Summer is now in full bloom, a little hotter than usual, a little stormier. We”ve got our beach chairs, our towels, our suits and our coolers, and the only thing we’re missing is summer music. That’s where this article comes in! These ten tracks were released during different seasons, but they all sparkle with the sound of summer. Some of these tracks are found on albums previously covered on this site, while others are brand new. We hope that you’ll enjoy this year’s selection of summer music!
Our cover image is taken from the upcoming Tides (Reworks) from Catching Flies, which includes a remix of one of the tracks below. The album is released July 12 on Indigo Soul.
Dalot ~ Bubbles (Same Difference Music)
We begin this year’s setlist softly, with the sound of a lionfish waking up in an aquarium and going about the day’s routine early so that time can be stored for fun. The track is taken from Aquarium, composed as the score to a children’s dance performance.
xor ~ Everything is in Bloom (Ceremony of Seasons)
There’s far more to this release than meets the eye, as the summer-themed tape May the Forest Outlive Us is paired with a delicious aperitif wine. A beautiful box set can be ordered including both ingredients, an enhancement to any backyard or living room celebration.
Catching Flies ~ Tides (Indigo Soul)
The title track of an album containing songs from many seasons (including the sumptuous “Snow Day”), “Tides” now finds new life in the remix set. We still prefer the original, which includes a sample about never having seen the sea before. May this be the year we all get to the ocean!
SUN ~ Daydream (Alien Transistor)
An artist named SUN is almost certain to exude sunny music, and this is the case throughout the album I Can See Our House from Here. The little voices that loop throughout the piece seem like children wringing every moment from a glorious summer day.
Drum & Lace ~ Nymph (Fabrique)
From the moment we heard it, we knew that a track from ONDA would end up on this list; but which one? In the end, the decision was easy, as “Nymph” is a dance track that incorporates the sound of waves rolling across the shore. We hope that it will be chosen as the next single!
Christian Löffler ~ When Everything Was New (Ki Records)
A Life contains a mixture of instrumental and vocal tracks, the highlight of the former group being this languid, cheerful piece. The track sounds like a wide open vista, a realm of possibilities, a new season just begun and all the hope it exudes.
Kiasmos ~ Burst (Erased Tapes)
The entire album II (July 5) sails on the wings of summer, and is best enjoyed as a continuous set. This being said, “Burst” is the most summer-sounding of the eleven tracks, with a Caribbean vibe and an aura of positivity.
Graffick ~ Momentary (Self-Released)
Rainbows of refraction decorate the album Spectra and its singles, of which “Momentary” is the best. The track continues to develop as it moves along, adding new melodies and breaks, like a summer of discovery, always yielding new surprises to those who seek them.
Four Tet ~ Daydream Repeat (Text Records)
We’d just gotten used to Three (which is Four Tet’s 12th album – don’t ask) when an expanded version was released; be sure to get the one with 12! Either way, “Daydream Repeat” is the highlight, an ebullient melody circling over electronic handclaps and hearty drums.
John Hayes ~ Winged (Nettwerk)
As you can tell by now, we’re in all-out dance mode this year. “Winged” is the highlight of the EP Bloom, which would fit perfectly into a Kiasmos set and sends us off into the rest of summer like seagulls in flight. Enjoy the season, everyone!
Richard Allen
a closer listen 