Indie Shuffle » witch house

Sunday Night Chill: Howlings, Sun Glitters + More

Dwayne — Sun, 12 May 2013 22:00:09 +0000

This week’s Sunday Night Chill addresses music from across the spectrum, variously touching upon witch house, ambient, UK garage and beats. This is the next generation of producers, inspired by the likes of Clams Casino and Shlohmo.

Music comes courtesy of Lunchbox, Audio Dope, CΛNS, Mustapha Mond & Howlings, and (Dose).

Image credit: iskws

1. Original post: Sunday Night Chill: Howlings, Sun Glitters + More

2. Posted in: Electronic, ambient, chillout, minimal electronica, chill

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

Song: (Dose) - Stay [Downloa d]

Song: Mustapha Mond & Howlings - Stay Awake [Downloa d]

Song: Audio Dope - Cream [Downloa d]

Song: Sun Glitters - Too Much to Lose (CΛNS Remix) [Downloa d]

Song: Lunchbox - Take Me [Downloa d]

Crystal Castles – Sad Eyes (Invisbles Remix)

Aaron Blum — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 09:56:51 +0000

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Sounds like: HEALTH, Trust, The Knife, Fever Ray

Song: Crystal Castles - Sad Eyes (Invisibles Remix) [download here]

What's so good?

Alex Zelenka is a Chicago-based producer who is mostly known for his production work with Crystal Castles. In that vein, he recently reworked Crystal Castles’ “Sad Eyes” — giving it an ever-so-slight new taste.

Considering his relationship and previous work with Crystal Castles, it doesn’t surprise me that the remix stays relatively true to the original. If you ask me, that’s not necessarily a bad thing.

The remix is available for free download over on his Invisbles label Soundcloud page.

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1. Original post: Crystal Castles – Sad Eyes (Invisbles Remix)

2. Posted in: Electronic, remixes, synth-pop, electronic remixes, indietronica

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

oOoOO – Stay Here (Ft. M.L.)

Louisa Ferguson — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 13:36:35 +0000

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Sounds like: White Ring, Balam Acab, Holy Other

Song: oOoOO - Stay Here (Ft. M.L.) [download here]

What's so good?

I will admit, I had kind of written off witch-house pioneer oOoOO (a very much alive producer named Chris Dexter) after his sophomore EP, Our Love Is Hurting Us, fell short of developing the drag sound offered up by his first album (oOoOO).

But now he’s back for more, this time on his own label, Nihjgt Feelings, instead of Tri Angle (which houses the rest of his like-sounding crew). I’m certainly perking up after hearing the ominous pacing and notably less affected style on “Stay Here” – nothing like a collaboration to revive an artist after some lukewarm reviews, am I right?!

The addition of M.L.’s vocals over the track’s churning, hypnotic melody really grounds the song in a place that feels both relatable and compelling. Is this a love song? If it is, there are three voices at play, and I have a hunch the story doesn’t end well.

Listen to it all the way through — the last few moments propel the song to a new place, and I’m still trying to figure out if I’m pro or con the switch-up. The new LP, Without Your Love, is slated to surface June 24, 2013. After listening to this track, I’m not going anywhere.

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1. Original post: oOoOO – Stay Here (Ft. M.L.)

2. Posted in: Electronic, chillwave, trap, witch house, holy other

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

The Knife – A Tooth For An Eye

Jason Grishkoff — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 20:18:38 +0000

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Sounds like: Grimes, Crystal Castles

Song: The Knife - A Tooth For An Eye [download here]

What's so good?

Okay, I’m officially excited about The Knife’s upcoming album Shaking The Habitual. I think the video (embedded below) was a primary factor in setting up that excitement, but there are at least two other awesome things about this song…

1) The instrumentation. It’s incredibly original, somewhat tropical, and yet still down and dark.

2) Fever Ray’s voice.

Can’t wait!

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1. Original post: The Knife – A Tooth For An Eye

2. Posted in: Electronic, female vocalist, experimental, synth-pop, crystal castles

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

VIADUCTS – Cold Nights (Plaitum Remix)

aniballuque — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 14:36:40 +0000

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Sounds like: The xx, Nicolas Jaar, Shlohmo

Song: VIADUCTS - Cold Nights (Plaitum Remix) [download here]

What's so good?

