This week, drum ‘n’ bass meets Coldplay, a sweet dream of Buenos Aires, Madlib gets impatient, and a reminder of the good times at the raves back in ’92, since it’s unlikely anyone actually remembers that.
1. The Walkmen – “In the New Year” (from You & Me on Gigantic Music)
On their new album, the New York band have gotten a little more epic while retaining their appealing rawness. “New Year” soars like Interpol but has the 6/8 rhythm of an old drinking song. (mp3 from The Sound of Marching Feet)
2. Surkin feat. Chromeo – “Chrome Knight” (single)
Techno producer Surkin’s instrumental “White Knight” nodded to classics like Inner City’s “Big Fun,” so it makes sense to grab Dave from electro duo Chromeo for some vocals. Chromeo’s usual strutting retro-silliness is calmed down by the rolling electro, and the track’s suddenly got pop appeal. (mp3 from Voules Random)
3. Juana Molina – “Un Dia” (from Un Dia out 10/6 on Domino)
The Argentinian singer/songwriter moves further into surreal territory with this dreamlike lead single from her upcoming fifth album. It’s both deeply experimental and oddly traditional, something I could imagine dancing to in a Buenos Aires bar, after enough mate. (mp3 from Stereogum)
4. Pendulum – “Violet Hill” (Coldplay cover, live on BBC Radio 1)
I mocked Coldplay’s head-slappingly silly lyrics a while back, but did you ever wonder what would happen if the words were buried under rolling electronic beats? Well, hey, so did poised-on-superstardom UK drum ‘n’ bass crew Pendulum, and it turns out the result sounds kind of like Depeche Mode. (mp3 at Extra Wack)
5. Madvillain – “Boulder Holder” (from Madvillainy 2: The Madlib Remix on Stones Throw)
The 2004 release from producer Madlib and rapper MF Doom may already be a hip-hop classic, but apparently Madlib got a little antsy and decided to remix the whole thing. A risky idea, but this track’s new funky soul background is oddly appropriate. (mp3 at Chickens Don’t Clap, the winner of my New Favorite Blog Name prize.)
