Image

Soul

Jungle – Lucky I Got What I Want

Jungle-The-Heat

“Lucky I Got What I Want” is latest single from UK duo Jungle’s The Heat EP. Infinitely soulful, rhythmically inventive, melodically visceral and while still maintaining a wonderful after hours Curtis Mayfield-esque tunefulness “Lucky I Got What I Want” is absolutely glorious. “Lucky I Got What I Want” appears on the The Heat EP which becomes available as a four track EP on 10-inch clear vinyl (as well as digitally) via B3SCI Records (that’s us) in North America on October 21, and as part of a AA-side 7-inch w/ the track called “The Heat” on Chess Club Records in the UK at that same date. Pre-order here.

Jungle england (Pre-Order)

Rating 8.4

brown8

reviewed by
10-17-13

James Vincent McMorrow – Cavalier

mcmorrow

“Cavalier” is fabulous return single from Irish songwriter and favorite of the site James Vincent McMorrow. On “Cavalier”, McMorrow updates and broadens the folk as hymnal sound palette of his debut Early in the Morning LP with more brilliant/vibrant vocal textures and instrumental voicings that while relevant to the new wave R&B trend that’s swept the UK Isles certainly feels more of a natural progression and extension of style rather than style chasing. We’re absolutely loving “Cavalier”. James Vincent McMorrow’s sophomore album Post Tropical is due in January.

James Vincent McMorrow ireland (Official) (Facebook) (iTunes)

Rating 9.0

brown93

reviewed by
10-17-13

Gallant – Sirens (Prod. Felix Snow)

gallant2

The Gallant/Felix Snow train continues to its roll forward w/ the singer/producer duo’s latest R&B crusher. Again, Snow’s nicely tipped production incl. deep in the aether synths and swirling electronics do very well to complement singer Gallant’s lighter than air falsetto and impassioned vocal stylings. Don’t sleep/miss out.

Gallant (Soundcloud)

Rating 8.8

brown8

reviewed by
10-16-13

Astronomyy – Drivin Me Crazy

astronomyy

“Drivin Me Crazy” is the new one from UK rising space soul artist Astronomyy. If you’re into the newish wave of R&B-leaning UK indie artists like Bondax Banks, etc Astronomyy is likely straight down your street.

As†ronomyy (Soundcloud)

Rating: 8.3

brown8

reviewed by
10-14-13

Rhye – The Fall (JUSWRHT Remix)

rhye

Reviewed By Brian Litwin

JUSWRHT strikes again. First it was the Drake/Sampha burner “Too Much” now he takes a different route reworking Rhye’s “The Fall”. Needless to say, after one listen we were hooked. Still not much is known about the LA based producer in the public eye, but we’re betting that we expect more great things.

JUSWRHT (Soundcloud)

Rating 8.3

brown8

reviewed by
10-10-13

Lorine Chia – Eve’s Perspective

Lorine-Chia

Lorine Chia out of our home hood of CLE impresses again with the minor-keyed slow burn of new track “Eve’s Perspective”. Lorine will be releasing her new “Naked Truths” EP next week.

Lorine Chia ohio (Facebook)

Rating 8.3

brown8

reviewed by
10-08-13

Clare Maguire – Black Coffee (Sarah Vaughan Cover)

claire maquire

The triumphant Clare Maguire gets an A+ for song choice (Sonny Burke’s classic “Black Coffee”, later performed by Sarah Vaughan and Peggy Lee among others) and an additional A+ for an engaging, original, dynamic take on a much covered standard. Maguire’s full-bodied Peggy Lee-esque vocal is well complemented by the track’s equally modern and mid-century-referencing production spinning the blue far-off quality of the original to a contemporary frame. Very very powerful.

Claire Maguire england (Facebook)

Rating 8.5

reviewed by
10-07-13

R. Kelly – Cookie

R_-Kelly

The R wraps up best Oreo reference on a hook for 2013 w/ the illustratively titled new one “Cookie”. Cookie, Cookie, Cookie, Cookie, Robert Kelly’s got melodic lines for days, in fact he probably wrote this one standing on his head, left handed, while lying back in the hot tub (if anybody could pull this maneuver off it’s R. Kelly btw) while writing the next “Go Getta” “I Believe I Can Fly” and “Ignition” all at the same (damn) time. Witness.

R. Kelly (Twitter)

Rating 8.2

brown8

reviewed by
10-07-13

Fe – Mother Russia

Fe

Besides the obvious, there’s lots to like about this.

Fe. newyork (Facebook)

Rating 8.7

brown8

reviewed by
10-06-13

Mapei – Don’t Wait

meipi

Downtown Records artist Mapei returns with the release of the inventive R&B-leaning pop of “Don’t Wait”. On the song, a complex rhythm track (incl. kicks, finger snaps, & some sort of synth’d up drum that sounds like it was recorded inside a dungeon) frames up Mapei’s breezy but effective vocal. We’re into it.

Mapei sweden (Soundcloud)

Rating 8.4

brown8

reviewed by
10-03-13

Charlotte OC – Colour My Heart

Charlotte OC

Manchester-based Charlotte OC calls her music as “spooky gospel” which if you know B3 you know that is a description that is straight up our street. Let the darkly soulful Tim Anderson-produced (Solange, Sia) “Colour My Heart” be your introduction to Ms. OC’s very cool sound.

Charlotte OC england (Facebook)

Rating 8.5

reviewed by
10-03-13