Today's Top Tune

Beloved director, painter, furniture maker, music maker, and KCRW’s one-time weather reporter David Lynch teams up with his musical muse Chrystabell. Birthed from a vision during a late-night walk surrounded by forest, a bright light caught his eye above the treetops. That light recalled the mellifluous sound of Chrystabell’s voice and revealed a secret to him. 

Cellophane Memories is a convergence of two otherworldly portals, the Texas-born singer’s throaty sound meets the eye of the Montana filmmaker’s flickering projector. Chrystabell says of their songs, “Many doors are left open to wonder, wander, and get turned around i

Known for his blazing affection for rock ‘n’ roll, rockabilly and R&B, JD McPherson is set to release his new album Nite Owls in late September. A ten-song set promises to veer off in a new direction with “Sunshine Getaway” leading the fore, with a glam T. Rex beat. 

London-based painter and tattoo master Or Kantor fatefully crossed paths with an A&R man during a tattoo session and revealed that he secretly writes music inspired by the Mediterranean Sea. In a leap of faith, Or Kantor was signed and now has a debut LP, Sarda Sarda. The trippy title track is an introspective fusion of surf music and deep desert blues. 

Two-time Grammy-winning duo Gillian Welch & David Rawlings are stalwarts of American folk celebrating the 20th anniversary of their copious partnership with Woodland, an album recorded in their Nashville studio. The duo paint a pastoral setting on “Empty Trainload of Sky.” 

Singer-songwriter and producer Rosie Lowe takes us along on her musical mantra with “Gratitudes.” “I’m a big believer in saying daily gratitudes to help shift my mindset,” shares Lowe. “This is my ode to my morning ritual, and a reminder to myself in times when I’m stuck in my head that there’s so much to be grateful for. The beat for this song came about in Berlin with D’Monk — we made it on his MPC in 15 minutes just before leaving the studio.” 

We are ready to deliver a toasty swatch of percussive electronics for your mid-week groove. Producer Evan Shornstein, best known under his production moniker Photay, makes outdoor music under the spell of the elements. His new album Windswept (out Sept. 20) is meant to mimic the wind as a “powerful, deep, unpredictable, and at times overwhelming spirit” says Shornstein.  But first, let’s check out “Derecho,”  a term used for a widespread, long-lived wind storm that is associated with a band of rapidly moving showers or thunderstorms. 

Poland-born, London-based harpist Marysia Osu was guided by a dynamic and inspiring teacher who changed the course of her young life. Captivated by the elegance and emotive sound of her instrument, Osu leaned in on her classical training. As she progressed, her sound expanded using pedals to augment her sound. “seatime” is lifted from her debut album harp, beats & dreams, a soundtrack and celebration of self-acceptance and the harmony found within. 

In order to escape their soundtracking day jobs, the duo MEMORIALS started to bang out cosmic sonic journeys that navigated psychedelic rock, far-out folk, and some wild analogue electronics via their garden shed studio. The two multi-instrumentalists are wizards at juggling instruments on stage to sound like a five-piece band, and have managed to channel that energy into their forthcoming debut album Memorial Waterslides, due in October. 

“Cut Like A Diamond” was written around a persistent bass line, shapeshifting drum grooves, and has become one of their favorite tracks to play live. 

For their new LP, X’s Cigarettes After Sex are playing some of the world’s most iconic venues including Madison Square Garden, London’s O2, and the hallowed stage of the Kia Forum in Inglewood for two sold-0ut nights in LA. 

X’s is a little different from previous CAS albums. While those have primarily centered around a composite of different relationships, for X’s bandleader Greg Gonzalez captured the emotional arc of one important love affair that lasted four years. “Baby Blue Movie” is a down-tempo banger whose title references softcore adult films while the lyrics and melody feel like a warm embrace. 

As they ready their 10th full-length album Five Dice, All Threes for release on Sep. 20, Bright Eyes returns with their signature laser-focused lyrics on the early single “Bells and Whistles.” We’re looking forward to hearing the album’s guest performances from long-time friends Cat Power and The National’s Matt Berninger, but are happy to wait it out with this rollicking track which cruises from NY to LA, gnawing at Banksy, the Mets, music biz pitfalls, and arguably Kevin Costner’s greatest film. Do you dare to give it a whirl?