AMTHST (Nite Jewel & Droop-E) Have “Thug Passion”

The last time Nite Jewel and Droop-E got together they released “N The Traffic,” and the resulting sound, while an achievement, made sense - you expect plush synths and an icy croon from Nite Jewel, and Bay Area bravado from Droop E. Finally, they've acted on the promise of that track and formed a duo called AMTHST, and have shared their newest track “Thug Passion.” It's more of a left turn than “N The Traffic,” conjuring Dummy-era Portishead in its lonely, glitchy electronics and Nite Jewel's haunting vocals. Droop-E recedes to the song's background, casting off inconsiderate platitudes for Nite Jewel's spurned lover to digest and turn into lovely song. The band's Euphoria EP is out February 17.