March 2012 ~ HotBox

Foster The People - Helena Beat (KNIGHTLOVE Remix)

Unfortunately I don't know much about about KNIGHTLOVE, other than he's from Berlin and he's pretty damn talented. Check out his take on Foster The People's 'Helena Beat', housey vibes, but still in keeping with the chilled out mood of the original.....and it's FREE to boot.
Grab the track asap and follow KNIGHTLOVE on SoundCloud for more awesome FREEbies

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Now, Now - School Friends

In between all the rap and heavy electronic music we've been posting, it's a relief to get some easy going indie on the playlist here at The HotBox
You may not of heard of Now, Now before, but you'll almost certainly know the band this Minneapolis based indie-pop trio is currently on tour with (The Naked and Famous), not to mention the producer behind their current album 'Threads', Howard Redekopp (The New Pornographers etc.)
Check out 'School Friends' and their other single 'Dead Oaks' below, both are available for FREE and give a taste of the kind of mellow indie vibes Now, Now have to offer.
Their album 'Threads' is available now via iTunes

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Odd Future - The OF Tape Vol. 2

So the 'OF Tape Vol. 2' has been out a few days and the reaction positive, though lacking the shock factor of previous releases. But this is a good thing for OFWGKTA, the album itself represents a move away from filler tracks and shock factor for shock factors sake. Yes, we did receive the "Rella" and "NY (Ned Flander)" videos; two high budget 'look at us!' head turners for the fleeting hipster-hop fans of Odd Future, but ultimately this album goes back to what made the OF boys really stand out (if only really coming to fruition a few times on the album) tight unified collaborations on beats, aggressive verses and spontaneous videos.....all of which is summed up in the 10min long epic finale of the album, 'Oldie'.
'Oldie' doesn't need to be 10 minutes long and it doesn't need a lo-fi spontaneous video with members stumbling over their verses, but both these factors are as deliberate as the inclusion of every OFWGKTA, member, up to and including Hodgy Beats, Mike G and Frank Ocean, hell even Jasper Dolphinspits his debut verse.....it might border on overkill but it reminds us all not just how each member can stand alone on their individual skills, but how their collaborative nature is what made them worth watching in the first place.....and yes while Tyler the Creator still dominates this album as he has before, it's hardly a bad thing.....plus Earl Sweatshirt's return is much appreciated.
Check the video for 'Oldie' below and grab 'The OF Tape Vol. 2' available via iTunes

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Album: Mr. FijiWiji - Walking Televisions EP

We all love a bit of FREE Electronic music, especially when its courtesy of Mr. FijiWiji. But a chance to be a little charitable and get some 'almost' FREE music, well surely that's even better.
Thanks to his 'Walking Televisions' EP you've got the chance to donate $1 here and raise a little cash for the American Brain Tumor Association.
Although the EP is also available for FREE here, those who don't donate will miss out on the bonus track....seems like a fair deal to us....
Check out one of the featured tracks below and check the YouTube clip below for an explanation in Mr. FijiWiji's own eccentric words.

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Caribou - Sun (Hannes Fischer 2012 Edit)

When it comes to Tech House, you can always depend on Hannes Fischer to deliver. His latest work is a deep refixing of Caribou's original minimal/progressive effort.....as always Hannes adds far more than he takes away, creating a much less chaotic track, rooted deep house rhythms.
Grab this release for FREE over at Soundcloud asap.

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Artist Recordings - Free LP

Been waiting on this for some time, about two weeks ago Artist Recordings announced they'd be giving away a 10 track FREE EP which has finally dropped today! Featuring the likes of Genetic Bros, Digital:Twist, Rameses B and loads more....this EP is a massive banger, with big DnB tracks spanning jump up, ragga and bassline lead styles all the way to smooth liquid.
Check the preview below and grab the full thing asap here for FREE

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El P - The Full Retard

Its been about 5 years since we last heard from Brooklyn's El-P, but it seems now that he's back with a bang, with a forthcoming album 'Cancer for Cure' on the way.
'The Full Retard' is just a sample of what to expect from the album....and a track as hard hitting as this can only mean good things for hip-hop....little more need be said really as the track speaks for itself.....El-P goes in hard!
Check it below and cop it for FREE here...'Cancer for Cure' drops on May 22nd via Fat Possum.
"You should pump this shit, like they do in the future"

