5 Songs to Hear This Week: Sylvan Esso surprises, !!! keeps it weird, and more

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Hey! Did you know that there’s an entire aspect of KCRW music discovery that you might be missing out on? Fear not, because our 5 Songs to Hear This Week newsletter is now a weekly feature on our website. Watch this space for rundowns of the five songs that you need in your life immediately, curated by KCRW Music staff. Don’t want to wait for your latest taste of fresh tunes? Sign up for the Friday newsletter here, and always be the first to know.

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Sylvan Esso – “Sunburn”

Like an unexpected text from a favorite faraway friend just arrived in town, this single from inventive electro-pop favorites Sylvan Esso sent a ripple of glee through KCRW Music when it dropped by surprise this week. Hit play for a perfectly concise, cathartic pop song, featuring vivid lyrical imagery bouncing over a playful dance beat. 


Tank And The Bangas (Feat. The Ton3s) – “Communion in My Cup”

Hallelujah! This delightfully jazzy, soulful track from New Orleans band (and Tiny Desk Contest winner) Tank And The Bangas can bring that Sunday delight to your life anytime. Featuring feel-good rhythms, smiling harmonies, and whistles n’ snaps — plus a message of self-acceptance and growth — this one’s got us saying amen.


!!! (Chk Chk Chk) (Feat. Meah Pace) – “Panama Canal” 

Who needs words when you’ve got the best of punctuation? !!! (pronounced “chk chk chk”) have been satisfying our indie-electro-dance-funk desires for years, and this oddly invigorating single from their recently-released ninth album shows no signs of slowing. Click-chk-chk for heavy beats, bizarro vocals, and frontman Nic Offer’s signature short-shorts.


Meridian Brothers & El Grupo Renacimiento – “Metamorfosis”  

Stagnation equals death, so queue your metamorphosis. Perpetual movement is easy with this irresistible jam from Colombia’s Meridian Brothers, who solicited the artistry of legendary salsa players El Grupo Renacimiento for this stone cold stunner that warns us puny humans of a future run by robots (but make it salsa). 


Dave & Omar – “Starlight (Dave Lee’s Club Edit)” 

This week’s final sparkler of a track is brought to you by KCRW Music collaboration at work: our Assistant Producer for Music Marion Hodges incited a Z Records revival by surfacing this recent release to our DJs, to mutual delight. KCRW DJ Scott Dallavo alerted us to a new Dave Lee-curated album, set for later this spring, and says of Omar… the guy’s “a freakin acid jazz legend.” We’re sold!