Image

Track Reviews

Being There – 17

beingthere

Being There tick all the right boxes for UK band to watch. They’ve got a great lead single (17), they’ve got a sound (think hazy 90’s alternative chopped up with some more modern pop-focused influences) that while relevant to the current UK indie scene is still unique enough to set them a neccessary length apart from it, and they’ve got BUZZ (NME, BBC Radio, the UK blogosphere are all in support). Check out the “Boys Don’t Cry-y” lead track and vid for “17” below and let us know what you think.

Being There england (Bandcamp)

Rating 8.1

brown8

reviewed by
03-24-12

Only Real – The Drivethrough (Feat. Childhood)

onlyreal

Yeah, so we scoured the internet, searched wide and far, etc and came up empty on information about the artists involved in this track. Obviously from the accent it sounds like Childhood is of some UK isles extraction and so we’re throwing a soft bet out there that Only Real is British too. (EDIT: We found his Soundcloud, our dude is from London.) Identity verification issues aside “The Drivethough” is a great UK pop/hip-hop track you need to be listening to. Listen.

Only Real england (Soundcloud)

Rating 8.2

brown8

reviewed by
03-24-12

Stalley – Hammers & Vogues (Feat. Currensy)

stalley

Last time Stalley and Spitta linked up was for the awesome “Address” which was one of our favorite tracks of 2010. The two MCs hook up again here on the smooth jazz-inflected “Hammers & Vogues” which will appear on Stalley’s upcoming debut LP Savage Journey to the American Dream. The soft rhodes, hushed hi-hats breed beat on “Hammers & Vogues” is the sort of thing $$$$ could rap over in his sleep (or high) (decide which of these two are true) & is the sort of beat that’s right square in Stalley’s wheelhouse too. “H&V”‘s not quite as good as “Address” but it still knocks pretty nicely.

Stalley ohio (Facebook)

Rating 8.2

brown8

reviewed by
03-24-12

Avicii – Last Dance

avicii2

It’s that “special time of the year” when the world’s indie EDM glitterati descend on Austin Miami for SXSW the Winter Music Conference. Avicii’s playing the Ultra main stage tomorrow night and he’s got a little (if not the only) something special to drop into his headlining mix, it’s a brand new tune and it’s called “Last Dance”. Get it girl.

Avicii sweden (Facebook)

Rating 8.2

brown8

reviewed by
03-23-12

Bassnectar – Vava Voom (Feat. Lupe Fiasco)

lupebassnectar

The internets have been buzzing about this Bassnectar/Lupe collab all week. Teasers, previews, blog promos, etc, etc, the promotional build-up has been extensive. So how’s the track stack up? First, it doesn’t sound really at all like anything we thought it would. (which is probably a good thing.) With its HEAVY bass bang, slowed vocal chop ups, and beefily synthed arpeggios, the track’s pedigree is more Dirty South rap than EDM, L.A.S.E.R.S. or whatever else. Swerve to it.

Bassnectar california (Facebook)

Rating 8.3

brown8

reviewed by
03-23-12

Rita Ora – R.I.P. (Delta Heavy Remix)

ritaora

Ruh roh. Roc Nation’s new Young Queen, Rita Ora has been fitted with a Drake-written Chase & Status-produced first single in “R.I.P.”. Here, up and coming UK up and comers Delta Heavy sully up that Roc $$$$ shine a bit with his new mix for “R.I.P.” Delta Heavy are producing at a high level and this “R.I.P” mix is a further A+ in the duo’s output.

Delta Heavy england (Facebook)

Rating 8.3

brown8

reviewed by
03-23-12

RAVE’S FAVES: Miles Kane – First Of My Kind

By Bruce Rave

mileskane2

Finally the “other” half of the Last Shadow Puppets has a solo album about to drop. Miles Kane turned down a chance to join his mates in Arctic Monkeys because he is a front man at heart. His prior band, The Rascals, showed promise a few years ago, but it was the collaboration with Alex Turner that Miles is best known for. He has written sweet pop songs all along, but “First Of My Kind” has a Last Shadow Puppet feel about it. That’s a good thing.

Miles Kane england (Facebook)

Check out Bruce’s “Go Deep” show on Fridays 1-3 pm Pacific, 4-6 pm Eastern, 9-11pm GMT. Also listen to past shows at Bruce’s blog and follow Bruce on Twitter.

reviewed by
03-22-12

Bondax – Just Us

bondax

And we just found our new favorite band. With the crazy good weather we’ve had on the East Coast this week, the usually reserved for summer 90’s soft R&B bangers (KP & Envyi, Total, Something for the People, etc) have been raining down all over b3sci HQ the last few days. So, Lancaster UK dance duo Bondax (who are definitely painting, at least partially, from that “My Love Is The Shhhhh” palette) are fitting nicely into our current 85 degrees in March quiet storm tip. If you’re not up on these guys yet, do not sleep, Bondax are serious.

Bondax england (Facebook)

Rating 8.5

brown8

reviewed by
03-22-12

RAVE’S FAVES: POND. – Fantastic Explosion of Time

By Bruce Rave

pond

As Day 3 of SXSW gets under way, Pond are by far my most pleasant shock. Maybe pleasant isn’t the word because these guys simply blew us out of the state. The last thing you would expect is that this is a side project for the drummer and bass player of Tame Impala. This fave track makes you expect a hard garage live feel, but they blend that with the power and instrumental parts of the best 70’s and 80’s metal bands. They came out so intense that many of us initially wondered whether it was the same band. The music shredded, there was always something happening visually, including singer Paisley Adams literally hanging from the rafters. See them when you can.

POND. australia (Facebook)

Check out Bruce’s “Go Deep” show on Fridays 1-3 pm Pacific, 4-6 pm Eastern, 9-11pm GMT. Also listen to past shows at Bruce’s blog and follow Bruce on Twitter.

reviewed by
03-22-12

Swizz Beatz – Street Knock (Feat. A$AP Rocky) (Prod. AraabMUZIK)

swizzbeatz

AraabMUZIK is ON FIRE! Swizz Beatz is not a great rapper but with support from AM’s producing-out-of-his-mind level beat he sounds at least competent here (if not enjoyable). The hipster hammer A$AP Rocky is on the feature here and easily holds up his part of the song with a fresh set of rhymes.

Swizz Beatz newyork (Facebook)

Rating 8.3

brown8

reviewed by
03-22-12

Electric Guest – This Head I Hold (Acoustic)

electricguest

Check out this recently cut acoustic version of Electric Guest’s big hit “This Head I Hold”. You can really hear Danger Mouse’s (who produced the whole EG LP) hand in the melody with song pulled back like this. Give it your attention below.

Electric Guest california (Facebook)

Rating 8.3

brown8

reviewed by
03-22-12

Labrinth – Wildfire (SBTRKT)

labrinth2

Labrinth rolled through Zane Lowe’s Maida Vale studio yesterday and in addition to laying down ace live versions of “Last Time” and “Sweet Riot” dropped this great take on SBTRKT’s “Wildfire” jam from last year. Lab starts the cover slow on the roll with smooth electronics and subtle bass wobbles only to blow the track up in its final half with big guitars and heavy rock drums. Somehow it all works. Get a sample below.

Labrinth england (Facebook)

Rating 8.3

brown8

reviewed by
03-22-12