TheSiftingPan

September 19, 2013
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Big Data – [Dangerous] + [The Stroke of Return]

Big Data are the paranoid pair who bring us music for the coming era of big data analytics

Big Data – Dangerous:

Big Data is as much a public service announcement as it is an indie band. They’re here to inform us that we are being watched and monitored like never before.
Daniel Armbruster (of Joywave) and Alan Wilkis, who comprise the New York based electronic indie outfit, take a nonsensical approach to informing the masses of the breach in their privacy. Enlightening us to the glorious digital future already in our midst and all the new age voyeurism we subject ourselves willingly to when surfing the internet. What better way to prep us for the coming singularity then indie pop music? Ruggedly awesome and catchy indie pop music at that.

Dangerous has a bassline that’s about as dirty as the NSA’s secrets. So dirty that you can’t help but to delve deeper in again and again. Addicting and informative, this track is what happens when great potential meets proper execution. Everything about this song is so much larger than just a two man project. The level of production and thought put into Dangerous sometimes isn’t even seen on tracks by the bigger names in music. So kudos to you gents.

The music video for Dangerous is a great deal more then just your average music video. Rightly dubbed The Facehawk, the interactive music video is an experience in and of itself. Just let Big Data borrow the keys to your Facebook castle for 5 minutes and watch your timeline come to life in the form of a bird of prey. It’s alright to be nervous about sharing your personal information, in fact I think that is kind of the point of it anyways. If you do manage to muster up the courage to experience the video you might be left with an unsettlingly feeling afterwords from being faced with all the information about you that is in the public domain.

Big Data’s only two songs, Dangerous and The Stroke of Return, are going to see a proper release on the band’s up coming EP 1.0, which I’m sure will be released before 2014. I’m tremendously excited for more music from these guys and can’t wait to see what ingenious method they come up with this time for sharing it with the world.

Big Data – The Stroke of Return:

You’ve already let Big Data onto your Facebook so why not get onto theirs.

Or listen to Big Data on Spotify!

September 14, 2013
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Sleigh Bells – [Bitter Rivals]

Brooklyn based Sleigh Bells are back with their signature noise pop style

Sleigh Bells – Bitter Rivals:

In one hell of a revival the rambunctious noise pop duo Sleigh Bells released their newest single Bitter Rivals. I am glad to see the band has not lost their traditional childish sense of humor. Light noodling, firm gasps and ‘Ahs’, a barking dog, and finger snaps all build up to the familiar thrashing guitars of Derek Miller and the somewhat distorted vocals of Alexis Krauss we might expect by now.

"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times."
- from A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens(1859)

Something is seemingly different this time around. But is it subtle or is it craftily not so obvious? Could it be those super electro “pew-pew” sounds flying all over the track? Or is it the fact that we actually get a chance, for once, to stop and breath at well placed points? Then again, that is a super heavy outro they’re dishing out onto one’s speakers, which is very much the norm for them.

It is nice to be able to see that the band has progressed as we approach album number three, which not so shockingly will be titled Bitter Rivals. Sleigh Bells is headed off into the trendy direction of more heavy production and leaving their “lo-fi”ness behind. This transition is in no way a bad thing. I believe we should all be excited to hear what a cleaner sounding Sleigh Bells is like. If the band’s sound becomes more palatable then it’s only a matter of time until mom & pop are jamming out to some damn good music too. But who knows what kinds of delicious treats await us on LP3 and if the band has truly ‘cleaned’ up their act. Not that I’ve ever been one to complain about the loud and gritty sound of Sleigh Bells in the past.

If you enjoyed Bitter Rivals then you should let Sleigh Bells know by giving them a ‘Like’ on their Facebok Page.

Or listen to Sleigh Bells on Spotify!

August 30, 2013
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Cash for Gold – [Cheerleaders]

Cash For Gold give us some much needed pop chaos from Melbourne, Australia

Cash For Gold – Cheerleaders:

Get ready for a real crowd pleaser people because Cheerleaders is here to get you pumped up whether you like it or not! Sound the horns and buckle up for this hellish half-time show. Something about this loud and mysteriously catchy tune just reaches out and grabs you, almost as if by sheer force. Cash for Gold, the exciting collaboration of Jack Weaving and Stephen Mowat, is taking you hostage for the duration of this gripping marching tune, and you’re probably going to find yourself accepting this fact rather easily. Soon you’ll be singing along with C-A-S-H-CASH FOR GOLD! The song is what we kids like to call ON POINT, and at every single level to boot! While it may be kind of hard to find much about the duo Cash for Gold at this time, I’d be shocked if people did not start to take notice to the pulse pounding anthem Cheerleaders real soon.

