Earth Wind & Fire’s “September” rules; it’s undoubtedly one of the best pop songs of late 70’s. Duly Noted Records’ J. Tropic and vocalist Alyss dial up a low touch modern indie send-up of “September” choosing a minimal instrumental and effective vocal and do well not to crowd out but rather enhance the melodic brilliance of the original track.
J. Tropic 
(Soundcloud)
Rating 8.3
New fave Robyn Sherwell streams kinetic new single “Islander”. On the track, the UK singer takes a speak-sing melody through a jaunty set of variations over whirlwind toms and syncopations. Well done.
Robyn Sherwell (Soundcloud)
Rating: 8.8
The sunny synth pop of “Lie To Me” is new from SoCal genre jumpers Milo Greene. Transitioning from a more folk-y writing approach to a syrupy glossier one, “Lie To Me” follows the also impressive “White Lies” as preview tracks to Milo Greene’s January-due LP Control.
Milo Greene 
(Facebook)
Rating 8.2
Illustrious Welshman Gruff Rhys streams the Old Man Albarn-esque cinematic pop of “Set Fire To The Stars”, the title track to an upcoming Andy Goddard biopic about another illustrious Welshman Dylan Thomas.
Gruff Rhys 
(Twitter) (Soundcloud)
Rating 8.6
Marissa Nadler turns in a hushed and understated but still dazzling cover of Elliott Smith’s “Pitseleh” for new “Before July” EP, the unreleased demos counterpart of Marissa’s great July LP.
Marissa Nadler 
(Facebook)
Rating 8.3
The prodigious Recycle Culture (our man has already released an album and an EP this year) streams title track from newest EP “AYA”. Truly vast in its palette, running wall to wall from obtuse shoegaze to immediate indie pop, “AYA” is remarkable in just how accomplished it is. Listen.
Recycle Culture (Bandcamp)
OOFJ is the duo of Danish musician Jenno Bjørnkjær and South African singer Katherine Mills-Rymer. Track “You’re Always Good” is cinematic percussion-heavy bit of current wave boy-girl pop done as its highest and most forward thinking level.
B3SCI Presents Cascine Records band Yumi Zouma next Friday November 21st at the Bootleg Hi-Fi in Los Angeles. The New Zealand group’s dreamy and romantic rhythm-focused pop and self-titled EP have been lauded widely by Pitchfork, Gorilla vs. Bear, etc. B3 favorites Brett and Taken By Trees’ Victoria Bergman (DJ) support. Details and ticket information on the November 21st show can be found here.
Yumi Zouma 
(Facebook)
Rating 8.2
The Luca Buccellati-produced (Tei Shi, Yellerkin) “Time” is the debut track from New York popstress Renee Orshan a/k/a RÉN. Ms. Orshan’s neatly melodic melodic vocal is “Time”‘s central mover around the track’s not one note of place instrumental. “Time” is one of Fall 2014’s best debuts.
RÉN (Soundcloud)
Rating 8.4
Two of the blogworld’s hottest commodities intersect on Chicago duo Louis The Child’s hit-in-the-making remix for Oh Wonder’s “Body Gold”
Louis The Child 
(Facebook)
Rating 8.3
Mighty MISUN stream second single from debut Superstitions LP. “Penny” is built on a vaguely 60’s rock stop start beat, guitarist Andrew Wallace’s pinpoint melodic leads, and singer Misun’s emphatic disto-filtered vocal. Superstitions is out November 11.
Misun 
(Facebook)
Rating 8.4
