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The Besnard Lakes – People of the Sticks

If we could marry Jagjaguwar we most definitely would. The Indiana-based label’s record is virtually spotless; Sharon Van Etten, Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Small Black AND The Besnard Lakes. The potent, focused, gorgeous haze of Besnard Lakes has made the Montreal band big favorites among the b3 crew. “People of the Sticks”, the band’s latest from their upcoming Until in Excess, Imperceptible UFO LP finds TBL dabbling in slightly more muscular more syncopated rhythm and song structures; a stylistic change the band acquits themselves of quite well.

The Besnard Lakes – People of the Sticks

Besnard Lakes (Official)

Rating 8.1

brown8

reviewed by
01-11-13

Stalley – Seen It All (MAUi WOWiE Remix)

Our man from the 330, Stalley, pours one out for Polska on a new remix for “Seen It All”. Brokered during the MMG Beardman’s recent European Tour, this vibed out re-spin of “Seen It All” comes to us from upstart Polish producers MAUi WOWiE. It’s a certain credit to the remixer(s), for sure, to improve the track your remixing but these Poles with their mix completely blow the original “Seen It All” track away. Give MAUi WOWiE your ears below.

Maui Wowie (Facebook)

Rating 8.1

brown8

reviewed by
01-11-13

Merchandise – Anxiety’s Door

Punk rockers now turned 80’s-informed dark poppers Merchandise fire off a powerful salvo for the Tampa indie scene with their latest track, the excellent Cult-esque “Anxiety’s Door”.

Merchandise (Official)

Rating 8.4

brown8

reviewed by
01-10-13

Rave’s Fave: Palma Violets — Best of Friends

I’d barely heard of Palma Violets until a few months ago when NME Magazine touted them as one of the best new UK bands. By the time NME’s Top Tracks of 2012 was published, “Best Of Friends” was #1 with all of the usual suspects. The band is known for frenetic live shows, and the verdict so far is that this band is for real. You can see Palma Violets live version of “Tom the Drum” below, as played on the BBC’s Jools Holland show. Get ready for these guys to invade shores stateside. You can catch them at SXSW this March. By Bruce Rave

Palma Violets — Best of Friends england (Official)

* Check out more from Bruce Rave at his ‘Go Deep’ blog here and be sure follow Bruce on Twitter.

reviewed by
01-10-13

Avant – Best Friend

Cleveland R&B man Avant returns to his hometown blog with new track “Best Friend”. Embracing more modern trends in R&B with spacier textures and broader more opened-up arrangement, “Best Friend”‘s DNA (especially melodically) is still squarely late 90’s/early 00’s. Look out for Avant’s upcoming “Face the Music” LP, due in February.

Avant – Best Friend

Avant (Facebook)

Rating 8

brown8

reviewed by
01-10-13

Pusha T – Millions (Feat. Rick Ross)

Pusha Thornton hooks up with The Big Bawseman for the perilous sinister-sounding heatbomb “Millions”; excerpted here from Push’s forthcoming Wrath of Caine mixtape. “Millions in the ceiling / Choppers in the closet”.

Pusha T ft. Rick Ross – Millions

Pusha T (Official)

Rating 8.1

brown8

reviewed by
01-10-13

Amba Shepherd – Soldier (Paris Blohm Remix)

When B3SCI sent over to me this banger from Paris Blohm (formely Parisyte), after one spin, I knew it had to be shared. The LA progressive-house DJ reworked Amba Shepherd’s vocal for “Solider”, and created a brilliant dance floor jam. Right from the start, the beat is hard and the build is intense. Add synths and a balanced mix and the overall product is pretty epic. By Brian Litwin

Amba Shepherd – Soldier (Paris Blohm Remix)

Paris Blohm california (Soundcloud)

Rating 8.0

brown8

reviewed by
01-10-13

Keaton Henson – Lying To You

“Lying To You” is the lead single from Keaton Henson’s forthcoming and second album, Birthdays, which sees release on February 25. The track is a simple ode of complex vulnerability and like most of Henson’s work, a moment stopper.

Keaton Henson england (Official)

Rating 8.3

brown93

reviewed by
01-09-13

Gayze – Ain’t It Brave

There’s a timeless menace to the Black Soul EP from Gayze. Besides being recorded at a supposed haunted house in seclusion since the 1930s, and with a makeshift studio, the release is as substantave in melody and song as it is garage and grit. We’ll let “Ain’t It Brave” serve as just one example. You can check out more from Gayze here.

Gayze – Ain’t It Brave

Gayze (Bandcamp)

Rating 8.0

reviewed by
01-09-13

Widowspeak – Thick As Thieves

Widowspeak’s latest “Thick As Thieves” hushes and whispers the majority of its 2:45 duration but despite that subdued tone weaves a potent magnetic web that transfixes in 3/4 time.

Widowspeak – Thick As Thieves

Widowspeak (Facebook)

Rating 8.1

reviewed by
01-09-13

Josef Salvat – This Life

Josef Salvat’s “This Life” is one of our favorite tracks of 2013 thusfar. Maybe THE FAVORITE. “This Life” is modern pop perfection. Do not miss.

Josef Salvat – This Life

Josef Salvat england (Facebook)

Rating 8.3

brown93

reviewed by
01-09-13

mr. carmack – Grind (Lex)

mr. carmack blesses us with a step by step guide on what it is to grind. If we’ve got it straight it would seem shows come before hoes come before lambos.

mr. carmack – Grind (Lex)

Mr. Carmack england (Facebook)

Rating 8.1987

brown93

reviewed by
01-09-13