Pain Killers

Inspired by post-punk fervor and the spiky pop of C86 and early Flying Nun / Creation label output, San Francisco’s Brilliant Colors stake out a unique spot in the indie music landscape. Their 2009 album, Introducing, is one of the finest debuts in recent memory, and they followed it with 7-inches on Slumberland and Make a Mess and a European tour with La La Vasquez that led to the release of another great single on Germs of Youth. Most recently, they teamed up with Belfast’s brilliant Girls Names to release a split 7-inch in Fall 2010. All of these singles were recorded with Oakland garage phenom Ty Segall, who spiked the ladies’ punk-pop swirl with his own special grit.

Now Brilliant Colors have teamed up again with The Pool's Alex Yusimov (who recorded their first album as well as Grass Widow and many of Portland's finest indie bands) to create "Again And Again," an album that represents a great next step for the band. The song-writing is still as infectious as ever, but the tunes are now more carefully arranged pushing the band far beyond their punk roots to something as elemental as pop gets. Songs like opener "Hey Dan," the sprightly "Value Lines" and "Hitting Traffic" combine guitarist/singer Jess' catchy-as-hell riffs with Diane's steady, rolling beats and Michelle's dense baselines to fashion songs that are deceptively simple -- straightforwardly rocking but also richly layered, revealing new twists on each listen.

The mood is confessional and late-night dreamy; Jess' unadorned vocals and eloquent lyrics are personal, direct and atmospherically deployed, mixed in with the songs like another instrument. They can be heard to great effect on tougher songs like "Back To The Tricks" and "Painting Truths," tempering those tunes' punchy punk dynamics with their melodic sensibility. Add in classic-sounding stormers like "Cult Face" and "How Much Younger" and you have all the makings of another great Brilliant Colors album, one that shows how finely they've honed their own unique brand punk-informed crash-pop.


Brilliant Colors - How Much Younger

Big Troubles were formed by a group of kids who had been friends since high school, playing in bands, listening to records and coming of musical age together. As children of the 00's they're lucky enough to have a vast history of pop and indie rock to draw upon. Like the best of their peers they're omnivorous musical consumers, as enamored of classic Brit Pop gems as they are of 90s slacker indie rock. Led by two very gifted singer/song-writers in Alex Craig and Ian Drennan, Big Troubles are that rare beast: a band with two distinctive musical voices that smoothly mesh to create one integrated personality.

Early recordings by the pair were of the lo-fi home recorded variety, but over time they've grown (with the addition of drummer Sam Franklin and bassist Luka Usmiani) into a full four piece band to more fully realize their tunes. Their first album Worry (2010) and its attendant singles were excellent fuzz pop records in their own right, but to make their new record the band has taken the step of bringing in help in the form of the legendary Mitch Easter, whose resume includes stone cold classics from the likes of REM, Pavement and his own Let's Active. With Mr. Easter's expert engineering help, Big Troubles' excellent new album "Romantic Comedy" is a masterpiece of modern pop; a perfect balance of grit and polish, gorgeous guitar sounds and angelic vocals, underpinned by a set of superb songs.

"Romantic Comedy" kicks off with "She Smiles For Pictures," a brilliant slice of jangle-pop marked by an ear-tugging guitar lead and gorgeous choirboy vocals. "Misery" is a perfect 2:23 of teen angst, fired by a huge bassline and echoed, chorused riffs that are as much 90s Brit Pop as they are 00s indie rock. First single "Sad Girls" is a lovely slice of updated power-pop based on a catchy stop-start verse that gives way to an indelible, spiraling chorus; this tune is as big and bright as they come. "You'll Be Laughing" gears down for a nuanced meditation on suburban ennui, showing that this band had more up its collective sleeve than just kicking out pop anthems.

