stornoway - 'gondwanaland'

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A lovely festive hit for you from the Oxford band. I came across this on the very excellent For Folk Sake Christmas album here and the album would make a lovely alternative Christmas stocking filler. Go on, buy the album and support real music.

r.e.m. - 'stand'

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My all-time favourite REM album is 'Green', the last album before they really broke through as a global band. That's not me getting all hipster and "I liked them before they were famous" - REM were already a well established band with a huge following - it's just that 'Out of Time' and 'Automatic For the People' were such phenomenally successful albums. 

I guess the reason I like 'Green' so much is the jangly guitars and the way the whole album worked so well together. The title gives a big clue as to the subject matter and rather than the po-faced sermonising that they were certainly guilty of later on, this album delivers with some brilliant tunes. None better in my opinion than 'Stand'.

ike and tina turner - 'chances are'

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This is undoubtedly my favourite Ike and Tina song. It doesn't have the energy of Proud Mary but it does ooze class. Just check out the hook that Ike maintains throughout. 

burial - 'rival dealer ep'

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Burial have announced their latest release and it's a 3-track EP just in time for Christmas. First hearing of this and I'm instantly hooked. There's a delicate almost sensual quality to the tunes. Here's track 2 'Hiders'. 

david lynch - 'we rolled together (yttling jazz remix)'

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Recognise the surname 'Yttling'? It's none other than Bjorn Yttling of Peter, Bjorn and John fame. You know who David Lynch is already. The man is an undisputed genius.

barrington levy - 'here i come (live on the old grey whistle test 1984)'

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Drummie Zeb on drums too. Does it get much better than this? I don't think so. 

josh white - 'black and evil blues'

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If there's a finer classic blues track than this, then I haven't heard it. Absolutely perfect.

navigators and freestyler - 'ruffneck'

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Way before Fatboy Slim, Groove Armada and all those others making ska/reggae/dance cross-overs there was this monster of a tune that was a kind of template. It's such a great tune and will definitely put a smile on your face whatever your mood.

wild ones - 'paia (my body remix)'

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This remix is a veritable road trip from west coast Portland's Wild Ones across the US to east coast Brooklyn's My Body who have created this trippy remix and a great little downtempo number to end the night's blogging. Night night.

grass is green - 'sammy so-sick'

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The new album 'Vacation Vinny' is out soon and Boston band Grass Is Green have released this ahead of the launch. Lots of influences to pick out and they're all good. Nirvana, Beck, Birdland, Pixies, maybe even a bit of XTC, late 80s REM. There's no denying there's something for everyone. I'm so pleased that people still make this kind of indie-rock. 

shangaan electro x dazed digital

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I wrote a piecce about Shangaan Electro back when I first started this blog 3 or 4 years ago or when ever it was. I  find the breakneck speed of the marimba quite hypnotic and bearing in mind the importance of dance it is a fascinating genre of new music. I came across this video by chance tonight and I'm so pleased to see the popularity of Shangaan Electro is still there and with that the orange boiler suits, wacky masks and some seriously funky bum-shaking.

mozart - 'einsam bin ich, meine liebe'

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He died 222 years ago today but his influence and music live on. This is a very short but inevitably beautiful, lesser known piece. 

lanterns on the lake - 'buffalo days'

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They have certainly beefed up their music from the ethereal folk of a few years ago when I first heard of Lanterns on the Lake. There's something quite epic, almost Mogwai-esque in this, their latest release. I love this kind of music, I really do.

eels - 'it's a motherfucker'

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In my opinion, one of the saddest songs ever written and a sentiment that we can all relate to. I'm not the biggest fan of swearing in songs but when applied sparingly and in context, it can add a whole new dimension to a tune. In particular, that feeling of emptiness in your life when someone that you loved has gone is a bastard for sure and swearing can be the only words that can fully describe the pain. This is a live version recorded in 2008 at the Basement.

david bowie - 'i'd rather be high (venetian mix [wasted edit])'

