Missed in 2011

This one could be a missed in 2010, Chad Valley definitely should have been posted here a long time ago.  But like I said things happen.  In addition to being a part of indie rock outfit Jonquil, Oxford based musician Hugo Manuel also records under the name Chad Valley.  Manuel released the EP Equatorial Ultravox earlier this year to great reviews.  The second effort of the bedroom production project is both subdued and huge at once.  It would be easy to label it chillwave and move on, but where many artists of the genre rely on haze for their sound Manuel uses it to merely loft his hook-driven tracks higher and higher.  Listen to standouts from Equatorial Ultravox “Now That I’m Real (How Does It Feel)” and “Fast Challenges” and his recent remix of The Drums.

Chad Valley – “Now That I’m Real (How Does It Feel) (ft. Rose Dagul)”

Chad Valley – “Fast Challenges”

The Drums – “Money (Chad Valley Remix)”

It’s a day of good B-sides!  Today The Drums released the single “How It Ends” from this year’s full length Portamento.  The backing track, an original entitled “I Can’t Save Your Life”, is a catchy little downer that could fit right into one of their albums.  Listen below. [via]

The Drums – “I Can’t Save Your Life”

The Drums are set to come back with their second full-length entitled Portamento on September 12th via Island.  The first taste, “Money”, is a very Drums-typical song in a good way.  Poor guy just needs some cash.  Listen below.

The Drums – “Money”