Blitz The Ambassador - African In New York

Ghana native Blitz The Ambassador has floated cleanly under any sort of radar, but the new "African In New York" could change that pretty soon. The crafty, instantly catchy track dives right into the transplants feelings away from homes, brimming with samples everywhere from Jay Z to Coming To America (hence the artwork).

Stream it below. Blitz The Ambassador's The Warm Up EP is slated to come out next month.

Mix: Pearson Sound's Guide to the Music of Dave Huisman

Days ahead of Hessle Audio's August 2 set at Fabric in London, label co-founder Pearson Sound has strung together a mix of tracks from Dutch producer Dave Huisman. The name might not be terribly well known, considering Huisman has an array of aliases, including as A Made Up Sound, Dogdaze, and 2562 - whom he will be performing as during the August 2 set. Stream/download the entire mix below and head over to FACT for the tracklist.

New Ras G & The Afrikan Space Program - _ G Spot Connection

Before the August 6 release of Back On The Planet, the cosmic-minded Ras G & The Afrikan Space Program have another oddball single with "_ G Spot Connection." Like most of Ras G's material, it's littered with shredded samples and diluted beats, all while keeping a dream-like rhythm in tow.

Stream "_G Spot Connection" below and pre-order Back On The Planet now, courtesy of Brainfeeder.

Jacques Greene - B1. Faithful

Canadian producer Jacques Greene has a new LP on the way this fall, but Lucky Me is offering limited vinyl copies of his brand new soulful endeavor, "B1. Faithful." The track, which features a mysterious vocalist that no one has seemed to figure out yet, is an unconscious gem, gliding ever so generously between bedroom pop and foggy urban soul. If you can't get your hands on a copy (side A is "One Your Side" featuring How To Dress Well), stream the track below.

New Paul White - Lolita

While he's been steady at work helping Danny Brown produce his next LP, UK producer Paul White is only a few days from unveiling his full Watch The Ants EP. The newest cut from the EP, which hits July 29 via One-Handed Music, is the heavy instrumental "Lolita." Pre-orders of the EP are still available. Otherwise, check out the new track below.

New King Khan & The Shrines video - Darkness

The second single from King Khan & The Shrines new album Idle No More, the first between King Khan and the band in nearly six years, features this surprisingly solemn ballad, "Darkness." It's a pretty obvious left turn from "Born To Die," which debuted last month - fitting much more neatly in the King Khan niche.

The new video comes from German animation team Hylas, which put together a claymation that explores the lost culture of the circus-era strongman. Check it out below.

Idle No More is due out September 3 on Merge.

Morgan's Pier, July 24 - Parquet Courts (Preview)

Word clawing through the filtered commentary on last weekend's Pitchfork Music Festival were that Parquet Courts - the New York-via-Texas DIY punk four-piece still reeling from January's debut Light Up Gold - were stoically efficient. Chicago Tribune manic music mind Greg Kot noted the band's performance as furiously quick, saying;

Parquet Courts piling songs together like bumper cars. Frantic pace then brief silence then back in. Yes #p4k
— Greg Kot (@gregkot) July 20, 2013

For some, the lack of flash may be too much. But for the band that so quickly found themselves daily on indie XM radio stations after only months of steadily raising their name from the cavernous swarm of fellow New York garage groups, Parquet Courts are striving with marvelous efficiency.

Kot later noted in his short-term study of the band that the guitar play leaves trails of glory from former New York garage icons Television. Obviously comparing any newfound flavors of the scene to the illustrious talents that put together Marquee Moon is fairly high, but it does give credit to the easy uniqueness of the group. But now rather than being a modern punk oddity, Parquet Courts is learning to thrive in its aesthetic, courting even more acclaim of the bright future ahead.

The band will be performing free tonight at Philadelphia's Morgan's Pier with Woods, continuing the venue's free summer concert series. The show is set to begin at 9 p.m. Check the Morgan's Pier website for more details.

Mixtape: Knxwledge - Hexual.Sealings.Prt.5

New Jersey/Philadelphia producer Knxwledge (now taking up residence in Los Angeles) has what seems to be his 400th release in 2013, Hexual.Sealings.Prt.5. The 8-track mix is fixates on mellowed out soul remixes and samples, even turning heads on his own "Suit & Tie" remix from Justin Timberlake.

