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Panda Bear & Sonic Boom – “Peligro (Danger) Mariachi 2000 de Cutberto Perez Version”
Here’s a mood-lifter with an origin story. Back in 2022, Panda Bear (Noah Lennox) and producer Sonic Boom (Peter Kember) got together for a (fairly excellent) collaborative LP called Reset. The two long shared a half joking, half (very) reverent intention to re-record some of its tracks with a mariachi band. And, boom: 2022’s “Danger” is now 2024’s “Peligro.” Featuring jingle bells, swoony strings, punchy horns, a cascading chorus, and well-placed tropical bird calls — this Mexican take on the original is as delightful as adding Tajín to your margarita.
Rubblebucket – “Moving Without Touching”
Brooklyn duo Rubblebucket just can’t help but make art. Their latest offering is a bright ‘n’ bouncy indie-pop track… which was inspired by a poem they wrote, which was published in a zine they made, which eventually lent its name to their forthcoming album, Year of the Banana, due October 18th via Egghunt Records. The sheer joy in creativity is clear to hear (and see) in this fun track and its beyond-technicolor music video. Click play for a shoulder-shimmying, head-boppin’, scooter-cruisin’ single that belies its lyrical laments on separation.
Goat – “Ouroboros”
Babe, wake up, there’s a new track from Goat. The somewhat mysterious Swedish collective, known for their masked appearance and intense live performance style, offer up an enticing amuse-bouche ahead of their upcoming self-titled album (which will be their third in three years!). An energized pastiche of breakbeats and psychedelic wah-wah guitars, this track is a gear-up instrumental with just enough menace to be exciting in a naughty way. Note that it’s a radio edit — we’re told the full track is a hair-raiser. We can’t wait.
Yea-Ming & The Rumours – “Somebody’s Daughter”
Prepare your heartstrings for tuggin’ by bay area indie musician Yea-Ming and her band The Rumours. Bringing the broody, lowkey vocals and hip-hittin’ tambourines of ‘60s icon Nico together with the melancholic guitar twangs you’d expect to hear pouring out of some late-night roadside watering hole — this track is deep-sigh satisfying in its simplicity. Ba-da-bum-ba all the way home with this truck-bed gem.
Ellen Reid & Kronos Quartet – “West Coast Sky”
More “sound art” than song, this piece of music by composer Ellen Reid as played by the Kronos Quartet (two violins, a viola, and a cello) is an exercise in tension, patience, and the strange cohabitation of beauty and pain. At least, that’s how it sounds to us. Hit play on this track with headphones and closed eyes (or focus on the abstract visualizer) and form your own sonic metaphor… We’d love to hear it.