Hey all -

I’m not sure quite what to say about this mix — it’s definitely all over the place. Then again, I have been, too. I’ve been out of town two of the last four weekends, and had friends in town the other two (to say nothing of work and helping on the A B & The Sea campaign). This mix has been traveling with me, though — I wrote half of the below descriptions while on a bus heading the wrong way after the Noise Pop Pre-Party, then had to stop at the end of the line (which happened to be on the opposite side of the city from home, right next to the ocean…oops). At any rate, I hope you enjoy as much as I do!

<3 / ∑>

1. The Golden Filter – “Hide Me”

After a couple years of leaked demos and remixes blowing up the blog scene (numerous #1s on Hypem, three of the top 50 downloads of 2009 on Stereogum), The Golden Filter have finally announced their debut full-length, Voluspa, which arrives April 14^th. This is the lead single and can be downloaded free for an email or a tweet on their website.

2. Marina and the Diamonds – “I Am Not A Robot” (Penguin Prison Remix)

Penguin Prison is back with another killer mix, this time of a Marina and the Diamonds song that is beyond catchy in its own right. Stuck somewhere between trance, dance, and straight up pop, this song is perfect for nearly any situation.

3. Get Well Soon – “5 Steps / 7 Swords”

I’m not shy about being a sucker for horns, and there are plenty of those in this dark tune.

“If we set sail now / we’ll make it to heaven or hell before dawn”

4. Givers – “Up Up Up”

Borrowing very heavily from Vampire Weekend’s afro-pop influences, Givers write catchy yet soulful tunes with both male and female vocals offering playful harmonies. Don’t be fooled by the first couple minutes – these kids aren’t shy on the guitars, either.

5. Micachu – “Calculator”

I’ve been struggling for a year to find an accurate way to describe Micachu, and I still haven’t come up with anything. They’re mathy, playful, jazzy, and outright ridiculous, yet somehow wind up back at catchy pop. How? I’m not quite sure, but that’s what fascinates me about them. Their live show consists of everything from ukuleles to vacuums to racks of empty bottles and trash can lids.

6. Chapeau Claque – “Das Karussell”

Lalala French circular madness lalala

7. Rye ‘n Clover – “Black Hoodie Dreams”

Another one for the “should’ve been on the Juno soundtrack” files.

8. Lissie – “Everywhere I Go”

I have been harboring a not-so-secret obsession with Lissie the last couple months. There’s just something so earnest about her (incredible) voice and songwriting. Cannot wait for her debut LP this Spring.

9. Dawes – “When My Time Comes”

My best friend and I went to a Dawes concert a couple weeks back and perhaps the most apt description of the experience came from my friends mouth: “I think I get how people in older generations can like Bruce Springsteen.” We weren’t the only ones there getting excited either – I spotted members of Port O’Brien and A B & The Sea amidst the mixed crowd. They closed with this track and the entire venue erupted in song together. The experience has since made me feel like the production on this track falls flat, because it really is a song for a community to shout at the top of their lungs together.

10. Cloud Control – “Gold Canary”

This song has been growing on me since my first listen, to a point I find myself humming it repeatedly throughout the day. Sydney’s Cloud Control write a lot of uptempo songs, so the song is already a bit of an anomaly. The chanting juxtaposed with the howling vocals creates incredible textures in an otherwise simple song.

11. Josiah Wolf – “The Trailer And The Truck”

Xylophones, muted horns, and a whole lotta percussion. Need I say more?

12. Wakey! Wakey! – “Twenty Two”

I’ve been getting emails about these guys for months, but hadn’t given them the time of day til recently. Turns out this song is a jam, and the rest of the record ain’t too shabby either. It’s definitely an easy and familiar sound, but the use of a single word for the chorus is pretty damn cool.

13. Darwin Deez – “Bad Day”

The first couple times you hear this song, you’ll laugh along with it. After a few more listens, you’ll be singing along to every word, possibly even with someone in mind (or not — I cannot get enough of this track, and I harbor no spite for anyone).

14. Anders Ponders – “Slowest Motion Miracle”

I think what drew me into this song was the concept of “pacifists on the attack” and the ideal of “bring(ing) another golden age.” Naturally, such change doesn’t happen quickly, hence “the slowest motion miracle.” For now, they sing.

15. Caribou – “Odessa”

Ontario’s Caribou are back with a new record and an even more polished sound. Something about the beat reminds me of the early nineties, or at least what they must have felt like to a twenty-something back then. That may be totally misguided, but I mean it as a positive.

16. The Tindersticks – “Falling Down A Mountain”

I was browsing through recent Topspin releases a few weeks back and stumbled upon this gem. Everything about it is just so smooth, in spite of its driving tempo. Oh, and HORNS!

17. Erik Hassle – “Nothing Can Change This Love”

Add another name to the list of outstanding white male soul singers seeming to emerge in the last year or so. Sweden’s Hassle croons with the best of them, and I’ll let him say the rest.