Grave Babies

Seattle's Grave Babies continue their dark sonic journey with new album "Holographic Violence," a collection of warped and shredding goth jams to brood or bash around an 80's industrial club to.  Awesome stuff.  Get the record from Hardly Art and listen to "Eternal (On and On)" below.

RIP Wes Craven

This one stings.  RIP Wes Craven.  Along with other creative and twisted folks like John Carpenter and Sam Raimi, and Stephen King and Clive Barker, the writer/director/horror icon was one of the main sources that molded me into the little horror fan/freak that i am today.  May he forever haunt our dreams.

Protomartyr

Hey!  There's a new Protomartyr record coming out in October on Hardly Art, and that's pretty cool.  Listen to the post-punk ruckus of "Why Does It Shake?" below and get "The Agent Intellect" LP on October 9th.

Nicole Dollanganger

Apparently Grimes started a music label called Eerie Organization.  Good for her.  The first release is a debut album, "Natural Born Losers," a collection of broken, warped, and floaty alt-folk pop hymns from Nicole Dollanganger.  First taste "You're So Cool" sounds pretty nice.  Take a listen below.

Le Matos

I had never even heard of it until yesterday, but the film "Turbo Kid" looks absolutely bonkers, and it features music from Montreal synth pop band Le Matos.  "No Tomorrow" featuring PAWWS sounds like the kind of saccharine pop anthem that would have accompanied any and all manner of fantasy or children's adventure movies in the 80's, the score to an epic ride upon Falcor.  Listen to the track below, buy it digitally here, or grab the 7" from Mondo/Deathwaltz.

The Witch

I may have only seen the trailer, but i'm going to go ahead a call Robert Eggers' upcoming film "The Witch," the best horror movie of the year.  It looks equal parts terrifying and unnerving.  I cannot wait.  Watch the trailer below.

Fear of Ghosts

At home today with Ash.  He's sleeping right now.  I wish i was.  So, here's some soothing, lulling, almost playful ambient music from LA's Fear of Ghosts.  Listen to "No. 5" below and get the self-titled album download or cassette here.

Fantastic Negrito

Hailing from Oakland, Fantastic Negrito is the soulful blues stomp project of Xavier Dphrepaulezz, a guitar-slinging, head-bobbing, spiritual narrator of the funky arts.  His latest deluxe edition self-titled EP is currently available from Blackball Universe, and totally worth of your attention.  Listen to "She Don't Cry No More" below, a throwback, blues rager that demands to be blared at an outdoor tent revival somewhere, a crowd of swaying listeners with their hands in the air, just waiting to testify their own pain and/or gratitude.  This dude jams.

Mark of the Devil

UK soundtrack label One Way Static's next release is the amazing and beautiful Michael Holm scores for the 1970's films "Mark of the Devil" and "Mark of the Devil II."  As per usual with these horror score reissues, i'm stoked.  Take a listen to "Liebesthema" below.  You may also recognize it from its use in "Hobo with a Shotgun."

Luminance/Psyche

Belgian darkwave kids Luminance just teamed up with dark synth-pop elder statesmen Psyche for a collaborative 7" on Storming the Base.  It sounds like it could have come out yesterday or thirty years ago, an icy cold warehouse pulse.  Listen to B-side "Passenger Seat" below and get it here.

The Great Tyrant

The Great Tyrant was an excellent proggy metal three piece from Denton, Texas, and "The Trouble with Being Born" is the their unreleased sophomore album, completed but never distributed due to band member Tommy Wayne Atkins' unexpected death.  His former bandmates Daron Beck and Jon Teague have continued on as Pinkish Black, but this opus from their previous band is finally getting a proper release from Relapse.  Listen to the title track below and pre-order here.  It's pretty damn great, and anything that references "Barbarella" is okay by me.

GRNDMS

Recorded over long distance, GRNDMS' debut album "Capitol Mill" is the project of college friends Catherine DeGennaro and Suzy Jivotovski.  The duo craft majestic, low-key little folk songs with just a dash of whimsy.  The cassette from Fox Food Records is sold out, but you can grab the download here and listen to "Observation Satellites" below.

