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Track Reviews

Flores – Afterglow

flores

Track (the awesome) producer Maths Time Joy will release Norway via L.A. singer Flores debut EP next year through his True Colours label. “Afterglow” is an undeniably excellent School of Aaliyah R&B track topped by expert subtle production and a star-level vocal. Well done.
Flores
norway (“>Soundcloud)
Track Reviews
reviewed by
12-07-15

dvsn – Too Deep

dvsn

How does this one go again? Info-scarce R&B artist out of Toronto dvsn author another attention grabbing new track “Too Deep”. The buzzball for dvsn has been quickly simmering, and taking a brief roll call of A-list sites now listening, we may be witness to something of a “indie moment” for the band with this track. “Too Deep” is a very good song and stylistically packaged in a way that only the best, most quintessential, 90’s R&B were crafted and produced. The arranging, production, melodic structure (etc, you name it) are all very top notch and indicative of an artist(s) with some experience and skill in the field. Look out.
dvsn
(Soundcloud)
Track Reviews
reviewed by
12-06-15

LOYAL – Blue & The Green

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“Blue & The Green” is the very strong debut track from Good Years (BANKS, Lil’ Silva) signee LOYAL. An essentially rhythmic indie pop song embellished by a transporting whirl of electronics and anchored with a thoughtful lyrical narrative, “Blue & The Green” is an impactful opening statement of intent from an artist we’re very keen to hear more from. A++
LOYAL
england (Soundcloud)
Track Reviews
reviewed by
12-06-15

Subdued Kamel – Huspus Kamel

subduedkamel

Zone out with new-to-B3 duo Subdued Kamel on their sultry techno world-music-vibe dance track “Huspus Kamel” (c/o Boiler Room); a live-percussion-infused subterranean house jam and the second track off their forthcoming Trunkfunk (Swedish Label) debut album Kristall Kamel (out December 7th).
Reviewed by

Erin Shay

Subdued Kamel
sweden(Soundcloud)
Track Reviews
reviewed by
12-04-15

Avid Dancer – Under the Covers

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Refresh your vintage music memory bank with the recently released Under The Covers compilation; which is chock full of some very amazing classic covers from B3 fave singer-songwriter talent Avid Dancer (a.k.a. Jacob Summers). This is an epically good compilation and one of the best indie cover albums we have heard in years! We are impressed by HONNE’s terrific selection of classic tunes; from his sublimely-sunny nicely-understated hip and current sensitive-guy cover of Doors classic “Light My Fire”; to his rock solid vintage-vibe take on Kinks tune “Tired of Waiting”; to his subtle melodic-guitar-infused folk-vibe acoustic Elliot Smith wonder “Angel In the Snow”. Throw on top of that a far-out spacey, screechy electric-guitar-riffing indie-dance instrumental rip of 80’s-vintage Wang Chung hit “Everybody Have Fun Tonight” (which has an excellent quietly-electrifying slow-burner build-up to the epic chorus that we dig). We also really like the duo’s warpy-psychedelic bongo-infused cover of Curtis Mayfield classic “Move On Up” and his hazy reverb-y Queens of the Stone Age cover of “Make it Wit’ Chu”. In addition (last but not least) we also totally love Summers’s near perfect true-to-form cover of Tears For Fears’ 80’s epic “Mad World” (he slows down the original tempo and turns it from a broody vintage new-wave ballad into something quite amazing and even a bit Neil Young). The very catchy “Mad World” is our pic for the best of the bunch for its awesome sing-along qualities. We are enamored with the LA-based Alaskan’s outstanding production vision and versatile on-point vocals on the album and fully recommend Under The Covers. Dynamite album. We hope you enjoy it as much as we do.
Reviewed by

Erin Shay

Avid Dancer
alaska(Soundcloud)
Track Reviews
reviewed by
12-04-15

HONNE – Gone Are The Days

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At this point in the year we are on the final countdown to our year-end lists (Best Album/Best Track/Artist-to-Watch (2015!)) and (dare we say) UK dynamo duo HONNE are a shoe in for a pick at (or near) the top (on possibly all three lists). The singer-songwriter pair hit #1 on our list of 2014’s Best Tracks with their totally fresh sultry-hazy vocals-led blusey-folk-pop sound on “Warm On A Cold Night” (which is a superbly transcendent track). We adore HONNE even more (is that possible) after hearing their excellent new mild-mannered piano-led up-tempo rhythm-infused year-end treasure “Gone Are The Days” which we think broaches a new sleeker, effortless (radio ready) sound for the duo that we hope carries into next year (the vocals are especially smooth). Also after having one of the best albums of the year under their belts (Over Lover), the guys seem to posses a seasoned artistic confidence which we think comes through beautifully in the song . HONNE are incredibly talented gents and we can’t wait to see how it all unfolds for them at year end (and into 2016). Stay tuned!
Reviewed by

