It’s Independence Day next Tuesday here in America, and global affairs and chaos aside, I’m very much looking forward to enjoying a four day weekend. Part of me thinks a beach may or may not be involved, but for sure fireworks, my camera(s), and a whole lot of crazy food from local vendors and barbecues will be gobbled up across these days. Bring on all the Korean dumplings, short ribs, and mangonadas, y’all.
This week I’ve hand-picked six tracks to help you shimmy your way into the long weekend.
Please reach out to me via the handy dandy contact page on the cmd+f website, or on the cmd+f Twitter at @cmdf_me with your thoughts about any of the tracks I’ve selected this week. I love chatting about music. Let me in on your new favorite band; they’re looking for new fans, too.
As always, you know the drill: if you like what you hear, spread the cheer. Tell your friends about the songs you liked in this letter, but most importantly, let the artists know. There’s a good chance they’ll see your comments. Let them know how good their tunes are, and they’ll crank out even more magic.
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“Try to Fight” - Cathedrals | Oh. My. God. Remember Alphabeat???? Cathedrals are filling the void Alphabeat has left in my heart. “Try to Fight” straight up sounds like Keisza singing over a Years & Years instrumental. With a relentless bass looming beneath a bubbly synth and infectious hook, “Try to Fight” is “King” at half-speed, but still gets full marks on the campy electro beats. High key suprised this hasn’t made it onto the H&M In Store Music playlist, to be quite honest. Listen here
“Body Bounce” - Lao Ra feat. Konshens | This is the second time I’ve thrown Lao Ra down in the cmd+f letter (here is the first), and she’s thrown down yet another fine “pineapple pop” dancefloor banger. “Body Bounce” features Jamaican artist Konshens, fusing a delicious blend of Lao Ra’s Colombian roots with tropical and dancehall beats. Get ready to pop-pop-pop-pop. Listen here
“Flash” - The Belligerents | Damn: The Belligerents’ new single “Flash” is better than good. Underneath all that psychedelic flare, this song is undoubtedly bigger than it was likely intending to be. This song deserves to be performed in a damn stadium. I want to hear this at full volume, amps screeching. “Flash” is the first single off The Belligerents’ upcoming debut album (!!!), and I honestly can’t WAIT to hear what they pull off. Listen here
“Lonely Now” - Lover | Who on earth is Lover? I’m surprised there hasn’t been an artist already named Lover by this point, but here we are. UPDATE: he actually goes by LØVER, but he’s on Spotify as just Lover. Anyway, LØVER is an R&B-lite artist from Norway. “Lonely Now” sounds like a long lost Michael Bolton track in a 1980s teen movie, meaning it’s essentially perfect. Listen here
“Trampoline” (Saint Etienne Remix) - Kero Kero Bonito | Sickly sweet J-pop (in English) reworked over a ska beat - sounds like it’d be a mess, but I assure you it’s BRILLIANT. Kero Kero Bonito have been around for a minute, churning out ironic, blissfully bonkers pop music on speed. Saint Etienne have kicked “Trampoline” down a few notches and rubbed the tune down into a beachy-keen day dream. Listen here
“Call Me Out” - Sea Girls | I leave you with one last big tune: Sea Girls have come out the gate at breakneck speed with “Call Me Out” - it’s an unrelenting, contagious tune. What a freaking debut single, my friends. I’ve sent this off to two people this week, and both of their reactions were variations of “into it.” If you’re a fan of British indie pop (a la The Kooks, et al), BUMP THIS. Listen here
BONUS
JAY-Z dropped his 13th studio album 4:44 on TIDAL. Literally everyone who has a TIDAL subscription confirms it’s incredible (likely to justify the fact the have a TIDAL subscription). And if you’re curious and don’t have a Sprint phone plan, seems like you’re “never” going to hear this album as it’s not only a TIDAL exclusive, but it’s now a TIDAL with Sprint exclusive. It’s like this man thinks he’s Beyoncé or something...
Astrid S is ready to take on the globe!! The Norwegian pop princess has dropped her new Party’s Over EP Listen here
The only album you’re gonna need with you by the pool this weekend: Calvin Harris - Funk Wav Bounces Vol. 1 Listen here
EVERYTHING I DREAMT UP ONCE UPON CAME INTO REALITY IN A MUSIC VIDEO!!! The xx’s new video for “I Dare You” was styled AND DIRECTED by Raf Simons and Alasdair McLellan, filmed in Los Angeles at Frank Lloyd Wright’s Sowden House and John Lautner’s Rainbow House, starring Millie Bobby Brown from Stranger Things, and Ashton Sanders in a crisp ass turtleneck. WHEW! Watch here
Mura Masa has dropped two new tunes: one with Christine and the Queens, the other with the legendary Damon Albarn. Listen here
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If you’re interested in hearing what else I’ve been rinsing this month (aside from the tracks listed above), peep my personal June 2017 playlist. You can dive into the cmd+f archive to hear what I’ve been listening to in previous months this year.
A(lmost a)ll of the tracks I’ve shared this week and past cmd+f newsletters are archived into a single playlist on Spotify for you to follow here. You’re welcome.
See you next week!