The Devil's Walk - Apparat

Now streaming over at NPR is Apparat's upcoming new release 'The Devil's Walk' out September 27th. Also, read the review courtesy of KEXP's own John Richards.

Bosco Delrey - 20 Flight Dub

I've heard this song twice on KEXP today and both times stopped what I was doing to find out who this is.

Houses - Reds

Over the past 4 days I've stopped in my tracks no less than 5 times to look this song up by complete accident. I first heard this song on the Monday morning commute across 520. That drive is already taxing enough, but combined with it being a Monday I was already in a mood. After hearing this story and this song things seemed to start looking up. The background story of this duo from Chicago is inspiring to say the least so I'll include it and let the story tell itself.

“I got laid off from my job at the end of last year and decided I needed a change. My girlfriend put in her two weeks and we moved out to a little cabin in Papaikou, Hawaii. It’s a pretty remote place outside of Hilo (i.e no plumbing/electricity/gas). We worked for meals during the day cultivating microorganisms and learning the basics of sustainable living. We drank showered and cooked with rain water. In our downtime, she would paint and I would record.
We’d have to light candles in an effort to save solar power to keep my computer running. We inspired each other a lot out there, and I think it shows on the album. The music comes from a place of love and ease. The video for Endless Spring was shot there in our spare time, and the music was sketched out loosely over the course of a few months. We just kind of melted into one person. We were able to keep our heads above water for a few months before we both went broke and moved back to Chicago. I put together all the arrangements and field recordings, and that became All Night. The album was pressed to vinyl on a vintage Neumann cutting lathe and then sent through a series of old analog mastering equipment. It then underwent a digital transfer. The idea is that everyone can hear the very first pressing of All Night. It’s a sonically intimate record and we wanted to capture that feeling in the production as well.” – Houses

The Arch Cupcake - "Rubix Dude"

Yet another reason why I love KEXP, John in the Morning, and my iPhone. During my drive into work this week I heard this track in the background during one of John and Cheryl's many plea's for donations during their Fall Membership Drive. I emailed from my iPhone app about the track and John answered me immediately...damn near mid sentence. I LOVE YOU KEXP!!

If you like - DJ Shadow - dig this.

Ninja Tune XX boxset

I just heard this absolutely sleek dub remix. KEXP certainly makes it hard for me to turn off the radio...um, ever. I can't seem to find a way to listen to the entire track right this second so it's only just the foreplay.

http://soundcloud.com/ninja-tune-xx/diplo-summers-gonna-hurt-you-2010-remix

I might not be able to survive without this song tomorrow so we'll see if I can get back to you on that. I will also DEFINITELY be looking into the Ninja Tune XX box set where this song can be found in its entirety. Coldcut, Diplo, Roots Manuva - done, done, and done.

http://www.ninjatunexx.net/boxset

Pretty Lights

A few months ago I tagged a song by Pretty Lights on my KEXP iPhone app. And as I usually do, I did a little bit of trolling on the web shortly thereafter to hear some more tracks. Much to my surprise I was able to download entire albums from these guys for free. At the time I had only downloaded "Making Up A Changing Mind", the first in a trilogy of 3 EP's to be released in 2010.

It was only a few days ago that I went back and downloaded the rest of the EP's, albums, and a live NYE show they played in 2008. Since that day I haven't gone more than a few hours without turning on one or more albums. I simply cannot get enough. Although it's really hard to peg them into one genre or another, the overall vibe bounces around anywhere from glitchy, and experimental to clean and classy trip-hop. You won't find many tracks with vocals, and really, there is no need with the underlying mezmorizing basslines.

Pretty Lights, you are the reason I've finally decided to blog. I needed to tell everyone about you guys and you've inspired me to do that. For this, I thank you.

http://www.prettylightsmusic.com/