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Track Reviews

Premiere: AYER – Black Diamond

AYER

Brooklyn’s AYER, the much-lauded project of vocalist Danny Schmittler, today releases the large and immense pop opus “Black Diamond”. While breakout tracks “Young” and “Circle Down” maneuvered within their R&B & electronic music-tinged pop frame with more subtle dynamics and ease of pace; “Black Diamond” aims at and 100% center-splits the target of big, well-constructed, infinitely catchy ambitious pop. From the track’s verses-so-strong they could be choruses to its even more giant refrains, “Black Diamond” is a clear starmaking moment for AYER. Sample the B3 premiere of “Black Diamond” below and look for the track available on iTunes now.

AYER newyork (Soundcloud) (Twitter) (Instagram)

Rating: 8.3

brown8

reviewed by
04-24-14

As Elephants Are – Went Wrong

aselephantsare

“Went Wrong”, the new single from UK band As Elephants Are, is the Buckinghamshire four-piece’s best track to date. Constructed of the components of breakout melancholic UK rock; huge guitar atmospheres fomenting drama, instantly in your head soaring melodies, and just the right amount of incident in the lyric, “Went Wrong” is the caliber of track that given the correct push and exposure could just level and decimate Radio 1 and beyond. As Elephants Are’s “Hand Print”s EP is due May 5th.

As Elephants Are england (Facebook)

Rating 8.2

brown93

reviewed by
04-23-14

Lorde – Tennis Court (Flume Remix)

lorde

As with any Flume-related project, the Aussie beatman’s new remix for Lorde‘s “Tennis Court” is fantastic. What’s more interesting maybe is the idea that is this remix exists or the notion that Lorde’s label (and Lorde who is easily a Top 10 biggest music star in the world right now) would turn to Flume first to add a boost to a lukewarmly performing single. The question then follows; has Flume arrived beyond blogland? Can Flume on the next record crossover/breakout on pop radio? This new remix is, if for visibility’s sake only, a step toward that reality.

Flume australia (Facebook) (Soundcloud)

Rating 8.4

brown8

reviewed by
04-23-14

Premiere: Cousin Matt – Second Heart

Cousin Matt

Cousin Matt is the moniker of a new duo of actual cousins, one called Zach and, yes, one called Matt. From a shared and historic musical lineage (the twosome’s grandfather played trumpet with Benny Goodman and Gene Krupa), Cousin Matt combine a diffuse yet complementary palette as is evidenced on new song “Second Heart” threading together pop, indie, hip hop & R&B into a contemporary melange of standout melody and tunefulness. The intense quality of “Second Heart” is indicative of a very serious talent you need to pay attention. Listen to the B3 premiere of “Second Heart” below and look out soon for a debut EP.

Cousin Matt (Facebook)

Rating 8.5

brown8

reviewed by
04-23-14

TEEMID & Julia – Love At First Sight (Kylie Minogue)

kylie

French producer TEEMID who’s successfully mixed warm/breathy female-led indie-dance covers of popular songs; including favorites like Gnarls’ “Crazy”, Flight Facilities’ “Crave You”, and this new version of one of the 2000’s best pop songs, “Love At First Sight” from Kyle Minogue. Joining TEEMID on the expertly crafted “Love At First Sight” is the comforting vocal of the frontwoman of Scottish act Julia & the Doogans.

TEEMID france (Soundcloud) (Facebook)

Rating 8.6

brown8

reviewed by
04-23-14

Premiere: Chris Batson – A Thousand Pieces

ChrisBatson_Press2_FORWEB

Rising L.A.-based (via Orlando FL) singer Chris Batson‘s writing/producing ably blends the best bits of R&B, dance music and pop. Marrying the spatially expansive sound of contemporary EDM with skilled soul-informed pop songwriting, Batson is adept at creating both the mechanics of memorable alt-R&B as well as a most compelling, highly personal lyrical arc. We’re pleased to present below the premiere of the excellent “A Thousand Pieces” from Chris Batson. p.s. If you’re in L.A., catch Chris at The Bootleg on Friday May 19th.

Chris Batson california (Official) (Twitter)

Rating 8.4

reviewed by
04-22-14

ZHU – Cocaine Model

zhu

The mindblower ZHU (of “Superfriends” & “Faded” fame) released his debut Nightday EP yesterday. Our pick from the very strong (seriously, every track on this EP is outstanding) 6-track set is the sun-soaked and soulful “Cocaine Model” (which is about pretty much what it’s title suggests it would be). You need this EP right now.

ZHU (Soundcloud)

Rating 8.3

brown8

reviewed by
04-21-14

Vanessa Elisha – Midnight Swim

vanessaelisha

“Midnight Swim” is the new one from Aussie R&B songstress Vanessa Elisha. Framed by a grimy heavy on the low-end and hypnotic syncopations, “Midnight Swim” achieves a neat dynamic both through Vanessa’s ethereal lighter-than-air vocal and its juxtaposition against the darker instrumental and thematically too as that heavy/light counter-positioning is central to the lyric. A+

Vanessa Elisha (Soundcloud)

Rating 8.3

brown8

reviewed by
04-21-14

Freewxrld – Welcome

freewxrld

“Heartbreaker. I’m the young Tom Petty.” South Florida emcee Freewxrld bodies a vibey Tony Yuniverse instrumental on new one “Welcome” which is excerpted below from the just-released W2F mixtape.

Freewxrld (Soundcloud)

Rating 8.3

brown8

reviewed by
04-18-14

Iggy Azalea – Black Widow (Feat. Rita Ora)

iggy

Island/Def Jam high priority Iggy Azalea knocks out a new trap-ish single with UK popstress Rita Ora. “Black Widow” shines especially in its dark melody tap “Beez in the Trap”-esque verses where the maybe underrated as rhymer Iggy does some serviceable work. While fine in isolation, Ora’s hook is a bit awkward juxtaposed against the musicality of Iggy’s verses but Katy Perry’s “Dark Horse” worked in a similar template and succeeded all the same. “Black Widow” isn’t quite “Dark Horse” but it’s definitely holding a bit of potential pop radio shine.

Iggy Azalea (Twitter)

Rating 8.3

brown8

reviewed by
04-18-14

Tourist – Patterns (Feat. Lianne La Havas)

tourist

Will Phillips a/k/a Tourist a/k/a one of indie dance’s current most sought after gets an assist from the great Lianne La Havas on new track “Patterns”. “Patterns” hits that perfect and much grasped at grail/nexus of 2014 indie dance and 90’s Whitney; the big gospel-y chorus is particularly standout in that way. “Patterns” is the third single from Tourist’s upcoming EP of the same name and it’s out April 20th in the UK on Method Records and April 22nd in the US on Monday Records.

Tourist (Soundcloud)

Rating 8.5

brown8

reviewed by
04-18-14

Sophia Black – OVR AGN (Prod. BASECAMP)

sophiablack

Risers BASECAMP provide a lush, low touch R&B track for songstress Sophia Black on the excellent “OVR AGN”. The L.A. singer’s sophomore single (“OVR AGN” is the follow-up to the more pop-leaning but still great “Kissing”), “OVR AGN” is great pop songwriting; melodically A+; wall to wall airtight w/ inventive hookiness; and its, most importantly, just accessible enough to current trends in R&B (there’s a definite bit of Jhene Aiko in “OVR AGN”‘s DNA) to possess that essential familiarity that all great pop succeeds on.

Sophia Black california (Soundcloud)

Rating: 8.3

brown8<

reviewed by
04-17-14