Best New Music

Last year, new DFA artist Larry Gus (Panagiotis Melidis) released and gave away his first full length album “Silent Congas“ as a free download.
A trippy, sample-based beat record, it was a response and love letter to the MPC God J Dilla and artists like Koushik and Caribou. A solid DFA debut, it actually sits quite well in the mix with all those artists.
Recently, DFA’s just …

RAC can’t go wrong.
I’m yet to meet a RAC remix I don’t like and our latest favorite is his take on Bastille’s track “Laura Palmer”.

The British band Bastille released their debut album last month and it debuted at #1 in the UK.
As soon as Jason starting spinning the remix, he heard from the band, which says a lot about KCRW’s global reach. It’s a …

Several releases into a fine discography, local husband and wife duo Rainbow Arabia have crafted a consistent sound that is equal parts 80s synthpop and “World” music. Like Bjork’s excursions into polyethnicity, the duo’s sound fetishistically fused North African desert rhythms and Middle Eastern percussion with the neon glow of early MTV. 

On their follow-up to 2011′s Boys and Diamonds, they’ve turned up the glow. …

When I set aside a few hours to listen to new music, most of it is fine, but rarely is it special. However, in the midst of all that, the diamonds really shine through.
I’m not a huge folk fan, but when I saw a CD from a band called Holy Folk, I had to listen based on their sense of humor alone.
Come to find …

Big Beat pioneers The Chemical Brothers are legend. 20 years on, the signature squelch that was present from inception on “Song to the Siren” still bangs on  ”Swoon” off 2010′s Furthur.
The past few years found them touring incessantly, releasing an album, scoring a film (Hanna,) releasing another album and a live concert film.
Understandably, they’ve taken a year off…however, considering their tireless search for the perfect beat, Brother …

We’ve been big fans of The Boxer Rebellion’s driving melodic rock since their 2009 album “Union” and the lead single for their latest effort, “Diamonds”, is an intoxicating track that indicates the best is yet to come.

From Jason Bentley:
“The music and lyrics of The Boxer Rebellion churn with a gravitational pull that is undeniable, each song building a roiling intensity throughout “Promises”. It’s apparent …

Just thought I’d drop by the ol’ KCRW Music Blog to play my latest song-of-the-minute for you. “Cindy + Me” is a new single from Brooklyn’s Caged Animals.
Built around a sample from Raymond Scott’s “Cindy Electronium” (1959), this track is just the right combination of catchy, novelty and creepy.
On Caged Animals‘ Facebook page, Vincent Caccione says, “It’s a song I wrote about stealing cars …

I first heard this track on DJ Travis Holcombe’s show yesterday and it completely stopped me in my tracks.
Quadron singer Coco O harnesses her vocal power (and sensuality) perfectly, soaring over a drum n bass beat and a jazzy old-timey piano melody. The combination of these three things, and the lyrics, make it an utterly enthralling mix.
“I just want to have a good time. …

Anyone who follows this blog knows I’m a sucker for a good soul song – old OR new.
And sometimes it’s hard to tell the difference, like in the case of a track Jason spun earlier this week by Myron & E called “If I Gave You My Love”.
LA’s excellent label Stones Throw is releasing their debut album “Broadway” on July 2 and this is …

Raul Campos gave this track a spin last night while I was driving around Hollywood.
I love a great late-night driving song and this one got me because it quietly builds until you hit the 2:11 minute mark and then it steps it up a notch, then again a minute later with some background vocals. It’s a lovely musical journey through sound.
It was only after …