“Lost” is the latest stream from Iska Dhaaf’s forthcoming LP for Brick Lane Records The Wanting Creature. “Lost” is cool bit of blissed-out dark pop with a slightly menacing undercurrent (that distorted synth bass gives the song a cool sinister edge) fortified on very strong hook-driven writing. Look out for “Lost” and Iska Dhaaf.
The SXSW standouts announce debut LP for Secretly Canadian, Light Upon The Lake. “Golden Days”, newly revealed from the LP, finds the Chicago band of Smith Westerns provenance neatly straddling 70’s pop/soul/country-influenced song structures with modern indie writing. We are digging it. Light Upon The Lake is out June 3.
The 22 year old Melbourne AU-based REMI aka Remi Kolawole connects with buzzing fellow Aussie Sampa the Great on the late-night disco-tinged “For Good”. Slow-motion rhythmic strums, cool bongo-driven polyrhythms and locked in flows from the track’s pair of emcees, “For Good” is an accomplished mood setter. REMI will release the Divas and Demons LP later this year and “For Good” is the album’s first single.
Bristol band New Carnival impress on sophomore track “Sweet Caroline”. The follow-up “Where Do You Wanna Go?” from the fall, “Sweet Caroline” follows an unexpected course of construction. Out the gate with a Peter Gabriel “Sledgehammer”-styled bit of big beat syncopation, “Sweet Caroline” erupts in its chorus into a “Love Rollercoaster”-esque groove galvanized by modern melodic ideas. One to watch.
“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.
