Well friends, it appears that the cold weather is quickly descending and everything released this week seems to be a response to that. All 5 songs are  downtempo, introspective, spooky, or some mix of all three. Needless to say, I have begun preparations to deal with the 6 month dark night of the soul we call Winter. I have  bought enough canned food to sustain myself until April, wrapped my naked body in aluminum foil and turned my heat up to 82 degrees. Until Spring, I will sit in this well insulated room and absorb new music, as well as various canned vegetables. I am completely certain that I will emerge sane and rested by April and perhaps more capable of creative jokes.

Earl Sweatshirt - "Chum:" Reappearing earlier this year, the much discussed missing member of the Odd Future camp released a new song on Thursday. "Chum" is lyrically introspective and features  basic  snare and piano loop. Earl appears to have moved beyond the violent adolescent posturing of his early work, which pretty much had him sent away in the first place. An interesting, albeit low key, track.


Broadcast - "The Equestrian Vortex:"  While Broadcast works on a new album, which will posthumously feature Trish Keenan's vocals (recorded just before she suddenly died last year), they will be releasing the soundtrack  for Warp's pastiche of Italian horror movies, Berberian Sound Studio. "The Equestrian Vortex is the title track to the movie's film within a film. On it, Broadcast recreates 70's style movie music to tense effect through crashing minor key heavy pianos and percussion.

Atoms for Peace - "What the Eyeballs Did:" Earlier this Fall, Mac posted the haunting "Default," the new single from Thom Yorke and Nigel Godrich's supergroup side project. "What the Eyeballs Did," is the b-side to that single and has a similar haunting groove to "Default." However, this song is structurally tighter and quicker paced, suggesting that the tension building in "Default"  bled over onto the b-side. A great song, just don't mind the excited DJ talking over it at the end.


Crystal Castles - "Affection:" Crystal Castles have come a long way from their abrasive chip tunes. On "Affection," Alice Glass's icy vocals  float over the melancholy/gothy synth and drums. This is the third song released off the long teased upcoming full length, set to be released later this month.


Prince Rama - "Welcome to the Now Age:" Another track from Prince Rama's upcoming exploration of persona, Top 10 Hits of the End of the World. This time, the band "channels" Hyparxia (a fictitious popular band from the apocalypse) to create a downtempo sex anthem for any upcoming party you have in a space station.


What, were you not invited to the last space station party? It was great! Still not sure how I got back. Oh wait, now I remember.