At first listen, you might think this is another side project from Jamie xx. While they both hail from the UK, the duo responsible for this instrumental odyssey is made up of two teens: Abi Dersiley and Matt Canhham. The young production team have yet to release their highly anticipated debut album, but sources have confided in me that this electronic band is the future of music. They both share producing duties, but other tracks also showcase Abi’s wonderfully soulful vocals as well.

A subtle conga beat resonates throughout this minimalist track as some distorted bass echoes in and out. The light jangling of guitar riffs also add a dose of flavor to this simple yet complex work of art. Stay tuned, as this is definitely the first of many hits for this young new band.

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1. Original post: VIADUCTS – Cold Nights (Plaitum Remix)

2. Posted in: Electronic, ambient, chillwave, downtempo, chillout

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

Sleep Over – I Want To Be Alone

Kavit Sumud — Wed, 30 Jan 2013 14:29:32 +0000

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Sounds like: Cat Power, Feist, Wye Oak

Song: Sleep ∞ Over - I Want To Be Alone [download here]

What's so good?

I swirl the wine in my glass like a nerve tonic, bathwater rippling as the candles light my stoic face. The only sounds that pierce my silence are the howling of snow hitting the window and the sound of this track to punctuate the night.

Afterwards, I crawl to my pitch-black room and lay prostate on my bed, thanking the gods no one is sleeping over, save this Sleep ∞ Over track. Sound depressing? To an introvert, that’s the most romantic night possible. After a day of extroverts exhausting me, sometimes “I don’t know why it feels like I have to sometimes get away; but [don't worry world] you know, I love you.” I “just need to walk endlessly hand in hand with myself, somewhere on my own.”

This cover of 1970s-era hippy-folk singer Vashti Bunyan is the best self-love song I’ve ever seen. It’s like Jon Brion soundtracked a David Lynch movie. Romantic strings swell and, for once, they aren’t about anyone else but yourself. Disappear at will, fellow introverts! I know you’ll be back to this site to gush your love once you’ve recharged.

Give the insanely talented Sleep ∞ Over some love on their SoundCloud and buy their Rooftop 7″, out on Hippos in Tanks. Also, if you don’t read Gorilla vs. Bear, you should, as they one of my favorite blogs (other than IS, of course) that turned me onto this wonderful track.

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1. Original post: Sleep Over – I Want To Be Alone

2. Posted in: female vocalist, folk-rock, dream pop, lo-fi, feist

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

The Knife – Full of Fire

Kavit Sumud — Mon, 28 Jan 2013 14:50:58 +0000

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Sounds like: Jamie xx, Grimes, Crystal Castles

Song: The Knife - Full of Fire [download here]

What's so good?

Oh, glory days: The Knife have returned. For those who have been waiting impatiently through the flurry of 64kbs webrips and teasers that would make any fan rip their hair out in nervous frustration, you’ll be excited to hear that “Full of Fire” has finally seen the light of day.

“Full of Fire” roars with intensity and takes its EDM origins to an ominous place. It’s a bit like if Jamie xx became possessed by the spirit of a witch house produce, and then started recording while getting high in the middle of a Crystal Castles concert. It’s chaotic, but it never manages to lose the listener through its daunting 9 minute run time. That said, the first time you listen to the song, it is a bit overwhelming, but the second time, it’s fucking genius how intricate this track is. I can’t believe how much I’ve missed The Knife’s insane level of talent.

Some bands shortcut the path to resolution of a track’s turmoil, but you never have to worry about that with The Knife. In the first minute, Karen Dreijer Andersson warns the listener “that sometimes I get problems that are hard to solve… questions and answers can take very long,” and then proceeds to gleefully take us along every dark and twisty avenue in her mind towards an open-ended finish. The production and arrangement are sprawling and amorphous enough to capture the unwinding trauma in one’s brain. Once you get that exploratory aspect of the song, their vision becomes clear.

Shaking the Habitual, the first album from the band in 7 years, sounds like it’s going to live up to its concept in all of the grandest ways. Check out the short film associated with the video here, and find the official release of the song on Rabid Records’ SoundCloud.

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1. Original post: The Knife – Full of Fire

2. Posted in: dubstep, crystal castles, grimes, the knife, witch house

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

Crystal Castles – BAPTISM (Sound Remedy Remix)

Devin Duckworth — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 14:30:24 +0000

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Sounds like: Baauer, White Ring, Trust

Song: Crystal Castles - BAPTISM (Sound Remedy Remix) [download here]

What's so good?

