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Rock

Big Scary – Organism

bigscary

Wind up your day with the edgy horn-laden synth-driven underground psych rock feels and contrasting pop-saturated vocals of new track “Organism” from Aussie male-female alt-pop duo Big Scary; who adorn their listener on the track with a well-constructed mesh of sounds from a full-tilt synth-line to some seriously rad A+ sax accents. If you are into Big Scary’s brazenly-subtle indie drenched sound be sure to check out the twosome on tour in North America during September and October for their first shows in over a year. New one “Organism” is out now via Melbourne-based label Pieater. Reviewed by Erin Shay.

Big Scary australia (Soundcloud)

reviewed by
07-29-15

Foreign/National – Pacific Cruise

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Get into the brightly imaginative tangle of Motown-inspired nostaligic-pop (involving a range of sounds from a rad funk guitar groove, heated high-drama-pace breathy-reverb’ed fatalist-vibe vocals and a punctuating-dynamic bass-line) on new Foreign/National track “Pacific Cruise” which we are drawn to for its horn-tinged upbeat-jazzy percussion-ambient vintage vibe and pointed slightly-wry lyrical prose. B3 last covered the warped-vintage-pop/psych-rocker Aussie five-piece for their retro-vibe blissful-downcast atmosphere’d sentimental lo-fi gem “The Hedonist”. “Pacific Cruise” is the first single off of Foreign/National’s next EP that is set to release at an unknown date via DOWNTIME (the same label who rep’d the group’s self-titled debut EP). Good stuff! We are totally stoked to hear more from their upcoming album. Reviewed by Erin Shay.

Foreign/Nationalaustralia (Soundcloud

reviewed by
07-23-15

Foals – Mountain At My Gates

foals

Give an ear to the upbeat-understated psych-guitar reverb’ed atmospherics and deeply soulful darkly-lit quietly-rioting vocals on new track “Mountain At My Gates” from Oxford, UK five-piece band Foals who B3 recently discussed in regards to their righteously punked-out EP debut track “What Went Down”; both songs come off of Foals’ upcoming “What Went Down” EP that releases via Warner on August 28th. Reviewed by Erin Shay.

Foals england (Official)

reviewed by
07-23-15

Heather Woods Broderick – Wyoming

heatherwoodsbroderick

Lose yourself in the sublimely dreamy far-in-the-distance calm-in-the-the-air vibe, carefully-subdued instrumental atmosphere and softly reverberating mix of guitar and melodic vocals on the new mind-soothing trickle-paced track “Wyoming” from B3 new artist find Heather Wood Broderick, who excels on the track (which also features Peter Broderick on drums and Dave Depper on bass) for embodying a catchy, intangible and evocative soulful melancholy in her vocal delivery that may remind of Slowdive. Nice track. Reviewed by Erin Shay.

Heather Woods Broderick (Official)

reviewed by
07-20-15

Promised Land Sound – She Takes Me There

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On their new deeply-rooted psychedelic-guitar-jangly second-EP debut-track “She Takes Me There” Nashville indie band Promised Land Sound dramatically linger amidst some dynamic-instrumentals, stylistically-interesting guitar-chord changes and divine turns of melody. “She Takes Me There” makes a great first-impression sample from the foursome’s psychedelic-expansed “For Use and Delight” EP that is out via Paradise of Bachelors on October 2nd. Curiously the group’s sophomore album features an expanded band which now includes new members from indie rocker groups, The Paperhead and (personal fave) Fly Golden Eagle. Reviewed by Erin Shay.

