Is Ifan Dafydd James Blake? Maybe. From the promo emails we’ve been getting, one would think no. If you listen to Gilles Peterson, one probably think yes. If you read these sorts of things, one would probably think yes. Still nothing definitive from Mr. Dafydd (or Blake lol) himself. That not settled, this new track from the Ifan camp is really really good. Turn it up.
Ifan Dafydd – TreehouseIfan Dafydd (Twitter)
Rating 8.7
People are hot for this next Kooks album, and I’m really liking the first official single “Junk of the Heart”. It’s pure pop with a huge hook. Singer Luke Pritchard says “I Wanna Make You Happy”, and this tune will do exactly that for pop fans. Contributed by Bruce Rave
The Kooks – Junk of the HeartThe Kooks 
(Official) (Facebook) (Myspace)
Catch Bruce on Moheak Radio Fridays 1-3pm PST
The Drums drop their latest for all the world to hear. We’ve gotta say this track is definitely better than we thought it’d be. A smooth hook there, an organ flourish here. This is a sound that looks good on The Drums. What do y’all think?
The Drums – Money
The Drums 
(Official) (Myspace) (Facebook)
Rating 7.7
Lapalux, a producer out of Essex UK, takes fellow Briton Tawiah’s “Breakaway” for a spin here positively blows the doors from the track. Lapalux comes with a really special remix, blending layer upon layer of disparate yet complementary sound together to create something that is really really moving. Feel like making your Tues afternoon more moving? more precise? more emotionally connected? Spin below.
Tawiah – Breakaway (Lapalux Remix) Tip to Abeano Music
Lapalux (Official) (Facebook) (Twitter)
Rating 8.5
That’s why we hear your music in fast for. Cause we don’t want to hear that weak shit no more.
Kanye West – Get ‘Em High (Big Gigantic Remix)
Big Gigantic 
(Official) (Facebook) (Twitter)
Rating 8.5
“Rifle Sight” the lead track from Cymbals Eat Guitars’ sophomore LP Lenses Alien is reallllllly big. The track knocked us clear off our chair, clear across the room, implanted us into the opposite wall, all that stuff. Kinda like a ’90s ad for Doritos or SNES or something. This track will knock you into next week. Big shoegazey atmospheres, mountainous layers of percussion. Big! REAL BIG! REAL REAL BIG!
Cymbals Eat Guitars – Rifle Sight (Proper Name)
Cymbals Eat Guitars 
(Official) (Twitter)
Rating 8.1
The Tallest Swede on Earth, Kristian Matsson dropped off “Weather Of a Killing Kind”, a new track released as part of the Adult Swim Singles Program. We loved Matsson’s The Wild Hunt LP from last year we put it in our Top 50 Albums of 2010. “Weather of a Killing Kind” continues that high bar of quality with incisive lyrics and a desolate, spare instrumental. Stream and download the track below.
The Tallest Man On Earth – Weather Of A Killing KindThe Tallest Man On Earth 
(Official) (Twitter)
Rating 8.5
Now that’s what we’re talkin about. Black Milk recently cut this “Royal Mega” record in Nashville at Jack White’s Third Man Studios. Jack, not only is co-producer on the record, but also played the drums. Jack, buddy, that is one hell of a pocket you put on. That’s like some Isley Brothers shit or the band that did “Shout”. Too real.
Black Milk & Jack White – Royal MegaBlack Milk (Official) (Twitter) (Bandcamp)
Rating 8.5
Wow. Is this beautiful. Gorgeous. Mesmerizing. Breathtaking! Shlohmo just let loose this lush Burial remix a few hours ago. And must say this is easily one of our favorite remixes of the year. What a track. Have listen for yourself below.
Burial – Shell of Light (Shlohmo Remix)
Shlohmo 
(Facebook) (Twitter) (Soundcloud)
Rating: 8.8
Stevie? Sharon Jones? Janelle Monae? Sharing the same stage? Are you as psyched as we are?!?!?? Those amazing artists and many more will pay tribute to great soul music from around the world (including a 40th anniversary tribute to Marvin’s classic What’s Going On record…Stevie doing Marvin! so awesome!) next Sunday night (Jul 24) at the Hollywood Bowl. b3sci has a pair of tickets to giveaway to this super cool show and if you wanna go, all you go to do is hit our email telling us your top 5 favorite Stevie songs. We draw our winner Friday morning. OK, get to it!
Info about Global Soul and Tickets: (Here)
A new heater from the Portuguese, as the Lusophonic homem strike back strong with “Everything You See (Kids Count Hallelujahs)”. (We’ll be counting “Hallelujahs” if somebody can hook us up with an advance copy of the rest of the new album.) “Everything” is triumphant, epic, all those chest-full-of-air, fists-raised-to-the-air, sort of adjectives. It’s got a big sing-a-long chorus, it’s got big instrumentation (HORNS, we’re talking some serious horns), and most of it all, the track just feels great to listen to. It’s empowering. So come on, get a little empowered now with us, won’t you? We’re talking heaters not haters.
Portugal. The Man – Everything You See (Kids Count Hallelujahs)Portugal. The Man 
(Official) (Facebook) (Myspace)
Rating: 7.8
We like this track by Twin Cities-native and recent S-Curve Records signee Nikki Jean. But reading the lineup and finding out Black Thought was spitting on a track like this, we were kinda like “uhhhhhh”. But it turns out Nikki was a member of Nouveau Riche, who were based out of The Roots’ home hood of Philly and collaborated with them. So knowing that, that Black Thought isn’t the new Atlantic Records 16-bar-on-a-wack-ass track stooge, we’re cool. And then there’s Lupe.
Nikki Jean – Million Star Motel (Feat. Lupe Fiasco & Black Thought)Nikki Jean 
(Official) (Twitter) (Facebook)
Rating 7.999992387
