Fé s recent run of strong singles continues forward with the excellently atmospheric “Turn Your Light On”. On the track, the London-based band ably combine their penchant for singable souful melody and big mood-inhabiting spaces. (The way “Turn Your Light On”‘s tune abides within the track’s captivating groove is particularly special). “Turn Your Light On” is part of a AA-side release coming March 24th on Generator.
Fe 
(Facebook)
Rating 8.4
Leeds UK trio White Royal debut the impressive indie balladry of “False Widow”. Perfectly paced and contained in a well-sculpted atmosphere of dreamy tones and subtle nods to R&B, the quality of “False Widow” is indicative of a new band w/ their arrow firmly pointed up.
White Royal (Facebook)
Rating 8.4
It was 2005 when Hard-Fi released their successful Stars of CCTV album, featuring songs such as “Cash Machine”, “Tied Up Too Hight”, and “Hard to Beat”. The UK band will soon release a new “best of” compilation. One fresh track will be added to the compilation, and it’s their best song since their debut offering. Hard-Fi typically makes music that resonates well for working class people. “Move Over” is almost like a message to the government about income inequality prevailing while white collar crooks avoid penalty. The groove is smooth, dark, jazzy, and retro. Singer Richard Archer sounds a bit like The Clash’s Joe Strummer on the verses, and it’s a song The Clash could have probably come up with themselves. Hard-Fi are currently working on their fourth studio album. Reviewed by Bruce Rave
Hard-Fi – Move OverHard-Fi 
(Official)
Hear Bruce’s “Go Deep With Bruce Rave” weekly new music show on Indie1031/Los Angeles and WSUM-FM/Madison. Details and archived shows can be found on his blog and be sure follow Bruce on Twitter too!
YES! We need more noisy, loud, melodic rock and roll in 2014. Broken Hands, out of Canterbury UK, channel the groove-driven distorted guitar drama of early Verve on new demo “My Orbit Changes Everyday”. The band, who headline The Miller in London next Tuesday and Wednesday (11th & 12th) will also be in the U.S. for SXSW in March (F yes).
Broken Hands (Official)
Rating: 8.8
London newcomers Sons & Lovers are hitting the road for the first-ever Satellite Tour with Eliza & The Bear and Fred Page. Having already shared stages with the likes of Ellie Goulding and Naked & Famous, the band is celebrating this tour with the release of a new video for their track “The Only One”. What makes “The Only One” particularly special is that the song was actually written around the video. As S&L frontman Tom puts it, “This is something we made with our friend Pip – a ridiculously talented photographer/director. We wanted to think of a story, film it, then write the track after the video was finished. Putting music to a video rather than the other way around was a cool and new fun thing for us.”
Have a first look at the cinematic “The Only One” from Sons & Lovers below.
Sons & Lovers (Facebook) (Twitter)
Rating 8.4
Madness – pure utter, beautiful madness has occurred in the hot bed of the music world. The Echo recently hosted a Red Bull backed “Sound Select” concert featuring Mac DeMarco, Puro Instinct and Avid Dancer this past Wednesday, and I was lucky enough to even get in (the line ended up past the local dinner Brite Spot — ‘record breaking’ according to Echo staff members).
Starting the evening to the anxious crowd was Jacob Summers, aka Avid Dancer. Fairly new on the LA scene, Avid Dancer has impressed us here at team B3SCI since his early performances at the Bootleg. His first single “Stop Playing With My Heart” was released via 7″ on Hit City U.S.A. and was the crowd winner, as the already very packed Echo was grooving to the pysch-pop sound. It was the perfect opening set for the madness about to occur. Side note – Overheard in the crowd was a female who would not stop professing how much singer Jacob Summers looked/sounded like Morrissey.
Puro Instinct hit the stage next and given that their sound seemed more geared for Mac DeMarco’s set, it sounded it bit off. The production was there, but the hazy vocals, downtempo pysch feel had the crowd finding other things to occupy their time before Mac.
Once Puro Instinct took down and Mac’s team started setting up, the crowd got a bit more intense, pushing forward. The Montreal-based, wizard of things weird knew the packed house, and all of those fans waiting outside, were there for a fun time, and DeMarco had the set list to provide nothing less. The uproarious crowd became enamoured by the energy Mac and his crew brought to the stage as their brand of indie-pysch rock took over. Highlights of the show were “Ode ToViceroy”, “Freaking Out The Neighborhood”, as well as an attention-starved fan who would not stop trying to stage-dive and the crowd continually stopping her from doing it, with the band even chiming in to commenting about it. Other highlights of the night were all the other crowd surfers in the tiny Echo space, security trying to contain people, Mac shredding through “Annie”, “Robson Girl”, “Rock & Roll Nightclub” and “Still Together”. Like how I started this article, this Wednesday night in late January was pure utter, beautiful madness.
Review by Brian Litwin
Photos by Erik Voake/Red Bull Content Pool
Mac DeMarco 
(Facebook)
Lots to dig about Beaty Heart’s latest, “Kanute’s Comin’ Round”. The dark tropical textures of ‘Kanute’ are as inviting as they are full of intrigue and it continues to be exciting to learn of the unsuspecting pop explorations of Beaty Heart. The track is previewed here from the band’s forthcoming Mixed Blessings debut album expected this spring.
Beaty Heart (Soundcloud)
Rating 8.4
Starting out like a lullaby, and then turning into a slice of dreamy alt-pop heaven, summates LA band Blondfire’s anticipated forthcoming album, Young Heart — due out February 11th. The album is painted throughout with light-hearted guitars and bass lines that any indie pop/rock enthusiast can get lost in. Add body moving rhythms and delectable vocals, and you’ve got your next favorite daydream.
Young Heart has a little something for everyone and is bound to be a summer favorite. The album’s title track kicks-off the album with a gentle, smooth, euphoric tune that can soundtrack even your best day. “Where The Kids Are”, from their 2012 EP release of the same name, is a proven anthem. Other standouts include the incredibly catchy “Walking With The Giants”, which bursts with positivity and is bound to put a smile on your face and some pep in your step. With love songs, tracks for best friends, theme songs for your next crush, and party anthems, Young Heart has the potential to be a standout release in 2014.
At the end of the day, if you like upbeat, positive music that will make you dance, then this album is definitely for you. So go ahead, grab your boom box and chase the Polar Vortex away this winter with the audible a burst of sunshine that is Young Heart.
Young Heart from Blondfire is Available everywhere February 11th.
Reviewed By Cher Dunn
Blondfire (Facebook)
Rating 8.1
Bruce Rave recently enjoyed a hang with UK rockers TOY backstage at the famous Echo before their first ever show in Los Angeles. Having been fans of the band since we first saw them live at SXSW 2013, we were stoked to see that TOY’s set at The Echo was an even stronger performance. During Bruce Rave’s interview, the guys talk about how all their live interpretations of songs differ from the album versions, with slower recorded songs being played much faster onstage. They touch on how they love writing and have had a great time hitting major US markets. TOY also spoke about their cool collaboration with Natasha Khan (Bat For Lashes) for “The Bride” and also Tom’s sister Rose who was in The Pipettes. The band will next tour the UK and Europe, then return to US shores in May for Psych Fest in Austin. Have a listen to their interview with Bruce Rave below.
TOY (Official)
Hear Bruce’s “Go Deep With Bruce Rave” weekly new music show on Indie1031/Los Angeles and WSUM-FM/Madison. Details and archived shows can be found on his blog and be sure follow Bruce on Twitter too!
