XYLOS Makes MAGNET A Mix Tape

By the time April 5 rolls around, this year’s cold, snowy winter will be on its way out the door, and spring will (hopefully) be dawning. We’ll have the perfect music to go with it, with the release of the self-titled debut from XYLOS (via the band’s 1000x Records). The New York-based quintet’s warm electronics and harmony-infused brand of indie pop is music to daydream to while the last of the snow is melting. You can preview the band’s sound live while it’s on tour with the Parlotones all over the U.S., including seven appearances at SXSW. Plus, you can get inside the band members’ heads with this mix tape they made for MAGNET.

“Not Enough” (download):
https://magnetmagazine.com/audio/NotEnough1.mp3

Lightdreams “Islands In Space”
Nikki: Humans explore the final frontier in this spacey 1981 release by Canada’s Lightdreams. Video

Men “Off Our Backs”
Monika: One of my favorite new bands. So dance-y and so hot—the music and the video. Video

Radiohead “I Will”
Eric: Every time a new Radiohead record comes out, I listen a few times, then dip back into their earlier records. This time around I’ve been spending a lot of time with Hail To The Thief. This song is one of my favorites. It’s beautiful and haunting and showcases my favorite aspects of Thom Yorke’s voice. Also, the stereo spectrum on this whole record is really out there, almost a throwback to the early days of stereo with the Beatles records. On this one, the guitar is panned hard left, harmonies hard right, and the lead vocal down the middle. Fuck you, Radiohead. Why you gotta be so good? Video

Local Natives “Airplanes”
Chris: I was addicted to the record Gorilla Manor in September and October. Couldn’t stop listening to it over and over again. Beautiful songwriting and arrangements, and the singers are ridiculous. Video

Reggie Watts “Fuck Shit Stack”
Nikki: This man is hilarious and inspired. Listen for the music, come away with a message. Video

Morrissey “Alsatian Cousin”
Monika: I just melt when Morrissey says the line “brrrring me home and have me.” Perhaps uses dark, bitter irony with the most wit and humor of any lyricist. Video

Robyn “Call Your Girlfriend”
Eric: Skip to 2:33, check out that vocal arpeggiator, and tell me that’s not the coolest shit ever. Robyn kills. Video

Twin Shadow “Forget”
Chris: Just introduced to this band recently. Fell in love with everything about this track. Video

Oberhofer “Away From You”
Nikki: Just went on tour with these kids and loved them, especially this catchy tune. Video

Robert Wyatt “Sea Song”
Monika: I love the melody and words of this song, and Robert’s vocals make me smile. It’s proggy-songwriter jazz in the best way possible from the ex-drummer of Soft Machine gone keyboardist/singer. Video

Love “Alone Again Or”
Eric: Once every year or two, I revisit this record—one of my favorites ever—and this song consistently moves me. The acoustic-guitar arpeggio is so evocative and beautiful. And the horn arrangement! Oh, to have been alive in Los Angeles in 1967 … Video