There isn’t a song that better exemplifies British label Hypercolour’s appeal than Mosca’s 2012 hit “Eva Mendes”. The track has plenty of techy underground signifiers that get the heads leaning for more, but everything from the track title to the vocal sample had big time dancefloors going nuts since its June release. Labelmates Huxley, Tom Demac and George Fitzgerald hit similar tones throughout what had to be Hypercolour’s largest year to date. Earlier today, Mosca let loose a treat for all the ravers in his well played VIP of “Eva Mendes”, a slightly beefier, more groove-oriented version of the original. The London producer doesn’t appear willing to let the VIP loose on the general public in download form just yet, but maybe he’ll come to his senses eventually. Stream below.

Kid Smpl Remixes The xx’s “Fiction”

By Gabe Meier

January 10, 2013

New Music, Remixes

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In a sense, Kid Smpl’s remix of The xx’s “Fiction” demarcates the logical furthest extent of the London trio’s vision. It’s made up almost entirely of infrequent, out of breath kicks, melancholy keys and atmospheric found sounds. Rommy’s vocals are pushed so far into the mix that they almost operate as random found sounds and the beat (when there is one) is as airy and atmospheric as they come. Without expectations, Smpl has crafted an effortlessly beatific night time anthem that achieves more with less and might remind some listeners why they fell in love with The xx in the first place. Stream and download below.

Riley Lake Remixes Baauer’s “DumDum”

By Gabe Meier

January 9, 2013

New Music, Remixes

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Last Friday, we debuted Riley Lake’s very real “Request Line” mix as part of our very real and very professional early 2013 music bidnes coverage. We’ve sat on the originals for FIVE WHOLE DAYS, but it’s probably about time to let the dragon out of the bag. To start off the edit induced run of madness, Riley’s Boddika influenced remix of Baauer’s shmassive “DumDum” deserves some individual shine. In proper techno form, Riley has clearly been indulging in some dark UK ish and is sounding more and more like Mannie Fresh/Bangladesh/DJ Toomp locked in the Berghain basement with every new upload. We all ❤ Sunklo after all so stream and download below and keep your ears perked for more edits on the horizon.

New Ryan Hemsworth – “An Overture Might Help Me Stop Thinking About You”

By Gabe Meier

January 9, 2013

New Music

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Ryan Hemsworth dominated 2012 via a lengthy series of remixes and one remix heavy solo EP, but 2013 sees the Halifax-native taking to the originals game with gusto. Like “BasedWorld”, the track Hemsworth let loose on New Year Eve, “An Overture Might Help Me Stop Thinking About You” would fit right in on a video game soundtrack and actually samples Final Fantasy resulting in something of an epic orchestral sound. Pot and pan percussion adds an earthy, homemade element to the otherwise otherworldly instrumental, which will appear on Friends of Friends’ upcoming Show Me The Future compilation. Stream below.

Salva & Brenmar Collaborate On “Let Me Bang”

By Gabe Meier

January 9, 2013

New Music

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Tonight, dons of hype ass American club music Salva and Brenmar begin their joint US tour with a date in Los Angeles’ King Thing venue (along with RL Grime). 2012 saw Salva reach new heights of popular success, imprinting his sound on a generation of “reformed” brosteppers, wrangling a guest appearance from Pusha T at the Red Bull Culture Clash and, most impressively, garnering one of BBC’s vaunted In New DJs We Trust spots alongside Jackmaster, Monki and Brodinski. Brenmar didn’t hit the same level of popular success that Salva did in 2012, but the longtime club trailblazer expanded his sound into the hip hop and pop arenas through various mixes, production work and edits. It goes without saying that the two are some of the most in demand producers/DJs in the American scene and will be laying down some wonderfully variegated sets throughout the tour. To celebrate the opening date, the LA/Chicago duo has released a refreshing update on DJ Deeon’s Windy City ghetto house anthem “Let Me Bang”. The remix has a Dutch feel to it, exhibited through some bleepy synth stabs, which might turn off some listeners, but the uninhibited take is undeniable fun and Deeon’s vocals (“hit it from the back”) are immensely chant-able. Stream and download below.

