World Crass is the project of Boston native Michael J. Thomas. “Hit Me Up” is kinetic in its rhythmic qualities and raw in its fidelity but really wins in its energy and mood which evoke the early 00’s heyday of bands like The Stills and Interpol. We love it.
World Crass 
(Soundcloud)
“Steady” is the new track from English sister trio The Staves Justin Vernon-produced LP If I Was. The album is the follow up to the stunning “Blood I Bleed” EP from last year (also produced by Vernon). “Steady” sparkles with layered harmony and chugging acoustics and you can sample it below.
The Staves 
(Soundcloud)
The school of Little Dragon pop of “Truth” is new from Brooklyn-based Her Habits. “Truth” excels on its on neat rhythmic hooks (that synth bass wob thing is fresh) and firmly on trend sonics. Give “Truth” your attention below.
Her Habits 
(Soundcloud)
Disclosure collaborator (and by extension writer with Sam Smith, Mary J. Blige and others) Jimmy Napes pens the modern pop gem “Give It Up”. Howard Lawrence (one half of Disclosure) produces.
Jimmy Napes (Soundcloud)
Finally Famous affiliate Earlly Mac gets a vocal assist from fellow Detroit native JMSN on the velvety smooth two step of “Naturally”.
Earlly Mac 
(Facebook)
Have a quick look through some of the artists that this band shared a stage with recently or generally attracted the attention of and you’ll notice the likes of Bonobo, SOHN and The xx. They’ve even been described already as “the Finnish Portishead”. That should be enough to make you hit play with a certain degree of confidence and from there on in you’ll be handsomely rewarded for giving Phantom you’re undivided attention. ‘Shadows’ is an astonishingly deep and enchanting listen – it sits comfortably within the aforementioned names yet crucially has enough to say for itself and doesn’t tread on the toes of any of them.
As a duo, singer Hanna Toivonen and beat-maker Tommi Koskinen have been crafting brooding, jazz-inflected trip-hop for a couple of years now and it’s worth looking to their first release “Scars” if you’re not already familiar. It’s perhaps a less developed track overall but the achingly soulful vocal more than hints at the potential breadth of any forthcoming EP/LP and is clearly a huge asset to their live performance.
“Shadows” is available now from VILD Recordings. Reviewed by Nathan Hetherington
Phantom 
(Facebook)
We’re digging “Prescription” the latest from Church-esque post-punk upstarts Nite Fields. The latest track from the Australian band’s forthcoming Depersonalistion LP, “Prescription” glides a most excellent line between the best of 80’s UK indie (Bunnymen, etc) and the romance-driven guitar intricacies of Cocteau Twins. Depersonalistion is out February 3rd on Felte.
Nite Fields 
(Facebook)
MK Grands‘ “Visionary IX” traffics in trendy R&B-laced dark pop that you’d likely hear on rotation inside your local Topman iteration. “Visionary IX” is very very good at that particular stylistic niche excelling in particular in the ease in which it communicates itself melodically. “Visionary IX” is out soon on Morpheme Records.
MK Grands (Facebook)
Talented teens have been emerging from the UK music world for awhile now, and younger US artists such as The Orwells have begun making a mark as well. We now welcome The Districts, who are already getting tons of UK attention. They’re all 19 and 20, and they hail from the little town of Lititz, Pennsylvania. If this song is any indication, they could be one of this year’s big stories. This guitar-oriented band’s debut album “Telephone” has been out a year. The follow-up is “A Flourish and a Spoil”, which drops the second week of February. Their musical intricacies make them sound like a deeply seasoned group well beyond their years, with inventive instrumentation and some dope changes. Frontman Rob Grote delivers one of the stronger vocals you’ll hear. They’ve been a touring machine for awhile, including an October trek opening for Temples. Look for them to hit much of the US in February and March. Reviewed by Bruce Rave.
Hear Bruce’s “Go Deep With Bruce Rave” weekly new music show on Indie1031/Los Angeles, KX 93.5-FM/Laguna Beach, and WSUM-FM/Madison. Details and archived shows can be found on his blog and be sure to follow Bruce on Twitter too!
The Districts
: (Facebook)
“White Light” is new from Oakland band Waterstrider. On the track, jolting varied percussion are percussive leads are juxtaposted against vocalist/producer Nate Salman’s wildly unique falsetto-driven vocal that while more atmospheric in its primary focus here also exhibits an immediate and powerful visceral quality that is particularly affecting and special.
“The Rain” follows “Shark”, “All We Do”, “Dazzle” and “Body Gold” as the fifth track in UK duo Oh Wonder’s one new song per month for a year writing exercise. The melodically and lyrically precise “The Rain” is another high mark for the newcomers’ intimate sound.
Oh Wonder (Facebook)
