Data Panik

You want the bad news or the good news first?
The bad news (you’re so predictable): Scottish electro-pop-punkers Bis are no more. Kaput. Finito. The band that gave us the theme song to the Powerpuff Girls is dead.
The good news: original Bis members Manda, Steven, and John have been joined by two other lads to form Data Panik. The torch has been passed. Now aren’t you glad you heard the good news last?

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Sub Dub

First DJ Wally, now another from my mid-’90s rotation… Not just a clever moniker, Sub Dub is fairly descriptive of the musical niche that Raz “Badawi” Mesinai and John “J-Dub” Ward carved out for themselves. Though laced with dub’s signature buoyancy, their sound is inspired by the grit and murk of urban life — as opposed to the cosmic influence of some of their neo-dub contemporaries. And speaking of Wally, there’s a possible thread here: the strange caterwaul sample that emerges with about 1:00 left in “Dawa Zangpo” sounds uncannily similar to the one found in DJ Wally’s “Outta My Head.” I could be wrong though, as I don’t have the latter track with me as I write this. I’ll get out my forensics kit and get back to you…unless, of course, someone out there beats me to it.

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The Helio Sequence

So we just got schooled by one of our fine readers. Brittany P. wrote in with a “Currently Listening To” list of 45 bands. Everyone from The Books to Slowdive to Galaxie 500 to Boards of Canada. Then at the very end of the list was this little note: “I’m surprised none of these bands are on 3hive.” Everyone should know that we often surprise ourselves with what we haven’t featured on 3hive. It’s those surprises that keep us doing what we do. And I believe a reminder of what we do is in order: we only feature MP3s that are provided by the artists or their labels. We made that decision early on and it’s helped to differentiate us from the crazy amounts of audioblogs out there. There are a ton of bands we’d love to feature, like the ones mentioned above, but they don’t have free and legal MP3s available. That said, Brittany’s list is highly useful as I’m sure she includes more obvious oversights on our part. Like The Helio Sequence. So listen, enjoy their space-gazing sound, and if you live in the western part of the United States, be sure you see them on tour. And keep those suggestions coming!

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DJ Enso

While Enso and I have a couple things in common (a penchant for slip-on shoes and Russian philosopher Mikhail Bakhtin) the present disconnect between my life and life reflected in “High Spirits” is comical. While plenty of you are likely “up in the club / hold[ing] your drinks high” this evening (it’s currently Saturday night), I’m sitting at home in a pair of slippers sipping chocolate soy milk. That doesn’t keep me from knowing a hot party track when I hear one. Slip “High Spirits” into your party playlist and you’ll have ’em eating out of your hand at the next mixer.

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DJ Wally

Maybe I always felt a kinship to DJ Wally because his ferret is (was?) named Sam, too. More importantly, Keef DeStefano, as his parents named him, holds a place in my heart because of the role he’s played in the soundtrack of my life. See, in the mid- to late-’90s, Keef was a double threat — as DJ Wally, he’d record abstract beatscapes with a hip-hop undertow; as Pish Posh, he’d fire off rounds of infectious Big Apple drum ‘n’ bass. So I could turn to him to bring me up or chill me out. And I did. Often. These days, DJ Wally’s writing a new chapter in his discography, making music for TV shows and producing/DJing for NY rappers Proximity Minds (check Wally’s MySpace page for an audio taste). For those who haven’t had the pleasure of making his aquaintance, I introduce you to a man and his ferret…

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Absinthe Glow

Thanks to Greg for suggesting Absinthe Glow, a band often compared to late 3hive fan favorite Elliott Smith. Chill out music, early morning music, music for the long drive, for the late late night alone, for looking out the window. This is anti-punk rock provided by Scott from the punk band The Fairlanes, and a new album’s worth should be forthcoming shortly.

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Architecture in Helsinki

3hive fan and former student of mine Max says these guys are “the new hotness.” (He had terrible punctuation and capitalization in his e-mail message touting the band, so maybe that B+ I gave him in Composition was a bit of a gift, eh?) “Australia’s indie-pop chamber orchestra,” according to Bar None, offers up a great windows-down, warm-weather treat here, a version of their track “Do the Whirlwind” remixed by the UK’s Metronomy. Check the band’s website for a video of the original version of the song and assorted other treats.

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The Soviettes

Frenzied. Snarling. Catchy. Fun. The first four words that describe the Soviettes. Not to be confused wtih the Soviets. The perfect soundtrack for working out at the gym on the Stair Master. Just be careful not to break the thing!

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Candy Bars

TAKE 5 and enjoy this BOUNTY from the Candy Bars. These 3 MUSKETEERS are pretty M-AZING considering the sounds they TWIX from their instruments. A TART-N-TINY SYMPHONY. OH HENRY! you’ll say to yourself. This is the best thing I’ve heard from Florida lately BAR NONE. And don’t SNICKER but they look good too: Daniel and Ryan are BIG HUNKS, and Melissa is a DOVE. LOOK! U-NO you and your friends will be GOOD & PLENTY pleased to have this album. When May ROLO’s around and you SKOR on PAYDAY be sure to buy this GOLDEN COLLECTION of dark TREASURES. Then tell S’MORES of your friends. They’ll be indebted to you to the tune of 100 GRAND.

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