Jared

Jay Rock has been a staple of the TDE for quite sometime now and along with his solo work has often been the wordsmith of many of my favourite guest verses over the past few years. Having already released “Money Trees Deuce” from the forthcoming release ‘90059′, latest unveiling features a verse from none other than current worldwide phenomenon Kendrick Lamar. Whilst “Easy Bake” isn’t the best I’ve heard Jay Rock, Kendrick Lamar adds much needed glitz to an otherwise average recording here. (Kendrick’s parts make this). It’s alright this... I’m expecting more come the release of ‘90059′ however. Check it out, “Easy Bake” Jay Rock Ft. Kendrick Lamar.

I legitimately love this band and anything that Josh Homme does. Having often seen Eagles of Death Metal as the mans more light-hearted and fun induced side project, it has become so much more with much of Jesse Hughes and Josh Hommes sound really creating a fielded market to branch their groove induced rock n roll to the masses with so much success coming from bubblegum rock tunes such as “Cherry Cola”. “Complexity” is a track off forthcoming album ‘Zipper Down’ that follows in this trend. Just a fantastic three minute blaze of dance filled groove, what else is really expected of this duo? Check it out “Complexity” by Eagles of Death Metal.

“Cant See Me Again” is the latest of Skepta featuring tracks that have been skulking on the peripheries of the mainstream whilst also giving the man the recognition that his career truly deserved in becoming the face of the latest grime revival. Grime mavericks Kano and Bashy join Skepta here in rapping over an incredibly space like production. Good to hear from an A class Bashy on this also, quality track. Set to appear on a new grime compilation titled Concrete Jungle, check this out “Cant See Me Again” Skepta Ft. Bashy & Kano.

For me, Four Tet is often always creating his best work when taking a pre-existing track and adding his own minimalist brooding signature sound to it. “Leave A Trace”, a track from the latest Chvrches album Every Eye Open  is the latest of works to be given the mighty Kieran Hebden privilege. A track that will be at home in many clubs up and down the country to come and hopefully a staple of Four Tets own sets. Check this out, brilliant remix. “Leave A Trace (Four Tet Remix)”

I’ve posted most of the new Foals tracks on this blog over the past month or so and I can safely say that from what I have heard, as a big Foals fan its sounding just as good as their last few previous efforts. Whilst each of the last three albums seem to have followed some sort of artistic formula ‘What Went Down’ looks to create a cohesion of the three and it is on “London Thunder” where the band example much of what made tracks such as ‘Holy Fires’ “Moon” such a brilliantly composed low-key affair. Check this one out. Album out very soon. “London Thunder” Foals. Check it out.

New Underachievers clip for “Chasing Faith x Rain Dance x Allusions”  is one of the sweetest clips I've seen for anything all year. A short(ish) film that sees the group traversing the desert after the drop of acid. The clip showcases three new tracks which all evident different flavours of The Underacheivers repetoire. Big treat for fans of the group this. Check it out.

The latest Tame Impala may have taken me a while to truly appreciate many of its qualities but given time its become my favourite record of the year. Its a blaze through some of Kevin Parker’s most disco infused tendencies, creating an album with more hooks and melody than ever before. The video for “Let It Happen” follows a businessman as he sets to take a train journey somewhere, it goes all too wrong and then follows to feature much of Tame Impala’s psychedelic tendencies in the ensuing crash. Check it out, “Let It Happen” Tame Impala.

Alex G is set to release his seventh album ‘Beach Music’ later in the year and along with some absolutely awesome cover art we have been given a new single by which to appease ourselves until the release date. “Bug” follows the typical Alex G structure of highlighting his emotional and weird tendencies in songwriting. Its an out there song for a songwriter who follows such random rules to traditional rule. Check it out, “Bug” Alex G.

The internet expectedly went into meltdown recently as Lana Del Rey released “High By the Beach”, the first single from the as to be expected new Lana album we assume is to be released some point this year. Not a huge fan of this new direction into hip-hop and trap influenced production if I am to be completely honest with you but lets hold out hope for the bulk of the material to make its way to surface. The video features Lana Del Rey taking it to the paps in hat all too familar modern celebrity angst... tiresome if you ask me. Check it out, “High By the Beach” Lana Del Rey.

