Author Archives: Clare Williams

[Rock] Los Encantados – The Same Damned Soul (Chapter 2)

Posted by Clare Williams - August 25, 2012

We fell in love with the original and summery-to-the-max sound of Brooklyn sextet Los Encantados a while ago, when they dropped Chapter 1 of their The Same Damned Soul project. Now they’re back with Chapter 2, and it’s another short, but sweet hit of near-perfect rock’n’roll tracks, stuffed full with pop hooks and choruses to die for. Highlight track “St Tropez” is full of pomp and shoutalong vocals, with a killer guitar riff to boot, while closer “Pour Toi” shows a softer, more sentimental side to the band. A must-have for any lover of danceable indie-rock, The Same Damned Soul (Chapter 2) is out now.

’Los Encantados – St Tropez’

Soundcloud

’Los Encantados – OMFD’

Soundcloud

’Los Encantados – Pour Toi’

Soundcloud

Alternative/Rock

[Video] Taken By Trees – Dreams (Dub Remix)

Posted by Clare Williams - August 25, 2012

Former Concretes singer Victoria Bergsman, AKA the excellent Taken By Trees, has remixed her own track “Dreams” as well as reworking the video. This refix has a gentle, slightly ghostly dub reggae vibe, which the clip accompanies perfectly, featuring locals dancing and some beautiful yet disorienting shots of seahorses and whales. If you’re keen on Taken By Trees’ latest output (and why wouldn’t you be?), then you’ll be thrilled to hear that her album Other Worlds is out on October 2nd via Secretly Canadian. Stream the original and dub versions of “Dreams” below.

’Taken By Trees – Dreams’

Soundcloud

’Taken By Trees – Dreams (Dub)’

Soundcloud

[Indie] Introducing So Many Wizards

Posted by Clare Williams - August 25, 2012

So Many Wizards hail from LA, and their debut full-length record Warm Nothing confirms them as the rising stars of that city’s musical “renaissance period”. The quartet centers around singer Nima Kazerouni and his gentle falsetto vocals, while the rest of the band’s sun-drenched instrumentals create an upbeat background for the often profound lyrics. “Lose Your Mind” has all the verve and power needed for an indie-rock hit, while “Inner City” is more of a soft, slightly twee (think Belle & Sebastian) electro-pop ballad. If you’re looking for a new band to become obsessed with, then So Many Wizards are the ones for you.

Warm Nothing is out now on JAXART Records.

’So Many Wizards – Lose Your Mind’

Soundcloud

’So Many Wizards – Inner City’

Soundcloud

[Folk] Princess Music – White Wave

Posted by Clare Williams - August 24, 2012

Princess Music are a five-piece band comprised of classically-trained musicians from all genres who have come together to create beautiful and intelligent folk-pop. From its music-box intro to its more vibrant finale, “White Wave” is a perfect example of how Princess Music’s sound works – singer Tyler Ludwick‘s airy vocals and poignant lyrics work well with the delicate cello and violin, before building into soaring choruses. Definitely an exciting prospect for folk, Princess Music have made “White Wave” available to download on their Bandcamp.

[HOT] Kill The Noise – Kill The Noise (Part 1)

Posted by Clare Williams - August 24, 2012

Jake Stanczak, AKA the notorious dubstep pioneer Kill The Noise, is no ordinary club sensation. He’s spent years dropping dance-floor hits, and his experimental side has seen him take genres and tear them apart before fusing them with something completely different. “Kill The Noise (Part 1)” has just been given the video treatment by Mike Diva, and it centres on a garish neon LA, filled with zombies and gore, the perfect setting for Stanczak’s hi-octane bass-buster.

Kill The Noise’s Kill Kill Kill EP is out now on OWSLA.

[Remix] Bon Iver – Beth/Rest (Work Drugs Remix)

Posted by Clare Williams - August 21, 2012

Bon Iver’s newest challenge, the Stems project, has thrown down the gauntlet to all acts out there. Remix “Beth/Rest,” get the most votes, win $1,000 and a place on the Spotify remix album. Work Drugs have risen to the challenge, creating an 80s-tastic reworking, complete with the cheesiest saxophone solo since The Mystery Jets’ “Two Doors Down”. This remix is certainly a different take on folk singer-songwriter Justin Vernon’s work, and it makes for joyful listening. Stream below, and you can vote for Work Drugs’ remix here.

’Bon Iver – Beth / Rest (Work Drugs Remix)’

Download

[Synth-Pop] Youth Lagoon – Daydream (Noah Hyde Remix)

Posted by Clare Williams - August 21, 2012

Idaho native Trevor Powers, AKA Youth Lagoon, has been remixed by fellow Boise boy Noah Hyde. Taking the superb “Daydream,” producer Hyde has given the track a full dance reworking, fleshing out the original with euphoric synths and beats. Powers’ hazy vocals are still as perfect as ever, but they have a more wistful quality in this refix. Definitely one for the club kids out there, stream “Daydream” below.

’Youth Lagoon – Daydream (Noah Hyde Remix)’

Download