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Track Reviews

Just Kiddin – Ocean Motion

just kiddin

Not kiddin’ “Ocean Motion”, new from housewave act Just Kiddin, has on a little bit of a vibe. “Ocean Motion” is a pretty lush, classy little affair w/ beats that nicely straddle a neat subtlety (as not to go too far), while maintaining enough punch to get yr lady/boy moving in time.

Just Kiddin england (Facebook) (Soundcloud)

Rating 8.2

brown8

reviewed by
06-25-13

Olympic Ayres – Magic

magic

Summer 2013 just called and is a little bummed w/ what y’all herbs have been calling the track of him/her. Not defeated, Mr. 2013 shot us back this glimmering new bit of uptempo synthpop from Aussie duo Olympics Ayres. The Summer 2013 rec’d “Magic” is excerpted from OA’s upcoming “Episode III” release due August 1st.

Olympic Ayres australia (Soundcloud)

Rating 8.2

brown8

reviewed by
06-25-13

Premiere: CLAIRE – Games (Mowskyy Remix)

Soundcloud Remix EP Cover

Munich newcomers Claire ready a new Remix EP for their excellent “Games” single set for release TOMORROW, June 26th. The song is one of our favorites of the year and so we’re excited to premiere this breezy house re-imagining of the track from new DJ/producer Mowskyy. Sample it below.

Grab a FREE download of the track HERE

Claire (Facebook)

Rating 8.5

brown8

reviewed by
06-25-13

Laura Welsh – Cold Front (Russ Chimes Remix)

Laura Welsh - Cold Front (Russ Chimes remix)

Even the most stunning/perfect/shouldn’t be touched sort of tracks as Laura Welsh’s “Cold Front” most certainly is are safe with Russ Chimes. The London-based Chimes preserves all the positive qualities of the on trend original Laura Welsh vocal while switching out it’s mod R&B dark pop instrumental for something a bit more club friendly (read: awesome) with a bigger beat. Chimes 100%.

Russ Chimes (Official)

Rating 8.4

brown8

reviewed by
06-24-13

Snakadaktal – Hung On Tight

Snakadaktal - Hung On Tight

Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. We are party to another winner from Aussie risers Snakadaktal with new track “Hung On Tight”. We loved previous song “Ghost” a lot (maybe our favorite track of the last month) and wow “Hung On Tight” is equally strong. As we highlighted in our review of “Ghost”, the interrelationships between different pieces and parts of melody and the different rhythmic elements in Snakadaktal’s music (and present again here in quality on “Hung On Tight”) is very very special and is indicative of a band populated by highly skilled and well-schooled songwriter(s). Liberation Australia will be releasing Snakadaktal’s debut Sleep In The Water LP on August 5th.

Snakadaktal australia (Facebook)

Rating 8.6

brown8

reviewed by
06-24-13

Joe Goddard & Boris Dlugosch – Step Together

joe goddard EP

The successful-in-his-own-name Hot Chip member Joe Goddard sails through another successful bit of modern dance music w/ the piano stabs-driven “Step Together”. Featuring German producer Boris Dlugosch, “Step Together” is described by Greco-Roman’s (the track’s releasing label) co-founder as “an attempt to make synthesizers sound nice”. Really, the overall of the track has quite the pleasant effect, a something like summertime travelogue shots of the English countryside as taken from trains kind of pleasant (at least to us). Step in the name of love (& together) w/ Goddard’s “Taking Over” EP which is out today.

Joe Goddard (Twitter)

Rating: 8.3

brown8

reviewed by
06-24-13

Stwo – Anna

stwo

Stwo (pronounced like “stew”) out of Paris fixes up a luxury R&B spin on classic Janet Jackson. We couldn’t be more in love.

Stwo (Twitter)

Rating 8.2

brown8

reviewed by
06-24-13

Dent May – Born Too Late

Dent May

Pop songwriting oddball Dent May returns with “Born Too Late” the lead single from the Mississippi-based artist’s third LP, Warm Blanket. Recorded in a (at least according to PR) haunted Victorian mansion in St. Augustine, Florida; May recruited locals to record many of the record’s insturmental bits and bobs. Recalling the 60’s-80’s pop songwriting student blend of artists like Mayer Hawthorne; “Born Too Late” achieves it’s B3 Rec’d status on the very stength of its songwriting. Obviously Mr. May is a bit of a hand here, effortlessly blending varying schools/genres/era of melodic construction into a seamless melange of high quality tunefulness. Warm Blanket is due August 27th.

Dent May mississippi (Facebook)

Rating 8.4

reviewed by
06-24-13

Premiere: Blue & Gold – It’s Only You

blue and Gold

New York newcomers Blue & Gold channel the best and most soulful parts of the classic rock canon w/ brand new track “It’s Only You”. The warmth and care of the melodic stylings and choices of singer Alex Kapelman highlight an instrumental that would be just as much at home on a Black Keys record as it would on a Stax record release; that and the track features a most excellent and most emotive guitar solo (!) where not a single note is out of place or wasted. Check out our premiere of Blue & Gold’s “It’s Only You” below and look for the band’s self-titled EP July 16th. p.s. if you’re in NYC, catch Blue & Gold @ Piano’s on July 17th,

Blue & Gold (Facebook)

Rating 8.1

brown8

reviewed by
06-24-13

As†ronomyy – Don’t Need You

as†ronomyy dont need you

UK no-info-on-the-web band As†ronomyy (their spelling) scores an impressive debut w/ “Don’t Need You”. Soft-touched guitars as played out of a bathroom, delicate yet trapp-y drumms, hushed melodies, “Don’t Need You” is a sound you are certainly acquainted with; however the track’s execution is totally flawless and easily stands on its own as a highlight of its genre/trend.

As†ronomyy (Soundcloud)

Rating: 8.3

brown8

reviewed by
06-24-13

Robby Hunter Band – Treat You Right (feat. GhostWrida​h)

robbie hunter

Straight out of Miami, Robby Hunter Band puts up an ace with “Treat You Right” (feat. GostWridah). An impressive follow up to prior releases, “Hard On Me” and “Corazón”, “Treat You Right” is a nice mix of hip hop, funk and indie styles, all into a perfect slice of beach music in under 3 minutes. By Brian Litwin

Robby Hunter Band (Facebook)

Rating 8.3

brown8

reviewed by
06-21-13

Misun – Promise Me (Cousin Cole & Nacey Edit)

MISUN

The Mighty Misun give summer it’s proper start; dropping TODAY (the summer solstice!) a new 10 track EP of summery bootleg re-fixes of their biggest tracks. Mixed by Cousin Cole & main Misun producer Nacey, the duo fit the great Misun vocal melodies over classic bits of soul, pop & dub. You can sample all 10 sun-drenched boots here.

Misun maryland (Facebook)

Rating 8.2

brown8

reviewed by
06-20-13