Lyrics Press






“HB3 is setting music free with a sound that combines organic electric instruments with electronic sounds and effects in fashion that might just be unique. Bridging the gaps from Charlie Parker to Eric Johnson to Yes and through Ravi Shankar on the way back, HB3 paints with a broad musical brush that's as interesting as it is hard to predict. HB3 looks to create a musical place of pure imagination and creativity both as a refuge from the world and a means to understand it.” –Wildy's World

“Where were you when you first heard HB3? In every generation or so, an artist emerges to wipe the slate clean – from Charlie Parker to Jimi Hendrix to Jaco Pastorius to Nirvana. It's been a while...however, the mysterious HB3 (the artist declines to divulge his name) has the potential to wake rock as we now know it from its corporate induced doldrums with the mind blowing Luminosity. HB3's thunderous debut is fueled by the sounds of a piccolo bass (an instrument pitched lower than a guitar yet higher than a traditional bass) run through a myriad of effects such as flange, distortion, delay et al. As a vocalist Mr. 3 can spit out a thought provoking politically charged rap with the ferocity of Primus Les Claypool (Turkish Delight) or wax angelic akin to such alt-rock crooners as Chris Martin (Doggyville). Musically, Luminosity is all over the map – delving into progressive, acid, Indian, metal, pop, and punk (sometimes all within the same track) with a heavy dose of humor. Dig the funky Stax-like horn intro to Bundeswehr, toss in the multi-cultural epic Another I & II – which could be Jimi and Ravi jamming on heaven and earth – and Luminosity is a most enlightening experience indeed.” –Amplifier

“This record was able to hold my attention all the way through in part because of some fine melodies and not to mention some fantastic playing. I was not familiar with the instrument until I heard this album. What really struck me is how the piccolo bass can sound so much like different instruments like the acoustic guitar and mandolin. For those of you who care, this instrument is usually pitched one octave above a traditional bass and one octave lower than a guitar. I hear a few different styles including classical, folk, East Indian and rock. The playing is dynamic and enthralling and quite beautiful at times, displaying some gorgeous melodies along the way.” –Sea of Tranquility

“If 'surfing' to you means tethering a surfboard to the back of a Buick, duct taping some sucker daredevil to the board and then barrelling through some fucked up off-road course, then this would be 'surf music.'” –Rocktober