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Flores – Afterglow

flores

Track (the awesome) producer Maths Time Joy will release Norway via L.A. singer Flores debut EP next year through his True Colours label. “Afterglow” is an undeniably excellent School of Aaliyah R&B track topped by expert subtle production and a star-level vocal. Well done.
Flores
Track Reviews
reviewed by
12-07-15

dvsn – Too Deep

dvsn

How does this one go again? Info-scarce R&B artist out of Toronto dvsn author another attention grabbing new track “Too Deep”. The buzzball for dvsn has been quickly simmering, and taking a brief roll call of A-list sites now listening, we may be witness to something of a “indie moment” for the band with this track. “Too Deep” is a very good song and stylistically packaged in a way that only the best, most quintessential, 90’s R&B were crafted and produced. The arranging, production, melodic structure (etc, you name it) are all very top notch and indicative of an artist(s) with some experience and skill in the field. Look out.
dvsn
Track Reviews
reviewed by
12-06-15

HONNE – Gone Are The Days

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At this point in the year we are on the final countdown to our year-end lists (Best Album/Best Track/Artist-to-Watch (2015!)) and (dare we say) UK dynamo duo HONNE are a shoe in for a pick at (or near) the top (on possibly all three lists). The singer-songwriter pair hit #1 on our list of 2014’s Best Tracks with their totally fresh sultry-hazy vocals-led blusey-folk-pop sound on “Warm On A Cold Night” (which is a superbly transcendent track). We adore HONNE even more (is that possible) after hearing their excellent new mild-mannered piano-led up-tempo rhythm-infused year-end treasure “Gone Are The Days” which we think broaches a new sleeker, effortless (radio ready) sound for the duo that we hope carries into next year (the vocals are especially smooth). Also after having one of the best albums of the year under their belts (Over Lover), the guys seem to posses a seasoned artistic confidence which we think comes through beautifully in the song . HONNE are incredibly talented gents and we can’t wait to see how it all unfolds for them at year end (and into 2016). Stay tuned!
Reviewed by

Erin Shay

HONNE
Track Reviews
reviewed by
12-03-15

Gallant – Weight In Gold (Brasstracks Remix)

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Gallant track “Weight in Gold’ is likely to make it into our year-end lists (in some fashion) for a number of reasons; one being it’s sheer ubiquity (leading ostensibly to it being one of the most heavily remixed tracks of the year. ) To our pleasant surprise B3-lauded Brooklyn musician/producer duo and electronic-brass-hybrid style mavericks Brasstracks busted out a pretty sweet remix of the song; which is (obv) adorned with the duo’s signature brassy accents (as well as some golden acoustic guitar touches). We highly recommend “Weight In Gold” which (even with the glut of remixes out of it this year) is among the best! Reviewed by Erin Shay.

Brasstracks (Soundcloud)

reviewed by
12-02-15

Klyne – Waiting

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Dutch duo Klyne make their B3SCI debut on the strength of the modern bass music-backed “Waiting” which while wrapped in a very sleek avant instrumental styling contains centrally a very cool set of pop melodies. “Waiting” is a very skillfully written track. Look out.

Klyne (Soundcloud)

reviewed by
11-30-15

Premiere: Brooke Aulani – Shame

Shame

Welcome L.A.-based R&B singer Brooke Aulani to B3SCI. The excellent “Shame”, previewed here, is the first stream from the SoCal artist’s forthcoming debut EP, “Bedroom Music”. “Shame” is centered around a potent alto vocal that sounds as if it’s been performed on the track by an already in her prime singer (the melodic phrasing is particularly strong here) and is coupled with a minimal/modern-feeling instrumental that will sit very nicely in your next Spotify mix next to artists like TALA and BANKS. We love the track. Stream B3 Premiere of “Shame” from Brooke Aulani below.

