“Wet Dreams” is the debut stream from Saya. Washed with Snakehips-esque instrumental frame, “Wet Dreams” rides a playful set of hooky vocal moves (“pull me in with your forces”, etc) and subtle nods to (while not feeling like a pastiche) to current trends in hip hop and R&B. A++.
“Greed” is the debut track online for Los Angeles-based dynamo ALICE MK. Bursting over with force, “Greed” is empowered pop fired forward from a position of offense and strength. “Greed”‘s mighty 1-2 rhythm is complemented by blasts of synth and an emphatic main vocal from Alice; a track and artist not to be taken lightly. Sample the B3 Premiere of “Greed” from ALICE MK below.
The great Roche Musique will release a new collaborative EP between Parisian artists Duñe & Crayon on March 25th. The vibes down D’Angelo-esque “Blue Window” is the EP’s first listen and it is a flawless bit of infinitely soulful nighttime R&B. Listen.
Wyldest, the duo of Zoe Mead and Holly Mullineaux formerly called Wildest Dreams, debut dreamy new “Wanders” single. On the track, the twosome do well at merging an ethereal palette with a strong pop sense to resulting to a very listenable track. Wyldest are preparing a debut EP due later this year.
“Bedbugs” is the debut track online for Northamptonshire UK songwriter Amaroun. The single, which is out now on YOY Records, is an adept blend of hooky writing and instrumentation juxtaposed to a spare semi-desolate style of recording that is quite powerful in combination. If you’re in London, Amaroun will perform at Rye Lane on Friday the 18th.
“Say Yes” is the title track from London band Big Deal’s forthcoming sophomore LP for Fat Cat Records. “Say Yes” plays a decidedly 90’s-styled sound of big melodic turns enveloped within a the context of noisy guitars and “big sounding” percussion, etc. “Say Yes” would not be out of place in the rotation of 1995-96 US alt radio rotation (wedged between tracks probably from Elastica and Better Than Ezra). Right enough nostalgia from us, listen to the very good “Say Yes” from Big Deal below.
Australian band Mansionair, the author of Hypem #1’s “Hold Me Down” and “Speak Easy”, are the recipients of an ace new remix from BK producer BAILE on latest track “Pick Me Up”. On the mix, BAILE, who’s produced strong past remixes for BAIO and Akiine, takes warmly spatial approach to “Pick Me Up” crafting an expansive but still emotively near new frame and atmosphere for Mansioair’s neatly composed tune. We love it. Stream the B3 Premiere of BAILE’s remix of “Pick Me Up” for Mansionair.
The French duo who haven’t released an album since 2006 (!) return today with a star-studded new track featuring Cat Power and the Beastie Boys’ Mike D. Despite the hiatus from releasing LPs, one half of the twosome Philippe Zdar has been active on the production seen; including heading up records from both Cat Power and the Beastie Boys. “Action” follows a vaguely Brazilian/tropical-styled beat with Ms. Marshall’s breathy coo atmospherically lilting about the track’s off-beat syncopations with living legend Mike D adding in a pair of slick rhythmic bars. It’s a very cool return for Team Cassius.
On new track “Republic Enemy #1” The Palms blend two sounds we’re rather fond of here at B3, minor keyed UK-bred indie (verse; as in NG could likely have penned that “we are the sun” line that introduces the chorus) and R&B-influenced hook writing (chorus; think the writing architecture of late career Arctic Monkeys). The mix of the sounds which on the surface may seem “weird” is constructed and executed here with some very skilled precision amounting to a highly listenable track. Listen below.
Welcome back, LAUREL. The Southampton-raised songwriter turns in first new track in over six months, “Life Worth Living”. Excerpted from a forthcoming Theia Recordings album release, “Life Worth Living” places emphasis on LAUREL’s power alto and excellent emotive sense with melody. What a track and what a step forward for LAUREL.
“Ain’t No Use”, the return track from Cornwall-bred singer Matt Woods, is an exercise in top class hook writing. The bit at 0:52 where Woods goes into his head voice with “You’re the only thing that keeps me going” is magic. About the track lyrically, Mr. Woods says, “There’s a difference between getting over someone, and choosing to move on from them. The track is about accepting that some people will always have a hold over you no matter how much you’d like them not to.”. Listen to this very strong piece of pop songwriting below, “Ain’t No Use”.
Yeah! Kent UK rock band The Bay Rays stream “Four Walls”, the trio’s emphatic debut single. On the track, a kinetic half-time verse gives way to a cool cathartic release in the form of a falsetto-driven minor keyed chorus/break (a hook that’s been knocking around our brains all day). Give “Four Walls” your attention below.
