Tuesday Tunes: December 10

December descends, clouds drown the sun, and winter’s frigid fingers chill our spines. Will our inner beings crumble like baby penguins under a hungry seal’s wrath? Nay! Shine or rain, blissful we remain. Let us raise our spirits from subtle glow of an ember to an enrapturing blaze! Seek a lover’s warmth, a hot-chocolate with Baileys, and (most importantly) a winter soundtrack that can kick icey emotions to the curb. Culture Cap’ is here to help! We present you this week’s Tuesday Tunes, hand crafted to smite your winter blues. 

“Ecstasy” is wildly surprising track from XXXTentacion’s most recent posthumous release, Bad Vibes Forever. The song is a visceral tour-de-force. XXX’s verses take partial responsibility for the beauty of the piece, but that which surrounds them is what makes it truly special. Noah Cyrus’ powder-soft vocals swim through a raw, moody instrumental crafted by XXYYXX (yes, that’s a producer’s name). The track was originally started in 2014, but Cyrus didn’t record the vocals until this year. The occasional use of vocoder layering, coupled with XXYYXX’s half Clams Casino, half Flume-esque drops, give this song a timeless punch. 

“You and I” is one of the most interesting tracks I’ve heard in a long time. Caribou’s release doesn’t contain a single dull moment, as its production is replete with melodic and thematic shifts that are sure to keep ears glued. Synth melodies and airy, playful keys groove over funky drums, face-melting breaks, sweet vocal melodies, and a space-age guitar solo to-boot. A taste of his upcoming 2020 project, the song song begins with a tone that’s hopeful and melancholic, later shifting into a madly invigorating rise that lasts ‘til its end. We can’t wait to hear the rest of the project, “Suddenly”, out February 28 on City Slang and Merge.