1.
2. FKA twigs - "Two Weeks"
3. Years and Years - "Take Shelter"
It's an unfortunate occurrence that most people equate "dance music" with "horrible four-on-the-floor instrumental nonsense with a drop." Of course, some of that instrumental nonsense with a drop is fantasticāit's also a limited picture of what great dance music can be.
British synth-pop trio Years and Years' emotionally-charged new single "Take Shelter" blends a Caribbean-inspired rhythm and soulful house vibes. Though decidedly pop leaning, the ache and intimacy of vocalist Olly Alexander's give "Take Shelter" a bit of the weight of some disco and early houseāa forbidden transmission between prospective lovers.āJon Tanners
4. J.K. The Reaper - "Fountain of Youth"
Being bored or content is the enemy of creativity. The best music always comes from having strong feelings, and Greensboro rapper J.K. The Reaper has strong feelings. When we talked to him, he told us, "Iām sick of leather hats with studs in them and wannabe trappers with fake Gucci shoes on. My city is full of that shit."Ā When you listen to "Fountain of Youth," you can hear it in his voiceāhe really is sick of that shit. Hopefully he stays fed up.āConfusion
5. Jessy Lanza - āYou and Meā
Jessy Lanza has a sweet voice that seems to float over the production of āYou and Meā without effort. Her delicate vocals allow for the beat to build without it feeling like too much is going on. It's spacey and futuristic with a touch of R&B, and Lanzaās voice is the perfect medium to tie it all together.
āYou and Meā is taken from Jessy Lanzaās upcoming compilation Hyperdub 10.2, which drops July 22. With this as an introduction,Ā Hyperdub 10.2 is one to look out for. āAdrienne Black
6. Rustie - "Raptor"
Rustie has earned a reputation for producing some of the most colorful beat music around, but "Raptor" takes this reputation to new heights. As one of his most bombastic, yet tightly produced tracks yet, "Raptor" flips current dance trends on their head and proudly frolics around them in all its technicolor glory. It's delightfully fun stuff.āJoe Price
7. Lil Wayne - "Krazy"
This morning I was walking to the subway and I tripped. I don't really know how it happened, but the next thing I know, I fell onto the sidewalk. I wasn't even embarrassed (I fall a lot), but I looked up and this delivery guy turned to me and said, "Girl you just tripped over your own damn feet." And he rode away shaking his head. When a delivery guy points out how big of a mess your life is before 9 a.m., just throw in the towel. That day is done and over with, it's not going to get any better.
That would've been the case if Lil Wayne didn't save it by releasing "Krazy." Over an Infamous-produced beat, Wayne delivers one clever line after another ("And give me what help Martin sleep / on the same night he had a dream").āKatie K.
8. TCVVX - "Clocks"
With almost no music available to the public, New York's TCVVX entered this week in an exciting position. It's one that every new artist finds him or herself in early on, but very few prove capable of understanding how to take full advantage. Being relatively unknown affords artists the opportunity to carefully craft their sound and image, then package and deliver it to listeners who arrive with no preconceived notions. A misstep makes for an uphill battle, but a successful first drop can spark a fire that burns steadily for years.
TCVVX's first official video for his recently released single, "Clocks," falls right into the latter category. The Conkrete Media Group-directed clip depicts TC as a conscious, deep-thinking artist with an unmistakable edge, one that's illustrated beautifully by his pensive stroll through the city at night juxtaposed with gritty shots of the time and money-controlled lifestyle he disdains. In just under three minutes, we gain a pretty thorough understanding of TC, and it's enough to have us excited for whatever's next.āTim Larew
9. Mono/Poly - "Ra Rise"
On the low, Mono/Polyās been kiling it. I'm a hip-hop lover, but also a fan of that quirky, left-field shit. Mono/Poly, who has a new LP (Golden Skies) on the way via Brainfeeder, hits all of the right buttons with tracks like "Ra Rise." You get that moody, depressed kid in the corner tempo, those celestial vocals that add beautiful atmosphere, and that digitized melody. I don't even know what it is; it's like a chorus of calculators serenading an office scanner. King computer love song shit.āKhal