Single of the Week: Run The Jewels - "Banana Clipper" (feat. Big Boi)

I remember writing about a potential El-P/Killer Mike project not too long ago like it was the stuff of fables. But it looks as though an album - a self-titled under the Run The Jewels alias - is about to materialise soon. "Banana Clipper" shows how much of a natural fit these two MCs are, swapping lines quickly and efficiently over El-Producto's tough, booming beat. It's these vocal performances that fans of last years' R.A.P. Music and Cancer For Cure albums will find the most satisfying. It's hard to tell who sounds the nastiest: Mike is "talking grip pliers guys, to the top of your teeth"; El invites you in with "Wanna hang? Bring a rope, I got stools and a rope." The track is topped off by a rare guest appearance by Outkast's Big Boi, Mike's old Dungeon Family companion, essentially bragging about not being paid for his verse. A lot of song for under three minutes.

You can listen to and download "Banana Clipper" below. Run The Jewels will be released as a free download on Fools Gold Records later this month.

Single of the Week: Young Fathers - "I Heard"

I struggle to think what Young Fathers' latest, Tape Two is going to sound like. The Scottish hip hop trio clearly have some confidence in it, enough to release "The Guide" as a free download offcut; a track that strongly evokes the 90s post boom-bap feel of that decade's rap abstractioners. Between "The Guide" and new one "I Heard" Young Fathers have easily set themselves up to the group when it comes to UK hip hop, and one of the most forward groups in all of rap right now. "I Heard" doesn't even feature rapping for the most part, rather a old soul vocal that feels nothing if not sincere and heartfelt. The whole track is pinned by keyboard and click-track drum that themselves somehow sound sorrow in their simplicity. An atmospheric cloud (not in that sense) of synthesis wells up over the top to bring out the intensity further, and group vocals on the chorus merely cement its overall greatness.

Stream Grizzly Bear - Shields and Dinosaur Jr. - I Bet On Sky

I've been up early, working my way through the new album by Grizzly Bear, Shields, and have now moved onto Dinosaur Jr. (pictured) - I Bet On Sky. All thanks to NPR Music. Links:

Dinosaur Jr. - I Bet On Sky
Grizzly Bear - Shields

Cat Power - Sun and Deerhoof - Breakup Song streaming at NPR Music

New albums ahead of release this week come from Deerhoof and Cat Power, who release Breakup Song and Sun respectively next Monday. Enjoy yourself with these links:

Cat Power - Sun
Deerhoof - Breakup Song

Cat Power - "Cherokee" / Nicolas Jaar Remix

"Ruin" has worked its way towards my ears quite regularly since its inclusion in my June playlist. Now not only has Cat Power released the next single from her new record Sun (artwork above) for free, there's also a remix by my favourite house producer Nicolas Jaar to boot!



Track all the info up to the release of Sun on the Upcoming Releases page.

Sebadoh release new EP on Bandcamp

The Secret EP is the first new music from Sebadoh since 1999. The group features Lou Barlow, whose other major group Dinosaur Jr. are to release an album called Watch The Corners later this year. Stream below, or head to Bandcamp to pick up the EP:

Listen to the new Beck single on Third Man Records, and hear him rap with Childish Gambino

Beck's just released a single with Jack White on White's Third Man label. "I Just Started Hating Some People Today" is a great country rocker with a unique surprise at the end. It's backed by "Blue Randy". Both tracks are below:


 

Jack White's not the only musician Beck's been collaborating with. Childish Gambino's put up a new track on his website featuing Beck rapping for the first time in ages, called "Silk Pillow". Check it out.

UPDATE: Turns out Beck also produced "Silk Pillow" himself. Even more reason to try it.