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Yuck – Hold Me Closer

yuck

Get familiar with the stupendously catchy guitar-spun attitude of UK band Yuck on their scratchy-vocaled bright-beamed shoegaze gem “Hold Me Closer” which is the first track to release off the group’s third album, set for a 2016 release. With its awesome instrumentals and inviting hook we think “Hold Me Closer” outshines the group’s previous works (featured on B3) for possessing a more approachable more closely-refined style that could grant Yuck the momentum they need to break the ice of mass appeal. We love Yuck! If you are lucky enough to catch the foursome on their short and sweet upcoming Eastern US tour take photos and send them in to B3. Stay tuned as the group begins to reveal more tracks from their new EP. Reviewed By Erin Shay.

8/05 – Philadelphia, PA – Johnny’s Brenda
8/06 – New York, NY – River Rocks / Pier 84
8/07 – Baltimore, MD – Metro Gallery
8/08 – Raleigh, NC – Kings
8/09 – Atlanta, GA – The Wrecking Ball

Yuck england (Soundcloud)

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07-10-15

Vandetta – Fly (Perk Pietrek Remix)

vandetta

21-year-old rising star DJ/producer, Perk Pietrek puts an inspired soulfully-minimalist bass-heavy D&B-touched dance-floor twist on original track “Fly” from fellow Singaporean radio-host, musician and producer VANDETTA (also known as Vanessa Fernandez); who is well known locally for rising up the ranks of Singapore’s music scene after winning a nationally broadcast talent show for her vocals when she was twelve years-old. Pietrek’s new remix is out on VANDETTA’s forthcoming Syndicate-rep’d August 4-release Remix EP that features different artist’s iterations of tracks from her 2013 self-titled debut EP. Reviewed By Erin Shay.

Perk Pietrek singapore (Soundcloud)

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07-10-15

Laurel – Blood Blood

laurel

We recently showcased the beautiful vocal talents of UK songstress, Laurel on “Nothing Ever Hurts” the new Pete Tong recent-feature track from UK house dynamos Shadow Child and Ben Pearce and we also wrote about her in December for the broody modern-pop Sivu-featured Holy Water EP track “Come Together”. Laurel’s latest track “Blue Blood” features the singer-songwriter’s languid straightforward vocal tone and vastly-layered grandiose and emotional singing style that makes a dynamic dichotomy to the track’s larger-than-life dramatic synth, bellowing strings and mumbly whispery-quiet atmospheric ambient touches. Excellent. Turn it up ya’ll. Reviewed by Erin Shay.

Laurel england (Soundcloud)

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07-10-15

Frances – When It Comes To Us (Feat. Ritual)

frances

Frances who wow’d us in May w online debut “Grow”, is back with follow-up track “When It Comes To Us” featuring upstart UK trio Ritual. “When It Comes To Us”‘s excellent dual female/male vocal dynamic comes off brilliantly in the context of the track’s narrative of relationship subject matter. Very believable.

Frances (Soundcloud)

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07-10-15

MOTION CNTRL – It’s On You

motioncntrl

L.A. band MOTION CNTRL impress on new one “It’s On You”. Centered on a repetitious bass-driven groove and a cool alto vocal, “It’s On You”‘s obtuse atmospheres and more ethereal moments remind of Chromatics. Do not miss.

MOTION CNTRL california (Soundcloud)

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07-10-15

BECOME x XYLO – Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea

become

Hypem chart toppers XYLO are the recipients of a remix from BECOME on latest smash “Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea”. BECOME who made a auspicious debut online with a mix for B3 Recs’ track “She Talks Too Much” by Elohim, chooses for a compressed mix built on kinetic clattering snare drums and synth sonics. Get into it.

BECOME (Soundcloud)

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07-10-15

Evil Needle – Sunday Morning

evilneedle

Soulection artist and French beat-maker/composer Evil Needle recently released his beat-centric jazz-oriented new “Reminisce” EP. We are drawn to the compilation’s lesser-known beat-laced fizzy acid-jazz jam entitled “Sunday Morning” which mixes Evil Needle’s signature poignant deeply-soulful bass-driven electro-instrumental style with a poetic divinely-inspired accompanying piano vibe and ambient chirps that we really dig. Reviewed by Erin Shay.

