Junip - Rope and Summit

The low-key, acoustic stylings of Sweden's Jose Gonzalez are what made him famous. So you wouldn't necessarily know what to expect when he formed a  trio called Junip back in 2005 and put out an EP called Black Refugee. Now 5 years since that debut release, you still can't really be sure what to expect, but you might have a better idea. Announcing the release of a new full length, set to drop for September of this year, the band has made the 4 track Rope and Summit EP  available for free over on their website. The title track "Rope and Summit" is hopefully a lovely harbinger. Tickling our expectations, the song displays Gonzalez innate aptitude for restraint, featuring his trademark nylon abilities, building slowly into a tightly bubbling soundscape of riffs and repeating vocals. Somehow he makes the transition more naturally than you would think. Combining elements of kraut-rock and jazz, this cut certainly has refreshingly uptempo and off-kilter vibe that seems to come with ease from the typically soporific Gonzalez. The second track, "Far Away", picks up where the first left off, displaying a new level of energy, but Junip doesn't disappoint the original fan base. The second half gently puts you back to sleep with the jammy "At the Doors" and lulling "Loops", proving that elements of Jose will always remain as they certainly should. Check out the title track and grab that EP now.

Junip - "Rope and Summit"

Mashin' It Up

The White Panda, Procrast aka Tom Evans and DJ Griffi aka Dan Griffith, are one of the most reliable DJ crews mashin' it up on the internet these days. In the ilk of The Hood Internet and RAC, these guys regularly have new tracks in the "Top 25" on Hype Machine. Soon to unveil their newest batch of tracks with Rematch, they're latest track, "The Next Starf*cker", comes as teaser for that release. This is a summer party jam at it's finest, combining some real fan favorites with Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg and Nate Dogg's hood flows on "Smoke Weed Everyday" and Starfucker's poppy accompaniment on "Rawnald Gregory Erickson The Second". Check it, grab the track and throw that shiz on your iPod party playlist ASAP!

The White Panda - "The Next Starf*cker"

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New Project: CEO

One half of the Swedish duo The Tough Alliance, Eric Berglund is making waves with his new side project - CEO. The project, like many these days, was a mystery to many at first; with no myspace or word who was behind it. Pitchfork only recently discovered that it is indeed Berglund. Check out the official band page for an equally cryptic description. CEO seems to maintain TTA's funky electronic presence, while cultivating a sound that is perhaps slightly poppier in a more a traditional sense. Either way, if the single "Come With Me" is any indicator, then we're looking forward to CEO's June 29th debut White Magic on Modular.

CEO - "Come With Me"