London production duo Joe Henson and Alexis Smith have just released the first and title track from their forthcoming release as The Flight. On “Hangman”, Keaton Henson guest vocals for a bone chilling re-hatch of the classic folk song “Pretty Polly”. The Flight’s debut Hangman EP will feature a variety of vocalists, all of which assist the duo in telling their dark perspective on that same folk story. Check out the video below.
The Flight 
(Soundcloud)
Rating 8.7
“Exactly Sharp” the b-side to the (also awesome) “I Want To Know” 7″, new from Los Angeles band HANDS. Although we can’t be sure (it could very well be a chorus effects-laced guitar or some sort of synthesizer), “Exactly Sharp” contains maybe the best indie rock vibraphone hook of all time (ALL TIME!). The rest of the track, with it’s California sunset feel & neat vocal/guitar melodic interplay, is pretty cool too. Get a sample below.
HANDS – Exactly SharpHands 
(Facebook)
Rating 8.3
UK R&B ingenue Indiana (shout to all our friends in the Hoosier State) first hit our radars last year with her sweetly lugubrious cover of Frank Ocean’s “Swim Good”. On new track “Bound”, the British newcomer has delivered a gem. Built on a deftly evil bassline & minimalist production, “Bound” succeeds on ellipsis, on what’s omitted. The drama, cinema & tension created by the track’s relatively simple instrumentation is transfixing really. To move, to break from that tension, is to invite that character of menace that exists within the spaces and gaps in the track.
Indiana (Facebook)
Rating 8.0
“In The City”, the first single from NYC band Caveman’s forthcoming self-titled sophomore LP, is a further more hooks-focused, more tightly-arranged exploration of the band’s warm indie rock sound. The density and stratum that made Caveman’s debut record so good is still intact on “In The City” but with a noted level pop songwriting level up. We love it.
Caveman 
(Facebook)
Rating 8.2
Check out the subdued R&B-informed tones of b3 faves Gold Fields’ excellent latest track, “Happy Boy”. Replete with tidal washes of synth & guitar, 80’s soul-style production, aerophone percussion & a great live strings track “Happy Boy” indicates a further high water mark for the Aussie band. If you’re in the US, and in a place like our hometown of Cleveland (!), get psyched because Gold Fields have just announced their first headlining American dates, which you can scope out below.
Gold Fields U.S. Dates:
02/04: Washington @ U Street Music Hall
02/05: Baltimore @ Rams Head Live
02/06: New York @ Bowery Ballroom
02/07: Philadelphia @ TLA
02/08: Boston @ Brighton Music Hall
02/09: Providence @ The Met
02/11: Toronto @ The Drake Hotel
02/12: Detroit @ The Shelter
02/13: Columbus @ The Basement
02/14: Cleveland @ Beachland Ballroom
02/15: Chicago @ Lincoln Hall
02/17: Minneapolis @ Triple Rock Social Club
02/19: Colorado Springs @ The Black Sheep
02/20: Denver @ Larimer Lounge
02/22: Salt Lake City @ In The Venue
02/23: Missoula, MT @ Elks Live
02/24: Seattle @ Crocodile Cafe
02/25: Portland @ Crystal Ballroom
02/28: Los Angeles @ Troubadour
03/02: Santa Ana, CA @ Constellation Room
03/05: San Diego @ The Casbah
03/06: Phoenix @ Crescent Ballroom
03/08: Las Vegas @ Hard Rock Cafe
Gold Fields 
(Facebook)
Rating 8.3
Mmoths, fresh off a UK tour with The xx, release this gloriously serene track “All These Things” featuring Holly Miranda and announce a date for the next EP Diaries – due March 4th. By Nathan Hetherington
MMOTHS 
(Facebook)
Rating 8
L.A. newcomers Anna Nelson and producer multi-instrumentalist Andy Toy, and their excellent indie pop track (one of our favorites of the year thusfar) “Terrible Disguise” gets a video treatment. B3sci’s got the premiere. Check it out below.
Moxi (Facebook)
Rating 8.3
Two b3sci favorites connect as CREEP refashions Robots Don’t Sleep’s “Little White Lies” single into four and a half minutes of dreamy after hours menace. Spin the premiere below.
Robots Don’t Sleep – Little White Lies (CREEP Remix)CREEP (Facebook)
Robots Don’t Sleep 
(Official) (Soundcloud)
Rating 8.3
b3 fave Charles Bradley picks right back up where he left off on 2011’s great No Time For Dreaming with new single “Strictly Reserved For You”. The lead track off his upcoming sophomore LP (!) Vision of Love, “Strictly Reserved For You” marries the feel and arrangements of early 70’s soul groups like The Dramatics and Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes with Bradley’s one-of-a-kind infinitely soulful vocals. Welcome back CB!
Charles Bradley (Facebook)
Rating 8.4
Phosphorescent and its main creative engine songwriter Matthew Houck, who last released an LP in 2010 with the alt-country-laced Here’s To Taking It Easy, return to realize a true breakout moment with the beautifully honest and understated paean “Song for Zula”. The band’s latest LP Muchado is due later this year.
Phosphorescent – Song for ZulaPhosphorescent (Facebook)
Rating 9.0
LDN production duo Maribou State has rapidly become a favorite around b3. The group’s more spacious, more glacial take on future bass/garage is top class. Here MS link up with frequent collaborators Pedestrian for an otherworldly new pop track, “Mask”.
Maribou State (Soundcloud)
Rating 8.4
