We featured Romanian producer VILLAGE and his excellent original mix for “Dive” last month. Here he spins a generous helping of melody and cool breeze into Neon Hitch’s “Gucci Gucci” cover.
Neon Hitch – Gucci Gucci (VILLAGE Edit)ViLLΛGE 
(Facebook)
Rating 8.6
Having opened for the likes of Hot Chip and Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs, and thus recently being signed to the Berlin-London dance collective/record label that houses Hot Chip, Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs, and Disclosure amongst others, one would think that Marius Lauber aka Roosevelt is the next best thing coming out of Germany and the Euro Electro-Pop scene. A release like “Soleil”, only helps back up such a claim. With a sunny disposition and indie dance beat, I can’t help but think about driving on the Pacific Coast Highway and just staring into the Ocean. Roosevelt has some spot dates to end the year in Germany, Belgium, Paris and Luxembourg, but we’ll expect him to be State side for different shows/fests very soon. By Brian Litwin
Roosevelt – SoleilRoosevelt 
(Facebook) (Purchase)
Rating 8.4
Ellie Goulding recently layed down this intimate acoustic version of her single “Anything Could Happen” while rooftop at The Standard Hotel in Downtown LA, for an exclusive session with VEVO GO. Some of team B3SCI were in the audience for the taping of this secret set and we must say… we were quite impressed with the singer-songwriter. Fighting the noise of the busy downtown streets below and even helicopters above, Ellie and her band nailed the performace with noteworty grace. Ms. Goulding’s new album Halcyon is out now and Ellie will be going on tour again this December. Needless to say her show is a don’t miss. Words by Brian Litwin / Photos by Russ Ramos
Ellie Goulding 
(Official) (Purchase Halcyon on iTunes)
Following up the success of their first single, “Cough Cough”, today Everything Everything has made available for stream the next single from their new 2013 LP Arc. “Kemosabe” comes prepared, bearing that pragmatic rock that you know and love from Everything x 2, and with some stellar vocal hooks to boot. Their forthcoming is already a top our list of album’s to watch for in the new year, and this only adds to the excitement! Preview “Kemosabe” below.
Everything Everything (Facebook)
Rating 8.1
Experimental-songstress Lowell recently collaborated with super collective Apparatjik (Coldplay/Mew/A-Ha) to present the ear catching track, “Shake Him Off”. Now she’s teamed up with illustrious label, AllSaints, and their exclusive Basement Session series. We’ve got a first look at their new re-interpretation of “Shake Him Off”, which sees Lowell sampling and looping her way through the catchy track. An additional performance of Lowell’s song “Kids” will be live tomorrow at the AllSaints site here. Also, be sure to check out Lowell’s new and debut mini-album If You Can Solve This Jumble.
The b3sci crew can’t resist the siren’s bleat of a good ukulele tune. The cool team at Stones Throw let loose today “Saturday Night” by Australian artist Jonti; and as far as ukulele tunes go, the vaguely exotic sounding track is a definite keeper.
Jonti The Faults 
(Facebook)
Rating 8.3
We’ve been fans of rising UK songwriter Josh Kumra for a little while now. “Waiting For You”, his newest track, is one of those “put it all together” moments. Kumra’s realized here potential hinted at in previous singles and focused through one soulful, hook-laden, skillfully-crafted pop track.
Josh Kumra – Waiting For YouJosh Kumra (Facebook)
Rating 8.2
Brooklyn based duo Lovelife (LVLF) recently let loose on “Heavenly”, a new hook-latent gem that’s previewed here from their forthcoming EP, The Fourth Floor. “Heavenly” sees the duo’s emotions rise and fall through melodic states of optimistic euphoria, all while set to the backdrop of dance-floor readied R&B pop. It’s likely you’ve come accross LVLF before, either through gigs with the likes of The Neighourhood, Fitz and the Tantrums and St. Lucia, or via various official remix projects for The Killers and Everything Everything to name a few. Keep this duo on your radar and get familiar with “Heaven” below.
Lovelife – HeavenLovelife 
(Soundcloud)
Rating 8.3
Beloved sticksman Daniel Haggis of The Wombats is aka Dan The Man. His new and self-titled solo debut dishes out some proper pop that your ears are sure to fancy. All songs on the album were written and produced by Haggis, as he himself explains, “it’s a collection of songs I made over several years and was recorded in Liverpool during 2009/2010. Having toured for most of 2007/2008 I wanted to get off the drum kit and into the studio for a little change of scenery so I called a few friends and started recording what turned into this album.” While Dan The Man does harken the quirky brit-pop we know and love at the heart of The Wombats, Haggis’ collection of clever odes is particularly full of whimsy, and theatrics, all of which highlight the vast breadth of his own creative headspace. Third track on the album, “Everybody, Nobody” is a standout. The musically catchy anthem is somewhat a cheeky slap in the face with it’s darker tinged lyrics depicting the realities of fucked up society. The perfect tune for decades of jukebox diving at your next favourite watering hole.
Dan The Man – Everybody, NobodyDan The Man 
(Bandcamp)
Rating 8.3
Canadian producer J.u.D. dials up a winner with a lights out re-do of Rihanna’s “You Da One” from last year. #heatercoolers
Rihanna – You Da One (J.u.D. Remix)J.u.D. 
(Soundcloud)
Rating 8.5
“You” is the latest song to drop via the forthcoming and second EP from The 1975. The closing track on the Manchester collective’s Sex EP, “You” couldn’t be an any more appropriate climactic conclusion with it’s melodic climb to the top of the world. It’s an anthem of the most telling sort. We recently had the chance to chat with The 1975 about their forthcoming EP, debut album in the works, R&B inspiration and more, you can check out the Q&A in full here.
The 1975 (Facebook)
Rating 8.6
Nashville via Cape Town band Civil Twilight released their second LP Holy Weather back in March. Now reloaded with a remix EP at the fore, the band looks to expose their indie rock and roll-friendly sound to new ears. The standout of the six-track EP is Ra Ra Riot’s dance pop take on “River” which succeeds on its clever reimagining of the original instrumentation and a lights out new spin on the song’s chorus.
Civil Twilight – River (Ra Ra Riot Remix)Civil Twilight 
(
