BEST CHILL OUT MUSIC – WEEK 22

The solstice isn't officially until June 21, but what with Memorial Day having been and gone and the festival season now in full swing, as far as I'm concerned. Summer. Is. Here. And what better way to celebrate than with the following best chill out music from Gavin James, Moses Sumney, Adna and many more? I chose these songs for you to listen to on the beach, by the pool, in the park, at home and on the road. I chose these songs for you to dance to, sing to, cry to, fall in love to and make memories to. I chose these songs for you.

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RIVVER (FEAT. MILK AND BONE) – AM I OK

Listening to “Am I Ok” by Montreal natives Rivver and Milk and Bone is akin to peering in a kaleidoscope. The minimalistic slice of electronic pop is prismatic, ever-changing and completely hypnotic. This sentiment is carried through to the music video. Shot in Cinque-Terre and Turin, it tells a love story through various techniques such as symmetry and reflection. The result is distinguished, elegant and utterly spellbinding and could quite easily pass as a Chanel commercial.

MOVE ORCHESTRA – APEX

This is not a song. This is a symphony. This is not a music video. This is a motion picture. Move Orchestra prove they're not a band to do things by halves on their introductory, seven-minute opus “Apex.” Sounding like a mixture of Radiohead, The Postal Service and Sigur Rós, and accompanied by an eerie visual depicting a girl rising from the sea at funeral pace, everything about this Arkansas sibling trio's debut single is giving me life.

GAVIN JAMES – THE BOOK OF LOVE (THE MAGNETIC FIELDS COVER)

“The Book of Love” by The Magnetic Fields is sacred. Thank God, then, that this rewrite by Dublin troubadour Gavin James does the original justice (unlike Peter Gabriel's cover). And what an endearing music video. Depicting a young boy's burgeoning crush on his older brother's girlfriend, prepare to feel warm and fuzzy inside.

GRACE LIGHTMAN – VAPOUR TRAILS

It's not everyday that I compare an artist to Kate Bush, but there's really no denying the keening falsetto timbres of London vocalist Grace Lightman echo the British icon on her captivating debut single, the piano ballad “Vapour Trails.” Not to mention this has to be one of the fiercest uses of the trouser suit since the “Hounds of Love” music video. Big compliments for a big talent. Thanks to Curator Duffster for the heads up.

MOSES SUMNEY – SEEDS

Moses Sumney takes time out from supporting Sufjan Stevens to present “Seeds.” Starting out with organic, crackling atmospherics, intricate acoustic flourishes and the Los Angeles crooner's whimsical falsetto, the soon soon grows into something more majestic in the second half. Lay among the flowers and enjoy.

SCAVENGER HUNT – COFFEE (MIGUEL COVER)

If you need an antidote to Wale's verse on the extended edition of Miguel's “Coffee,” then this heavenly cover by BitCandy favorites Scavenger Hunt should do the job. Pairing Jill Lamoureux's breathy, doe-eyed vocals with a minimalistic, 80s-infused electronic pop production, the Los Angeles band manage to elevate the song from its lustful beginnings to a place of pure, unconditional love. Divine.

ALINA BARAZ AND GALIMATIAS – SHOW ME

Ohio songbird Alina Baraz and Danish producer Galimatias have been making excellent music together for many months, but nothing has quite hit the spot like “Show Me.” The duo almost resemble a pair of coquettish lovers in the verse, with Baraz's come-hither croon slinking around the minimalistic production with ease. Once Galimatias drops the beat and pitches down the vocals in the chorus, however, the sexy times really begin

AISHA BADRU – FOREIGN HANDS

This is utterly delightful. New York chanteuse Aisha Badru returns after a three month hiatus with “Foreign Hands.” A charming folk ditty delicately crafted around Badru's husky, Elena Tondra-style vocals and upbeat acoustic strums, it's guaranteed to leave you with a smile on your face and butterflies in your stomach.

I WILL, I SWEAR – LAKES

Curator Duffster does it again. He told me to check out this piano ballad by I Will, I Swear – who he describes as “Belgium's London Grammar” – and I'm so glad that he did. Much like the body of water after which it's named, “Lakes” is on one hand placid and scintillating, and on the other, sinister and beguiling. Regardless, you won't be able to resist reaching out and touching the song's surface, and once you do, you may find yourself overcome with beauty.

ADNA – BEAUTIFUL HELL

Two albums and seven million Spotify streams later and Gothenburg-born, Berlin-based singer Adna returns this 2015 to condemn us to “Beautiful Hell.” And it couldn't sound better. Hushed electric guitars oscillate as the 21-year-old's soulful, reverb-drenched incantations of “I'd like to be your beautiful hell” rise up, engulfing this vast, icy and utterly brooding slice of dark pop in flames. Fire going to be fire.

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Thanks for listening. Until next week, why not check out our Indie, Indie Pop and EDM tabs for more? x

“Untitled” by Naim Naim is licensed under CC BY 2.0 (cropped and resized).

About Jess Grant

When Jess Grant isn't writing on music, she can be found playing it – on her guitar, on her ukulele, and on her recently acquired mandolin. Playing it hideously, she ought to add. Jess also studies. She studies the English language, to be precise. Jess is currently on her way to a degree in the subject, and enjoys starting and never finishing novels, screenplays, and poetry in her spare time. She also likes dogs. Lots of dogs.