Last Wednesday, Theophilus London released his highly anticipated mixtape, I Want You. Gone is the sense of urgency in his voice, heard in tracks like “Ultraviolet” (Jam!) and “TNT” (This Charming Mixtape); the Theophilus London we hear in I Want You is cool, laid back and smooth as ever. The best artists are ones that evolve from project to project while retaining their signature sound, and Theophilus does this beautifully on his third release.

A free mixtape gives an artist the freedom to sample, remix and cover tracks without having to pay astronomical fees for the rights, giving them a creative reign they may not necessarily have on an official label release. Theophilus has capitalized on this opportunity in the past (see “I Will Always Love You” on This Charming Mixtape), and does it again on I Want You, bringing a newfound originality to familiar songs. The mixtape’s title track stays true to Marvin Gaye’s original while adding a modern twist, the Hudson Mohawke-produced cover “Oops (Oh My)”, is a bass-heavy update of Tweet’s 2002 hit, and “Give it up Dad” is an upbeat track that has Theophilus rapping over Vampire Weekend’s “Giving up the Gun”. Remixes on the mixtape include the long awaited release of The Very Best’s “Julia”, which he often performs live, and Ellie Goulding’s “Starry Eyed”.

Fusing LA electrofunk, UK indie, tropical escapade and obscure afropop with the signature style we’ve all come to know and love, Theophilus London weaves a delightful story of life and love. Listen to my personal favorite, “Flying Overseas (Version 1)” below, click through for the music video for “Accept the New”, and above all, CLICK HERE to download the mixtape.

Theophilus London – “Flying Overseas (Version 1)”

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Last week, ?uestlove took to Twitter to announce the initial line-up for the third annual Roots Picnic in Philadelphia. Vampire Weekend, Mayer Hawthorne, and The Very Best will join The Roots, along with Clipse, Tune-Yards, Das Racist, DJ Jazzy Jeff, MM Jam Boys, and Bajah + The Dry Eye Crew.

In his video announcement, ?uestlove promised to top last year’s spectacular performance with Public Enemy with a special surprise reunion. “This is a reunion that we thought we would never get,” he said of the surprise guest, “We’ve been waiting to make this reunion happen for the longest. It’s so incredible, I don’t even want to tell you who it is.” Judging by his hint – a gold chain and black fedora – we’re putting our money on Run DMC:

The Roots Picnic will take place at the Festival Pier in Philadelphia. CLICK HERE to purchase tickets, and be sure to check out photos from last year’s picnic, featuring Antibalas, Santigold, The Black Keys, Public Enemy, T.V. on the Radio, The Roots, and more. Watch ?uestlove’s video announcement after the jump…

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After seeing Coachella‘s initial line-up, we might just have to add it to our jam-packed spring schedule. Jay-Z, Muse, and Gorillaz are set to headline the three-day festival, now in its 11th year.

The massive line-up of over 130 artists includes Major Lazer, Vampire Weekend, Flying Lotus, Bassnectar, Pretty Lights, Miike Snow, Matt & Kim, Rusko, Deadmau5, Passion Pit, Phoenix, La Roux, Faith No More, MGMT… we could go on forever.

Radiohead frontman Thom Yorke, who is listed on the flier as “Thom Yorke ????”,  is indeed confirmed for Sunday. The question marks next to his name refer to the backing band he had assembled to play in Los Angeles last fall: Flea from the Red Hot Chilli Peppers, longtime Radiohead producer Nigel Godrich,  and session hands Joey Waronker and Mauro Refosco.

This year, Coachella will offer expanded camping options to include cars and RVs, in addition to traditional tent camping. This is also the first year that the festival will allow in-and-out privileges for all attendees.

Coachella will take place at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, CA from Friday, April 16 – Sunday April 18. Tickets will be available starting Friday, January 22 at 10 AM. For those of us strapped for cash, they are offering a layaway payment plan. On the opposite end of the spectrum, Coachella is also teaming up with Valley Music Travel to provide exclusive deals and packages that include travel, local hotel shuttle transportation, and private home rentals with VIP access to the festival.

Check out the full line-up after the jump…

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Initial impressions of Vampire Weekend’s sound would hardly place them in New York City, where the band originally formed. Lead singer Ezra Koenig and drummer Chris Tomson first joined forces on the comedy rap band L’Homme Run, before creating Vampire Weekend with Chris Baio and Rostam Batmanglij. The influence of African popular music – including Ladysmith, Black Mambazo, and Kanda Bongo Man – can certainly be heard in “Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa” and “Diplomat’s Son”; Koenig has also collaborated with Malawian singer Esau Mwamwaya on the title track of The Very Best’s Warm Heart of Africa.

