araabMUZIK drops off brand new instrumental “BlackOut”. Uploaded to the New York producer’s Soundcloud just today, the dark/hypnotic grind of “BlackOut” is, like is the reg for araabMUZIK, light years in front of 99% of hip hop production on the radio (or elsewhere really).
araabMUZIK 
(Facebook)
Rating 8.4
Ezra Furman always seems to live up to his reputation of continuously dropping great music that flies just under the radar. In short, his Day of the Dog album is another winner. A favorite song from the album “Tell ‘Em All To Go To Hell” is a little different for him, as a fun-sounding, infectious, sax-dominated tune that won’t allow you to sit or stand still. His message is to the young redheads that no longer have his number, or to the purveyors of material wealth. Mainstream success probably isn’t a priority for Ezra but you never know. “Take Off Your Sunglasses” did well for him a few years ago and his “My Zero” single from this current album is seriously infectious. I’m betting there will be more to come.
Ezra Furman – Tell ‘Em All To Go To HellEzra Furman 
(Facebook)
Hear Bruce’s “Go Deep With Bruce Rave” weekly new music show on Indie1031/Los Angeles and WSUM-FM/Madison. Details and archived shows can be found on his blog and be sure follow Bruce on Twitter too!
The hypnotic “Yes Manzoni” is the debut single for Number Line Records for Berlin-based Honor Gavin. The title track from her just-released EP, “Yes Manzoni” ably distills ’60’s girl group pop through the lens of current trends in indie pop and is as equally infectious as it is inventive.
Honor Gavin 
(Official)
Rating 8.3
House K. Lamar-affiliate Raleigh Ritchie drops another A+ piece of dreary R&B w/ the beautiful “Bloodsport”. Built on the pulse of simple piano chords, a scattering snare, and Ritchie’s lorn love-lost vocal, “Bloodsport” follows in a lane but sound-wise and quality-wise (hint: it’s also quite good) as previous winners like “Stay Inside” and “Overdose”. Stream “Bloodsport” from Raleigh Ritchie’s upcoming “Black and Blue” EP below.
Raleigh Ritchie 
(Soundcloud)
Rating 8.2
The very talented UK-based producer Starsmith sets alight Betty Who’s blog hit “Somebody Loves You” w/ a thousand hundred megawatts of electropop punch and jam. Betty Who’s “The Movement” EP is out now.
Starsmith (Facebook)
Rating 8.2
“Sometimes I wish I was jesus I get my Air Max on and run across the sea to you.” When Wookie & Eliza Doolittle collaborate on a track magic happens; We LOVE it. You need this latest mix by the UK producer in your life right now. Do not miss.
Eliza Doolitle (Official)
Rating 8.7
Brooklyn dance duo Chordashian drop another house-tinged floor filler w/ the uptempo feel-good joint “Keep On”. For the love of Yeezus, listen.
Chordashian (Soundcloud)
Rating 8.4
The smooth and buttery (and Game-sampling) “Eat” is new from Chicago MC Kami De Chukwu. His anticipated SMOKE LP is due next year.
Kami de Chukwu (Soundcloud)
Rating 8.4
Bondax, the blogger-favorite (we love them too) R&B-leaning production duo, release new track “Fires”. Tapping the rising UK singer Josh Record for the vocal hook (who’s melodic stylings are 100% perfect here and for Bondax in general), the oceansized slow jam “Fires” is yet another new (and experly pulled off) sound for Bondax, who seem to have little trouble w/ any genre or style they attempt to work in. Look for Bondax’s LP next year.
Bondax (Facebook)
Rating 8.4
Team B3 is very proud to present our label B3SCI Records’s second release, “Drifter” the very much anticipated return of Sunik Kim a/k/a Beat Culture. Kim’s first release in nearly two years, following up his great debut Tokyo Dreamer, “Drifter” is track one of a double-A sided single (the other track being “Shibuya”) that we’ll be releasing in parternship with Kaya Kaya on January 21st. Featuring the breezy lush vocals of Brooklyn artist Psychic Twin, “Drifter” is awashed in the familiar (but updated) well-arranged scattering toms and chopped up vocal bits that made Tokyo Dreamer so great; added to that a set of pop vocal hooks in the track’s latter half that maybe hint at the next iterations of Beat Culture’s sound.
Beat Culture 
(Soundcloud) (Purchase 7-inch)
Rating: 8.3
We like the wispy ethereal guitar pop of Italian band Be Forest. Sample below “Colours”, the lead track from the Pesaro-based (a city of 95,000 on the Adriatic Coast, east of Florence) band’s sophomore LP Earthbeat .
Be Forest 
(Purchase)
Rating: 8.3
“Savage” is the latest genrebender from rising UK-based artist Ben Khan. Marrying the feel of late night soul and the punchier rhythm structures of golden era hip hop with his own highly skilled melodic sensibility, Khan’s sound is totally his own and perhaps (so far) best realized on “Savage”.
Ben Khan (Tumblr)
Rating 8.3
