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Track Reviews

Bombay Bicycle Club – It’s Alright Now

Bombay Bicycle Club

Bombay Bicycle Club are one of those few bands in Indieverse 2013 that continously push themselves stylistically. The band, too, have proven their ability to innovate while still managing to be tuneful; to still write great songs in the context of new sound and arrangement structures. “It’s Alright Now” with it’s magnetic hypnotic vocal hooks and totally fresh melodic rhythmic elements sounds totally brand new and is off a level of originality that demands attention. “It’s Alright Now” is the first single from Bombay Bicycle Club’s fourth LP So Long, See You Tomorrow

Bombay Bicycle Club england: (Official)

Rating: 8.4

brown8

reviewed by
12-13-13

LIZ – All Them Boys

LIZ

The first lady of Mad Decent, LIZ returns today w/ a fresh new track. “All Them Boys” is produced by Hawaii’s best trap producer Mr. Carmack and fellow Decent artist Colta. Built on the back of the same 90’s R&B pulse of the great “U Over Them”, with some more early 90’s house rhythms thrown in. Well done.

LIZ california (Facebook)

Rating 8.3

brown8

  • reviewed by
    12-13-13

    Marika Hackman – Skin (Feat. Sivu)

    marika-electronic

    The beautifully plantive new tune from Marika Hackman “Skin” is the second A side to the also great “I Hold”; both tracks make up a combined 7″ from Marika and another B3 fave Sivu. On “Skin”, the duo trade captivating/somber/great melodic lines over a quietly strummed acoustic chords creating an atmosphere that is equally magnetic and moving.

    Marika Hackman (Facebook)

    Rating 8.0234

    brown8

    reviewed by
    12-12-13

    Bad Suns – Salt

    bad suns

    “Salt” is excerpted from SoCal band Bad Suns’ forthcoming “Transpose” EP. A neatly compact bit of rhythm-driven indie pop, “Salt” succeeds especially on its very hooky bridges and choruses (try not getting “I raaannn til’ I couldn’t, and I scceeeamed til my voice was gone” stuck in your head) and its very clever and effective use of harmony in at all the right turns in the track. “Transpose” is out Jan. 21st on Vagrant.

    Bad Suns california (Facebook)

    Rating 8.1

    brown8

    reviewed by
    12-12-13

    Rochelle Jordan – Follow Me

    Rochelle-Jordan

    The mega-talented Torontonian vocalist Rochelle Jordan releases her first new material in nearly a year w/ the vibed-down ambient R&B of “Follow Me”. Ms. Jordan casts here a more confident, melodically more sophisticated line on “Follow Me”. Her Pressure project, and particularly “Shotgun”, were great but the growth indicated on “Follow Me” suggests Rochelle is primed to breakout.

    Rochelle Jordancanada: (Facebook)

    Rating: 8.7

    brown8

    reviewed by
    12-12-13

    Wake Owl – Candy

    wake owl

    “Candy” is the new one from Canadian band Wake Owl. An engaging mix of classic soul-leaning indie pop & the melodically sensibility of big acts like Portugal. The Man and Cage The Elephant, “Candy” is the caliber of track that can catapult bands. The Private World of Paradise is due on Vagrant, March 4th.

    Wake Owlcanada: (Facebook)

    Rating: 8.7

    brown8

    reviewed by
    12-11-13

    Max Cooper – Adrift (Feat. Kathrin deBoer)

    max cooper

    For “Adrift”, the first single from electronic artist Max Cooper’s debut Human LP, the UK-based producer crafts a cinematic, heavy drama, near perfect piano and complex rhythm-driven instrumental (we can’t stress how strong that component of the track is on its own). On vocals is Belleruche’s Kathrin deBoer who’s astral, otherworldly vocal hits the twists, turns, and starts of Cooper’s instrumental at all the right points; resulting in a track is not only light years ahead of its genre and peers but world’s away too (as in not of this world but of one with superior electronic music).

    Max Cooper (Facebook)

    Rating 8.0234

    brown8

    reviewed by
    12-11-13

    Ella Eyre – Love Me Like You

    Ella+Eyre

    Megaton-voiced Ella Eyre’s Two-Inch Punch produced “Deeper” is out in four days (Dec. 15th) and today the English singer drops another gem in the form of the UK bass/R&B-hybrid (think of her collaborations with Rudimental) of “Love Me Like You”.

    Ella Eyre england (soundcloud)

    Rating 8.0

    brown93

    reviewed by
    12-11-13

    Tara Carosielli – The Opposite Game

    Tara Carosielli - The Opposite Game

    “The Opposite Game” is new from UK R&B artist Tara Carosielli. Of a similar DNA to sweet-voiced/deeper-than-deep songstresses of the moment like Jhene Aiko and Tinashe, Tara’s great float on top the mix vocal juxtaposed against a slowed/throwed sample & the instrumental’s deceptively dark pulse “The Opposite Game”‘s sound demands the same attention as the aforementioned Jhene, Tinashe, SZA & a run of others. Don’t miss.

    Tara Carosielli england (Facebook)

    Rating 8.0

    brown93

    reviewed by
    12-11-13

    Disclosure – January (Kaytranada Edition)

    kaytranada

    Pairing two of the hottest acts of 2013 is always smart, especially when its Canadian Kaytranada remixing London duo Disclosure’s “January”. To put it into a formula Disclosure + Kaytranada = Internet Explosion. Taking the original laid-back, deep house track, Kaytranada offers a soulful spin that’s both funky and slick. This and other remixes will be on the Settle Remixes album out December 17th. Reviewed by Brian Litwin

    KAYTRANADAcanada: (Facebook)

    Rating: 8.7

    brown8

    reviewed by
    12-11-13

    Rave’s Fave: TOY – Endlessly

    toy

    Brighton’s TOY is a band that we on the B3SCI team have followed closely in 2013. TOY’s SXSW shows were a powerfully played success and their self-titled debut EP was definitely a good listen. Songs from their Join the Dots album, coming in January, seem different in structure and less uptempo, but the band’s significant growth will be on display, especially if “Endlessly” serves indication. It took me a couple of listens but I’m hooked. “Endlessly” has a memorable chorus and a real psychedelic feel to it. Singer Tom Dougall, formerly of the Joe Lean & the Jing Jang Jong band, has a voice that reminds me of The Church’s Steve Kilby. His vocals work beautifully on this track. The synths nicely augment the dirty guitars, and an unobtrusive instrumental break suddenly explodes into a blast that this band will nail live. After dealing with visa issues that prohibited additional touring in 2013, the band will be play a strong set of January shows in American major markets. See ’em if you can! Reviewed By Bruce Review

    TOY – Endlessly

    TOY england (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
    12-11-13

    Merriment – Backwards

    merriment

    Brother and sister duo, Merriment, create a wholesome sound in “Backwards” that is unassuming, yet familiar. Christie Dupree admirably shapes haunting melodies without straying into something trite, while Collin Dupree compliments the nostalgic air with indie/folk guitar elements. Though they are often compared to their sibling band Eisley, it is clear that Merriment is moving forward on a road entirely their own. Reviewed By Gabrielle Sukich

    Merriment texas (Facebook)

    Rating 8.5

    brown8

    reviewed by
    12-11-13