Mixtape #15: Harper Simon, Cuckoo Chaos, Haerts and more

In the wake of the impending SXSW tidal wave, we’ve been inundated with a musical deluge of all varieties. While treading water just enough to be able to breathe, this mixtape was created with the standout tracks that have floated by the past week. Many of which are by artists who will be at SXSW, so clear some room on your ipod and have a listen on the roadtrip to the fest, or maybe to sound really tuned in when you invite those strangers back to your hotel in Austin one night

HAERTS are playing at least three shows at SXSW, and their single “Wings” is a sweet dance jam.

Glaswegian trio CHVRCHES will also be at the festival, and no doubt playing “Recover” from their EP of the same name coming out later this month.

Colleen Green has released her second single off her forthcoming LP Sock It To Me. It’s like a cross between the Ramones and Velocity Girl.

Yes, we just had the Cuckoo Chaos guys covered, but then I heard this cover of Tom Petty’s “Breakdown,” and had to spin them again.

Daniel Kohn caught Harper Simon (Paul Simon’s son) at The Satellite last Thursday, and thought the set rocked hard.

Stockholm’s Nervous Nellie don’t sound as anxious as their name does. Their tune ‘Gloves” was inspired by an old Tom Petty drum pattern on an oldies station while the band was out driving, and “After building the beat at the breakfast table the following morning the rest just came naturally.” Sound pretty laid back to me.

It’s hard to beat a classic, or anything by Astrud Gilberto, but Portland’s Radiation City makes it work beautifully. Their cover of “Fly Me to the Moon” goes down smoother than a mint julep in the summertime.

Vondelpark is a three-piece from London, who just debuted a video for their song “California Analog Dream.” The looseness of the percussion on this track makes it feel comfy with room to move, like those sweatpants that are so hot right now on the Iowa fashion week scene.

Caveman is a band that just hits the spot every single time. New jam “Over My Head” is a better time out than a twix.

Charles Bradley has had an incredible rise to recognition the past couple years. His one of a kind life story prompted a documentary about his life that debuted at SXSW last year to rave reviews, which will make it’s first television premiere on April 10th on EPIX. Not only that, but he’s got a brand new album, Victim Of Love, coming out April 2 from which we’re pulling “Strictly Reserved For You.” It’s borderline unbelievable how inspiring this guy is, and how he embodies the very marrow of soul. Oof.

Out of the New Mexico desert, Sad Baby Wolf was formed by singer Marty Crandall (formally of The Shins). They are releasing their debut album, Electric Sounds next month, and we have the title track on the mix. This is what show don’t tell sounds like.

 

Tracklist:

HAERTS – “Wings”

CHVRCHES – “Recover”

Colleen Green – “Heavy Shit”

Nervous Nellie – “Gloves”

Cuckoo Chaos – “Breakdown (Tom Petty Cover)”

Radiation City – “Fly Me To the Moon (Astrud Gilberto Cover)”

Caveman – “Over My Head”

Harper Simon – “Bonnie Brae”

Vondelpark – “California Analog Dream”

Charles Bradley “Stricly Reserved for You”

Sad Baby Wolf – “Electric Sounds”

BestNewBands.com Mixtape #15 by BestNewBands.com

BONUS: If you haven’t seen Beach House’s fantastically epic video for “Wishes” we can fix that right now:

 

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