Clams Casino

Holy fuck! Everything this bro puts out is completely killer, but I only recently heard the track (above) called "I'm God". Wait until you get to the first chorus - from that point on the song becomes one of smoothest, chillest, catchiest things I've heard in a while. Honestly, the song is so dangerously close to sex that playing it around the world might actually solve overpopulation...

UPDATE: Fuck! As if this song couldn't get better, apparently Lil' B has rapped over it. Makes sense since Clams Casino is Lil' B's producer. Check it out above.

Cloud Nothings with Steve Albini

This new track from Cleveland's Cloud Nothings is off of their upcoming album which was recorded near my old flat in Chicago with (personal music hero) Steve Albini. MY GOD. Hearing about this collaboration makes me excessively giddy. Both parties have given me a lot of great memories. One of the best concerts I saw last year was the Cloud Nothings show at an old DIY music dive called Ronny's. It was one of the last shows at Ronny's before the cops came and busted the place for not having a liquor or music licence. But ever since that concert, I've been totally hooked on Cloud Nothings. And Steve Albini recording their new album... shit... you can't get anyone better. Albini is, of course, one of the fathers of noise-rock and has recorded albums by the Pixies and Nirvana to name a few at his little studio in Logan Square.  This is gonna be killer.

Ezra Furman and the Harpoons

New video of Ezra and his bandmates playing around on Chicago's north-shore. Ezra has  been one of Chicago's better bards over the past few years. If you ever get the chance to see them live go go go!

Peaking Lights

Pretty cool min-documentary from Madison, Wisconsin based band Peaking Lights. It features some footage of their performance at Chicago's MCA (gutted to not have been there) along with their adorable baby. This is a great new band. Really chill, walking that fine line between experimental music and vaguely poppy rock.

Fennesz Sakamoto

Here's a wonderfully minimal track from the recent collaboration between Austrian experimental musician Fennesz and Japanese composer Sakamoto. Sakamoto's piano chords wander both elegantly and aimlessly around Fennesz's ambient electronics.

Noveller

I've been listening to Brooklyn-based experimental guitarist Noveller a lot recently. I first saw her at the Neon Marshmallow Festival in Chicago a little while back (video of her performance above). She's a student of Glenn Branca who, for those who don't know, basically taught Sonic Youth how to play guitar. Very creative shit. 

Ice Age

I know this band exploded onto the scene a while ago, but it's taken me forever to really listen to them. Surprised it took me so long particularly because they're from Denmark and I usually gush over anything Scandinavian. Anyway, this shit makes me so happy I contemplated jumping out of my second story window after jumping around my room and knocking everything over. I mean, do I really need anymore life experiences after hearing this...

Salem

So Chicago/Traverse City band Salem has a new EP out. Seems like the track getting the most attention is this completely killer cover of Alice Deejay's euro-dance track 'Better Off Alone'. I can hear the similarities, but Salem has really taken the original track to a completely different level. I feel like people either get this band or don't. Personally, I think their stuff has changed the game for experimental/indie music. Some other tracks off the new EP below.

Hear Hums

Just found out about this band, whilst internet-stalking Grimes. REALLY impressive stuff. If you like loopy, enchanting, experimental music that creates an environment, then this is the shit. Reminds me a little of Lucky Dragons and Sun Araw. Oh, and early Animal Collective at times too.

Dawn Golden and Rosy Cross

I almost forgot about this band. This is a relatively new Chicago band that's been picking up blogging steam recently. Also, I feel like they are strangely little known to Chicagoans. They don't play shows often and aren't really around the "scene" so much... But, their music is super haunting, beautiful and emotive. The video above is really killer and twisted. I expect a lot of good things from Dawn Golden...

More Keep Shelly in Athens

Because it's the most adorable music-video on the planet.

Keep Shelly in Athens

Beautiful new track from the Greek band Keep Shelly in Athens. Completely killer drum machine, very graceful piano loop and a tasteful amount of emotion throughout.

Salem

Chicago/Michigan band Salem just posted up this new track. They've got one of the most original sounds in music today. This one is super abrasive almost like they've been foraying into metal on top of all the goth, footwork, dubstep, juke shit they usually go in for...

Purity Ring

Why did it take me so long to listen to Purity Ring? Delightful, more upbeat take on the new-wave of Burial inspired dubstep. The video is amazing.

Here's another great song by them. I'll be listening to Purity Ring for a very very long time I think.

Boy Friend

Here's one of Boy Friend's first tracks. They're a band from Austin that used to be a part of Sleep ∞ Over and have just signed onto a Berlin label. Whoever the primary songwriter is, she's got a talent for making really infectious, icy, airy and ultimately a little sinister songs. Very promising stuff. 

U.S. Girls

U.S. Girls has a new album. Just saw the reviews today. I remember getting into a Yellow Swans concert too early (maybe about four years ago now!) at the Fulton Art Collective back in Chicago and seeing U.S. Girls for the first time. Her live set blew me away. At that time her stuff was much more abrasive. I went up to one of the members of Yellow Swans after the show and asked where U.S. Girls was cause I wanted to buy some of her music. Apparently she only had one copy of her music at the time burned onto a CD and I made her go back to her car and get the album for me. Now she's scoring 7.9's on P4K. Funny world. Anyway, her music is great. Sounds like... I don't know... taking the Supremes and sending them to hell.

Her older stuff was more primitive and disturbing. Like this:

Ghostpoet

Got this off my friend Ceci. This is so laid-back is puts Snoop Dog to shame.

Steve Hauschildt

Beautiful new track from the Emeralds synth-guru. The track really has a life of it's own.

Grimes

Get a new take on Pop.

Holy Other - Touch (Live)

One of my favourite musicians this year. There's a lot of electronic artists making dark music out of dubstep and R&B samples nowadays, but Holy Other executes it better than most.

Quilt

Holy Jesus mother-fucker, this is SUCH an amazing band. They're from Boston and they're called Quilt. Basically, the've taken early 90's slacker rock and mixed it with 60's hippie groups and ended up with something very much their own. Completely beautiful stuff.

Grunge Revival...

So, there's a huge grunge revival going on at the moment and I'm completely stoked. London's "Yuck" above is probably the most well crafted of these guys, but don't forget about the up-and-commers like...

Olympia's Milk Music

Chicago's Brain Idea (fucking love this song)

There are a lot of others but this is probably good for the moment...  

El Guincho - Bombay

Just because it's the best music video on the planet.

Glass Candy

Ha ha, I love how this one goes from U2 to dance party to a cheesy disco monologue...

Oneohtrix Point Never

 Oh. My. God. Oneohtrix Point Never also has a new album! Amazing all that you miss when you're finalising some arguments about truth being a conservative extension of any theory T such that.... never  mind.

Atlas Sound

Holy shit, Atlas Sound's new album is out!

Errors

Killer track from the Glaswegian band Errors. 

Holy Other Fan Video

Adorable/sinister Holy Other fan video...

Angel Olsen

Angel Olsen isn't blogged about enough.

Estasy

Been listening to this experimental musician from Italy a lot recently. He's only got about 5 songs that I know of so far -- each with a beautiful video. Two of the best are above. Sparse, overheated, ethereal music from heaven with a heart-breaking falsetto that'll kill you in your tracks.