Ela Orleans

I've been intrigued by Ela Orleans since I Know was featured on Grrrzzly's first mixtape at the beginning of this year. My obsession solidified with her inclusion on two separate label compilations for Beko. Along with label-mate Dirty Beaches, Ela Orleans is the leader of the pack in extending the current weirdo-vintage trend into the 50s. Her 12" split with Dirty Beaches is about to be released on La Station Radar (an incredible label thats essentially forming the impending 50s revival) and there are another three records coming from Ela in the coming year. Watch two Neo-Noir performance videos and grab the new track from Clandestine's Beko compilation below.

Ela Orleans "Myriads" from movies for ears on Vimeo.

Ela Orleans "Beat Goes On" from movies for ears on Vimeo.

Light at Dawn - Ela Orleans

Jay Reatard

Today is the one year anniversary of Jay Reatard's (Real name: Jimmy Lindsey Jr.) death. It was a Sunday and I remember driving to church with a mix CD I'd burned for myself in the car. Aint gonna Save me was the song in the very middle of the mixtape. If you're unfamiliar, the outro to "Aint gonna save me" goes "All is lost there is no hope" for about a minute. I remember rewinding that outro for the entire car ride over and over again. As depressing as that may sound, it really wasn't. Jay's music is so full of life and energy that I just had to hear the outro over and over to stop me from being bummed. Regardless, I just knew music wouldn't be the same with Jay, and a year later I still feel like there is a huge gap missing. Shamefully, I didn't get into Jay until his last album, and I'm still working through his insanely prolific life's work(over 20 albums in about 10 years). So the three songs I'm featuring don't even come close to portraying the range of Jay's work. Pitchfork has a very thoughtful article up on Jay's life from friends and associates that is more worthy of your time than this post is, and it also mentions all the Jay related memorabilia and releases that will be coming out this year.

Jay Reatard - It Ain't Gonna Save Me

Jay Reatard - Frances Farmer will Have Her Revenge

The Lost Sounds - I Get Nervous

Featured: Bradley Hathaway

I've had the good fortune to see Bradley Hathaway live four or five times, and every time he managed to transform his entire show into something new. I remember one particular night sitting cross-legged on the floor, crying in public when one of Bradley's poems was exactly what I needed to hear. Bradley released the "1000 Angry Panthers" EP earlier this year, a follow up to his 2009 LP "Mouth Full of Dust." Mouth Full of Dust and Angry Panthers are incredibly brave records for a Christian artist; instead of sugar coating the desperation and tragedy of sin, they highlight them while never losing sight of redemption. Bradley has posted a few thoughts on his Myspace that explore the same general themes with a more personal touch; definitely worth your time.

Read Barbra Streisand and Baby

Covered in the Blood - Bradley Hathaway

The Hug Poem (the poem that made me cry!)

Teen Daze

Teen Daze, signed to my favorites Arcade Sounds churn out chillwave remixes like mad, but increased quantity doesn't mean decreased quality with these guys. Although I personally enjoy their remixes more than their original songs, don't take those for granted either! Their 8 song debut EP "Four More Years" was released this summer. Anyways, I'll just post some of my favorite Teen Daze remixes, a teen daze original, and (now try and stay with me here) a dechillwaved version of one of his own songs! Presented below in easy to understand chemical reaction form.

Teen Daze + (different artist's) not chillwave song --> chillwave remix.

O.N.E- Yeasayer (teen daze remix)

Wide Eyes - Local Natives (teen daze remix)

Wet Hair - Japandroids (teen daze remix)

End of Days - Gobble Gobble(teen daze remix)

Beach City - Dream Cop (teen daze remix)

Or

Teen Daze --> (original) chillwave song --> not chillwave acoustic version.

For Paulina- Teen Daze

For Paulina (acoustic) - Teen Daze (via thefmly)

Featured: Freak R&B

Nobody seems to have a good genre name for the type of music I'm going to post today, but the best I've heard so far is Freak R&B. Its not great but hey, if there can be freak folk there can be Freak R&B too. Samples, otherworldly synths and falsetto, production that makes the songs sounds like they were recorded at the bottom of a well, and huge inspiration from bedroom projects can all be expected from Freak R&B. I'll share some of my favorite tracks now! Have a great weekend everybody!

STRT SRNS - Wise Blood

I only know three things about Wise Blood. First off, p4k likes him. Also, as much as I associate his music with this guy he actually looks like this. And Finally I know that he makes absolutely world domination worthy jams. Wise Blood's '+' has been on constant repeat for me lately. You can download the whole thing right here!

Decisions - How to Dress Well

How To Dress Well has been everywhere on the internet lately. But nothing he's put out has really caught my attention until this one, the penultimate track on his new LP Love Remains, which comes out Tuesday!

Future Body-Birthdays and Cough Cool

Honestly, I don't even remember how this song got on my iPod, but since then I've checked out both Cough Cood and Birthdays and both seem a bit heavier on the freak and lighter on the R&B than their collaboration.

Coma Cinema

Coma Cinema didn't make it on to my best so far list but I've spent a significant portion of the last 2 months jamming to their album Stoned Alone released in June, particularly the short but sweet "Come on Apathy!

Blue suicide is their new album, coming out sometime soon(no official date yet). Check out a new track to be featured on Blue Suicide called "Business as Usual" along with my personal favorite "Come on Apathy"

Business As Usual

Come on Apathy!

Last but certainly not least, download all of Stoned Alone and 2009's Baby Prayers here.