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RAVE’S FAVES: Battles – My Machines (Feat. Gary Numan)

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The band Battles just released their anticipated second album, and it turned out their name took on a deeper meaning when their lead singer and founder left the band during the recording process. The remaining members left the vocal parts open and then recruited guest singers. Icon Gary Numan was down for it, and thus “My Machines” was born. It’s got that crazy energy and imaginative playing that the band is known for. Contributed by Bruce Rave

Battles – My Machines (feat. Gary Numan)

Battles newyork: (Official) (Twitter)

Catch Bruce on Moheak Radio Fridays 1-3pm PST

reviewed by
06-30-11

Damon Albarn – The Reigning Queen

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“The Reigning Queen” is the latest sample from Damon Albarn’s forthcoming Dr. Dee opera. This stripped down acoustic track is bummed out melancholic Albarn at his sorrowful sad old geezer best. Peep game below.

Damon Albarn – The Reigning Queen

Damon Albarn england: (Twitter)

Rating: 8.0

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06-30-11

T H E S L O W D O W N – Sex

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Manchester is the gift that keeps on giving. T H E S L O W D O W N are the latest Mancs to surface from the region and like their recent peers (WU LYF, Airship, etc.) the band seems rife with 00’s American indie rock influence. Here’s one to watch out for.

T H E S L O W D O W N – Sex

T H E SL O W D O W N england:

Rating: 8.2
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reviewed by
06-30-11

Lucy Rose – Gamble Like I Used To

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Listening to “Gamble Like I Used To” is an exercise in hanging on a singer’s every note. Lucy Rose’s voice is dulcet and sweet but its also very very striking. The notes are soft but really precise. They’re so carefully crafted. An acoustic guitar whispers, chimes warmly ring; the entire track is great but a major payoff comes in the song’s last 90 seconds; where the tune builds to a catharsis, its a gentle hushed catharsis, but its still no less powerful. Really good. Get familiar below.

Lucy Rose – Gamble Like I Used To

Lucy Rose england: (Myspace) (Facebook)

Rating: 8.0

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reviewed by
06-29-11

The Stuyvesants – Stoops Parks & Rooftops

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“Summer Madness” has been sampled a lot. It’s been the principal in many many great tracks. The Stuyvesants flip of the classic Kool & the Gang jam here on “Stoops, Parks & Rooftops” definitely holds weight with previous songs that have sampled it. Images of rooftop cookouts, BBQs, and late night summer hang sessions, all the sort of shit that makes summer months in the city great.

The Stuyvesants – Stoops Parks & Rooftops

The Stuyvesants newyork: (Official) (Twitter)

Rating: 8.4

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06-29-11

The Beaus – All’s Well That Ends Well

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Rhythmic rock and roll from Doncaster UK with dub and hip hop influences? We’re in.

The Beaus england: (Soundcloud) (Myspace) (Facebook)

Rating: 8.5

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06-29-11

Mabel Love – Hardened Face

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“Hardened Face” is the debut single. The band is British no doubt (Sheffield UK) but sound much more American than their place of birth would lead you to believe (or maybe not, lol, they do bear a bit of a resemblance to fellow Sheffieldians? Sheffieldites? Arctic Monkeys (and yes, there is a history between the two bands)). That aside, Pixies, Replacements, maybe Husker Du, that seems to be Mabel Love’s main font of inspiration. “Hardened Face” is loud guitars, punchy measured rhythm, and high-powered vox. You know what it is. Click click click below.

Mabel Love – Hardened Face

Mabel Love england: (Myspace) (Official) (Facebook)

Rating: 7.7

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reviewed by
06-29-11

Bassnectar – Upside Down

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Oooooh taste the syrupy sweetness. The nectar man drops a bomb for your Wednesday afternoon. The drop on “Upside Down” is nice but the less wobbly bits of the track are def the most delectable – big claps, siren sounds, sped up snare fills. Shit just got serious. Go get it, girl. #raxonraxonrax

Bassnectar – Upside Down

Bassnectar california: (Official) (Myspace) (Soundcloud)

Rating: 8.2

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06-29-11

Benjamin Francis Leftwich – 1904

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We are huge fans of Benjamin Francis Leftwich so we are super stoked to bring to you the North American premiere on his new track “1904”. The song, previewed from the forthcoming Last Smoke Before the Snowstorm LP, is a stunning piece of acoustic pop. Leftwich’s hushed vocal styling is framed by striking washes of accordion and harmony and held anchor by a simple percussive shuffle. Sample “1904”, as well as other tracks from Snowstorm below.

Benjamin Francis Leftwich – 1904

Benjamin Francis Leftwich england: (Official) (Myspace) (Facebook)

Rating: 9.0

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reviewed by
06-28-11

YC – Racks (Remix) (Feat. Nelly, B.o.B., Trae the Truth, Yo Gotti, CyHi Da Prynce, Dose & Ace Hood)

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YC – Racks (Remix) (Feat. Nelly, B.o.B., Trae the Truth, Yo Gotti, CyHi Da Prynce, Dose & Ace Hood)

YC ohio: (Facebook)

Rating: 7.7

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reviewed by
06-28-11

Little Majorette – Never Be the Same

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If you like Scandinavian synth pop with moody rhythmic verses, huge epic choruses, and more hooks than Jimmy Houston’s tackle box, (we totally just took it there) then you, friend, have hit some sort of song jackpot cause “Never Be the Same” is all those things, and really really well executed, an exemplar for the genre.

Little Majorette – Never Be the Same

Little Majorette sweden (Myspace) (Soundcloud) (Official)

Rating: 8.2

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06-28-11

Bjork – Crystalline

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Rather than take someone else’s melody and recycle it, (looking at you, Rihanna and the Rapture) Bjork has recycled herself. “Crystalline” exists between the crunchy prescient remixes on Telegram and the delicate echoes of Vespertine. Taking her own sound and twisting it, you feel nostalgia for those previous records without the hangover.

Contributed by Erin Routson

Bjork – Crystalline

Bjork iceland: (Official) (Myspace) (Twitter)

Rating: 8.0

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reviewed by
06-28-11