Cults keep a vein of yearning through out their music, being especially prevalent in these recordings, in which the melancholy is no longer veiled behind sixties girl group naivité, making way instead for a more heartfelt desperation, with gleams of glockenspiel as wistful as the vocals, barely making their way through the dark coat of guitar grime and organs. Employing more than a few tricks from the books of Spector and George Morton, the percussion and engineering is exquisite, and the mixing well-defined.
Their self-titled album debut was recently released on Lily Allen’s label.

Cults - Abducted
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Cults - You Know What I Mean
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One of the songs that I have played the most this past year has been the alluring Change of Heart by Sweden's own El Perro del Mar. Her 2009 release Love is Not Pop deserves more listeners. Also, you need to hear this recent Rakamonie remix crafted by Robyn, breathing new electronic life into an already perfect pop record.

El Perro del Mar - Change of Heart
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Jack Tatum made this wonderful dream pop version of the Kate Bush masterpiece under his shoegazing moniker Wild Nothing. I would not dare to suggest that it trumps the original, but as far as covers go, this is excellent.

Wild Nothing - Cloudbusting
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Beach House made the world a better place a few weeks ago, when they blessed longing fans with a free copy of the first single from Teen Dream. The album will be out in January. I would recommend getting the WAV.

Beach House - Norway
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Joy Orbison - J. Doe
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Jose James - Blackmagic (Joy Orbison's Recreation)
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Four Tet - Love Cry (Joy Orbison Remix)
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Burial - Fostercare from the upcoming compilation Five Years of Hyperdub
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Burial & Four Tet - Moth from the Moth/Wolf Club 12" out on Text Records
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Miike Snow continues to commission videos and remixes for their self-titled debut. Vince Haycock directed the video for Black & Blue, and my pick from the lot of remixes is this one by dubstep ambassador Caspa.

Miike Snow - Black & Blue (Caspa Remix)
MP3/320 Removed

Kid Cudi made a great album. This track was produced by Ratatat and features vocals from MGMT. Watch their performance on Letterman. I think it's the next single. Man on the Moon: The End of Day is in stores.

Kid Cudi ft. MGMT & Ratatat - Pursuit of Happiness
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Kanye West - Welcome to Heartbreak (video)
Ratatat - Shiller / Shempi (stream)
MGMT - The Youth (video)

Henok Achido released his debut album Almaz Charming Child earlier this year to positive reviews. It has since spawned two strong hit singles, and now this new video for High On Life (When the Drugs Don't Work.)

Henok Achido ft. Sophia Somajo - Pusher (video)
Henok Achido - Fly Fresh (video)
Henok Achido - Can I (video)

Jay-Z and Alicia Keys closed off the MTV VMA's last night with their powerful ode to the city that never sleeps, Empire State of Mind. I can't even remember the last time New York had an anthem like this.

Ontario - Ey Shuno

If you haven't caught on to The xx yet, you're in for something special. The dreamy, tender pop compositions on this well-balanced debut has listeners and critics alike shouting hyperboles, and all I can do is concur.

The xx - Stars
MP3/VBR Mediafire


The closer on The Blueprint 3 is an epic in the same vein as Beach Chair. Kanye West updates the immortal pop standard from Alphaville, with Mr. Hudson resinging the lyrics, leaving Jay-Z to contemplate his legacy.


Jay-Z - Young Forever ft. Mr. Hudson
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Antony and the Johnsons first started covering this Beyonce song a couple of years ago during their shows. This studio recorded version came out recently.

Antony and the Johnsons - Crazy in Love
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The Gossip vocalist Beth Ditto delivers elegantly on this cut from Temporary Pleasure, the second album from British production duo Simian Mobile Disco. In stores since a couple of weeks back.

Simian Mobile Disco ft. Beth Ditto - Cruel Intentions
MP3/320 Mediafire – Stream Spotify

Little Dragon gained recognition with their self-titled debut, with songs like the amazing Twice, and their forthcoming album Machine Dreams is really taking their sound and production to new heights. It's out next week.

Little Dragon - Feather
MP3/VBR Mediafire – Stream Spotify

Felix Da Housecat came up in Chicago during the emergence of house music in the eighties, and contributed his share to the scene during its second wave. In the nineties he found mainstream success as a pioneer of the electroclash movement. Still active as a dj and producer, he did the Essential Mix at Radio 1 yesterday, made a mixtape with Diddy recently, and is releasing his new album He Was King next week.

Felix Da Housecat - Kickdrum
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Neon Indian - Deadbeat Summer
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Neon Indian - 6669 (I Don't Know If You Know)
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About three years ago, before Justin Vernon released his celebrated For Emma, Forever Ago under the Bon Iver moniker, he started collaborating with Collections of Colonies of Bees. They have since recorded an album together as Volcano Choir called Unmap. The first single came out a few days ago, and the album is expected on September 22.

Volcano Choir - Island, IS
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The invincible trio formed by Clipse and their long-time collaborator, fellow Virginian Pharrell, has been making records about pushing keys and flossing for ten years now, and it never seems to get old. This is the new video for I'm Good. Till the Casket Drops, the brothers' third album, will be out on October 20.

Clipse - I'm Good
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Clipse ft. Kanye West - Kinda Like a Big Deal
Clipse - Road to Till the Casket Drops (mixtape)
Kanye West, Pharrell, Lupe Fiasco & Pusha T - Everyone Nose Remix (video)