Blahblahblah Science

M.A.D. – Mind

One of the latest tunes to drop on XLR8R (one of our faves from them lately) is named “Mind”; an immensely creepy creation of Rubi (Barcelona) artist M.A.D!. “Mind” is a capricious and dramatic tune, a mellow helter skelter with lots of room to breathe into the amazing mood it sets. Over the course of 7:34 minutes M.A.D! (Mutual Assured Distortion) develops an intense nail-biting atmospheric basically just on synth alone and towards the end he throws in bongos for a calming effect. Scary! This needs to be in a sci-fi thriller. M.A.D! does a wonderful job at drawing the listener into a completely different, creatively unique electro terrain that peaks and ebbs into emotive chaos yet also manages to taper off into nothing for a finish. Rad stuff M.A.D!! Reviewed by Erin Shay.

M.A.D. (Soundcloud)

reviewed by b3

02-12-16

Ian Ewing – Oakland

Electronic Track Reviews

B3-featured Ian Ewing wows us with his heavenly beat-drenched synth-centered Asian vibe instrumental jam “Oakland” which is a free song off the Rootnote (label) artist compilation. We like Ian’s sultry beats, mesh of vocal styles, and positively simple lyrics on the track and hope to peruse the compilation this weekend! Reviewed by Erin Shay.

Ian Ewing (Soundcloud)

reviewed by b3

02-12-16

Artifakts – Up & Up

Electronic Track Reviews

Get acquainted with Milwaukee, Wisconsin-based artist Artifakts, the “ever-evolving, electronic hip-hop project” of Garret Meyer. We highly recommend his latest tune “Up Up” and would go so far as to say its brilliant. A soul-based mix of jaunty beats and groovy guitar riffing, juxtaposed with a scratchy trance-y synth and distorted vocals “Up Up” is top on our list of tracks for the week. Extremely cool song. Stream it below. Reviewed by Erin Shay.

Artifakts (Soundcloud)

reviewed by b3

02-12-16

Alice Ivy – Touch (Feat. Georgia Van Etten)

Electronic Track Reviews

” I suppose I’ll be taking orders from Dinah next.” Melbourne AU artist Annika Schmarsel a/k/a Alice Ivy spins an inventive mix of “Alice in Wonderland” spoken samples around a vocal from Georgia Van Etten to very listenable results on cool beat track “Touch”. We are listening!

Alice Ivy (Soundcloud)

reviewed by b3

02-12-16

CANNONS – Call You Out

Pop Track Reviews

LA-based future boogie trio Cannons (featured here for excellent tracks “Down on Love”, “Evening Star” and “Touch”) are an accomplished bunch of musicians on the rise (they have only been around on Soundcloud for roughly one year). We’re listening to the group’s super catchy new song called “Call You Out” and it’s quite an impeccable earful. With its simple combination of a technicolor synth line, ticky-tacky trap beats, and Michelle’s complex emotive vocal feels, we can easily say that this is our favorite Cannons tune so far! After hearing it a dozen or so times and reviewing the duo’s other songs we are reminded why we like Cannons so much. Out via MANIMAL “Call You Out” is just resonant enough to reiterate that Cannons are clearly floating on a rising star trajectory on its way up to mass exposure. Reviewed by Erin Shay.

Cannons (Soundcloud)

reviewed by b3

02-12-16

Premiere: Barrie Rose – Laffy Taffy

Premiere

“Laffy Taffy” is the newest track by L.A. pop newcomer Barrie Rose. Working with a very cool and diverse sound palette (80’s-esque sequenced synths paired with reverbed guitars and harp samples) and some pinpoint melodic writing (have had that “Laffy Taffy” hook thing burned in my brain most the AM), “Laffy Taffy” is a strong surprise and features a unique blend of sounds that deserves attention. Do not sleep on Barrie Rose.

