“She Dried” is the latest bit of brilliance from UK singer Jamie Isaac. A simple but heart-wringing melody wrapped around a winding piano figure; “She Dried” stands out, additionally, on the sophistication of its arrangement – rises of vocal harmony and electronics build and ebb w/ excellent pacing and a highly talented sense of theatrics. “Blue Break” is the new EP from Jamie Isaac and it’s out March 24th.
Jamie Isaac 
(Facebook)
Rating 8.4
Burger Records got soul! The venerable L.A. label links up w/ Atlanta singer (& former back-up vocals for Cee-Lo Green) Curtis Harding to release his debut LP, Soul Power. “Keep On Shining”, the album’s lead single is an excellent blend of classic soul sounds like The Four Tops & The Dramatics with the more contemporary tones of an artist like Anthony Hamilton. It’s a really good record, don’t sleep. Soul Power is due April 22.
Curtis Harding 
(Facebook)
Rating: 8.6
New from Ninja Tune is the indie 2014 quiet storm of UK artist Actress’ track for “Rap”. From Actress’ upcoming Ghettoville LP (the follow-up to the very long time ago 2008’s Hazyville), “Rap” while modern in its syrupy R&B references is special/worth your time because of Actress’ command of mood and pacing (and production) which are all truly standout (as is the track). Ghettoville sees a release on January 28th via Werkdiscs/Ninja Tune.
Actress (Ninja Tune)
Rating 8.4
Swiss artist Delakeyz blends deep house, jazz & a touch of more modern indie beats on “Snapositive”. As a full piece, “Snapositive” succeeds on its wholeness; each counterrhythm, every pulse of kick drum is perfectly timed and skillfully connected into the broader instrumental. “Snapositive” is included on Delakeyz’s new “Organic & Smooth” EP.
Delakeyz 
(Official)
Rating 8.3
Ed Thomas, the songwriter behind Bondax’s “Giving It All”, reveals a new track in the form of the spare, rhythm-driven R&B-tinged pop of “Hurt”. Closely packed, condense, an efficient machine, “Hurt” succeeds on both its imagination (the nexus of vocal, beat and atmospherics created on the track is next level) and its simplicity (the track’s spaces are magnetic).
Ed Thomas (Facebook)
Rating 8.4
The mighty Marian Hill announce new EP “Play” with the excellent new single “One Time”. Neatly balancing jazz influences in the melody with modern arrangement and rhythmic elements all while tying up the track within a compact and cool Marian Hill minimalist frame. The path to successfully blending jazz and contemporary sounds is lined with seemingly endless traunches of hokey garbage (Email subject line: Hey! Check Our Band, We Blend Miles Davis w/ Radiohead!) but the Marian Hill (taste and adeptness at selecting for the right arrangement help) sound just really really works. “Play” is out March 4th.
Marian Hill
: (Facebook)
Rating 8.3
The stunningly-voiced George Maple debuts today new single “Began To Say”. Previewed from her forthcoming debut EP, “Began To Say” adeptly conveys the outstanding vocal tone and neatly executed diction that thusfar defined the George Maple sound; that and an excellent skill at picking instrumentals, as the slow motion R&B beat of “Began To Say” is a full on winner.
George Maple 
(Facebook)
Rating 8.8
The cooled late night R&B of “Breathe” is the debut track for UK singer Rubee Rayne. “Breathe” excels on its flawless mood and timbre adeptly accentuating in the track all its best intersections of vocal and melodic quality. Ace.
Rubee Rayne (Facebook)
Rating 8.4
Tinashe’s our B. The L.A.-based R&B songstress is joined on new track “2 On” by Black Hippy bro ScHoolBoy Q and producer DJ Mustard (Mustard on the beat ho, fyi). “2 On” is, with the proper push, R&B radio hit single material; so (looking up Tinashe’s label now) RCA get that promo sorted and get “2 On” in rotation. Thx, <3 B3SCI.
Tinashe 
(Twitter)
Rating 8.1