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This is on the limited edition 3 disc version of his latest album and apparently features on the Louis Vuitton advert and has now been given its own official video made of old war footage. For a David Bowie song it doesn't seem very imaginative. A cursory glance at the lyrics and post some extremely obvious stock war footage based on two of its lines. It doesn't do the song justice at all in my opinion and couldn't have taken longer than a day or two to create. I'm curious to know if Bowie has seen this yet and what his opinion of it is.

nick cave and the bad seeds - 'the higgs boson blues'

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Here's the new video to one of the better tracks from their 2013 album 'Push The Sky Away'. I don't know why but I just don't feel the love for this album. Even the title annoys me. Sorry Nick.

haim - 'forever (giorgio moroder remix)'

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Band of the moment Haim have had their smash hit 'Forever' remixed by disco grandmaster Moroder. I'm not convinced by the result though. It does sound a lot like the standard stuff that Gaydar might play although it does have its moments and a hell of a key change at the end.

pink floyd - 'pigs on the wing'

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39 years ago today, the inflatable pig tied to Battersea Power Station broke free and floated over Southern England and the English Channel. This is a solo version of part one. Great stuff.

joan as police woman - 'the classic'

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This is the title track from JAPW's 4th studio album and shows that she is still pushing boundaries ans still making fresh new music. More power to her elbow.

factory floor - 'turn it up (c2 remix)'

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Legendary Detroit techno producer Carl Craig has spun his magic on a Factory Floor track to give us this funky tune. Not bad, eh?

mogwai - 'the lord is out of control'

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Shoe-gazing doesn't get much better than this. I love the warmth of Mogwai tunes and this particular track, the latest from the Scottish band is hymnal, probably deliberately given the track title.

little barrie - 'long hair'

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This popped up on my iPod this morning and certainly put a smile on my face.

all those people all those lives, where are they now?

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Ever wondered what your favourite stars from the 80s now look like? Have a peek here. There's some that look like they are due refunds from their plastic surgeons. OMD - really, did you have to spoil the illusion? 

http://djrioblog.com/2013/11/26/new-wave-artists-aging-gracefully-an-80s-world-gone-by/

And Stephen Tin Tin Duffy looks - well, like a geography teacher now. I prefer to remember him like this. I love this song:

ólafur arnalds - 'this place was a shelter'

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He's playing in Hove next week and I'm taking my 11 year old son to see this Icelandic pianist, musical genius and all-round nice guy. Can't wait. Until then, here's a taste of what we can expect.

depeche mode - 'halo (goldfrapp remix)'

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They were excellent last week at the O2 Arena. Not my favourite music venue but a long stretch but they put on a great show.

dengue fever - 'one thousand tears of a tarantula'

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Who's up for some Cambodian psychedelic rock?

skint records podcast series

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A bit of music/football trivia for you: Skint Records were long-time sponsors of Brighton and Hove Albion. How cool was that? The coolest football team in the whole world sponsored by the coolest record label. That's how cool. 

Here's their entire podcast series in one mighty 15 hour chunk. You can get hold of them individually on iTunes or here.

nina kraviz - 'desire'

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Russian DJ / producer, Ms Kraviz is releasing a new 6 track EP titled 'Mr Jones'. You can listen to it in its entirety here. I've chosen the first track from it and as soon as you listen to it, you'll know why. It's quite compelling, hypnotic even with a very deep house rhythm and at nearly 13 minutes long it gives you lots of time to get into the groove.

james blake remixes destiny's child 'bills'

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As if winning the 2013 Mercury Prize wasn't a big enough challenge, James Blake has upped the ante with a remix of generic girl band Destiny's Child's hit 'Bills' under his pseudonym of Harmonimix. The result is something altogether different from the original, thankfully and this curious experiment works.  I wonder what next for Blake. 

forest swords - 'thor's stone (lee scratch perry remix)'

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Hot off the press and sounding extremely smooth. I swear Lee Scratch Perry couldn't make a bad record if he tried.

real lies - 'deeper (bey lf remix)'

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East London soul boys making great sounding music. What's not to like?

chew lips - 'slick'