Stream the effort below, or head to Knxwledge's Bandcamp to pitch in on one of his many releases.

Mixtape: Arca - &&&&&

One of the more curious inclusions on last month's Yeezus (which kinda gives some insight now on the direction of the record) was little-known producer Arca. Before his Kanye-assisted breakout, Arca had released a series of Stretch mixtapes, both hiding under 30 minutes a piece. The methods and production was, as they are on &&&&&, purely disorienting and cavernous. Blazing through the 14 tracks in the new 25-minute mix can leave one on empty, with Arca scaling all sorts of directions and auras. For the moment when blissful sincerity seems to creep through, around the end, you might forget the cataclysm that lead to that moment.

It's a pure joy and free to download as well.

New Washed Out video - Don't Give Up

Following the lustful chilled-out vibes that flow so effortlessly from Washed Out's young catalog, director Kate Moross paired the brand new "Don't Give Up" perfectly with natural imagery. The entire video is a well-shot travel through the animal kingdom, which always seems to come out at the right time of the year.

Check it out below and grab Washed Out's upcoming album Paracosm August 3 on Sub Pop.

New Homeboy Sandman - Easy Does It (ft. F. YC The Cynic and I Am Many)

With a new set of tour dates and an album on the way, Stones Throw alum Homeboy Sandman debuted the M Slago produced "Easy Does It." The piano-looped samples, live crowd echoes, and fist-first verses are easily reminiscent of the Queens rapper's early rap influences. There's a lightness in the moment, but that seems minimum compared to the world destroying verses from YC The Cynic and I Am Many, helping to drive it all home.

Sandman's next album, All That I Hold Dear, comes out August 6.

Album Stream: Ikonika - Aerotropolis

A week before UK producer Ikonika debuts her sophomore release Aerotropolis, Hyperdub is offering a full-stream of the album. The post-dub cataclysm is a mash of 80s-era synth progressions and dolled out house mindsets, mending through decades of different influences.

Listen to the whole effort via the widget below. Aerotropolis will be released July 29.

Dfalt video - Moon Milkshake

Animator and director Sam Cox has constructed a lovely piece of work for Dfalt's "Moon Milkshake," which comes from the producer's Helsinki Beat Tape (Part One), out now via Daylight Curfew.

The video focuses on the inner workings of a pie factory, and the expected doldrums coming from the industrial-patterned life, animated in an extremely clever fashion. Watch below.

Egadz - Giant Steps

Los Angeles producer and programmer Egadz debuted the frantically engaging "Giant Steps" earlier today, featured on his forthcoming Satellites LP. Before the July 30 release, which will also be available on a special USB designed drive, Egadz is also offering up a special "Space Beats" video game, available for iPhone, Android, and Windows 8 in the near future.

In the game, players score points by creating their own beats, which could make Satellite's into one of the year's best all-around releases.

Forest Swords - The Weight Of Gold

While the full-length debut of Forest Swords has seemed consistently on the horizon, August 26 will finally see the world-wide release of Engravings. Featured on the LP, which will be released by Tri Angle Records, will be the previously released "Thor's Stone" and the brand new, hypnotic "The Weight Of Gold."

The reverb guitar plays the major role in the track, which uses mostly traditional instrumentals and throaty haunting echoes. Pre-orders are available now. Otherwise, listen to the track below.

Illangelo - Crash Landing

Producer Illangelo, whose claim to fame resides more in his work with The Weeknd's 2011 trilogy of mixtapes, has a convexly interesting project on the way. August 20 will see the release of History Of Man, Illangelo's ten part concept LP based off the John Milton classic poem Paradise Lost. While some may be wary of the lofty aspirations, the LP's second part - "Crash Landing" - actually sounds fairly great. Check it out below.

New The Alchemist - Camp Registration (ft. Step Brothers, Action Bronson, Blu, and Domo Genesis)

Ultra-producer The Alchemist has accrued a fairly large array of friends in the rap game of the years. With an upcoming free EP on the way (which promotes that hat above), Alchemist recruited the likes of Step Brothers, Action Bronson, Blu, and Domo Genesis. And that's just for "Camp Registration."

The track, available to stream below, comes from a few different angles, taking wholesale composition changes midway through the series of verses. It will be featured on the aforementioned EP, which should be available soon.

