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Sounds like: Lushlife, Q-Tip, SoulChef

Song: @Peace - Flowers [download here]

What's so good?

I’m going to go ahead and pretend it’s Valentine’s week again. And let’s be honest, Valentine’s Day usually expresses itself in all the lovely ways, but also in heartbreak. The most passionate of relationships can fall apart at the moment human imperfection finds a way to introduce its harsh realities.

Auckland-based hip-hop group @peace beautifully captures this disparity in one track, “Flowers.” Rapping over a silky beat and sweet-tempered piano, and after an introduction of seemingly gratuitous synth (which finds a brilliant place on the way out), the boys have me blushing a little, and also feeling sentimental by the takeaway: “Everything decomposes, even roses.”

I have to interject though and say it’s difficult to stay upset with a musician who makes music like this. Damn musicians. It’s even more difficult when they are charming and describe their background story as such: “Basically I’m a heartbroken loser who, um, just writes about his pain and struggle and we tried to put that into an EP,” says the openly vulnerable Tom Scott as fellow rapper Lui, also charmingly, plays the air violin.

I’d like to thank the brave girl who broke Scott’s heart, so that @peace could produce Girl Songs for the rest of us. You can check out the ridiculous (in a fun way) trailer for their EP here, and listen to the music over on Bandcamp. Special thanks to Stamp The Wax for leading me to this discovery.

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1. Original post: @peace – Flowers

2. Posted in: hip-hop, R&B, instrumental, electronic hip-hop, underground hip hop

3. Find more music on Indie Shuffle's Indie Music Blog.

Brett – Visions

Anu — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 13:34:27 +0000

Visit Indie Shuffle to download.

Sounds like: Chromatics, Coach Bombay, Pet Shop Boys

Song: Brett - Visions [download here]

What's so good?

Hope you had a nice Valentines Day, Shufflers! As much as I’m not a fan of the commercial nature of most American holidays, I have to get behind one that celebrates love and chocolate covered strawberries. For this special day I am re-gifting Brett’s “Visions” to you.

In this indie synth-pop track, with intimate pauses of piano, DC’s Brett sings, “I can feel color in the darkness/I, I can see visions all around me.” I think we share a universal love for color, nostalgia, hope and happy hallucinations, so I thought you would especially enjoy this one today.

Earlier this month, we premiered Them Jeans’ remix of Brett’s first indie-dance single “Rap Songs“; it has a completely different, yet equally enjoyable flavor. The band’s Rap Songs X Visions EP will drop February 26, 2013 on Los Angeles’ dFm Records, and if these two previews are any indication, it’s going to be excellent throwback house party material. For a friendly reminder later this month, follow the band on Facebook or SoundCloud.

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1. Original post: Brett – Visions

2. Posted in: Electronic, indie pop, synth-pop, indie, indietronica

3. Find more music on Indie Shuffle's Indie Music Blog.

Sunday Night Chill: Primarily Piano

Hannah Simon — Sun, 10 Feb 2013 23:00:19 +0000

I was seven years old the first time I sat at a piano. It was a grand piano inherited from a grandfather that I never met. I felt incredibly small, sitting there. But when I shifted all of my weight and pressed down on the heavy keys, I remember feeling a sense of surprise and awe at the sound that came out. It was melancholy and deep, and suddenly I didn’t feel small at all — I felt powerful, part of something mysterious and profound.

I gave up playing the piano when I was in middle school, convinced it took too much of my time and cynical that I could never truly master the beastly instrument. But I still find myself mesmerized by artists that manipulate keys and chords, weaving them into the foundation of a song.

For tonight’s Sunday Night Chill, I scoured the Internet for a handful of tracks that combined piano and ambient electronica. It wasn’t easy. So I settled for these songs featured below — the common thread being that they all feature piano in one way or another.

