Dum Dum Girls – Wasted Away

The DD girls lay off the reverb and let the drumbeat drive you off the cliff. It’s simple, yet effective.

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Ellis Islands – Window

Ellis Islands is an enigma wrapped in a riddle, wrapped in a burrito. Seriously, this artist sent us Window, and provided little else. We know that Ellis Islands is a musician who has kicked around in different bands over the past few years. He recorded Window in his South Philly apartment, and will have a new release in about a month. It features a sitar. The quiet resignation of this track is simply beautiful.

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Marissa Nadler – Winter Lady (Leonard Cohen cover)

Nadler’s breathy, songbird vocals float above easy finger picking in this absolutely stunning Cohen cover.

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Mezzanine Owls – Obstacle

This is an excellent post rock composition that is full of angst and melancholy against a wall of droning guitars.

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Trans Am – Futureworld

Pulsing electropop that’s sure to get you off your seat.

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Wild Beasts – Thankless Thing

This is a track from their upcoming EP, Reach A Bit Further, which is also the latest single from Smother. Thankless Thing was recorded at the beginning of the Smother sessions, though it’s not featured on the album. It’s steady rhythm is soothing.

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