MIA has given us a preview of what her upcoming album will be like with the released Matangi, a short mix tape for the Kenzo fashion show in Paris today. With an enticing mix of traditional South Asian influences and MIA’s modern hiphop vocals this eight minute track is nothing short of amazing.
Listen to the mix tape here
MIA’s album of the same name is due out in April.
-Tiffany
21-year-old Southeast London newcomer, Moko, released a soulfully captivating video for her debut track, Summon The Strength. She creates a beautiful black and white silhouette channelling the finesse dance moves of Solange, while her affectionate vocals bring back an emotional essence of Nina Simone. There is some vigorously innovative soul/R&B on this single. The minimalist lyrics, addictive production (typical London style), and effortlessly complex yet lucid vocal presence mesh together very effectively, composing a solid tune. For such an authentic and strong debut track, this UK songstress means business. I expect her to make a big splash in the upcoming year!
“There are many laws, some of which I fight”
-Scott D.
Even though British indie-pop trio London Grammar have been quietly making their way through our favourite music blogs, their musical aesthetic expresses great volumes. With their subdued sound of low, humming guitars, soft drums and engaging vocals of front-woman Hanna Reid, they could easily be the love child of The xx and Florence Welch.
Check out the opening track from their just released debut EP, Metal & Dust.
-Tiffany
Following their astounding four-track Candy Bar Creep Show EP, the “Tumblr Glitch Pop” duo have a promising year ahead. MS MR, have released the first single, “Fantasy” off their forthcoming full-length debut.
Similar to the thunderous instrumentals and engaging vocals of Florence + The Machine, this tune is definitely why you should be keeping an eye on this powerhouse New York duo.
MS MR’s full-length debut is set to be released on 5/14 on Columbia Records.
– Scott D.
Like Scott said on the previous post, as we have officially averted a complete apocalypse we will be focusing our attention back to SoundBlend.
After listening and re-listening to hundreds of songs and numerous arguments with myself, I have finally decided on my Top 20 Songs of the Year. So here we go.
20. Said the Whale – Loveless
19. Alabama Skakes – Hold On
18. Delta Spirit – California
17. Grimes – Genisis
16. Passion Pit – Constant Conversations
15. Die Antwoord – Fatty Boom Boom
14. Thee Oh Sees – Flood’s New Light
13. Band of Skulls – Bruises
12. Alt-J – Tesselate
11. Beach House – Lazuli
10. Japandroids – The House That Heaven Built
9. Best Coast – The Only Place
8. Rich Aucoin – It
7. Norah Jones – Miriam
6. Cadence Weapon – Conditioning
5. Tanlines – All of Me
4. MIA – Bad Girls
3. Tame Impala – Elephant
2. Yukon Blonde – Stairway
1. Major Lazer – Get Free
I know there hasn’t been a blog post since September, but because the world was suppose to end on 12/21 we figured we’d cut our ends loose. Well, it turns out we’re still alive, so our goal in the new year is to try and bring back up Sound Blend for as long as we can (or until the next apocalypse).
2012 has been a fantastic year for music, so here are my top 20 favourite tracks of the year.
20. Mikky Ekko – Pull Me Down
19. MØ – Pilgrim
18. AlunaGeorge – Your Drums, Your Love
17. Santigold – Disparate Youth
16. Purity Ring – Fireshrine
15. Stars – Do You Want To Die Together?
14. Digits – Love Is Only Affection
13. Twin Shadow – Golden Light
12. Grizzly Bear – Yet Again
11. Arctic Monkeys – R U Mine?
10. Tame Impala – Feels Like We Only Go Backwards
9. Jessie Ware – Wildest Moments
8. Solange – Losing You
7. Angel Haze – New york
6. Sky Ferreira – Everything Is Embarrassing
5. Alt-J – Breezeblocks
4. Frank Ocean – Pyramids
3. Grimes – Oblivion
2. Kendrick Lamar – Swimming Pools (Drank)
1. Bat For Lashes – Laura
-Scott D.
Much like everything in life, bands change and that is no exception for Black Elephant. The band started out as a recording project that quickly morphed into a full four-piece band and then shrunk back to a three piece. But don’t worry, their line up changes haven’t changed the band’s sound one bit.
So what exactly is their sound? Remember that dreary, lo-fi garage rock that only the cool kids knew how to dance to; well that’s Black Elephant in a nutshell.
One of my new faves is a song called Roche et Roule. It’s got heavy guitars, straight to the point lyrics and that simple snare holding it all together.
– Tiffany
It’s time to shed some light on Liverpool’s latest and rising musician, Dan Croll. The 21-year old singer/songwriter was born and raised in Staffordshire before enrolling in LIPA (Liverpool’s Institute for Performing Arts) for undergraduate studies.
Growing up with a dominant musical background in his family, Croll began composing music and writing lyrics at the age of 14. Until attending LIPA, he was greatly influenced by the variety of cultures and international sounds of his fellow peers. Thus, creating his own unique style heavily influenced by French music, African choir vocals, Scandinavian folk, 1960’s psychedelia and foreign drumbeats. I mean, talk about being diverse!
The highly infectious, first official single “From Nowhere” has put this Liverpool native on the map literally from out of nowhere. With only one released track, Dan Croll already has become written and raved about from music bloggers all over the internet.
As he is quickly circulating through the blogosphere and gaining some much deserved attention, Dan Croll is definitely someone you should be keeping an eye on.
Dan is currently working on his full length debut aimed to be released sometime in 2013.
-Scott D.
Day Four – Bloc Party
Just a week before the release of their fourth album, the boys of Bloc Party have a full album streaming of Four on their website – way to ruin the surprise guys. But, hey, who can complain about new Bloc Party?
This new album features much heavier guitars than in previous albums, including the song “We Are Not Good People”, which sounds like it could be straight out of a Death From Above 1979 album. Although there are heavier songs, the band has still kept their softer, more emotive songs with the likes of “Day Four” and my personal favourite “V.A.L.I.S.”
On the whole, the album is a duel between mature heavy rock and indie teenage heartbreak. Let’s hope this battle never ends, because both sounds compliment the album.
Listen to the entire album here
– Tiffany
With the release of their EP last week, we take a look at Brooklyn’s own, The Antlers. The band started as a solo project for guitarist Peter Silberman in 2007. While Silberman was working on his third album, Hospice, he added permanent band members, Darby Cicci and Michael Lerner to the band. After Hospice, they recorded their second album in 2011, Burst Apart. The album received lots of critical acclaim -honestly, it’s an amazing work of art.
Just last week the band released a short four song EP, Undersea. With its aquatic theme, every song has a calm and almost weightless feeling of nostalgia. The first song, “Drift Dive” sounds just perfectly wonderful, with horn undertones and a soft piano. It feels like aimlessly floating, as the current lazily carries us to the next track.
– Tiffany
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