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30Hz Recommended Music

Danny Michel with the Garifuna Collective: 30Hz Recommended

Danny Michel with the Garifuna Collective

Danny Michel with the Garifuna Colletive

It’s been a few months since I was last blown away by a new record. There have been some great records, don’t get me wrong, but nothing really sent me scurrying to the bl-g to scream names from my squatty soapbox of musical superiority. Well, I’m back with a new recommendation and it did indeed send me scurrying for the soapbox. While it’s not Paul Simon’s Graceland, the fact that I’m mentioning this record in the same sentence says just about as much as I need about it’s musical pedigree. Belize’s The Garifuna Collective — of the much-heralded Andy Palacio & the Garifuna Collective’s 2007 record Wátina — marched on after the untimely passing of their frontman. Now they’ve teamed with Canadian singer-songwriter Danny Michel (someone I’d never heard before) to create this masterpiece of World Music, albeit World Music grounded in time and space by Michel’s acoustic rhythms. The result is pure reflection, simultaneously joyous and heartbreaking. Listen to the full album from Danny Michel with the Garifuna Collective: Black Birds are Dancing Over Me.

The Easy-Purchase Bye Bye Money Link: Buy Danny Michel with the Garifuna Collective Black Birds Are Dancing Over Me at Amazon.

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30Hz Recommended Music

Top 10 Records of 2013… so far.

I’d like to call bullshit on half of 2013 already being over, but the calendar says July 8th and since I have a complete inability to keep track of days, months, years, and whatnot, I’m going to have to believe what all of my electronics are preaching. The iPhone does not tell a lie, although Siri is a conniving little bitch…

If you’re looking for new music, I’m going to dispense some suggestions for 2013 Records of the Year (to date). If you haven’t heard these artists, first seek them out, give them a listen and then come back and berate me on any number of contestable faults such as (but not limited to) hipsterism, zeitgeisterism or prosaic assimilation to the alt-music institution. Without any more blabber, the 30Hz Top 10 Records of 2013 (to date).

10. Daughn Gibson – Me Moan

9. Run the Jewels – Run the Jewels

8. Jon Hopkins – Immunity

7. Daft Punk – Random Access Memories

6. James Blake – Overgrown

5. Tegan and Sara – Heartthrob

4. Autre Ne Veut – Anxiety

3. Savages – Silence Yourself

2. Vondelpark – Seabed

1. Vampire Weekend – Modern Vampires of the City

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30Hz Recommended Music

30Hz Recommended: Vondelpark

Last year I plugged POOLSIDE, a band with aspirations no greater than inspiring you to chill out and drink adult beverages next to a sterile body of water. The ocean, most likely. I definitely don’t see them advocating a stagnant pool or freshwater lake. This year, I’ve got another fantastic candidate for chill-the-fuck-out record of the year. I submit to you: VONDELPARK. Critics seem to call them dream pop, but that doesn’t really translate here. Vocals are whispy, synthy and minimal. Listen to this: