National Beat's Carnival Caravan

Natioanl Beat's latest ep, Carnival Caravan featuring Cha Wa, is a five song trip to Brazil via New Orleans. It's a crazy mash up of party atmospheres that lends itself to a upbeat, uptempo, percussion fueled vibe that's filled with energy. This short record is an ethnomusicologists dream of what cross cultural pollination is all about. South American maracatu drumming meshes with New Orleans second line rhythms and funk to fuse a sound that's as celebratory as it is unique.

From the funky vibes of “Casa Diamante – Sew Sew Sew,” complete with fuzzed out guitars to the extremely catchy fun of the NOLA fueled march of, “Liza Jane,” you'll have no idea what continent you're on, what influences are playing off one another and why you can't stop tapping along. National Beat are truly a Carnival Caravan and they're taking their party from the streets of the French Quarter to the carnival's of Brazil and everywhere in between. Carnival Caravan is the sound of diversity and all fun. 

Animal Daydream Create Easy Pleasures

Animal Daydream are a band so in love with west coast pop they seemingly have gotten lost within it. Their recent four song single Easy Pleasures is a ray of sunshiny jangle that's as laid back as a Sunday morning in Santa Barbara. With enough of a Teenage Fanclub/Tyde influence to make you wonder if they're not really lost in Britain as opposed to California, this group gently strums guitars, layers harmonies, and write songs as if the sun was in perpetual sunset mode.

Easy Pleasures is an absolute joy to listen to. It's uncomplicated breezy nature is as warm as the sun and as fresh as the salty beach air. Each of the four songs are melodic masterpieces that are bright even when they're going on about rain. If ever there was a soundtrack to a bonfire on a beach, Easy Pleasures would be it, it's casual and optimistic tone is the perfect way to top off a long day in paradise. This record truly is an easy pleasure.