M.I.A Shares New Track

M.I.A has revealed a new track titled 'Platforms' via Soundcloud today.

Earlier M.I.A said on Twitter that if she could find the password to her Soundcloud account, she would upload a new demo. Now a new song has appeared and looks to be one of her biggest tracks to date, once it's completed. For a demo, Platforms still shows passion, empowerment and politically motivated messages.

On her Instagram account, M.I.A also uploaded a 15 second video of her singing a long to the demo, too. You can listen to the full demo below and hopefully a final studio version will be released soon.

It is unknown as to whether the singer is planning on releasing an album soon or whether this a one off.

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Single Review... Justice - Civilization

The new justice 12" on 'Ed Banger' features the original and demo version. 2000 prints have been available worldwide that includes a poster.

Civilization:
There are certainly a number of critics arguing against the work of French electronic duo, Justice, but I beg to differ. Their début LP, †, was damn near incredible, and so is their latest single, “Civilization”. 'Civilization' is the lead single off justice's long-awaited sophomore album and it doesn't fail to impress, there's no radical departure but what there is is a thick justice groove laced with funk and a killer vocal to boot.
Out of 10: 8/10



Civilization (Demo):
Although this is the demo version at least you can see progression from the rusty rough demo to the full vindaloo version you see below. Yes it is a demo, so the highest I can really offer is a...
Out of 10: 6/10

Justice - Civilization 12"
Out of 10: 7/10

Justice "Civilization" High Quality by 1077 The End

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Its All Indie Spotlight: Cloaks And Feathers

More acoustic goodness that comes in the form of a Belgian band called Cloaks And Feathers. They are a Belgian duo that started a year and a half ago and recently released our demo...which so far had some good reviews. Expect a voice similar to Joan Baez or Grace Slick (Jefferson Airplane) and some moody guitarlines that will take you to another world... a world that is calm with no wars and evil but they can surely take you there!



The three tracks I have been sent are all wonderful, Your Poetry with its single guitar and voice that lulls you into a dream, House of Beth has the same vocal edge to it but with a few more layers put on the song gives it a new side of the band (ok it's a echoing of the vocals and backing vocals but still, I like it!). Finally we come to Bird On The Road, I can safely say this can sound like a cover of a Mumford and Sons song due to the very listenable vocals, soft acoustic guitars and a dash of the tambourines.

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Cloaks And Feathers - Bird On The Road
Cloaks And Feathers - Your Poetry
Cloaks And Feathers - House Of Beth

Gig Review... Things I Never Told You @ Waterfront 5th July 2010

I have previously mentioned this band here before, and it seems for a very good reason. This live performance is easily one of the best supporting slot acts I have ever seen, and support bands I have seen include Foals, Wild Beasts and Delphic! These guys have been playing gigs for only around 2 months now and are supporting Kele on his debut UK tour.

They started off with the track titled The Future Or Woody Allen, this track is the strongest song to open on I have to admit, the guitars and drums are perfect for dancing to as I could feel people behind me pushing me from the start of this song, the bass in this song is a constant ripple and makes you feel euphoria when ever the bass kicks back in!



Next was life without, the lead singer dropped the guitar and instead gave the sample pad a go, this again is such a fun song to listen to and live out performs the version on their myspace. The lead singer really gets into the crowd at this moment with the crowd cheering and bouncing to the song. Towards the end of the song someone (I assume a girl) is asking the bassist to take his top off, he ends up saying maybe which just makes the crowd more eager to get into the tracks.

Astronaut, the singer changed into a outfit which was a shiny jacket with NASA logos on it and had some big glasses, this song was new to me and what sprung to mind was the Killers singer Brandon Flowers! But giving the crowd something new with higher vocals and funky sample pads was a nice detour for me from the songs I have already heard.

Running on from that last comment, Germs was a track I have heard before and with a bass to start the track off with is just a awesome way to start a song at a gig, the bass vibrated all through me and towards the chorus more dancing was involved behind me, this is a new experience because normally support acts don't get much notice from the crowd but these guys were making sure Norwich were having a good time!

The Stewardess & Me is another track I know of, but not in the way I knew it. Once again this track is absolutely fantastic live the sample pads and bass are in perfect sync and give the crowd a taste of what these guys are really about!



Devil, it's hard to remember much about this track due to what you will read about the track Happiness... This is what I can remember, Devil is on the same line as the track before with the bass grinding through you, intricate drumming and sample pads all working together to create a wonderful song that would easily fit into Keles set!

Happiness, dedicated to me (thanks!!!). Easily my favourite track by these guys. On the mp3 it is like the bass is hypnotising, you can feel it when you whack your speakers up rippling through your body, the vocals are sung from the heart as you can tell he cares about his music. Now live, imagine you intensify this, it is just brilliant to see a act who is able to create such a wonderful track and still be unsigned.

These guys are very good live performers and can really give a good show, like I said at the beginning, if they were headlining a show they would be worth it, I am running out of superlatives, just wow!

Out of 10: 10/10 I can't wait to see them again, and I mean it!

Things I Never Told You - Happiness (Demo)
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It's All Indie Spotlight: Weimar

A Experimental-Rock band from the land of steel, Sheffield. The group make tracks that have a funky sax rhythm and wobbling bass flowing through it. They began in January 2010 and have began rehearsing, recording and building a local following before hopefully making it onto the local scene. The track I am on about is titled 'Your Soul', they are so tight in this song. The funky jazz feel you get from the song is just full of heart, with the Sax and Bass working well with the smooth vocals and precise drumming all working well on this song to make it what it is!



