Endless Summers, Winter Thrills is a hilariously ironic name for a Chicago-helmed mixtape. The summers here are short and the winters are far from thrilling. Regardless, it’s an apt title that embodies the spirit of the mixtape and it’s creators, Rehab, Chicago’s Monday night nightlife mainstay. As the tracklist for Rehab’s first-ever mixtape suggests, it’s not an event based around esoteric bookings or big DJ names. Rehab is a party thrown by friends, for friends. It’s one night a week where you leave your hangups at the door and not give a shit if you have to go to work in the morning.

This unpretentious approach has made Rehab one of Chicago’s few successful weeklies and the nation at large has begun to take note. Rehab was recently nominated by Paper Magazine as one of the nine runners for the title of America’s Best Party in their 5th Annual Nightlife Awards. It’s great to see an outlet like Paper recognizing Chicago, and if you’d like to throw a vote our city’s way, you can do so here.

If you live in Chicago, stop by Debonair Social Club tonight for Rehab’s nomination party.

Rehab - Endless Summers, Winter Thrills (via mediafire)

If you could have your dream job, what would it be? If you’re like me, then you probably have a list stored in the back of your skull of about 50 dream jobs, some of which are completely absurd and others that aren’t out of the realm of possibility. In the latter category I’ve always thought I’d make a decent talent booker for a music venue. So, I figured until the day I can make a career of booking the lineups that clog my head, where better to share them, then here.

Tonight we’ll take a journey into neo-psychedelic tribal peyote rhythms and otherworldly dance with Mahjongg, Rainbow Arabia and Pictureplane supporting Gang Gang Dance. Above is what the show would look like, and below, is what it would sound like. Of course it’s free, all ages and the liquor flows until dawn.

Gang Gang Dance - House Jam (179 kbps)

Pictureplane - Goth Star (265 kbps)

Rainbow Arabia - I Know I See I Love I Go (320 kbps)

Mahjongg - Free Grooverider (192 kbps)

Cut Division is a young independent label (and a really great blog) out of San Francisco. They have amazing taste that pays no attention to genre bounds and a fantastic knack for digging up virtually unknown, but always impressive artists. In short, I see a lot of myself in them and today I’m excited to present you with (and probably be the first to write about) Cut Division’s inaugural release, by San Francisco trio St. Mawr.

Literary references aside, St. Mawr is Josh Meer, Andrew Hine and James Garrison, and their debut EP, Sweaty Palms, is shockingly good. A lush mix of lo-fi, folky tunes, Sweaty Palms sounds both new and familiar at the same time. St. Mawr distill elements of Vetiver, Beirut, Modest Mouse and Will Oldham into their own brand of raw-edged melody. Their tracks are full of variety, and like a jigsaw puzzle, once you figure them out, fit together into a single, tight composition. The band may consist of three members, but Sweaty Palms is a wonderfully personal and intimate release, six tracks laced together with distance, longing and angst.

If you like what you hear below, you can grab a free download of the full EP here and reserve your hard copy of Sweaty Palms here.

St. Mawr - Chamomile (128 kbps)

St. Mawr - March 11th (128 kbps)

It’s not like we need another group with the word maps in their name, but Maps, from the UK, produce dreamy and driving electronica that soothes the soul and is well worth your listening time. Their latest effort, Turning The Mind, is an album full of soaring synths mixed with breathy vocals and dynamic melodies. Some songs, like Papercuts, have a barely there sound, while others, like Love Will Come and I Dream of Crystal have strong melodies and plenty of hooks.

The two Maps tracks I want to share with you today are Everything Is Shattering, a droning, melodic song that borders on something you might classify as dreampop, and the epicly soaring, I Dream of Crystal. Both songs provide a glimpse of some of the best stuff Maps is currently doing, and both will undoubtedly get stuck in your head. The smoothness of Maps is great for traveling, working or just zoning out and getting lost. Either way, if you haven’t ever checked out the music of Maps, now is the time.

