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Track Reviews

The Townhouses – Talk (Outerwaves Remix)

thetownhouses

An Aussie remixing an Aussie might be the winning formula now a days. Leigh Hannah, The Townhouses, originally put out the eclectic Diaspora in late November, but is now releasing remixes of some songs. Outerwaves, Brisbane-based Dominic Stephens, took the already beautiful Talk and made it groove. Keeping some of the core elements of the original track (Giorgio Tuma’s vocals and bouncy vibes) and adding an awesome beat with snyth spurts throughout, Outerwaves gives this chill track new life. By Brian Litwin

Outerwaves australia (Facebook)

Rating 8.3

brown8

reviewed by
03-20-13

River & Phoenix – Dreamtime

riverandphoenix

River & Phoenix a/k/a/ Aussie producer Luke Foskey’s sweeping new deep house track “Dreamtime” casts that ideal balance between atmosphere & cinema. R&P sets the track with a soaring female vocal lines filtered through the mix with the correct buoyancy to float on top a dynamic, evocative (& really just plain exotic) instrumental bed. A+

River & Phoenix australia (Facebook)

Rating 8.4

brown8

reviewed by
03-20-13

Chloe Howl – I Wish I Could Tell You

chloehowl

Our one Chloe does not miss. Three tracks in, “I Wish I Could Tell You” is the latest and final release from Chloe’s debut “Rumour” EP, and the young English songstress has credited to her name three gems. The pulled-back “I Wish I Could Tell You” exhibits the same freshness and visceral transparency of Ms. Howl’s first two tracks “Rumour” and “No Strings” albeit in a slightly more accessible and certainly more vulnerable package. We’re loving it.

Chloe Howl – I Wish I Could Tell You

Chloe Howl (Soundcloud)

Rating 8.4

brown8

reviewed by
03-20-13

In The Valley Below – Hymnal

inthevalleybelow

In The Valley Below, whom we featured on a B3SCI Presents gig in L.A. back in July, announce their debut EP “Hymnal”. The somber, Los Angeles at nightfall with the Santa Ana winds rolling in, title track is our pick from the set. You can stream the rest of the (also great EP) on the band’s Soundcloud here.

In The Valley Below (Facebook)

Rating 8.2

brown8

reviewed by
03-20-13

Naughty Boy – La La La (Feat. Sam Smith)

samsmith2

The golden-voiced UK R&B/pop singer Sam Smith connects with UK dance music/Mistajam journeyman Naughty Boy and producer Komi for the uplifting soulful new single “La La La”. Hat tip to our mates at DoML for the track.

Naughty Boy england (Twitter)

Rating 8.3

brown93

reviewed by
03-20-13

Radiation City – Fly Me To The Moon (Astrud Gilberto Version)

radiationcity

Portland band Radiation City drop off a playfully soulful new cover of the Astrud Gilberto bossa nova-pop version of “Fly Me To The Moon”. Adding washes of both reverbed organ and beautiful female-voiced harmonies, Radiation City’s version is not only transportive (close your eyes and it’s early Sunday morning in Belém) but it’s also fresh and unique and well justified in its continued existence as a “Fly Me To The Moon Cover”.

Radiation City oregon (Facebook)

Rating 8.3

reviewed by
03-19-13

MeLo-X – Handle It

Image by Rog Walker

We like MeLo-X best when he’s at his, well…mellowest. The dimmer switch R&B of “Handle It”, which is MeLo’s rework of M-Phazes’ “Somebody That I Used To Know” remix (see if you can find the original in the track!), adeptly alternates between glide and simmer for much of its 4:14 duration with our narrator/producer ably navigating those changes.

MeLo-X newyork: (Twitter)

Rating: 8.3

brown8

reviewed by
03-19-13

IYES – Glow

iyes

IYES, a duo out of Brighton UK, impress again with newest track “Glow”. The electronic-informed pop song is 100% fire from track start to stop, including a chorus hook so strong, you (or I, the world at large) may be altogether powerless to resist it.

IYES england (Soundcloud)

Rating 8.5

brown93

reviewed by
03-19-13

Berner – Me & You (Feat. Suga Free)

berner

OG Berner breaks off something fresh for yr girl to ride to with the cooled out viber “Me & You”.

Berner (Twitter)

Rating 8.1

brown8

reviewed by
03-19-13

Rhye – 3 Days (Saux Remix)

Rhye

Rising Dutch producer and freshly minted b3 fave Saux turns in an easy breezy new _____wave remix of Rhye’s track “3 Days”. We are loving it.

SAUX (Facebook)

Rating 8.4

brown8

reviewed by
03-19-13

Rave’s Fave: Black Rebel Motorcycle Club – Hate The Taste

It’s been awhile since we’ve heard from Black Rebel Motorcycle Club. Luckily enough, their new Spector At the Feast album drops March 19 and just as our SXSW recoveries are underway. It’s a typical strong album for the BRMC crew, sometimes fast and hard, sometimes more mellow and on the slow side. Fans appreciate both styles from the band. “Hate the Taste” from the album is emerging for me as an early fave, and I know they’ll kill this one live as well. By Bruce Rave

BRMC – Hate The Taste (Official)

* Links and playlists from Rave’s weekly new music show can be found on his blog and be sure follow Bruce on Twitter too!

reviewed by
03-10-13

James Blake – Digital Lion

james blake

It seems James Blake has been in a bit of a battle with himself. As ballads and beautiful electronic pieces collide with the more minimal more angular side of Blake, the one consistent thread of his output thusfar is the high quality of his work. Re-born with last month’s gorgeous paean “Retrograde”, the Brian Eno-infused “Digital Lion” veers more toward The Obtuse Blake. Bits of J.B.’s syrupy croon and trademark rhythm structures are still there, still intact. It’s still Blake. By Phoebe Anne Severin

James Blake england: (Official) (Label) (Myspace)

Rating 8.5

brown8

reviewed by
03-08-13