Category: Uncategorized

“Milligrams (Ultra Glacial Edition)” by Allday (feat. Stax Osset)

Stax Osset is churning out more collaborations – this time providing vocals on “Milligrams” by Allday.

With more projects like “Milligrams” and “Missin’ U” with KOWL, Stax Osset is setting herself up as the next GRIMES – electropop with some rap influences.

Focusing away from BoxSpeaker favorite Stax Osset, rapper Allday brings new influences to rap in addition to his Australian accent. A little bit of hip-hop mixed with electro beats, occasional heavy guitar riffs, and a Drake-esque cadence, Allday brings together different pieces of genres to produce what he calls “soft grunge rap love.”

[VIDEO] “Under the Tide” by CHVRCHES

BoxSpeaker favorite CHVRCHES released their latest video for “Under the Tide” – a Japanese anime / TRON mashup style video directed by Sing J. Lee.

A mix of the usual geometric effects, Leiji Matsumoto-esque emotion, and 1970s mecha/space anime, the video blends well with “Under the Tide’s” static backbeat and 80s exploration-cosmic fast tempo riff.

RIP Crystal Castles

This morning, Alice announced that she is leaving Crystal Castles.

The Reddit thread OP commented that Alice also posted the following on the Crystal Castles Facebook page but deleted it shortly after:

I am leaving Crystal Castles.
My art and my self-expression in any form has always been an attempt towards sincerity, honesty, and empathy for others.
For a multitude of reasons both professional and personal I no longer feel that this is possible within CC.
Although this is the end of the band, I hope my fans will embrace me as a solo artist in the same way they have embraced Crystal Castles.

Crystal Castles were amazing, especially live. Sad to not get to see their concerts, especially at the Fox Theater, anymore.

H/T Reddit

Say Hi Releases New Album: “Endless Wonder”

After a period of hibernation in the Pacific Northwest, Say Hi has released Endless Wonder on Barsuk Records! Much like in previous albums (especially The Wishes and the Glitch), Eric Elbogen mixes distorted guitars, robot love lyrics, and drum machine beats to tell stories of heartbreak. “When I Think About You” resonates early-relationship nerves as the antithesis of post-relationship sorrow in “Dots on Maps.”

Check out the rest of the album preview on A/V Club.

Depeche Mode in Dior’s “Secret Garden III” Ad

Dior and Depeche Mode (obviously not an indie/up-and-coming band) recently launched their “Secret Garden III – Versailles” video campaign.

Relatively recently, Versailles has been the backdrop of more playfully soundtracked visuals (e.g. Sofia Coppola’s Marie Antoinette and Woody Allen’s Midnight in Paris).

The use of “Strangelove” by Depeche Mode in the Dior ad is in tune with the elegance of Versailles while giving it a dark feel. In addition, the use of an ’80s classic track melds perfectly with the 80s montage music video feel of the “film” and the cuts of the dresses.

Heard Through: Oyster

Choose Your Own Valentine’s Day Adventure 2014

Continuing last year’s Valentine’s Day Choose Your Own Emotional Adventure, here’s BoxSpeaker’s soundtrack for whatever your Valentine’s Day feels are:

You Go through the Motions of Modern Love:
“Pop Heart” by HEARTSREVOLUTION

 

And you get romantic feelings about someone
“You’re the Best” by Wet

 

You Feel Like Getting It On
“Brains” by Banks

“Girls” by Rainer

“Live For/From Time mash-up (Drake, The Weeknd)” by Noosa

 

But Maybe It’s More Complicated Than You Thought
“Brains” by Banks

 

Then there are the situations where….

You were together but now it’s just obvious that it’s over and you really… you don’t know what you two ever were but to be honest you wish you could still just be together – baby please come back!

“Do I Wanna Know” by Artic Monkeys (covered by CHVRCHES)

 

You start replaying everything
“One by One” by the Napoleons (featuring Lily Pejon) – acoustic version

 

And you have to face the realization that this is “all it’s going to be”
“Dots on Maps” by Say Hi (To Your Mom)

(This is definitely the time when you just chainsmoke and pretend you weren’t just crying. Because god… Those green eyes that would look into yours and all you could think is that you never wanted to look away.)

 

Or maybe it’s over and you can’t stop thinking that “Of all the things I had to say, I should have said stay”:
“We Will Meet Again” by Hunter as as Horse

 

But then you come to your senses and realize – fuck. that. shit.:

[Premiere]: “LTD LTD” by DOLLS

Just in time for Valentine’s Day, DOLLS has released her music video for “LTD LTD.”

The video has a minimalist monochromatic color scheme contrasted by the kaleidoscope effect – similar to that of the “Synthetica” music video by Metric but with an eerie feel. At times resembling a Rorschach test, the minimalist style leads viewers and listeners completely to their own interpretations – imagining and building even more to the song itself.

Much like the video, “LTD LTD” begins with a minimalist beat and Nikki Awesome’s Kylie Minogue-style electropop vocals then builds from there to a sultry but playful track.

The video perfectly captures the mystery and suspense of romance – with the dark setting and shadow-like visuals – depicting the confusing but exhilarating emotions of love.

Sidenote: If you’ve got someone who makes your heart beat like “LTD LTD,” send that person one of DOLLS’s Valentine’s Day cards.