Promised Land Sound (Facebook)

reviewed by
07-17-15

SOCIETY – Protocol

SOCIETY

A really nice dynamic is struck between a beautifully-wandering thoughtfully-understated scratchy-vibed hip-hop essence, Brendan Lynch’s (Primal Scream, Weller, The Rakes) psychedelic leaning instrumental digs and James Girdler’s UK/Coldplay/U2 school-of-thought vocal atmospherics on new track “Protocol”; which is out via Luv Luv Luv Records on August 21st from UK indie-pop/pop-noir duo act Society (who B3 featured in 2013 for their classic UK-wrought meld of soul/r&b/gospel/hip-hop called “14 Hours”). We particularly enjoy the song’s subtle atmospheric reverb and picturesque horn-laced background terrain. Society also just released a very good deep-messaged beat-trippin’ electro-tinged 60’s-psych rock slow-burner called “We All have A Price” last month. Get into it and be sure to earmark Society for their divinely moody, intricately textured brand of broody drama-tinged vintage-leaning UK pop (noir) that we think stands out against a crowded genre of distinctly British sounding indie pop that’s currently permeating the blogosphere. Well done! Reviewed by Erin Shay.

Society england (Soundcloud)

reviewed by
07-16-15

Tearjerker – Perfect

tearjerker

We’re into the muted atmospheric sensibilities, classic blend of low-key instrumentals and warm hazy-vocaled presence of Toronto dream-pop group Tearjerker on their new down-tempo track “Perfect” which is off the trio’s new album Stay Wild (out on July 17). According to Tearjerker in an online interview with Impose Magazine, the group’s lush-vibe home-recorded album Stay Wild (which was carefully created over three years in the comfort of the band’s own surroundings) is partially about not allowing “life’s curve balls get you down, and alternatively to never grow too complacent even when life seems to be treating you really well”. Interestingly enough, according the the interview Tearjerker is going to have a cassette-tape release of Stay Wild but the group (in keeping with their environmentalist naturalist sensibilities on the project) plan to use natural packaging. We dig the quiet minimalist style, message and well-balanced instrumental demeanor of Tearjerker and look forward to hearing the album in its full-release form very soon. Reviewed by Erin Shay.

Tearjerker (Soundcloud)

reviewed by
07-15-15

Helen – Motorcycle

helen

The relatively new dream-pop collaboration Helen is comprised of super-talented Grouper band lead-vocalist Liz Harris, Eternal Tapestry’s psych-rocker Jed Bindeman and Scott Simmons. Helen also features the background vocal accents of a mystery gal-pal named Helen and oddly enough the group wanted to be a thrash band at first. On their new psych-tinged indie pop track “Motorcycle” the group exude a certain irresistible charm and we especially like their neatly-muted frosted-over vocals and soul-filled reverb-y guitar textures. Helen is about to unleash their debut album, which (the word is) they recorded within the span of several years in Portland. The “Original Faces” EP is out via Kranky on September 4th. Reviewed by Erin Shay.

Helen oregon (Label)

reviewed by
07-13-15

Ballerina Black – Heaven Sent

ballerinablack

Get into the timeless, emotionally-captivating brand of 80’s-inspired gloom/synth-pop from Ballerina Black on the LA trio’s new luscious radio-ready summer dream track, “Heaven Sent”, which features moody-broody vintage-tinged Depeche Mode-vibe new wave style vocals, a vibrantly receptive guitar riff and that ever-present melody-laced synth-line that is beautifully characteristic of the genre. “Heaven Sent” is off of Ballerina Black’s newest EP “Whails”, out now. Reviewed by Erin Shay.

Ballerina Black california (Soundcloud)

reviewed by
07-13-15

Oslo Parks – Slipping Away

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Zone out to the sublime atmospheric alt/synth-pop vibe of multi-instrumentalist producers Rob Flynn & Ian Booth, also known as Oslo Parks, on their new synthed-out luminescent-guitar-accented beauty track “Slippin Away”, which follows the Brighton-based indie duo’s B3-featured soft-edged new wave wonder track “Dress For That”. We really enjoy the dreamy up-beat 80’s-vintage sound of Oslo Parks! Reviewed by Erin Shay.

Oslo Parks (Soundcloud)

reviewed by
07-13-15