Evil Needle (Soundcloud)

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07-09-15

Desert Sound Colony – Fashion (David Bowie)

desertsoundcolony

London three-piece electro/acoustic band Desert Sound Colony turns in a killer cover of David Bowie’s iconic funked-out new-wave alternative-underground wonder track “Fashion”; in which he relishes in an impressively reminiscent vintage-vibe pop-psychedelica sound that thoughtfully mimics the original track’s gentle repetitive rhythm and groundbreaking staccato vocal style. DSC creatively laces “Fashion” with a stellar highly-punctuated modern-twist guitar-riff and genius interludes of dub-based reverb that suit the classic 80’s hit to a T. In fact (sorry David), DSC elevates “Fashion” to a super danceable beat-driven track that we prefer (this rarely occurs). “Fashion” leads the pack as one of the best cover tracks of 2015 (thus far) and certainly takes the cake as one of the most solid twists on a classic Bowie track. Stay tuned as we await more incredible music from a new favorite artist-find DSC; who are currently working on their new EP (slated to release this Autumn) as well as a debut full-length album (out sometime in 2016). Reviewed by Erin Shay.

Desert Sound Colony (Soundcloud)

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07-09-15

Kins – Cyclical

kins

B3 recently showcased UK band Kins for their fast-paced progressively-inclined guitar-rock EP first-single “Young” from the foursome’s “Cyclical” EP (out now via East City Records). Much like “Young”, the EP’s title track “Cyclical” stands out as a creative ace; we especially like its robust and dramatic synth accents, brightly emotive instrumentals and the track’s fresh vastly-wavering highly-vulnerable vocal style which (more so on “Cyclical”) has a modern-twist vocal charisma feel that draws comparison to Thom Yorke from Radiohead school of singing. Reviewed by Erin Shay.

Kins (Soundcloud)

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07-09-15

Patawawa & Roman Kouder – Back To Life (Benet Remix)

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Multi-talent Greek producer Benet puts a cool summer spin on the R&B/house sound of the moment on his new fastidiously crafted synth-heavy funk-leaning remix of “Back to Life” the vibrant soul-tinged nu-disco new release which is the ultra-catchy remix-friendly collaboration between English nu-disco trio Patawawa and Parisian nu-disco producer Roman Kolder. We enjoy the funky summer-dance-party vibe on Benet’s rendition, especially his elaborate electronic array of synth atmospherics, low-touch clap percussion and brilliant dichotomy of upscale-vibe subterranean beats. Reviewed by Erin Shay.

Benet GREECE_FLAG (Soundcloud)

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07-09-15

Coasts – Oceans

coasts

In 2013 we expected great things from Bristol band Coasts, who we covered for their sublimely bright new track “Oceans” which features an anthemic break-out crazy-good chorus, inspired commercial-appeal lyrical sensibilities and a luminous, dynamic pop infused style. At the time of our post the song was merely out on YouTube; it later hit Soundcloud in 2014 and the track lit up the blogosphere in a blaze of sincere glorification (including our own). Unfortunately, the track was later yanked by record companies and/or the band thus rendering many of the blog’s posts 2-dimensional. We deliver good fun news for all! The outstandingly timeless and sunny track is out yet again via the group’s Soundcloud page and just in time for the sweet heated heart of summer. Good luck Coasts, although you have released “Oceans” time and time again, we’re totally still into its upbeat summer-ready style and phenomenal break out potential. Reviewed by Erin Shay.

Coasts england (Facebook)

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07-09-15

Disclosure – Holding On (Julio Bashmore’s Elevated Mix)

bashmoredisclosure

Ubiquitous English brother-producer duo Disclosure recently announced their forthcoming September 25-release second album Caracal which is named after a rad looking medium-sized wild cat also called the African lynx. Featuring the brilliantly seasoned vocal chops of American jazz-singer and songwriter Gregory Porter, Caracals’s first single “Holding On” (out as a preview) has given way to quite a few remixes since its January release, some of which are rather excellent. Last month we featured Gus Pirelli’s amazing disco-fringed remix of “Holding On” and in April we covered Bristol-based superproducer Julio Bashmore’s awesome Sam Drew-featured funk remix of the track (which is the lead single to Julio’s soon-to-release solo “Knockin’ Boots” EP). On July 1st London producer Melé dropped a heavy-percussion tropical-beat-centric experimental-vibe house spin on the track and this week Julio Bashmore follows up with another vastly-different makeover of “Holding On” which he dubbed the ‘Elevated Mix’ for its relentlessly rising slow-escalating synth-line. We love the intense and moody bass-laden synth-driven club-charmer twist from Julio, who creatively contrasts the original track’s beautifully seductive sultry tone with his own world-music style vocals and intense elevating synth to create a cosmic and ethereal soul-inspired deep-house dance trance vibe that we totally dig. Very well done Julio Bashmore! Superb track. Reviewed By Erin Shay.

Julio Bashmore england (Soundcloud)

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07-09-15