ListenUp
A psychedelic party with PNAU, Matthew Dear joins forces with Tegan and Sara, new music by Wolf Parade and more
Matthew Dear feat. Tegan and Sara: Bad Ones
The seamless creative process behind “Bad Ones”—wherein Matthew Dear discovered a loop that he thought would be a great fit for Tegan and Sara, and they returned a verse and chorus within a day—beams brightly through the track. There’s a beautiful ease to this electro-pop tune. Matthew Dear wears many hats in the music world—from artist to music producer and DJ. Here, he employs this broad awareness of what comes together to make a catchy, but rich song.
Andrew Applepie: Fantasy Prison
German songwriter, musician and producer Andrew Applepie’s new song “Fantasy Prison” includes tinges of countless genres—from jazz to electronic and beyond—resulting in a slow-burning and beautiful work. Experimental and charming, the track also has an accompanying stop-motion video starring a robot, duck and unicorn.
St Vincent: New York
With a whimsical color palette and crisp, shapely structures, the music video for St Vincent’s latest single “New York” delights. It’s a visual feast from director Alex Da Corte, starring Annie Clark who delivers a break-up love letter in the context of her home city. The song hooks the soul in a way we all know while the images feel familiar and foreign all at once.
Wolf Parade: You’re Dreaming
From their first record in seven years, Cry Cry Cry (out 6 October), Canadian band Wolf Parade has released “You’re Dreaming”—sung by co-lead Dan Boeckner. His almost staccato vocals, atop an organ-led hook, are perfectly off-center. The song, and accompanying music video, carry a decidedly post-punk vibe. The band will spend the rest of the year touring North America and Europe.
PNAU: Into The Sky
Premiering on Australia’s Triple J a few days ago, PNAU’s “Into The Sky” is one of three new tracks the dance outfit debuted. From the band’s upcoming LP Changa (their first since 2012’s Elton John remix album), the tune takes some tips from late ’80s / early ’90s big beat electronica. The accompanying video is psychedelic and flashy—to the point of it having an epilepsy warning at the beginning. It lends itself gratifyingly to the duo’s upbeat song.
ListenUp is a Cool Hunting series published every Sunday that rounds up the music we tweeted throughout the week.
