motel void

The best tracks that have come our way in the past week or so and that we highly recommend listening to…

Brood22 – this again

We’ve recommended the American project Brood22 from Portland before, and their new track this again is another gem. It opens with an atmospheric intro – I love that organic, slowcore feel of the drums and guitars. Then comes a hushed, whispery vocal that perfectly complements the song’s slightly gloomy, yet beautiful mood. Midway through, a crunchy guitar takes over, later giving way to a stunning outro. I’m listening to it right now in the library, surrounded by people browsing detective novels, while outside the windows, life rolls by – cyclists zipping past and the city quietly humming. What a nice day.

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Twirlies – Think that I’m in love

I haven’t written much about Norwegian music here, but Twirlies really struck a chord with me. This track has a lovely twee-pop vibe- imagine blending Galaxie 500, Camera Obscura, and The Magnetic Fields (especially their love-themed album), adding a dash of George Harrison, and then pouring in lots of sunshine. It’s a catchy, beautifully produced summer anthem that may seem simple on the surface – but try writing something like this yourself, and you’ll realize it’s no easy feat to make it sound this effortless and good.

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Aileron – the note collective

Wrapping up today’s list of favorite tracks with a mellow, chilled-out instrumental – something I haven’t featured in a while. Aileron is the project of Matt Greenberg and Charles Wyatt, who grew up together in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and now work between New York and Los Angeles. They previously performed as the duo Charles Atlas and toured the world, even sharing the stage with some of my all-time favorites like Low, Idaho, and Bright Eyes.
I don’t usually listen to that much instrumental music, but this one grabbed me immediately – I’ve had it on repeat. You can hear both musicians’ depth of knowledge and craftsmanship in every note, along with their talent for creating rich sonic landscapes with relatively minimalist arrangements. Hats off.