Brooke Aulani (Facebook) (Soundcloud)

reviewed by
11-30-15

Krs – Faking It (Feat. Mars Today, Khary, Maurice Moore & Bnjmn)

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After enjoying a number of style-setting dance-oriented dynamics-loaded dancehall-heavy bootlegs from Toronto-based producer and Film Noir: Sound founder Krs, we are thrilled to discuss the launch of his long-awaited debut album S.I.W.A.H. (no clue what the name stands for or how to pronounce). The man Krs. sets off his own debut’s momentum like a charm with a potent first single called “Fakin” which is flawlessly produced by Krs. along with his pals SF-bred LA-based vocalist/producer Mars Today and Toronto producer Bnjmn.. New one “Fakin” features an artfully juxtaposed line-up of radiant-sublime odd-match songwriting chemistry and a clever-opposite combo of smash-hit vocals (from Mars Today, Canadian r&b songwriter/vocalist/producer Maurice Moore and Providence-based hip-hop artist Khary). We particularly recommend “Fakin” for its fine-tuned meld of impeccably catchy and hypnotic knockout-seductive (c’est la vie-vibe) catchy-refrain-driven vocals from Mars Today, Maurice Moore’s superbly sexy-sensitive songwriter swoon and Khary’s contrasting on-point quiet calamity of poetic-romantic hip-hop vocals (which have a slightly-gritty love-lamenting perspective that we can appreciate). Great collaboration! Reviewed by Erin Shay.

reviewed by
11-20-15

Brasstracks – Say U Won’t

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B3-lauded Brooklyn musician/producer duo and electronic-brass-hybrid style mavericks Brasstracks amaze us (yet again) with their quintessential collage of exquisitely robust-brassy-horn-laced instrumentals and energetic soulfully-expressed complimentary beats on their new swanky trumpet-saturated lounge-dynamo original named “Say U Won’t” (which is seemingly the slightly-more-polished and showy anthesis to a previous melody on Brasstracks’ quite-excellent recent production “Say U Will”). We think its safe to assume the brilliant transformation in style on the latest track is a toe-tapping bright-quality indication of what fans can expect on the duo’s upcoming buzz-worthy yet-to-be-titled album that is set to release sometime early next year. With such incredible style there is a good chance of the NY-duo gracing our December year-end lists! Reviewed by Erin Shay.

Brasstracks (Soundcloud)

reviewed by
11-20-15

Tsar B – Escalate

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Yes! The new marching orders in new wave-R&B have been emphatically called out by Belgian newcomer Tsar B. “Escalate”, Tsar B’s debut track, is brimming over with cool new ideas, creative turns of arrangement and some seriously strong melodic sensibility. “Escalate” isn’t so much a debut as a proclamation and it needs to be heard.

Tsar B (Soundcloud)

reviewed by
11-20-15

Premiere: R e l – Gooey (Glass Animals)

LX mailbox

r e l, the L.A.-based artist who in May released a very good self-titled EP, posses an extra affecting voice. Particularly special here on this new cover of Glass Animals’ “Gooey” (one of this indie decade’s best songs) is r e l’s skill at threading/weaving her vocal phrasing in an almost symbiotic way with the instrumental’s flow and pacing; listening to the track is akin to feeling the sensation (at least what I imagine this sensation to be like!) of being gently wound through a melodic whirlwind (think Pythagoras’ “Musica universalis”). We’re very impressed. r e l’s debut LP is in the works for early 2016.

r e l (Official) (Soundcloud)

reviewed by
11-17-15

Vanessa Elisha – Out of Time

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Tune in to the voluptuously emotive heart-spun vocals of B3 featured rising-star songstress Vanessa Elisha on her smooth new track “Out Of Time” which features the deep-sultry beat-textured modern r&b production artistry of bright-talent LA wiz-kid producer XXYYXX (featured a number of times here on the blog). Reviewed by Erin Shay.

Vanessa Elisha (Soundcloud)

reviewed by
11-17-15

Tom Misch – Twinkle Twinkle

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B3 favorite artist Tom Misch turns in an incredible new brilliant-toned funk-beat-textured hip-hop-picturesque vintage-jingle vibe-y new wonder that we love called “Twinkle Twinkle”. Reviewed by Erin Shay.

Tom Misch england (Soundcloud)

reviewed by
11-16-15