by Dustin van Wyk
Singles – 2014/06/15
Elder Island – The Big Unknown
Second single from this Bristol based collective is a collage of sounds that take Prince-esque guitar licks, simple syncopated electronic beats (reminiscent of the XX) and light swirls of Rhodes keys to create an ethereal musical palette while vocalist Katty Sargent wraps the track in R&B mystique with her playfully delivery. Elder Island’s debut Self Titled EP will be released July 28th via Four Thieves Record.
Keath Mead – She Had
South Carolina based musician Keath Mead specialises in his own brand of blue-eyed rock music that pays homage to acts like Steely Dan and Carole King with his double acoustic harmonised phrases and shy falsetto. Produced by close friend and acclaimed electro-soul act Toro Y Moi, Keith’s ‘She Had’ is a sun-dazed ballad that sums up his sound; light melodies with moog passages that bubble under the surface while his laidback crooning floats above. His debut LP 'Sunday Dinner’ is available via his Bandcamp page for free.
The Wytches – Holy Tight Rope
A beautiful cacophony of noise comprised of jagged guitars, fuzzed out bass lines and hard hitting drum breaks while delirious vocals bounce in the mix can be the best way to describe British trio Wytches, who thrive off their ability to create eerie textures with their unique take on garage rock. Wytches debut LP ‘Annabel Dream Reader’ is out August 25 via Heavenly records.
Nick Hakim – Cold
The retro soul of the Washington multi-instrumentalist's latest single 'Cold' weaves in and out between retrospective R&B to quiet storm gospel anthem as his raspy vocals sit neatly over tender acoustic melodies, warm organ stabs and lazy drum beats. Hakim’s debut EP 'Where Will We Go Pt.1' will released July 14th via Earseed Records
Mndsgn – Txt
Debut Single from L.A beatsmith Mndsgn (pronounced "mind design") sees him sampling archived 80s synth funk while layering an array of sounds in his percussions section as he fuses electronic glitches, beat boxed kicks and understated snares, and filtering his production through reel to reel tape machines. Mndsgn forthcoming LP for Stones Throw Records is set for release August 26th