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Rock

Crash & The ‘Coots – John Coles Park [EP]

Epitomising the DIY ethic with catchy lo-fi pop music constructed out of clap-happy drum loops, xylophones and circuit bending waggishness, Crash & The Coots present their first EP John Coles Park. Deciding to release a limited run of cassettes (via Heart Throb Records) and by taking their name from a computer animated fox from the 90’s, you would be forgiven for thinking they had just woken from a 15 year long coma, however this promising debut suggests otherwise, fusing unconventional pop sounds and structures with all the funk and punk of an LCD Soundsystem record. You may be pleased to hear that it will also be released in the slightly more convenient digital format on October 29 (via Once Upon A Time) and in the meantime you can help yourself to a free download of “Brian Fury Wins! (Alternative Version)” from the band’s soundcloud below. By Nathan Hetherington

John Coles Park [EP] Track Listing:

1. Emily (hehe)
2. Don’t Have Any Legs
3. Brian Fury Wins!

Crash & The ‘Coots (Facebook)

Rating 8.2

brown8

reviewed by
10-10-12

RAVE’S FAVE: Citizens! – (I’m In Love With Your) Girlfriend

This new UK band just emerged from the studio with Alex Kopranos of Franz Ferdinand. Their Here We Are album will be out in the US this coming week. This fun tune is retro, dancy, and hooky. The title alone got me. Haven’t we all really wanted to be with the significant other of a good friend? By Bruce Rave

Citizens! – (I’m In Love With Your) Girlfriend

Citizens! (Facebook)

*Check out Bruce’s Moheak Radio “Go Deep” show on Sunday nights 7-9 pm Pacific, 10-12 am Eastern, 3-5 am GMT. Also, for the benefit of you Europeans the show will now be replayed Wednesday mornings 2-4a Pacific/5 -7a Eastern, so they too can hear it at a civilized time. Listen to past shows at Bruce’s blog and follow Bruce on Twitter.

reviewed by
10-10-12

Sol Cat – Fishin’ With John

Turn this one up and you can almost already hear the afternoon summer festival masses singing along. “Fishin’ With John” is the new single from Tennessee rock collective Sol Cat. The song is apparently inspired from the early 90’s MTV series “Fishing with John” which featured John Lurie taking celebrities fishing all over the world. Pretty sweet stuff. Expect a new album from these Sol Cat(s) coming 2013.

Sol Cat – Fishin’ With John

Sol Cat (Facebook)

Rating 8

brown8

reviewed by
10-10-12

TV Torso – Clear Lake Strangler

A-level rock and roll via Austin, Texas from Matt Oliver’s TV Torso. Get involved.

TV Torso – Clear Lake Strangler

TV Torso (Facebook)

Rating 8.3

brown8

reviewed by
10-09-12

Torches – Someone Needs a Ritual

London band Torches bring the doom, the menace & the hooks on latest track “Someone Needs a Ritual”. Built on a driving rhythm track wall and angular guitar and melody, the song is gloomy & broody (all that stuff) but it’s also immensely catchy. See what you think below.

Torches – Someone Needs a Ritual

Torches (Facebook)

Rating 8.3

brown8

reviewed by
10-08-12

How to Dress Well – Blue Crystal Fire (Robbie Basho)

How to Dress Well a/k/a Tom Krell very nice Total Loss LP features a bonus 7″ that contains this stunning quiet cover of Robbie Basho’s “Blue Crystal Fire”. Built on a spare acoustic strum and Krell’s floats-in-and-out-of-the-mix croon, this cover is a definite must listen.

How to Dress Well – Blue Crystal Fire (Robbie Basho)

How to Dress Well (Soundcloud)

Rating 8.4

brown8

reviewed by
10-05-12

Victor Talking Machine – Penny Arcade

If you have any sort of affinity towards the brilliance of rock music in the early-mid 90s then you can’t deny “Penny Arcade” by new London collective Victor Talking Machine. These young lads certainly know their way around the last great guitar rock era, and most importantly know so with a great tune. We’re especially loving the Smashing Pumpkins style arrangements and Oasis’ Definitely Maybe tinged vocals. The psychedelic indie rock group have genuienly found themselves a recipe that’s been known to rule charts. Be sure to keep Victor Talking Machine on your radar of bands to watch for and check out the band’s debut EP Had Enough which drops this November.

Victor Talking Machine – Penny Arcade

Victor Talking Machine (Soundcloud)

Rating 8.3

brown8

reviewed by
10-05-12

Panama – It’s Not Over

Aussie band Panama’s “It’s Not Over” is great. The band has just signed to really great label (Future Classic), have a debut EP at the ready & really strong lead single at the fore. You will want to get familiar ASAP.

Panama – It’s Not Over

Panama (Facebook)

Rating 8.4

brown8

reviewed by
10-04-12

I Am Kloot – Hold Back the Night

Mancunian band I Am Kloot surprise with a strong return. The brooding “Hold Back the Night” excels on arrangement; just the right bits of atmospheric guitar strums and 1-2 rhythms give way at the most perfect of points to swelling string builds. (The track was produced by Elbow’s Guy Garvey and Craig Potter). “Hold Back the Night” is not to be missed.

I Am Kloot – Hold Back the Night

I Am Kloot (Facebook)

Rating 8.2

brown8

reviewed by
10-03-12

Die Mason Die – Lost

Die Mason Die is a new noteworthy project from 19 years young frontman Samuel Mason. The band’s debut single “Lost” grabbed us from it’s delicate introduction to it’s clinching folk rock stride of a refrain. Die Mason Die showcase the dynamics and pop sensibiities of a group well beyond their years. Expect their debut EP early November.

Die Mason Die – Lost

Die Mason Die england (Facebook)

Rating 8.4

brown93

reviewed by
10-02-12

Go Back To The Zoo – Weekend America

“Weekend America” is both raw and infectious with it’s eagerness and full-bodied jangle. The catchy track is excerpted here from Netherlands collective Go Back To The Zoo’s recent debut release, Shake A Wave. If you’re like us, and the 2:30 punch of this track just isn’t enough, then don’t be shy and let that replay button demand a little more of your love below.

Also, if you’re in Los Angeles then you can catch the four-piece performing this weekend at FILTER Magazine’s Culture Collide Festival. Set times below:

Thursday, October 4 – Oragami Vinyl – 7pm
Saturday, October 6 – Echoplex – 8pm
Sunday, October 7 – Taix – 11:30 pm

Go Back To The Zoo – Weekend America

Go Back To The Zoo (Official)

Rating 8

brown8

reviewed by
10-01-12

Y LUV – It Doesn’t Have To Make Sense [EP]

Indie-alt-rockers Y LUV have just released their new It Doesn’t Have To Make Sense EP. Jam to the three new tracks on this release, which pair up quite nicely with the band’s radio ready, and most recent, blogo-hit “Driftin”. Give the EP a sample below and grab a free download of it over at the band’s Facebook.

Y LUV (Facebook)

Rating 8

brown8

reviewed by
10-01-12