LionLimb - Rot 8.6/10

LionLimb is an indie psychedelic rock band based in Chicago, USA. This track was self-released as a single by the band in 2013 ahead of their debut EP. The track begins with a southern blues-style melody, but this simple categorization is quickly dismissed when the reedy synths and organ effects kick in during the rousing chorus. Clanging guitar dissonance adds some enjoyable clutter to the second half of the track, while guitar chord vibrations are enhanced until they sound more like a muffled trumpet. The relaxed, self-assured vocals are hard to make out, but the repeated refrain of "What are you trying to keep me from?" suggests an assertion of independence in a relationship. This is an accomplished debut from LionLimb and a track I've returned to over and over again to try to figure out just how they made some of these sounds.

Glass Gang - Waves 8.7/10

Glass Gang is an experimental electronic group from New York, USA. This track was self-released by the band as a single in 2013. The track takes a simple pattern of electronic beats and buries them in heavy downpours of feedback which recall My Bloody Valentine's wall of sound approach to guitar backdrops. The soft, fluttering vocals and tinkling piano chords glide above the storm of feedback making the overall feeling one of weightlessness, like floating in space or perhaps in the ocean depths. This was one of my favourite tracks of 2013 to sit and bliss out to through headphones, and I hope Glass Gang will live up to the huge promise which this track represents. Taking My Bloody Valentine-style feedback effects and adding electro beats while crafting a pop song out of the result was never going to be an easy thing to pull off, but Glass Gang accomplish it with a track which sounds unlike anything else out there at the moment.

Neo-Safari - Coastal Cruise 8.7/10

Neo-Safari is an indie electronic project by Dan Rogers from Dallas, Texas. This track is taken from an EP which is simply titled 'EP' which was self-released in 2012. The mood is light and buoyant on this excellent glitch-heavy track. The chopped beats and synths create a sensation of moving forwards at high speed, making this a great song to put on in the car. The patterns of glitches and bass keep evolving in unexpected ways as it unfolds, leading to the payoff at 3:25 when the track kicks into top gear. The few vocals are impossible to make out, but the bubbly, playful atmosphere Rogers creates will put you in a great mood in just four and a half minutes. I recommend playing this while commuting on the way to work or school, you'll definitely arrive feeling refreshed.

Odesza - I Want You 8.9/10

Odesza is an indie electronic duo from Seattle, USA. This track is taken from their debut album Summer's Gone which was self-released in 2012. For a self-released album Summer's Gone has incredibly crisp production and sounds like a major label release. When the transfixing bassline on this track kicks in at 0:32 I feel blown away every time; this begs to be listened to through high-quality headphones to get the full effect of the bass and layers of percussion. The lyrics are essentially indecipherable, but the words aren't really important, it's all about experiencing the dense atmosphere they've created. The entire album Summer's Gone is a solid chill out collection, with tracks that will almost make you feel like dancing while lying on the sofa bobbing your head to the thick bass lines.