Absolutely. love. it. The power, focus, content, killer instinct, conviction; everything about the Salaam Remi-produced “Clocks” is right, we need more of this in rap, hip hop, MUSIC right now. We can’t not stress enough how massive a talent this girl is. Kat Dahlia’s My Garden LP is due in February.
Kat Dahlia 
(Facebook)
Rating 8.3
Ireland’s Strypes have been gigging around the UK nonstop, having played over 200 gigs. Their debut album finally drops in the UK this September, and it’s produced by the legendary Chris Thomas (Sex Pistols, Pretenders, Roxy Music, Pulp, so many more). Their new track “What A Shame” is consistent with the high-speed garage music we’ve heard from the band so far, but with just a bit more polish. It’s also one of their catchiest originals so far. Expect this new album to contain the a few cover songs, as the band continue to pay homage to many of their favorite songs and artists. The plan is for The Strypes to hit US shores early in 2014. Keep an eye out, because they’re one of the best new live bands. I hung out with the band in England back in May during TGE. Check out our chat here.
The Strypes — What A ShameThe Strypes 
(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!
Nashville-based soul/American/indie (lol, whatever any of that actually means) band Those Darlins return with the immensely affecting and infinitely soulful “Oh God” from the band’s upcoming Blur The Line LP. We are loving it.
Those Darlins – Oh GodThose Darlins 
(Official)
Rating 8.0
Society are (and we mean this in a totally complimentary way) in the tradition of many great UK bands (anywhere on a spectrum between The Verve on one side to Portishead on the other) that follow a basic formula of a rhythm section rooted in soul & R&B + elements borrowed from the production of hip hop & rap + vibed-out love lorn vocal lines. “14 Hours” marries a dusty 60’s soul backbeat w/ a perfectly pitched female-sung gospel/R&B sample and singer Jamie Girdler’s gritty deep in the mix vocal. “14 Hours” is out September 9th on Angular Recordings.
Society 
(Soundcloud)
Rating 8.2
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
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 ConstructPet 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!
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 (Soundcloud)
Rating 8.2
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
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 
(Facebook)
Rating 8.4
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 
(Facebook)
Rating 8.3
…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 (Soundcloud)
Rating 8.2
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 GoJim 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!
