Saba feat. theMIND: SIRENS

“SIRENS,” the second half of the track “BUSY/SIRENS” from Saba’s album Care for Me, is a poignant portrayal of misaccused black men. “Riding through the city / I’m young, I’m black, I’m guilty / I know one time wanna kill / They don’t know me but they fear me,” he begins his first verse. With cutting cadence, Saba tackles topics ranging from police brutality to racial profiling …

TENDER: Bottled Up

Off the band’s forthcoming sophomore record, Fear of Falling Asleep, out on Partisan Records on 18 January, comes “Bottled Up,” a deep and bluesy tune about introversion. The song’s many layers—guitar, bass, drum, atmospheric filters and daunting vocals—play perfectly together. Though reminiscent of recent releases by other artists, as the band’s name ironically implies, it’s a bit more tender and less boasting (and arguably better).

Slenderbodies: King

“King” is a smoky, danceable track from Slenderbodies, an Avant Garden-signed duo comprised of Max Vehuni and Benji Cormack. With a groovy bass line and exasperated vocals, the tune is fit for a dark bar or a bedroom dance party. It’s an ode to women; highlighting the empowering solace they provide and the wisdom they bestow, “King” feels good and bears poignant irony in its title.