Devendra Banhart - "Daniel". In the new episode of The Organist, Banhart says that this song is not about him. Two tenderhearts who fall in love at the San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus. A relationship that fades away. Then a reunion one night, unexpected, in the queue for a concert. Banhart is wordless for this meeting: he tells it only with music, a glimmering California sound. Bars count out, the drums shuffle, and we leave the scene behind. "Daniel" is a short film, not a short story. There are cuts, steadycam, a long zoom out. There are no metaphors or similes. Fitting, then, that the song sounds so much like the music of a real filmmaker - Vincent Gallo. I have spent many hours with Gallo's When; strangely, this tribute feels like a homecoming. One song, one film, in a series that was started by another. [buy Mala, which is really good]

The-Dream ft Fabolous - "Slow It Down". After a slew of singles that made me think, "That's it! Terius Nash has lost it!", finally something that makes my heart happily fizz. Yes, this is bare throwback - the-Dream doing what he did years ago, when he was the Love King. But I love a tune that feels like it's counting treasures, that feels like looped sunsets, that patiently looks its lover in the eyes & then looks again. (NB: The-Dream is interested in other bodyparts in addition to his lover's face.) [video]