And so the record continues, through sure-fire entries into the noise-pop canon like the Boo Radleys-esque "Minor Keys," the lovely rush of "Softer Than Science" and the glam-tinged feedback-fest that is "Time Bomb." "Romantic Comedy" wraps up with the dreamy "Engine" and the driving "Never Mine," adding two more gems to this excellent album. Big Troubles have that very rare combination of taste, skill and talent, and aided by Mr. Easter's recording acumen they've created a virtually perfect modern pop album -- one that tips its hat to choice bits of pop past and present, but at the same time creates something totally fresh.


Big Troubles - Misery

Maybe I Should Call More... (Prod. Kolin)

Glockaveli

Watch Da Throne

After spending the bulk of the past year on the road in support of last November's excellent "Sports" LP on Slumberland Records, Weekend have also been hard at work on their followup record. Prior to their European tour in July, the band spent three weeks in the studio with producer Monte Vallier crafting their new EP, simply titled "Red." Prepare yourself for yet another gorgeous, violent sonic assault, because this EP packs a serious punch.

Opener "Sweet Sixteen" is mesmerizing grind, stately bass and drums underpinned by soaring vocals and echoed shards of guitar feedback and plucked notes. This leads directly into the noise-pop gem that is "Hazel" -- 3:50 of cascading bass chords, guitar clangor and a melody and chorus most pop bands would kill for. Amazing. "Your Own Nothing" is clattering piece of post-punk, spiked with layers of guitar noise and a dubbed-out atmosphere. 

"The One You Want" is a rather more straight-forward tune in the manner of "Hazel" and further proof that Weekend can craft melodies just as well as they can innovate with guitar textures and dazzle with sonic overload. The EP concludes with "Golfers," a song that downshifts into an extended minimal intro before building to a gorgeous crescendo of rumbling drums, chiming/fizzing guitars and as always that unerring sense of melody that Weekend always have in even the most noise-laden tunes.

"Red" is an excellent EP that packs more ideas into 5 songs than a lot of bands do into a whole record, and points the way forward towards Weekend's next long-player, due in 2012. Be sure to catch them on tour throughout September with Talk Normal.


Weekend - Hazel

messy feat anna mvze

This is the second installment of a new series of deep house mixes featuring the best deep, soulful, groovy house music I can dig up, tunes that have that vibe and sound that I love. If you love it too, drop a like or comment or even a share, and follow my so you don't miss a mix. Thanks for the support!

Cover Art by Aleksandar Knezevik

*All music purchased legally from and available on Beatport.com 
**Mix is for promotional purposes only and no money is made from it. Please support these great producers by buying their music! 

01 Presence (Original Mix) - Soundscape	
02 Right Now (Original Mix) - Bushwacka!	
03 Terminal (Original Mix) - Phaze Dee	
04 Sax Lagune (Original Mix) - Dr. Night	
05 Interstellar (Original Mix) - Matt Prehn	
06 Stay In Space (Felipe Gordon Remix) - Infrasoul	
07 Invite Only (Original Mix) - Karl Sierra	
08 Deep Underground (N.W.N. Club Remix) - DJ Disciple, David Tort, DJ Ruff	
09 Sugar (Original Mix) - Saison	
10 The Fear Track (Original Mix) - rawBeetz	
11 Manifest (Original Mix) - MYR (UK)	
12 Everytime (Original Mix) - Jason Hersco	
13 Who Says I Gotta (Original Mix) - LeMike	
14 Going Deeper (Original Mix) - lalo leyy	
15 That Jazz Feeling (Extended Mix) - T.Markakis	
16 What Is Love (Deepside Mix) - Raffaele Ciavolino	
17 Delicious (Original Mix) - Tony Thomas	
18 N Hancock St (Original Mix) - DJ Steaw	
19 Low Key (Original Mix) - James Silk	
20 Come On Over (Original Mix) - Mirco Savoldelli

Deep Roots Vol 2 (Deep House Studio Mix)

Back at it for Loungin' Volume Three, this time we've got a nice mix of jazzy, spacey, and liquid vibes, really it's the kind of sound I'd imagined when I initially thought of the concept for this sub-series. Starting off with a nice intro tune from Dan Guidance's new The Light E.P. (an excellent piece) followed by some nice funky, liquidy vibes from Smote and Fernando Ferreira.

