style etoile: love at first look & listen

why aren’t you listening to…

…Dracula Palms (@DraculaPalms)?  Happy Fashion Week!  In honor of one of our favorite (and exhausting) times of the year, Style Etoile has decided to celebrate by doing an extra “why aren’t you listening to…” post.  Today’s special treat comes in the form of Dracula Palms, a Brisbane duo whose sound is one part Empire of the Sun, another Ariel Pink, with a dash of Miami Horror thrown in for good measure.  This is the perfect funky, electro-disco jam to keep you inspired (and awake) over the next ten days…getcha groove on.

why aren’t you listening to…

…Fierce Creatures (@FierceCreatures)?  Fierce Creatures’music manages to be experimental and chaotic while still remaining universally appealing and inclusive.  This Fresno crew’s full length Catacomb Party is jubilant, soaring, pop-y, noisy, sweet, and just plain awesome.  Fierce Creatures’ goodness reminds us a little of MGMT and The Big Pink, but also conjures up some psych-rock of the 60s and 70s.  The band is currently touring up and down California, so if you are out on the West Coast, do yourselves a favor and check ‘em out…

why aren’t you listening to…

…The Helio Sequence (@HelioSequence)?  It has been four long years since The Helio Sequence’s last (amazing) album, but after hearing the first single off of the band’s latest release, Negotiations (out September 11^th), Style Etoile realizes it has been well worth the wait.  The Portland duo makes inspirational, emotional, uplifting, haunting layered music that sounds like The Temper Trap meets Rogue Wave and we can’t wait to get our ears on the rest of the album.  Style Etoile already has tickets to their November 15^th show at Bowery Ballroom and we suggest you scoop yourselves up some too…

why aren’t you listening to…

…Air Traffic Controller (@atcmusic)?  Style Etoile likes to think we know a hit when we hear one, and Air Traffic Controller’s “Hurry Hurry” is gonna be bona fide.  In fact, everything we have heard from Boston-based Dan Munro’s brainchild has sounded like a hit.  This is indie pop at it’s best—we hear The Strokes, Arcade Fire, Passion Pit, and even a little They Might Be Giants—anthemic, uplifting, and grand.  Their debut album, NORDO, is a winner from start to finish and we hope Dan can show his fellow Northeast city some live love soon…

why aren’t you listening to…

…Conveyor (@therealconveyor)?  If Animal Collective and Vampire Weekend had a folky, electronic, pop-y, indie baby, it would be Conveyor.  This Brooklyn crew’s full-length self-titled debut is a real stand out—with a sound that is layered and complicated, but still entirely accessible.  Conveyor transitions seamlessly and convincingly between harmonious surf pop and glitchy tech noise and we love them for it.  Style Etoile can’t wait to catch these guys August 22^nd at Glasslands—join us.

why aren’t you listening to…

…First Aid Kit (@FirstAidKitBand)?  This past weekend was yours truly’s birthday, and after the excessive celebrating, we definitely need some first aid…First Aid Kit, to be precise.  Style Etoile had to do a double take when we read this sister duo was from Stockholm instead of our beloved Nashville—these girls know how to work a twang and a banjo with the best of ‘em.  Their sophomore album, The Lion’s Roar, is no doubt going to make it on our best of 2012 list, and their performance at Coachella was one of the best of the weekend…check it.

why aren’t you listening to…

…MSMR (@msmrsounds)?  Style Etoile appreciates a little mystery, and we love ourselves some good music, so there was no doubt we were going to fall for the shrouded-in-secrecy duo MS MR. With down-tempo groovy beats, haunting vocals, and lyrics that strike a universal chord (“Didn’t know what this would be, but I knew I didn’t see what you thought you saw in me.  I jumped the gun, so sure you’d split and run, ready for the worst, before the damage was done.  The storm never came, or it never was. Didn’t know getting lost in the blue, it meant I wound up losing you”), these guys have quickly climbed their way to the top of our “New Favorite” list…you better belie ve we will be front and center for their August 16^th Webster Hall show with Marina and the Diamonds. 

why aren’t you watching…

…Default by Django Django?? Clap your hands and tap your feet to this killer beat!

why aren’t you listening to…

…Poolside (@poolside_music)?  Style Etoile tries to be as original as possible, but Poolside’s own self description of their sound as “Daytime Disco” is too perfect to not use when conveying the breezy electronica produced by this LA-based duo.  Their newly-released debut album Pacific Standard Time is the perfect soundtrack for a day spent, well, poolside.  This is catchy, beachy, chill, nu-disco that is one part Friendly Fires, another Weekend Players and we can’t wait to catch them this week in New York—umbrella drink not included.

why aren’t you listening to…

…Kishi Bashi (@Kishi_Bashi)?  We are embarrassed to admit it, but Style Etoile was beginning to take summer for granted, which is a tragedy because this is our very favorite season.  Thank goodness Kishi Bashi swooped in, snapped us out of it, and returned us to the state of hope, excitement and beauty that this time of year deserves.  Kishi Bashi is the pseudonym of K Ishibashi: singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and all around mood-lifter.  He has recorded with Regina Spektor, Sondre Leche, and of Montreal, was one of the founding members of Jupitor One, and has opened for one of Style Etoile’s favorite heart-breakers, Alexi Murdoch.  His first full length, 151a, came out a few months back, and it is a magical blend of uplifting indie pop and electronic layering that reminds us of a cross between Animal Collective, Balam Acab, and James Yuill.  We can’t wait to catch him at Joe’s Pub later this month—check out his tour dates so you can do the same…