New No Age - An Impression

West coast noise freak duo No Age turned the off-putting scales off balance with last month's "C'mon Stimmung," the first single from the band's upcoming Sub Pop release An Object. A few days back, the band debuted the decidedly less chaotic "An Impression," which, yes, features some distortion, but comes through as one of the clearer and more direct efforts of the band in recent memory. There's even orchestration in the home stretch, if you can believe it.

Stream the track below. An Object is due out August 20. Pre-orders can be made here.

Braids - In Kind

Director Angus Borsos took the cataclysmic epic "In Kind" from Braids forthcoming Flourish//Perish LP, and paired it ever-so finely with sets of wonderfully naturalistic shots. Song aside, the video itself is quite a marvel, making it at least the most beautiful of the year.

Check it out below. Flourish//Perish is set for release August 20 in the U.S. on Arbutus Records. Pre-orders are available here.

Download: Larry Gus - The Blue Flowers (Between Blue and Blue); Madlib beats

Mad genius producer Madlib, perhaps more so than any relevant artist today, has enough produced material to last him several lifetimes already. From side-project efforts, to solo work, and co-oped material, the West coast icon seemingly never runs out of material. And the best part of that for fans is that his catalog seems constantly new, even if its stored in archives or lost in DJ sets. In DFA alum Larry Gus' new "The Blue Flowers (Between Blue and Blue)" mix, the producer travels through 54 minutes of Madlib's material, much of which will still be new to most listeners.

See for yourself below.

Run The Jewels video - 36" Chain

Go back to May of last year. Then, El-P debuted the video for "Full Retard," starring himself and his obscene puppet counterpart, Mr. Killums, who went missing by the video's end. A year later, with Run The Jewels in full force, director Tim Saccenti starts to unravel the mystery of his disappearance with the new video for "36" Chain."

The video follows El-P and counterpart Killer Mike searching for answers through a seedy apartment complex, getting answers from Andrew W.K., Amber Tamblyn, Heems, and others through all the violence necessary.

Watch the video below and grab (you gotta) Run The Jewels today for free at Fool's Gold.

New Keep Shelly In Athens - Recollection

Aptly titled Athenians Keep Shelly In Athens have been numerating indie blogs since 2010, with mini-albums, EPs, and singles galore. After releasing the group's first two 12" efforts - In Love With Dusk and Our Own Dream - as a combined 12" last year, the first official full-length is on the way.

The first single from At Home, "Recollection," revisits the atmospheric scope of the group's previous efforts, drifting from subtle dance undertones to dreamscape horizons. Stream it below, and grab At Home September 17 on Cascine.

New Mazzy Star - California

Seemingly out of nowhere, West coast shoe gaze pop icons Mazzy Star have a new album on the way. It's the first from the duo since 1996's Among My Swan, and is led by the echoed sweetness of "California." The form of the band's first single in a long, long time, conjures the long but not forgotten synergy of the group, with the desert hazy vocals of Hope Sandoval in its purest, dreamlike form.

Seasons Of Your Day is set for release September 24 on the band's own Rhymes Of An Hour imprint. Stream "California" below.

New Flaming Lips video - Turning Violent

For "Turning Violent," one of the standout tracks from Oklahoma's favorite sons, The Flaming Lips, the band does its best not to turn things into a sloppy visual display of epileptic lights and human bodies. Instead, while it may be a disappointment for some, "Turning Violent" comes away as a fairly normal performance music video. See for yourself, below.

New Pure Bathing Culture - Dream The Dare

Following up the curiously engaging "Pendulum," the first single from Pure Bathing Culture's upcoming Moon Tides, the duo of Sarah Versprille and Daniel Hindman have another delicately enchanting single, "Dream The Dare."

Versprille and Hindman, who started the project outside of Vetiver, follow a similar model as "Pendulum," with shimmering guitar play and lifting vocals. Both tracks have set up what could end up being one of 2013's best efforts.

Moon Tides is set for release August 19 in the UK, and August 20 in the U.S. on Partisan Records. Stream "Dream The Dare" below.

Stream: Toy Light - Sign Of Life EP

Los Angeles producer and multi-instrumentalist Toy Light takes self-motivation to fairly high heights on his brand new Sign Of Life EP. The five-track album, which is available at a name your own price rate over at Bandcamp, touched up every microcosm of detail himself, performing all of the EP's compositions on his own. The only thing that makes knowing that better is the fact that its pretty damn good too. Stream below.