Image credit: Piano by Maltagirl

1. Original post: Sunday Night Chill: Primarily Piano

2. Posted in: Electronic, ambient, instrumental, chillout, chill

3. Find more music on Indie Shuffle's Indie Music Blog.

Song: Sia - Breathe Me (Instrumental) [Downloa d]

Song: Múm - We Have A Map Of The Piano [Downloa d]

Song: Infected Mushroom - Elevation [Downloa d]

Song: Hiatus - Third [Downloa d]

Song: Ghosts Of Paraguay - Piano Piece [Downloa d]

KING – The Story (Astronauts, etc. Cover)

Anu — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 15:11:55 +0000

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Sounds like: Bon Iver, The Antlers, The xx

Song: KING - The Story (Astronauts, etc. Cover) [download here]

What's so good?

It was extremely sunny in my hometown today. The light begged me to come outside, then insulted me with a sharp, chill breeze. So I came back in and wrapped myself up in this song.

I’m not usually here, in my hometown, that is. What keeps me motivated in life is the thought of following the sun towards all the places and people there are left to see and meet, so I tend to do just that. And that’s probably why I’m entranced with Anthony Ferraro’s cover of KING’s “The Story.”

The original version takes me straight to the moon and back again, capturing the moment in which you accept the possibility of both leaving your head in the clouds and your feet moving across the ground. KING sings, “Charting my voyage to a different star/Got a story to tell…I’m so far from home/And still a ways to go, go/The ride is rocky and the road is long/But I know that my soul is never going to steer me wrong.”

Listening to the original and then listening to Anthony Ferraro’s cover reminds me of all the people following their own intuition, and that in doing so, they tend to cross fortunate paths. I hope Ferraro collaborates with KING in the future, because it would sound divine. We can still appreciate their equally exquisite, independent sounds by supporting the two on SoundCloud here and here.

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1. Original post: KING – The Story (Astronauts, etc. Cover)

2. Posted in: Electronic, indie, instrumental, covers, the xx

3. Find more music on Indie Shuffle's Indie Music Blog.

Lady Lazarus – Lapsarian

David Peter Simon — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 14:29:53 +0000

Visit Indie Shuffle to download.

Sounds like: Cat Power, Joanna Newsom, Grouper

Song: Lady Lazarus - Lapsarian [download here]

What's so good?

Your ears always perk up when you hear an enchanting voice along with beautiful piano playing. And it’s even better when the artist takes inspiration from a great like Sylvia Plath. So it’s no surprise that I’m really into Lady Lazarus, an artist who delivers minimalist tracks in the realm of dream pop and experimental folk. She’ll remind you of Joanna Newsom or Cat Power, but making the comparison is a bit unjust in light of her exceptional talent.

Lady Lazarus is Melissa Ann Sweat, a singer-songwriter, artist, poet – apparently jack of all creative trades – hailing from Los Angeles. Her songs are all really calming; the bewitching tone of her voice accompanies keys all too well. It’s impressive that she only started teaching herself keyboard back in 2008.

This track comes off Melissa’s newest album, All My Love In Half Light, due out on January 29, 2012. It’s a moody accordion sounding piece with simple but dramatic lyrics. This speaks to the sound of her entire album: straightforward yet evocative music from a beautiful soul. Favorites are “Wonder Inc.,” “Edge,” and “Do Not Go Gentle” – heavy piano tracks.

Melissa released a 7” on Inner City Cruiser this summer as a part of the Graveface Charity Release Series, which included indie greats like Mount Eerie and Xiu Xiu. She was in good company then, and with tracks like this, you can bet she’ll continue to be in good company in the future. While waiting for the album to drop, you can follow the music maker on her website. Stay on top of more captivating indie releases like this by stalking her excellent media group, Crash Avenue.

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1. Original post: Lady Lazarus – Lapsarian

2. Posted in: female vocalist, experimental, folk, indie, dream pop

3. Find more music on Indie Shuffle's Indie Music Blog.

Deb Oh and the Cavaliers – Crescendo

Christiana Bartolini — Sat, 05 Jan 2013 16:09:36 +0000

Visit Indie Shuffle to download.

Sounds like: Norah Jones, Wild Child, Feist

Song: Deb Oh and the Cavaliers - Crescendo [download here]

What's so good?

NYC’s Deb Oh and the Cavaliers have constructed a beautifully orchestrated track called “Crescendo” that I hope you Shufflers will enjoy as much as I do.

