Young Montana

You can bet that things are going to start looking up when Mary Anne Hobbs names you her "Favorite Unsigned Artist of 2010". You can also bet that you'll be getting rid of that "unsigned" part. Coming out of the U.K., Young Montana is one of several artists working to bridge the gap between L.A.'s beat makers and London's ever-expanding dubstep scene. But what makes Young Montana's music even more interesting is that he takes it back and uses a more classic hip-hop sound, reminiscent of legend's like Madlib and Dilla, rather than keeping it electronics focused as most artists are doing today. Daddy Kev and his Alpha Pup label were lucky enough to sign the sudden sensation, which should mean we can be expecting an official release sometime soon. Here are two of his best tracks to date.

Download:

Young Montana - Sacré Cool

Young Montana - Bad Day

Warpaint

Warpaint, an L.A. based all female quartet, have had a steady stream of tracks floating around the internet since the beginning of this year and in a little over a month, October 25 to be exact, we'll finally get to here their debut album, The Fool. They've given the public a taste of the album with their single "Undertow". The four-on-the-floor beat and synchronized bass and guitar are reminiscent of The XX, but everything else, especially the funky breakdown just before the three minute mark, is all Warpaint. Download "Undertow" and the older but equally amazing "Billie Holiday" below.

Download:

Warpaint - Undertow

Warpaint - Billie Holiday

Morning Benders Cover McCartney

The Morning Benders have covered Paul McCartney's "Ram On" as a part of their Echomix2, which you can download here. The cover has an unexpected R&B feel with heavy drums and a speaker-shaking bass.

Download:

The Morning Benders - Ram On (Paul McCartney Cover)

Women - Eyesore

Women didn't get nearly enough credit for their self-titled 2008 debut. It had more than a couple memorable songs and there wasn't a bad song on the album. Now, as they're readying their second album, Public Strain, I get the feeling they won't be so easy to ignore this time around. The single, Eyesore, runs just over six minutes but you'll be begging for it to keep going by the end. It's mellow production and atmospheric layering of guitar and bass drag you in while the melody invades your mind. Public Strain comes out September 28 on Jagjaguwar.

Download:

Women - Eyesore

Ana Caravelle

Ana Caravelle is a 22 year old harp player and vocalist who has ties with the L.A. beat scene through her boyfriend/producer Asura. Her music is reminiscent of Bjork and Joanna Newsom and any other harp playing pop-vocalist you can think of. As if that weren't intriguing enough on its own, the production and remixes of her tracks combine two completely unrelated genres to create songs unlike anything you've ever heard. Her debut album, Basic Climb, comes out September 28 via Non Projects. Below is a spectacular track from Basic Climb and a remix by Non Projects label head Anenon.

Ana Caravelle - Where Have You Been?

Ana Caravelle - Shapeshifting (Anenon Just One Shape Remix)

Jonwayne - Infinite

Jonwayne is one of several members of the WEDIDIT COLLECTIVE, a collective of L.A. based beat makers. He is a rapper and producer with an upcoming release on Stones Throw. His latest track, "Infinite", is the strongest thing he's put out yet and is one of the best beats I've heard in months. Also, check him out rapping over a RZA beat in the video above. Keep an eye on this one.

Infinite by jonwayne

Dominant Legs

As Dominant Legs, Hannah Hunt and Girls' guitarist Ryan Lynch create an entirely new form of indie tinged disco-pop. The combination of his vulnerable voice and her dreamy backing vocals creates a playfulness that makes you want to get up and dance. Despite having only a four track EP out, the duo's fan base is growing rapidly. Two tracks from the Young At Love And Life EP are below.

Dominant Legs - Young At Love And Life [mp3]

Dominant Legs - Clawing Out At The Walls [mp3]

Teebs - Arthur's Birds / Teebs & Jackhigh - Rains (Video)

Teebs is one of the youngest and most promising beat-makers coming out of the Los Angeles area. He's signed to Brainfeeder and has an EP and a debut album on the way. The album, titled Ardour, is supposedly being released on Oct. 19. "Arthur's Birds" is the first track from the album to be shared with the public. It's dreamy bells and buzzing bass will have you listening to it on repeat.

Teebs - Arthur's Birds [mp3]

Check out his collaborative Tropics EP with Jackhigh to hear some of his previous work. The video for the track "Rains" off the EP is below. Watching this will be the best four minutes you'll spend all day.

Baths - Lovely Bloodflow (Video)

Check out this wildly imaginative video from my personal favorite track off of Bath's debut album Cerulean.

Matthew Dear - Slowdance (Bear In Heaven Remix)

One of the highlights of Matthew Dear's new critically acclaimed album, Black City, is the slow synth-ballad "Slowdance". Bear In Heaven took the energy of the synth and vocal in the track and turned it in to an upbeat electro-pop masterpiece.

