Welshly Arms out of our hometown/city of champions Cleveland return to B3 on potent new track “Bad Blood”. Powered by a magnetic minor-keyed rock and roll chorus “Bad Blood” finds WA achieving at a new songwriting-level. “Bad Blood” is of a caliber that could really break the band. Cleveland!
Surrey UK 18-year olds Jason Vaz and Harvey Wise debut online with the hazy stop-start vibe-y track “Everyday”. Featuring warm pads of synth atmospheres and rhodes, chopped up loops of vocal ostensibly from featured Beth Duck lilt about the mix in a dynamic technicolor whirl. We’re into it.
NYC-based songwriter Raveena makes a much welcomed return to B3 with new single “Johnny It’s The Last Time” which we particularly love for its cool horn-driven chorus hook.
MADEIRA (Kim Pflaum, ex-Yumi Zouma) announces debut EP Bad Humors on Carpark Records with neatly syncopated minor-keyed number “Manipulator”. We like it.
Charlotte band The Halves make a strong online debut with jangly “Are You Happy?”. Constructed around a crashing, cathartic chorus, the melodic acumen displayed on “Are You Happy?” indicates a band in The Halves with a noticeable bit of songwriting skill. Introduce yourself to The Halves below.
A favorite voice (Charlotte Day Wilson) collaborates with a favorite band (BADBADNOTGOOD) for 70’s symphonic soul-tinged (maybe Willie Hutch-esque?) track “In Your Eyes”. BBNG’s new IV LP is out today.
Last month we featured “I Think You’re Alright” the opposite side track from Jay Som a/k/a SF’s Melina Duarte’s new 7″ for Fat Possum. We dig the reverb-set “Rush” and it’s strong chorus hook. Listen to “Rush” below.
The Hypem hitmakers SOFI TUKKER fire another potent sortie in the form of big rhythmic track “Awoo”. A vaguely Latin syncopated piano line sets the aesthetic for “Awoo” as danceable layered drums and a rhythm-heavy main vocal further build out the track’s force and effectiveness. Stream “Awoo” below and look for the “Soft Animals” EP on July 8.
Melbourne AU act Fortunes turn in seriously impressive new stream “Angel”. Very accomplished melodically (the track reminds us a bit of Raheem DeVaughn or even D’Angelo in that department) and expertly framed-up by a spare set of 808’s and cycling loops of vocal and additional rhythmic samples, “Angel”‘s emotive impactfulness is enormous and immediate.
High-steppin’ dames with high-soundin’ names. There ain’t nothin’ they could show her.
The B3SCI Records alums POWERS stream first single from forthcoming debut LP for Republic. “Sunshine” walks a neat aesthetic line in blending current mainstream pop structures (that “Sunshine” “baby it’s true” hook has major crossover potential) with cool forward-thinking arrangement elements (that flute hook! the unexpected gospel-y bits, etc). We dig “Sunshine” and you can stream it below.
Previewed below is “Surplus”, the latest from Philadelphia artist Kenji. A component part of Kenji’s debut “I’ll Think Of Something Better” EP, “Surplus” floats a-top a wash of cooled-out post-Sade electronics and a humid summer’s night aesthetic. We are into it.