Deb Oh’s vocals lead the way through the thick waves of instruments that delicately prance around her milky tone. As soon as I heard this song, I was reminded of Norah Jones. There’s an infectiously calming effect that this song projects so soothingly. While there are a lot of instruments to account for, the execution of them as a whole is still soft and gentle on the ears. This track is truly a modern take on an easy-listening orchestral indie song, with a tinge of soul.

“Crescendo” is taken from the band’s Cold Glory EP, but don’t forget to make note of Deb Oh and the Cavaliers’ Hieroglyphs EP release this coming February. It’s their first official EP as a band, and I can’t wait to hear what they’ve got up their sleeves. Stay tuned!

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1. Original post: Deb Oh and the Cavaliers – Crescendo

2. Posted in: indie pop, female vocalist, jazz, feist, orchestral

3. Find more music on Indie Shuffle's Indie Music Blog.

Peter Broderick – Part 3: Pill Induced Slumber

David Peter Simon — Thu, 03 Jan 2013 15:33:06 +0000

Visit Indie Shuffle to download.

Sounds like: Steve Reich, Hauschka, Nils Frahm

Song: Peter Broderick - Part 3: Pill Induced Slumber [download here]

What's so good?

An oldie but goodie from the always spectacular Peter Broderick and the Erased Tapes crew. I’ve been binging on this score conceived by Broderick for a modern dance by Adrienne Hart for a few weeks now. Like all of Broderick’s material, the tracks are so well-composed that this review practically wrote itself. It sounds like Steve Reich, only better.

The evocative violin pairs well with the piercing piano notes, and the strings move like a river in a valley of melting snow. It’s lovely music to listen to as the new year rolls in! Just wait for the turning point at 2:23 when it picks up speed, and 3:36 when the piano really kicks in. Close your eyes and imagine the beautiful movement of fingers gracing piano keys, bows striking string. This is what breathtaking sounds like.

Favorites in addition to this track are are “Electroconvulsive Shock” and “The Path to Recovery.” You can see a trailer for the dance on YouTube. If you haven’t yet checked out Broderick’s latest album, These Walls of Mine, I highly recommend you do.

You can start the new year right by binging on tracks like this over on Erased Tapes’ SoundCloud. Also, if you’re interested in learning more about Peter Broderick, I suggest you peak his website’s “About“ section. There’s an awesome FAQ answered in musical form by the artist himself. Sad to learn he doesn’t, and won’t, have a Twitter. He’d be entertaining to follow…

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1. Original post: Peter Broderick – Part 3: Pill Induced Slumber

2. Posted in: ambient, piano, Hauschka, neoclassical, nils frahm

3. Find more music on Indie Shuffle's Indie Music Blog.

Harriet – No Way Out

Jason Grishkoff — Fri, 09 Nov 2012 18:28:05 +0000

Visit Indie Shuffle to download.

Sounds like: Wye Oak, Band Of Horses

Song: Harriet - No Way Out [download here]

What's so good?

Now that Colorado and Washington have legalized pot, we thought we might share a story of someone who actually died after overdosing on the substance. Fortunately he was resuscitated, and ended up recording this single “No Way Out.” Pretty interesting story, mind you…

(For background, No Way Out is fronted by the keyboardest of PAPA, a band we covered a couple weeks back).

Two years ago on the holiday known as 4-20 I overdosed on weed. My heart stopped. What I thought was half a dose of a hash oil candy bar, was three doses of the strongest edible the club had. Marijuana is legal in Los Angeles, but my heart stopped. Literally. Flat line, beeeeeeeep, doctors rush in, everything.

I could have single handedly taken down the industry. The first weed-death. The no-addiction, no-harm drug, now lethal. Of course a little Ativan in my veins and I was back a few moments later. But for a second I was really gone. I stopped breathing. I had no control over anything. I just sat there in my body, waiting and watching and vomiting and choking until I died.

