Jim James - "Wowed Out"

Looking for a dose of inspiration? Maybe something that makes you say… wow? My Morning Jacket frontman and songwriter Jim James delivers with this soft-focused, rounded-out single, an invitation to find joy in awe — and vice versa. Hit play for a track made of easy keys, James’ layered vocals, and gentle electronic beats that come together to hit all the right notes for seeking comfort… with a big ol’ smile on your face.

megiapa - “(SMT)”

Here’s a track that’s peace realized. Soothe your woes and fears with the lullaby bassline, smooth percussion, and pure-silk vocals from LA artist megiapa. Having honed her vision in Chicago’s underground creative scene, megiapa, who identifies as a linguist, is as much an artist of words as of music. Her wordplay is evident in considered lyrics and the song title — "(SMT)," which she reveals stands for So Much Time, but also stands for “suckin’ my teeth,” conveying an emotional concept or idea in just three letters.

Helen - "Dead shark II"

What if an indie band played out of Enya’s castle studio? That’s the amusing thought that hit us on first listen to this sweet-haze shoegaze single from longstanding PNW trio Helen. All the classic sounds are there — guitar, drums, bass — made so shimmery and gauzy-light as to render your listening experience nearly weightless. Rejoice for more where this came from: Helen’s first new album in over a decade, Linda’s Head, is out October 8th.

Hologram Teen - “Connection transpacifique” 

(Morcheeba Remix)

We love tracking artists’ evolution through time, and this is a good one. Morgane Lhote first made her mark in music as the keyboardist for Stereolab, placing her formative years squarely in some hallowed music ground of the mid-nineties. So her alignment here with trip-hop pioneer (and personal friend from then till now) Morcheeba is a satisfying callback as much as a fresh creative collaboration. Lhote’s latest project, Hologram Teen (also an anagram of her name — cheeky), offers a super listenable electronic hangout of classic synth sounds, Vocoder on lead, and drum machine bops. Click play for Morcheeba’s spin on it, and we hope to see you at the First Ever Hologram Teen Concert presented by KCRW on November 17th!

A LA ALTURA: VISIONARY MEXICAN MUSIC 1977-1999, Volumes 1 & 2

In honor of Mexican Independence Day tomorrow, allow us to point you in the direction of an upcoming collection of Mexican music. Light In the Attic and Discos Carbon are releasing a special collection: A La Altura: Visionary Mexican Music 1977-1999 - Volumes 1 & 2, a collection celebrating Mexican artists who have blended traditional or indigenous sounds with electronic production, especially highlighting “minimalism, ambient, jazz and new age.” The special double vinyl collection is set to release October 30th.