LISTEN: Robocut Slum - "Test Take 1"

Via

Do you ever stop to think about how the human body is the greatest percussion instrument of all time? Think about it. The heart holds it down like a kick drum as our breath, blood flow, blinking, breathing, and more all create their own rhythm to the beat of this kick drum heart. They say that no two people are alike, and I'd bet that the same could be said for our individual body rhythms. We're all living to our own beats, and when things click maybe that's love, maybe that's happiness.

LISTEN: Phantoms - "Do Yer Thang"

This LA electro-funk duo splits the difference between timeless grooves and modern flair, as exhibited here with "Do Yer Thang," the bonus track off their new EP. Often times bonus tracks can wind up sounding more like b-sides or less accomplished cuts, but that couldn't be farther from the truth with this track. It's got soul, it's got funk, and it's got a heavy dose of electro bass, which all wind together to create a propulsive, seductive jam. Spin this and turn your Monday into a Friday.

LISTEN: The Blank Tapes - "I'm Back"

MP3: The Blank Tapes - "I'm Back"

Sometimes you have to break it all up to find the hidden harmony in the cacophonous whole. Taking some '60s-era garage rock jangle and harmonious pop charm, The Blank Tapes sounds like time-traveling troubadours. And while this sounds like familiar territory, it doesn't sound dated or forced. SIKE! It's from the 1960s, of course it sounds authentic. SIKE! It's from 2012. SIKE! Which one is the truth and which one is the lie?

SEE & HEAR: Freedom Fry - "Summer In the City"

Freedom Fry - "Summer In the City"


Ah yes, summer. It's supposed to be a period of freedom and endless opportunities to have fun -- that is when you're a kid. When you're an adult, summer seems almost like a shell of its former self: it's uncomfortably hot and you no longer get those three months of zero responsibilities. And so, instead of basking in the summer sun's warm glow, we get all caught up in our own business and the complexities of adult life; instead of enjoying nature's changes, we're all going, going, going with whatever it is that runs our lives.

Enter Paris/Los Angeles duo Freedom Fry and their new single "Summer In the City." It's a charming, pleasant cut of indie pop with a pinch of surf rock fluidity, beckoning us to make our way back to those simply days of our summer youth. It's upbeat but laced with an atmospheric layer of synth that's perfect for sending the listener off to daydream the frantic pace of reality away.