Album Stream: Sweet Valley - SV

Wavves frontman Nathan Williams, unbeknownst to at least myself, has a pretty damn talented little brother in Kynan. The brother duo have teamed up before as Sweet Valley, offering up plenty of good albums, which now includes the brand new SV. The effort is comprised of hectic production and next-level energy, and is available to download for free. Its a must-listen, and is also available to stream below.

Blondes video - Elise

New York production duo Blondes have already released the digital version of Swisher, but before the album's physical release director Greg Zifcak (whom has previously collaborated with the two) debuted the star-gazing visual onslaught for Swisher standout "Elise." The album will be released as a double-LP and CD August 6 on RVNG. Until then, watch dense layers of geometric designs fly into your brain.

Ta-ku - I Miss You

Producer Ta-ku is offering up a piece to his forthcoming "Songs To Break Up To" EP a little early, with the female vocal-led "I Miss You." The atmospheric drip comes through with a clever blend of string orchestrations as it rises, which might catch one off-guard. Stream/download the new track below and expect the EP to come out some time in the near future.

New Smith Westerns - Case & Point

For those, like myself, who haven't gotten enough of Smith Westerns' most recent release Soft Will, the Chicago band released the brand new melancholy B-Side to the upstanding single "Varsity," entitled "Case & Point." Max Kakacek's seminal guitar interplay is still featured, but "Case & Point" ends up being easily one of the more mellow outputs from the band.

Check it out below and grab Soft Will today on Mom + Pop.

Stream: FALCONS - Sticky Summer mixtape

Working with Scion Sessions (which delivers some deceptively good stuff) is West coast producer FALCONS, who brought together the brand new "Sticky Summer" mixtape, free for all to download. Potholes has the full tracklist, which includes some brand new original material from FALCONS, and a positively wonderful collection of little-known tracks and remixes. Check it out below.

Fryars - Cool Like Me

UK act Fryars are floating the effortlessly catchy "Cool Like Me" a day before 679 Recordings is set to release it as a proper single. The track immerses itself in floaty gimmicks, like phaser-induced vocals and classic house-inspired beats, but never fools itself to be more than it is. Which is pretty cool.

New U-God - Mount Everest (ft. Inspectah Deck and Elzhi)

RZA's Soul Temple imprint is steadily gathering more and more worthy collectibles. The newest in the collection is U-God's new Keynote Speaker, which boasts "Mount Everest" with something welcomed help from fellow Wu Tang alum's Inspectah Deck and Elzhi.

The label is offering several different packages for the upcoming release, which is scheduled for July 23. Head over to the Soul Temple Bandcamp to check out the offers, which includes a $7 digital copy (with five songs available immediately with a pre-order), a double-CD set, vinyl edition, and deluxe package that includes both double-CD, vinyl, autographed material, a T-shirt, and more.

ProbCause - LSD (ft. Chance The Rapper)

"LSD," the newest from ProbCause's upcoming The Recipe Vol. 2 mixtape, includes the newest figure most appropriately attached to the project in Chance The Rapper. Chance's flavorful, off-kilter verses flow genuinely through the Isley Brothers and Notorious B.I.G. samples, making for a wonderful mish-mash of elements.

Stream the track below and grab The Recipe Vol. 2 July 16.

Stream: VINDATA - Paradigms EP

Los Angeles production collective VINDATA have a brand new mutli-versed EP, Paradigms, free to download. The four track production never settles within one branded note, changing approach with every track on the release. What results is an 18-minute blend of alluring and ever-changing flow of progressions, leaving everyone wanting a little more. Stream/download it below.

Charles Murdoch - Dekire

Before he releases his debut EP later this month, Australian producer Charles Murdoch shared his wonderful new video for "Dekire." Set in reverse, the video tells the story of a lonely girl in school clouded in a mystery of destruction and disarray, preempted by the glossy frenetic pop of the revealing finale.

Murdoch's EP is set for release later this month, courtesy of Future Classics. Watch the video below.

