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Track Reviews

Ryan Egan – Restoration

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B3 recently covered the ingenious lavishly-spun Tei Shi-featuring LUCA solo-side-project first track “Best On” from Luca Buccellati; one half of Brooklyn-raised producer duo Yellerkin who also produces music for an array of emerging-talent artists. We’re knocked out by his latest collaboration, “Restoration” for its soulful, deeply-percolating ambiance, vibey drawn-out beats and divinely-gorgeous tender heart-felt vocals from a new-find singer-songwriter Ryan Egan who makes his career debut online with the track. We’re taken with Egan’s emotive beyond-excellent refreshingly-vulnerable falsetto vocal style and big-picture deeply thought-out lyrics. As Egan indicates, ”It’s a song about hitting the reset button, a rebirth. It’s something that will and should happen many times throughout our lives, artistic and otherwise. It’s good to acknowledge where we’ve gone wrong and not be afraid to expose our faults so that we can move forward and grow in a positive way. I think everyone can relate to that.” We whole-heatedly relate to that and very much look forward to hearing more from the superbly-talented little-known artist Egan who we think has incredible promise. Stay tuned for more from both artists who are surprisingly (in a sense) at the same fresh and enthusiastic place in launching their respective solo careers. Excellent collaboration. Reviewed by Erin Shay

Ryan Egan (Soundcloud)

reviewed by
07-13-15

Oslo Parks – Slipping Away

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Zone out to the sublime atmospheric alt/synth-pop vibe of multi-instrumentalist producers Rob Flynn & Ian Booth, also known as Oslo Parks, on their new synthed-out luminescent-guitar-accented beauty track “Slippin Away”, which follows the Brighton-based indie duo’s B3-featured soft-edged new wave wonder track “Dress For That”. We really enjoy the dreamy up-beat 80’s-vintage sound of Oslo Parks! Reviewed by Erin Shay.

Oslo Parks (Soundcloud)

reviewed by
07-13-15

Sunflower Bean – The Stalker

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B3 recently appreciated “I Hear Voices” the fast-paced hazy-vocaled deeply guitar-driven genre-bending indie single from young Brooklyn-based psychedelic trio Sunflower Bean which just released as a lead-in to the group’s new July 24-release EP out via Fat Possum. The EP’s dynamic second single “The Stalker” wows our sentiments completely with its divinely-interspersed blend of a dark-sided feedback-chaotic vibe meshed beautifully with an ominous and galactic Black Sabbath-esque guitar groove and melody laced with drama-excellent new wave revival boy-girl vocals. “The Stalker” is the 7-inch b-side to “I Hear Voices”. Incredible track. Reviewed By Erin Shay.

Sunflower Bean (Soundcloud)

reviewed by
07-10-15

Vandetta – Fly (Perk Pietrek Remix)

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21-year-old rising star DJ/producer, Perk Pietrek puts an inspired soulfully-minimalist bass-heavy D&B-touched dance-floor twist on original track “Fly” from fellow Singaporean radio-host, musician and producer VANDETTA (also known as Vanessa Fernandez); who is well known locally for rising up the ranks of Singapore’s music scene after winning a nationally broadcast talent show for her vocals when she was twelve years-old. Pietrek’s new remix is out on VANDETTA’s forthcoming Syndicate-rep’d August 4-release Remix EP that features different artist’s iterations of tracks from her 2013 self-titled debut EP. Reviewed By Erin Shay.

Perk Pietrek singapore (Soundcloud)

reviewed by
07-10-15

Laurel – Blood Blood

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We recently showcased the beautiful vocal talents of UK songstress, Laurel on “Nothing Ever Hurts” the new Pete Tong recent-feature track from UK house dynamos Shadow Child and Ben Pearce and we also wrote about her in December for the broody modern-pop Sivu-featured Holy Water EP track “Come Together”. Laurel’s latest track “Blue Blood” features the singer-songwriter’s languid straightforward vocal tone and vastly-layered grandiose and emotional singing style that makes a dynamic dichotomy to the track’s larger-than-life dramatic synth, bellowing strings and mumbly whispery-quiet atmospheric ambient touches. Excellent. Turn it up ya’ll. Reviewed by Erin Shay.

