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Premiere: Chris Batson – A Thousand Pieces

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Rising L.A.-based (via Orlando FL) singer Chris Batson‘s writing/producing ably blends the best bits of R&B, dance music and pop. Marrying the spatially expansive sound of contemporary EDM with skilled soul-informed pop songwriting, Batson is adept at creating both the mechanics of memorable alt-R&B as well as a most compelling, highly personal lyrical arc. We’re pleased to present below the premiere of the excellent “A Thousand Pieces” from Chris Batson. p.s. If you’re in L.A., catch Chris at The Bootleg on Friday May 19th.

Chris Batson california (Official) (Twitter)

Rating 8.4

reviewed by
04-22-14

ZHU – Cocaine Model

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The mindblower ZHU (of “Superfriends” & “Faded” fame) released his debut Nightday EP yesterday. Our pick from the very strong (seriously, every track on this EP is outstanding) 6-track set is the sun-soaked and soulful “Cocaine Model” (which is about pretty much what it’s title suggests it would be). You need this EP right now.

ZHU (Soundcloud)

Rating 8.3

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reviewed by
04-21-14

Vanessa Elisha – Midnight Swim

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“Midnight Swim” is the new one from Aussie R&B songstress Vanessa Elisha. Framed by a grimy heavy on the low-end and hypnotic syncopations, “Midnight Swim” achieves a neat dynamic both through Vanessa’s ethereal lighter-than-air vocal and its juxtaposition against the darker instrumental and thematically too as that heavy/light counter-positioning is central to the lyric. A+

Vanessa Elisha (Soundcloud)

Rating 8.3

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reviewed by
04-21-14

Sophia Black – OVR AGN (Prod. BASECAMP)

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Risers BASECAMP provide a lush, low touch R&B track for songstress Sophia Black on the excellent “OVR AGN”. The L.A. singer’s sophomore single (“OVR AGN” is the follow-up to the more pop-leaning but still great “Kissing”), “OVR AGN” is great pop songwriting; melodically A+; wall to wall airtight w/ inventive hookiness; and its, most importantly, just accessible enough to current trends in R&B (there’s a definite bit of Jhene Aiko in “OVR AGN”‘s DNA) to possess that essential familiarity that all great pop succeeds on.

Sophia Black california (Soundcloud)

Rating: 8.3

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reviewed by
04-17-14

Reva DeVito – Friday Night (Prod. Kaytranada)

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Poutine lover and Canadian beat sensation Kaytranada puts some of the creative vitality that over the last eighteen months has boosted his profile exponentially underneath Portland-based Reva DeVito‘s new single for HW&W Reva DeVito. “Friday Night”, while sounding at times like a C&C Music Factory deep cut (this is meant as a compliment), is electric as the dynamic between Kaytranada’s fast-motion glossy dance&b and Reva’s propulsive sultry tone is quite special. Listen.

reviewed by
04-17-14

Raleigh Ritchie – Stronger Than Ever (The Internet Remix)

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The Internet, who put out one of our favorite records of last year with Feel Good, take on remix duties for another site favorite Raleigh Ritchie‘s new “Stronger Than Ever” single. Team Internet styles “Stronger” in a manner that’d be at home as much on 90’s quiet storm radio as it would on your alt R&B friend’s new Spotify “chillers” playlist. We’re pretty with that, you should be too. “The world is at my feet and I’m standing on the ceiling”

Raleigh Ritchie (Soundcloud)

Rating 8.2

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reviewed by
04-17-14

Alicia Keys – Feeling You, Feeling Me (GDNA Remix)

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The big GDNA turns in an excellent, cooled out, vibe-y new mix of the Alicia Keys‘ Diary joint “Feeling You, Feeling Me”. With his mix, GDNA selects for lush well-layered instrumentation and perfectly tempo’d breaks to give the 2003 track a fuller more updated body.

GDNA california (Soundcloud)

Rating 8.4

reviewed by
04-15-14

Premiere: Marian Hill – Lovit (Video)

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Team B3 is very pleased to present the premire of Philly-bred duo Marian Hill‘s new vid for “Lovit”. Shot by locally-based Out of Town Films, the excellent live clip of the “Play” EP track was filmed at the Philadelphia middle school where MH’s Jeremy and Sam first met. Marian play Glasslands in Brooklyn next Monday (5/21).

Marian Hillpennsylvania: (Facebook)

Rating 8.3

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reviewed by
04-14-14

Kidepo – Reds

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The perfectly paced, infinitely soulful, melodic lines of “Reds” catalyze the debut track of Brooklyn-based singer Kidepo. On “Reds”, a spare introductory instrumental gives way bit-by-bit dynamically to successive tracking and flourishes which all focus through the lens of Kidepo’s soothing and engaging vocal performance. “Reds” is stunning and not to be missed. (HD)

Kidepo newyork Soundcloud)

Rating: 8.3

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reviewed by
04-11-14

SZA – Sweet November

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“Sweet November”, the latest release to come from SZA’s Z LP out tomorrow, has the instrumental and production couchings of a sticky middle 70’s mid-tempo burner from the reverb-drenched keybords to the high gain distorted guitar leads. That stylistic swerve provides a well-matched counterpoint for the thinner almost jazz-like body of SZA’s voice. We are into it.

SZA newjersey (Facebook)

Rating 8.0

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reviewed by
04-07-14

Jamie Isaac – Blue Break

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The subterranean late-night pop of “Blue Break” is the title track from 19 year old UK singer Jamie Isaac‘s just released EP. “Blue Break” is driven by stabs of simple piano chords that filter down through the mix like tiny depth charges and provide the frame for Jamie’s deep-in-the-pa reverb-y vocal.

Jamie Isaac england (Facebook)

Rating 8.4

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reviewed by
04-07-14

Moses Sumney – Mid-City Island

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Moses Sumney, who’s spare loop machine-aided vocal sermon at Central Presbyterian was probably our favorite performance of all of SXSW, releases today “Mid-City Island” his debut EP. The five songs, which were recorded by Moses on a 1980’s-era four track recorder, are dotted with cascading loops of voice and deeply soulful and effective harmony which create the center on which Moses’ singular, boundless in its capabilities, lead vocal orbits about in a romantic ethereal whirl. The number of stunning moments “Mid-City Island” contains are numerous (that outro on “San Fran”, the harmonic voicings around “Plastic’s” instrumental) and we give the EP our highest recommendation.

Moses Sumney california (Soundcloud)

Rating 8.5

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reviewed by
04-07-14