sprezzatura.

A mix of some music I’ve been digging this month.

Who You’ll Hear…

Ana Tijoux

Ana is a multi-lingual Chilean rapper who raps melodically in both Spanish and French.  Weaving insight and soul into the stories she tells, this beat-driven album is one of my favorites for 2010!

Junip

“Rope & Summit”
This is José González’s band and although they’ve been around for a minute, it’s the first official single coming from the first official EP of the same name.  Junip will be touring in early June with an album coming in September and a full tour in November.

Tame Impala

“It Is Not Meant to Be”  Innerspeaker   (Modular)

Following in the steps of other amazing bands to come from the land-down-under as of late, Tame Impala are from Perth. They’re touring w/ MGMT  - sharing a particular junkyard psychedelic sound that MGMT has brought to the forefront of their own latest album. The record “Innerspeaker” is out June 8th in the US.

Penguin Prison

“Something I’m Not (BretonLABS remix)”
Penguin Prison is Chris Glover, a dude from Manhattan who has done remixes for Goldfrapp, Marina & the Diamonds, Sébastien Tellier, Ellie Goulding, among others. This is a remix of  his second single that came out in March. Get a FREE copy of the original along with 3 remixes at RCRDLBL.com.

http://www.myspace.com/penguinprison

Broken Social Scene “All To All”(Arts & Crafts)

BSS is a Canadian collective signed to Arts & Crafts records. Most of the musicians are members of others bands, or perform as solo artists (a few names that might ring a bell: Apostle of Hustle, Jason Collett, Leslie Feist, Kevin Drew, Metric, Stars, The Weakerthans).  “All To All” is their first album in 5 years, out now.

Future Islands

“Vireo’s Eye” (Thrill Jockey)
Future Islands are a synthpop band from baltimore that formed in 2006 Greenville, NC while studying art at East Carolina University. They signed to Chicago indie label Thrill Jockey last year and the album “In Evening Air” came out early March. On tour now, they’ve got a few dates with Dan Deacon also from the B-More scene. They recently played in Los Angeles May 21 at Sync Space and the 22nd at The Smell.

http://www.myspace.com/futureislands

The National

“Sorrow (Instrumental)” High Violet (4AD)
I’ve always adored the baritone voice of singer Matt Berninger. Each song is epic and the instrumental versions really bring forth the talent of the band.

Miguel feat. J Cole

“All I Want is You” (Jive/Zomba)
Miguel is a singer, songwriter, musician and producer signed to the Jive/Zomba label. He did a cameo on Blu & Exile’s 2007 album “Below The Heavens” and was also on Asher Roth’s 2009 debut album, “Asleep In The Bread Aisle”. Now, he’s stepping out with his debut due later this year!

Watch him talk about the collab with J Cole here (via The Qside.com):
http://www.theqside.com/2010/04/11/miguel-talks-j-cole-collab-2/

http://www.myspace.com/miguel
cool videos including some covers

MIA

“XXXO” (N.E.E.T.)
A single from her upcoming album coming June 29 on her own label. Collaborators include Blaqstarr, Diplo, Rusko, Derek E. Miller of Sleigh Bells (also signed to her label, N.E.E.T.) and Switch.
You may have already seen the video for her other single “Born Free”. Quite controversial, it was removed from YouTube but now it’s back up (flagged as inappropriate). Check it out:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IeMvUlxXyz8

Kele Okereke

“Tenderoni” (Glassnote)
The 28 year-old singer from Liverpool is best known as the frontman from Bloc Party. His solo album “The Boxer” is out June 21 and I can’t wait to hear it! It’s produced by Hudson Mohawke and XXXChange and from the singles sounds like it’ll be more on the electro side of things.  Preview more songs, watch videos, and see tour dates here:

http://www.iamkele.com/

Deluka ”

Cascade (Deluka vs. Friendly Fires Chuck Buckett Mix)”
The single out now digitally along with a couple of amazing remixes. I believe the full-length is coming later this year.
Get a free MP3 of this song: http://deluka.bandcamp.com/

Airship

“Kids” (unsigned)
These guys hail from Manchester alongside their contemporaries like Delphic and Dutch Uncles.
Their self-released album came out this week.

Their travelog is cool. Check it out:
http://www.myspace.com/airshiptheband

Here, a mixtape of songs I’ve been loving this month.

The first cut resulted in something quite stormy and dark. It ultimately sounded boring to me because  - although the thematic element I wanted was there – it was one long piece without any interesting twists or turns.

This version is a little different. It mixes up different styles and still somehow remains true to the theme I was originally going for.

Speaking of that theme, a few days ago I realized the mix is actually about someone (…that creative process!) which for me meant that i needed to finish it as quickly as possible to move on to the next thing! So, it’s finally done.

I think you might like it. Please enjoy (you can click the little arrow to download). Read about the artists below, and don’t forget to tell me what you think!

besos.

nic.

//tracklist

efterklang “modern drift”
jónsi “tornado”
foals “spanish sahara (mount kimbie remix)”
ellie goulding “under the sheets (chiddy bang remix)”
chiddy bang “kids”
the kissaway trail “SDP”
joan jett and the blackhearts “crimson and clover”
the national “bloodbuzz ohio”
near the parenthesis “diffused”
jamie cullum “if i ruled the world”

Who you’ll hear…

Efterklang

I can’t stop listening to this one from the amazing Copenhagen group named Efterklang. Wikepedia says that their name comes from the Danish word for “rememberance” or “reverberation”… you can definitely hear the meditative contemplation in their songs. The third studio album  ”Magic Chairs” was released at the end of February – and it’s simply stunning.