Five Songs to Start Your Week

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Ra Ra Riot: “When I Dream

In just a few short years since it’s inception, baroque indie pop group Ra Ra Riot has experienced the ecstacy of celebrity, the heartbreak of loss and now the tulmult of change. Following the departure of longtime member/cellist Alexandra Lawn, Ra Ra Riot has taken a detour off their celebrated path and seemingly taken a darker, pop-infused path. Sounding less traditionally indie rock and more like something off Kanye West’s 808 & Heartbreaks on their latest single “When I Dream,” it remains to be seen whether or not their forthcoming new album, Beta Love is a full-on reinvention of self.

Ra Ra Riot “When I Dream” by Barsuk Records

Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds: “We No Who U R

Part Romantic poet, part black-hearted balladeer, part ManWithNoName noisy cowpunk roaming through the desert…Nick Cave is the original…well, Nick Cave. There really aren’t any others like him. Somehow, between touring with Grinderman and writing dark movies about people in search of retribution (The Proposition, Lawless,) Cave has mysteriously found time to create new music with The Bad Seeds. The brooding, sublime first cut, “We No Who U R,”  off their forthcoming record (their 15th) is a haunting, triumphant and restrained affair reminiscent of something off 1997’s The Boatman’s Call.

It’s sad, and beautiful and awesome.

Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds – We No Who U R by Music Is Life…

Lemonade: “Big Changes (JDH and Chupacabras Remix)

Earlier this year, Lemonade put out a really sharp record on True Panther called Diver. It was a really solid album that should’ve made a bigger, ahem, splash. [Is this thing on? Yeesh.] Regardless, the awesome thing about a record like this is, in time, it becomes a discovery. A cherished thing that finds it’s audience. In the meantime, they’ve released a couple of hot remixes of album tracks, the first was Jacques Renault’s remix of “Neptune and now this very rad remix of “Big Changes” by Fixed NYC’s JDH and Chupacabras.

05 Big Changes (JDH and Chupacabras Remix) by LemonadeMusic

San Laurentino: “Stardust Road”

At the risk of making it sound like a descriptor of some franchise CoffeeShops coffee blend (which is admittedly pretty gnarly)  mysterious Hungarian producer San Laurentino’s new EP for Throne of Blood’s Let’s Play House imprint is a wintery and cool, but startlingly emotive, slab of vinyl. Although it’s super laid back in it’s approach, it’s House grooves and claps are in all the right places, laying a solid foundation for the shimmering trance-inducing melodys. “Stardust Road” is the sound of snow falling on a rave at 3am.

San Laurentino – Stardust Road 12″ (side – B2, Let’s Play House) Preview by San Laurentino

Casino Times: “Trust”

Since we’re on the subject of House, I’d be remiss if I didn’t point out a track that I’ve literally played every show for the past few weeks and will continue to, because although I encounter a lot of heaters, this one is undoubtedly of the hottest jams to cross my headphones in months.

I haven’t been able to suss out much information about Casino Times, this pair of young new producers from somewhere abouts London. But frankly, an introduction is hardly necessary as their first 12″ for the Needwant label speaks volumes and is all the introduction you might need. (Want? No. That’s not nice.) The second A-side off the single, “Trust” is a gorgeous “hello and how do you do?” and let’s you know they came to jam. Nice to meet you too Casino Times dudes.

Trust by Casino Times