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Blaenavon – Prague

Blaenavon

UK teenagers Blaenavon (all members of the band are 17) impress again with new track “Prague”. Previewed here from the Hampshire trio’s up coming “KOSO” EP, “Prague” is as potent as it is emotionally grinding. There’s a reality to “Prague” that for rock music of any geography (UK or otherwise) that is especially refreshing and in 2013 increasingly rare.

Blaenavon (Facebook)

Rating 9.1

brown93

reviewed by
08-01-13

Interview with DE$iGNATED

DE$iGNATED

DE$iGNATED is the new project from young and talented electronic duo Nima Bazrcar and Rory Bowyer. First hitting the scene with their single “Valentine” featuring vocals from Kyiki of Crystal Fighters, the UK-based pair return with a brand new track called “The Cure”. Sample “The Cure” below and check out this recent Q&A with DE$iGNATED and B3SCI correspondent Brian Litwin.

B3SCI: There’s not much known about DE$iGNATED. Can you introduce yourselves to the readers and tell us a little about how DE$iGNATED came to be?

Nima: Hi my name is Nima, I’m 18 years old and I live in South London, I am 1/2 of DE$iGNATED.

Rory: Yo, my name is Rory, I am 18 too and I live in Hampshire, I am the other half of DE$iGNATED.

Nima: DE$iGNATED started last summer, when I thought it would be a cool idea to start a duo with my friend Rory (who was living down my road at this time) as we was always chilling together, making beats listening to the same music.

B3SCI: I love this time of year when almost every weekend there is a different festival happening somewhere around the world. Is there one in particular that both of you think stands above the rest?

Nima: I’m not too sure as I haven’t really experienced a festival, Gottwood & Outlook look very good though, I would love to go to Outlook next year.

Rory: I haven’t been to alot of fesivals, but I’ve enjoyed attending Reading festival yearly.

B3SCI: Being so young, have you both always exclusively created electronic music? Have you ever wanted to experiment with another particular instrument or style of music?

Nima: I was in a band called “KINGS OF THE CITY” playing keys and co-producing since I was 13, I’m dropped from the image of the band and I dont play keys for them anymore as I am concentrating on this project but I still do co-production fo them. Before that I started making grime when I was 11 and never stopped making tunes really. Rory comes from a band background, playing in a couple indie bands (last one called KoHo Knights) until taking up production a year and a half ago. I miss Rory’s band gigs, they were really fun.

B3SCI: How does your collaboration process as a DJ/Producer duo work? Is it easier for you two to create a track together or separately?

Nima: We tend to create tracks separatley, rather then together, we find it easier this way as we are both producing in our bedrooms and so it isn’t the best enviroment.

B3SCI: We were blown away with “Valentine”. Is there a story behind the lyrical and musical genesis of the track?

Nima: Erm sort of, it was one of the only tracks me and Rory have fully created together in a room, it was created last summer when we was starting up DE$iGNATED in our first batch of tunes, it was meant to be an instrumental only track with chopped vocals, but I thought it was right to be restructured and have a singer fit on it. The lyrical aspect comes solely down to Kyiki on this one, she knew where she wanted to go with it and I was very happy with the end product.

B3SCI: Who brought in Kyiki from Crystal Fighters to work on “Valentine”?

Nima: We got hooked up with Kyiki from a very nice and helpful A&R from my college, I go to the Academy Of Contemporary Music in Guildford and they have been very helpful towards the project and I am greatful for that, Rory is going there from September too so we should be together more.

B3SCI: We also recently interviewed producer Kyogi, who threw together a great reworking of “Valentine”. Can we expect more tracks between the two of you?

Nima: We’ve talked about collaborations before, but decided on its not the right time at the moment, so maybe one day in the future!

B3SCI: What’s DE$iGNATED listening to right now?

Nima: Hybrid Theory’s “So High” is my jam right now, I have quite a wide musical taste but I’ve been pretty addicted to garage for a long time.

Rory: Been listening to alot of Kaytranada, I’m mainly listening to alot of old school garage at the moment.

B3SCI: In the ever-evolving genre of electronic music, is there anything that you guys anticipate as the next ‘big sound’ to catch wave?

Nima: Post Future HouseStep.

B3SCI: If you had your choice of having anyone come in to remix one of your tracks, who would it be and why?

Nima: Oooh there’s a few people, I think if I wanted anyone right now for a remix it would be Flume, You never know what to expect with his songs, they are truly amazing.

Rory: Two Inch Punch would be sick cause his remixes are sick and that.

B3SCI: What does the future look like for DE$iGNATED?

Nima: Hopefully looking well, I live by the saying “hard work beats talent, when talent doesn’t work hard”, as long as we work hard enough I think we can achieve our goals and aspirations with this project.