Contra, Vampire Weekend’s sophomore effort, is a contemplative album that derives from the fun and playful vibes of their 2008 mainstream hit, “A-Punk”. Throw in a bit of ska, baile funk, violins, marimbas, some simple electronic infusions and a smidgen of auto-tune, and the result is a jamboree that has become the signature touch of Vampire Weekend. While many critics have tried to compare their sound to a variety of artists and genres, what they have ultimately proven is that Vampire Weekend has established a unique sound of their own in a remix era where everything is pop.

If their eponymous debut album wasn’t enough evidence of Vampire Weekend’s longevity, then Contra solidifies them as a lasting part of the music scene. While Vampire Weekend established the band’s sound, Contra uses the play of melody and lyrics to showcase a depth in the ballads that makes the album a thoroughly enjoyable listen.

“California English” and “Run” show the brighter side of their youthful pleasantries in a story format that unravels with a somber tenderness of (happy) memories being recalled. While Contra has a preppy tone, its carefree nature is reminiscent of Simon and Garfunkel, especially in the track “White Sky.” On a broad scope, the album has a breakthrough feel like the duo’s contributions to The Graduate. In the embroilment of preppy innuendo, Contra reveals a gem of complications that is foreshadowed by the album’s cover, an image of a Polo-clad blonde with one of her collars standing up.

Overall, Contra is an album that is ‘hot under the collar’. While it may be Vampire Weekend’s sophomore album, its nature shows the band’s ability to follow through on an album concept that is consistent from start to finish, while unraveling refreshing tracks that reveal Vampire Weekend in a whole new light. The whimsical cover of the album couldn’t have made it any clearer as the story within – Contra is a serenade worth falling for.

In anticipation of today’s release, Vampire Weekend has already sold out three performances in New York City. They will appear at the United Palace Theater on January 17th, Webster Hall on January 18th, and the Bowery Ballroom on January 19th. Contra is in stores now, though a stream of the full album has been available on their MySpace page and official website for a few weeks.

Click through for the video for “Cousins” and the the album below.

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When French producer Radioclit met Malawian singer Esau Mwamwaya inside a London thrift shop, the two began a fusion of sound and culture which evolved into The Very Best. Their debut album Warm Heart of Africa has Radioclit layering warm afro melodies over uplifting electronic beats with the soul coming from Mwamwaya’s vocals. Although he sings in his native Chichewa, Mwamwaya communicates a passion that drips with happiness universally understood. Ezra Koenig and M.I.A. both appear on the album along with a few others you’ll have to hear for yourself.

The group first arrived on the scene in 2008 with the global success of “Esau Mwamwaya & Radioclit Are The Very Best”, a free mixtape with Mwamwaya singing over remixes of Michael Jackson (Free Willy theme), Vampire Weekend (“Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa”), Hans Zimmer (True Romance theme) and M.I.A. (“Paper Planes”). You can download the mixtape here.

Back in NYC for the second time this year, The Very Best will be performing at Le Poisson Rouge October 21st with Theophilus London & Ninjasonik as part of Green Owl’s CMJ showcase. Tickets are $12 in advanced. You can also catch a surprise set at Other Music October 22nd at noon sharp. Keep up with us as we bring you full coverage from this and other events at the CMJ Marathon.

The Very Best – Warm Heart of Africa featuring Ezra Koenig

The Very Best – Rain Dance featuring M.I.A.

Brace yourself for hazardous dance floor anthems well-fed on the homegrown African sounds of high-life and marabi, as well as bass-laden pop grooves from, well, all over the globe. -San Francisco Bay Guardian

Vampire Weekend played through the rain at All Points West on Friday afternoon. Nearly an hour-long, their set included most songs from their self-titled debut album. Lead singer Ezra Koenig kept a jovial spirit about the rain. He dedicated “A-Punk” to the crowd because “a lot of you are probably wearing these”, a reference to the lyric “look outside at the raincoats coming”. They appropriately closed the set with “Walcott”, a song about making the journey from Cape Cod to New Jersey.

You can catch Vampire Weekend next week at Lollapalooza, or if you’re extremely motivated, tonight at the Osheaga Music and Arts Festival.