Today's Top Tune

They’re formidable and they are funky; they are the French duo Souleance . Their new album Beautiful is just that from top to bottom. And they’re not alone, traversing the world with sonic stops all over. On “Feliz,” or Spanish for “happy,” the microphone is in the hands of Joao Selva for an idyllic, carnival-inspired bop.

Let’s step into the world of LA shoegazing trip-hop trio untitled (halo) , who have recently issued their debut EP towncryer and have been known to shape their sound by reading each other poetry to kick start their honey jams. “spiral” is a perfect cut for walking around a new neighborhood with earbuds in.

Dynamic pop/hip-hop duo Charlie Vettuno ’s passion for music took hold as kids in their high school garage, where the two brothers began tapping into their sonic journey. Their distinctive style offers quick-fire verses over high energy house music on “Ase.”

Noted Ukrainian singer Inna Kovtun has been collaborating with composer and producer Jon Durant since 2021. But when the Russian invasion began, Kovtun, fearing for her safety, took her daughter and left her home to relocate to Portland, OR, where she has made a home for herself as a vital part of the local Ukrainian community conducting workshops in traditional folk singing.

“Burning Fires,” the title track of her new EP, is based on an old Ukrainian poem about a fallen soldier who sends his horse home to let his parents know what has happened to him. You may not be able to understand what she’s singing, but you can feel this artist’s passion.

Everybody wants a little piece of LA-based rapper and singer PawPaw Rod right now, thanks to his cool mix of rap and ‘60s soul. That includes fellow Angelenos Neil Frances , who enlist him on their song “High.” A new EP, the aptly-titled This Must Be A PawPaw Rod EP, just dropped and includes the timeless sound of what might be an instant classic on “Love On You.”

You may remember Ann Magnuson from an unforgettable scene with David Bowie and Catherine Denueve at the start of the 1983 gothic horror film The Hunger , but that’s not where the multimedia shapeshifter’s fascination with spooky things ends. On “Ghost Cat,” Magnuson summons the creatures that haunt the hills and hollers of West Virginia to help celebrate this Dia De Los Muertos .

It’s also worth resurrecting Magnuson’s little ditty with comedian David Cross as he highlights the work of Bongwater as part of his Guest DJ Project in 2013 .

B-52’s Kate Pierson says it best: “It seems that Halloween is everyone’s favorite holiday, yet there are only a handful of Halloween songs!” Ain’t that the truth.. Pierson is correcting this *ahem* grave mistake with what she describes as, “a VERY spirited song written by me and with the supernatural artist Sia and the soulful producer Sam Dixon.”

“Every Day Is Halloween” is a haunting tune about a woman who is dying to be seen proving that ghouls just wanna have fun.

Check out Sia on MBE in 2007 and B-52’s make their debut on MBE in 2008 .

To prep for the making of their new album, Animal Collective holed up in a rented cabin just southwest of Nashville for a month-long stay back in 2019. They ended up with a dizzying amount of songs that they all agreed on — in fact, they wrote enough for at least two albums. The first, Time Skiffs, was released in 2022, and they waited for just the right time to unleash Isn’t It Now?, which dropped on Domino a few weeks ago.

Clocking in at 64 minutes, the album is their longest yet, a place where they could sonically stretch out and spread out into their own. Two decades and 12 studio albums into Animal Collective’s far-out career, Isn’t It Now? is a jewel in their crown. Of the nine tracks, “Stride Rite” is an elegant standout.

Revisit Animal Collective live on MBE in 2016 , hosted by the late KCRW DJ Eric J Lawrence.

With his trademark floating flutes, reggaeton rhythm, and Bomba Estéreo frontwoman Li Saumet lending vocals, El Búho ’s sexy song launches our Halloweekend of revelry with “Brujeria,” Spanish for “Witchcraft.”

Languid and loose, Michael Nau ’s new song “Shiftshaping” lines up with the relaxed, dusty indie rock sound fans have grown to love. Take a minute to let the song in.