John Looke (Soundcloud)

reviewed by b3

02-12-16

John Looke – Dab Fingers

Soul Track Reviews

The lead single off the 8-track “Rocks n’ Gems” EP (out via Hot Record Société), recent tune “Dab Fingers” is a dynamic sweetly-melodic jazz diddy with a deep and compelling loung-y groove. Beautiful. From new-to-B3 Austin artist John Looke (named for Jean-Luc Picard), the track is a sumptuous blend of barely audible spacey synth accents, low-touch jazzy metallic percussion and Looke’s perfectly punctuating sultry staccato beats. New release “Dab Fingers” (which on the EP accompanies tracks “No Alliance w/ Contour”, “Discipline 99” and “Headz”), is a finely wrought electronic jazz gem to help you jump-start your weekend. Reviewed by Erin Shay.

John Looke (Soundcloud)

reviewed by b3

02-11-16

Akiine – Destiny (BAILE Remix)

Uncategorized

With a continuous loop of his own deeply permeating moody atmospheric vocals, a colorful array of phenomenal simmering low-touch beats and some outstanding rhythmic percussion, NY-based German BAILE creates considerable depth and dimension on his remix of 2015 Janet Jackson-vibe r&b vocals-led wonder “Destiny” (from London-based songstress-producer Akiine). We really like how BAILE keeps the original’s percussion-filled Brit-garage feel and leaves the track’s lead vocal line basically intact while changing up the vibe to something vastly different and more electro oriented. A slow-fast methodical rhythm-centric beats-scape with a soulful techno undercurrent, “Destiny” has a highly picturesque element to it that makes it a great candidate for a movie soundtrack. A must listen. Reviewed by Erin Shay.

BAILE (Soundcloud)

reviewed by b3

02-11-16

Marie Dahlstrøm – Crashing Down

Pop Track Reviews

One of our favorite voices out Marie Dahlstrøm is back today with a brand new track in the form of vibe-y midtempo number “Crashing Down”. The Copenhagen-born London-based Dahlstrøm is prepping a new EP of which “Crashing Down” will be part. On the new track’s narrative Marie says “‘Crashing Down’ is about the feeling of always searching, instead of being present in the moment. It’s about giving in and realising that you’re exactly where you need to be.” Enjoy the Joe Garrett-produced (Zayn Malik) “Crashing Down” below.

Marie Dahlstrom (Soundcloud)

reviewed by b3

02-11-16

SHEER MAG – Can’t Stop Fighting

Rock Track Reviews

The SXSW 2015 faves SHEER MAG drop off hooky new guitar jam “Can’t Stop Fighting”. Primarily driven by cool leads and an ever in motion rhythm track, “Can’t Stop Fighting” wins on it’s subtly strong melodic core (like try not to head-nod with that main riff). Get pumped, it’s new SHEER MAG.

SHEER MAG (Soundcloud)

reviewed by b3

02-11-16

Rejjie Snow – Keep Your Head Up

Hip Hop Track Reviews

The Irish-born US-based Rejjie Snow streams quiet storm-tipped new one “Keep Your Head Up”. The new song which follows the Future and Rich the Kid-featuring “Product” glides through a rhodes-y 70’s-styled vibes-down R&B and repeated refrain to magnetic results. Look for more music forthcoming very soon from Mr. Snow and further details on his debut LP Dear Annie.

Rejjie Snow (Soundcloud)

reviewed by b3

02-11-16

Dead Horse Beats – Thinking Of You (Instrumental)

Soul Track Reviews

Montreal electro/hip-hop producer Patrick Wayde (a.k.a. Dead Horse Beats) impresses with a beautiful instrumental rendition of Sister Sledge track “Thinking of You” (which is off their 1979 We Are Family album). A Bastard Jazz rep’d beauty, “Thinking of You”, is a quiet jazz centered dynamo that we recommend you hear. We think Dead Horse Beats does excellent work at dampening the original’s dated disco vibes to create a really sharp four minutes of modernized dreamy jazz-inspired bliss electronica. We really like how effectively he transforms the good time disco party track into a groovy airy electro instrumental and we have placed the very talented Dead Horse Beats on our list of artists to watch. Reviewed by Erin Shay.

Dead Horse Beats (Soundcloud)

reviewed by b3

02-11-16