Matthew Dear - Slowdance (Bear In Heaven Remix) [mp3] [Most Fancied]

When I'm In Awe

After collaborating on one of this year's most creative albums, A Sufi And A Killer, Gonjasufi and The Gaslamp Killer are back with another genre bending beat. The track will be released on The Gaslamp Killer's upcoming EP entitled Death Gate.

The Gaslamp Killer - When I'm In Awe (feat. Gonjasufi) [mp3]

Below, you can listen to Mark Pritchard's remix of "Ancestors". The Caliph's Tea Party will be released on October 5th and features remixes of several Gonjasufi tracks by artists such as Bibio and Bear In Heaven.

The XX - Shelter (Tiga Remix)

Remixing The XX has proven a difficult task. Many have tried, but few have been successful. On his remix of "Shelter", Tiga seems to have found exactly what the song needed. Just by adding some thumping, minimal drums and keeping most of the original song intact, Tiga brings a whole new feeling to the track.

The XX - Shelter (Tiga Remix) [mp3]

Miguel Atwood-Ferguson feat. Flying Lotus - Drips / Take Notice

Well, I hope everyone had a great summer. Now it's time for everyone to get back to work and the same applies for us. You can count on a consistent flow of new music coming your way so make sure to start checking the site regularly again.

The video above is of a beautiful arrangement of two classic songs brought together by the Miguel Atwood-Ferguson ensemble in collaboration with Flying Lotus himself. You may find yourself getting lost in the incredible musicianship and ambient sounds coming from this thirteen minute video.

Want You Back

Imagine Flying Lotus remixing JJ. Now enjoy.

Nite Jewel - Want You Back (Phaseone Remix) (mp3)

Check out more from Phaseone at their myspace.

Break Down, Break, Break Down

"Round and Round" is the first single off of Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti's upcoming full length release on 4AD. Ariel definitely cleaned up for 'em. He sounds better than ever to me.

Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffti - Round and Round (mp3)

New Four Tet Remix

Four Tet's "There Is Love In You" is one of my favorite albums of 2010 so far, and has helped to remind me how great his remix work is as well. For his latest remix he took on Panthua Du Prince's track "Stick To My Side". The song, which features Animal Collective's Panda Bear, is transformed in to a never resting explosion of electronic synth bleeps, and sharp hi-hats. The simple, but brilliant bassline really makes this remix a winner.

Pantha Du Prince - Stick To My Side (Four Tet Version) (mp3)

Go Outside

At the moment, I can't tell you much about Cults. They only came to my attention about a week ago, and since then I've seen them pop up on nearly every music site I check. Their name makes them hard enough to find information about, but even once you find their website, there really isn't much there. This seems to only make them more intriguing. On first listen "Go Outside" sounds similar to many of the other up and coming lo-fi/indie-rock bands, but something keeps pulling me back for another listen. This song is almost too catchy.

Cults - Go Outside (mp3)

You can download their full three song EP for free from their website.

Shinji

Jake Simon - Shinji (Original Mix) (ALT)

Les Gillettes

Les Gillettes is a fresh new Finnish act signed to Huoratron's New Judas label. They debuted their first release at the end of 2009 titled "Pompeii." It featured remixes from Obi Blanche and Mikix the Cat. We were all familiar with the Obi Blanche from the support it got from big name djs like Erol Alkan. Les Gillettes is back with a reissue of "Pompeii" on French label Kitsune. This new release features fresh remixes from Boy 8 Bit, Jokers of the Scene, and The Aston Shuffle. I must say all these new remixes are great. Enjoy!

Les Gillettes - Pompeii (ALT)

Les Gillettes - Pompeii (Jokers Of The Scene Remix) (ALT)

King Of Kings

Dj Nasty - King Of Kings (ALT)

Many Men

As always, Gonzales delivers. It seems like he aims to prove that he can make any song sound good on piano. As if to prove my point, he is he is releasing his "Pianist's Envy Mixtape" sometime in the near future. The mixtape will feature this cover of 50 Cent's "Many Men" as well as Gonzales' interpretation of many other hip-hop and/or house classics.

50 Cent - Many Men (Gonzales Piano Version) (mp3) [Most Fancied]

And to give credit where credit is due, I believe Discobelle were the first ones to post this track, so big ups to them. They definitely know what they're doing over there. While were on the subject, they also recently posted an awesome new L-Vis 1990 remix, so here it is.

Bonus:

Kingdom feat. Shyvonne - Mind Reader (L-Vis 1990 Remix) (mp3) [Most Fancied]

Last Dance (Kap10kurt Remix)

This is just one of those combinations that I never would have that of, but I'm so glad someone did.

The Raveonettes - Last Dance (Kap10kurt Dream Mix) (mp3)

It's 1901. Still.

