Canadian Winter – Bundle Up EP + “Scattered Flurries”

Those who live in Hamilton know there’s a whole bunch of talent stewing in steel town. Those who follow what we cover here at Potholes also know, because we think the promising producer and emcee Emay — who also calls this industrial enclave home–is pretty damn awesome. Hamilton is sorta like Ontario’s Detroit. Both cities are run down with high rates of poverty and unemployment and have been hit hard by mammoth industries troubled by incessant lay-offs and less than par job satisfaction. Whereas Detroit’s punctured economy hinges on the deficit-running auto industry, Hamilton has yet to coil out from under the failing (unionized) steel factory whose flame literally burns strong from the fumigation stacks across the Hamilton harbor. When we drove past them when I was a kid, I always thought of those flames as a constant reminder of hell.

So when I heard the Hamilton-centric music of Canadian Winter–an indie hip-hop band from Hamilton consisting of emcee Kobi, DJ Johnny Fever, Percussionist Kojo Chintoh and bass player Scotty P– that celebrates the charm and culture of Hamilton that exists there rather than trying to escape it, I was really heartened by it. Especially heartened, because the music is wicked original, gaining miles of advantage from Kobi’s Woking, Surrey accent that unravels vivid personal stories above the band’s tight and thick woozed out production.

Along with Canadian hip-hop filter The Come Up Show, we are super excited to be presenting the Bundle Up EP + Scattered Flurries , which will be a free nine track “trailer”, as Kobi puts it, for their forthcoming album Just Wait Till February.

Get acquainted with these talented canucks and stream “Plaid Shirts” below. Download the EP  after the skip.

[audio:http://potholesinmyblog.flywheelsites.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/6.-Plaid-Shirts.mp3|titles=6. Plaid Shirts]

Download: Canadian Winter – Bundle Up EP + Scattered Flurries

Tracklisting:

1. You know What You Are- prod. Scotty P
2. Back To The Bricks – Prod. J. Fevrier XIV
3. Room 100 – prod. Supa83
4. City Lights – prod. Cheese Shop Paddy
5. Getting It Right ft. Fenek Fox- Prod. Supa83
6. Plaid Shirts ft. Queen Cee – prod. J. Fevrier XIV
7. Back To The Bricks (Fyhlox Remix)
8. Thunder vs. Lightning (Canadian Winter & Hotep – “DEX” remix)
9. River Styx – Lee Reed ft. Sara Green (Canadian Winter Remix)

Artwork: Jeremy Kemeny