B3 featured Alaskan beat-maker Eets, who we showcased last week for his awesome nuance-tempered track “Sudan”, turns in a terrific melodic hip-hop diddy named “Flying High”, a short and sweet track which features swooning strings and playful vocal atmospherics amidst Eets’ trademark sultry beats. “Flying High” is part of Eets’ new 8 track EP of beats that is set to release in April. Great tune. Reviewed by Erin Shay.
For the last four months B3 fave instrumental electro producer Weird Inside has been creating his debut “As We Know” EP (set to release February 11th). In November, we covered its first track called “No More Heroes”, a beautifully subtle jazzy-slow-trickle-sensed instrumental with subtle dark-moody deep-scratchy synth-led atmospherics. We also really dig the EP’s second release (just out) called “Who Knows?” which is aptly described as an uplifting tone-tickled joy for the senses. Weird inside has a distinct talent for creating brightly spun melodic instrumental atmospheres and “Who Knows?” is his best yet. We love Weird Inside’s dynamic beats-based instrumental style and are more than excited to hear his much anticipated “As We Know” EP. Impeccable style. Reviewed by Erin Shay.
Alberta, Canada multi-talent artist and Phantom Culture-affiliate Hero wows us with a smooth, soulful pop-hybrid r&b/hip-hop doused sound on vocals-led beauty “Crutch”; a track which entices our ears with its catchy poetic vocals. vibrant keyboard melody and some colorful retro-vibe synth embellishments. Good one! Reviewed by Erin Shay.
Albuquerque, NM electronic musician Bryce Fletcher, a.k.a Reighnbeau, who we premiered back in late July for his kaleidoscopic soft-touch rhythm-based electro track “Ghost” turns in new tune “Falling”. We adore the track’s mesmerizing blend of subtle scratchy atmospherics, dreamy melodic vocal touches and simmering range of effervescent beats and percussion. The very bright and lovely track “Falling” is out via Mind Rider Records. Reviewed by Erin Shay.
The high-flying SoCal singer/emcee Anderson Paak opens 2016 with a starmaking bit of soul-driven (Hi-Tek produced!) modern pop. Damn.
Buzzing Danes CHINAH are the recipient of a breezy new remix treatment from Stockholm production duo Jarami. The Swedes’ shimmery syncopated synths and a club-ready rhythm track are an ideal frame for CHINAH’s soulful A+ vocal stylings and a spotless new set of bars from fave emcee Skizzy Mars; an ace mix.
We last discussed London producer Ambassadeurs for his beautifully melodic, sublimely atmospheric C. Duncan-featuring Patterns EP gem track “Looking At You”. We really enjoy the track and are happy to hear that after the launch of a solid debut EP in 2015 (which includes B3 covered tracks “Crimson” and “Looking at You”) Ambassadeurs is back in the studio working on release number two. Meanwhile, Ambassadeurs (knowing how to stoke the fans with material in the interim between albums) creates a brief 4 track EP which he recorded with minimal sound equipment on an autumn trip to a remote country cottage. (He even gets creative and impressively uses samples from cassettes he found in the cottage.) Fit to please fans, the EP’s third track to release (called “Kava”) is a dance-leaning techno jam with a fine-tuned meld of bass accents and cheerful glittery synth grooves. The delightful and positive, mood-expansive “Kava” follows “Halos” and “Lotus” on the EP. Great stuff Ambassadeurs, we look forward to hearing the fourth track! Reviewed by Erin Shay.
New band out of Liverpool TRUDY impress with melodically sound and accessible guitar track “Baby I’m Blue”. A bit of a tempest in a tea cup instrumentally (chaotic clean guitars, weave in/out the tune’s dosed with whimsy vocal melody), “Baby I’m Blue” excels on its base of very strong pop writing. TRUDY are definitely a new band to keep your tabs on.
B3 featured Jersey producer Flamingosis (who’s on-point signature sample laced style is a fave at B3) ushers in the New Year with a creative nod to disconnecting from technology. On his latest instrumental masterpiece “Airplane Mode” Flamingosis uses rhythmic-patterned percussion and a beautiful sense of sparse simplicity to highlight the track’s gorgeous keyboard melody (in the vein of Nujabes). We think the very dreamy “Airplane Mode” (with its amazing layered drum rhythms) is Flamingosis’ best track yet. Reviewed by Erin Shay.
Bay Area producer Yugi Boi mixes in a deep bass groove, subtle synth infusions and a varying range of pointed sultry percussion to complement and bolster Travis Scott’s honeyed vocals and excellent horn melody on a very cool new remix of “A Team”. We like it better than the original! Great remix. Reviewed by Erin Shay.
B3 lauded (Seattle-based) producer Sango teams up with Atlanta vocalist Elhae and B3 beat-maker fave ESTA. on new track “Só Você” which features a beautiful weave of vibrant repetitive sensual-sexy vocals, ambient deep soothing beats and lovely minimalist percussive accents. We love the stunning outro on “Só Você” in particular and enjoy the track’s sweet interplay between vocals and beats. Look for it on Sango’s latest “Da Rocinha” 3 EP (which also contains 2015 standout track “Dias Melhores”). Reviewed by Erin Shay.
Photo: Barbora Mrazkova
London UK newcomers Leiik will release their self-titled debut EP on February 5th on Squareglass. The group composed of vocalist Amy Spencer and producer Avi Barath a/k/a Bunki land on striking and ethereal wavelength of beautiful dreamy pop on second track online “Words Over Yours”. Reminiscent sound palate-wise of bands like The xx and Cocteau Twins, “Words Over Yours” builds and twists around spare bass, reverbed vocal and instrumental washes and pinpoint ebbs and rises in dynamics. We like “Words Over Yours” quite a lot and you can stream the B3 Premiere of the track below.