I'm happy to see someone keeping this track alive. I needed one more reason to keep listening to it. Memory Tapes is very rapidly gaining a reputation for putting out unpredictable remixes that rarely hit below the expected greatness. His new remix of Phoenix's "1901" is as out there as anything he's done, and for some reason I feel it is best described as a very unbalanced sound. In a good way. Check it out.

Phoenix - 1901 (Memory Tapes Mix) (mp3)

Bonus:

Phoenix recently covered Bob Dylan's "Sad Eyed Lady of the Lowlands" during a recording for a German magazine. It's cool to see them playing something with such a stripped down acoustic sound.

Phoenix - Sad Eyed Lady of the Lowlands (Bob Dylan Cover) (mp3)

Bear From School

Grizzly Bear - Boy From School (Hot Chip Cover) (mp3)

If only there were a Grizzly Bear version of every song.

Sangria Spin Cycles

Flying Lotus - Sangria Spin Cycles (mp3)

Late Of The Pier - Blueberry (Video)

Late of the Pier released their new single, "Blueberry", a few weeks ago on Erol Alkan's Phantasy Sound label. There were mixed reactions from their fans, but personally I think it's some of their best work yet. It sounds like the Beatles and the Cure came together to make an electro-pop song. The music video is at the top of this post. They also have another very highly anticipated single, "Best In The Class", due for release March 1.

The Morning Benders

The Morning Benders' sophomore album, Big Echo, is set for release on March 9. They just released the first single as a free download. The track, "Promises", as well as the rest of the album was produced by Grizzly Bear's Chris Taylor. You can definitely hear his influence in the crisp, choppy guitar lead as well as the vocals. The track takes what made their first album a hit, and builds upon that foundation, which hopefully shows throughout the whole album. "Promises" does just that in promising us a great album to look forward to.

The Morning Benders - Promises (mp3)

The track is also up on iTunes, in case you're feeling generous. You can check out their website for more information.

I Want This Shit Forever

Since the release of his amazing debut at the beginning of last year, Nosaj Thing has been amusing us with a handful of remixes. There have been a few recently, but somehow this one, released through his site a few weeks ago, slipped by me. Drake's "Forever" is an inevitably unavoidable track simply due to it's star-studded line-up, and not to mention it's a halfway decent track. However, with one of Nosaj Thing's signature clean-yet-dirty beats and some thumping bass this track is transformed in to a whole new beast. The lyrics, mainly about how great each rapper thinks he is, shine through and bring you in.

Drake - Forever feat. Kanye West, Lil Wayne, and Eminem (Nosaj Thing Remix) (mp3)

Here's another one of Nosaj Thing's latest remixes. This time he remixes two alt/indie-rock all-stars, Charlotte Gainsbourg featuring Beck. If you're feeling this remix then definitely check out the original track, and keep a look out for Charlotte's forthcoming album.

Charlotte Gainsbourg - Heaven Can Wait feat. Beck (Nosaj Thing Remix) (mp3)

"I stuck my dick inside this life until that bitch came." - Kanye West

Free Gucci

The hilarious and brilliant Diplo recently decided to use some of his excellent connections to get an amazing remix album made of music from none other than Gucci Mane. The whole mixtape is excellent as well as extremely entertaining, and you can download it for the price of your e-mail address here. In case that's a little more Gucci than you can handle, I've picked a few of my favorites.

Gucci Mane - Frowny Face (Douster Remix) (mp3)

Gucci Mane - Boi (Zomby Remix) (mp3)

Gucci Mane - Excuse Me (Diplo Remix) (mp3) [Most Fancied]

This is definitely the #1 contender for remix album of 2010, so far.

R.I.P. Jay Reatard

Jay Reatard was found dead at 3:30 am this morning, Janyuary 13, 2010. He was 29 years old. Not all details are known yet.

I've probably listened to this cover over a thousand times. It's one of my favorite covers of all time.

Jay Reatard - Gamma Ray (Beck Cover) (mp3)

Breakin'

Strip Steve - Breakin' (Jake Simon Remix) (mp3)

The Shrew Would Have Cushioned The Blow

He was the most hyped electronic artist of last year and so it continues this year starting with his new EP. Stream it here.

JJ - The Truth

Last year's JJ No. 2 was one of the most well received albums of 2009, and although I didn't feel quite as strongly about it as many other critics on the web, there is no denying this groups talent. I just recently came across their song, "The Truth". It is from their "From Africa To Malage" 12-inch, and it is so perfectly melodic and calming. This song, however, is extremely tough to get a hold of so I only have a youtube video of it to share with you, but I'm going to give you the other track from the same 12-inch, which is another great song.

JJ - From Africa To Malaga (mp3)

Get Your Daik On

Daikon - Get Your Daik On (ALT)

Whatchadoin!

N.A.S.A. - Whatchadoin (DJ Alvaro Remix) (ALT)

Joe and Will Ask? - Take Me Away (ALT)