Erin Shay

HONNE
england (Soundcloud)
Track Reviews
reviewed by
12-03-15

Oliver Riot – Hallucinate

olvierriot

Get lost in the sensational Sam Smith-caliber bluesy singer-songwriter rising-star potential of LA-based twin duo Oliver Riot (Ben and Alex Moore) on their very soulful feel-good, melody-driven, stunning guitar-tickled gem “Ivory Black” which is track #2 off of the pair’s debut “Hallucinate” EP. We particularly dig the dreamy-ambient guitar-led acoustic ending and the track’s superbly poetic lyrics. Reviewed by Erin Shay.

Oliver Riot (Soundcloud)

reviewed by
12-02-15

SAINT WKND – Lost (Fabich Remix)

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Munich-based artist Fabich (who ranges stylistically between melodic and UK-deep house) turns in an impeccable euro-dance spin on Saint Weekend’s anthemic vocals-led beauty “Lost”. Incredibly good track. Reviewed by Erin Shay.

Fabich (Soundcloud)

reviewed by
12-02-15

Foreign Air – Free Animal

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Prepare yourself for a positively dynamic first impression from new-to-B3 artist Foreign Air (US-based), a mysterious new act who we like for their slick and tremendously catchy memorable-hooked radio-ready career debut tune “Free Animal” which is a cross between some pretty solid classic nineties alt-rock vibes and a more modern Alt-J-esque sound. Reviewed by Erin Shay.

Foreign Air (Soundcloud)

reviewed by
12-02-15

Gallant – Weight In Gold (Brasstracks Remix)

gallant

Gallant track “Weight in Gold’ is likely to make it into our year-end lists (in some fashion) for a number of reasons; one being it’s sheer ubiquity (leading ostensibly to it being one of the most heavily remixed tracks of the year. ) To our pleasant surprise B3-lauded Brooklyn musician/producer duo and electronic-brass-hybrid style mavericks Brasstracks busted out a pretty sweet remix of the song; which is (obv) adorned with the duo’s signature brassy accents (as well as some golden acoustic guitar touches). We highly recommend “Weight In Gold” which (even with the glut of remixes out of it this year) is among the best! Reviewed by Erin Shay.

Brasstracks (Soundcloud)

reviewed by
12-02-15

TĀLĀ – As I Am (Feat. Atiye)

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We’re digging “As I Am” (or Oldugum Gibi in Turkish) the latest track from rising-star London artist TĀLĀ; which is also the last single to release off her excellent “Malika” project (that includes B3 covered 100% fire Banks joint collaboration “Wolfpack”). With a touch of some calming cosmic mid-tempo atmospherics, “As I Am” is perhaps a bit more mellow and straightforward than the other tracks from the EP, yet it still features TĀLĀ’s signature otherworldly artistic ferocity and complexly-intwined exquisitely composed meld of beautiful asymmetrical world beats. We totally adore Atiye’s fiesty mantra-based lyrics as well! Great collaboration. “As I Am” is a superb way for TĀLĀ to top off one of the year’s best EPs (one that may make it to our best of 2015 list). Reviewed by Erin Shay.

reviewed by
12-01-15

Mothica – No One

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For about a year we have followed (and been enchanted by) the ethereal vocal musings of talented NY-based songstress-producer Mothica, a new artist who has collaborated with some big names in 2015 (check out her wonderful joint collab “Know You Well” with Beshken and Mayo). We also like her anthemic-pop-vibe new one “No One”, a brilliantly simple beat-driven melody-infused vocals-led tune which (as you could judge from the title) sports a bit of a bad attitude towards love and possession (as evidenced in the sublimely-subtle cooly-delivered adamantly stand-offish lyrics). “No One” is Mothica’s first (solo) Soundcloud single and we think it makes a flawless debut. We love it. Reviewed by Erin Shay.

Mothica (Soundcloud)

reviewed by
12-01-15