ListenUp
Unreleased music from Prince, Georgia collaborates with Caroline Polachek, a live Kate Bush video and more
Prince: Moonbeam Levels
Recorded in 1982 (during the time he was making 1999), Prince’s “Moonbeam Levels” was live-streamed today for the first time ever. The track is classic ’80s Prince—buoyant guitars, glitzy drum machines and the beloved musician’s dazzling vocals. From the new greatest hits record Prince 4Ever (released today) the song is one of a few unreleased tracks to appear on the album.
Sylvan Esso: Kick Jump Twist
Sylvan Esso (aka Amelia Meath and Nick Sanborn) keep experimenting with each new release, the most recent being “Kick Jump Twist,” the B-side to “Radio.” The track begins gently enough, but becomes frenetic at times, a facet that’s offset by Meath’s saccharine vocals. With blips and synths aplenty, this track as a whole embraces something a little space-age in energy, but Meath’s voices reaches back toward nostalgia.
Georgia feat. Caroline Polachek: Ama Yes Uzume
Beyond the synth and strings, it’s hard to place the exact sonic origins of what comes together in New York duo Georgia’s stunning experimental track “Ama Yes Uzume.” That is, of course, except for the magnificent guest vocals by Chairlift’s Caroline Polachek. Within, there’s delicate bell tones, clanks and digital percolation, all uniting for a meditative track that still manages to soothe at its most chaotic and exploratory.
Beyonce + The Dixie Chicks: Daddy Lessons
While Beyonce’s Lemonade was released back in April, earlier this month she performed “Daddy Lessons” at the CMAs with country music trio the Dixie Chicks. The performance spurred some controversy (a lot of it racist), but it was undeniably brilliant. With Beyonce’s Southern roots showcased thanks to the song’s rich storytelling and the Dixie Chicks lending their impressive vocals and musicality, this version of the track is now available to stream on Spotify (unlike the rest of Lemonade) and even those who think they’re not fans of country music will be nodding their heads to this horn-heavy, murder ballad in no time.
Kate Bush: And Dream of Sheep (Live)
From her fifth studio album, 1985’s Hounds of Love, Kate Bush’s “And Dream of Sheep” is lesser known than the record’s other songs (like “Cloudbusting” or “Running Up That Hill”), but it is just as otherworldly and exquisite. For the video accompanying this new version, Bush spent three days in a tank full of water, preforming an iteration that will appear on her upcoming live album K Fellowship: Before the Dawn which is actually a box-set of three CDs and four vinyls. Bush apparently ended up with mild hypothermia for this shoot (and recovered after a day to continue filming) but the result is quite magical.
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.