DE$iGNATED england (Facebook)

reviewed by
08-01-13

RAVE’S FAVE: Pet Shop Boys – Love Is A Bourgeois Construct

pet-shop-boys-electric-elysium-promo-photo-black-and-white-hats-600x450

Electro tastemakers are calling Electric the most impressive Pet Shop Boys album in decades and I’d agree. Their #3 debut on the UK album charts might not surprise you, but their #26 US debut was their best in twenty years. “Love Is A Bourgeois Construct” shows the guys still capable of a hooky dance romp that could have come during their prime in the 80’s, with deep lyrics to boot. By Bruce Rave

Pet Shop Boys – Love Is A Bourgeois Construct

Pet Shop Boys (Facebook)

* 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
08-01-13

Bipolar Sunshine – Fire (FTSE FUCKED IT MIX)

bipolar sunshine ftse remix

UK artist Bipolar Sunshine’s great “Fire” gets blessed w/ the “hand of FTSE” on this latest remix winner from the fast rising artist/producer.

FTSE england (Soundcloud)

Rating 8.2

brown8

reviewed by
07-31-13

Sailor & I – Tough Love (Pablo Nouvelle Remix)

Sailor & I - Tough Love (Pablo Nouvelle Remix)

We can’t get enough of this (and we’re going to go with “godlike” for the genre) new edit of one of 2012’s best track’s Sailor & I’s “Tough Love” by Swiss-based producer Pablo Nouvelle. We’ve not been able to get this mix off repeat all day.

Pablo Nouvelle (Soundcloud)

Rating 8.6

reviewed by
07-31-13

Kadija Kamara – Loving From The Past

Kadija Kamara

Check out the sweet as sugar vocal stylings of UK soulstress Kadija Kamara and the crisp nostalgia of the 60’s/70’s R&B-informed yet still modern (and aptly titled) “Loving From the Past”. Hat tip SoulBounce

Kadija Kamara england (Facebook)

Rating 8.4

brown8

reviewed by
07-31-13

Erlend Øye – La Prima Estate

Erlend Øye - La Prima Estate

Mr. Kings of Convenience a/k/a The Whitest Boy Alive a/k/a Ya Boy Erlend’s back w/ a new track and it’s….in Italian! The Norwegian Mr. Øye moved to Italia last year and as perhaps a postcard from his new place of residence is the Whitest Boy Alive meets Romano’s Macaroni Grill sound of “La Prima Estate”. Give the track yr ears below.

Erlend Øye norway (Facebook)

Rating 8.3

brown8

reviewed by
07-31-13

DIANA – Perpetual Surrender (Four Tet Remix)

diana Perpetual Surrender (Four Tet Remix)

…And the internet lost its mind. DIANA’s already great track for “Perpetual Surrender” gets a spectacular brilliantly and wonderfully percussive new mix from UK electronic old hand Four Tet.

Four Tet england (Soundcloud)

Rating 8.2

brown8

reviewed by
07-31-13

RAVE’S FAVE: The Jim Jones Revue — Where da Money Go

jimjonesrevue500

You know that you will always get 110% from The Jim Jones Revue, whether it’s live or in studio. Even the one-note piano intro on this song will stop you in your tracks, and that’s only the beginning. Check it out, but not right before bedtime because it will probably keep you up. “Where da Money Go” comes from their new album This Savage Heart. By Bruce Rave

The Jim Jones Revue — Where da Money Go

Jim Jones Revue (Facebook)

* 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
07-30-13

Blitz The Ambassador – African In New York

Blitz The Ambassador - African In New York

Ghanaian-born New York MC offers up the nicely layered/100% bombs/aptly titled “African in New York”. Do not sleep.

Blitz The Ambassador (Facebook)

Rating 8.2

brown8

reviewed by
07-29-13

The Red Lights – Chaperone

the red lights

Wow. Australian band The Red Lights new single “Chaperone” is very very good. Though (in a very good way) “Chaperone” almost feels 3 minutes 28 of non-stop choruses (the track’s actual chorus is one of our favorites of the year), “Chaperone” doesn’t lack for variation and dynamics; ably maneuvering between the quieter bits to the song’s more hectic chorus with ease. The Red Lights as they make their introductions to America are definitely a band to keep ears on.

The Red Lights australia (Soundcloud)

Rating 8.3

brown8

reviewed by
07-29-13

Rick Ross – I Wonder Why

rickross

The MMG Bawse snarls through an intense commentary of the Trayvon Martin trial/decision on latest Mastermind release “I Wonder Why”. Ross, who is one of the best pickers of beats in rap, selects for a cold high-drama rumbler for “I Wonder Why” that is as equally intimidating as it is impactful. We love “Aston Martin Music” but Rozay is at his best on these grimier, socially current sort of records. A++

Rick Ross (Facebook)

Rating 8.3

brown8

reviewed by
07-29-13