Good news for all of us drum fiends who are digging the cassette-based revival of obscure, but undoubtedly influential African sounds brilliantly curated by NYC’s Brian Shimkovitz…

via Altered Zones

After five years of spreading world music to the masses, Awesome Tapes From Africa is finally launching a label. Starting this October, ATFA will re-issue select recordings to hold in your very own hands. Kicking off with an album from Malian singer Nâ Hawa Doumbia called La Grande Contatrice Malienne Vol 3, the label plans to distribute LP, CD, and MP3 formats via SC Distribution– with 50% of the profits going to the artists (yes!).

{MP3} Nahawa Doumbia – “Banani”

And if you get the chance, be sure to check out one of his rad live DJ sets.

UMO is a new band from Portland by way of New Zealand, but all you really need to know is that their album cover, pictured above, absolutely rules (the band purchased it from photographer Frédéric Chaubin who assembled an awesome book of weird Russian architecture.).

The music is another story, but just as cool. This track is a lo-fi soul jam that will get stuck in your head immediately…in a good way…

{MP3} Unknown Mortal Orchestra – “How Can U Luv Me”

(via Days of Lore)

This new track from Zola sees her getting a bit more experimental with her rhythms and textures, which is always cool to hear. It’s taken from her forthcoming album Conatus, which will be released October 4th through Sacred Bones.

{MP3} Zola Jesus – “Vessel”

(via Altered Zones)

Whoa MC Spank Rock is back in an unexpected way on this new track. Love that Can sample!

{MP3} Spank Rock – “Energy”

More info about the upcoming album here.

This new Danish band Iceage has an incredibly evil edge…something a lot of new indie stuff is lacking. Get into it!

{MP3} Iceage – “White Rune”

If Suicide recorded their records in a dungeon and were heavily influenced by ’50s and ’60s girl groups…

{MP3} Dirty Beaches – “Lord Knows Best”

The album is great. Get it here.

Many musicians were inspired and influenced by the amazing music created by Trish Keenan and Broadcast before her untimely passing. Lucky for us, an amazing mixtape full of obscure, psychedelic gems, which inspired her, has been posted by Joe Muggs of Arts Desk:

“A friend in Birmingham who had become good friends with Keenan in recent years has passed me THIS LINK for a “mixtape” she gave him very recently. It’s the most wonderful collection of psychedelic rarities, film music and synthesiser experiments, and perfectly illustrates Keenan’s constant mission to turn people on to exquisite and unusual sounds – but also, as the tracks are not titled, shows the sense of mystery and incentive to investigate with which she imbued all her work.”..“To quote my friend David: ‘Before she went to Australia Trish sent me a mix CD of bonkers pop music she compiled, I never thanked her. It’s called Mind-Bending Motorway Mix and I want to share it with you, please pass the link on, share it far and wide, it’s a little tribute to an (as a friend referred to her today) exhilarating woman…”

(via Dangerous Minds)

Also, check out this great Trish Keenan/Broadcast tribute show, which aired Sunday on WMUH (Muhlenberg College Radio in Allentown, PA)

{MP3} Trish Keenan Memorial Show on WMUH pt. 1
{MP3} Trish Keenan Memorial Show on WMUH pt. 2

Thanks, Jeff!

What do you get when Honus Honus of Man Man, Nick Thorburn of Islands and Joe Plummer of Modest Mouse decide to make music together? Well, you get this…and this is pretty damn good:

{MP3} Mister Heavenly – “Mister Heavenly”
{MP3} Mister Heavenly – “Pineapple Girl”

Watch out for Mister Heavenly’s debut album on Sub Pop later this year.

The originator of the “Mash-Up”, Steve Stein aka Steinski, recently did an awesome job cutting together “What You Know” by Two Fingers (Amon Tobin and Doubleclick feat. Sway) and statements about the shooting in Tucson made by Pima County Sheriff Clarence Dupnik. Here’s what Steinski had to say:

“My apologies in advance to Sheriff Dupnik. May you always speak your mind as clearly as you did on this occasion, sir.”

Check out the track:

{MP3} Steinski – “Soul Searching” (Sheriff Dupnik’s Remix)

Here’s the newest one from Philly’s Kurt Vile. It’s a track from his upcoming Matador release, Smoke Ring For My Halo. Brilliant as usual…

{MP3} Kurt Vile – “Jesus Fever”

If you like that California lo-fi and on the cheap pop music that’s fun to smoke weed to, this one from The Meanest Boys is for you.

{MP3} The Meanest Boys – “Strangest Things”

(via Altered Zones)

If you live in the area, be sure to head over to Johnny Brenda’s for some local music action tomorrow night at the Arc in Round Record Release Party w/ Arc in Round, Golden Ages, Tadoma and Pink Skull supporting (That is, if you are not seeing Peter Hook of Joy Division/New Order at Voyeur).

{MP3} Arc in Round – “Spirit”
{MP3} Golden Ages – “Africa” (Toto Cover)

Also of note, the awesome ladies of LA’s Warpaint will be at Making Time (at Voyeur) on Friday.

{MP3} Warpaint – “Undertow”

On repeat. Soooo good!

{MP3} Tapes ‘n Tapes – “Freak Out”

Tapes ‘n Tapes‘ third album, Outside, will be out 1/11 on their own label Ibid Records.

She’s your prostitute.

{MP3} Lykke Li – “Get Some”

Get the B-side here.

This new track from Philly’s favorite indie son, Kurt Vile, gives us a taste of his forthcoming album due out next year. It’s cleaner and shinier than his debut, but no less enjoyable. Have a listen…

{MP3} Kurt Vile – “In My Time”

See dates for Kurt’s upcoming tour on Matador’s site.

Here is some more rad Philly music for ya. Sweet Lights conjure up an ethereal, epic mix of Pernice Brothers, old My Morning Jacket and that unexplainable thing that gives you goosebumps.

{MP3} Sweet Lights – “Are We Gonna Work It Out”

The self-titled album was co-produced and mixed by Jeff Zeigler, the man behind Kurt Vile’s highly praised Childish Prodigy and you can stream it and purchase it here for $7 or more.

Themselves and Baths join forces to serve up an awesome track that is way more interesting than most things happening in Hip-Hop these days.

{MP3} Themselves – “Deadcatclear II” (Baths Remix)

(via AZ)

While in town to promote their new album Hexadecagon at Kung Fu Necktie, Austin psych-pop band The Octopus Project will be stopping by the Art in the Age store this Thursday (10/7) at 2pm for a FREE in-store performance. Space is limited, so be sure to tweet to @artintheage or RSVP to their Facebook Event Page to make sure you reserve a spot! Check out one of their older (and awesome) videos below and download their newest below…

{MP3} The Octopus Project – “Fuguefat”

School of Seven Bells transform Active Child’s drugged-out original into a head-bobbing electro jam…

{MP3} Active Child – “I’m In Your Church At Night” (School of Seven Bells Remix)

The 7″ is available for pre-order here.

Check out a debut track from Philly’s Moon Women. It has a cool, old-school 4AD feel to it.

{MP3} Moon Women – “A Collection of Thought”

The track is featured on the band’s limited-edition, silk-screened cassette, which will be available for purchase at their Johnny Brenda’s show with Film School and The Depreciation Guild this Wednesday.