New UK band PREP make their B3SCI and online debut with feel good late 70’s/early 80’s R&B-inspired “Cheapest Flight”. The band are comprised of an unusual lineup of a hip hop producer, opera composer, house DJ & singer songwriter which as distilled down in “Cheapest Flight” does make sense as a melange of Steely Dan meets Al Green on a cool boat with a way solid horns section that just loves to “put it down”. Listen.
PREP 
(Soundcloud)
We like the intense-natured high-brow minimalism, syrupy-shuffled pace and deeply emotive synth-heavy metallic-percussion-centered instrumental dynamic of LA’s genre-defying producer Kastle on his beautifully steely new late-night zone-out dance-floor-creeper remix of Tinashe’s hit Drake cover “Days in the West”. Reviewed by Erin Shay.
Kastle 
(Soundcloud)
Back in June, we premiere Jojee’s excellent debut track “I Don’t Give A” which went on to cruise into the Hypem Top 5 on the weight of its immediate infectiousness and high level pop songwriting. Jojee’s back with a follow-up that we adore in the form of the soft-edged mid-tempo joint “Think Of Anything”. Stream below and get psyched for more Jojee music in the very near future.
Jojee 
(Soundcloud)
Portland duo Pure Bathing Culture preview what is to come from their second album, Pray For Rain, with the recently released eponymous single. Layers of lush guitar and synth on “Pray For Rain” showcase how the group has really refined their sound, potenially paving the way for a breakout album. Listen to the song below and see them live starting in August. Reviewed by Tony Perkis.
Pure Bathing Culture 
(Label)
We fully appreciate new track “Kitty Kat” from New York artist Lorely Rodriguez a.k.a. Empress Of for its very unique superbly-edgy synth-led sound, sweet hot-tempered severity and awesome Siouxsie and the Banshees punk-as-f feminist-vibe vocals. The new track is the second single to release off of Empress Of’s upcoming “Me” EP after her excellent EP debut-single “Water Water” which was originally out in Spanish as “Agua Agua”. Reviewed by Erin Shay.
Empress Of (Soundcloud)
A B3 favorite, London multi-instrumentalist producer/vocalist Tom Misch, turns in a stunner Sam Wills-vocaled original track “In The Midst Of It All” which playfully traverses a quietly-subtle melody and folky-guitar-infused overt simplicity that pleases our ears and brings out the bright side in our day. Good news for fans of Tom Misch, he plans to release a new track every Thursday in August until his upcoming Beat Tape 2 drops on August 28th; “In The Midst Of It All” is his first single to release from the compilation. We really dig the song’s vibrantly calming instrumentals, amazing soft-sultry hum-along vocals, and warm-cheerful bell-tone-saturated atmospheric vibe. Awesome song. Reviewed by Erin Shay.
Tom Misch 
(Soundcloud)
Summer vibes are alive on the infectious “So Good” from Seattle band Beat Connection. Though not a new song (played here on KEXP back in 2013 (approx 20:02), the dudes got a new deal (ANTI- Records) and are, as it follows, prepping a new album due out in the fall. Scope “So Good” below. Reviewed by Tony Perkis.
Beat Connection 
(Facebook)
We adore the warmly-inviting profoundly-lovely poetic-dreamy vocal feels and stunningly emotive synth-led instrumental presence of new track “Legion” a sublimely melodic downtempo-paced dynamo from the new-to-B3 UK newcomer-act aptly called Tender, which is comprised of a core group of long-time producer friends. “Legion” is the debut track for Tender who also just released a new one today called “Armor”; which excels equally for its mildly-delivered vulnerable-sided vocals, soft-falling-instrumentals-based undercurrent and a sweetly-reverberant overall sense-calming vibe. We are impressed with the simple accomplished quality of Tender and (despite this short encounter) have placed them on our mental list of 2015 new artists to watch. Reviewed by Erin Shay.
TENDER (Soundcloud)
Get a load of the wildly dynamic synth-heavy harmonics and rhythmically vibrant beat-peppered metallic percussion of new track “On You” from London producer Draper who enlists the out-of-this-world sultry vocals of Alby Hobbs (which we are drawn to for their deep soulfully-emotive qualities and varying highly-expressive range of style). Well done! Reviewed by Erin Shay.
Draper (Soundcloud)
Get enthralled by the soulfully sonorous male-female vocal juxtaposition (including a new interpret of Faker’s classic catchy hook) and a beautiful artistically-laid seamless meld of old and new on Chet Faker’s new golden-vocaled Banks-infused indie-dance reinterpret of “1998”, his poppy r&b banger hit from last year. Faker’s newest interpretation of “1998” recently premiered on Zane Lowe’s Beats 1 and helped to launch his world tour (which kicks off on July 31st). Reviewed by Erin Shay.
7/31: Montreal, Canada @ Osheaga Music & Arts Festival
08/01: Chicago, IL @ Lollapalooza Music & Arts Festival
08/03: Denver, CO @ Gothic Theatre
08/04: Denver, CO @ Gothic Theatre
08/07: San Francisco, CA @ Outside Lands
08/15: Seattle, WA @ 1077 The End Summer Camp 2015
08/16: Portland, OR @ KNRK 94.7 Birthday Concert
08/22: Los Angeles, CA @ FYF Fest
10/30: Melbourne, AUS @ Arts Centre Melbourne, Sidney Myer Music Bowl
10/31: Brisbane, AUS @ Riverstage
11/06: Sydney, AUS @ Sydney Opera House Forecourt
11/07: Sydney, AUS @ Sydney Opera House Forecourt
Chet Faker 
(Soundcloud
IYES are the Brighton duo of Josh Christopher and Melis Soyaslanová. We expected big things from IYES in 2015 and are happy to hear that conjecture realized on the pair’s sweetly-riotous self-affirming new track “No Wonder”, which we dig for its beautifully harmonic vocals, emotive conversation-like cheer-me-up songwriting dynamic and groovy boldly-punctuating perfectly-timed synth accents. Written, produced and mixed by IYES, ”No Wonder” is off the the duo’s recently-released Love By Mistake-rep’ed 4-song EP which includes the catchy a-side tune “So Crazy”. Reviewed by Erin Shay.
IYES (Soundcloud)