T. Williams Remixes Mikky Ekko’s “Pull Me Down”

By Gabe Meier

January 9, 2013

New Music, Remixes

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The most interesting facet of T. Williams’ music, and especially his most recent Rinse 21 mix CD, is that despite its sometimes abrasive qualities (grime influences, off-kilter rhythms), it almost always appears primed for a vocal assist. The Pain & Love EP justified this assumption, pairing Tesfa Williams with several vocalists and his remix of Disclosure’s “Latch” solidified his vocal-driven credentials. Whether you prefer sans-vocals Williams is somewhat irrelevant, because it appears that’s the direction he’s taking, although a return to “Chop & Screw” would also be welcomed. Anyways, Williams recently remixed RCA songsmith Mikky Ekko’s “Pull Me Down” into a percolating piece of Miike Snow-esque pop music. It wouldn’t be a T. Williams joint without the shuffling percussion and almost imperceptibly bouncy bassline. The track is up for free download below, but Williams has hinted that he will be uploading a 320 version soon so it might be worth it to hold out ;).

An Extended Stay In BasedWorld With Keyboard Kid

By Gabe Meier

January 9, 2013

New Music

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Laying in wait for months, Keyboard Kid has finally hit the masses with the long-awaited Don’t Leave BasedWorld tape, featuring 27 brand new instrumental creations. While the tape’s cover takes cues from Eazy-E and baroque art, the songs within exemplify the prolific beatsmith’s expansive repertoire and undying work ethic. The tape description puts Keyboard Kid squarely in the Lil B taskforce and the Seattle resident shouts out Raider Klan, Grimes and an odd Nickelodeon cartoon on various tracks. Keyboard Kid is at his best on the euphoric “Based Can’t Stop” and bonus jawn “My Based Journey” and while his productions are certainly tailored to a certain type of MC, Don’t Leave BasedWorld see KK expanding on his previous blueprint into exciting new territory. Few producers manage to ground ethereal/supernatural qualities in concrete beatwork quite like Keyboard Kid. It can only be described as the most based. Stream below and/or cop Don’t Leave BasedWorld for $6.99.

New Natasha Kmeto – “Dirty Mind Melt”

By Gabe Meier

January 8, 2013

New Music

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Photo by Carly Birkey

Dropping Gems queen bee Natasha Kmeto appears to be listening to a lot of early-aughts Yeezy production. With a new DG EP, Dirty Mind Melt, dropping February 19, Kmeto has let loose the chipmunk vocal championing title track for mass consumption. “Dirty Mind Melt” takes a step back from the cerebral vocal arrangements on Kmeto’s debut The Ache EP, opting for The Blueprint-esque pitch shifting and skittering hip hop percussion. While airier than much of The Ache, the track matches heavenly orchestral sections with futuristic effects like the best of her debut LP. Unlike most string section driven beat work, “Dirty Mind Melt” doesn’t fall into the obnoxiously heavy handed category due to Kmeto’s commendable restraint and an expertly informed grasp on layering. Stream below and be on the look out for Dirty Mind Melt next month.

KVN Gates Loves Sosa

By Gabe Meier

January 8, 2013

New Music

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Kevin Gates is the biggest Louisiana rapper since Lil Boosie and prior to that, Lil Wayne. 2012’s Make Em Believe tape was one of 2012’s best and Gates has a certifiable radio hit in “Satellite”. Nonetheless, few outside of Louisiana have even heard of the Baton Rouge MC. Eschewing much of an internet presence, Gates has garnered a huge local fanbase that is something of an anomaly in 2013’s amorphous hip hop landscape. I’d expect Gates to gain some national recognition in the coming months, but even if he doesn’t, don’t expect his shelf life to expire anytime soon. There are a lot of awful “Love Sosa” freestyles out there, but Gates’ strained struggle rap is perfect for Young Chop’s minimalist production. As always, Gates is hyper-regional in his references and gives nothing but love for his hometown. The Luca Brasi Story coming soon…

Harry Fraud Could Have Been A Doctor

By Gabe Meier

January 8, 2013

New Music, Remixes

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As a member of French Montana’s Coke Boys (which includes the Moroccan rapper’s 9 year old son, affectionately known as Lil Poopy), questionably monikered Queens MC Chinx Drugz has access to a good deal of production work many similarly gifted MCs can only dream of. I mean, Chinx isn’t the worst dude in the world, but let’s just say Harry Fraud makes “I’m A Coke Boy”. With Montana sloppily fanutin’ all over the hook and underwhelming (to say the least) verses from Diddy and Rick Ross, “I’m a Coke Boy” needed Fraud to come through and come through he does. Without a doubt one of 2012’s most impressive performers, Fraud has become the New York producer du jour in recent months and has worked with everyone from Heems to Sean Price. Once you get past the novelty of hearing a few mediocre Detlef Schrempf euphemisms, Fraud’s reconstructed strings and piano backing becomes the only real point to listening to “I’m A Coke Boy” all the way through. Luckily, Fraud let loose the instrumental yesterday opening up the possibility that someone with less dirty money will attach themselves for a verse. Stream/download the remix below and hit the jump for instrumental version.