M83 - Oblivion (featuring Susanne Sundfor)

M83 and Susanne Sundfor both make music with a sense of grandeur

and lush epicness. Susanne Sundfor is more orchestral whereas M83

is more of an 80s synth tweaker.

For the soundtrack to the upcoming

Tom Cruise sci-fi 'Oblivion,' they join forces for a soaring anthem

that is every bit as great as the sum of its parts.

For once the math worked out....

Emika - Wicked Game

First thing that we need to acknowledge here is that if this is not one of the
most covered songs then this is one of the most covered songs.

Czech electronic bad mama Emika has an interesting history. Grew up
in England. Classically trained pianist and composer. Interned at Ninja Tune.
Sound designer at Native Instruments. Released her critically acclaimed
self-titled debut on Ninja Tune. Listening to it leaves no doubt in your mind
as to what good it did her working as a sound designer for fucking
Native Instruments. Neither does this track off her upcoming sophomore
album 'Dva' out June 10, 2013 via Ninja Tune.

How she makes this her own is through the mixing and manipulation of her
own voice which is as breathless, whispery and frigidly sensual as they come.

2 Mello - Chrono Jigga (Jay-Z/Chrono Trigger mash-up [FREE ALBUM DOWNLOAD])

Jay-Z mash-ups seem to be unavoidable. Is the sun going to rise tomorrow?

Will there be another Jay-Z mash-up or remix album? Go figure...

Anyway Kentucky based produced 2 Mello sampled the lush orchestral

soundtrack of the Chrono Trigger games and mashed his beats up

with Jay-Z acapellas.

Definitely a unique addition to the swelling-to-bursting-point catalog

of Jigga remixes, mash-ups etc.

Shak. - Lately

Continuing the streak of mysterious producers, here is Shak. All that is 

known is that he is18 years old and from Netherlands.

This cut here oozes ambience. The mix is quiet, percussion clinks

and clanks, bass swells gently and guitar melodies speak from miles away.

For his second song, this young man shows a lot of promise.

Sister Crayon - Floating Heads

On their debut 'Bellow,' Sister Crayon spun trip-hop with a combination

of samples and live instrumentation

It seems like they have ditched the MPC for just primarily live 

instrumentation. From the sound of this song, it was a great 

decision.

Off their upcoming EP Cynic via Fake Four Inc., this joint finds lead singer
Terra Lopez in excellent form (as usual) - smooth, spectral and haunted.
The band lays down a bed of distorted keys, pulsating bass, reverbed
picked guitar and driving drums to complete the magic.

It's create watching these guys evolve.

XXXIΛIXXX - 소원을 말해봐

XXXIΛIXXX are from China. That's the most I can tell you since

I do not speak any Chinese language and everything about them is 

in that. But good music crosses even those barriers.

Over a dark anthemic trap beat, these two songbirds say.....something

in a very catchy melody, reminiscent of pre-Nick-Cannon Mariah.

It sounds so good who cares what any of it means?

Wait is there an app that can translate this?

Manu Shrine - Wave Form

Manu Shrine, from Russia, joins the growing ranks of mysterious

musicians, pumping out dopeness from beyond our fingertips,

somewhere between the shadows.

His sound is definitely, post-dubstep by way of chillout -

 a softly pulsing bassline, echoing pianos and the skittering

percussion oft associated with post-dubstep. What enhances

the intimacy he creates here is how he has the male and female 

vocal samples play off each other as if they are trapped in a

duet within a ghostly realm.

It's melancholia made beautiful, longing made bearable.

Usher - Climax (Lindsay Lowend Remix)

Usher and Diplo had a scorcher on their hands about a year ago with

their collaboration on 'Climax.' Undoubtedly, between then and now,

several hands have touched it with intent to remix but few this funky.

Lindsay Lowend spins it around with chunky bass, a steady ambient pad

then goes into a bridge with swirling synths and electronic horns. It ends

on a more sedate... climax with Usher's vocals layered

upon each other.

Effective nonetheless.