As the weather grows colder, I find myself breaking out the minimal bleak-pop more and more, and this fits the menu perfectly. Happy Corners is the new project of Victor (Venezuela) and Maeve (Argentina), their songs beautiful in their melancholy simplicity. ‘Honey Echoes’ is my favorite, an aching waltz through the crisp leaves of love-struck psychosis. They’re expecting to release an EP in March; in the meantime let this flesh out your Autumn playlists.
Ever since my heady days in Paris I’ve been sipping on the champagne sounds of Rikslyd. Sweet, sexy, and oh-so-dreamy are the key words here, luscious drops of electro-pop served chilled by the lovely Diis Paradiis. Even if you’re not wandering down the streets of the 11th arrondissement, this is perfect music for an early-night’s scheming and dreaming.
Never-ending love for Zola Jesus. With one EP she went from lo-fi wailer to hi-frightening seductress. Naturally she’s well-prepared for Halloween with her follow-up to Stridulum, the appropriately-named Stridulum II. Check out the link below to download ‘Sea Talk’, a beautifully re-recorded track from her Tsar Bomba album.
Stridulum II is out October 12th on Sacred Bones. Get it.
LOHANDED
I love pop, and I love warped weirdness. Tri Angle has captured the spirit of both in a new free mixtape, wherein bands like Oneohtrix Point Never, oOoOO, and Laurel Halo do bizarre reinterpretations of Lindsay Lohan tunes. Together with these NIKE7UP remixes, I’ve been having a Bizzaro Pop day, freefloating through a perfect world where there’s no such thing as normal and The Normal is available as a ringtone.
I met Dan Serbanescu, one half of Romanian couple Divine Muzak, when he requested Xiu Xiu’s ‘Chocolate Makes You Happy’ from me during a recent party. I wish I’d had some of of his music to play as well, because it’s lovely stuff. Together with his girlfriend Iulia, he churns out size zero dreams that make my tummy feel happy. Even more than chocolate.
Beautiful Canadian glam-minimalist Terror Bird has just released a video for her track ‘Shadows In The Hall’, and it’s as beautiful as her music. Check it out, and get her latest 7” of the same name which is out now.
PARIS IS YEARNING
My one regret on this tour so far is a missed chance to DJ with Laura Clock’s project Butterclock. The young Parisian’s haunting voice and darkened r&b melodies will make you swoon, weaving a spell that wraps you tight in crushed velvet arms. Hoping to hook her up with some Brooklyn shows but in the meantime you can melt into burnt-sugar bliss with her track ‘Alaska’ and a brand new cover of Jennifer Paige’s ‘Crush’.
The end of BeachLife as heat gives way to rain and rain gives way to curling up on the couch with a mug of magic coffee and the player on shuffle. It’s all noise until the mind arranges it into the true words behind the sound. Listen to what it’s saying:
SUPPLYA - DIAMONDS ON MY NECK (FT. NICKI MINAJ & GUCCI MANE)
EMA - HEY BOY
JANET JACKSON - WHAT’S IT GONNA BE FT. BUSTA RHYMES (PREDICTABLY DRAGGED VERSION BY ┼┼E∆VY M∆NE ✔0oZ(▲ ω ▲)///~\\)
FOETUS - I AM SURROUNDED BY INCOMPETENCE
NUTTIN’ NYCE - DON’T MAKE ME WANNA DO U
ERIC COPELAND - FUN DINK DEATH
BIG POKEY - WHO DAT MAD (WHO DAT TALKING DOWN)
DONNA SUMMER - NOW I NEED YOU (JERMAINE’S REC RIP)
GNAW THEIR TONGUES - MASSGRAVE HYMN
BUTTERSKIN
It’s too hot in Greece. I feel a powerful urge to inhale x100 + never leave the crystal clear ocean. This mix is an extension of my BeachLife. Life under the sand. Shades for days. Watching X-files with no lights on. And if I die from blunt trauma, bury my bong at Wounded Knee.
After M.I.A. dropped the cover for Sleigh Bells’ new album on Monday, I’ve been salivating anew at the thought of new tracks from my favorite local noise-hop duo. Today my prayers are answered because they’ve unveiled the first track off their upcoming album Treats. ‘Tell ‘Em’ is a beautiful racket with slightly more production than we’re used to hearing from these two, but it only serves to show how lovely Alexis’ vocals really are.
Treats is out May 11th on Mom + Pop and NEET. Get it.
SPRING QUEENING
This has to be my favorite thing of the week. Grimes is a girl named Claire who makes beautiful bedroom pop in the vein of Terror Bird and Nite Jewel. Haunting and sparse, with an echoey sweetness that evokes memories of rainy spring days and misty evenings. Gonna be flipping this one over and over for a while.
You can download her full album for free here, but I recommend getting the cassette here. This type of music and the moods it evokes come through much better flowing from a slightly ancient boombox rather than your computer speakers. Whatever your preference, get it.
NEVERMNDR
I first ran into MNDR when I went to see Ga’an, Eats Tapes and Harry Merry at Silent Barn. Head still reeling from Ga’an’s swirling noise, I wandered downstairs for some rumored sticky-icky and walked face-first into a dance party. I was impressed at how much energy she was cranking out through the crowd in that overheated basement, and soon the sweat was pouring off me as I bounced to her infectious electropop. Sweet to see her slowly blowing up; mind full of MNDR in 2010.
I admit to not being overly impressed with Twin Sister’s Vampires With Dreaming Kids EP; I filed it under ‘pleasant’ and moved on. But with their latest 12”, the gorgeously ethereal Color Your Life, they’ve snared my ears and mind completely. Full of melancholic guitars and synths and wistful vocals that could break your heart, it’s the perfect soundtrack to a summer romance. Twin Sister are creating sounds both fresh and timeless, and I can’t wait to hear more.
Color Your Life is available for pre-order on Infinite Best. Get it.
MOORE MOORE MOORE
There’s no denying the impact R. Stevie Moore has had on countless musicians. Since 1966, he’s been recording and experimenting with his own unique brand of lo-fi weirdo-pop, and his methods and DIY spirit remain much the same today. The video above, directed by the very kind Adriana Alba, is a beautifully shot accompaniment to Moore’s 1976 track ‘Answers’. Sunshine, bikes and crisp leaves are the perfect antidote to this gray, rainy NYC morning, so do yourself a favor and relax to beautiful visuals and sweetly melancholy music.
Better Than Sex is(pick one)
- a blog for new music/art/style - a loving tribute to Rodney Dangerfield - gay and for faggots - a Native American Ghost - a safe and fun place for teens! - going to take a nap - totally triangles!!! and is run by
DANIEL
If you want to send me something new and interesting, contact kingtreehouse AT gmail DOT com The music and photography I post on here is to help people find out about all the stuff I love. If I've posted some of your stuff and you want it taken off, contact me! I'm legally allowed to call you a little gay baby if you do this, however.
