NYC producer and one of the heads of the label, Little Giant, Chris Luzz gives us 4 tracks for the next 3Bridge Elements release. A mix of downtempo and ambient, it showcases the diversity of his production styles.

'Calm' starts things off with a slow, steady beat with retro style 808 percussion, piano riffs, and filtered out dubby synths. Pianos also occasionally punch through the mix creating a borderline jazzy smoky, silky feel.

The piece 'Cool' drenches the listener with echoing voices, evolving melodies, and soundtrack type sequences. A textured backdrop keeps the atmosphere heavy, perhaps it's rain pelting against a window, or trees blowing in a field as branches snap against each other gracefully.

'Collective' follows as a great counter part to the previous song. It's beat less and airy evoking the earlier works of Tangerine Dream and Jean-Michel Jarre. It stays up in the clouds, as if you were looking down at city lights twinkling from above.

'Solidarity' bookends the EP and leaves it off where it started. The moodiest track on the record, the light but detailed drums propel it, while heavy pads and bells help it flourish.

Stay 'Calm, Cool, and Collective' with this really solid EP.

Collective

Cool

Calm

The always excellent producer Futureworlder strikes again, this time on 3Bridge Elements with his second offering on the label, the 'Signals EP'. With this release each track details a different occurrence of interfacing with nature modeled as a collection of connections with the world. 

The title track is an observance of the nighttime sky and what it might be like if extraterrestrial entities decided to make contact with the earth. It's as if you were lying in a field at night, crickets talking, and a large UFO draped in white light was descending upon the surface slowly with its motives unknown. 

'Encounters' could serve as a counter piece to 'Signals' utilizing field recordings. Slowly evolving spatial pads soar over the droning undercurrent. An alien sounding symphony plays on and catapults you into another world.

'A Thousand Paces' is the most dramatic of the works here, with humungous beds of ethereal melody swelling and surging atop a Moog arpeggio . If you're looking for something to help you gaze at the stars and the ever changing night sky, this is it. It slowly rises into a layered crescendo before dropping off, bringing yourself back to earth. 

Concluding this EP is 'Someday The Horizon (Will Swallow Us Whole)', a somber piece envisioning the Earth millions of years from now, as the sun goes full on supernova and engulfs the planet. It's paradoxically apocalyptic and dreamy in nature.

Mastered by Jeff Clark @ JC Mastering

Someday The Horizon (Will Swallow Us Whole)

A Thousand Paces

Encounters

Signals

Begoña helped launch 3Bridge Elements in September with her debut solo release, the acclaimed Horizons EP. Now she's back with her second EP for the label, and her three-track "Reflections" release marks a mesmerizing evolution of her sound. This EP arrives just in time to welcome the sunnier Springtime days, and you can hear the positive energy of the season shimmering through the music. 

Begoña is best known as one-half of New York's veteran production and DJ duo Sleepy & Boo. But as a solo artist, she has initially focused on downtempo, chillout and balearic vibes, as well as her 20-minute, ambient meditation sound paths for stillness and sound healing. The Reflections EP continues her explorations of the heady, slower tempos, and begins with the stunning "Echo". This track truly sets the pace for the EP, with a steady 4/4 groove laying the foundation for hypnotic percussion and a warm bassline. A haunting piano progression is the prominent element here, complemented by swelling pads, soaring strings and textured leads. It crescendos into a euphoric release and builds the anticipation for the moments that lie ahead on the EP. 

"Shadow" is the second track on the release, and it pursues a more contemplative and moody direction. There's a swinging house groove on this one, with rhythmic snares balanced out by rising, filtered pads washing over the mix. The chords utilized here evoke a bit of both melancholy and hope, highlighting Begoña's skill at imbuing her music with emotive detail and character. As the layers strip away for a thoughtful breakdown, you're provided with a moment of calm and introspection - a theme that is prevalent throughout the Reflections EP. 

The title track of the EP is "Reflection", the perfect closer to this wonderful release. This composition ties everything together in an entranced finale, with upfront chords and gated leads taking center stage on this track. All the elements are fused to create a powerful piece of music that leaves you with a sublime feeling of peace and positivity. "Reflection" is a great track for a sunrise set, with a hands-in-the-air apex that brings everything home. 

Reflection has a dual meaning - evoking both the reflection of light in nature, and of our thoughts and feelings. This combination of the natural world, and the internal power of our own souls, lies at the heart of Begoña's music and creations. We look forward to hearing her continued progression.

Reflection (Original Mix)

Shadow (Original Mix)

Echo (Original Mix)

3Bridge Elements was founded by Greg Cuoco and Eric Shans as a subdivision of 3Bridge Records to focus on the downtempo and ambient sides of electronic music.  Please see the releases so far this year in our profile.