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Left Boy - Vie / I Want To

It's rare that someone starts a sentence with 'I just heard about this great Austrian rapper', but that's exactly what we've found in Left Boy, probably the most promising talent we've heard off the continent in a long time.
Left Boy's vocal delivery style is emotional and flawlessly tight, even if his lyrics (English for the most part) aren't necessarily the most complex, they are nevertheless often clever and frequently amusing....vaguely reminiscent of something Das Racist might put out. However, it's Left Boy's production that really shines, with perfect composition and stellar use of unique samples such as Charles Bradley's 'The World is Going Up in Flames' in 'Vie' and Radiohead's 'Talk Show Host' in 'I Want To'.
His talent really needs to be heard to be believed, easily trumping the majority of hip-pop in the charts these days. Left Boy might not be the future of hip-hop just yet, but he's certainly got the talent for it....it won't be long before his presence extends well out of Austria.
Check his tracks below, and grab them now while they're FREE.

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The XX - Shelter (Beat Culture Remix)

What happens when you take a track by The XX and cross it with the remix talents of 17 year old Beat Culture.......2step, chilled out magic, that's what. It might not be the first remix of 'Shelter' to emerge, but it's definitely one of the best.
Check the track below and grab it for FREE here

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Dems - Inner O

The lads of Dems got in touch to share their forthcoming track 'Inner O' and the awesome experimental 'lenticulation' video they made alongside it.
The track shares the familiar Dems style somewhere between Chillwave and 2step, complete with haunting, beautiful vocals.
Check out the soundcloud preview and video below.
Dems are playing a FREE gig on 15th March at the Old Blue Last, so HotBox readers in London get on it!

Inner O by dems

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Stikkman - The Verge/If You Stay/Known

Remember Stickman/Stikkman? Well he's just released a 3 track EP via Manchester's very own Mindset Records (the label behind Synkro & Troy Gunner but to name a few).
The EP doesn't disappoint with an eclectic mix of 2step and house rhythms, combined with synthy electronic stabs and meticulous percussion......the chopped up chilled 2step masterpiece 'Known' is our personal stand out track of the three.
Check out the brief previews below and head on over to Mindset Records to grab the full thing.

[mindset010] by Mindset Records

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Zero 7 - Destiny (Irrelevant Remix)

There's some amazing things coming out of the future garage world and tracks like Irrelevant's remix of Zero 7's 'Destiny' provide a perfect example.
Irrelevant's remix skills demonstrate exactly how something completely new can come from something old as 'Destiny' takes on a whole new chilled out lease of life.
Check this out and grab it for FREE here......while your at it, check out the FREEbies on Irrelevant's BandCamp.

Zero 7 - Destiny (Irrelevant Remix) by irrelevantsounds

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Rebecca & Fiona - Dance (Feature Cuts Remix)

Every time I think dubstep is nothing more than the overly beaten dead horse of the charts, a talented producer manages to sway me back, in this case Feature Cuts with his excellent remix of Rebecca & Fiona's 'Dance'.
Feature Cuts has taken a bit of indie/electro and given it the little nudge it needed to effortlessly become a bit of a dubstep banger. Expect the clubs to start rinsing this one pretty soon. In the meantime grab it now while it's FREE.

Rebecca & Fiona - Dance (Feature Cuts Remix) by Feature Cuts
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TheHntedHntingtheHnter - Three Colours

Experimental music is always a bit hit and miss, but even so it still warrants exposure for those fleeting few who will love it. Such can be said for TheHntedHntingtheHnter aka Sun of Melbourne, Australia and his track 'Three Colours'.
TheHntedHntingtheHnter describes his musical style as 'inspired variously by Outer Space, one Girl and The Beach Boys..........tripped, original pop, driven by a Motown rhythm, Chattering guitars, and effected Vocals' a description that rings true with 'Three Colours' clashing percussion and somewhat falsetto vocals. It's almost as if The Knife met Beach House...and then didn't quite master their tracks properly.
'Three Colours' succeeds in creating an expansive soundscape, although it's difficult to say whether it's an enjoyable one or not...but perhaps that the point.
Nevertheless TheHntedHntingtheHnter is clearly talented and well worth checking out...especially since 'Three Colours' and all his other tracks are available for FREE

Three Colours by TheHntedHntingtheHnter

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EP: Loz Contreras & nCamargo - What Once Was

You just can't fault the lads at Artist Recordings. These guys consistently put out quality FREE DnB releases of talented up and coming producers....producers like Loz Contreras & nCamargo. Their EP release, 'What Once Was' complete with 2 original tracks and 2 remixes, stands out as yet another fine example of liquid, jazzy drum & bass at its finest!
Best of all, it's 100% FREE via Breakbeat.co.uk, no brainer...grab it now.

