Whoa, Mexican Summer is bringing the groundbreaking shit lately. Lilacs & Champagne is the producing duo of Alex Hall and Emil Amos (both also of Grails), and this is their first record. As you’d expect, they’re plowing through the fertile grounds of psychedelia here, but maybe as somewhat of a surprise, they’re doing so with [...]

We could not be more excited about a vinyl release today, we LOVE Monster Rally. If you haven’t caught any of his stuff yet, prepare to be blissfully, calmly amazed. This stuff is a sun-baked Madlib after one too many Mai Tais. So great. Get the new “Crystal Ball” LP, limited to 250 copies on [...]

If you haven’t already been giving this one heavy play, prepare to be introduced to one of your favorite records of 2011. Thundercat (aka Stephen Bruner) is playing an absolutely authentic blend of smoothed-out jazz and funk from a bygone era. This shit just sounds too good, too pure to be from 2011. Bruner is [...]

Non Projects has proven to be one of the most exciting emerging labels in the electronic/beat scene. They just dropped a surprise EP from Ryan York (aka Asura). York delivers a twinkling slice of experimental electronic pop, perfectly illustrating his startling versatility as a part of this whole California beat movement. Clocking in at just [...]

Fuuuuuuuck, the reclusive Balam Acab just released one of the best electronic albums of the year, period. Dark, dreamy and ethereal, these beats move effortlessly, possessing a fluidity rarely matched (if ever). This is an important record (mark my words), especially considering Alec Koone is only 19 years old and only getting better. Seek it [...]

It’s hard to imagine the LA beat scene getting any hotter than it is right now. Flying Lotus is practically ruling the world, Samiyam just released one of the best records of the year, Tokimonsta is killing it, and now Shlohmo just dropped a nearly flawless debut full-length. Henry Laufer has been kicking around the [...]

We should’ve covered this Shabazz Palaces album a long time ago, we just sometimes get behind and figured you’d probably already heard it (just like the new Bon Iver finally covered below). It’s rare that a truly “new” hip-hop record comes along, but “Black Up” really sounds like nothing you’ve heard before. Led by former [...]

Tri Angle Records, fresh off a hot 2010 with releases from oOoOO, Balam Acab, How To Dress Well, and more, are on track to be one of the best labels of 2011, period. The just-released “With U” EP by Manchester’s Holy Other is one of the best albums I’ve heard in months. It’s perfectly sublime, [...]

It’s probably no secret that we’re huge fans of Samiyam and his freakish progression with every release. “Sam Baker’s Album”, his debut full-length, is an inspired, complete, near-perfect LA beat record. Outside of Flying Lotus (who happens to run Brainfeeder, the label behind this release), no one is really touching Samiyam’s beats right now, they’re [...]

Leaving Records just embarked on their first foray into vinyl, and it’s a crazy one. A one-sided, 5.5 minute single from underground rap group Usual, “Fake” plays out like the bedroom confessions of an untapped rap genius with production that sounds like a pre-Lootpack Madlib. Wonderful, not fucking around, ever. This one plays at 45 [...]