Image

Track Reviews

MISUN – All For Leyna (Billy Joel Cover)

MISUN_ALL_FOR_LEYNA_COVERART

Hot off the heels of a new 7″ MISUN keep the universe guessing with this 180-degree take on Billy Joel’s “All For Leyna” from 1980’s Glass Houses. Singer Misun from the band is actually a huge Billy Joel fan, which given the band’s eclectic nature and early Joel-esque knack for irresistible left-field pop shouldn’t come as a total surprise. Complete with an a capella breakdown and Nacey’s Baltimore/Jersey inspired club beats, MISUN transform “Leyna” into a 21st century electronic pop anthem. Grab yourself a download below.

Misun maryland (Facebook) (Purchase 7″)

Rating 8.4

brown8

reviewed by
03-08-14

Talos – Tethered Bones

talos

Wow, what a tune by the Cork-based Eoin French aka Talos. “Tethered Bones” has the skeleton of an absolute hit with its incredible production, uncommonly smooth melody and haunting guitar and synths. I am truly blinded by the beauty of this track. Think he can make a quick trip to Austin next week? By Brian Litwin

Talos ireland (Soundcloud)

Rating 9.0

brown93

reviewed by
03-07-14

Premiere: Bedouin – Up All Night

bedouin

The precise focused pensiveness of Cat Power, the windswept far-away aesthetic of Hope Sandoval and the warm at-ease tone of Dusty Springfield are a few introductory aesthetic touchstones for newcomer L.A. artist Bedouin. But rather than a sum of a resume of influences or a one sheet of hyperbolic praise and notions, the worldly well-traveled Bedouin (she grew up admist an amalgamation of different cultures and environments) sings and composes from a broader and, as is evidenced in her music, immensely affecting place that is completely her own. We’re privileged to premiere the stunning “Up All Night” from Bedouin’s forthcoming s/t EP.

Bedouin (Soundcloud)

Rating 8.1

brown8

reviewed by
03-07-14

Premiere: Ida Maria – Sick of You

IdaMaria_AH_DD

Ida Maria is back—in a big way. She’s known for her global hit “I Like You So Much Better When You’re Naked” off of 2008’s Fortress ‘round My Heart. Ida’s 2010 album Katla was superb but under appreciated. During her brief hiatus, Ida overcame an alcohol addiction and has come out blazing on the other side. Her brand new, excellent EP Accidental Happiness is now streaming on SoundCloud and available digitally on iTunes. Ida has always been all about rock and roll, but she’s never hit the hammer harder than she does on this bonus track “Sick of You”. Think melodic retro garage punk at its most wicked. She’s sounds very sick of someone whom she wants to “fuck off”, but the song’s an irresitable fun romp with more hooks in it than a closet. Reviewed By Bruce Rave

Ida Maria: (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!

reviewed by
03-07-14

JUCE – Braindead

JUCE

New faves JUCE channel “Groove Is In The Heart” through a 2014 lens on new single for Speedy Wunderground “Braindead”. On the track, an early 90’s-esque backbeat frames more contemporary synth textures and a female-fronted heavily reverb’d vocal. “Braindead” is due April 7th.

JUCE england: (Facebook(/a>)

Rating: 8.6

brown8

reviewed by
03-06-14

Mayo – Ballin (Prod. Mr. Carmack)

mayo

The easy, deep in the pocket, cruise control flow of Chicago emcee Mayo is a well-matched complement to the breezy smooth production of Mad Decent’s Man in Hawaii Mr. Carmack. We need more. (IS)

Mayo (Soundcloud)

Rating 8.1

reviewed by
03-06-14

Rare Monk – Ain’t No Sunshine (Bill Withers)

raremonksunshine

Fortress Rare Monk takes their rhythm and soul anchored big rock palette to Bill Withers’ classic (of course) “Ain’t No Sunshine”. And while the RM crew spread the tune out and expand its spaces they manage well to maintain propulsive rudiments of the original’s iconic groove. Rare Monk’s “Splice/Sleep Attack” AA-single is out now on our very own B3SCI Records.

Rare Monk oregon (Soundcloud) (Purchase)

Rating 8.4

reviewed by
03-06-14

Son Lux – Easy (Switch Screens) feat. Lorde

Son Lux

First things first, this is not a remix. It’s a whole lot more than that. Son Lux and Lorde have worked together to completely re-create one of the stand out tracks from last years masterful ‘Lanterns’ LP and the results are monstrous. There was a darkness locked inside the original version of “Easy”, which made an attempt break out in the closing 5 seconds but in part two of this story the inner beast really runs amok.

A four track EP aptly named after ‘Alternate Worlds’ featuring this and other re-imaginings of Son Lux’s existing tracks will be available from May 27 here. Reviewed by Nathan Hetherington

Son Lux newyork (Facebook)

Rating 8.0

brown8

reviewed by
03-06-14

Jesse Boykins III – Plain

jesseboykins

“Plain” is the lead single from longtime favorite of the site Jesse Boykins III’s upcoming new Love Apparatus LP. Produced by Machinedrum, “Plain” walks (while still immensely soulful) a decidedly dance-driven lane; a style that Boykins has dabbled with ably in the past. Here, Boykins’s syrupy fluid full-toned vocal does a nice juxtaposition against Machinedrum’s compact almost wholly-self contained instrumental. Love Apparatus is out April 22.

Jesse Boykins III newyork Soundcloud)

Rating: 8.3

brown8

reviewed by
03-05-14

Big Wild – La Brisa

Red Flamingos on a Maldives Beach

Big Wild (great name) hooks up the feel good, “summertime in March”, big vibes on new one “La Brisa”. Blending pitched up major-keyed vocals w/ hooky piano stabs and beachside electronics, “La Brisa” will (guaranteed) make your “March 5th, 2014” way less sucky. Tip to the pros at HD.

Big Wild (Soundcloud)

Rating: 8.6

brown8

reviewed by
03-05-14

Face and Heel – My Medyk

faceheel

On new track “My Medyk”, UK duo Face and Heel do the boy-girl nuvo-R&B/pop thing to near perfection. There’s not a guitar wah, a drum loop, a melodic line out of place on “My Medyk” its that skillfully crafted and streamlined; particularly standout is Sinead McMillan’s soothing flawless alto vocal. Do not miss.

Face+Heel (Facebook)

Rating 8.7

brown8

reviewed by
03-05-14

La Sera – Losing To The Dark

lasera

The indomitable La Sera (Katy Goodman, ex-Vivian Girls) makes a distortion-fueled power pop return w/ “Losing To The Dark”. About the record, Goodman called it, “”I wanted the new La Sera record to sound like Lesley Gore fronting Black Flag” and while (RIP to the great Lesley Gore) “Losing To The Dark” isn’t quite that, it does do well to marry that described 60’s pop melodic dynamic to a bed of turned-up, thin and blustery guitars. Hour of the Dawn is the new record from La Sera and its’ due May 13th on Hardly Art.

La Sera newyork (Facebook) (Hardly Art)

Rating 8.3

brown8

reviewed by
03-05-14