The gorgeous downtempo pop of “A Place to Call A Home” is the debut single from Surrey UK duo Traces. Wow.
Traces 
: (Soundcloud)
Rating: 8.6
The gorgeous downtempo pop of “A Place to Call A Home” is the debut single from Surrey UK duo Traces. Wow.
Traces : (Soundcloud)
Rating: 8.6
23 year old Yale grad blogger fave Conner Youngblood takes a stab at Arcade Fire-esque big sounding indie pop and mostly succeeds with “Confidence”. A soaring verse buoyed by arena-sized marching drums complements a more Youngblood-styled abstract chorus framed by hip hop & electronic elements (and while that melange of instrumentation reads like a potential disaster in the making, Youngblood ably manages it).
Conner Youngblood 
(Soundcloud)
Rating 8.5
Blackbird Blackbird’s “This Is Nowhere” is one of the most melodically stunning songs of the year. BB’s Tangerine Sky is due in May on OM.
Blackbird Blackbird 
(Facebook)
Rating 8.3
“Opposite of Low” is the second single from “Who Knows”, the new EP from Glasgow-based artist Jon Cooper a/k/a Turtle. “Opposite of Low” is built around a simmering drone of menacing electronics, clattering percussion, and a hypnotic repeating vocal figure; it’s the supporting elements, however, where the track is particularly special as Cooper expertly bends and molds varying swells of synth and other dynamics to create compelling points of tension and tautness. “Who Knows” is out March 3rd on Beatnik.
Turtle 
(Soundcloud)
Rating 8.5
One of the hottest emerging names in the indie dance space Saint Pepsi adds his signature “velvet touch” to “Nevermind the End” by BK artist Tei Shi. With “Nevermind the End”, SP selects for a warm mix of soothing synth atmospheres and comforting vocal layering; a perfectly concocted elixir to de-stress with. We’re into it.
Saint Pepsi 
(Soundscloud)
Rating 8.4
Oceaán’s self-titled debut EP is shaping up to be a really handsome offering. This latest cut ‘Turned Away’ is pushing in the same direction as the likes of Ben Khan – with it’s engulfing swirl of vocals wrapped around a melay of percussion and distorted synths that leap out of the mix like solar flares. The entire package will be released March 31st on Chess Club Records and this world will be all the better for it. By Nathan Hetherington
Oceaán : (Soundcloud)
Rating: 8.6
Madeon, the fresh-faced wunderkind (or I guess in this case “enfant prodige”?) of French house drops today an unreleased demo recorded several years prior. The high energy track, however, sounds entirely fresh somehow; indicating (by its release if anything), a fresh direction from one of the dance genre’s best talents/prospects/hopes.
Madeon 
(Soundcloud) (Facebook)
Rating 8.6
Hate on Coldplay all you want, the sob-pop bros just keep gettin’ dollars. Martin & co. have never (for the better permutations Viva La Vida or the worse X&Y) been bashful about pushing/changing up their sound; which for as Leviathan-sized an act as Coldplay are, they don’t get the credit for that they should. “Midnight” is, while a bit of surprise stylistically (there’s some definite Bon Iver/James McMorrow creepin’ goin’ on in the Chris & Gwyneth household); the caliber of the track and its adventurousness otherwise (the more obtuse dance elements of “Midnight” are particularly rewarding) is an even larger (and very pleasant) positive surprise. Welcome back, Coldplay.
Coldplay : (Official)
Rating: 8.6
We’re psyched here at B3SCI to announce our release of “Sweet Ophelia” the debut single from the ultra-talented songwriter Zella Day. We first tipped you to Zella way back in the summer of 2011, when our unearthing of her dusty stunning cover of “Seven Nation Army” led to her grabbing the #1 spot on the Hype Machine Chart. Fast forward to 2014 and the release of the dark pop of “Sweet Ophelia” which is of a quality and contains a potential for breakout that is a declaration that Zella is an artist that demands attention. “Sweet Ophelia” b/w “1965” is out April 7th on B3SCI Records, you can preorder a copy here
Zella Day 
(Facebook)
Rating 8.3
“Sleep/Attack” is the latest from Portland five piece Rare Monk. The more pop-conscious cousin of first single “Splice”, “Sleep/Attack” succeeds on its A+ hook-laden verses and its delay-washed explosive choruses. The “Splice/Sleep Attack” single is due February 18th on our very own B3SCI Records label as a limited edition AA side 7″ vinyl. Order a copy here.
Rare Monk 
(Soundcloud) (Purchase)
Rating 8.4
Airling is the new solo project of Australian musician Hannah Shepherd (ex-Charlie Mayfair). “Ouroboros”, Hannah’s first release as Airling, skillfully blends an ethereal lighter-than-air vocal w/ a low touch from 40,000 feet instrumental. We love it.
Airling 
(Official)
Rating 8.8
Galimatias, the Danish producer you may recognize from his very good collaborations with Alina Baraz, turns to hip hop production for this perfectly pitched collaboration w/ Joppe and VA-based emcee GoldLink. “The God Complex” project from GoldLink is due soon.
Galimatias 
(Soundcloud)
Rating 8.3