Molly Nilsson - 1995

It's no secret that i am currently and forever a fan of retro-leaning songs and art, be they culling from the sights and sounds of a long list of previous decades and/or genres.  We are in a constant state of hyper-nostalgia as it is.  Molly Nilsson's upcoming album "Zenith" is one such creature as evidenced by the single "1995."  It's a sultry little ballad that feels like a 1980's tribute to a 1990's song...if that makes any kind of sense.  Pre-order the album from Dark Skies Association and watch the video for "1995" below.

Anna Von Hausswolff

Anna Von Hausswolff is a Swedish singer and organist who crafts beautiful gothic pop numbers.  She is set to release a new album, "The Miraculous," in November on City Slang, and the first taste is an epic and delirious mix of gothic folk, prog, and doom metal.  "Come Wander With Me/Deliverance" begins with a cover of an old folk song originally penned for an episode of "The Twilight Zone" and sung by Bonnie Beecher.  The original is a marvel, but Ms. Von Hausswolff's take does not disappoint.  Call me hooked.  Listen below.

Nicholas Nicholas

Brooklyn's Nicholas Nicholas makes dreamy synth pop that fills the John Maus-sized whole in my heart.  Listen to his latest digital 7" below.  Both A-side "Because of a Fire at the Paper Manufacturer" and B-side "Call Me Number Five" feel like the kind of lo-fi, retro-pastiche to plant a permanent dreamy smile on your face.  Listen below and download here.

King Gizzard and The Lizard Wizard

I'm really digging on every different release i hear from this weirdo gang of Aussies called King Gizzard and The Lizard Wizard.  Each album is a total adventure.  The seven-piece's latest is called "Paper Mache Dream Balloon" and was recorded entirely with acoustic instruments.  Listen to the title track below.  It's lovely.  And look for the record in November on ATO Records.

Deafheaven - Brought to the Water

Deafheaven's "Sunbather" LP was easily my favorite record of 2013, and i'm stoked that the black metal/post-rock band have a new album hitting us in the earbuds this October.  Listen to "Brought to the Water" below and pre-order "New Bermuda" here.

Neon Indian

It's been a few years, but chill-wave O.G. and synth pop artist Neon Indian is back with a new record of synthetic new wave shakers.  "VEGA INTL. Night School" is due in October on Mom + Pop, but you can listen to "Slumlord" below right now...and dance.

Deerhunter - Snakeskin video

October is increasingly becoming a month where i may have to take out a loan to procure all the awesome music that's coming out.  So, let's go ahead and add another to the pile, as Deerhunter have announced a new album due on 10/16 on 4AD called "Fading Frontier."  Watch the video for first single "Snakeskin" below.

Faded Paper Figures

Faded Paper Figures are a electronic, synth pop trio out of LA.  "Remnants" is the band's EP of B-sides, covers, remixes, etc. from last year's "Relics" LP.  Listen to "Dark Energy" below and get the album here.

The Hateful Eight

I actually meant to post this the other day, but totally spaced.  Tarantino has yet to make a film that i don't like, so i'm stoked about "The Hateful Eight" this December.  Ennio Morricone is doing the score!  And that cast is amazing!  Watch the teaser trailer below.

Alex G - Bug

Singer songwriter Alex G made a whole lot of waves last year with his excellently, and constantly sold-out LP "DSU."  The hype of that record led to a couple of his older offerings getting remastered and reissued as well, and now we get a proper follow up, this time around courtesy of Domino Records.  "Beach Music" is due in October, but you can go ahead and listen to "Bug" below.  It's a wonderful and soothing lo-fi guitar breeze, like listening to some ridiculously talented kid make music in the apartment next to yours.  It's inviting and innovative, and i cannot recommend this guy's whole catalog enough.