After, I remember a bro-nurse, tatted up the sleeve, handing me a giant cup of ice water in a plastic bucket, and all I could say was “Biiig Waaater”, but nothing’s ever tasted better. It’s embarrassing to have died from weed. It doesn’t inspire feelings of strength or masculinity. The only consolation was that when my friend and I brought back the chocolate to the club to complain, they mentioned that the same thing had happened to, not gonna name names, and I obviously can’t confirm the sources reliability, but, an important member of the Wu-Tang Clan. I feel like that puts me in good company.

Pot is a fantastic thing. There are no warnings or doctrines in this song, besides, don’t go to a club on 4-20 and ask for the strongest edible they have, like, something thats literally gonna make me hallucinate, and then accidentally imbibe three of them. It’s a recounting of where my head was at, when I lost complete control of my body. Nothing’s ever been scarier for me. And, nothings ever been so overpriced as a hospital. At least we got a song out of it. No Way Out.

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1. Original post: Harriet – No Way Out

2. Posted in: folk-rock, piano, wye oak, band of horses, papa

3. Find more music on Indie Shuffle's Indie Music Blog.

Madeon – The City (Evan Duffy Piano Cover)

Sean O — Wed, 26 Sep 2012 13:28:16 +0000

Visit Indie Shuffle to download.

Sounds like: Zak Waters, Archeo, Ryan Tedder

Song: Madeon - The City (Evan Duffy Piano Cover) [download here]

What's so good?

Sometimes I’m astonished at the talent swirling around these here Internets. Meet Evan Duffy, a Virginia Beach-based composer who took one of my favorite tracks of the year and turned it into one of my favorite covers of the year.

Say what you will about EDM, but I’ll be damned if Madeon is not some sort of good vibes wizard. “The City” takes me back to my youth, when I not only knew the Pokémon theme, but sang along while looping the track on cassette.

Evan has also composed piano covers of tracks by Feed Me, Dillon Francis, and Aphex Twin. Here’s what he had to say about “The City” over on SoundCloud.

“Yo! So basically I’m in love with this track. It’s been on repeat since it came out and I’m hooked…I don’t sing too often on these, but you guys kept asking me…so here it goes.”

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1. Original post: Madeon – The City (Evan Duffy Piano Cover)

2. Posted in: covers, singer-songwriter, acoustic covers, piano, male vocal

3. Find more music on Indie Shuffle's Indie Music Blog.

MS MR – Bones

Chad L.A. Roberts (G.I.L.D) — Thu, 06 Sep 2012 15:29:50 +0000

Visit Indie Shuffle to download.

Sounds like: Florence + The Machine, Lana Del Rey

Song: MS MR - Bones [download here]

What's so good?

Do you enjoy watching FX’s hit television series “American Horror Story?” If yes, you will feverishly adore MS MR new single “Bones” off Candy Bar Creep Show.

The title of the album is fitting, considering the band’s sound is eerie and, well, creepy. However, the content is beautifully written and the production is captivating, so I overcame my fears and had a pleasurable listening experience. The track breaths mystifying romance with every piano stroke, and each moment that MS MR offers her angelic vocals to the song is a privilege.

I’ve already begun to tweet snippets of their lyrics, and I’m sure you will follow suit soon. Stream the romantically drab tune and comment.

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1. Original post: MS MR – Bones

2. Posted in: female vocalist, ambient, minimal electronica, rnb, florence + the machine

3. Find more music on Indie Shuffle's Indie Music Blog.

Nils Frahm – Song For 9 Fingers

David Peter Simon — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 15:03:49 +0000

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Sounds like: Olafur Arnalds, Hauschka, Peter Broderick

Song: Nils Frahm - Song For 9 Fingers [download here]

What's so good?

I recently read about the concept of “quality without a name” – a feeling so good you can’t describe it with words. It’s that intangible “something” that makes you feel alive. Nils Frahm does just that with his music. In fact, he can do it with 9 fingers. Yes, Nils has a song he’s created even in light of the fact that he broke his thumb.The aptly titled “Song For 9 Fingers” is a track he just put out, and, as the title says, it’s made with only 9 fingers. He explains:

“Honestly, I was rather bummed about my destiny the last couple days and didnt think of touching any instrument. But then the sun came out and I had a walk in the park with a good friend. We were petting some wild pigs and deers (no kidding). Some confidence arrived and I felt that all is good.”

