Here is a new track out of the Canadian prairies from Nick Faye & The Deputies. Nick tells us a story, with smooth vocals throughout and the Deputies create the perfect ambience to back up his vocals. It’s the sort of track that makes you stop, sit, and just listen. This one is off their Harvest EP, which is out later this month. Nick and his Deputies traditionally have more of a rock sound, so look out for that. By Jon Herriot
Nick Faye and the Deputies 
(Soundcloud)
Rating 8.3
Rising Aussie remixer Akouo sparks up something very special & soulful with his latest mix for Chet Faker. It’s “Terms & Conditions”.
Akouo
(Facebook)
Rating 8.2
“Youth Blood”, the b-side to the also excellent “Lucifer”, will see a UK release as part of the “Lucifer” single, March 10th on Once Upon a Time records. As Elephants Are uniquely blend the pop sensibilities of bands like Two Door Cinema Club & the theater of The Maccabees through a slightly darkened more visceral lens. We are loving it.
As Elephants Are 
(Facebook)
Rating 8.2
Little Daylight’s awesome breakthrough hit “Overdose” (seriously, “Overdose” could be the chorus of the year) gets the official remix treatment from Aussie born production team Twice As Nice. The Oz boys nail it; styling “Overdose” with some heavier electro flourishes and a bit more club-friendly drophammer of a beat. B3’s got you, as we’ve got the premiere for y’all to sample below! Get into it!
Little Daylight 
(Facebook)
Twice As Nice (Facebook)
Rating 8.3
phedee is somewhat of a mystery, relatively undiscovered, the artist is a track monster. Releasing new stuff every couple weeks, there’s always a new gem. At only 19, phedee has a very classic 90s hip-hop/R&B feel as this track’s title “1992” indicates. When listening, it’s impossible not to be reminded of The Avalanches. It’s all over the place, yet so very cohesive. With fluttery effects, and a recurrent piano, you’re instantly taken into an imaginary world where this is your favorite song. Maybe it should be in this world too. By Phoebe Anne Severin
phedee 
(Soundcloud)
Rating 8.5
James Blake is a superstar. Demur, and yet so powerful, a style he has carried into his new track: “Retrograde” The track starts off slow, just has most of his stuff does. And then the trademark Blake “drop” comes in, and blows you away. His lyric, “Ignore everybody else, we’re alone now” stands out with a romantic, sensual feeling to it, where as previous Blake tracks and albums rode upon more of a theme of longing and sadness. It is assuredly one of his better songs to date. The vocals are stunning and Blake carries the song on what seems like one breath.
A follow up to James Blake’s debut self-titled album is to be released on April 8th, and he will be doing a US tour in late Spring and early Summer. (A live show that is not to miss.) By Phoebe Anne Severin
James Blake 
: (Official) (Label) (Myspace)
Rating 8.5
The MBV meets Big Black meets 2013 indie blitz of Big Deal’s very very big “Teradactol” exhibits the sort of uniqueness and singularity (and awesomeness) that demands attention. The melodic/hook part of “Teradactol”s equation is perhaps its strongest component. The backdrop of the track’s razor-focused distorted guitar pile driver presents an interesting counterpoint to the song’s essentially pop tune. June Gloom, of which “Teradactol” is a part of, Big Deal’s second LP is due for an appropriately June release on Mute.
Big Deal – TeradactolBig Deal (Facebook)
Rating 8.3
Hello CHVRCHES. Austrian producer Cid Rim gives “Recover” the 8-bit-driven remix of its life. Ever wondered what Duck Hunt would sound like soundtracked to CHVRCHES singer Lauren Mayberry’s frantic chanteuse tones? Well, somebody hook up the zapper gun because that reality has manifested for you and all of us. Aside from all the Duck Hunt we’re about to get familiar with, Cid Rim’s remix is absolutely top notch and not to miss.
CID RIM 
(Facebook)
Rating 9.0
The Stones Throw all-star team shows out on the 70’s heroin soul sounds of “Burgundy Whips. “The Burgundy” EP, from which “Burgundy Whip” is taken from, is already out on vinyl (can’t ever fall behind Madlib) but is due for a digital release on February 19th. We, of course, love (as you should too) every hand in this and the track’s quality rides right along with the high quality of its lineup.
MADLIB (Official)
Rating 8.2
It’s HAIM, so you know it’s awesome. The sultry layered pop of “Falling”, which was produced by the hot hand of Ariel Rechtshaid (he co-produced Usher’s “Climax”, Alex Clare’s The Lateness of the Hour, Sky Ferreira’s “Everything Is Embarrassing”, etc) is the title track on the LA-based band’s forthcoming EP of the same name. Consider us in love.
HAIM (Facebook)
Rating 8.2
Brooklyn via our home state of Ohio (Cincinnati) five piece Wild Leaves earn high marks for their ably executed folk pop on new track “Wind & Rain”. The perfect for a Sunday evening slow dance “Wind & Rain” is excerpted from Wild Leaves’ debut EP which you can pre-order here is set for a March 26th release.
Wild Leaves – Wind & RainWild Leaves 
(Facebook)
Rating 8.3
Flume’s victory lap (our man already went to #1 in his native Australia) in the rest of the anglophonic world begins February 18th in the UK when his fantastic debut sees a release through Trangressive (The LP will be released in the U.S. on Mom & Pop the next day). The standout “Left Alone” gets an effective, floor-of-the-club friendly (and no less alluring) remix from UK producer Bobby Tank.
Bobby Tank (Facebook)
Flume (Facebook) (Soundcloud)
Rating 8.4
