It’s Friday, and we’re back with another installment of our regular roundup of downloadable MP3 goodness from around the web. This week there’s new work from Twin Shadow and the glorious Hunx, a distinct antipodean vibe from Leaving and Royal Headache, thoroughly real feelings from Pictureplane, an entire mixtape from Kwes and Micachu, and some fascinating remix action thrown in for good measure. In other words, there’s plenty of interesting sounds awaiting you after the jump, and since they won’t cost a penny or land you an RIAA lawsuit, as your attorneys we advise you to start downloading immediately.
Hunx — “Let Me In” If like us you’re finding Friday (and this week in general) a bit of a struggle, let Hunx make everything better. Let him in — as it were — by clicking here.
Blood Orange — “Forget It” (Class Actress remix) Former Test Icicle and current Lightspeed Champion Dev Hynes’ newest project Blood Orange put out one of the more underrated albums of 2011 with Coastal Grooves. This remix of album opener “Forget It” sounds exactly like you might imagine a Class Actress remix to sound, all big, woozy synths and reverb-laden drums. Get it via Stereogum.
Twin Shadow — “Five Seconds” Also on the synths-and-big-drums tip, here’s the new single from the upcoming Twin Shadow album. “Five Seconds” has a distinct ’80s vibe to it, which isn’t exactly unusual these days, but this track channels oh-so-dramatic ’80s soundtrack music like “St. Elmo’s Fire” and “Danger Zone” and etc. Yikes. You can get it (in exchange for your email address) via Stereogum.
Pictureplane — “White Lights” White Lights are a feeling. Clicking here is a feeling.
Cornershop — “Milkin’ It” (Casa del Mirto Remix) We’ve long been fans of Tjinder Singh and Ben Ayres’ genre- and continent-hopping action, and we’re very much looking forward to the release of their amusingly titled new album Urban Turban — it’s out on May 15 in the UK, although we’re not entirely sure yet when we’ll see it on this side of the Atlantic. In the meantime, here’s a remix of lead single “Milkin’ It” by Italian producer Casa del Mirto — get it via Prefix.
Royal Headache — “Down The Lane” Here’s a download of a new track from Australian garage revivalists Royal Headache’s upcoming self-titled debut, which we discussed earlier this week in the context of albums you should be listening to this month. You can grab the song via Spinner.
Leaving — “Unknown Needs” While we’re down under, this is a song from a new project called Leaving — it features Rupert Thomas, also of Erasers (who we mentioned way back in June 2010 when we looked at Australian bands you should know). Leaving is less ethereal and dreamy than Erasers’ work — if you like Harmonia (which, y’know, you should) then you’ll find plenty to enjoy right here.
White Suns — “Cenote” If all this is rather too pleasant and soothing for your tastes, then this track by NYC noise duo White Suns may be more to your liking. Just don’t blame us if it hurts your ears and/or induces an existential crisis. Click here if you’re game.
Andy Hull — “Hewlett’s Daughter” We’re not super-keen on the Manchester Orchestra, to be honest, but we were definitely big fans of Grandaddy, and since this track involves Manchester Orchestra singer Andy Hull covering a track from The Sophtware Slump, we’re willing to give it a listen. Hull does a pretty fine job, too. See what you think right here.
Kwesachu — Mixtape And finally, here’s a mixtape by Kwesachu, which is a collaboration between UK polymaths Kwes and Mica “Micachu” Levi. We saw Kwes play last month when he was in the US for South by Southwest, and were thoroughly impressed by a) his music and b) how unfailingly polite he was. Micachu, meanwhile, is long overdue a follow-up to her weird and wonderful 2009 debut Jewellery. Their collaboration makes for interesting listening — you can download the entire 41-minute tape here.