Hot Jam of the Day

Hot Jam of the Day: Sd Laika, “Great God Pan”

Posted on April 16, 2014 by TP1.COM in Hot Jam of the Day | Comments Off

SD Laika
“Great God Pan”
That’s Harakiri (out 04.28 on Tri Angle)

I’ve devoted plenty of words to spooky Wisconsin producer, Peter Runge, in recent weeks, but we just got the second taste of his uber-hyped debut effort for Tri Angle. “Great God Pan” isn’t quite as harrowing as the outstanding, “Meshes,” but it packs the same slaughterhouse vibezzz. It’s impossible to really call anything original nowadays, but Runge is coming close here, as it’s extremely hard to put your finger on what this sounds like. We’ve heard terms like “deconstructed grime” and “industrial” thrown around, but none of them quite fit. It’ll be fascinating to hear how his uncompromising sound works over 30-40 minutes, and I cannot wait to find out.

Hot Jam of the Day: Kid Smpl, “Silo Tear”

Posted on April 15, 2014 by TP1.COM in Hot Jam of the Day | Comments Off

Kid Smpl
“Silo Tear”
Silo Tear EP (out 05.05 on Hush Hush)

The Seattle producer’s enveloping sound lies somewhere between the dancefloor and the factory floor, gorgeously weaving between an alluring human touch and the cold steel of heavy machinery. Opening with some post-Burial vocal longings, “Silo Tear” glides into an aqueous, mantric groove, punctuated with sporadic percussion and drippy sonic filigree. It ultimately resolves to an industrial, chaotic movement before disappearing without a trace. It’s an excellent stand-alone piece, but it’s the kind of single that feels like it is best heard in the context of a full statement. Roll on May 5.

Hot Jam of the Day: Lana Del Rey, “West Coast”

Posted on April 15, 2014 by TP1.COM in Hot Jam of the Day | Comments Off

Lana Del Rey
“West Coast”
Ultraviolence (out this summer on Interscope)

Though she’s released a string of dross since the stunning 2011 singles, “Video Games” and “Blue Jeans,” the 27 year-old manages to recapture some of that Old Hollywood magic that made her early work remarkable. It could be down to the touch of producer Dan Auerbach, but I’d also imagine that stepping away from the harsh glow of the limelight was a good thing for Ms. Lana. All of her post-“Blue Jeans” work has been listless and tepid, the sound of a person beaten down by years of life in front of the camera.

Sounding like an artist well into her 40s, it looked like she was already a spent force, but “West Coast” shows signs of life. While it has its fair share of eye-rolling lyrics (“Down on the West Coast, we’ve got a saying. / If you’re not drinking, you’re not playing.”), her voice glides over a taut, single-note guitar riff that unfolds into an expansive, breezy chorus. Auerbach’s influence is all over this thing, and his bluesy sensibilities form an effective foil for her carefree, vapid vocals, giving her music a weight that it has been sorely lacking in recent years. It remains to be seen whether this is a one-off or a sign of things to come, but it’s nice to see her get her mojo back.

Hot Jam of the Day: MNEK, “Every Little Word”

Posted on April 14, 2014 by TP1.COM in Hot Jam of the Day | Comments Off

MNEK
“Every Little Word”
Upcoming Debut LP (out soon on Virgin)

After a handful of fantastic singles and a slew of production credits, the 19 year-old is finally ready for his close-up. Lead single, “Every Little Word,” distills much of what makes the Londoner (né Uzoechi Osisioma Emenike) such a rising star. Built around a buoyant arraignment “Every Little Word” matches inch-perfect craft with progressive, sticky songwriting, resulting in a great pop song that sounds great too. Though MNEK’s work is littered with timeless 80s and 90s references, his tracks always sound incredibly current, and this is no exception.

Hot Jam of the Day: Young Thug, “Stoner” (Evian Christ Remix)

Posted on April 11, 2014 by TP1.COM in Hot Jam of the Day | Comments Off

Young Thug
“Stoner” (Evian Christ Remix)
Digital Single

The rising Liverpudlian producer’s having a pretty awesome year so far. He recently confirmed that he will be a part of Kanye’s new project, and his 4-song EP, Waterfall, got excellent reviews across the board. He laces his industrial-tinged touch to Thugga Thugga’s ubiquitous original to devastating effect. The resulting is a sparse, imposing three-minute sonic roller coaster.

