Late last year Ariel Pink released a video for "I Need A Minute", the single from his score for a film called, Heaven Knows What. The video didn't blow our minds, but the song hit us like a fairy bug of synthesized bliss, crawling into our conscious while wreaking of pleasure. Simply put, "I Need A Minute" is pretty but not too pretty.

It has that tender combination of airy electronics and lilting vocals that can instantly cause goosebumps, putting us into a state of ecstasy. It's a feeling we've recognized before but not so poignantly as it comes across with "I Need A Minute". Left in a state of intrigue and desire, we've quietly worked on a playlist to capture a handful of precious songs that offer that same feeling.

Bummer pop is a way to describe odd songs that have pop appeal with a strange touch of sadness or mystery. Some bummer pop music, like VU's "Pale Blue Eyes", accomplish that feeling with nothing but a guitar, but graceful guitar playing matched with synthesizers hold a special place in our heart.

bliss off contains our favorite underground pop magicians as well as a few newcomers we've grown quite fond of, namely Nicholas Allbrook and Sports.

~ Enjoy ~

Read our interview with Ariel Pink here.