Photo by priscilla.giler

After a long hiatus, Kill Hannah returns with their new album, Wake Up the Sleepers. And it doesn’t disappoint. Mat Devine’s voice never ceases to amaze me. Very raw & real (& he sounds just as good live as on the album). The album maintains the band’s signature alternative rock sound & also takes the band in a new direction with the addition of a few electronic beats in “Tokyo” & the already released single “New York City Speed”. These tracks rock because they don’t lose touch of the bands signature sound, but merely give it a more refined & contemporary feel to compete with other stuff being released recently. Awesome. For the die hard Kill Hannah fans, check out the tracks “Acid Rain” & “Radio”. They definitely don’t disappoint (“Radio” samples sounds from Kids in America, but trust us, it works). Rounding out the album with a more slow & acoustic feel, we fell in love with “Snowblinded” & “Living in Misery”. The entire album was completely worth the long wait since the last album & is an amazing achievement for the band. Grab this album September 29th.

Welikeit.indie got to see these guys completely tear up the stage at Emo’s in Austin on 9/11. Amazing job guys. Seriously. You guys fucking rock!

“New York City Speed” | download

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Kill Hannah | Myspace | Live | Buy

Felix da Housecat really brings it with his newest release He Was King. His notoriously distinct & exciting electro-pop beats shine like diamonds in every track on the album. We recommend bumping this through a good system or set of headphones. The cheap ones that came with your ipod simply ain’t gonna cut it for these nasty beats. Overall the album exudes a type of sound reminiscent of the 80’s club scene (think: NYC club kids circa the movie Party Monster), but with a more modern vibe placing the album perfectly into the 2000s. The bass in the track “Kickdrum” simply owns, escalating into a complete overload sure to get your ears & bodies thumping. The vocals deliver in a crisp & distinct way throughout the album without being lost behind the mesh of intricately layered highs & mids (check out the track: “We”). “Plastik Fantastik” delivers something worthy of being played on a runway in a D&G show. Need something to bump during afterhours? Give “LA Ravers” a listen. Hard bass & wickedly twisted high beats will keep you partying til the sun comes up. From beginning to end this album tears it up. Definitely an album worth having handy for the party on a Saturday night.

“Kickdrum” | download

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He Was King drops next Tuesday (08.25) via Nettwerk.

Felix da Housecat | Live | Buy

Heads We Dance come at you with their debut album Love Technology delivering more of the accustomed electro beats heard in their previously released singles. The group is able to put forth a valiant effort in delivering a smooth mix of vocals, electronic & synthesized beats, as well as some unconventional noises (the computer modem threw me for a loop, but was ultimately a good addition to the some “Computer Love”), to deliver one kick ass debut album.

Finding their roots and sound in the likes of others such as Daft Punk, Depeche Mode and even influence from the legendary Pet Shop Boys, the group demonstrates an uncanny ability to deliver the complex intricacies often associated with electronic music in a way that’s both understandable and relatable to the consumer, much in the ways of the now infamous Postal Service album Give Up. Noteworthy tracks worth checking out include “Love in the Digital Age”, “The Gold City”, “When the Sirens Sound” & the album’s title track “Love Technology”. These tracks seem to culminate what the entire album is truly driven by: all around famous electronic beats combined with stellar vocals to deliver a sound that’s perfect to chill out and relax to, or bump in the background of your next shindig. Overall very well influenced, executed and thus far received.

Heads We Dance possesses a clear understanding of the genre & their ability to deliver it straight to the consumer’s hearts places Love Technology as a must have for any looking to experience the latest in a consummate swirl of chill electro-pop beats.

“When the Sirens Sound (Don Diablo remix)” | download

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HWD | Myspace | Shows | Buy

My friend Pat (DJ E-walk) and I made our way through the crowd of people all packed into the Rialto Theater here in Tucson, AZ. I was surprised at what a great turn out there was and how many familiar faces there were scattered about. Everyone cheered when The Faint hit the stage. I flashed my photo pass that I had neatly stuck to my shirt, and proceeded to the very front only to find about 6 feet barricaded off all the way to the right of center stage for all of the photographers. I tried my best to capture the amazing light show and electronic backdrop they had going on behind them, but in addition to little space there was also no flash allowed.

I heard mixed reviews about what people thought of The Faint’s performance and whether they had attended for them or Ladytron. Personally, I was there for Ladytron only because I had little introduction to The Faint prior to this night. It would be a lie to say I was not impressed however because I thought their set was pretty amazing.

In between waiting for Ladytron to headline I stepped out for a smoke and got to chatting up several friends, but as soon as I heard the dull roar coming from inside I took off running to get a good spot in front. I started snapping away but found myself lowering the camera and getting distracted because I was so enthralled with the show. The way that only their silhouettes were seen through shades of red and blue along with their sleepy monotone yet catchy sound left me feeling as if I were in a trance. I just wanted to dance around with all my friends amongst all the other fans behind me. Luckily for me they only allowed for the first 3 songs to be photographed, I say luckily because I was then able to enjoy the show without being behind a lens all night. I wished for more enthusiasm from the two lead singers, Helen Marnie and Mira Aroyo… but who could complain about their flawless sound? Toward the end I made my way up to the balcony to get a different perspective nevertheless I couldn’t sit still along with those that had blank stares wiped across their faces. So there I was right back to where I wanted to be in the hot mob of sweaty fans, dancing the night away.

“Tomorrow (Vector Lovers Lucky Remix)” | download

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Remaining dates:

04.30 Fillmore San Francisco, CA
05.01 Roseland Theater Portland, OR
05.02 Showbox SoDo Seattle, WA
05.03 Commodore Ballroom Vancouver, BC
05.05 Ogden Theatre Denver, CO
05.08 Casa @ Arma09 Moscow
05.10 Manege Kadetskogo Korpusa St. Petersburg
05.14 Fuzz Club Athens
05.15 International Theatre Thessaloniki
05.16 Beck’sperince Parc Izvor Bucharest
05.18 Tuborg Greenfest Vasil Levsky Stadium Sofia
05.20 Tuborg Greenfest USCE Park Belgrade
05.21 Tuborg Greenfest Arena Zagreb
05.22 New Age Club Treviso
05.23 Hiroshima Mon Amour Turin
05.30 Pipeline Cafe Honolulu, Hawaii
06.03 Sydney Opera House Sydney
06.05 Hi Fi Bar Melbourne
06.07 Hi Fi Bar Brisbane
06.13 Rabarock Festival Jarvakandi
07.02 Volt Festival Sopron
07.04 Ruisrock Festival Turku
07.17 Matter London, London and South East
07.31 Standon Calling Festival Standon Area
08.15 Beatday Festival Copenhagen

Ladytron | Myspace | Tour Dates | Buy