Flume – 40 Minute Mix for the Fader

flume

submotion orchestra

divageek

Ladi6 – ‘Bang Bang’ (The Liberation Of…)

ladi6

Ladi6, born Karoline Tamati, is neo-soul at its most brazen. New Zealand is a goldmine of untapped musical genius, and Ladi6 is just one of many who have managed to impress worldwide. This album, The Liberation Of… has attitude, but is beautifully soulful. One might even go so far as to say that there’s a little Amy Winehouse in there too, but let’s not try to draw comparisons here… Give this one a listen if you like the versatility of a soulful-rapper-songstress.
 
 
 
 

Apparat – ‘A Violent Sky’

apparat

 
 
 
 
The City - ‘Need Your Love’

the city

Locally born and bred The City are a fortunate addition to Cape Town’s thriving music scene. Why? Because their sound is groundbreaking, genuine, and on top of that, accessible to all. This track, ‘Need Your Love’ is dynamic and brave, thanks to vocalist Bonj Mphanza’s soulful contribution and multi-instrumentalist Clement Carr, both out of the UCT School of Music, along with bassist Ryan McArthur (Captain Stu, The Little Kings and Peachy Keen). Don’t sleep on these guys!

Moruf & Iman Omari – Euphoria (The Tape)

moruf & iman omari

Some soulful hip hop if you ever heard it. These guys are a fine pair: Iman Omari (THC) on beats and Moruf on rhymes, they set the tone just right. Hard and hip hop while soulful and explicitly melodious all at once, there are quite a few gems on this tape, including the ‘Euphoria Intro’, ‘School Daze’ and ‘Fallen’ to name a few. This music is fantastic and surprising. Go for it!
 
 
 
 
Szjerdene – 4th Stranger

szjerdene

Uh oh. Szjerdene’s vocals are enlivening — to the extent that Yukimi Nagano would either become very nervous or very much inspired. Released on January 1st, 2013, this track is a beautifully balanced electro-tune, much like the rest of her releases which are equally flawless and versatile. This could be the result of her operatic voice against the electronic backing track, which make for an interesting contrast.

Hiatus Kaiyote – ‘Malika’

HIATUS KAIYOTE

Remember the very first time you heard your favourite song? The way it made your skin ripple with anticipation of that next snare, that next bell, that next crescendo? This band has given us that, and so much more… Hiatus Kaiyote is elemental, textural, soulful, quirky ‘multi-dimensional poly-rhythmic gangster shit’. Hailing from Melbourne, this band is phenomenal. With off-the-wall style and equally mind-bending tone, Nai Palm is sassy with her vocals, while the uncanny combination of jazz, opera and electronic soul-math-rock-goodness confuses and amuses to the point where this 10-track album is just not enough. If any new year’s resolutions are to be made, resolve to listen to more music of this calibre!
 
 
 
 
Hejira- ‘Gypsy of the Soul’

HEJIRA

Comprised of Londoners Sam Beste, Rahel Debebe-Dessalegne, Alex Reeve and Alexis Nunez, Hejira has an organic, deeply satisfying way with creating melodies that sit in the hollows of your chest and hibernate there… Especially on this amazing track, ‘Gypsy of the Soul’. Hejira also run Traum, a monthly event featuring great music (including Micachu, Moats & Thrones & Hello Skinny) visual art and edibles. For more info on both the band and Traum, follow Hejira on twitter!

 
 
 
 
Atoms for Peace – ‘Judge Jury & Executioner’

ATOMS FOR PEACE

If you have a long standing love for the ’90s rock power bands, you’ll definitely take to Atoms for Peace. This supergroup of Thom Yorke (Radiohead frontman), Red Hot Chili Peppers’ bassist Flea, Nigel Godrich (Radiohead), Joey Waronker (Beck & REM) and Mauro Refosco, is pretty killer. Atoms’ new single dropped this very week, along with a percussive video. Keep an ear out for their upcoming album Amok, available soon… They have an incredibly cool yet simple website, so go check that out too.

 
 
 
 
Fatima & Floating Points – ‘Mind’

fatima

Now this track is amazing in its own right, thanks to Melbourne’s head nod business on production going by the moniker of Floating Points. Then comes Swedish songstress, Fatima, on the vocals to further bring that soul vibe. She is phenomenal, and this track is so well rounded and well paired that one cannot help but move. Reminiscent of Janet Jackson’s ‘Got Til It’s Gone’, Fatima brings a classy energy to the freshness of Floating Points’ efforts. If you have not heard either act before, get a hold of their collaborative EP entitled Follow You. You will not regret it!

 
 
 
 
Ninetails – Slept and Did Not Sleep (EP)

ninetails

This EP will leave you asking what the hell you just heard. It is gorgeous. Its guitars are simultaneously balmy and intriguing. Often we find bands these days struggle to be musically interesting, and gentle on the ear, since the thing to do when it comes to making sales is to simplify the life out of music in order to make it marketable. This music is not simple, and not for the fainthearted. Time signatures all over the place, these guys are unafraid. This music is either for stoners, lucid dreamers or those who love to listen and re-listen to tracks to hear every little nuance — and trust me there are many to be heard. The same way one would stretch an elastic band to see how far it can go before being destroyed, Ninetails (Ed Black, Philip Morris, Jordan Balaber and Jake King) use what they know about music to see just how much they can cram into each venture, in the same way that our minds go beyond what reality will allow when we dream… Give ‘Slept but Did Not Sleep’ a listen, and you’ll see what I mean.
 
 
 
 
Bohren & Der Club of Gore – ‘Black City Skyline’

bohren & der club of gore

‘Unholy ambient mixture of slow jazz ballads, Black Sabbath doom and down tuned Autopsy sounds.’ – Bohren & Der Club of Gore

German experimental jazz band Bohren & Der Club of Gore might be dark & twisty, but their music is soulful, engaging and nostalgic as well. The perfect soundtrack for Huxley’s Brave New World, the long pauses and slow progressions have an air of finality about them, as if the music is whispering secrets only the listener should ever hear… which leads one to suggest that if you’re staying in and having a glass of red wine, put this one on for a little pretension and technical talk with like-minded people. Or, whilst contemplating life via a pair of headphones and a night sky? …Their post-apocalyptic feel is not for dance floors. Sit back and enjoy ‘Black City Skyline’, aptly titled and extremely pungent, this is one to be enjoyed for every second it plays.
 
 
 
 

Cocaine 80s feat. Nas – ‘Chain Glow’

JAMES FAUNTELROY OF COCAINE 80S

Forever being compared to/confused with Frank Ocean, who has a similar sounding voice, James Fauntelroy kills it in this outfit, Cocaine 80s. This track entitled ‘Chain Glow’ features non other than Nas, next to a whole lot of other gems on the Express OG EP. Gold!
 
 
 
 

Funkommunity – ‘The Light’

funkommunity

This group of electro-funk gurus are making headway in the world of good music. They are, however, flying somewhat under the radar… not for long though! Their gentle groove and wonderfully classy synths are only further accentuated by singer Rachel Fraser’s rapturous vocals. This music is for dancing — so feel good and so intelligent. Fat Freddy’s Drop and Electric Wire Hustle have both vouched for this group, so why shouldn’t we? Get involved!