Hot Jam of the Day: Future x Kanye West, “I Won”

Posted on April 8, 2014 by TP1.COM in Hot Jam of the Day | Comments Off

Future x Kanye West
“I Won”
Honest (out 04.22 on Freebandz/Epic)

Considering the number of words I’ve devoted to these two, it’s no surprise that I fucking love this. I’m as excited about Honest as any album in the last few years, and tracks like this are indicative of the main reason why. On his brilliant debut, Pluto (2012), Future (né Nayvadius Wilburn) flashed the potential of a true crossover superstar, hinting that he might be able to grow from a thrilling, risiung MC into a full-fledged, progressive songwriter, who could have a major hand in dragging pop music forward. From early returns, the 30 year-old is set to fulfill that promise, carving out a new brand of pop music and leaving a trail of copycats in his wake. While potential is certainly precious, fulfilled potential is one of the rarest commodities on earth, and it’s beautiful to watch it bloom in front of our very eyes.

Hot Jam of the Day: Young Thug, “Treasure” (f/ Zuse)

Posted on April 8, 2014 by TP1.COM in Featured, Hot Jam of the Day | Comments Off

Young Thug
“Treasure” (f/ Zuse)
Digital Single

If you’re still not sold on Atlanta’s Jeffrey “Young Thug” Williams, I don’t know what to tell you. Since the release of 2013’s brilliant, 1017 Thug mixtape, Williams has cranked out envelope-pushing, breathtaking deconstructionist trap anthems, crafting tracks as unpredictable and fractured as his public persona. In classic Internet fashion, the narrative has focused on the least interesting facets of the 21 year-old (who he’s sleeping with, what he’s wearing) rather than his revelatory music. Simply put, Williams has the potential to take the throne from Gucci Mane as Southern rap’s most fascinating, influential fringe MC, and tracks like this are the ticket to get him there. Producer Dun Deal (who also produced Thug’s ubiquitous, “Stoner”) deserves a mention as well, as his distressed, wonky arraignments provide the ideal canvas for Williams to smear his frenetic delivery over.

Hot Jam of the Day: How to Dress Well, “Repeat Pleasure”

Posted on April 5, 2014 by TP1.COM in Hot Jam of the Day | Comments Off

How to Dress Well
“Repeat Pleasure”
What is This Heart? (out 06.24 on Weird World)

On Thursday, St. Tom Krell blessed us with the second single from his upcoming third LP — my most anticipated album of 2014. Though Krell has been lumped with the rest of the progressive R&B scene, that has always seemed an awkward, superficial marriage. In reality, the Chicago resident has always operated outside the boundaries of any genre — crafting a sound and aesthetic that is all his own. When you consider tracks like this and recent single, “Words I Don’t Remember,” it’s remarkable how far he’s come from his shadowy, noise-soaked early work, while remaining true to his singular, original spirit. It reminds us that you can grow and develop without losing yourself along the way.

Hot Jam of the Day: IYES, “Breathe”

Posted on April 1, 2014 by TP1.COM in Hot Jam of the Day | Comments Off

IYES
“Breathe”
Digital Single

Fresh off their ear-bending leading single, “‘Til Infinity,” and Antony-channeling Bey/Jay cover (not the one you think), the Brighton sexy-time duo return with another on-point single. Their alluring emotionalism and XX-ish boy/girl vocals are in full-effect here, and the duo’s use of pitch-shifted vocals continues to work a trick. The swirling, hypnotic arraignment beautifully surrounds Melis Soyaslanová and Josh Christopher simultaneously vulnerable and confident vocals, and it all culminates with a remarkable, engulfing climax.

Hot Jam of the Day: EMA, “3Jane”

Posted on March 29, 2014 by TP1.COM in Hot Jam of the Day | Comments Off

EMA
“3Jane”
The Future’s Void (out 04.08 on Matador)

Cathartic post-rocker, Erika M. Anderson’s follow-up to 2011’s emotional suckerpunch, Past Life Martyred Saints, is just around the corner. Its third single shows what makes her open-hearted, dear-diary style so arresting. “3Jane” deals with the harrowing fall-out from releasing an album as personal and honest as Past Life Martyred Saints.

She articulately deals with the disassociation and anxiety that rose from feeling like she “blew her soul out across the Interwebs.” She candidly admits that the whole experience “left a whole so big inside of me.” However, in typical defiant fashion, the South Dakota-native meets the truth head-on and pens an insightful, personal story, which doubles as a stinging editorial on our lives in the social media age. Stunning.

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