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Apparatjik Presents: Lowell – Shake Him Off

Collaborative supergroup Apparatijk presents Canadian singer songwriter Lowell in her highly anticipated debut mini-album If You Can Solve This Jumble, out on October 29th. “Shake Him Off” is well textured and enthusiastically dark with Lowell’s experimental pots-and-pans percussion (pre-recorded in her Toronto bedroom) and sharp empowering vocal mantra. Also be sure to check out her homemade outsider art video below. By Erin Feathers

APPARATJIK PRESENTS: Lowell – Shake Him Off

Lowell canada (Facebook)

Rating 8.1

brown8

reviewed by
10-28-12

Colour The Atlas – Snow

Colour The Atlas will be releasing their debut EP in late November. Lately we’ve been immersed in the band’s unique blend of indie pop with tasty synths and grabbing boy-girl vocals. “Snow” leads off the EP offering an anticipatory introduction to a band with a bright future yet to come.

Colour The Atlas – Snow

The Colour Atlas england (Facebook)

Rating 8.5

brown93

reviewed by
10-24-12

Bat For Lashes – The Haunted Man [LP]

It’s no secret that the first two studio albums from Bat For Lashes, Fur and Gold and Two Suns, enjoyed plenteous universal acclaim. Some critics have seemed a bit disappointed with Bat For Lashes most recent and third album The Haunted Man, yet there are many bright spots on the release. Focusing more pointed attention on her vocals, and backing off beats and bass lines, Natasha Khan gives a beautiful performance, and particularly on the album’s opening track “Lilies”. Natasha’s voice soars over the mystical rhythmic layers and steady drum beats throughout The Hunted Man. Khan has cited the album as being inspired in part by a 1970’s British drama known as “Ryan’s Daughter”, and Bat For Lashes ushers executes on the paralleled and psychologically haunting themes with a trademark elegance. By Brian Litwin

Bat For Lashes england (Facebook)

Rating 8.0

brown93

reviewed by
10-24-12

The Raveonettes – Young and Cold

Some tracks you just can’t stop listening too. The lead track off The Raveonettes new Observator album has been wearing through our hard drive (if that’s possible). “Young and Cold” yields one of our favorites to date from the Raves with it’s simple duet and singalong a caliber melody. Do yourself a favor and check out the full hauntingly sweet spectrum of the Raveonettes latest Observator album.

The Raveonettes – Young and Cold

The Raveonettes denmark (Official) (Twitter)

Rating 8.4

reviewed by
10-23-12

LIPS – Super Rich Kid (Frank Ocean Cover)

New Zealand electro-poptress LIPS hops on the Frank Ocean caravan of covers with this latest playful take on “Super Rich Kid”. Let her airy interpretation and attention to melody carry you away to somewhere more pleasant, somewhere fitting for a super rich kid. All aboard! Infinite cover stops up next.

LIPS – Super Rich Kids (Frank Ocean Cover)

The Black Seeds newzealand (Facebook)

Rating 8.0

brown8

reviewed by
10-19-12

Jhameel – Thinking About You (Frank Ocean Cover)

Jhameel offers this latest new take on “Thinking About You”. A fine choice for his tenor with an interesting pizzicato rework to go along. Check out the track below.

Jhameel – Thinking About You (Frank Ocean Cover)

Jhameel california (Facebook)

Rating 8

brown8

reviewed by
10-18-12

Peter and Kerry – Split For The City

“Split For The City” is the new single from London duo Peter and Kerry. We first introduced the band with their track “Knees” as a favorite of ours in early 2011, and it’s evident the band has kept busy conjuring up more delectable pop tracks of the finest quality. The complementing back and fourth vocals of Peter Lyons and Kerry Leatham is engaging, like story telling with a saccharine hook that you can’t resist. Grab “Split For The City” on the group’s forthcoming debut album La Trimouille available November 26th via Tape Club/Believe.

Peter and Kerry (Soundcloud)

Rating 8.2

brown8

reviewed by
10-18-12

Daughter – Run

“Run” is the b-side to Daughter’s new single for “Smother” (which is equally mindblowing).

Daughter – Run

Daughter (Facebook) (Label)

Rating 8.5

reviewed by
10-16-12

Steffaloo – Can’t You See

We’ve been fans of L.A. singer Steffaloo for a while now (mostly through her collaborations with other artists). Here she takes the lead on beautiful new single “Can’t You See”, which will be on her Would You Stay LP (due next week). Steffaloo is a really special singer with an outstanding capacity to focus intense bodies of emotion into spare and simple melodies and phrasing.

Steffaloo – Can’t You See

Steffaloo california (Facebook)

Rating 8.4

reviewed by
10-16-12

Thus:Owls – White Night

“White Night” comes to us via Stockholm collective Thus:Owls. We haven’t been able to stop listening to this. The song’s pop sensibilities and pensive strings serenade us in a way not reminiscent of much anything we’ve heard since a release like Elysium by The Velvet Teen. It’s a pretty undeniable night-cap for any music fan capable of becoming entrenched in a well crafted melancholy. Thus:Owls sophomore new album Harbours is available now via Avalanche/Hoob Records.

Thus:Owls – White Night

Thus:Owls sweden (Facebook)

Rating 8.7

brown8

reviewed by
10-15-12

RAVE’S FAVE: San Cisco – Awkward

This near-perfect garage pop tune stormed Australia last year and wound up #7 for 2011 on the highly-watched Triple J Hottest 100. San Cisco are uber-young and come from the Aussie town of Freemantle. If you are hooked on hooks, you will probably love the clean guitar intro as well as the boy/girl interchange on the vocals. Awkward is the title of their EP, which drops in the US October 23. They will be at CMJ this week and then will celebrate their record release next Tuesday at The Echo in Los Angeles. By Bruce Rave

San Cisco – Awkward

San Cisco (Facebook)

*Check out Bruce’s Moheak Radio “Go Deep” show on Sunday nights 7-9 pm Pacific, 10-12 am Eastern, 3-5 am GMT. Also, for the benefit of you Europeans the show will now be replayed Wednesday mornings 2-4a Pacific/5 -7a Eastern, so they too can hear it at a civilized time. Listen to past shows at Bruce’s blog and follow Bruce on Twitter.

reviewed by
10-15-12

Gallant – Die Young (Ke$ha Cover)

New York singer Gallant and producer Felix Snow link up for an absolute must hear collaboration. The two restyle Ke$ha’s lukewarm-performing “Die Young” single into an after hours R&B slow burner. Felix Snow’s production choices are especially top class here; the selections in the drum tones and harmonics in the support chord voicings are really special. This cover is BEAUTIFUL. Do not miss it.

Gallant – Die Young (Ke$ha Cover)

Gallant (Soundcloud(/a>)

Rating 8.7

brown8

reviewed by
10-15-12