Maps - Everything Is Shattering (320 kbps)

Maps - I Dream of Crystal (320 kbps)

The XX are one of those rare bands, clean and polished immediately out of the gate. After hearing about and witnessing firsthand so many “amazing” blog bands turned mediocre live performers, I was hesitant to expect anything less than juvenile antics, amateur playing and novice vocals. Instead, what the enthusiastic and remarkably respectful sold out crowd received was a thoughtful, and surprisingly seasoned sounding set consisting of well executed and faithful renditions off their debut album. With a few elegantly reconstructed covers thrown into the mix, the breathy back and forth between singers Romy and Oliver played out like romantic pillow talk over the deep bass, thunderous drums and careful, minimal guitar plucking. The XX were understandably subdued, but unexpectedly captivating.

There’s still a slew of dates left on their North American tour this winter before they fly off to Europe. And check out their MySpace page for international dates, videos, and demo tracks.

Nov 19 - The Mohawk Austin, Texas
Nov 20 - Casbah San Diego, California
Nov 21 - Henry Fonda Theater Hollywood, California
Nov 23 - Independent San Francisco, California
Nov 24 - State University Sacramento, California
Nov 25 - Doug Fir Lounge Portland, Oregon
Nov 26 - The Commodore Ballroom Vancouver, British Columbia
Nov 27 - Neumos Seattle, Washington
Nov 30 - Triple Rock Minneapolis, Minnesota
Dec 1 - Bottom Lounge Chicago, Illinois
Dec 2 - Phoenix Theater Toronto, Ontario
Dec 3 - Le National Montreal, Quebec
Dec 4 - Paradise Boston, Massachusetts
Dec 5 - Webster Hall New York City

The XX - Hot Like Fire (Aaliyah cover) (171 kbps)

The XX - Fantasy (192 kbps)

KOMPAKT’s Matias Aguayo just might be the new face of minimal. Aguayo splits his time living between Paris and Buenos Aires and has previously recorded as half of Closer Musik with Dirk Leyers, and is currently dipping his paws into a new project titled BROKE! with Marcus Rossknecht in between producing some of the most innovative solo material I’ve heard this year.

Not dissimilar to scat music, Aguayo uses his voice as his main instrument, clicking, whirring and humming beats of his own creation. There’s a naturalistic, tribal undercurrent running through his newest solo release, Ay Ay Ay on which Aguayo accents his looped vocal experiments with only the most minimal of electronics. Ay Ay Ay is a mindfuck of an album, endlessly immersive and nearly impossible to discern vocal manipulation from fabricated elements. Aguayo oftens sings in Spanish, which only adds to the nonsensical, bizarre undertones of his music for us non-Spanish speakers. It’s hard to compare Aguayo’s music to that of anyone else. His niche is unique and his product is inventive.

I recommend listening to Rollerskate on infinite loop.

Matias Aguayo - Rollerskate (320 kbps)

If last year was the year of the Aussies, then 2009 is the year of the Brits. London has returned to the spotlight as a hub of creativity this year and now we can add new rock act, WILD PALMS to the city’s talent roster.

If you’re a fan of bands like These New Puritans that have that distinctive, very British sound, then WILD PALMS will strike your fancy. Postpunk vocal repetition and jagged shouts pierce clanging guitar on the quartet’s exciting debut single, ….Over….Time. WILD PALMS are about to take off on a UK tour with the Good Shoes, so those of you across the pond will get a chance to check them out live beginning November 28. The rest of us will just have to sit tight for the time being.

Below you’ll find the original version and alternate acoustic version of ….Over….Time.

WILD PALMS - ….Over….Time (160 kbps)

WILD PALMS - ….Over….Time (Acoustic Version) (160 kbps)

I usually try to keep the mixtapes geared more towards DIY, celeb-free affairs, but seeing as how much bryanb has pumped up Jack Splash’s now out mixtape, Heir To The Throne Vol. I, it’s only fitting that we share it as this week’s Monday Mornin’ Mixtape. Plus, it’s just straight up excellent. Despite calling in some star-studded cameos, and utilizing a hefty helping of electro production, Jack Splash still manages not to lose that classic hiphop mixtape feel.

We were just havin’ a ball til’ your gold diggin’ ass just ruined it all.

Jack Splash - Heir To The Throne Vol. I (via mediafire)