Julian, bud, you know this totally sounds like Radiohead, right? Not that we’re complaining. The tune has legs. The thin electro-drums, the arpeggiated guitar layers, the frenetic vocals. Nikolai we see you bumping OK Computer on your iPod touch. It’s OK, we’re still cool. We like this song, just please don’t go all Our Lady Peace on us and come back sounding like this on LP 5. All we ask.
The Strokes – You’re So Right via Rave’s RavesRating: 8.2
Maybe a slightly more jazzed up quality on this new Flying Lotus tune. It sort of carries a similar aesthetic to Roy Ayers more mellow ’70’s material. Add to that Fly Lo’s usual haul of killer polyrhythms and rich ambient textures and you’re left smoothing out to a pretty sick track. “Caravan of Delight” will feature on the new Ed Banger release King of Limbs Let the Children Techno expect quality shit from Skream, Mr. Oizo and SebastiAn to also feature on the compilation.
Rating: 8.1
Yet another permutation of The Raveonettes sound on this demo for new tune “Recharge & Revolt”. The Raves sound like a bunch of other bands, stylistic mutation to stylistic mutation, they liberally pillage any number of influences (Jesus and Mary Chain to MBV to ’60’s Pop) yet they always sound like The Raveonettes. “Recharge & Revolt” feels a bit more from the MBV, Ride territory of influence but is still 100% (pure love) Raveonettes. Great melodies, great male-female harmonies, excellent guitar layering and arranging all the hallmarks of good quality Raves shit. Raven in the Grave, the band’s upcoming LP is due in April. Psyched!
The Raveonettes – Recharge & Revolt (Demo)Rating: 8.3
This Anenon Drone Mix of Ana Caravelle’s “Where Have You Been?” comes to us from the Basic Climb: Reimagined remix LP off Non Projects. The LA harpist/singer/songwriter’s debut is restyled on Reimagined by such electronic heavyweights as Dntel and Take and on this “Drone Mix” Non Project’s founder Anenon. There’s an excellent building quality to the track with a payoff in the tune’s final moments that is truly spectacular. Turn this heater way up.
Ana Caravelle – Where Have You Been? (Anenon Drone Mix) via XLR8RRating: 8.3
Bassnectar recently dusted off this excellent remix of The Bangles’ “Walk Like an Egyptian” completed in 2003. The producer had this to say about it on his blog
The Bangles – Walk Like an Egyptian (Bassnectar’s 2003 Remix)This was a song I loved as a child, and something I started working on back in 2002. I called it the 2003 remix because I think that is when I actually finished it, but of course I never released it; just kept it as a secret weapon and bootleg. (I love the whistling part in the middle.)
The beat is a bit of an older style… 103 bpm hip hop beats with fuzzy bass and a playful attitude. Newer/younger fans who separate music into 1 of 2 categories (“filthy” or “Not filthy enough”) will undoubtedly have no interest in this song, as it is basically a b-side remix that has been locked away in my vaults for many moons. But the old school heads may enjoy it and, regardless, I love it.
A few hours after hearing the news that Egypt was becoming a democracy I was sitting on a plane next to my buddy Tamer, who is Egyptian, and the joy in his face was electrifying. He was beaming, and I thought maybe it would be fun to dust off this old tune and huck it out into vapor space, here you go:
Rating: 8.5
“The Beat Goes On” indeed for the zombie Oasis incarnate a.k.a. Beady Eye. The geezers carry on here with former Oasis bassist and Ride frontman Andy Bell on writing duties. The tune treads a familiar territory for the personnel assembled (a little Beatles, a little Stones, a little Kinks), that said, its a successful traverse of that well worn territory; with Liam coming off the best he’s sounded on record in some time.
Beady Eye – The Beat Goes OnPurchase /
Rating: 8.0
Fenech-Soler are coming to America! Oh yeah! At least a new four-song EP titled “Demons” is. Seriously, dudes, we need U.S. dates. As well as the title track, the “Demons” EP packs b3sci’s #7 track of 2009 “Lies”, new tune “Stone Bridge”, and this vibed out smooth rendition of “Demons”. Featuring spare electronic percussion, subtle synths, and the supremely toned Fender Rhodes, the track floats the full-length of its 3 minutes+ duration.
Removed by label request
Fenech-Soler – Demons (White Version)
Rating: 8.2
“Reasons”, premiered here from Saint Saviour’s new Anatomy EP, is the sort of full stop, the sort of punctuation you’d place at the pauses and spaces in between full segments of life or the smallest succession of moments. The tune carried by Saint Saviour’s powerhouse vocal comes in like a rush, resolves through the most beautiful chorus melody, breathes out a final flourish in the song’s haunting uplifting close. “Reasons” feels incorporeal, like somewhere else, like time stopped, like those most temporary, most lucid moments.
Catch the former Groove Armada frontwoman on tour this month with electrorock act Hurts and at her co-headline date with another b3sci fav Clare Maguire at London’s Borderline this Friday. You most certainly won’t be disappointed.
Reasons by SaintSaviour
Saint Saviour – BirdsongSaint Saviour official website
Saint Saviour on Myspace
rating: 8.6
The Holidays are the talk of the Oz music press. Equal parts sunshine, vibes, and smooth rhythms, the band builds on the oft-plundered sound of the shoegaze forefathers adding a pop sensibility and tunefulness that separates them from their other hard chilling peers. “Broken Bones” is our choice record from their Post Paradise LP from last year. Get into it below.
The Holidays – Broken Bones via circle square triangleRating: 8.0
This song couldn’t feel any better for a beautiful day’s cruise… anywhere. The vibe is light and jaunty in all the right ways. “Beautiful Trash” comes from New Zealand born, Australian producer, Lance Ferguson best known for his guitar work with The Bamboos. With a tasteful touch from the talented multi-instrumentalist Megan Washington, it’s the perfect preview to the forthcoming Her 12 Faces LP which drops official on March 7th.
Rating: 8.1
Boddika guested on Benji B’s Radio 1 show last week and let loose this Joy Orbison untitled track in the mix. Rumored to be named “Ellipsis”, the tune is a bit of departure for Joy O with cascading pianos and smooth house-esque breakdowns.
Joy Orbison – EllipsisRating: 8.3
Nashville singer-songwriter Tristen is one of our favorite new discoveries. Her brand of country-influenced plainspoken pop is really really cool. The Kate Bush Influence, Patti Smith, etc. They’re all there. But the honesty and the grittiness and the joy that comes with having music influenced and informed by Dolly Parton, Loretta Lynn, etc that sets her apart. We’ve had “Matchstick Murder” and another tune of her’s “Baby Drugs” in rotation here for a minute now. Try for yourself below.
Tristen – Matchstick MurderRating: 8.0
