ListenUp
Carly Rae B-sides, Cashmere Cat collaborates with The Weeknd, DJ Koze remixes Låpsley and more in our weekly musical round-up
Carly Rae Jepsen: Emotion Side B
It will come as no surprise that Carly Rae Jepsen’s E•MO•TION Side B (a collection of eight songs that didn’t make it onto her powerhouse 2015 album) is an ’80s-influenced delight. Available to stream on Apple Music and Spotify, the flip-side album was shared as a celebration of E•MO•TION‘s first anniversary and from the sweet “First Time” to the cutesy, playful “Store,” the record is chock-full of the saccharine, glossy vibe we’ve come to love about Jepsen. The Canadian singer shared a note with her fans, saying “All I wanted was to give back more of the feelings you all gave to me.”
Thundercat: Bus In These Streets
Once again, Thundercat has managed to combine whimsy, innocence and sweetness with melancholy and pathos. For his new track, “Bus in These Streets” the multitalented musician/singer/producer has teamed up with frequent collaborator Flying Lotus and the result is sunny but sad. He laments the crazy world—mostly thanks to technology—and at the same time accepts it: “Thank God for technology / ’cause where would we be if we couldn’t tweet our thoughts? / Won’t you leave some things to mystery?” Evidently the stress and joy of the internet is universal, as he assures himself and listeners, “It’s OK to disconnect sometimes.”
Låpsley: Operator (DJ Koze Radio Edit)
With a disco-glam radio edit from DJ Koze, English singer Låpsley’s “Operator” makes for a club-ready dance party all on its own, but the music video sets the bar even higher. Inspired by a night Låpsley had spent celebrating among Berlin’s drag scene, the song picks up speed as a drag performer prepares for, and then unleashes, a rousing rendition. Together, the track and video are fun enough for serious repeat listens.
Cashmere Cat feat. The Weeknd: Wild Love
Two CH favorites, Cashmere Cat and The Weeknd, have teamed up for a dreamy collaboration and it’s a sexy, soulful delight. Also featuring Francis and the Lights, “Wild Love” was first teased at by Cashmere Cat and has since leaked in full. It lives up to its ethereal snippet. This slow-burn, minimal track still feels very lush, thanks to The Weeknd’s dynamic falsetto. The song is from Cashmere Cat’s LP which is set to release tomorrow.
Delicate Steve: Winners
Delicate Steve, the alter ego of Steve Marion, can often be seen around intimate NYC venues in a tank top—shredding like no mere mortal. The guitar whisperer has lent his talents to Yeasayer’s and Paul Simon’s most recent albums, co-wrote a song with the Brooklyn-based pop trio Wet, even writing the theme song to Showtime’s comedy, “Dice.” Though Marion released his first two records on Luaka Bop, he’s a new ANTI- signee (Wilco, Neko Case, Deafheaven) and expect a full-length to be released shortly. For now, check out Delicate Steve’s new track “Winners” for a taste of his lyric-free songs and fastidiously filtered guitar.
Sad13: Get A Yes
Rock band Speedy Ortiz have been that rare shining beacon of light leading the way to make shows safe and inclusive for fans—even asking concertgoers to text when they feel harassed or in trouble. Sadie Dupuis takes it further in the intimate, catchy bedroom pop song “Get A Yes” with lines like, “I say yes to the dress when I put it on / I say yes if I want you to take it off.” Noticeably free of Speedy Ortiz’s guitars, this is one glistening number we’re stoked to sing along to on the top of our lungs—compared to many Top 40 hits that don’t seem to understand the definition of consent. Under the moniker Sad13, Dupuis’ solo debut album Slugger drops in November.
ListenUp is a Cool Hunting series published every Sunday that rounds up the music we tweeted throughout the week, also found in Listen. Hear the year so far via Cool Hunting Spotify.