Clarence Clarity - The Gospel Truth

Every once in a while a storm of penultimate creativity and casually insane come dutifully together to make something so easily memorable. The most recent in that column comes from Clarence Clarity, a relatively unknown UK act, in a curiously enjoyable swarm of pop mythos and nightmarish sampling in "The Gospel Truth." And fittingly, the track's new video, from Clarence himself, does its best to capture the unruly imagery  of the song.

Pre-order Clarence Clarity's forthcoming Save †Hyself EP, which comes September 2 on UK imprint 37 Adventures.

New King Krule - Easy Easy

It's easy to assume that England's King Krule, aka Archy Marshall, is a little off-putting to some. Unlike a lot of UK figures getting international attention, Marshall's young voice is distinctly British, and powerfully so. His newest single "Easy, Easy" fits the bill, coming from his positively hyped debut LP 6 Feet Beneath The Moon. The album boast's some of the year's best cover art, as well as one of his previous Zoo Kid efforts "Out Getting Ribs."

6 Feet Beneath The Moon is due out August 24 on True Panther/XL Recordings. Pre-order it here.

XXYYXX - FADER/MoMA PS1 Warm Up mix

Before he sets off for this Saturday's set at MoMA's Long Island City, Queens site with the likes of Ryan Hemsworth, Orlando producer XXYYXX debuted his upcoming Warm Up set via FADER and MoMA PS1. The 45-plus minute mix, which is available to stream and download below, features an eclectic bunch, including; Holly Herndon, Notorious B.I.G., Thurdercat, and a new original work fitting in the finale. Tickets and more details for the Saturday show are available here.

Check out the entire tracklist and future tour dates, as well as a summer-themed interview with FADER here. Included in XXYYXX's upcoming tour dates will be a stop at Philadelphia's Union Transfer with CHVRCHES, September 18. Tickets are available here.

Album Stream: Milo - Cavalcade

Flying under the radar this year was the unreal double-release from Milo, Things That Happen At Day/Things That Happen At Night. Both of which are currently available on his Bandcamp, are fusions of fantastic craft and flooding intelligence, amounting to one of 2013's best releases so far. For those unfamiliar, Milo has another new piece to his masterful 2013, Cavalcade.

The new release, however, is free to download courtesy of Hellfyre Club. Pay close attention and the range of samples used will come as a surprise - from America to James Blake - on the art rap opus.

Ariel Pink - Hang On To Life (ft. Jorge Elbrecht)

Teaming up for the first time, thanks to Mexican Summer, are the enigmatic Ariel Pink and Jorge Elbrecht for the limited release collaboration 7" "Hang On To Life" b/w "No Real Friend." The former is an effortlessly romantic ballad, colliding with a few phone call samples that Ariel Pink seems fairly fond of.

Stream "Hang On To Life" below and order the 7" here.

New Holy Ghost! - Teenagers In Heat

Emerging from the brilliant Brooklyn goldmine that is DFA Records is the brand new "Teenagers In Heat" (just in time) from future dance goths Holy Ghost! The track, co-produced by none other than DFA beacon of hope James Murphy, will be featured on the duo's forthcoming Dynamics, which is slated for a September 10 release. Stream and/or download the new, cheery hit below for now.

Shabazz Palaces Live at Boiler Room

While you were passed out during 4th of July weekend, enigmatic Seattle rap outfit Shabazz Palaces (and Disclosure) met up at London's Boiler Room for a set of special performances. For fans of the former, a ten minute piece of the lucky performance is available below.

New I Break Horses - Denial

Sweden's I Break Horses made their stupidly good debut two years back with the ever-so-lovable Hearts, a textbook example of synth pop executed to marvelous extremes. Following up the effort, the group debuted the brand new "Denial," following the similarly path they've already paved in the likeness of synth pop stalwarts M83.

Check the track out below, which will be released as a single soon on Bella Union.

Ras G and The African Space Program - All Is Well ...

It seems to impossible to be familiar with Ras G. The Brainfeeder alum has his hands in a lot of projects the float around all realms of the sound spectrum, with an impossible array of influences clouded in each. Unlike his Mercury RetroFADED EP with WULU, his brand new "All Is Well ..." with the African Space Program seems oddly straight-forward and methodical. Not that that's bad.

The track comes from Ras' forthcoming full-length Back On The Planet, which is due out August 13. Stream it below.

