The very consistent Communion Records latest release is “Floating Arks”, new from Kent UK band STORY BOOKS. Previewed from the band’s forthcoming sophomore EP “From Post to Post”, “Floating Arks” is made up of all the component parts of a track that can flat out level Radio 1; including: a great melodic tune, just the right dashes of hope and melancholy, and a pitch perfect piano-tinged instrumental. “From Post to Post” gets a March 17th release on Communion.
Story Books 
(Facebook)
Rating 8.4
L.A.-based trio and B3SCI Presents alums Incan Abraham share single #1 from their debut Tolerance LP. “Concorde” navigates a neat balance between a very current indie sound (you may hear hints of bands like Grizzly Bear and PAPA) and a (in a good way) melodic accessibility that gives the track a quite powerful magnetism and charisma that helps to separate it from other bands/songs that just have the “very current indie sound” component of that equation. Tolerance is out April 8th on White Iris Records.
Incan Abraham 
(Info)
New from Ninja Tune is the indie 2014 quiet storm of UK artist Actress’ track for “Rap”. From Actress’ upcoming Ghettoville LP (the follow-up to the very long time ago 2008’s Hazyville), “Rap” while modern in its syrupy R&B references is special/worth your time because of Actress’ command of mood and pacing (and production) which are all truly standout (as is the track). Ghettoville sees a release on January 28th via Werkdiscs/Ninja Tune.
Actress (Ninja Tune)
Rating 8.4
Swiss artist Delakeyz blends deep house, jazz & a touch of more modern indie beats on “Snapositive”. As a full piece, “Snapositive” succeeds on its wholeness; each counterrhythm, every pulse of kick drum is perfectly timed and skillfully connected into the broader instrumental. “Snapositive” is included on Delakeyz’s new “Organic & Smooth” EP.
Delakeyz 
(Official)
Rating 8.3
Parisian crew ANTHEMS release “Up In Mine”, their debut track for the great French label 25 Years and Running. “Up In Mine”, which is produced by labelmates Champions League, features soothing Balearic influences and textures interweaved w/ a sparkling (& quite melodic) female vocal. Into it.
ANTHEMS 
(Facebook)
Rating 8.2
The ever consistent Knocks deliver a further solid outing w/ new track “Comfortable”. Featuring BK risers X Ambassadors, “Comfortable” strides an accessible line between 80’s pop hedonism and modern indie breaks (your weird creepy uncle that was big in 1985 and girls in Bushwick that weird dresses w/ bird patterns on them now share a new favorite song). The ineffable Neon Gold will be releasing a new Knocks EP on Feb. 18.
The Knocks 
(Facebook)
Rating 8.1
“Love Letters”, the title track to Metronomy’s upcoming follow-up to 2011’s The English Riviera, is the London-based band’s latest single. Today the band confirmed on Zane Lowe’s Radio 1 show that a video for the manic kinetic track will be directed by Michel Gondry. Love Letters is due March 10.
Metronomy 
(Official) (Twitter)
Rating 8.3
Ed Thomas, the songwriter behind Bondax’s “Giving It All”, reveals a new track in the form of the spare, rhythm-driven R&B-tinged pop of “Hurt”. Closely packed, condense, an efficient machine, “Hurt” succeeds on both its imagination (the nexus of vocal, beat and atmospherics created on the track is next level) and its simplicity (the track’s spaces are magnetic).
Ed Thomas (Facebook)
Rating 8.4
The mighty Marian Hill announce new EP “Play” with the excellent new single “One Time”. Neatly balancing jazz influences in the melody with modern arrangement and rhythmic elements all while tying up the track within a compact and cool Marian Hill minimalist frame. The path to successfully blending jazz and contemporary sounds is lined with seemingly endless traunches of hokey garbage (Email subject line: Hey! Check Our Band, We Blend Miles Davis w/ Radiohead!) but the Marian Hill (taste and adeptness at selecting for the right arrangement help) sound just really really works. “Play” is out March 4th.
Marian Hill
: (Facebook)
Rating 8.3
Team Breton continue to further hone their percussive, jittery, melodically interesting sound with “S Four”. The follow up single to the South London quintet’s great “Force of Habit” EP. On “S Four” punchy, skittering drums frame a hypnotic main melody “and how will I be in two places at once” augmented with well-timed flourishes of synth and orchestration.
strong>Breton (Official)
Rating 8.4
One of our favorite indiesphere fresh faces is the School of Hall & Oates blue-eyed soul of Dallas-based singer Johnny Stimson. On new track “SO. GOOD.”, Stimson, slows y’all down, wears y’all out, lets y’all breathe, puts y’all up on pedestal; you know, the basic emotional up and downs of the soul genre’s best songs. That, and an easy as the Sunday of MLK weekend is long vocal that is mmmmmm… so sweet and oh “SO. GOOD.” We’re absolutely loving it. Go Johnny go!
Johnny Stimson (Facebook)
Rating 8.1
Team Disclosure turns rap for their latest production project, collab’ing with NY newcomer Bishop Nehru for the space age boom bap of “You Stressin'”. And while of somewhat of the School of J Dilla in sound, the Disclosure style does translate well here while still sounding like, well, Disclosure. Mr. Nehru does well too here; seemingly able to flow effortlessly on top what could be a difficult track stylistically for a lesser MC.
Bishop Nehru (Facebook)
Rating 8.2