The track is incredibly mellow, eliciting that sort of warm, relaxed “quality without a name” you get after things you thought were bad actually turned out alright. I’m not sure about this whole petting pigs and deers business (that must just be some European thing) – but the track does indeed conjure images of walking with a friend in the park.

Nils will be going on tour soon, and, as we noted last year, we recommend you go see him live. Immerse yourself in another world, find Nils in a city near you:

09/16 : West Park Church – New York
09/21 : Cherryvale Studio – Boulder (US)
09/22 : The Mesa – Colorado Springs (US)
09/23 : O’Shaughnessy Performance Space @ Santa Fe University of Art and Design – Santa Fe (US)
09/24 : Private Show – San Fransisco (US)
09/29 : Decibel Festival @ Broadway Performance Hall – Seattle (US)
09/30 : Classic Pianos – Portland (US)
03/10: Mutek – Mexico City (MX)

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1. Original post: Nils Frahm – Song For 9 Fingers

2. Posted in: ambient, orchestral, piano, mellow, classical

3. Find more music on Indie Shuffle's Indie Music Blog.

Wildlife Control – Darkness

Rachel Skotarczyk — Thu, 05 Jul 2012 22:49:19 +0000

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Sounds like: Phoenix, The Ramones, Ohbijou, Weird Dreams

Song: Wildlife Control - Darkness [download here]

What's so good?

It’s an exciting year for Wildlife Control. They’ve risen so far and so fast that they have industry heads suffering from whip-lash. So effective and clever has their marketing been that the industry is taking tips from them. I wouldn’t be surprised if one topic at next year’s SXSW panel discussion was “Wildlife Control discusses Wildlife Control: How to effectively master the new industry model.” Ok, maybe I need to work on that title, but you get the idea. Bottom line? If you’d like to know how to get a job done right, just tune into Wildlife Control and watch them work. It’s amazing.

Recalling my first review of “Analog Digital“, it may have seemed a tad extravagant of me to be grouping them among classics after only hearing one track. That, and them being such a new band, I ran the risk of foot-in-mouth syndrome, but then came the Spin EP and it was obvious: Neil and Sumul were the real deal.

When a band like this pops up, and a track like “Analog or Digital” is their introduction to the world, there’s a feeling that whatever creative space they incubate must be a magical one. Their quality, their craft, and the way they aren’t afraid to dig deep or diversify is one thing — but when you pair that with how genuine they are as people, one can’t help but do back flips for them.

Thus, I present a sneak peak of their debut LP, Wildlife Control, out on July 31. This track, “Darkness,” is a neo-classical shard to the heart. It begins like an indie pop anthem, morphs into a ghostly ballad, and fades into a tender piano solo; emotive enough to give you goosebumps, even on a hot day. If this intrigues you, the other tracks will leave you deeply satisfied.

For the full release, direct you attention here.

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1. Original post: Wildlife Control – Darkness

2. Posted in: indie pop, indie, phoenix, piano, neo-classical

3. Find more music on Indie Shuffle's Indie Music Blog.

Jukebox The Ghost – Somebody

Vanessa Torres — Mon, 02 Jul 2012 15:09:44 +0000

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Sounds like: Ben Folds 5, fun., Death Cab for Cutie

Song: Jukebox The Ghost - Somebody [download here]

What's so good?

Brooklyn-based artists Jukebox the Ghost have just released their third album titled Safe Travels! The piano pop trio creates an infectious sound that is catchy as hell. Pianist Ben Thornewill, guitarist Tommy Seigel, and drummer Jesse Kristin met in college and have been playing for almost a decade; they have been on tour with the likes of Ben Folds and Jack’s Mannequin, and have gained quiet a momentum as of late.

The first single off their album, “Somebody,” is a pop ballad that is light and peppy. With clever hooks and a bouncy piano, the song gives a feel-good vibe that grabs your attention. The lyrics reflect the opposite though, as it centers around a man who doesn’t trust love anymore because it is too painful. Thornewill sings, “I don’t want anymore heartbreak / I’m tired of the sound it makes / Like trying to shut out the dark at night / you close your eyes but it won’t erase.” But other than the lyrics, the piano, falsetto chorus and a jamming guitar make the song perfect for (happier) summer days.

