Chormatics

This is a great new band for Portland. They're part of a larger group of musicians trying to revamp disco influences and I think Chromatics might be the best in this contingent. The song "Lady" above has a really great housey, ravey electronic hook, reminiscent of Blondes and maybe Forma. That cool disco-kraftwerk vibe. Also, the lead singer is smokin'...

Willis Earl Beal

This guy is truly amazing. Willis Earl Beal is an "outsider" artist from the south-side of Chicago. Apparently, he's 27 and has spent most of his time living with his mom, visiting his grandmother and singing to loved ones over the phone. It's a real honour to be able to post up artists like this. It's not often that someone from outside the music industry drops your jaw (though I'd imagine that we had access to hear everybody, the world would be a much better place). Anyway, he's now singed on to an important indie label, was flown to New York and signed a contract while drinking champagne and eating lobster sandwiches with Damon Albran. His music moves from noise to folk to bluesy, soulful howling to standing on street corners, singing and clapping. Apparently, he'd like to be "a black Tom Waits". The song evening's kiss is astoundingly sweet, beautiful and naive. Also, you can watch him singing underneath a bridge on the South-Side below:

SOKO

SOKO is a French folk musician and she has a beautiful new song with an equally beautiful video to go with it. It's a very cute and cosy piece with careful, catchy little guitar licks that change tempo through the different phases of the song. I love how the dark haired guy in the video is so gender-ambiguous. The grainy images in the video feel like a distant memory of early, but not forgotten love. All this, combined with some heart-wrenching lyrics, make for a really moving experience.