Oblivion - Grimes - Visions (2012, 4AD)

Video directed by Emily Kai Bock, 2012

Grimes’ eagerly anticipated LP Visions, her debut on 4AD, is set to come out in a few days, and to whet our appetites even more, she’s just released a video for the album’s superb first single Oblivion. The video, floating on just the right side of weird in true Grimes style, features her rockin’ out to the tune with a boombox and headphones, while in the wonderfully juxtaposed company of jocks and cheerleaders at a college football game.

And while on the subject of Grimes ‘floating’ on the right side of weird, if you didn’t catch this story about her ultimately illegal 3-month adventure on a self-constructed houseboat, accompanied by chickens, a sewing machine, 20 pounds of potatoes and a boyfriend, you are missing out.

Stream Grimes' new album Visions in full →

Canadian synth mistress Grimes has been exciting an increasing number of ears over the past few months, firstly with the release of her acclaimed split EP with D’eon, Darkbloom, and more recently in the lead up to her hotly anticipated third LP Visions, which in her own opinion should be considered more of a proper debut album.

She recently released two tracks from the album, Oblivion and Genesis, as free downloads, but she just keeps giving, and a few hours ago she put the full album up for streaming on NPR. This is no Lana Del Rey situation, the album meets and goes beyond already lofty expectations. Check it out here.

Helena Beat (Com Truise Remix) - Foster The People - Helena Beat (Com Truise Remix) (self released, 2011)

New Jersey based synth wizard Com Truise gives Foster The People’s Helena Beat a deliciously retro remix.

Awkward - San Cisco - Awkward (2011, self released)

Video directed by Andrew Nowrojee, 2011

West Australian quartet San Cisco provide us with another example of awesome, catchy indie rock, this time in the form of their latest single Awkward. The music video for the track was just released a couple of weeks ago, and is available for your viewing pleasure above. Alternatively you can head to the band’s site on Triple J Unearthed, where they have all of their singles available for download.

I’m His Girl - Friends - I’m His Girl (2011, Lucky Number)

I’m His Girl is the “provocatively percussive” second single from the Brooklyn-based quintet Friends. It’s sultry, cool indie pop, something like a grungier Blondie; a track that has been stuck in my head for days, and shows no signs of relenting. You can also check out the retro-tastic music video for the single below:

Libra - James Blake - upcoming EP (2011, R&S)

It’s been a massive year for good ol’ J Blizzy. First up was his self-titled debut LP, released to widespread acclaim, but also generating some more polarized opinions, especially in regards to its stylistic step away from the heavy dubstep influence apparent in his earlier EPs. But a couple of months later he dropped Order and Pan on Hemlock, a sharp turn back towards dubstep, albeit with some very minimalist, stripped back production. Then, just earlier this month, he released his Enough Thunder EP on Atlas, his most polarizing release yet, and definitely the least dubsteppy (at least on the surface).

But obviously that wasn’t enough, Blake is now set to hit a label trifecta this year— R&S just announced that a new James Blake EP is due out through them by December. Haters and general ‘meh’sayers of his Enough Thunder can rejoice, as this likely indicates that this release will be be infused with a lot more dubstep, along the lines of his earlier EP releases on R&S, CMYK and Klavierwerke. You can check out a rip of Libra, one of the upcoming tracks off the EP here.