I’m actually pretty surprised that this song hasn’t already been featured on the site, but here ya go!

This remix of Crystal Castle’s “Baptism” is hands-down one of the better ones I have come across to date. Right from the jump, you get a plethora of trap beats, heavy bass, scattered electronics and that Crystal Castles dance angst that fires you up almost automatically.

Released back in September, Sound Remedy isn’t one to shy away from making killer mixes in the midst of his predecessors. This DJ’s impressive take on dubstep combined with trap is overall very satisfying to the ears and it’s available for a free download! That said, turn up the volume and enjoy!

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1. Original post: Crystal Castles – BAPTISM (Sound Remedy Remix)

2. Posted in: electronic remixes, dubstep, trap, crystal castles, sound remedy

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

Former Ghosts – Chin Up (FRIENDZONE REMIX)

David Peter Simon — Tue, 25 Dec 2012 13:26:49 +0000

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Sounds like: Xiu Xiu, Zola Jesus, Ryan Hemsworth, Jason Burns

Song: Former Ghosts - Chin Up (FRIENDZONE REMIX) [download here]

What's so good?

This is a rediscovered favorite from two fantastic Bay Area artists. I’ve been listening to this song almost once a week without failure since it came out a year or so ago — it’s that good.

This is what I consider somber music to dance to. Picture a beautiful couple dressed up in something like The Kooples, lazily strolling across The Bay Bridge on their way to Oakland after a long, sort of depressing night out. The nagging repetition of “this will bury me” will remind you of something personal and hazy, the constant kicks an unforgettable reminder of transgressions past. Lovely.

FRIENDZONE is Dylan Reznick and James Laurence. I stupidly hadn’t been following them since their release of an awesome set ALL/J.D., but since then they’ve been producing loads of music. Some of the less witch house variety, more of the upbeat instrumental hip-hop styling. You can find some of those tracks on SoundCloud and they put mixes on Tumblr. They list A$AP Rocky & Chippy Nonstop as artists they like. I approve. You should “like” them on Facebook. They’re definitely a pair to watch.

Former Ghosts is a project by Freddy Ruppert with loose collaborations from artists, including Xiu Xiu frontman Jamie Stewart, Zola Jesus’ Nika Roza, and others. He’s currently making music under his own name and putting out tracks on SoundCloud. I highly recommend all his music; I think his emotional honesty has been unparalleled in the independent scene for some time. You can find some of his selected works on his website.

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1. Original post: Former Ghosts – Chin Up (FRIENDZONE REMIX)

2. Posted in: Electronic, experimental, ambient, lo-fi, Instrumental Hip Hop

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

Crystal Castles – Pale Flesh (Hugsnotdrugs Remix)

Devin Duckworth — Thu, 13 Dec 2012 15:09:35 +0000

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Sounds like: White Ring, Trust, Sleigh Bells

Song: Crystal Castles - Pale Flesh (Hugsnotdrugs Remix) [download here]

What's so good?

Sweet baby Jesus! Crystal Castles have just unveiled their first official remix from their recently released album (III)!

Brought to us by Canadian DJ duo Hugsnotdrugs, this version of “Pale Flesh” widens Crystal Castles musical horizons to something more airy and trapped-out. Alice Glass’ ghostly vocals are not compromised but reverberated through gaps of heavy bass with expansive soundscapes that only add to their natural scary movie aesthetic.

This house edit is surely one that goes down as one of my favorite CC remixes to date, but if you’re wanting more you should check out their grimier ghetto bass mix of “Courtship Dating” from their debut LP.

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1. Original post: Crystal Castles – Pale Flesh (Hugsnotdrugs Remix)

2. Posted in: Electronic, deep house, female vocalist remixes, crystal castles, witch house

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

Laurel Halo – Sunlight on the Faded

Kavit Sumud — Tue, 11 Dec 2012 14:53:44 +0000

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Sounds like: Grimes, Inga Copeland, Julia Holter

Song: Laurel Halo - Sunlight on the Faded [download here]

What's so good?

Laurel Halo’s LP, Quarantine, is in my top five albums of the year; it’s also easily one of the best I’ve heard in the last five years, if only for its brave undertaking of letting “machines” express emotion in novel ways. On her LP, the machines do more than transmit a semblance of emotion — the artificial intelligence emotes in a world where Halo has literally quarantined herself her surroundings, where “rules stagnate” and “words are just words/that you soon forget.”

In Quarantine, she advocates to not get “addicted to anything, forward motion is the only answer,” but the tone of the music and the lyrics paradoxically found her in a constant loop — as Fiona Apple would put it, lost in “the waves of the blue of [her] oblivion.” Quickly you learn that the machines are her emotions by proxy, and once you do, it’s both an exhilarating and frightening album that captures that moment of unbearable drudgery before rebirth.

But in “Sunlight on the Faded,” her first single since Quarantine, the sonic loops find Halo escaping oblivion where “only the best memories stay, I just want those on loop forever.” The instrumentation cracks open her claustrophobic emotional space for light on a faded mind — and whereas the machines in Quarantinewere a tool for a silhouette of a person to feel again, in “Sunlight on the Faded” they evoke rays of warm light on a sea of sunflowers overgrowing in a city wracked by nuclear holocaust. In the single, she debates herself, saying, “Do you really think that you matter? I see an unknown,” and eventually, after much handwringing, the music fades out for a moment and she decides that she does. It’s a glorious moment.

“Sunlight on the Faded” is a beautiful transition into her new work, recognizing both the achievement of Quarantine and growing her fan base on her very personal journey (and certainly one that many of her listeners can continue to deeply identify with as well). Check out more at her SoundCloud.

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1. Original post: Laurel Halo – Sunlight on the Faded

2. Posted in: Electronic, female vocalist, experimental, dream pop, Experimental electronic

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

Blackbird Blackbird – Keep It Up (Sun Glitters Remix)

David Peter Simon — Sun, 18 Nov 2012 17:46:04 +0000

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Sounds like: Koreless, Balam Acab, Holy Other, How To Dress Well, Blackbird Blackbird

Song: Blackbird Blackbird - Keep It Up (Sun Glitters Remix) [download here]

What's so good?

We’ve covered a few Sun Glitters tracks before, so I’m surprised this Blackbird Blackbird remix he just released hasn’t been immediately snapped up. It’s electronic pop with glitch thrown in.

Sun Glitters falls under the new niche of experimental electronic – chopped up beatwork that sounds kinda like shoegaze, but more noisy. Noise-gaze. It’s the new moniker of Viktor Ferreira, formerly known as Sug(r)cane. Viktor used to make lots of different genres of music under that name, but now he specializes in the dark, dream pop the blogosphere likes to call chillwave.

As Paul Lester at The Guardian put it, Viktor has this ability to make you feel “a distractingly earthy, human intrusion in an otherwise immaculately ethereal set.” It’s like he dips spooky, cut vocal samples into a soup of downtempo. Soundclouders like to use the words atmospheric, blissful. By his own description:

“Sun Glitters sound is an ocean of lush melodies, pitch-shifted vocal samples, ghostly digi-diva choirs, warm bass melodies driven by alternately dense and relaxing beatwork combinations between downtempo and wonky beats.”

Let’s keep it simple – it’s gorgeous noise.

You can find Viktor on Twitter and Tumblr.

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1. Original post: Blackbird Blackbird – Keep It Up (Sun Glitters Remix)

2. Posted in: Electronic, experimental, ambient, chillwave, R&B

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

Memory Tapes – Neighborhood Watch

Jason Grishkoff — Thu, 15 Nov 2012 14:28:15 +0000

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Sounds like: Toro Y Moi, Wild Nothing

Song: Memory Tapes - Neighborhood Watch [download here]

What's so good?

Back in 2009, Memory Tapes was easily one of my most-listened to artists. I had his album Seek Magic on repeat while I read the somewhat-dark novel 100 Years of Solitude. So, there’s clearly some type of emotional association here.

His subsequent releases have gotten a bit more experimental, pushing the boundaries of a unique sound he had forged all his own. Trying to pinpoint or described exactly where he has landed is difficult, save to say that this new song “Neighborhood Watch,” the second off his upcoming album Grace/Confusion, is thoroughly dreamy (and growing on me quite quickly).

Dayve Hawk will be releasing the full album on December 4th.

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1. Original post: Memory Tapes – Neighborhood Watch

2. Posted in: Electronic, chillwave, dream pop, dreamwave, washed out

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

White Ring – Roses

Devin Duckworth — Sun, 11 Nov 2012 15:42:32 +0000

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Sounds like: Crystal Castles, Salem, oOoOO

Song: White Ring - Roses [download here]

What's so good?

