by Daniel Colussi | Through various internet and real, physical world travels, I always come across new and interesting songs. These six are the latest that’ve particularly piqued my interest, demanded my attention, and reassured me that future is still bright for human expression through recorded music. There’s no theme to the selections. They’re just tunes that have cut through the recent fog to lodge themselves in my brain…

Omar Souleyman – Wenu Wenu

The title track from Souleyman’s forthcoming Four Tet-produced studio album is a characteristic slow burning banger that snakes its way into the listener’s craw and wraps itself tightly around the brainstem. Souleyman, you’ll remember, is the Syrian Dabke legend turned Kurdish/Arabic singer of choice for all of us in the Western world, which is to say that most of us could not name any other Dabke legends…

Mike Donovan – Do Do Ya?

This charmingly lo-fi video is the perfect accompaniment to Mike Donovan’s, uh, charmingly lo-fi music. He’s ditched the extra baggage of being a Sic Alp and now he’s free to swagger the countryside of own mind with a knapsack full of acoustic strumming and the occasional electric-boogie lead guitar.

Widowspeak – True Believer

And speaking of the fog that’s descended on the city every morning of recent memory, Widowspeak’s beautiful and hazy music has never felt more apropos. Utilizing the simplest elements of a beautiful voice and a couple of chords, they create an out-of-body vibe that’s well suited to long walks through the mist.

Quilt – Arctic Shark

Quilt offers the perfect jangly rejoinder to the mellow guantlet thrown down by Widowspeak. If the latter’s approach celebrates disembodiment, Quilt offers a somewhat more lucid account of life’s mysteries; gentle on my mind and easy like Sunday morning, but with a lyrical density on par with The Critique of Pure Reason. I like.

Cass McCombs – Name Written In Water

The king of musical understatement and lyrical profundity delivers the goods as only he can. This is a song that seems breezy at first but reveals layers of interpretation with every listen. Dude even sneaks in a 2000 year old quote without seeming the least bit pretentious. McCombs is back!

Magik Markers – Ice Skater

And now for something completely uncharacteristic…. Magik Markers have always dealt in unbridled sonic sprawl. They’ve mocked EQ levels, trashed the stage, threw eggs in the faces of us all. And we loved them for it, but seasons change. Ice Skater is obviously a winter song, meant to prepare listeners for the imminent chill. When it comes, make like the Markers (and Joni) and skate your way warm.