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Ab-Soul & JMSN – You’re Gone

“You’re Gone” is the first preview from Ab-Soul & JMSN’s upcoming collaborative LP, Unit 6. “You’re Gone” is a definite first mark in the dope column for Unit 6 and has Team B3 that much more keyed up for its release. “You’re Gone” is ambitious (like orchestra tones out the ride ambitious), the production is next level, and it sounds nothing like the current rap milieu. Win.

Ab-Soul & JMSN – You’re Gone

Ab-Soul (Facebook)

Rating 8.1

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reviewed by
01-22-13

SA5H – Ticket To Okinawa

Hard club music is indeed a tricky task. Too much thump can easily get in the way of a track being danceable. You can’t bust a move if the knock overshadows the rhythm. “Ticket To Okinawa” does it just right. SA5H’s intense build up manages to get you jumping like a party-crazed guido. Right when you may think it is too much, a mesmerizing drop ensues. By Teddy Pendergrass

SA5H – Ticket To Okinawa

SA5H (Soundcloud)

Rating 8.0

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reviewed by
01-22-13

Cloud Boat – Wanderlust

Cloud Boat’s “Wanderlust” is beautiful. The track is being released in March as a double A-side with “Drean”. The unpredictability of “Wanderlust” is what initially drew us to it. The opening minute or so is about as gorgeously executed downtempo guitar music gets. At that minute mark, “Wanderlust” grabs tighter; it twists into an absolutely stunning vocal-led set of melody and from that point forward doesn’t let go.

Cloud Boat – Wanderlust

Cloud Boat (Facebook)

Rating 8.2

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reviewed by
01-22-13

Bondax – Gold (Snakehips Remix)

b3 favorite Snakehips refashions Bondax’s “Gold” track from late last year into a space bass winner. The hooks are a bit more immediate, the R&B flourishes turned up, and there’s enough invaders-from-the-deepest-reaches-of-the-cosmopolitan-cosomos beeps and bloops to go around to this galaxy and the next.

Bondax – Gold (Snakehips Remix)

Snakehips (Facebook)

Rating 8.4
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reviewed by
01-22-13

Painted Palms – Carousel

“Carousel” is a new 7-inch forthcoming from Bay Area duo Painted Palms. The 7-incher’s lead title track skillfully walks that often difficult to traverse indie tightrope of good intentions that is soulful low-fi pop and sees the band off on the best forward for their upcoming album.

Painted Palms – Carousel

Painted Palmscalifornia (Facebook)

Rating: 8.3

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reviewed by
01-22-13

2Cellos – Bang Bang (Feat. Sky Ferreira) (Nancy Sinatra Cover)

2Cellos (true), the cello pop project of Croatians Luka Sulic and Stjepan Hauser grab indie it girl Sky Ferreira for a haunting eerie send-up of Nancy Sinatra’s “Bang Bang”.

2Cellos – Bang Bang feat. Sky Ferreira

2Cellos (Facebook)

Rating 8.2

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reviewed by
01-22-13

Disclosure – White Noise (ft. AlunaGeorge)

Two acts who had a monster 2012 have paired up for a new single called “White Noise”. The boys from Disclosure call on AlunaGeorge to make this dance jam that recently premiered on Zane Lowe’s BBC Radio 1 show. The fresh sound is telling as the single is blowing up online. Look for AlunaGeorge to be featured on more tracks throughout the year (possibly with Baauer). By Brian Litwin

Disclosure (Facebook)

Rating 8.2

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reviewed by
01-21-13

Tiger Waves – Fields

Check out the end-of-summer melancholy of ATX indie pop upstarts Tiger Waves on “Fields”; the first single off the band’s upcoming still untitled second LP.

Tiger Waves – Fields

Tiger Waves (Facebook)

Rating 8.3

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reviewed by
01-19-13

Rave’s Fave: Palma Violets – Step Up For the Cool Cats

Here’s a “fave follow-up” on Palma Violets. The UK band, whose “Best of Friends” single topped tracks lists for 2012 and radars to watch for 2013, have just dropped a new single in their home country. Gotta love that organ in the intro and that ____ melody. Palma Violets will be playing in New York next week and at SXSW in March. Needless to say, lots of UK-philes will be very keen to check them out, including the team at B3Sci. By Bruce Rave

Palma Violets — Best of Friends england (Official)

* Links and playlists from Rave’s weekly new music show can be found on his blog and be sure follow Bruce on Twitter too!

reviewed by
01-19-13

TJ Atoms – Bill Cosby (Prod. By Mark Ryan of The Creative Cult)

What makes this generation’s Philly rap special is that it’s truly coming from the heart. Everyone is hood. That’s nothing new to the city. So, the smart rappers are bringing back fun/raw hip-hop. Philadelphia was making trap songs ten years ago. It’s old now and clearly never got Killadelphia anywhere. Now, it’s back to basics. TJ Atoms reps one of the few people that made it, from the city of Brotherly Love, in the anthem “Bill Cosby.” Rapid fire delivery is a walk in the park for Atoms and The Bakery Boys (as the video showcases). Try to keep up. By Teddy Pendergrass

TJ Atoms – Bill Cosby (Prod. By Mark Ryan of The Creative Cult)

TJ Atoms (Soundcloud)

Rating 8.0

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reviewed by
01-19-13

Laura Mvula – Green Garden

Laura Mvula is soul songwriter out of Birmingham UK. Coming off a Brits’ Critic’s Choice nomination (with AlunaGeorge and Tom Odell), which is a really big deal if you’re unfamiliar with the award, Mvula is readying the release of her February debut LP Sing to the Moon. Ms. Mvula often gets compared with Nina Simone, and that influence is certainly a component of her sound, (the rattling rhythms, the precise diction) but what’s especially remarkable about Laura Mvula is the unexpected twists in her music. “Green Garden”, Sing to the Moon’s second single, features among other really cool qualities, some next harmonic voicings and melodic turns.

Laura Mvula – Green Garden

Laura Mvula england (Facebook)

Rating 8.6

reviewed by
01-18-13

Sam Smith – Lay Me Down (Acoustic)

Sam Smith, the UK singer that was featured on last year’s awesome “Latch” track with Disclosure, debuts an acoustic version of his song “Lay Me Down”. Wow! Smith vocal on the live take track is an absolute mindblower (Like young Donny Hathaway-level mindblower). Our boy’s got talent from ear to ear (most particularly in his throat and lungs). Get floored below.

Sam Smith – Lay Me Downstrong>

Sam Smith england (Facebook)

Rating 8.4

reviewed by
01-18-13