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Download: Hoodcats "Jeans Colliding"
Label: Mapzzz

It's not exactly a secret that Oakland is teeming with musical talent, but it might not be as readily apparent that some of it is directly related to XLR8R. Hoodcats is a new production trio that consists of housemates shortcircles and James & Evander, whose Glenn Jackson is one of our trusty editorial interns. The outfit just dropped its debut EP via its own blog/label, Mapzzz, and "Jeans Colliding" finishes out that batch of refined rhythms and spacey sonics with a large helping of starry synths, sultry samples, and sumptuous soundscapes. You can download the entire three-track EP for free over on the Mapzzz Bandcamp. 

Average: 6.6 (6 votes)
 
 

Download: Fedbymachines "Will This End"
Label: Square Harmony

Today, fledgling Russian imprint Square Harmony released a free compilation of subdued, UK-indebted sounds entitled Deep Lane (artwork above). Here, we have a contribution from Dutch producer Fedbymachines, who burrows down into the world of garage and emerges with the sparse, temperate "Will This End." To call this one slow-moving would be a bit of an understatement; the song is sluggish, crawling along with a steadiness and patience that puts the focus on its detailed sounds and intricately scattered rhythms. After diving into Fedbymachine's stark sonics, you can download the entire Deep Lane comp for free over on Square Harmony's Bandcamp. 

Average: 8.6 (9 votes)
 
 

Download: Karma Kid "Entity Relationship Diagram "
Label: Immersed Audio

The UK blog-turned-label Immersed Audio is set to release its debut outing next week in the form of a compilation entitled Make It Happen (artwork above). Although British producer Karma Kid's contribution didn't make the cut due to its flagrant sample use (both Aaliyah and Redman make enough of an appearance here to almost necessitate a "featuring" tag), "Entity Relationship Diagram" is still a fine example of the sonic territory that will be explored once the comp drops on February 14. The first half of the tune keeps things rather simple, cutting up "Rock the Boat" while gliding chords swing in the background and tight, punchy kicks rumble below. Then, around the two-minute mark, the energy picks up a bit, and we're treated to some gorgeous side-chained chords and skittering percussion, just in time for the New Jersey rapper to drop his considerably pitched-down verse. 

Average: 7.9 (48 votes)
 
 

Download: Warsnare "Artemis"
Label: Shades of Grey

Yet another name to emerge from the seemingly never-ending talent pool that is London's post-everything scene, Warsnare is in the midst of prepping his debut solo effort, the Eris EP (artwork above), for the relatively fresh Shades of Grey label. "Artemis" is a surprisingly melodic cut (although not one featured on the aforementioned record) built from a litany of micro-samples. Scraping metal, backwards strings, and twinkling piano melodies all get chopped to their most basic bits before they're rebuilt as a swirling procession that moves with a jagged flow above a stuttering kick and bassline. The track boasts a sound that's not quite bass music and not quite post-dubstep, but something clearly in a corner of its own. We're told to expect five tracks of similarly detailed, cinematic pieces of futuristic production when Eris drops February 20. 

Average: 8.3 (62 votes)
 
 

Download: Young Magic "You With Air (Galapagoose and Wooshie's Remix)"

First Listen

Last week, we shared an exhilarating track from Galapagoose, a new Australian producer who makes blistering beat music. The producer has teamed up with a fellow Aussie, Melbourne's Wooshie, to remix Young Magic's "You With Air." The remix chops up the synth-pop original and manipulates the pieces into a warped mash of stretched vocals and disturbed synths. 

Average: 6.8 (38 votes)
 
 

Download: Dâm-Funk "I Gotta Let U Know"

If there was ever a time when Dâm-Funk's funkiness was in question, it has long since passed; the LA producer seems to have only the truest of funk running through his bloodstream at all times. But maybe he feels like people have been forgetting this fact lately (kind of like when we all allegedly "Forgot About Dre"), as his latest song seems to reinstate his reign atop the SoCal G-funk world with lyrics like "I gotta let you know I'm the one bringing you the true funk from LA," and stringing together sentences that effortlessly cement his street cred. Just for the record, Mr. Funk, we never forgot, but we'll take one of your slippery beats for free any day of the week. 

Average: 6.5 (38 votes)
 
 

Download: Taprikk Sweezee "Volt (kidkanevil Remix)"
Label: Error Broadcast

This 8-bit-heavy remix of Taprikk Sweezee's "Volt" is lifted from a digital/cassette release that dropped via European beat hub Error Broadcast. Called Repolyx (artwork above), that album is comprised of 12 reworks of tracks from Sweezee's 2011 EP, Poly, and features new versions of the record's four cuts by the likes of Monolithium, Pixelord, B-Ju, and many more. Now that the music has been on the market a few months, we're treated to a flashy music video for "Volt (kidkanevil Remix)," courtesy of Labmeta. You can check that out after the jump.  Read more » 

Average: 7.9 (61 votes)
 
 

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