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...