Out now on Egghunt Records is “Juice” the new EP for Richmond VA band Camp Howard. The summery title track sets a neat balance that we’re digging between clear, hooky pop writing and hazier/more meandering bits of guitar and melody. Stream “Juice” below.
The Fred Cox-produced (Lion Babe, Janelle Monae) “Comfortably Me” is impeccable new pop from UK singer based in London Chloe Leone.
Coventry UK songwriter Jordan Mackampa streams percussive immediate missive “Battlecry”, the follow-up to also strong “Saint” from March.
New favorite Nilufer Yanya will release the agronomically-titled “Plant Feed” EP via Blue Flowers Music on June 9th. A component part of the EP is the horns-led “Golden Cage” which explores the more hook-driven side of Yanya’s refreshing sound and is available to stream below.
Brika focuses her aim on major Spotify/radio crossover “Don’t Want Your Love”, the strongest, most accessible track to date from the Miami singer.
“Funny Farm” is new from Australian singer now based in Toronto Hoodlem. The dark pop track glides about 3:29 duration powered by a propulsive bass figure and a sharp set of syncopated electronics, topped off by Hoodlem’s cool and compelling vocal. Hoodlem will play Birthdays in London on May 18th in support of George Maple.
We’re very pleased at B3 to premiere “Sandcastle State of Mind”, the latest track from Brooklyn-based artist Peter Wise. We love love love this song melodically. There are many special turns of melody throughout the track but are our favorite is that bit at 1:55 where the main vocal goes into falsetto and the key changes – just supreme. About the song, Wise says, “‘Sandcastle State Of Mind’ is an introspective song about the battle between self versus society: a frustration in the dichotomy between the founding principles one was built on versus the principles that seem to govern the culture at large. I’ve always enjoyed those songs that seem catchy and carefree on the surface but are really saying something when you dig into the lyrics, so I wanted to create something that can be a summer anthem of sorts with a darker underbelly.” We hope you dig “Sandcastle State of Mind” as much as we do! Stream the B3 premiere below.
“Which Way Is South” is the debut track online for the LA/NYC duo of Aaron Mendelssohn and Ariel Loh a/k/a Drinker. The minimal, transportative “Which Way Is South” (as well as a forthcoming EP) is the result of a two month collaboration between composer Loh (who recently scored Sundance film The Eyes Of My Mother) and songwriter Mendelssohn (formerly of Brooklyn band The Yes Way). “Which Way Is South” is the first stream from Drinker’s “Happy Accident” EP which is coming soon from Dollar Slice Records. Stream the B3SCI Premiere of “Which Way Is South” below and if you’re in L.A. you can catch Drinker at Hotel Cafe on May 10th.
We’re very pleased to premiere the excellent “Poison in the Water”, the new track from Atlanta-based sister trio Von Grey. The track which rides a tough-edged ominous (but no less very catchy) groove and a cleverly-arranged set of instrumentals brimming with menace and potency has it’s origin in VG’s love for brooding compositions, “We’ve always been attracted to dark soundscapes, and have spent our recent months & years reconstructing our sense of experimental musicality. “Poison In The Water” is our most recent attempt at marrying our musical sensibility with our collective personal and social state of mind.” Continuing the band says about “Poison in the Water”, “(it’s) is a song that’s simultaneously introverted and focused on external observations/disillusions. We’re living in a time ripe with suspicion and suspense, yet lacking in privacy. And somehow, through it all, so many are able to live in a bubble of complacency.” “Poison in the Water” is a formidable bit of dark pop with a strength to it that is particularly electric. Stream the B3SCI Premiere of “Poison in the Water” from Von Grey below.
Thank you music gods and goddesses for gracing me with the beautiful track, “Helium” by Tigers Are Bad For Horses. It’s the only thing getting me through finals right now. The energetic tone of this track demands your attention; not to mention the bumpin bassline and the scintillating synths go together like peanut butter and jelly. Stream “Helium” and see for youself.
“Shatter”, the latest from Brighton band GAPS, is set to a minimal (almost hymnal) aesthetic ruddered around hypnotic whirl of repeated synth stabs and arpeggios. We’re very into “Shatter’s” fresh, trend-agnostic sound.