One of my favorite producers in Drum and Bass, Jrumhand, has 4 tunes on this mix, he's got a deep, progressively cinematic style of producing, utilizing ethereal and eclectic samples and breakdowns with smooth, complex drums. Really dig his style, if you haven't already, go check him out.

That's the gist, pretty happy with this one, give 'er a spin and let us know what you think. Appreciate the listens and support, Keep it locked, Got a lot of new mixes on deck for ya! 

Cheers,
Sw3rv3 👊❤️🎧

Signs From The Universe - Dan Guidance
Burn For You - Smote
Pull Me In - Fernando Ferreira
Jrumhand - Thread - Available on Bandcamp
Jrumhand - Sanity - Available on Bandcamp
The Missing Piece - Afex
Sunrise - Warm Roller
Turf Tune - Larigold
Scissors Of The Mind - Soul Foundation
Triangles - Dash
Southside - Jazzinspired
Hold Up - Dash
This Is Jazz - Jazzinspired
Jrumhand - Many Years From Now - Available on Bandcamp
Jrumhand - Ripples - Available on Bandcamp

Sw3rv3 _Loungin' Vol. 3

Dubtextures volume 7 is fresh from human trials and ready for prescription or OTC consumption! This installment is loaded with some meticulously curated tunes. Enjoy the popular mix series delving into the minimal and groovy subtextures of deep and dubby techno. Smooth synths and pads, chill, relaxing vibes, satisfying melodies, and deep dubbed out basslines and echo fx. Great music for relaxing, studying, decompressing, for after-afterparties, or lazy days in PJs....

As always all tracks purchased legally on beatport . com. I do not support pirating, artists deserve to get paid and I want them to keep supplying me with tunes. Please support these artists!

01 Respect the Foundation (intro sample) - Freddie Notes		
02 Still Dub (Tubby Isiah Remix) - Frenk Dublin	
03 Ambiance of Chord (Original Mix) - Davor Tosovic	
04 Reverso (Original Mix) - Ekstendia	
05 Symmetry (Original Mix) - Basicnoise	
06 Supernova (Original Mix) - Pedro Capelossi	
07 Sonar (Original Mix) - Dip	
08 July 3 (Original Mix) - Deeperwalk	
09 Afterhours (Original Mix) - TM Shuffle	
10 Floating Elephant (Original Mix) - Martin Bausch	
11 Aufa (Original Mix) - Marco Hessler	
12 Karakurt (The Venusian Rmx) - Deemkeyne	
13 Moonlite Shadow (Luke Hess DeepLabs Treatment) - Christian Bloch	
14 October 4 (Pablo Bolivar Remake) - Deeperwalk	
15 Red Shift (Original Mix) - Pedro Capelossi, Aeikus	
16 Aldebaran's Radience	(Original Mix) - VIT	
17 VEF Frequency (Original Mix) - Riga Dub Orchestra	
18 Volca Dub (Original Mix) - Insect O.	
19 Conversion (Original Mix) - Nae:Tek, Stygmata	
20 YXC (Original Mix) - Armin Bender	
21 Combinations (Original Mix) - Davor Tosovic	
22 Schwebend (Original Mix) - Giuliano Rodrigues	
23 Mirage (Original Mix) - Nae:Tek, Liuos	
25 Stelline Memories (Original Mix) - Shawn Rudiman

Dubtextures 7 (Dub Techno Studio Mix)

Recorded live at UKG Proper @ The Black Box on August 9th, 2025.

