I feel ya Chicago. Being born and raised in Chi-town and enduring the brutality of those snowstorms, sub-zero tempuratures and winds truly does suck at times. But cheer up to this new track from one of your own. Chicago’s Gilligan Moss creates a happy landscape full of life and warmth. Considering that this is the second single from the artist, of relatively unknown status, I will be anxiously waiting the next one. Reviewed By Brian Litwin
Gilligan Moss 
(Soundcloud)
Rating 8.1
What we like most about “Last Century Man”, a new track from London-based Solomon Grey that will be featured on an upcoming Kitsune compilation, is that it’s different. There’s no trap beats, or “weird found sounds” or robitussin sippin’ R&B samples; “Last Century Man” is built on great melody, a compelling thematic quality and a very strong arrangement (cinematic builds, dynamic vocal looping, interesting voicings in some of the chords/arpeggiations). The aforementioned new Kitsune compilation that “Last Century Man” can be found is out Feb. 24.
Solomon Grey 
(Facebook)
Rating 8.4
Today Joel Little (Lorde) collaborators BROODS released their debut EP to their Soundcloud. (You can hear the EP in its entirety here). The hook-heavy minor-keyed pop of “Coattails” is our pick from the set. The NZ brother/sister duo will get a physical release for their self-titled EP through Polydor/Capitol on February 2nd.
BROODS 
(Facebook)
Rating 8.2
We loved UK indie artist Khushi’s infectious debut single from the fall “Magpie”. “Phantoms”, the lead track from Khushi’s upcoming first EP of the same name, has more of the thoughtful lyricism, romantic/engaging melodies and breakout quality that made “Magpie” so great. The “Phantoms” EP is out March 4th on Laissez Faire Club Records.
KHUSHI (Facebook)
Rating 8.3
Remix rainmakers The Chainsmokers are taking the plunge into the arena of original tracks with a slapping new jam called “#SELFIE”. A ‘#selfie’ raging valley girl curates the track throughout to it’s resonating drops. We can’t get enough. Grab the new single soon via Dim Mak.
The Chainsmokers 
(Soundcloud)
Rating 8.1
“Letters” is new from soulful indie outfit Wake Owl. Taken from the Vancouver band’s Richard Swift-produced debut The Private World of Paradise LP, single “Letters” does well to focus Wake Owl’s compact, hook-driven, emotive through the sound lens of Swift’s band The Shins (in that the production pulls from a similar palette of wistful tones and lo-fi atmospheres). The Private World of Paradise is out March 4th on Vagrant.
Wake Owl
: (Facebook)
Rating: 8.7
NYC’s highest FlyLo stan (guessing) Smoke DZA takes to Until the Quiet Comes instrumental “Getting There” and clocks through a solid run of bars doing well to smoothly navigate the tricky beat. “Just My Thoughts” is taken from Steve-O’s “We Are Alive #7” podcast coming out next week.
Smoke DZA : (Facebook)
Rating 8.0
The ineffable SAINT PEPSI, who tore up the indiesphere earlier this month with “Mr. Wonderful”, debuts a sunny disco-leaning mix for our very own B3SCI Records single “Drifter”. In exchanging the Psychic Twin-featuring “Drifter”‘s choppy drum stabs and vocal slices PEPSI a/k/a Boston College student Ryan DeRobertis selects for a “he just turned this thing around 360 degrees” melange of smooth, buttery, yacht-day grooves. Turnt it up.
Saint Pepsi (Soundscloud)
Beat Culture 
(Soundcloud) (Purchase 7-inch)
Rating 8.4
Låpsley, fresh from her breakthrough single “Station” from a couple weeks ago, links up with Belgian producer BABEL for a soothing bit of heavy on mood/atmosphere deep house. That we all love, BUT THEN, there’s this sax-driven break that crashes into the track at around 2:20 and pushes “Life Of Eve” into a fifth or sixth gear of sorts that is just simply euphoric. “Life Of Eve” is excerpted from BABEL’s “Matthew I” EP. (HD)
BABEL 
(Soundcloud)
Rating 8.0
“Distance” is new from veteran New York soulstress Emily King. On the track, the piano-driven easy sounds of “Distance”‘s slow dance-ready instrumental well complement Ms. King’s sweet, playful, thematically perfect vocal. We like it a lot.
Emily King (Official)
Rating 8.2
L.A.-based low-tempo producer Shlohmo is the latest A-list collaborator (TEED, SOHN) for current top of the indie heap songstress BANKS. Shlohmo’s soft-touch, languid, churning palette is a nice match here on “Brain” for BANKS’ hazy pop-cognizant alto.
Banks 
(Facebook)
Rating 8.6
The eminent and distinguished Washed Out spins a stunning world-beating rework of Moby & Damien Jurado’s “Almost Home” single. Mr. Greene’s mix captures a sound that (at least in my mind) would soundtrack some sort of super well-shot of great importance travelogue on the BBC, probably narrated by David Attenborough or Michael Palin or someone of equal worldly stature and status. The shimmering temples of Bagan, the Villa of Diocletian in Croatia, the stone churches of Lalibela, all flying by in 10000p definition to the magisterial tones of Washed Out’s mix. Moby’s Little Idiot label will be putting out the “Almost Home” single on 02/24.
Washed Out 
: (Facebook)
Rating: 8.0
