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Rock

B3SCI PREMIERE: Dan Croll – From Nowhere

“From Nowhere” is the first official release by new Liverpool based artist Dan Croll, a name we’ll no question be hearing a lot more from in the near future. Having already supported the likes of Michael Kiwanuka, James Vincent McMorrow, Map & Atlases and Benjamin Francis Leftwich, Dan has gained noteworthy attention with the release of just a few stellar demo tracks. Dan describes his lively blend of timely indie pop, “Whatever is on around me makes it into my head. I always like to say it’s a balance between acoustic, folk and digital. I’m between two points. I don’t know what you’d call that, a genre that hasn’t got a name”.

One thing for sure, “From Nowhere” is hard to resist. Dan is currently at work recording his debut full length expected sometime in 2013.

Dan Croll (Facebook)

Rating 8.3

reviewed by
08-13-12

DIIV @ The Echo in Los Angeles – Sunday 8/5/12

NYC rockers DIIV hit Part Time Punks at The Echo last Sunday night with something fierce. San Francisco trio Melted Toys opened the evening’s set with an eclectic drum machine, two guitars and bass collective. Melted Toys’ mix had a clean mud to it, like a cleaner toned take on some ‘gaze favorites like My Bloody Valentine; indiscernible lyrics juxtaposed to discernible melodies.

The appropriately named, Part Time, also from SF, next filled the venue. The band had a new wave karaoke nostalgia in their style pop. The pretty feverish rhythm section held the backbone to some sickly psychedelic guitar licks and fronted vocals. Cue up your next Miami Vice rerun.

DIIV took stage and got on immediately with their signature instrumental banter. For those unfamiliar, the band’s debut LP titled Oshin is something of a fresh perspective on decades of energy influenced rock music. Any recollections of grunge that come to mind were only reaffirmed when crowd surfers took to flight in the 200+ capacity venue. Frontman Cole Smith at one point asked the crowd how the sound was? “more snare” “more guitar” people said, which Cole then relayed to the soundguy. This of course, not only is one way to piss off most sound-dudes (sound was great that night) but it more so gave the rock show that proper non-chalant fuck-itness.

The baggy-hipster-clad four plowed straight through their boppy, melody guitar-weaved set. DIIV songs keep the vocals to a minimum which seems to play to and against their favor at times, especially when it comes to a crowd of onlookers. The sort of minor detail that is the obvious wall that’s always separating like bands like from a alt-FM standard for the shuffles of the future. Other notable sounds like the ringing delay of guitars seem to now have an eternal viability to the masses (hat-tip’Edge). The band’s long hair and foppish aesthetics aside, you totally would have wanted to hear DIIV come out of the underground in the 80s.

The band at one point mumbled something about “Smells Like Teen Spirit” between songs as they took sips from their tallboy cans of PBR (with the 6-pack plastic rigns still attached to the can). It was all not so really but really. DIIV wrapped their 30 minute set with “Bambi Slaughter” which seemed only appropriate. Catch DIIV on tour and pick up one of the year’s best full-length collections Oshin.

The Echo california (Official)
DIIV (Facebook)

reviewed by
08-11-12

REVIEW: The 1975 – The Facedown [EP]

The 1975’s first official release is finally with us and serves to carefully weave together four tracks with a wealth of atmospherics, industrial beats and expansive choruses. Track two, “The City” is definitely the focal point of the EP and whilst everything around it does a great job of setting the scene and showing the band’s capacity for development, it feels like their slingshot is still pulling back. These four young guys from Manchester have set out with a mature approach to representing their hometowns rich musical landscape, past and present, and considering the quality of the demos heard last year I’m sure there’s still more big tracks to come. By Nathan Hetherington

The 1975 england (Facebook)

Rating 8.2

brown8

reviewed by
08-09-12

RAVE’S FAVE! Bloc Party – Team A

Bloc Party return with Four, which drops the week after next. It’s a long-awaited return, preceded by a few US shows including their storm-delayed Lollapalooza set last weekend. These Brits are used to playing for mud-caked fans in the UK, so this was nothing new for them. “Team A” throws us some of those unique rhythms we loved on their Silent Alarm debut. Bloc Party are already saying there may not be a fifth album, so let’s enjoy them while we can. By Bruce Rave

Bloc Party – Team A

Bloc Party (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 listen to past shows at Bruce’s blog and follow Bruce on Twitter.

reviewed by
08-09-12

Lower – Escape

Lower are a loud rock band from Copenhagen. We miss this music. The band’s Walk on Heads EP is really good and deserves your attention ASAP.

