You look sad, my friend. (And not just about the unfortunate Skype noise on this podcast, I bet!)

Is the grind of the mid-week workday already bringing you down? Are you in desperate need of entertainment?

Of course you are!

So kick back and enjoy another piping-hot edition of HipTrax. Today's episode features:

"Painting Pictures" by Dual Core

Dual Core's int 80 and c64 are all about the feel-good tracks. Much as their Zero One classic "The Children's Machine (OLPC)" added stirring prose to the One Laptop Per Child program, this song finds int 80 rapping about the power of the cochlear implant and technology's functional applications in real life.

"Exapno Mapcase" by Comptroller

Created in 28 scant days as part of the RPM Challenge, Comptroller is a diminutive powerhouse. Boasting 10 tracks of chippy goodness, it's available for free download via Bandcamp.

"Going Home" by Kirby Krackle

Kirby Krackle's new album E For Everyone is currently available as a digital download. Of course, you can also head over to their site and order a physical copy. And while you're waiting on that to arrive, be sure to check out their self-titled debut. Album opener "Back to the Beginning" and the incomparable "Marvelous Girls" both come highly recommended.