Raised in the vibrant music scene of the Phoenix Valley; Habikki’s musical journey was ignited amidst the backdrop of all-night raves in the Sonoran Desert. Enamored with the dynamic sounds of pitched-up breakbeats he began his deejay career 2000 mashing up Bouncy Hardcore, Jungle, and Drum & Bass. Under the Luvs Kru mantle, Habikki partnered with various collectives throwing events promoting the sound he loved.  Maintaining residencies in Scottsdale, Tempe, Los Angeles, and Las Vegas, Southwestern United States Habikki has been booked UK, Mexico, Canada, India, Spain, and across the US bringing his distinctive blend of fierce percussion and deep basslines to warehouses, pool parties, desert raves, and clubs alike.

Habikki is an active member of the Arizona Hardcore Junkies and Owner of the Luvs Kru.
luvs.org

Recorded live at UKG Proper @ The Black Box on August 9th, 2025.

Recorded live at UKG Proper @ The Black Box on August 9th, 2025.

Tracklisting:
Dublink - Eye Yah (Original) [Silent Motion Records]
Sustance, Catching Cairo - I Want You (Klinical Remix) [Shogun Audio]
HUNTR/X & EJAE & Audrey Nuna & REI AMI & KPop Demon Hunters Cast - Takedown
Shylock - Hot Steppa (Original) [Omertà Recs]
P Money, Flava D - Dutty (Original) [UKF]
Ed Case, Ms Dynamite - HYPE (Moppa & Dekka Remix) [Killer Instinct]
Sigma, Jamakabi, Scrufizzer, Bad Patterns - CHARGIE (feat. Jamakabi) (Bad Patterns Edit) [Day Ones]
De Sluwe Vos, Milion, Kreech, Tommy Chikara, Dan Dusty - OG Anthem (Tisney Crew Edit) [OG Records]
FooR, Emma Cannon - I Got U (Extended) [Garage Shared]
Club Angel - Bruk It (Original) [Astral People Recordings]
Paul Sirrell, Bradderz - Crime Scene Compound (Sikk Speed Garage Extended Club) [crime scene chemistry]
Bushbaby, Eloq - Breaka Breaka (Extended) [PRESSURE RECS]
Deekline, Top Cat, Efan - Ruff Stuff (Original) [Hot Cakes]
Herve - The Rhythm (The Count of Monte Cristal remix) [Cheap Thrills]
Denham Audio, Jianbo - Fuel (Original) [Pure Groove Ltd t/a Locked On]
Tomy - Take It Personal (Original) [Elektroshok Records]
Champion, Irah, Sammy Virji - Dis Badman (Original) [Capitol Records UK]
Flowdan, Sammy Virji - Shella Verse (Extended) [Positiva]
Skrillex, Flowdan, Fred again.. - Rumble (Original) [OWSLA/Atlantic]
MPH, Subten - North LDN (Original) [Night Bass Records]
Skepta, Sammy Virji - Cops & Robbers (Extended) [Positiva]
Scott Garcia, Kris Kiss - Summer Jam (Original) [Loud Music]
Madam Bliss, Gruv42 - With Your Love (Original) [DIRTY KITCHEN RAVE]
Glass Petals - Crazy Shit (Extended) [Night Bass Records]
MPH - Raw (Extended) [Black Book Records]
Shaun Dean - Poison (Original) [Shaun Dean Audio]
Misnoma, Eloquin - Productive (Extended) [No Instruction]
ALRT - All That I Can (Original) [NRG Records]
Interplanetary Criminal, Original Koffee - Slow Burner (Extended) [Room Two Recordings]
The Bootsie Boyz - Bass Shake (Original) [Worse Records]
MÆDM - Murdah Sound (Original) [Out Of Bounds Audio]
Van Damn - Dat's Right (Original) [Southern Fried Records]
Club Angel - Steppin' Up! (Original) [ec2a]
PCKRNG & THT GRL - BRITTLE (Original) [Bowler Recordings]
Lockerz - Hitbox (Original) [Garage Shared]
Ejeca - Jalek (Speed Garage) [Greenisland Records]
Scrufizzer, 33 Below - Attack (feat. Scrufizzer) (feat. Scrufizzer) [Major Recordings/Warner Records]
Isgwan, SAV//BLANK - On A Riddim (Original) [Bad Parrot]
Virus Syndicate - Greatness (Original) [Bad Medic Records]
Diplo, Project Pat, Juicy J - Flashlight (ft. Project Pat & Juicy J) (Slowed) (ft. Project Pat & Juicy J) [d00mscrvll]
Guau - Dangerous (Original) [83]
Deekline, More Fire Crew, Son of Sam (UK) - Local (Original) [Hot Cakes]
P Money, TroyBoi, Hamdi - UK Ting (Original) [Create Music Group]
KMK - Hitman (Original) [83]
K-Lone - Pressure (Original) [Tempa]
Vet3ranz - Break It Down (Original) [Trouble Makers]
Sam Binga, ONHELL, Mulii, Two Swords - Reductions (Original) [Pineapple Records (UK)]