A013EP - Loz Contreras & nCamargo EP "What Once Was" - OUT NOW!!! [Free Download] by Artist Recordings

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Lockets - Bitter Teeth

More new stuff from indie darlings and HotBox favorites Lockets. These guys have yet to disappoint and 'Bitter Teeth' is no exception to this rule, staying true to their familiar Chillwave, almost distant, coastal sound.
Check it out below and show them some love on Soundcloud

Bitter Teeth by Lockets

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Mixtape: Dropxlife - Furthur

Seems like all the best producers are happy to remain an enigma these days......
Todays mysterious talent is Dropxlife, one of The Weeknd’s XO Crew and producer of some of the tracks on the 'Thursday' mixtape.... though this will come as no surprise to Weeknd fans upon their first listen as they hear that familiar, chilled out, spaced out RnB sound.
The 'Furthur' mixtape is available for FREE here and whether you're a Weeknd fan or not, you ought go grab a copy just to check out these trippy sounds.

DROPXLIFE - FURTHUR by 12thfloor

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Burial + Four Tet - Nova

When Burial and Four Tet, to of the best and most influential electronic artists in the world, collaborate on a track....well, there isn't really alot to say.....nor does much need saying. This is pure soothing, 2step vibes...plan and simple.
Let's hope for a d/l link soon.

Burial + Four Tet - Nova by Four Tet

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Yuna - Live Your Life (Remixes)

Up and coming Malaysian artist Yuna is starting to make an imprint overseas with her moody track “Live Your Life”, produced by Pharrell Williams. It's a great track (check the player below), especially for the indie fans among us and is available via iTunes.

Yuna - Live Your Life by MMMusic

However, for the FREE music fans we've also got some treats. DJ Vice and DJ Kue have released two brand spanking new remixes of 'Live Your Life' that couldn’t be more different than the original. Nevertheless, both remixes are chock full of energetic electro house goodness...not to mention FREE, grab them below before the download limits are reached.

Yuna - Live Your Life (Vice Remix) Mp3 by DJVice

Yuna - Live Your Life (It's The DJ Kue Remix!) by Kue - Mike Morales

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Album: Skittles - Poor With £100 Trainers

First things first, I am little biased when it comes to UK rap, perhaps it's because i'm a southerner, but i've never really had the urge to check out the scene up north (despite being a now and again Leeds resident).
So when Skittles PR team sent over 'Poor With £100 Trainers' I have to acknowledge my immediate skepticism. This just made it all the more surprising, to discover that 'Poor With £100 Trainers' is, im my view, the biggest breath of fresh air since Example's 'What We Made'.
As an MC, Manchester's Skittles aka Liam Kelly, is way ahead of his 'Grime-turned-pop-turned-UK Hip-Hop competition. With a mature and meticulous flow, complete with meaningful, heartfelt lyrics, which are in turn laden with complex metaphor and intricate rhyming structures. Skittles is clearly on top of his game. Throughout the album his lyrical talent shines through, whether in the dark paranoia of 'Shottin', the laid back leisure of 'Watchin You', or the socio-political commentary of the album's namesake track 'Poor With £100 Trainers'.
Never the one trick pony, Skittles is also a talented composer, having been responsible for a great deal of the album's production, which for the most part is solid if a little conventional.
A particular personal highlight is the nostalgia laden 'Spiffy and Eclipse', especially for those of us that remember "Adidas Poppers....Opal fruits...and LA Light trainers".....if you're a 90s child, this track will absolutely bring back fond memories.
This may be a debut album, but it's by no means amateur, while not every track on the album is a winner, and there are a few skits, which while amusing, seem to be playing the album filler role more than anything else. Nevertheless the highlights of this album more than justify the investment for Rap/Hip-Hop fans, especially those that prize genuine lyrical talent and expression over gimmicky auto-tune pop music by numbers.
At it's best 'Poor With £100 Trainers' is a showcase of superb young talent, yet the fear remains.....let's hope Skittles continues to bring us more highly crafted and meaningful music, instead of going the route of endless UK MCs (Plan B, Example, Kano, Wiley) all the way to (hip)-pop.
Check out the album sneak-peak preview medley below (which I should point out barely gives scope of the albums stand out tracks) and see for yourself.
'Poor With £100 Trainers' drops Worldwide on March 12th via Estate Recordings

SKITTLES - Poor With £100 Pound Trainers (sneak peak shadow section) by Skittlesuk

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