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When I heard the start of this tune I thought at first it was 'Your Silent Face' from New Order's 'Power, Corruption and Lies' album. The New Order connection doesn't end there though as East Londoners, Chew Lips, have collaborated with Bernard Sumner on remixes of their tracks too.

robyn the robot

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This is a brilliant little article from Pitchfork magazine about female Swedish technology students who have built a robot after being inspired by fellow Swede, singer and all round action-lady, Robyn. More power to her elbow as she has long been a campaigner for equality in the music industry and it seems appropriate that this project promotes equality and female opportunity in the engineering world. You can read more about it here. And any excuse to play my favourite Robyn song.

elíza - 'return to me'

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Elíza Newman is an Icelandic singer with a great line in quirky pop, cryptic but never cynical lyrics and catchy tunes that might just bring a tear to your eye. This is taken from the 2007 album Empire Fall.

the stepkids - 'sweet salvation'

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I've said it before but my friends have the best taste in music. Take this beauty for instance, I'd never heard of them or the song until this morning but a message from a chum and I knew this was going to be a good tune. I wasn't wrong, a trippy electronic number that seems to go on forever and finishes way too quickly. Thanks to my friend Dan for the heads up on this.

two door cinema club - 'handshake'

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Before I close off for the day I'll just share a band with you that's brand new to me and is a hot recommendation from my 14 year old son. They sound very good, fresh elctro-indie. Very Passion Pit, who I'm informed have remixed one of their songs.

ben watt - cold november sunday, a deep folk mixtape 23.11.13

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A perfect way to end a Sunday evening.

Here's the tracklisting:

Tim Hecker / Radiance

Mark McGuire / When You're Somewhere

Mutual Benefit / Advanced Falconry

Zachary Cale / Unfeeling

Shearwater / I'm So Glad

Meg Baird / All I Ever Wanted

Clifford Brown / Willow Weep for Me

Fryars / Love So Cold

Hiss Golden Messenger / Dreamwood

piers faccini - 'reste la marée'

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English-born, French-raised and with an Italian father, there's no denying that Piers Faccini isn't well-travelled and his brand of folk music reflects this with a healthy mix of Gallic and Anglo-Saxon. Described by the excellent folk music website For Folk's Sake as a cross between Kings of Convenience and Nick Drake and that's a pretty big compliment in anyone's book. As you can imagine with a description like that, it's all about subtle nuances, gentle inflections and a delicate pace. Perfect for a Sunday.

the temptations - 'ball of confusion (12 shades of re-edit and master)'

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Oh my goodness, this re-edit is incredible. It's taken the original and added lush strings and a lot more depth. It's positively Spector-esque.

sleeper - 'what do i do now?'

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Possibly my all-time favourite Brit-pop song. It's a classic.

nick cave - 'suzanne'

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...and Jesus was a sailor when he walked upon the water.

grizzly bear - 'will calls (diplo remix)'

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Hot off the press is a Diplo remix of the 2012 Grizzly Bear track. It's certainly a lot less in your face than his usual output but you can definitely tell that it's him. Time perhaps for him to explore different sounds?

all things brighton beautiful

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Here's a mixtape of music from the Brighton area, my hometown and also where the coolest football club in the world are based. Thanks to fellow Albion fan, Muzzywick for collating this.

And the tracklisting:

The Friendly Fires - Arkansas 

The Grooveyard - Summer (Flexi) 

The Blue Minkies - Tough Punks Are Square 

Shrag - Tights in August 

Whirl - In a Dream 

The Popguns - Waiting For the Winter 

14 Iced Bears - Inside 

The 'Tone - Bloody 

The Friendly Fires - Looks Like Rain Again 

The Blue Minkies - Helena (live) 

The Grooveyard - Peter 

14 Iced Bears - Like a Dolphin 

The Numbers - I Don't Know What I Want 

The Chefs - I'll Go Too. 

