With all the crazy weather adding unnecessary drama to the national elections this fall, at least music fans could be thankful for all the fresh offerings available, presenting a much needed distraction (as long as there was electricity!)  New releases from indie stalwarts Deerhoof, Stars and Cat Power complemented repeats from Two Door Cinema Club, the xx and Freelance Whales along with debuts from Django Django and Melody’s Echo Chamber. 

Soulwax have launched a new app project called “Radio Soulwax”, where they create films based on record sleeves. This new intriguing entry, “Radio Soulwax Presents Dave”, centers on the the “Thin White Duke” himself aka David Bowie. You can watch the film here and download the app at Soulwax’s site.

Asthmatic Kitty folk hero Denison Witmer has just released an EP follow-up to the full-length The Ones Who Wait entitled The Ones Who Wait - Part II. In celebration, he is offering a cover of Sufjan Steven’s “Abraham” for streaming and download, a beautifully sparse and captivating take on the classic from Steven’s Seven Swans. Witmer’s tenth full-length album will be released during the spring of 2013.

Rock and roll dreams! Motel Beds just released their latest record Dumb Gold, which kicks off with this track, “Smoke Your Homework”. Ghettoblaster says, “Think The Strokes, but without daddy’s money”, which is exactly right. The Dayton, Ohio band is offering a free download of the album at their Bandcamp site.