Not too long ago an intriguing Icelandic pop collective performing under the name Of Monsters and Men unveiled a stellar track called "Little Talks," featured on their debut EP Into the Woods. A proper music video now accompanies the track, which utilizes a creative mix of stylized animation and live action facial expression from the band members, all depicting a band of explorers who seem to constantly be accosted by fantastical monsters and brutal environments. Luckily on this particular odyssey, they have the help of a brightly colored guardian angel in the form of female vocalist Nanna Bryndis Hilmarsdóttir.
Miike Snow
"Paddling Work" Video
Swedish electro producers Miike Show are poised to release their new album Happy To You on March 27. Having already posted a number of tracks online including "Devil's Work" and their Lykke Li collaboration "Black Tin Box," the group has produced an official music video for their track "Paddling Out." Progressing with a deadbeat milling around his house, finding a pair of buckled shoes that that allow him the power of dance, and getting captured by a group of proton-pack wielding space travelers for surgical experimentation, it's completely bonkers and isn't worth trying to figure out.
With her new track "Bad Girls" UK hip-hop artist M.I.A. is making it pretty clear that a follow-up to 2010's critically-mixed /\/\ /\ Y /\ will see the light of day at some point during the coming year. In the recently released music video for said track, director Romain Gavras (the man responsible for the controversial "Born Free," video which depicted the systematic massacre of a group of children) places M.I.A. in an over-the-top desert setting of drag racing and crazy car tricks. Nothing says you're a big deal like hanging on the side of car cruising on just two wheels.
Tomorrow's World
"So Long My Love"
Air's Jean-Benoit Dunckel has started himself a new side-project on Kitsuné called Tomorrow's World. Teaming with keyboardist Lou Hayter of New Young Pony Club, the pair have unveiled their first official work "So Long My Love" on the Kitsuné's new compilation work Kitsuné Parisien II. Driven by a TR808 drum machine, plenty of wall-filling fuzz, and Hayter's breathy vocals, it's a sexy little piece of pop.
Pond
"Moth Wings"
Much different from the Passion Pit song of the same name, this particular set of "Moth Wings" comes from the likes of Pond, an Australian rock group that specialize in some skuzzy, cool riffs and psychedelic wah-wah effects. The group forthcoming new album Beard Wives Denim was recorded over the course of two week in a ramshackle farmhouse. "Moth Wings" supposedly got the band out of quickly generated cabin fever funk.
Last year Los Angeles sextet Races made quite a impression during their round of performances at New York's CMJ festival. Recently signing with Frenchkiss the band is currently prepping for the arrival of their debut LP Year of the Witch, which features this particular standout track "Big Broom." With a dark bassline rumble offset by guitarist Wade Ryff and Breanna Wood's sweet vocal harmonizing, the band fits right at home with the likes of Local Natives and The Dodos.
Fixers
"Iron Deer Dream"
Described as an avant-garde incarnation of The Beach Boys by NME, Oxford five-piece Fixers are bound to hit a number of musical radars this year. After releasing two EP last year (Here Comes 2001 So Let's All Head for the Sun and Impperial Goddess of Mercy) the band is poised to unveiled their full-length debut We'll Be the Moon on May 14. Before then, check out their music video for the echoing, whirly track "Iron Deer Dream," which seeks to shed light on a dangerous skin disease that causes the uncontrollable growth corn flakes and cereal rice crisps.
There's something undeniably sweet about new Brooklyn quartet Field Mouse. Led by singer Rachel Browne this breezing dream pop group is soon to release a two-song 7'' on Feb. 28 featuring such appropriately cute tracks as "You Guys Are Gonna Wake Up My Mom" and "Happy." In the meantime the band has unveiled the fanciful song "Glass" and its accompanying video. Give it a watch, listen, download, and whathaveyou above and below.