They also currently have a new track which isn't from the EP and that's very good too so give it a listen if you would!

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[MYSPACE]
Weimar - Dreams Of A Warden EP (Demo EP)

Demo Reviews

If you would like impartial reviews of your music, don't hesitate and email them to me.

SEND TO: bambridge@hotmail.co.uk with the title "Radar Band Of The Week"



Please include your...
BAND NAME
YOUR NAME
MYSPACE/FACEBOOK PROFILE
WHERE YOU ARE FROM
GENRE
TRACK NAMES

You are more than welcome to send them via post, email me with more details if you would like to!!!

Its All Indie Spotlight: Dead Sea Navigators

Dead Sea Navigators are a piano-led indie/lounge band based in London.

Imagine combining the piano with distorted bass, electronica and a down tempo rhythm, Dead Sea Navigators is a mixture of all the above and creates music that would fit at a wine bar. All be a wine bar with a dark edge to it but it is nice to see bands using a piano throughout a song.



In the song Dr Crellin all the instruments have their place and with the overall sound sounding simply easy on the ears. Maybe it's because of the piano easing stress out of me, maybe because of the vocals easing tension from me but this is a lovely song. The other song I got sent was 9 Rue Git-Le Coeur. Despite the French titling this song is far from a stereotypical french song you hear on their radios whilst on holiday. Once again the piano is a big in this song and it makes this song more alive just before the chorus kicks in. The almost euphoric second half of the song is just magnificent.

The two tracks I have reviewed are for download below.

Dead Sea Navigators - Dr Crellin
Dead Sea Navigators - 9 Rue Git-Le Coeur
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Track of the day... Things I Never Told You - Happiness

With their myspace and facebook site only being live for just around a month, this is easily one of the youngest bands I have reviewed.



They will be supporting Kele from Bloc Party on his first ever full UK tour in July. They are from London so they know how hard it is to support a well known act so expect them to be good enough for me!



I have heard five of their tracks via MySpace and they are all infused with bass and funky electronic beats, so this will compliment Keles solo stuff well. Happiness is the track I have chosen to focus on. The bass is hypnotising, you can feel it when you whack your speakers up rippling through your body, the vocals are sung from the heart as you can tell he cares about his music. I have liked everything I have heard from them and can't wait for more stuff. Kinda funny that they put two new songs on MySpace only 2 days ago but still, the live show should give me something else to ponder over.

Things I Never Told You - Happiness (Demo)
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Its All Indie Spotlight: Black Cabs and Colour Us In.

This will be a new section especially for new artists I have recently come across. There will be no limit to how many I can do in a post so here are TWO!

First up (and in no particular order) is...
Black Cabs

They are apparently based in New York, London & Paris... I'm 100& certain they are not, in fact they are from the Birmingham area. They are a Indie Rock band and the lead singer Cal Newsome enjoys music by Bloc Party, Vampire Weekend and The Kings of Leon. Those are some fantastic bands and surely must mean that the music he makes is good! Right to the music, I currently have 3 of their demos, Future Love, Put Your Stilettos On and Let Me Introduce You To My Monkey (WHICH IS THE BEST SONG TITLE I HAVE SEEN!). Future Love sounds like something funky at the beginning with the guitar and bass fusing over the drum beats. They sound like early 90's music, which is good! Blur? Oasis? The Verve? I must say I do like this track.



Put Your Stilettos On is much quicker and sounds more upbeat and this does sound like something Fifa would put on a Fifa computer game to represent music from that country. Also (I said this before but) the guitar makes this track for me, the solo after the chorus is just, mmm, lovely. Finally the other track. Despite the quirky title this does sound a bit Bloc Party-esque at the beginning... yep, due to the guitar again! This band excites me because they are British talent, late teen years/early 20's and they can get better with age! Just wait 3/5 more years and they could be a force to be reckoned with.

Last up is...
Colour Us In

Now I have only been aware of them today, so please bear with me if this isn't 100% accurate...
They are from the London area and have got to the final of the Live and Unsigned competition being held at the O2 Arena in London on the 10th of July!



They like Two Door Cinema Club, The Kooks, Bloc Party, Maccabees and Scouting For Girls. Now I have to let them off for liking the last two because of one thing. The track called Build A Base. This track is the song that I will remember them buy, a sweet track with gentle guitars, vocals, bass and even drumming. This is a chilled track perfect for a hot evening sipping beer outside (which is what I am doing now!).

[FACEBOOK] - Black Cabs
Black Cabs - Future Love (Demo)

[MYSPACE] - Colour Us In
[FACEBOOK] - Colour Us In
[OFFICIAL SITE] - Colour Us In
Colour Us In - Build A Base - Via YouTube

Track of the day... Young Legionnaire - Colossus

Remember Bloc Party? Well, here is their Bassist (and a few more instrumets (Drums, Glockenspiel, Keyboard)) with his side project. I mean I just love how all Bloc Party side projects all sound differant! So...

Young Legionnaire, they played their first, and to my knowledge first gig way back in January. This song is called Colossus, its a free stream track from their facebook site and their soundcloud account.



Seems pretty similar to the type of stuff they played at the gig. Not really keen on the first minute or so but it is fantastic towards the end. Listened to it three times and I'm completely in love with it. It's pretty close to what I was expecting, and if a later recording of this gets a bit beefed up it could be even better.



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