Hailing from the dark corners of New York, this duo classifies themselves as makers of music under the “witch house” sub-genre.

Although I couldn’t gather much in terms of this band’s bio, I would have to say that it wouldn’t surprise me if this group makes music drunk off virginal blood while simultaneously worshiping some sort of dark lord. But I digress.

The track I give you today is titled “Roses”; a haunting gem that recalls a Crystal Castles vibe with lady screams and spookified tranced-out house rhythms. From the first listen, it’s understood that they aren’t afraid to rattle our eardrums with suffocating blown-out bass, scary sound effects and high-pitched chanting.

Not only will you feel uncomfortable and spooked while listening, you will feel almost compelled to dance by some higher spirit.

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1. Original post: White Ring – Roses

2. Posted in: electro dance, crystal castles, witch house, dark house

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

JMSN x KASTLE – Alone

David Peter Simon — Sat, 30 Jun 2012 18:42:02 +0000

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Sounds like: The Weeknd, JMSN, Kastle, Active Child

Song: JMSN x KASTLE - Alone [download here]

What's so good?

Hot off Soundcloud is a lush new JMSN remix by dub artist KASTLE. It’s a sexy electronic version of “Alone” that features layered falsetto vocals with some dub-style glitch. Kastle, aka Barrett Richards, is known for delivering his own style of bass-heavy beats – with a soulful twist. The artist’s alias implies what he refers to as “a fortress, a personal space that is used to cultivate [his] long-time love of hip-hop and fuse it with the magnetizing effect of dubstep.” This track is the perfect demonstration of how Kastle can blend garage with R&B to give music that extra bit of vivacity – what some are calling “pop soul.”

JMSN, described as “soft R&B witch-house,” is a Los Angeles-based singer-songwriter who delivers alternative R&B that sounds a lot like The Weeknd. While comparisons are abound, JMSN is more about the romantic sort of love, not just sex and drugs.

I liked an allusion to Goethe better, as someone on last.fm put it: “This sounds like The Sorrows of Young Hipster.” Beats and pulsing rhythms reflecting strong changes of emotion and conveying difficult or depressing sentiments? I think it’s fair to say we’ve entered the 21st century version of “Sturm und Drang.” The lyrics to “Alone” are overflowing with longing and desire, punctuated by some eerie ghost-like drums and gloomy orchestral backing. Yep, this is Storm and Drive music.

In case you didn’t check out Christiana’s awesome write-up of JMSN back in March, I’d suggest you do it after you finish listening to this track. Of course, like any good rising R&B star, JMSN’s also got an array of music videos. As a multi-instrumentalist, producer, engineer, mixer, videographer and designer, you can be sure that they’re well-produced and incredibly sexy. Be sure to check them out on his Tumblr.

Discover more of JMSN and KASTLE via their respective websites, iamjmsn.com and kastledub.com.

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1. Original post: JMSN x KASTLE – Alone

2. Posted in: Electronic, remixes, R&B, the weeknd, orchestral

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

Trust – Bulbform

Elizabeth Walker — Mon, 14 May 2012 14:24:17 +0000

Visit Indie Shuffle to download.

Sounds like: Crystal Castles, Pictureplane

Song: Trust - Bulbform [download here]

What's so good?

Crystal Castels fans, prepare your earphones. Trust, a goth/witch/house/electronica Toronto duo made up of Robert Alfons and Maya Postepski, have recently released their first full-length album TRST on Arts & Crafts.

There is not a dull moment within the four plus minutes that make up “Bulbform.” Alfons’ voice is removed and ethereal, a perfect compliment to the intensely charged synths and deep bassline built like slowly rolling hills. A clear parallel can be drawn quickly to Crystal Castles (“Untrust Us,” anyone?), although Trust is clearly targeting a different audience with their slower BPM and diet rage. Best part of the track? It’s gotta be the ominously groaning chorus of men in the background.

For more Trust, check out their official site here, listen to their entire release on Arts & Crafts’ SoundCloud page, or tune into this conveniently pasted official “Bulbform” video below.

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1. Original post: Trust – Bulbform

2. Posted in: Electronic, synth, crystal castles, witch house, trust

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

NIIA – BTSTU

Dwayne — Sat, 24 Mar 2012 16:08:59 +0000

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Sounds like: Jai Paul, Nina Sky, CREEP

Song: Jai Paul - BTSTU (NIIA Cover) [download here]

What's so good?

One of the most enigmatic musicians out there, Jai Paul, has now got a cover to add to the slew of remixes his only released track, “BTSTU,” has generated.

Wyclef associate NIIA is behind it, and she takes out the wonkier aspects of the song, instead placing a brooding bassline under a more subdued version of the original instrumental, something which probably suits her voice better.

You can grab your copy free over on her SoundCloud.

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1. Original post: NIIA – BTSTU

2. Posted in: Electronic, female vocalist, rnb, lykke li, witch house

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

JMSN – Something Video

Christiana Bartolini — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 20:34:23 +0000

Visit Indie Shuffle to download.

Sounds like: Active Child, The Weeknd

Song: JMSN - Something [download here]

What's so good?

Get ready, I’m about to pop JMSN’s Indie Shuffle cherry. This self-produced one-man band was recently brought to my attention, and I’m convinced that if he’s not already the next big thing, he probably will be soon.

I will preface this video review with this: if you are squeamish towards blood (oozing from mouths) and/or live, slimy octopi squirming along someone’s body, even inside their mouth, maybe you should skip out on this one… but I highly suggest you toughen up, because this video and song is probably like nothing you’ve seen before.

You never really realize how truly gross an octopus is until it’s shot through an HD camera… or at least I didn’t. Furthermore, JMSN must really love octopi. You’ll see why in a minute.

In all seriousness, this six minute video weeps with despair, terror, insanity, and demonic dispositions in a simple yet very theatrically entertaining way. The kids don’t have irises, their mouths ooze blood when evil takes place, JMSN lets his octopus make sweet, sweet love to his upper torso and face and he tries to metaphorically cleanse a naked girl taking a bath.

All the while, his beautiful song, “Something,” complements the video and gives meaning to this twisted and bizarre eye fuck (such is life). I’d like to describe this style of music as “soft R&B witch-house.” If you carefully listen to the lyrics as you’re watching the video, you will hopefully understand how it all ties together. If you don’t, you can read JMSN’s exquisite explanation here. The underlying theme is a struggle we can all relate to, I think. I’ll leave it to your own interpretation though.

If you’re still intrigued (like I am) and wanting some more JMSN in your life, go ahead and pick up his album, †Priscilla†! Keep your eyes peeled for another JMSN review in the near future. In the meantime, I suggest you watch his other videos. His inquisitive ideas and thought processes are not something you encounter every day… or often at all.

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1. Original post: JMSN – Something Video

2. Posted in: Electronic, R&B, the weeknd, orchestral, active child

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

oOoOO – NoWayBack (Ft. Butterclock)

Jason Grishkoff — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 15:34:26 +0000

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Sounds like: Ritualz, White Ring

Song: oOoOO - NoWayBack (Ft. Butterclock) [download here]

What's so good?

oOoOO creates the type of music that I expect would make Pitchfork proud. Based out of San Francisco, his style can be classified as “witch house” or “dark house” — though when you bring in Butterclock’s dreamy vocals (similar to the underwater effects of Memoryhouse), the genres all begin to break down.

Fronted by Christopher Greenspan, oOoOO is slated to release an EP in April, featuring “NoWayBack” as one of the songs. We’ll keep you posted on what’s next! In the meanwhile, you can find more tunes over on his Soundcloud.

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1. Original post: oOoOO – NoWayBack (Ft. Butterclock)

2. Posted in: Electronic, chillwave, memoryhouse, witch house, dark house

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

Anomie Belle – The Crush

Jessica Deeken — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 18:00:12 +0000

Visit Indie Shuffle to download.

Sounds like: Zola Jesus, St Vincent, Baxter, Joanna Newsom

Song: Anomie Belle - Machine [download here]

What's so good?

Anomie Belle is a rare breed of artist that cracks into my cynicism. As indie music becomes a fragmented jigsaw of hi-fi and lo-fi, remixes and mashups, she releases The Crush with a full spectrum of whimsical electronic effects, strings, and grainy allegorical vocals. Far from recycled pop hooks, her music is ominous and theatrical, composed layer by layer, somewhat like Zola Jesus.

The album opens on “Electric Lullaby,” loops of vocals, keys and drums ever so delicately mixed behind Belle’s raspy voice. The single “Machine” strikes with an enigmatic chorus: “I have done unconscionable things/ in pursuit of dreams fed to me on the screen.” She sings like she’s back from a long journey to a dark place, distrusting her own motivations. This one gets guest support with political hip-hop artist Mr Lif, another with Posies guitarist Jon Auer. With titles like “Inky Drips,” “Bodies Offering,” and “Lost Horizon,” it’s chills and shivers, start to finish.

After her self-released debut album Sleeping Patterns in 2008 had, ahem, moderate success including tours with Little Dragon and Tricky, she’s been writing film scores like Dark Material shown at the Seattle Int’l Film Festival, appeared on Xbox game Alan Wake soundtrack alongside David Bowie and Roy Orbison, and took home a couple appearances on Jersey Shore (no kidding), besides penning The Crush.

Soon she’ll be releasing Machine as an EP, so if you’re in Seattle, you can look for her at the Tractor Tavern December 14with an all new composition for a string quartet.

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1. Original post: Anomie Belle – The Crush

2. Posted in: Electronic, indie rock, female vocalist, experimental, st. vincent

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

CANT – Answer

Devin Duckworth — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 19:00:20 +0000

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Sounds like: Twin Shadow, Genesis

Song: CANT - Answer [download here]

What's so good?

Chris Taylor, aka producer, multi-instrumentalist and backing vocals for Brooklyn’s Grizzly Bear, has confidently tackled many new projects since the quartets 2009 release, Veckatimest. He started his own label called Terrible Records, produced records for Twin Shadow and Blood Orange, and has broken ground with his recorded and self-produced Dreams Come True, his first solo venture under the CANT moniker.

Entirely different than any previous GB track we’ve heard before, Taylor believes that this record reflects styles he personally enjoys and embraces varieties of music that wouldn’t normally suit the Grizzly Bear aesthetic. In an interview with Spinner, Taylor talks about the process and minor struggles he faced while creating the CANT sound.

“I just kind of did stuff that I liked, and it was unfamiliar territory sometimes. So I had to figure out how I interacted with that… You have to at be objective even though you are just totally subjective. It’s sort of weird, but it’s funny: it’s like you’re in some sort of play, but you are all the characters.”

“Answer” is the track that will probably gain the most exposure for its dark-yet-danceable beats and whispered lyrical eroticism, “all this time you know I needed you/I want you close, close to this.” Full of tender atmospheric beats and vibrant charm, “Answer” displays Taylor’s sultry, layered and almost reverberated vocals that recall a young Phil Collins in his Genesis era fitting perfectly with the 80s style synths and resolute seriousness projected throughout the album.

An electro-laden mixture of anxious beats, ethereal backgrounds and buoyant vocals, this album throws expected out the window and delivers something dynamic, audibly pleasing and greatly impressive.

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1. Original post: CANT – Answer

2. Posted in: experimental, twin shadow, witch house, CANT, gauntlet hair

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

Wise Blood – Loud Mouths

Elizabeth Walker — Sat, 29 Oct 2011 17:30:41 +0000

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Sounds like: Animal Collective, Queen

Song: Wise Blood - Loud Mouths [download here]

What's so good?

I’m very possibly coming late on the Wise Blood scene, but I’m content with being there at all. Following music so closely is exciting, but many times new artists sounds like shades of musician past, notes blurring together. Wise Blood is the most exciting kind of find, one that is not only indisputably talented but unique.

The Pittsburg-based band is composed of singer/songwriter Chris Laufman, originator of the group, plus two other members who kick it for live sets. With one EP out and about, Wise Blood is preparing to release an LP at the beginning of next year before SXSW.

Single “Loud Mouths” is more than just your average song. Ever so fiercely whispering, Laufman throws down frank and abrupt statements like “We can head to the show, come throw powder up your nose and when I make money I’ll buy you clothes.” The finished sound is bewitching and bold just as the lyrics are written. It’s almost as if Laufman is giving a musical bitch slap to negativity encountered in his life, dumping attitude over an aggressively omnipotent background of hums, screams, piano, and drums. Not gonna lie, the style is pretty badass.

Parallels to bands such as Animal Collective and Queen can be heard listening to individual facets but trying to categorize this band into one genre is a futile task. Elements of soul, electronic, R&B, gospel, blues, and jazz are all mangled together for a wonderfully unique and invigorating experience. Recession got you down? Just remember this tidbit of wisdom from Laufman: you’ve got these loud bitches, loud bitches, tellin you lies. Don’t listen to those girls, they’re just snakes in disguise.

