The awesome Tropics a/k/a Londoner Chris Ward (whom you may remember from his really sharp remix of M83’s “Reunion” from earlier this year) delivers the sublime and soulful house song “Popup Cinema”, which is the lead track of an upcoming 3-song EP of the same name.
Tropics – Popup CinemaTropics 
(Facebook)
Rating 8.3
Welcome to Lily and the Tigers, the six-piece haunted folk band I met at a house party in Echo Park. Lead singer Casey Hood was strumming some good stuff when a skinny chick in a white dress started cranking Pit Bull on the communal iHome. I grabbed an album from Casey and bounced. It’s called Hiding ‘til Dawn, their sophomore release, and has been my folky go-to for the last couple weeks. Check out “No Whiskey in My Coffee”, and read my full-length interview with the band over at Cardboard Smile. By Alex Mitchell
Lily and the Tigers – No Whiskey in my CoffeeLily and the Tigers 
(Bandcamp)
*Get more tunes and features from the guys at Cardboard Smile.
Rating 8.1
Chicago tag team The GTW (rhymes) & Bengfang (beats) turn around Flight Facilities hit “Cravings” into a languorous hip hop cooler.
The GTW & Bengfang – CravingsThe GTW & Bengfang 
(Facebook)
Rating 8.3
Mancunian band I Am Kloot surprise with a strong return. The brooding “Hold Back the Night” excels on arrangement; just the right bits of atmospheric guitar strums and 1-2 rhythms give way at the most perfect of points to swelling string builds. (The track was produced by Elbow’s Guy Garvey and Craig Potter). “Hold Back the Night” is not to be missed.
I Am Kloot – Hold Back the NightI Am Kloot (Facebook)
Rating 8.2
Check out the haunting folk tune “Stinging Nettle, Honeysuckle” from Wisconsin duo Blessed Feathers, excerpted here from their upcomin “Peaceful Beasts in an Ocean of Weeds”, due Oct. 16. We’re into it.
Blessed Feathers – Stinging Nettle, HoneysuckleBlessed Feathers 
(Facebook)
Rating 8.1
The famed Chiddy Bang producer goes transatlantic with this latest flip on the fabulous new “Cough Cough” single from Everything Everything. With a trueness to the track’s original melody, Xaphoon brings some galactic electro grooves to the Everything x2 pragmatic equation. Sample the track below.
Everything Everything – Cough Cough (Xaphoon Jones Remix)Everything Everything (Facebook)
Xaphoon Jones 
(Facebook)
Rating 8.2
Anytime Aeroplane get behind the “Remixing Curtain” the resulting track ends up always a must listen. Add in a melody as a good as Kimbra’s “Two Way Street” and you have the makings of a certifiable TRACKZILLA. Tokyo will never be the same.
Kimbra – Two Way Street (Aeroplane Remix)Aeroplane 
(Facebook)
Rating 8.4
Die Mason Die is a new noteworthy project from 19 years young frontman Samuel Mason. The band’s debut single “Lost” grabbed us from it’s delicate introduction to it’s clinching folk rock stride of a refrain. Die Mason Die showcase the dynamics and pop sensibiities of a group well beyond their years. Expect their debut EP early November.
Die Mason Die – LostDie Mason Die (Facebook)
Rating 8.4
Torontonian indie pop act Southern Shores just released “New World” EP is out now on the awesome Cascine. As an dreamy appetite whetter, the band is giving away a fresh “nostalgia” mix of “New Love” by Seattle all-star team Beat Connection.
Southern Shores – New Love (Beat Connection Remix)Beat Connection 
(Facebook)
Rating 8.2
DJ Drama’s 4th LP Quality Street Music got its release today and to mark the occasion the Dramaman has put on offer a new single. “So Many Girls” wins on its fresh-sounding beat and ROSCOE DASH. Roscoe’s contributions here are definitely cream-of-the-track. Track to Dash.
DJ Drama – So Many Girls (Feat. Roscoe Dash, Tyga & Wale)DJ Drama (Facebook)
Rating 8.4
Maria Minerva offers up another worldly electronic dream concoction with “Sweet Synergy”. Sample the track below and be sure to check out the Estonian’s new abstract pop creation Will Happiness Find Me? (LP) via the L.A. based Not Not Fun.
*Also, for those in Los Angeles be sure to catch Maria Minerva performing w/ support from Pharaohs, Father Finger, and Dream Panther this Wednesday night 10/3 @ the Central SAPC.
Maria Minerva – Sweet SynergyMaria Minerva 
(Facebook)
Rating 8
Our brother-in-Cleveland Cudder lets loose latest track “King Wizard”. The track, which Cudi previewed over the weekend, has a very sharp little foreboding glide and as strong a hook as any of the Cleveland rapper’s “classic” (three years ago) material.
KiD CuDi – King WizardKiD CuDi 
(Facebook(/a>)
Rating 8.4
