Hype Monitor: Crystal Stilts, Mammut and Little Boots

[Rolling_Stone]

Every week, Hype Monitor wades through the most buzzed-about bands all across the Internet. The Band: Crystal Stilts The Buzz: Gloomy New Yorkers drench guitar-pop in echo, making songs that are both dour and irresistible. Listen If: You like your pop songs slow, dark, and low low low. Key Track: "Shattered Shine," where caverns of guitar become a showcase for JB Townsend's lovable, off-key vocals. The Band: Mammut The Buzz: Icelandic quartet goes for the sterner stuff, kicking out tense, terse post-punk. Listen If: You always wished Bjork was just a tiny bit angrier. Key Track: "Svenfnsykt," where vocalist Kata pouts and huffs and coos over loop after loop of razor-wire riffage. The Band: Little Boots The Buzz: London vocalist makes hyperkenetic dance music with fat streaks of synths and big, booming beats. Listen If: You want your electronic music to be imposing instead of inviting. Key Track: "Meddle," fast and frantic, full of odd synth squiggles and dubstep bass booms, all window dressing for Little Boots' little pout.

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