This is honestly the best thing that has happened to me all week. It took me a while to be able to divulge myself in FKA Twig’s artistic beauty but when it struck boy did it stick hard. “Figure 8″, a new track which was released earlier in the month now has a home in new EP ‘M3LL155X’ an EP featuring five tracks, three of which are featured in this rather insiduous and stealthy 16 minute video clip which just might be the best video clip of the year, complimenting the new work perfectly. Huge fan of this Boots and Cy An produced EP. Check it out.

The good folks at Noisey haven’t disappointed here, bringing to light an exemplary talent who goes by the name of IshDARR currently making waves on the Milwaukee hip-hop circuit. They say he’s been working with man of the moment MEDASIN on several tracks but it is on “Too Bad” that should see the boy really break consciousness on a wider level, what a hook. Leading the charge from the ‘Old Soul Young Spirit EP’. If these are the makings of a rapper in their early makings then IshDARR’s career looks to be very interesting indeed. Awesome. Check this out, awesome video too. “Too Bad” by IshDARR. Woop!

Joanna Newsom’s released the first single and video from new album ‘Divers’. “Sapokanikan” is a minimalist five minute piece that sees Joanna escapading through streets of normality, bellowing her trademark vocal as she goes. This ones a bit of a builder, I wasn’t so sure at first but it really grows into a heartily melodic tune which I’m sure you’ll find yourself adhering to in the end. Check it out.

Sounding like something that could have easily been placed on the back end of second album ‘Total Life Forever’, “A Knife In The Ocean” is set to be the closing track to Foals’ self proclaimed “rockiest” album ‘What Went Down’. I can see where they’ve been coming from with previous singles, and whilst this does has an element of edge to it, its echoing atmospherics really remind me of otherworldly rather than “in-ya-face balls to the wall” kind of stuff. Its a beautiful piece however and it leads me toward excitement for the release. Check it out.

Whilst I have never been evidence for the much adored Earl Sweatshirts solo work, I am compelled toward the way he goes about his music. The production often follows a similar darkness throughout much of his work and this was very much the case on latest album ‘I don’t like shit, I don’t go outside’. New video “Off Top” is a brilliantly constructed part animated, part video reel which creates an enormous sense of unease and a quality, which reminds me very much in part to the kind of tense and crippling atmosphere videos such as Radiohead’s “Paranoid Android” have in the past. Still not a huge fan, but something worth checking out.

One of the years best releases so far, the self titled Communions EP gave evidence to fans that harnessing 80′s indie and Madchester influenced guitar sounds still has a place in today’s cultural pot. “Forget It’s A Dream” was arguably its stand-out track and Communions seem to have realised this, releasing a monochromatic video fitting of its style, directed by Nikolaj Moller of course. Its a sprawl through life as a youngling in discovery and exploration of the world and people around you. Standard indiefied music video affair but its a great song. Check it out, “Forget It’s A Dream” Communions.

New Order’s first album without Peter Hook ‘Music Complete’ is to be released on September 25th and is set to feature guest spots from people such as La Roux and Brandon Flowers, people well known for their use of the 80′s pop melody in carving out both their image and sound. (Although an Iggy Pop guest appearance looks to be interesting.) This track “Restless” is alright I suppose, its not going to have people crying for more but I expect the die-hards will be happy... well at least as happy as you can be with a Peter Hook absent New Order. Check it out, “Restless” by New Order.

And here we all were thinking that Alice Glass was being unusually evasive from her side of the Crystal Castles split. “Stillbirth” is a blaze of anarchy from the get go. A track that ultimately echoes how her vocals added both vigour and aggression to Ethan Kath’s production. Expect more of the same from Alice Glass, check it out. Oh, and all sales of the single go to various organisations including the non-profit RAINN, so be sure to buy!.