Lemonade with Dee Dee from Dum Dum Girls

A whole lot of stuff going on in my world right now, good and great stuff mind you, but a whole lot on my plate nonetheless.  And i'm just going to roll with it all and not get stressed.  So, here's a chilled-out, synthy dance number from Lemonade featuring Dee Dee from Dum Dum Girls.  Listen to "Dancer on the Shore" below, grab a beverage, and listen to the proverbial waves crashing into the beach.

jj

I got really into the electronic duo jj about five or six years ago...haunting electronics, subdued and ghostly vocals, pulsing beats...but then i kind of just forgot about them.  I probably need to remedy that, as the band has released a couple of albums since then, and their latest "Death" EP has been working its way into my ears nicely.  Listen to album opener "Fuck It" below and get the album from Sincerely Yours.

F ingers

F ingers is the druggy, experimental electronic project of members of the groups Tarcar and LST.  Take a listen to the warped "Tantrum Time" from the upcoming album "Hide Before Dinner" below.  It sounds like slowly sinking into oblivion.  Pre-order the record from Blackest Ever Black.

Joanna Newsom - Sapokanikan video

The woodland nymph otherwise known as Joanna Newsom has a new album, "Divers," out in October on Drag City.  And i probably know more people who will be annoyed by this news than excited.  While i will admit that Newsom's particular brand of folky, baroque pop is an acquired taste, it's one that i thoroughly enjoy.  Watch the Paul Thomas Anderson-directed video for "Sapokanikan" below and pre-order the Steve Albini-engineered album here.

Not of This Earth

We are living in extraordinary times.  It seems each year brings another film score label to revel in schlock and cheese and quirky little synth tracks.  The latest is Terror Vision Records, and their debut release is the Chuck Cirino soundtrack for the 1988 Traci Lords vehicle "Not of This Earth."  Listen to a sampler of the record below and buy the thing here.

The Road Chief

The Road Chief is the new project from former Emeralds member and non baseball player Mark McGuire.  The "All My Love" cassette is due later this month from Cascine Records, but you can listen to the blippy, bleepy, lo-fi synth, elevator music of "Is This Really Love?" below.

Foals remixed by The Haxan Cloak

UK band Foals have a new album coming out later this month on Warner Music called "What Went Down."  The title track just got a remix from producer The Haxan Cloak, and it's kind of intense.  Listen below.

Mark Lanegan and Beth Orton cover Marc Almond and Nico

Heavenly Recordings is celebrating their 25th anniversary this year and are releasing a slew of singles for the event.  One of those singles is an excellent and faithful cover of Marc Almond's and Nico's "Your Kisses Burn" performed by Mark Lanegan and Beth Orton.  The song is gorgeous and lush, Lanegan's dusty old vocals pairing nicely Orton's ghostly swoon and the orchestral accompaniment.  Listen below.

Windhand - Crypt Key

I can't believe i haven't written about the new upcoming album from Virginia doom metal band Windhand yet.  Bad Tommy.  Anyway, here's the video for "Crypt Key" from "Grief's Infernal Flower" due in September on Relapse.

Small Black - Boys Life

Here's a new airy, dreamy synth number from Small Black.  "Boys Life" comes from the band's upcoming album "Best Blues," out in October on Jagjaguwar, and it's a beautiful, little late summer jam.  Listen below.

Myrkur

Myrkur, the one-woman black metal project of Ex-Cops' Amalie Brunn, is set to release her "M" LP later this month on Relapse Records, and with a production assist from Ulver's Kristoffer "Garm" Rygg, it's shaping up to be a monster.  Listen to the Norwegian fury and Celtic tones of "Hævnen" below.

Wand cover Gary Numan

LA rockers Wand are easily one of my favorite bands that i've discovered this year, their "Golem" LP a viable candidate for best record of the year.  And they've got another record slated for later this fall.  And, today i heard their excellent cover of Gary Numan's "M.E." on the B-side to their "Machine Man" 7".  It's fantastic, and one of my favorite Numan tunes to boot.  Listen below and get the record from In the Red.

RIP Rowdy Roddy Piper

RIP Rowdy Roddy Piper.