Hot Jam of the Day

Hot Jam of the Day: Ciara x Future, “Anytime”

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

Ciara x Future
“Anytime”
Digital Single

If I was still eligible to go prom, this would be the ideal last song. The Royal Family get all devotional over deliciously gauzy synth-scapes and razor-sharp hi-hats. If you didn’t buy “Drunk In Love” (aka “You Are Not Alone” 2.0), “Anytime” will likely be more your speed, as unlike Jayonce, CiCi and Future have actual discernable chemistry and actually feel like they sleep together.

It also works so well, because they just fit each other perfectly. Future is content to fall back and let his lady drive, and just absolutely nail all of his parts in his signature style. They are a devastating combination. It’s wistful, sexy, and just a little melancholy. In other words, it’s everything a great love song should be, and “Anytime” marks another successful collaboration between the two of them. I fucking love this.

Hot Jam of the Day: Oscar Key Sung, “Holograms”

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

Oscar Key Sung
“Holograms”
Holograms EP (out 3/3 on Two Bright Lakes)

The Melbourne-based singer-songwriter is finally set to drop his debut EP, and the disc’s title track is an subtly exquisite, down-tempo slab of 90’s R&B-influenced modern soul. The shadowy vocalist’s work is probably best filed next to the work of emotional, progressivists like Autre Ne Veut, How to Dress Well, and Jai Paul — artists who naturally sway a little closer to the margins.

Hot Jam of the Day: Cyril Hahn x Javeon, “Breaking”

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

Cyril Hahn x Javeon
“Breaking”
20 Square Feet in Acton (PMR Records Compilation, out TBD)

PMR + Javeon McCarthy + Cyril Hahn = Guaranteed success. Enough said. Though the world is still waiting for debut LPs from each of them, both Hahn and McCarthy have proven extremely consistent hit-makers, and this single stands up to anything in either of their back catalogues. “Breaking” is the kind of inch-perfect heater that perfectly combines the things that make each artist stand-out: Hahn’s sweltering, bass-driven production and McCarthy’s graceful, evocative croon. Hopefully, this won’t be their only collaboration, but if it is, it’s a special one.

Hot Jam of the Day: Sun Kil Moon, “Micheline”

Posted on February 3, 2014 by TP1.COM in Hot Jam of the Day | Comments Off

Sun Kil Moon
“Micheline”
Benji (out Feb 11 on Caldo Verde)

This has been out since late last year, but I still wanted to re-visit it, as we are only one week away from the release of Mark Kozelek’s triumphant, Benji. The 47 year-old is one of music’s finest storytellers, struggling to find meaning in the average lives of the people who have flitted in and out of Kozelek’s life.

On the crushingly beautiful “Micheline,” Kozelek fixes his gaze on three very different people: a developmentally disabled childhood neighbor, a high-school friend who “had an awkward way of playing barre chords,” and, finally, his grandmother. Though he doesn’t embellish or sugarcoat, he paints his subjects with dignity, humanity, and honesty, searching for the hearts of their stories and the things that make them special. February 11th cannot come soon enough.

Quick Jam: Keep Shelly in Athens, “Old Time Glory”

Posted on January 30, 2014 by TP1.COM in Hot Jam of the Day | Comments Off

Keep Shelly in Athens
“Old Time Glory”
Digital Single (Cascine)

Another slice of Balearic pop bliss for this chilly January day, the Greek duo’s lovely “Old Time Glory” recalls why they were so hotly tipped when they burst onto the scene a few years back. Sadly, the single came with the news that their wispy, dreamy vocalist, Sarah P, is moving on to other things, though the KSIA pledges to carry on with a new vocalist. It’s a nice cap on this chapter of their career and serves as a reminder that winter is always followed by summer.