New Knife video - Raging Lung

In case there was still an varying confusion left, Shaking The Habitual is extraordinary. As much as one could expect from the all-world talents of Sweden's The Knife, the production is more than a expansive array of sounds; its ideas as well. Knowing this, the band's "live" performances aren't exactly performances, rather visual representations of what Shaking The Habitual is. Unsurprisingly, it's certainly something new.

For an idea of what to expect, check out the new video for "Raging Lung" below, filmed during a show in the duo's native Sweden last May.

New Dan Deacon video - USA

It almost being the 4th of July and all, Dan Deacon (along with Adult Swim) has brought out his massive "USA" video project. The 22-minute piece, directed by Dave Hughes, ties in the four song middle of Deacon's America with an ultra iconic super-American montage; complete with animals, nature scenery, and classic balls-to-wall tripping visuals.

Stream it below and grab America today on Domino Records.

xxxy - Broken Dream Sequencer/Heart Of Lead

London producer xxxy doesn't just like sweeping what would be forgotten projects under the carpet. Late last night, via his Twitter account, xxxy debuted two steamy synth-fronted tracks "Broken Dream Sequencer" and "Heart Of Lead" which were apparently "corrupt." Because of that, both are also available to download. Check each out below.

Stream: Jerome LOL - Subaru Mix

Fans of Los Angeles producer Jerome LOL may already know this, but he's a massive fan of his car; a 1996 Subaru Impreza. How much so? Well he has this brand new "Subaru Mix" he made for LOGO, which probably sounds better when cruising around in one.

Check out the near hour-long mix below.

New Phoenix video - Trying To Be Cool

Following up "Entertainment" the electric lead-single and alluring video from Phoenix's latest triumph Bankrupt!, the band enlisted the help of directorial team CANADA and The Creator's Project to create what seems to be the biggest music video ever for "Trying To Be Cool." Which, it seems, might actually be the point of the track.

Every trick is pulled out, from fireworks, obscenely obscure visuals, magic, choreography, tons of outfits, and a countdown that finally goes somewhere. It's an absolute joy.

Bankrupt! is out now on Glassnote.

Stream: Jackie O - Psiconautica Vol​.​1

Jackie O's Psiconautica Vol. 1 slips delicately through the cracks in an ever-growing range of warming and welcoming modern Euro electro. Filling more on the side of the chill (the genre, not the college adjective of "how you feel"), the earthy production is as harmonious as it is sweet and mysterious.

The Milan producer's work will be distributed digitally July 8, with only 100 physical copies (pre-order here) going out July 29 on Apparel Music. For now, stream several of the available tracks from the release below.

New Beck - I Won't Be Long

It's been too long, guys. Nearly five years since the release of Modern Guilt, Beck has strayed pretty far from the formal studio productions. Yes, he released Song Reader last year, but that was just sheet music without any formal discretion of how Beck originally performed the material.

Finally, the 42-year-old musician is set to return in the form most of us are familiar with - with two studio LP's coming out later this year. Unlike "Defriended," however, the gorgeous "I Won't Be Long" will not be included on either album. Regardless, it's great, and ready to stream below.

"I Won't Be Long" will be distributed as a 12" July 8, which will include a 14-minute extended version as the B-Side. Pre-order here.

Ras G and WULU - Mercury RetroFADED EP

Brainfeeder alum Ras G, who even among the imprint's crew is known to be one of the more odd-ball figures, released this brand new collaborative EP with London producer WULU, Mercury RetroFADED. Like anything that you might expect from Ras, the effort is fairly off-the-wall, murky, and downright inspiring. The samples and hooks turn and spin into totally left-field abnormalities, with clouded production giving another wonderful element. It's only five-plus minutes long, however, but is available to stream below.

New Torche - Leather Feather

Following up last months installment in the Volcom Entertainment Vinyl Club's "Keep Up," Florida band Torche released the B-Side to the exclusive 7" "Leather Feather." It's another steadily solid release from the ever-so consistent sludge metal outfit. Check out the brand new track below subscribe to the Volcom Vinyl Club in the included link above.

HAERTS video - All The Days

Not too long after debuting "All The Days," one of 2013's best new acts, HAERTS, has released a brand new video for the single. The new video does nothing to temper the hype of the band's debut, whenever its set to come out (hopefully soon), with a booming and impossible to ignore chorus that climbs effortlessly into the year's best so far.

Check it out below, from director Bridget Palardy.