I’m hesitant to label Desormais as simply an ambient or post-rock group because that term fails to describe the collective’s sound. Their music is perhaps best described as drowning, a completely enveloping wash of avant-ambient noise. Think a more organic-sounding Fennesz, or a more assertive Kammerflimmer Kollectief. “Salt Eyes Fuck Yeh” is from their upcoming release, Dead Letters to Lost Friends.

Desormais - Salt Eyes Fuck Yeh

Suzanne Vega was one of the first female artists to gain fame as part of the late 80’s/early 90’s alt-rock boom, and for better or worse helped kicked off the lilith fair, female singer-songwriter thing that had so much commercial success in the later 90’s. Truthfully, most of that shit is awful, so I’d prefer “Luka” to stand on its own as an off-kilter pop hit unassociated with that movement, and I imagine Vega would as well. The song is deceptively coy in pairing its emotional lyrical subject matter (domestic abuse) with a seemingly simple and catchy melody. As a result, the song is never overbearing nor preachy, and works as an endlessly hummable, if slightly unsettling pop song.

Suzanne Vega - Luka

Without exaggeration, the Jeans Team's "Arthur" could possibly be my favorite song of the year (with strong competition from Ladytron’s "Destroy Everything You Touch" and M83’s "Teen Angst"). With an undeniable hook, a beat that won’t quit, and most importantly hot french girl vocals, this song never fails to put a smile on my face every time I give it a spin. Now it’s your turn.

Jeans Team - Arthur

-David