As a whole, the album is good, but I don’t want to say great. They get pretty close, but there seems to be a little something in each song that either needs to be added or be taken away. While I do believe they have the potential and talent to become mainstream (just listen to the other two albums), they have taken a strong step in the right direction, but still have some room to grow.

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1. Original post: Jukebox The Ghost – Somebody

2. Posted in: indie pop, piano, death cab for cutie, fun, ben folds

3. Find more music on Indie Shuffle's Indie Music Blog.

Laura Welsh – Call To Arms

Rachel Skotarczyk — Wed, 23 May 2012 14:26:58 +0000

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Sounds like: Adele, Lana Del Rey, Ellie Goulding

Song: Laura Welsh - Call To Arms [download here]

What's so good?

If you bypassed the Adele train like me, maybe you’d like to jump on one that’s way less crowded.

Laura Welsh is another young, rising talent with a whole lot of promise. She doesn’t offer a whole lot of info about herself, but the few tracks she has circulating do enough talking. Grab a seat and let the music take you on one of those journeys of self-discovery.

Breathtaking vocals and a heart-wrenching melody are all but undeniable on her track “Call To Arms.” It will get you feeling something, that’s a fact.

Be sure to also check out her video (edited from the short film “The Ghosts”).

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1. Original post: Laura Welsh – Call To Arms

2. Posted in: female vocalist, soul, pop, ellie goulding, lana del rey

3. Find more music on Indie Shuffle's Indie Music Blog.

Norah Jones – Little Broken Hearts

Vanessa Torres — Tue, 08 May 2012 14:33:10 +0000

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Sounds like: Danger Mouse, Adele, Broken Bells, Rachael Yamagata

Song: Norah Jones - Happy Pills [download here]

What's so good?

“Good morning, my thoughts on leaving are back on the table, I thought you should know,” are the first lyrics you hear of Norah Jones’s latest and fifth album, Little Broken Hearts. That first track, “Good Morning,” sets a dark tone for the entire album that shadows a failed relationship and how she dealt with the pain, grief, and eventually the acceptance of its demise.

The album was produced by Brian “Danger Mouse” Burton who is known more for his moody and eerie musical taste than Norah’s signature jazzy piano-esque songs. In this collaboration, he created a unique sound layered with fuzzed tone guitars and thumbing drums. While her voice is still soft and rounded throughout the album, it is a great departure from her earlier sounds and may alienate her fans.

Gone is the “girl next door” image, and in its place is the alluring and sinister alter-ego who is wrestling with her mixed emotions about a breakup. In “Miriam,” for example, she threatens the life of the girl who stole her boyfriend, whispering, “Having fun in my big pretty house … Was it a game to you?” Later she adds, “You know you done me wrong, I’m gonna smile when I take your life.”

Not all the songs are about revenge; the sedating “Travelin’ On” focuses on her moving on in life without him. Mixed with tender cellos and cooing guitar strums, it’s almost a beautiful lullaby that will put you to sleep. It is easily my favorite song on the album, especially with her raw and relatable words, “Call me when you get where you’re going, I’ll keep traveling on… Don’t be too hard on yourself… We won’t leave this place any worse than when we came.” With those lyrics, she speaks volumes of forgiveness.

Only the album’s lead single, “Happy Pills,” takes on a brighter note — but don’t fooled by the uplifting beat. The song is clearly about leaving her ex. She sings breezily, ”Trying to pick up the pace, trying to make it so I never see your face again, time to throw this away, wanna make sure that you never waste my time again.” She is ready to walk away without looking back.

In the end, Norah’s intoxicating voice isn’t entirely lost behind the production, and despite the album having a somber and menacing tone, it leaves you feeling comfortably at ease.

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1. Original post: Norah Jones – Little Broken Hearts

2. Posted in: female vocalist, jazz, singer-songwriter, blues, Adele

3. Find more music on Indie Shuffle's Indie Music Blog.