Aural report

Wacky Wednesday is here, and with it a mishmash of music to get you through those last few days before the blissfully long weekend. The best part? It don't cost a thing.

Music festivals are part of the glory of summer, and missing out, whether due to low funds, being cooped up in office buildings or sheer lack of proximity to Scotland, hardly feels festive. Just because you weren't there doesn't mean you can't still experience the magic: NME provided a free album of the acts they were most excited to catch at Glastonbury, and Flavorwire dedicated their latest mixtape to last week's Northside Festival, featuring ten bands to watch.

For its Revival Recordings project, Levi's Pioneer Sessions called in modern artists to cover timeless tracks, resulting in 13 incredible collaborations. Personal favorites include Passion Pit's Billy Corgan-approved cover of the Smashing Pumpkins' "Tonight, Tonight" and The Shins taking on the 1979 Squeeze hit, "Goodbye Girl."

The Roots' 9th studio album, How I Got Over, is one of their most cohesive yet genre-bending efforts. With guest appearances from Joanna Newsom, John Legend, Monsters of Folk and more, their fusion of funk, soul, jazz and hip-hop is daring, insightful and forward-thinking.

Turn on, tune in, drop out.

Retro renegade

If it's feeling like one of those Mondays to anyone else but me, I have something to share that should blast the doldrums from your desk (provided you have a set of headphones). My brother recently returned from a semester in Barcelona, and has just finished his second half-hour demo tape that, sibling obligation completely aside, I think is pretty freaking rad. The jumped-up jams mix old and new school (think Jay-Z and Johnny Cash) and blend the badass with the downright bizarre.

Download here, check out more of his beats, mash-ups and photos here, and if you want to hire this young gun for the summer, he's available for everything from Photoshop tutorials to poolboy duties.

Lazerproof

Redheaded synth-pop princess Elly Jackson of La Roux has teamed up with Major Lazer (comprised of dancehall DJ duo Switch and Diplo) for a free mixtape called Lazerproof. The name is a combo of Major Lazer and La Roux's single, "Bullet Proof." With Jamaican-inspired blends and dubplates, and a star-studded guest list that includes the likes of Drake, Gucci Mane, and Amanda Blank, it's no surprise that Diplo has done it again. The Floridian mixmaster is a true musical savant - not that Jackson isn't utterly breathtaking on her own, but he knows what to exactly how much space to give to allow her unusual, breathy pout to shine. Lazerproof does for La Roux what Top Ranking did for Santigold, and what Piracy Funds Terrorism, Vol. 1 did for M.I.A.

Speaking of M.I.A., whose latest effort feels show-offy and ultimately unoriginal - maybe she needs some help from ex-flame Diplo once again. Not to say girlfriend deserved that nasty blast of a NY Times mag article, but it does feel like she's lost a bit of her je ne sais quoi.

Cop Lazerproof fo' free at the Mad Decent site.

Crank that

Here's what I'm bumping on re-re-repeat all month:

Yeasayer, Rome


The Black Keys, Tighten Up (produced by DJ Danger Mouse)

David Byrne & Fatboy Slim (ft Sia), Never So Big - I could not be more obsessed with this ridiculous project

Aloe Blacc, I Need a Dollar


Happy listening!

Mad decent

Freebie of the day: Diplo's Gucci Mane mixtape. Click dis right hurr.