Shrag - Forty Five 45s 

Comet Gain - Ballad of a Mix Tape

eels - 'bombs away'

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Track 1 from the Wonderful, Glorious album, it's strange how this album has slipped under the radar without the critical acclaim that perhaps it's due. It's a shame as it's a very good long player.

damien jurado - 'silver timothy'

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The new album is out at the beginning of January next year and this is the first release from it and it's certainly a step away from his more Americana sounding output of previously. This almost retro-psychedelic song has a definite West Coast influence and the chorus could have been lifted from the soundtrack to a 60s road trip movie. I like it a lot.

rae and christian - 'happy'

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From their latest album and it's an instant hit in this household.

billie holiday - 'i'll be seeing you'

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What a voice. I don't listen to Ms Holiday half as much as I should. 

woodkid - 'i love you (quintet version)'

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I'm still buzzing from having seen Woodkid at Brixton Academy this week supported by the BBC orchestra. Here's a slower stripped back version of the album showing exactly why his music works so well with a classical backdrop.

black - 'wonderful life'

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It is, you know.

rudi zygadlo - 'the man in the duck'

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A quick walk along the Regent's Canal near Islington was made even better with this popping up randomly on my headphones. It's kind of electronica meets glitch hop and sounds quite deep and foreboding. 

daniel steinberg - 'phuturelabs mix november 2013'

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My favourite minimal/nu-disco/deep house DJ producer has put together this brilliant mix that's been playing away on my laptop all afternoon. It's really quite chilled and the perfect wet weather antidote.

blood sport - 'life in units'

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I'm very excited by this new album from Sheffield band Blood Sport. Taking their cue from the oxymoron in the band's name, they play uplifting African guitar hooks but to accompanying Ian Curtis-esque snarls and barks. 

Here's a few tracks from the new album. Superb music

unkle - 'country tune'

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How's your Monday been so far? Mine's been bloody awful.

snowbird - 'porcelain'

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Thanks to my brother for giving me the heads up on this track. A bit of digging on the 405 website they reveal that Snowbird are a duo including Simon Raymonde ex-Cocteau Twins. There's an album scheduled for January too with contributions from Midlake, Radiohead and Lanterns On The Lake. It sounds too good to miss.

los mismos - 'jefe ironside'

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A bit of Spanish 70s funk for you. It's extremely cheesy, lounge music even but great fun nonetheless.

dum dum girls - 'lost boys and girls club'

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It's a slower track from the Dum Dum Girls iwith a video made in association with H&M Life but the drone-y guitars and unmistakeable voice of Dee Dee Penny makes sure that there's nothing mawkish or forgettable. They really should be a much bigger band than they are, you know.

the sussex sessions: isobel anderson and ruby colley

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They met whilst part of separate acts at Glastonbury in 2011 and have now combined forces to produce this EP of stripped back folk music that allows both singer Anderson and violinist Colley to express themselves freely and make a contradiction of the music as both are clearly masterful musicians and although delicate there is nothing fragile in some powerful performances. It makes for what is a beautiful collection of songs.

mapei - 'don't wait (kingdom rmx)'

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If you listen to just one remix this evening then make it this, it's quite something, it really is. 

partial arts - 'telescope'

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Taken from Kompakt Records Total volume 9 is this little number from Partial Arts. It's deceptively bouncy and ambient but underneath is a very serious dance track.

wednesday's woes

Tweet The weather is a bit pants, isn't it? Let's get some music going to get everyone smiling. The first track especially is a monstrously good song.

Biting Tongues - 'Toyota Boss Trouble'

Bliss - 'Overture (feat. Sophie Barker & Merethe Sveistrup)'

I Heart Sharks - 'Wolves'

celebrating 10 years of fort knox five remixed

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There's a brilliant EP from seriously funky Fort Knox Five exclusively available from Beatport with remixes from Krafty Kuts amongst others. I know a few party DJs who would love this record. In the meantime the band have uploaded it as a Soundcloud stream for our pleasure. 

