“Listen In” is a feature in which we ask musicians to curate a mixtape-length playlist of songs they’re currently digging. Click the big play button above to hear the whole playlist or scroll down to see and hear individual tracks.
British/Californian outfit The Acid makes gloomy, minimal synth-pop. Their track “Ghost” from last year’s album Liminal is a great example of how the group can use just a few elements (steady kickdrum, throwback synth, and murmured vocals) to create an immersive song. They made us a mix of melancholy tracks to get you on their level.
Jamie XX – “Gosh”
An exercise in minimalism, this love letter to the UK begins with driving percussion and throwback vocal samples and pays off in a beautiful way with a euphoric synth line reminiscent of classic Orbital.
Naked – “Void”
Incredible, swirling shoegaze from this Glasgow three piece, the latest offering from the outstanding label LuckyMe. This has been on repeat.
I’lls – “Plans Only Drawn”
This Melbourne-based band delivers a dreamy, quirky number that is equal parts melancholic haze and introspectively hopeful. Radiohead comparisons are perhaps inevitable, but this song is unique, lush and rather addictive.
James Place – “Sadie’s Tears”
Kind of like The Field meets Radiohead, this instrumental quickie is full of introspective emotion; a lush, melancholy daydream that evaporates as quickly as it forms. Two minutes of pure vibes.
Connan Mockasin – “Faking Jazz Together”
Dark and witchy, this hauntingly beautiful song is completely original. It is a few years old at this point, but this one never gets old and the video is pure magic, perfectly reflecting the track’s feeling of witnessing something otherworldly with it’s discordant guitars and oddly pitched vocals.
Dream Koala – “Earth”
Lush chords, floating vocals, skittering percussion…this song is full of longing and beauty. It has one of the most amazing build ups and breakdowns that you would never have seen coming, and the video perfectly complements it.
Young Magic – “Holographic”
I’ve listened to this song so many times since we met Young Magic at Lowlands Festival in Netherlands last year. It is lush and emotional, full of magic and sweet nostalgia. So excited to be performing with them in NYC.
Nils Frahm – “Says”
A deep, arpeggiated roller coaster ride inward, this song never fails to give you goosebumps no matter how many times you listen, and I’ve listened a lot. An absolute masterpiece, hope to catch him live some time as I imagine it is very special.
RAJA – “Pistol Syrup”
I had the privilege of meeting young Lord RAJA when he was just 19 years old. His creativity, talent and passion were clearly on another level. So glad to see him signed to Ghostly and pushing boundaries with his hard-to-categorize music — it’s like putting Aphex, Madlib, Flylo and Actress in a blender. Looking forward to sharing the stage with him in NYC.
Jeff Bridges – “Feeling Good”
Sometimes advertising concepts actually can lead to profoundly good art, as is the case with Sleeping Tapes. Jeff Bridges teamed with the composer for True Detective and the result is an ambient masterpiece packed with sage wisdom from the Dude himself.
