Brilliant songwriter and B3SCI SXSW alum Marika Hackman announces new EP “Sugar Blind” and lead single “Cinnamon”. The wonderfully kinetic and melodically adventurous “Cinnamon” is indicative in quality of quite a step forward for Ms. Hackman. We’re loving the track. Well done.
Marika Hackman 
(Facebook)
Rating 8.0234
By Mike Olinger
After last year’s Rooms Filled with Light and a string of successful music videos, London based alt. wavers Fanfarlo have returned with their anticipated EP The Sea.
It is a decidedly retro endeavor; with surf guitars and whammy bars bookending their signature Depeche Mode influenced Synthpop. This time around the music is warmer, catchier and more self-aware. Though the EP only contains four songs, Fanfarlo has managed to make a dynamic listen that is both innovative and readily accessible to their fan-base.
The opening track “A Distance” finds lead singer Simon Balthazar’s vocals oscillating between a ballroom croon and New Romantic warbling. Beyond it’s disco induced meandering, the song manages to tap into some profound themes, namely that relationships are fraught with miscommunication.
The title track emerges out of a sparkling harp arpeggio that wouldn’t feel out of place in Zelda: Ocarina of Time. The song’s nostalgic feel is enhanced by lyrics which detail a carefree day at the beach while painting a startling picture of reverse evolution back to the sea. Oyster shell percussion and heavenly female vocals hover over the powerful piano lines, aiding the tasteful production.
“The Wilderness” is about the grooviest track here, with tremolo guitars leading gracefully into a jangling overture. The socio-political themes are traded in for a more internal dialogue about the nature of self and the wilderness of the soul.
The finale, “WitchiTaiTo” is a loose adaptation of a traditional Native American Peyote song written by Jim Pepper in 1971. What first comes off as a mouthful of gibberish and whirl of mellotron can be deciphered as a life-affirming anthem upon return listens.
The Sea EP is an excellent addition to Fanfarlo’s steadily growing body of work. With their prolific output, it is our hope these lads will remain on the front lines, ushering in the third British invasion.
Rating 8.5
London-based producer Mokadem turns out a very good moody, hypnotic, weirded-down of LDR’s “Gods & Monsters”. Mokadem describes the remix, “There’s a sense of elusiveness and glitz in all [Lana’s] stuff, I wanted to take it and make it even more remote and aged, like sitting at the bar of a sunken luxury ocean liner and everyone she’s singing about died 100 years ago.” Well done.
Mokadem (Facebook)
Rating 8.4
Always or (ALVVAYS), out of Toronto, impress Team B3 with the warm 90’s-esque lo-fi pop of “Archie, Marry Me”.
Always 
(Facebook)
Rating 8.3
“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 (Pre-Order)
Rating 8.4
Mr. “Suffering From Success” DJ Khaled calls on a diverse cast (Scarface! Anthony Hamilton!) for new (& awesome) “pour one out for my homies” single “Never Surrender”. To all those who’ve lost someone out in the struggle, DJ Khaled’s got you.
DJ Khaled 
(Facebook)
Rating 8.4
“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 
(Official) (Facebook) (iTunes)
Rating 9.0
German-based songstress Magic Island releases the excellent wistful 60’s-lean modern nostalgia pop of “Baby Blu”. On the track, tinkling guitars and electronics frame an otherwise minimally arranged track that shines on Magic Island’s sunny potent but barely there vocal. “Baby Blu” is sampled here from Magic Island’s upcoming “Wasted Dawn” EP.
Magic Island 
(Soundcloud(/a>)
Rating 8.8
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
Beat champ Flume is on a (well-deserved) victory lap releasing a “Deluxe Edition” of his excellent self-titled debut that features bars from Freddie Gibbs, Ghostface, Killer Mike & more. Here the Australian producer/songwriter/magician grabs our man in the 330 Milq City Stalley for a re-up of “Intro”
Stalley 
(Facebook)
Rating 8.3
Yes, Darlia (a newish band out of Blackpool UK) sound like Nirvana so lets get that out of the way at the start. Darlia are also very very good, “Napalm” (the standout track from the band’s upcoming “Knock Knock” EP) is bolstered with the energy, attitude and realness that lesser bands (many and most of the band’s genre peers) can only pretend to possess.
Darlia 
(Facebook)
Rating 8.3
An old favorite L.A.-based Ghost Loft links up w/ new fave RÁJ for this glass of wine at the edge of the world new mive for the naturally and aptly titled “Ghost”.
Ghost Loft 
(Facebook)
Rating 8.3
