b3 fave Giraffage takes the whole dreamscape R&B/hip hop beats thing that’s become so popular in the last 6-12 months next level. Stay tuned for Giraffage’s “Needs” mixtape (from which “Thinking About You” is excerpted) up in your area February 12th.
Giraffage 
(Facebook)
Rating 8.3
Moxi is the Los Angeles-based team of singer-songwriter Anna Nelson and producer multi-instrumentalist Andy Toy. “Terrible Disguise” is the lead single from Nelson & Toy’s debut EP as Moxi, “In My Dreams”. Melodic clattering synths, big backbeats and a solid dose of adept pop songwriting make “Terrible Disguise” an excellent intro to the duo; see what you think below.
Moxi – Terrible DisguiseMoxi (Facebook)
Rating 8.3
Check out “14 Februari” a beautifully arresting re-interpretation of Aunt Sade’s (Happy Birthday btw) classic “I Never Thought I’d See The Day” by Swedish act Houston. Expect a full length from Houston later this year.
Houston – 14 FebruariHouston 
(Tmblr)
Rating 8.6
“Celwydd”, which is Welsh for “pizza”, marks the return of rising soulful electronic musician Ifan Dafydd. The gorgeous “Celwydd” is built on multi-layered skillfully interspliced vocals (one of which could very well be Adele?) and smoother-styled garage rhythms. “Celwydd” is a definite strong return.
Ifan Dafydd – CelwyddIfan Dafydd 
(Twitter) (Facebook)
Rating 8.5
The self-proclaimed folktronica wünderkind Blackbird Blackbird recently let loose a magical remix of the well liked “Even Though”, by Giraffage and XXYYXX. The track boasts a great use of space and really brings out the best elements of the original song, it’s an impressive piece of production. San Francisco based Blackbird Blackbird hits the road soon with Starfucker for a little over a month of dates in the US, and then, just announced, will go to Europe in May with the above mentioned XXYYXX, Giraffage, as well as Slow Magic and Beat Culture. By Brian Litwin
Giraffage & XXYYXX – Even Though (Blackbird Blackbird Remix)Blackbird Blackbird (Facebook)
Rating 8.3
“Kill Kill Kill” by Swedish trip-hop journeymen Club 8 is likely the most chill pro-vegetarianism paean you’ll ever hear. Club 8 is currently wrapping up their 8th studio album, which should see release by year’s end.
Club 8 – Kill Kill KillClub 8 (Official)
Rating 8.1
The DJ’s responsibility is to get the crowd moving. Mike Simonetti takes this quite literally. His alias Billions & Billions (with vocalist Monty Luke) actually tells you to dance throughout “The Dance”. You can’t help but listen and enjoy his directions and rants alongside the uplifting beat. Don’t girls love a man that can get them to shake their bodies to music? You like how I wrote that, yeahhh.. By Teddy Pendergrass
Billions & Billions – The DanceBillions & Billions 
(Soundcloud)
Rating 8.3
The collaboration between producer Dawaun Parker and LA-based R&B singer Phil Beaudreau yields another class track. Galvanized by an excellent lot of melodies and some next level production, “Anyway” is smooth and slow jammy without sounding hokey or derivative. We are into it.
Phil Beaudreau – Anyway [Interlude]Phil Beaudreau (Soundcloud)
Rating 8.2
Ruddyp steps up with a blissed out new beats track. “Maybe” got some of the punch of its more trap-y type peers but with an additional (gorgeous) melodic component that makes the track something really special. A+
Ruddyp – MaybeRuddyp 
(Facebook)
Rating 8.4
The Dinosaur Man a/k/a/ Oxford electronic artist and Django Unchained support character Orlando Higginbottom dials up a beautifully dynamic new take on Foals recent “My Number” single. Get it girl.
Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs 
(Facebook)
Rating 8.3
Of course we love this. Still, everytime we hear the 50 year old man component of this track rap about make-up sex, it’s a little weird. Welcome back, JT.
Justin Timberlake – Suit & TieJustin Timberlake 
(Official)
Rating 8.4
MØ, who you may remember from her equally excellent “Pilgrim” single from last year, returns with the world music-influenced Santigold-esque “Glass”. For the track, complex labyrinthine rhythmic structures & hyperkinetic guitar melodies support MØ’s syrupy sweet alto. We are into it.
MØ – GLASSMØ 
(Facebook)
Rating 8.342
