LISTEN: Panama - 'Always' EP

Lest you think I had completely given up on Mixtape Muse, something has, once again, brought me back to the fold. And while I'm sure there is a ton of great music I've neglected in my mess of an inbox, I've found myself scanning through Bandcamp as of late. About a week ago, I came across one particular October release that caught my attention. But of course, as it turns out, Sydney, Australia's Panama was one of those many recent submissions I've neglected -- so now I just feel foolish.

REVIEW: Holy Ghost! - Holy Ghost!

Holy Ghost! – Holy Ghost!
MMMM

Following years of critically-acclaimed singles, remixes, and one EP, NYC duo Holy Ghost! are finally releasing their eponymous debut full-length – and boy was it worth the wait. Across the album’s 10 tracks, it’s clear that Holy Ghost! (aka childhood friends Alex Frankel and Nick Millhiser) devoted a great deal of time to fine-tuning their introductory statement into something of replay value. This is more than just another speck on the map of modern day electropop/dance music, this is a revival of what made dance music great in the first place: emotion meets groove.

When you think about electronic duos, groups like Daft Punk, Justice, The Knife, and Massive Attack come to mind – groups that craft haunting soundscapes and/or melodic, addictive cuts of dance music. And while Holy Ghost! can certainly be categorized under the latter of the two, they manage to write songs that are just as pop sensible as they are danceable – songs that you can lose your mind to on a dance floor or melt into through a pair of headphones at home. It’s not that Holy Ghost! are incredibly profound, but it’s clear that their debut succeeds in being the album that Frankel and Millhiser aimed for: an album that people would want to hear front to back at home, not just in a club.

LISTEN: The Glass - "Four Four Letter"

By www.rainerhosch.com

MP3: The Glass - "Four Four Letter"

I don't really party. I don't live it up on the weekends. I'm in my early 20s (uh oh, now you know). I'm not on the market. I'm not trying to mingle in the bar/club scene -- that is to say I don't go downtown to hit up the bars. When I go downtown, I tend to only have one destination in mind: my favorite record shop. I'd say the closest I come to that whole bar/club scene is listening to music that might be blared in such venues.

Enter The Glass, a New York/Berlin duo featuring Dominique Keegan & Glen "DJ Wool" Brady, with their new single "Four Four Letter." It's a perfect fusion of disco, dance, electro pop, and pop that throws you on the dance floor with a rich bass riff, layers of synth, unrelenting drums/percussion, and soft-spoken vocals that lay casually against the energetic backdrop. It's a textured, layered journey through highs and lows of some wild evening spent downtown that packs a lot in before you realize the ride has come to an end.

R.I.P. Isaac Hayes

Today, Isaac Hayes, the legendary actor, arranger, musician, singer and songwriter, passed away at the age of 65. He was found collapsed and unresponsive near a treadmill in his home. The cause of death is unknown at this time.

Through his work with Stax-Volt Records and albums such as Hot Buttered Soul in the 1960s and 1970s, Hayes was key in the development of soul music. He is also credited with helping to create both the disco and hip-hop/rap genres.

Rest in peace, Mr. Isaac Hayes.