Hot Jam of the Day: Yumi Zouma – “A Long Walk Home for Parted Lovers”

Posted on January 30, 2014 by TP1.COM in Hot Jam of the Day | Comments Off

Yumi Zouma
“A Long Walk Home for Parted Lovers”
Yumi Zouma (out 2/10 on Cascine)

A third glistening cut from the New Zealand dream-pop trio’s upcoming 4-song EP, “A Long Walk Home for Parted Lovers” is another impeccably crafted slab of sepia-tinged nostalgia. It’s been especially well-received by my earbuds, as the east coast is in the midst of a fuckkkking frigid winter. However, tracks like this make those balmy nights and long afternoons feel not that far away.

Also, check out their gorgeous first single, “The Brae.”

Hot Jam of the Day: Actress, “Rap”

Posted on January 24, 2014 by TP1.COM in Hot Jam of the Day | Comments Off

Actress
“Rap”
Ghettoville (out 1/28 on Ninja Tune)

The wait for Darren “Actress” Cunningham’s massively-awaited 4th LP is nearing an end, and today we finally get a real taste of the main course. “Rap” is a surprisingly straightforward cut from the shadowy producer, built around a screwed, druggy vocal loop and a crawling, monolithic backbeat. The only thing we know about Ghettoville is that we have no fucking clue what it will sound like, but as he’s proven his whole career, the Londoner is the rare mystery door that never lets you down. Roll on the 28th!

Hot Jam of the Day: August Alsina, “Sucka” (DJ Sliiink, DJ Hoodboi, Trippy Turtle Remix)

Posted on January 22, 2014 by TP1.COM in Hot Jam of the Day | Comments Off

After being buried in a sea of lists, I’m finally ready to kick the new year off (only three weeks late!). Thanks again to all who continue to visit, and I’ll do my best to keep getting better and covering more music, more regularly. 2013 was a massive year in music, and here’s to an even better 2014.

August Alsina
“Sucka” (DJ Sliiink & DJ Hoodboi & Trippy Turtle Remix)
Digital Single

The current pied pipers of Jersey Club get their hands on the NOLA crooner’s Lloyd-assisted banger, and awesomeness ensues. The caffeinated, frenetic Jersey sound looks set to be the next to blow, and a quick perusal of all three artists’ Soundcloud accounts are a great place to get started. It also serves as even more incentive for you to get into one of the most underrated artists in R&B.

Hot Jams of the Day: Two New PMR Gems from Javeon and Dornik

Posted on December 2, 2013 by TP1.COM in Featured, Hot Jam of the Day | Comments Off

Programming Note: Thunder Penguin will be mostly dark for the next few weeks, while I work on some year-end lists. They should (key word: should) start popping up by the third week of December. Thanks for your continued readership.

Javeon
“Give Up”
Give Up (out 12.15 on PMR)

Dornik
“Rebound”
From Forthcoming PMR Release

PMR caps off a banner year with new tracks from a pair of R&B’s brightest new voices. Javeon (formerly Javeon McCarthy) has been kicking around for a while, and his most recent material shows an impressive maturation from his excellent early work. On the other hand, Dornik — who is also Jessie Ware’s drummer — has only released two tracks thus far, and “Rebound” is a worthy, similarly soulful successor to his stunning debut single, “Something About You.” PMR continues to be a leader in the forward-thinking R&B/dance/pop/garage scene that has been the sound of the last couple of years, and long may it continue.

Hot Jam of the Day: Cashmere Cat, “With Me”

Posted on November 25, 2013 by TP1.COM in Hot Jam of the Day | Comments Off

Cashmere Cat
“With Me”
Wedding Bells EP (out January ’14 on LuckyMe)

Producer/DJ/songwriter/all-around chill Norwegian dude, Cashmere Cat is back with a new original to follow his genre-defining debut 2012 EP, Mirror Maru. The 25 year-old (né Magnus August Høiberg) doesn’t disappoint, as “With Me” is another trademark emotive dance-ish cut with a characteristically deft vocal sample. He has always had an incredible knack for creating tracks that just flow effortlessly from movement to movement — leaving the listener with engulfing pocket symphonies that open themselves up more with each successive listen.

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