Lower (Bandcamp)

Rating 8.3

reviewed by
08-08-12

Jason Karaban – Misplaced

Jason Karaban is an interesting type of talent. A unique type of pop-leaning artist that puts his craft before any limelight. While you’ll be lucky to ever catch a live performance or appearance from Jason, you can hear the syrupy lines of commercial friendly song pour out him on record. His forthcoming full-length Shift will be available September 4th via Ascend Records, and the lead track “Misplaced” serves perfect example of what to expect. The song showcases Jason’s ability to cross the roads between writing and arranging aptness where strings meet guitars, Alex Ebert meets Nick Drake, and everything meets overall inspirational moments. Jason will be performing select live dates in NYC and LA leading up to the release of Shift, these sets are a don’t miss!

Jason Karaban – Misplaced

Jason Karaban california (Facebook)

Rating 8.3

brown8

reviewed by
08-07-12

White Hex – Waves

Excerpted below is “Waves”, our select track from Aussie exports White Hex’s excellent 12″ “Heat”. Built on a slimy lurching bassline and singer Tara Green’s creeper vocals, “Waves” sounds like MENACE. Fancy some MENACE?

White Hex – Waves

White Hex (Facebook)

Rating 8.1111111

brown8

reviewed by
08-03-12

Black Moth Super Rainbow – Windshield Smasher

Experimental musicians Black Moth Super Rainbow have a playful bent towards the mysterious and obscure. Their excellent new track “Windshield Smasher” delivers a psychedelic retro sound, brightly understated lyrics, and a fresh edgy style that reminds us a bit of the Dandy Warhols. BMSR release their forthcoming album Cobra Juicy in October. By Erin Feathers

Black Moth Super Rainbow – Windshield Smasher

Black Moth Super Rainbow (Soundcloud)

Rating 8

brown8

reviewed by
08-02-12

Mother Mother – Let’s Fall In Love

Here is a new tune from Mother Mother! These guys come up with some of the most danceable indie rock out there. What I think is the most special about Mother Mother is the versatility of headman Ryan Guldemond, this guy has a mad set of pipes. These guys are music writing machines, their first release was in 2007 and now their fourth record The Sticks is due this September. Be sure to check it out, the music has gotten better with every release. By the same token, this track rocks harder the longer you listen, make sure you hear the end. By Jon Herriot

Mother Mother – Let’s Fall In Love

Mother Mother (Facebook)

Rating 8.2

brown8

reviewed by
08-02-12

Pale Seas – Bodies

Communion dials up another winner with Southampton UK rock act Pale Seas. “Bodies” feels instantly psychedelic. It’s certainly a wide expansive track but it’s also warm. Where a band can go a bit awry with “atmospheres” and “layers” and “wanking”, Pale Seas keeps it concise with neat compact melodies and just enough soul to keep the listener moved.

Pale Seas (Facebook)

Rating 8.3

brown8

reviewed by
08-02-12

Grizzly Bear – Yet Again

Yeah, we’re definitely into this more “focused” Grizzly Bear sound. The arrangements and melodies (spoiler alert: they’re really really good) on “Yet Again” as well as Shields’ first single “Sleeping Ute” are just a little sharper and more pointed. We’re into it. p.s. Loving those reverb-drenched guitar washes. Yesss.

Grizzly Bear (Facebook)

Rating 8.4

brown8

reviewed by
08-02-12

Turtle Giant – We Were Kids

IGIF got the premiere of this ace new track from Brazilian band Turtle Giant (who are based in Macau, China!) called “We Were Kids”. A neat blend of surf rock guitar and great melodic textures, the track is a full force go experience for the entirety of its 4:34 duration. Listen

Turtle Giant (Facebook)

Rating 8.3

brown8

reviewed by
08-02-12