Welcome, once again, to The Weekly List(en), a brief selection of some of Halftime’s favorite new tracks. This week on The List we have an eclectic mix of exciting new music, so check out our picks!
First, we have a track off of Pure X’s new album, Angel, which was released on April 1. The song is called “Heaven” and is a sunsoaked, seasonal jam that is sure to be a lake-side staple this coming summer. Laid back vocals and a playful guitar line define Pure X’s sound and create an approachable and easy listenable sound fit for DC’s sunny spring days.
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If you add some thumpy synth and washed out vocals to Pure X’s feel, you’ll get “Stranger Love” by Classix, which is Halftime’s next pick of the week. Light female vocals offset the heaviness of the synthesizer line making another cheerful, whimsical sound perfect for this time of year.
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Up next is another stellar track off of a great new album. “I’m Not a Part of Me” by the Cloud Nothings was released on April 1 on their fourth studio album, Here and Nowhere Else. This song is a slight change in tempo from the last two, with a stronger guitar line and a more active percussion line to back it up. Cloud Nothings have once again offered their fans some fun, genre defining indie rock to jam out to this summer.
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Darkside, an electronic group made up of DJ Nicholas Jaar and Multi Instrumentalist Dave Harrington, have remixed one of the best singles off of St. Vincent’s eponymous new album, “Digital Witness.” Remix maybe too light of a word for the overhaul that Jaar and Harrington accomplish on this track, but the result is a wonder. Not quite as mellow as Darkside’s original material, but toned down from the original St. Vincent track, this song is cluttered and noisy, in the best way possible. Definitely worth a listen!
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Finally, Jamie XX has returned with yet another flawless jam. The new song, “Sleep Sound,” is the first side of a single that’s set to be released on May 5. Debuted on his BBC 6 mix a couple months ago, this track is reminiscent of his last single release, “Far Nearer/Beat For,” with its dynamic shifts and low tempo, bass heavy atmosphere. A perfect dance track for any pre-game or rager, “Sleep Sound” is the next installment in Jamie XX’s awesome discography.
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Photo: Daniel Varghese/The Georgetown Voice