Laurel england (Soundcloud)

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07-10-15

Frances – When It Comes To Us (Feat. Ritual)

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Frances who wow’d us in May w online debut “Grow”, is back with follow-up track “When It Comes To Us” featuring upstart UK trio Ritual. “When It Comes To Us”‘s excellent dual female/male vocal dynamic comes off brilliantly in the context of the track’s narrative of relationship subject matter. Very believable.

Frances (Soundcloud)

reviewed by
07-10-15

MOTION CNTRL – It’s On You

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L.A. band MOTION CNTRL impress on new one “It’s On You”. Centered on a repetitious bass-driven groove and a cool alto vocal, “It’s On You”‘s obtuse atmospheres and more ethereal moments remind of Chromatics. Do not miss.

MOTION CNTRL california (Soundcloud)

reviewed by
07-10-15

BECOME x XYLO – Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea

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Hypem chart toppers XYLO are the recipients of a remix from BECOME on latest smash “Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea”. BECOME who made a auspicious debut online with a mix for B3 Recs’ track “She Talks Too Much” by Elohim, chooses for a compressed mix built on kinetic clattering snare drums and synth sonics. Get into it.

BECOME (Soundcloud)

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07-10-15

Evil Needle – Sunday Morning

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Soulection artist and French beat-maker/composer Evil Needle recently released his beat-centric jazz-oriented new “Reminisce” EP. We are drawn to the compilation’s lesser-known beat-laced fizzy acid-jazz jam entitled “Sunday Morning” which mixes Evil Needle’s signature poignant deeply-soulful bass-driven electro-instrumental style with a poetic divinely-inspired accompanying piano vibe and ambient chirps that we really dig. Reviewed by Erin Shay.

Evil Needle (Soundcloud)

reviewed by
07-09-15

Desert Sound Colony – Fashion (David Bowie)

desertsoundcolony

London three-piece electro/acoustic band Desert Sound Colony turns in a killer cover of David Bowie’s iconic funked-out new-wave alternative-underground wonder track “Fashion”; in which he relishes in an impressively reminiscent vintage-vibe pop-psychedelica sound that thoughtfully mimics the original track’s gentle repetitive rhythm and groundbreaking staccato vocal style. DSC creatively laces “Fashion” with a stellar highly-punctuated modern-twist guitar-riff and genius interludes of dub-based reverb that suit the classic 80’s hit to a T. In fact (sorry David), DSC elevates “Fashion” to a super danceable beat-driven track that we prefer (this rarely occurs). “Fashion” leads the pack as one of the best cover tracks of 2015 (thus far) and certainly takes the cake as one of the most solid twists on a classic Bowie track. Stay tuned as we await more incredible music from a new favorite artist-find DSC; who are currently working on their new EP (slated to release this Autumn) as well as a debut full-length album (out sometime in 2016). Reviewed by Erin Shay.

Desert Sound Colony (Soundcloud)

reviewed by
07-09-15

Kins – Cyclical

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B3 recently showcased UK band Kins for their fast-paced progressively-inclined guitar-rock EP first-single “Young” from the foursome’s “Cyclical” EP (out now via East City Records). Much like “Young”, the EP’s title track “Cyclical” stands out as a creative ace; we especially like its robust and dramatic synth accents, brightly emotive instrumentals and the track’s fresh vastly-wavering highly-vulnerable vocal style which (more so on “Cyclical”) has a modern-twist vocal charisma feel that draws comparison to Thom Yorke from Radiohead school of singing. Reviewed by Erin Shay.

Kins (Soundcloud)

reviewed by
07-09-15

Patawawa & Roman Kouder – Back To Life (Benet Remix)

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Multi-talent Greek producer Benet puts a cool summer spin on the R&B/house sound of the moment on his new fastidiously crafted synth-heavy funk-leaning remix of “Back to Life” the vibrant soul-tinged nu-disco new release which is the ultra-catchy remix-friendly collaboration between English nu-disco trio Patawawa and Parisian nu-disco producer Roman Kolder. We enjoy the funky summer-dance-party vibe on Benet’s rendition, especially his elaborate electronic array of synth atmospherics, low-touch clap percussion and brilliant dichotomy of upscale-vibe subterranean beats. Reviewed by Erin Shay.

Benet GREECE_FLAG (Soundcloud)

reviewed by
07-09-15