TOP INDIE CHILL – WEEK 43 2014

Forget everything I said before. I HATE WINTER! I'm currently bedridden with the flu or Ebola or something (calm down, NSA, I'm kidding!), but being the committed hipster that I am, I'm still bringing you the top indie chill of the week. As IF I'd miss out on new tracks from Ásgeir, PARTYNEXTDOOR, Invention and more. Not to mention I'd much rather be listening to them than me sneezing, coughing my guts up and maybe doing the occasional fart. Feel free to thank me with Sizzurp, chicken soup and affordable health insurance.

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MICHNA – THE BEST WAY OUT IS THROUGH

“The Best Way Out is Through,” said Michna to Jess on her sickbed. Big ass 1980's vibes are the best medicine. Here's what the Brooklyn producer had to say about this banger on his SoundCloud page: “Track written exclusively for the Hohokum Soundtrack. Produced mostly with the Roland Alpha Juno and six trombones. Ran some bird sounds into the SP and there's a few Echoplex tape feedbacks floating about. The kick drum is the same one I used in 'Wanted Exotic' and there are some (human) voices buried in at the end.”

ÁSGEIR – IT WILL RAIN

NEW ÁSGEIR! And for once it isn't a cover. Although he did give me a fright with that title choice. But no, this is a completely original, completely gorgeous track taken from the upcoming three disc deluxe edition of In this Silence, out November 24th. That's right, THREE disc deluxe edition. BRB, going to lose my fucking shit (then put a pre-order in on iTunes!).

WE ARE TWIN – TRUE LOVE (WHITE CLIFFS REMIX)

The original is beautiful, but this chill-house remix and debut release from White Cliffs takes “True Love” to another level of feels. Speaking on SoundCloud, the New York City producer reveals he had a clear vision from the off: “When I first heard 'True Love' I knew that it deserved to be played for crowds everywhere, but it needed more percussion and low-end energy for that to happen. This track is very important to me, so I wanted to make sure that I added as much electronic power as I could while still preserving the rich instrumentation and vocals in the original.” 

AQUILO – I GAVE IT ALL

HUNTAR – BITTER

Brace yourselves, hipsters. HUNTAR is about to hit the big time. I've been championing the South London crooner ever since he got me hot under the collar with “Naked Noises,” and now he's back with maybe his greatest slow jam to date, “Bitter.” Zane Lowe recently premièred this luxurious slice of electro-soul on his coveted Radio 1 show, so it's only a matter of time before it goes full on mainstream and is playing in a Forever 21 fitting room near you soon. Just remember where you heard it first. Zane Lowe.

PARTYNEXTDOOR – SEX ON THE BEACH

That sample of “Latch” by Disclosure and Sam Smith helps to make up for the disappointing fact this track taken from PARTYNEXTDOOR's sophomore album, PARTYNEXTDOOR TWO, isn't a cover of the T-Spoon classic. If I wasn't sat here irrigating my nasal passages, I imagine I'd be feeling very sexy right now.

TALOS – BLOOM 

In March, Talos charmed the entire blogosphere with his debut single, “Tethered Bones.” At the time, he was a leading contender for my non-existent “Hottest Irish of the Year” award, but then he disappeared and I was left with no choice but to give it to Hozier instead. Seven months and 300,000 plays later, however, and Eion French returns. If you loved the haunting electronic minimalism of his debut, then you're also going to love “Bloom.” At least for two minutes, as that's when the big ass bass drops and shatters everything you thought you knew about this Cork native.

DRIP-133 – RIGHT HERE IN MY PALM

Vaporwave isn't dead. Is this even vaporwave? I HAVE NO IDEA! Just enjoy the vibes, bro.

INVENTION – BLUFFS

Hailing from Ontario, Invention describes himself as an “avid nature lover.” This comes through on his latest offering, “Bluffs,” an incredibly luscious and deeply layered instrumental crafted from sounds collected in forests and other nature spots, at least I think that's what's being stated on SoundCloud between the unintelligible gear talk: “Working off Ableton and a simple Korg SP-170S keyboard in tandem with a nanoKontrol 2, Invention often ventures out into the forest to record ambient sounds with a ZOOM H4n and a pair of Beyerdynamic DT 880's strapped over his head.”

SEYR – NEVER MISSED 

It's only been two weeks since Seyr unleashed their debut EP, Nights Without, and already the duo are back with a new track. But then again, when you have soul like this London “band of some sort,” I imagine it's hard to keep it locked up. It needs to be set free to haunt the darkened rooms of lovers and the lovelorn alike, as a solitary candle flickers in the distance. MORE PLEASE!

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MY LIFE! 

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.