Habikki @ UKG_Proper-Colours

Put together another installment of the Loungin' series for you guys and gals earlier this week, features some dope new tunes and a classic or two, starts off with a couple tracks from Con-Figure's excellent new EP 'The Jazz Cafe' as well as a tune off the homie Kipsy's new EP and several off of Sevin's new release as well, all three are excellent pieces, go ahead and cop those if you haven't already. Pretty happy with the session, it's jazzy and soulful, quick mixing and let a handful of 'em breathe as well, plenty of momentum and flow. Hope you enjoy, thanks for the support and taking the time to listen. Let us know what you think in the comments and give a like and share if you're feeling the vibe! 

Cheers, 

Sw3rv3 👊🎧

Stricktlyswerve@gmail.com 

The Jazz Cafe - Con-Figure
Hold On - Flaco
Just Me - Mackadena
Soul Seeker - Con-Figure
Don't Ever - Kipsy
Hush - Sevin
Slippin - Mackadena
Feeling It - DuoScience, Keel
Handsome Devils - Magnafide, Dubsky
Miami Vice - SubSid, MSDOS
Ride On - SubSid, MSDOS
Magic Moment - Intelligent Manners, Command Strange
All for Nothing - Sevin
Kinda Feeling - Command Strange
Help a Guy Out - Kipsy
Sunset Flow - James Marvel, Hiraeth
Stick Man - Bcee
Choices - Surreal, Malaky
Echo Shift - Anile, Mindstate
Strange Days - Hiraeth
This is Jazz - JazzInspired
Look What You've Done - Bloque
Notes In Blue - Bloque
Breath - Walk:r
Future Forever - Nookie
Another World - Sevin

Sw3rv3 _Loungin' Vol. 4

Bruno FM - Sexy Barbie girl (Radio edit)

The Pains of Being Pure At Heart had quite a run over the last eighteen months. They released their self-titled debut last February to universal acclaim, racking up features in magazines like Spin, Rolling Stone and NME, earning Best New Music status from Pitchfork, and touring the US and Europe non-stop. They began 2010 with a month-long tour of Japan, New Zealand and Australia, and are wrapping it up with a series of west coast dates with labelmates Weekend and a sure-to-be-triumphant return to England.

All the while they've been working on new songs, releasing the excellent single Say No To Love in June and beginning work on their eagerly-anticipated second album. To help bring this new batch of tunes to life they've enlisted the help of producer Flood (Smashing Pumpkins, U2, PJ Harvey) and ace mixer Alan Moulder (My Bloody Valentine, The Jesus & Mary Chain, Arctic Monkeys). The result is a massive sounding album, sonically ambitious but still grounded in the peerless song-craft that The Pains are known for.

"Heart In Your Heartbreak" is the first preview from the new album, and it's a perfect snapshot of where the Pains are headed in 2011. An infectious slice of chunky power-pop with a great beat, sweeping synths and well-placed guitar jangle, it's immediately obvious that the new production team has brought out the best in the band. It's pure Pains all the way, but bolder, louder and more confident.


Billy Bragg - A New England (Cover)

Rev Keith

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