Music for your weekend

If you’re indifferent to football like me, but still looking for a fun activity to occupy your weekend, you’re in luck! A lot of great new tracks were unleashed upon the Internets last week, and plenty of them are just begging to accompany a nice dance party! And even if you are totally “Ready for some football!” – you can can still enjoy this mix. Use it to burn off some of those big game snacks! Pro-tip, come Sunday morning you could even go so far as to throw this mix on, and dance around in your pajamas while simultaneously watching The Puppy Bowl… In the meantime, let’s get into the tunes!

London Grammar “Big Picture”

In advance of releasing any details about a forthcoming second album, London Grammar have kindly shared this epic new track along with it’s equally epic video (below). Produced by Mercury Prize nominated Jon Hopkins (who in the past has worked with such luminaries as Brian Eno, and Coldplay), this track builds slowly and smoothly. It’s a perfect way to warm yourself into a nice gentle groove.

Future Islands “Ran”

Now that you’ve established the aforementioned groove, Future Islands are here for you to keep it going. “Ran” is the first single they’ve released from their new album The Far Field (due out on April 7th via 4AD). Like all great Future Islands singles, it’s satisfyingly synth-y, maintains an easily danceable pace throughout, and has the ability to conjure deep emotions because you feel them so strongly in frontman Samuel T. Herring’s vocal delivery. This is what it feels like to dance your catharsis.

Languages “Sleep Stream (Ewan Pearson Remix)”

This one has been in heavy rotation for me since I stumbled upon it a few weeks ago during a Soundcloud deep dive. I’ve been a fan of Ewan Pearson’s remixes for ages, and this one is a perfect example of why that is. It’s slinky, plodding, and just the thing to keep you moving all night long without tiring yourself out.

Enjoy the Spotify playlist below that features all of the above tracks, plus a few more of my favorite dance jams of the moment.

As a bonus – when you’re done dancing, and ready to cool down, our old pal Mac Demarco has got you covered. He released two (!) songs last week in advance of his forthcoming album This Old Dog, out March 5th via Captured Tracks. One was the title track, another is this jaunty little number “My Old Man.” On the track, and at the ripe old age of 26, Mr. Demarco strums along wistfully while pondering the inevitability of aging and turning into one’s parent.