We got all sorts of neat stuff for y’all this week on Bandcamping, whether you’re down with electronic music, post-rock, hip-hop or indie rock. Consider this your soundtrack for eating the myriad chocolate you got on Valentine’s Day… or bought on sale from the drug store the next day. It fits either way, because today’s slate covers a variety of moods and genres, so whether or not the day of love worked out for you, there’s gotta be something here that’s an adequate response.
Let’s jump in.
5. Empire of Emotions by bachbastian
Genre: electronic, ambient, instrumental hip-hop
If you like: Clams Casino, Angels & Airwaves, A$AP Rocky
As rappers get more and more adventurous–could you really picture Fetty Wap being a global superstar ten years ago?–so too do producers, which often means that beats can often stand on their own, sans vocals. The debut album from bachbastian isn’t necessarily an instrumental beat tape, but there’s a definite hip-hop influence, along with elements of ambient music, trap, electronica, and anything else that’s chill.
4. B by Russell Patterson
Genre: post-rock
If you like: Explosions In The Sky, The Six Parts Seven, Codes In The Clouds
Post-rock bands are a dime a dozen, but Russell Patterson incorporates a sort of indie twee pop sound that gives his music a fun vibe, a refreshing departure from the epic and serious-faced instrumental rock music his peers produce. That’s not to say that this isn’t a serious record as it goes through a variety of moods and approaches: There’s a nice electronic influence that’s simultaneously a padding and a main element of the composition.
3. Narrow Plains by Narrow Plains
Genre: indie rock, folk pop
If you like: Mumford & Sons, Laura Marling
If Mumford & Sons hadn’t already achieved this sound first, Narrow Plains could be a leader in the folk-influenced indie rock movement. It’s poppy yet organic, and the vocals are light and charming. The London group’s self-titled album is a winner through and through, especially if you miss the old Mumford & Sons, albeit with less banjo here.
2. Naive Boy by tetanman
Genre: indie rock, alternative
If you like: Mac DeMarco
Simply put, tetanman is what Mac DeMarco might sound like if he listened to more Beach House. It’s dreamy, yet it has an alternative vibe that doesn’t quite let you fully relax, in a good way. It keeps you on your toes, because you expect it to sound conventional, but like DeMarco, it has an indefinable quality that makes it hard to pin down. Trying to pin it down sure is a good time, though.
1. Helping Hands by Ivan Ave
Genre: alternative hip-hop
If you like: Earl Sweatshirt, vaporwave, Pretty Lights
It’s hard to stand out in hip-hop with so many struggle rappers making songs with beats they ripped from YouTube and their laptop’s built-in microphones, but Ivan Ave is lo-fi in a good way. The beats (produced by MNDSGN) are jazzy and super relacing, and his rapping doesn’t overpower, his confident flow settling into the mix to create a serene experience.
Honorable Mentions
9 Club by Kid Qemist
Genre: footwork, electronica
If you like: DJ Paypal, Aphex Twin, Clams Casino
The College Years by Mack Morris
Genre: alternative hip-hop, Minnesota hip-hop
If you like: Atmosphere
Seven Day Seasons by Varsity
Genre: pop-punk
If you like: pop-punk
That’s all for now, but while your waiting for our next installment, let us know in the comments which of our selected albums were your favorites, what we missed, and what we should look forward to. If you missed out on last week’s list, you can find it here (and the complete Bandcamping archives are here).