For more Wise Blood and their amazing, unique musical perspective check out their bandcamp here.

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1. Original post: Wise Blood – Loud Mouths

2. Posted in: animal collective, witch house, noise, holy other, Birp!

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

Wise Blood – Nosferatu

Lauren Sloss — Sat, 20 Aug 2011 16:15:45 +0000

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Sounds like: Yellow Ostrich, We Are Trees

Song: Wise Blood - Nosferatu [download here]

What's so good?

“Nosferatu,” the first single off Wise Blood’s new EP These Wings, is a shimmery, smokey pop track whose complex layers speak volumes. A little bit of lo-fi and a little bit of electro pop, this track has spine in the form of a repeating guitar chord progression, binding the song’s other elements together and giving it direction.

This is a particular feat considering his sample-heavy approach to song creation; and it’s this cohesion that makes me excited to hear what else Pittsburgh-based Wise Blood has come up with on this new EP. It’s easy, from the sounds of much of the music out there, to delve into experimental production to such an extent that the graspable center of the song is lost. Not so with Wise Blood. His creative approach has a definite pop sensibility, giving his listeners something to hold on to.

You can download the track over on Pitchfork.

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1. Original post: Wise Blood – Nosferatu

2. Posted in: synth-pop, lo-fi, shoegaze, pop, witch house

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

Holy Other – With U EP

David Peter Simon — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 19:00:02 +0000

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Sounds like: How to Dress Well, Balam Acab, James Blake, Tearist

Song: Holy Other - YR LOVE [download here]

What's so good?

Someone once described Holy Other’s music as equivalent to staring into space. The reality is not too far off. This experimental ambient music out of the UK takes its own spin on the popular electronic music style, switching it up from whomp heavy beats and pop song samples of dubstep to dark vibrating synths that ooze out of your speakers and remind of you of the vastness of the great beyond. It’s also not a surprise that some have started to call this genre of music “witch house” as the songs, defined by their cut up beats and ghostly sounding vocals, lull you into a dreamlike soundscape and remind you of what it was like to be a scared 6-year-old on Halloween.

Holy Other is another one of those anonymous music acts a la WU LYF, as the artist has shied away from any sort of fact-based reality online. Ambiguity is definitely part of the musician’s appeal, with the actual home base of the musician still masked in mystery and the artist even going as far as covering up in a black veil for both live shows and press photos. For those of you that don’t know, the black veil is the symbol of the most complete renunciation of the world according to the Roman Catholics — so not only is the artist uniquely cryptic but he’s also damn clever.

With the release of the recent With U EP, dropped on NY’s Tri Angle Records, Holy Other continues the tradition of other emerging online-based artists like How to Dress Well and James Blake while playing into the same secretive hype of stars like The Weeknd.

Check out the SoundCloud for more creepily good music and follow the act on Twitter to watch the mystery unfold. Also, don’t forget to head over to the YouTube channel to enjoy the pairing of murky sounding music with weirdly-edited, religious imagery. Cheeky bastard.

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1. Original post: Holy Other – With U EP

2. Posted in: Electronic, experimental, synth-pop, ambient, James Blake

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

Purity Ring – Lofticries

Dwayne — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 14:01:29 +0000

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Sounds like: Salem, CREEP, Gobble Gobble, Glasser, Zola Jesus

Song: Purity Ring - Lofticries [download here]

What's so good?

So I checked by dashboard on SoundCloud today and found a new track freshly off the Purity Ring printing press. Needless to say, I was pretty excited, but I’m pleased to report that this new track from the Gobble Gobble member Corin Roddick not only exceeds my high expectations, but exceeds the limits set by last month’s “Ungirthed.”

This one is daring. It’s synths arch all over the place, and it feels like it’s constantly moving toward a crescendo. Mix that in with Megan’s ethereal, ghostly vocals, and you’ve got something rather special on your hands indeed. Not just your average witch house (is there average witch house!?), this sets the bar high for all of Purity Ring’s rivals, and leaves fans in eager anticipation of a debut album.

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1. Original post: Purity Ring – Lofticries

2. Posted in: experimental, electro pop, synth-pop, dreamwave, Purity Ring

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