February 23, 2011
There’s a lot of music online–more than most people have time to keep up with. That’s why you’ve got us. Every week, we’ll point you toward three excellent new downloads or videos from chart-topping stars, cult favorites and unknown geniuses.
1. The big musical surprise this week was the release of Radiohead’s new album The King of Limbs, accompanied by the freaky black-and-white video for “Lotus Flower,” with Thom Yorke showing off his dance moves and sweet bowler hat. It didn’t take long for Thom to get re-edited to dance to any number of other songs, most prominently “Single Ladies.” And, of course, some genius figured out that, like every other video ever made, it synchs up nicely with Boots Randolph’s “Yakety Sax,” better known as the “Benny Hill” chase theme.
2. Ever find yourself wishing Natasha Khan of Bat for Lashes would be just a little more new wave? Your desires have now been fulfilled: as part of a perfume ad campaign, she’s recorded a free, downloadable cover of Depeche Mode’s vaguely S&M-themed 1987 single “Strangelove,” with a soundalike arrangement. (Anton Corbijn’s video for the original version is still as unnerving as ever.)
3. Speaking of 1987: the legendary Detroit techno producer Kevin Saunderson is ticked off that the Italian producers Supernova recently made a successful dance record, “Beat Me Back,” that’s built on an uncredited loop of his single from that year “The Sound,” originally credited to Reese & Santonio. So he’s posted the original version of “The Sound” as a free download on his own site, along with a stream of “Beat Me Back.” Judge for yourself. (It’s not the first time “The Sound” has been borrowed; in 1988, when Todd Terry used its riff for his record “Back to the Beat,” Saunderson responded with his own counter-appropriation, “Back to the Beat (With ‘The Sound’).”)
More on TIME.com:
Apple Looking To Sell Digital Tracks With Better Sound Quality