Creative Commons

TEDTalk: Maya Beiser(s) and her cello(s)

Cellist Maya Beiser plays a gorgeous eight-part modern etude with seven copies of herself, and segues into a meditative music/video hybrid -- using tech to create endless possibilities for transformative sound. Music is Steve Reich's "Cello Counterpoint," with video from Bill Morrison, then David Lang's "World to Come," with video by Irit Batsry.

Zadkiel: The Saturn Return

Zadkiel is a three piece alternative indie rock band that hails from the UK. The group initially formed back in 2008. Together, they create an eclectic mix of alternative rock which incorporates beautiful vocals and instrument work. The Saturn Return is their third compilation and like their previous releases, it's a well-composed record. They admit to being heavily influenced by artists like Jeff Buckley, Nirvana and Radiohead, which is quite evident in the music they create. Nevertheless, the trio manages to express their own sound through the cracks. Each cut resounds with melodies, instruments and distortions that beautifully combine to create a wonderful sound.

Madeleine Albright: On being a woman and a diplomat

Former US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright talks bluntly about politics and diplomacy, making the case that women's issues deserve a place at the center of foreign policy. Far from being a "soft" issue, she says, women's issues are often the very hardest ones, dealing directly with life and death. A frank and funny Q&A with Pat Mitchell from the Paley Center.

Jus Like Music & Apple Juice Break present: Oscillations Part 2

With more than just powerful synths accompanying the very first track of the album, Jus Like Music & Apple Juice Break take no time in properly introducing us to their more recent digital compilation. Released in 2010 Oscillations is a part 2 in series of exciting musical journey through some great hip-hop, electronica, neo-soul, and dubstep sounds. The compilation is putting forward twenty one of the best, exclusive (or at least previously unreleased) tracks just for us. So let's return the favor by turning up the volume.

Pollux: Rspct

The album Rspct opens up with a track that's proper for its role: Rspct Intro features a thin but layered drone shifting from this direction to that until it renders itself redolent of aircraft sounds, or of spacecraft ones (it depends on your imagination, really) and, consequently, creates the illusion of one taking flight, perhaps toward Pollux � not the artist behind the album, but the brightest star in the constellation of Gemini, from which the musician presumably took his moniker.

Sebastian Thrun: Google’s driverless car

Sebastian Thrun helped build Google's amazing driverless car, powered by a very personal quest to save lives and reduce traffic accidents. Jawdropping video shows the DARPA Challenge-winning car motoring through busy city traffic with no one behind the wheel, and dramatic test drive footage from TED2011 demonstrates how fast the thing can really go. From TED.com

Smarton Trio +1 Remixes

In need for some more than chilled sounds to spice up your weekend? If so you are in on a little treat from our friends in Budapest. Smarton Trio +1 Remixes released by Budabeats Netlabel in March of this year is a great compilation of remixes of the jazzy band Smarton Trio by some of the Hungary's best DJs around, including M.W.D., Suhov, Dermot, JumoDaddy, Savages y Suefo, Ba10+Bal, and Franco Mento.

Special Quartet: Namouche

Special Quartet is a powerful contemporary jazz group with a solid sense of tradition. Armed with the piercing sounds of Narciso Gonz�lez's sax, Javier Alc�ntara's guitar, Pablo Romero's superb piano, and Pepin Mu�oz's drums, the quartet have released their debut album Namouche as their answer to the long time search for their own unique voice in jazz. Although the album was recorded all the way back in December of 2007 non of it's quality was lost over time. So here it is, another treat for all the jazz lovers out there.

Cocolixe: Futuro EP

Cocolixe from Barcelona (Spain) knows how to melt American soul, 60's French pop and old Italian ballads into a minimal electro mini-pop mixture. This is a refreshing cool summer breeze for the lounge at the Mediterranean Sea. He's a composer and electronic alchemist, a restless investigator of the latest trends, and he knows how to delight the audience with his particular melting pot of techniques and styles. His first album brings us stuttering beats, looped voices and a wild mix of styles.