Too good to be free: Archnemisis, Nastynasty & Thriftworks

I'm not sure what's sparked it, but in the last year so there have been a slew of seriously good albums and EPs offered for free download via Bandcamp. Here's three recent releases from the US that are too good to be free...

First up Archnemesis, who share a label (1320 Records) with Nalepa, Prefuse 73, Virual Boy, Knowa Knowone and Eskmo. They're a new discovery for me, thanks to the brilliant Sample this Music blog. Reminiscent of Pretty Lights,who gives his music away for free too, it sounds like they've done a lot of organic sampling to get that really listenable, feel good, 'real music' vibe. People's Radio is music that's worth paying for, but you can download it for free here.
  Archnemesis - Peoples Radio by PlayThisSongLoud.com  

Nastynasty has a well established habit of giving away his best tunes for nothing. The Memorabilia EP is a good taster of the range of his sounds, from floaty subs to bubbling bass and off kilter funk, often lifted with deliciously soulful vocals.

I first came across Thriftworks on An-ten-nae's Acid Crunk vol.3, but this whole free album, the seond he's given away, is very much more on the downtempo side of the whomp fence. Lovingly produced, delicate and painfully beautiful, it's got an atmospheric desert-city-under-the-stars feel to it. Magical.

Dubstep? Really?

So this is also my first post. I guess I'm going to bring a new flavour to this blog... I mean, I don't really get dubstep, it all just sounds like a bunch of whale noises to me:

Stickybuds - Whalestep by Stickybuds~

But if you do like dubstep, I would certainly recommend this free download from Rusko, courtesy of Fenchurch. You have to sign up to their newsletter to get access to their mixes, but there are a bunch of good artists: Qemists, Nextmen, Krafty Kuts, all with hour long mixes up for free download.


Rusko's mix contains a whole bunch of epic dubstep anthems, plenty of grindy bass and dirty bwompbwompbwomp:
Rusko – Dial My Number
Redlight – Feels So Good
Stenchman – Puking Over – Rusko Special Mix
Chase & Status – Saxon
Bassment Jaxx – Feelins Gone – Rusko Remix
Kid Sister & Rusko – Pro Nails
Calvin Harris – Not Alone – Doorley Remix
Neeka – Heartbeat – Chase N Status Remix
Rusko – Go Go Gadget Rusko
Skunk Anansie – I Can Dream – Rusko Remix
Rusko – Everybody Dance Now
Kid Kudi – Day And Night _ Rusko Remix
Rusko – Jahovia
Skream – Murdera Instrumental
Rusko – My Mouth
Trolley Snatcha – Rock The Funky Beats
Rusko & Chali 2na – How Low Can U Go?
Jakes – Code Zebra
Little Boots – Remedy – Rusko Remix
Nero – Blinded By The Lights
Flux Pavillion & Trolley Snatcha – F**king Noise
Marco Del Horno – Samurai – Rusko Remix
Rusko – Cockney Thug
Rusko – Cockney Thug – Buraka Som Sistema Remix
Benga – Night – Buraka Som Sistema Remix
Marco Del Horno – Gunman Remix
Prodigy – Take Me To The Hospital – Rusko Remix
Dj Luck & Mc Neat – Little Bit Of Luck

And now to the 'real' music :) I've been on a journey of discovery through new music for the last year, and I am loving the places I've been, and where I'm at now. Thanks to lots of people, including Morbidly Obese Midget and Ninja Dave, I've found some sick sh*t to share. Ghettofunk is the sound of 2011 for me. This week, I have been mostly rocking to:

2010 Promo mix by Will Streetwise and Richie Balboa
Streetwise Balboa Promo Mix 2010 by Richie Balboa


This mix spans hip hop, ghettofunk, breakbeat, electro and for all you hardcore kids, throws in some chunky dubstep and drum'n'bass towards the end. Massive.

Tracklist:
1. Grinny Grandad - Good Girl (A Skillz Remix) (Streetwise Edit)
2. Dancefloor Outlaws - Regualte (GFunk)
3. Nick Thayer Feat NFA - Grey Sky Blue
4. Dancefloor Outlaws - Get Your Boogie Down (Outlaws VIP)
5. Dancefloor Outlaws - Magic Badness Ride
6. Drummattic Twins - Crazy Love (Peo De Pitte 2010 remix)
7. Kelis - Accapella (Plump DJs Mashup - Balboa edit))
8. Gramophonedzie - Why don't you (Krafty edit)
9. Beat Assassins vs Miss Dynamite
10. Bass Kleph vs Dizzy Rascal
11. Vinyl Life - Hi Tops
12. Big Daddy Kane - Raw (Stanton Warriors Remix)
13. Ils & Baymont Bross - I Wunda
14. Uffie - MCs can kiss (Far too loud remix)
15. Chuckie / LMFAO - Let the bass kick vs Miss Dynamite
16. Dead Prez - Hip Hop (Streetwise Edit)
17. Deadmau5 - Technology (Streetwise Edit)
18. Basement Freaks - Booty Jam
19. Utah Saints - Getting Better
20. Katy B - On a mission (Streetwise Edit)
20. TI - ED209
21. Lofty Longtigga - The Phone Ran

Enjoy xx upstart