Like what you hear? Then go ahead and Like Cash For Gold over at their Facebook Page.

Or listen to Cash for Gold on Spotify!

August 15, 2013
by TheSiftingPan 1 Comment

First Rate People – [Dark Age] + [Funny Games]

First Rate People are a delightfully massive indie pop group from Canada

First Rate People – Dark Age:

Despite its name, the song Dark Age has absolutely nothing dark about it. While at first It might seem a bit recluse, soon this enticing tune will beckon you inward with a vibrant build up that is well worth the investment. Once the synth kicks in everything just takes off in full fantastical form. Simply put, this song is Indie Pop at its finest my friends. After two minutes of wonderful bursts of energy and passion the song culminates into two minutes of gentle vocals and acoustic sound. Somehow on this gentle exit they still manage to keep my attention with bated breath.

First Rate People have that certain charm and tenacity it takes to make something of oneself. With poignant lyrics that pull at your heart strings and the artful blending of a variety of genres, its hard not to think these guys (and gals) are going to make something of themselves. Everything about First Rate People is impressive and so is pretty much every track they have released to the public. By the way did I mention they are all available for free at First Rate People’s Last.fm?

Girls’ Night used to be my favorite track by First Rate People but I’m pretty sure now Funny Games has far surpassed it. Try not to be engulfed in the boisterous beats and overwhelming production value it has to offer. The track may be from last year but it’s still as fresh as ever right now and damn it I still have the urge to listen to it all the time.

First Rate People – Funny Games: MP3 Download via Last.fm

Like what you hear? Then show some love for First Rate People over at their Facebook Page

Or listen to First Rate People on Spotify!

July 29, 2013
by TheSiftingPan 4 Comments

Joywave – [Tongues (feat. KOPPS)] + [Dying Well]

Joywave - Tounges (feat. Kopps) + Dying Well

Joywave bring us their ambitious electronic indie pop from Rochester, NY

Joywave – Tongues (feat. KOPPS):

Just try to get away from this one. You cannot; you simply won’t be able to escape its rhythmic clutches. Within the first ten seconds of Tongues you will find yourself lassoed into that enticing beat and the wonderfully addictive hook preformed by KOPPS. In what might very well be the fastest case of Stockholm syndrome ever, you’ll find that you want to see more of your attention captor and will feel bad for not paying them enough mind in the past. You’ll submit yourself to many more listens of this infectious tune, whether your sanity needs it or not. This could probably go without saying but Tongues is quickly becoming one of my favorite songs of 2013. I just can’t get enough of everything this song has to offer, and I’m not quite sure I ever will.

Joywave just have a knack for proper artistic arrangement it seems. It’s hard to find a composition these guys have made that is not at least intriguing to some degree. The band’s newest release is no exception from the quality one might come to expect from the Rochester, NY based indie electropop group. Their latest mixtape, aptly named 88888, continues the tradition of intrigue and cultivation that Joywave have shown such capacity for in the past.

Download the full “88888” Mixtape free directly from Joywave

88888 is an unparalleled adventure through an electropop world that is chock-full of finesse and rich texture. Joywave put so much attention into the finer details that everything on the mixtape has its dignified place and purpose. This leaves the listener with little room to question what is happening to them as their swept up in the invigorating experience. Track by track you will find yourself treated to prolific and intrepid sounds that highlight what I can’t help but to feel is progress made in music, namely electropop, this side of the 2010 decade.

Dying Well is just one of the many entrancing tracks that caught my attention on 88888. What starts off as ethereal and almost weightless becomes solid and heavy as an upright bass line kicks in followed by the call of a solo brass. If film noir was ever condensed into song form, this just might be it. Dying Well does an amazing job of highlighting the depth and range Joywave can manage to put in just a single track.

Joywave – Dying Well: