Check out the sensational new dreamy-whimsical airy-ambient synth-infused house track appropriately named “Clouds” from Newcastle UK male-female duo Monday Morning. A superbly calming combination of dynamic instrumentals, “Clouds”, is a picture perfect introduction to the pair’s debut “Clouds” EP (out now on Medium Rare Recordings). Reviewed by Erin Shay.
B3 Alaskan beat-maker fave .eets follows up his recent terrific melodic hip-hop tune “Flying High” (covered here) with new gem “Blue Lights”, a beautiful beat-laden vocals-led number which samples DJ Shadow’s Little Dragon-vocals-led tune “Scale it Back”. Reviewed by Erin Shay.
Young multi-genre producer, guitarist and solo artist Atolla gives a shout out to Nas and samples “Life’s A Bitch” on his latest bass-heavy hip-hop production called “Life”. We like how Atolla (who’s new to B3) mixes up the classic tune with a timeless meld of syrupy beats, snappy technicolor chord-heavy instrumentals, and velvety vocal flow. Great track. Reviewed by Erin Shay.
LA-artist SNBRN (never featured on B3) takes an unreleased a cappella sample from late West Coast hip-hop pioneer Nate Dogg and transforms it into a dazzling Rudimental-vibe-vocals-tinged dance jam “Gangsta Walk”. Reviewed by Erin Shay.
B3-lauded SoCal singer/emcee Anderson Paak just released his latest r&b-genre-rep’n Malibu LP, which sports a talent-filled mix of diverse genre featuring artists (including the Game and Schoolboy Q). We’re checking out the LP and totally recommend its exquisitely understated slick vibe-y vocals-led beauty called “Lite Weight” (for its nifty synthesis of beats and bright r&b sugar-coated vocal melodies from Paak and the Free Nationals United Fellowship Choir). Reviewed by Erin Shay.
The Melbourne AU duo return with their unique blend of visceral R&B melody and cool modern pop grooves on new single “Kintsugi”. The band’s March 2014 song “Old Friend” was one of our favorite songs of the year and “Kintsugi” lives in a comparable zone of quality and neatness of arrangement. “Kintsugi” is excerpted from Hoodlem’s forthcoming debut EP, out in March.
“Cruel Game” is the debut track online from Vokes a/k/a L.A.-based artist Mike Harris. The vaguely French/Euro-tinged “Cruel Game” imports the instrumental sonorousness of a band like Phoenix and fixes it to a breezy falsetto-highlighted vocal melody teeming with cool hooky turns and unexpectedly catchy tuneful swerves. We’re into it. Stream the B3 Premiere of “Cruel Game” from newcomer Vokes below.
B3-fave house producer TÂCHES joins forces with London-based Mallorcan artist KAASI (covered here for his deep remix of “Foolish” by Blonde & Ryan Ashley) on a magnetic new remix of Anna Of the North track “The Dreamer”. With the help of KAASI, TÂCHES exudes the quality house-y decadence that we have come to expect from the dashingly talented producer. Great collaboration. Reviewed by Erin Shay.
We’re happy to introduce you to the new excellent song called “Mind over matter. (intuition)”, the latest late-night beats-saturated slow-burner jam from B3 new-fave producer Egyptian Art. (As you may recall he hit one of our lists of best tracks 2015 with his showy hybrid tune “She’s So Lovely”.) On “Mind over matter” the enigmatic producer Egyptian Art seduces our ears with an eclectic mix of brilliant contrasting vocals, inviting melodic synth embellishments and a jaunty mix of ultra-hip r&b-heavy bass grooves. Word. Reviewed by Erin Shay.
We’re totally feeling the jubilant-reverberant cosmopolitan house vibes and ground-level stormy-expressive bass-line of new mellow-percussion-framed up-tempo tune “Intimate” from San Diego artist JR JARRIS. In particular we love the beautiful soulful effect of the Eddie Kendricks-sampled bass-line groove which is created courtesy of B3 fave beat-smith E.DOZA. Amazing track! Reviewed by Erin Shay.
We’re fully enjoying the latest acoustic guitar tinged synth-y atmospheric French-touch telefunk gem from B3-featured Parisian artist Thomas Fontana, who we covered here recently for his outstanding clap-enhanced instrumentals-leaning lounge-y Brazilian-vibe beats track named “Somewhere”. We’re listening to Mr. Fontana’s latest song “Changes” and although its not quite as incredible as “Somewhere” it still hits the excellent echelon. “Changes”, which features a sublimely cheerful weave of beats, vibrant trippy-psychedelic (Doors-vibe) chord-drenched effects and a nicely understated meld of vocal atmospherics, has us excited to hear more tunes from Mr. Fontana. Reviewed by Erin Shay.