Thanks chaps.

peter gabriel - 'courage (radio edit)'

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Newly released today but amazingly it is 27 years old and was an unfinished song that didn't quite make it onto the mega-selling 'So'. Thankfully, he finally got around to finishing it with mixer Tschad Blake and guitars from David Rhodes.

iyes - 'til infinity'

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I love it when a band from my hometown make it big and Brightonians IYES are well on the way to stardom. Here's the new single and is a little bit more urgent, a bit more uptempo this time. I can't wait to see where they go from here.

jurga - 'running'

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This track from Lithuanian singer Jurga has a Zero 7/FC Kahuna feel to it and although sounds like it should be sitting with those other ambient albums around 2002 or 2003 is actually much more recent. I like it a lot.

roger daltrey - 'giving it all away'

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I'm not sure if I prefer the Leo Sayer or Roger Daltrey version. Right now, I'm in the Daltrey camp but both are excellent versions. Great song.

friday in the mix

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A few lunchtime tunes for you.

SBTRKT - 'Hold On'

Trinity Hi-Fi - 'TV Dinner For One'

Woolfy v Projections - 'Neeve (Permanent Vacation Tropical Heat Remix)'

julia holter - 'running through my eyes (an fd acoustic session)'

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A simple yet stunning acoustic set from Ms Holter for the ever-brilliant FD Sessions.

james blake's 'overgrown' wins mercury music prize

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If ever proof were needed that the geekier edges of electronica are coming into the mainstream then James Blake's well-deserved win should go a long way to satisfying the doubters. His music has always been a very cerebral and intimate creation, I can't recall too many 'in your face' tracks from him despite how heavy he drops the bass. 

Blake's stock is already extremely high with A-list musicians lining up to request his mixing skills. Only this week I heard a very powerful production with Drake (not my thing but I can appreciate he's a great musician). This remix of Rahjconkas is far more up my street.

xx's coexist remixed

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I have just seen in Fact Mag that four tracks from the beautiful Coexist album have been given a remix makeover and are scheduled for release next month on an EP named 'HVNXX'. The full tracklisting is as follows:

Tracklist:

01 Fiction (Marc Piñol Remix)

02 Reunion (Mistakes Are Ok Remix)

03 Missing (Round Remix)

04 Swept Away (New Jackson Remix)

The first two have been released for streaming ahead of EP launch so I'm really pleased to be able to link them here:

Fiction (Marc Piñol Remix)

Reunion (Mistakes Are Ok Remix)

thursday's child

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I'm trying to eschew the obvious Halloween connection today (I've always enjoyed Guy Fawkes night much more) and instead post an eclectic mix of music. Hope you enjoy at least some of them but for the traditionalists, I've snuck a tune in at the end just for you.

Bailey Brothers - 'Happy Valley Special'

Perhaps it's the weather but I'm feeling quite melancholy this morning and for obvious reasons old school bluegrass really hits the spot.

The Supremes - 'Stoned Love (A Tom Moulton Remix)'

Normally associated with the Philly sound here's disco production legend Tom Moulton's take on a Motown classic.

Lund Quartet - 'Love's Madness'

Bristol jazz/trip-hop. What's not to like?

Kid Montana - 'Spooky (Halloween Mix)'

This is a slow-burner but really quite cool and trippy. In the words of Crimewatch -"Don't have nightmares."

warpaint - 'love is to die'

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I'm very excited about going to see Warpaint tonight at my all-time favourite music venue, Brixton Academy. Their first album was a very impressive affair and coincidentally the release date of the new album (January 2014) as well as new tour dates have been confirmed in the last couple of days. I'm really pleased to see Brighton Dome as a venue too.

Here's the first release from their eponymous new album.  

omar souleyman - 'warni warni'

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Last one of the night and bang up to date with Syrian cult pop star, Omar Souleyman and produced by Four Tet's Kieran Hebden. This track is a monster of a tune. Seriously, you've got to play this loud and often. You won't regret it.

jacques brel - 'le plat pays'

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Another re-discovery tonight for me, this time Jacques Brel this time with 'Le Plat Pays' (translated as 'The Flat Country'). I can't help but think of Leonard Cohen when I hear this song. Just beautiful.

let's hear it for the drummer

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I don't know if the name Craig McClune (aka Clune) is a name you're familiar with or not but he was for a time the drummer with David Gray's band and one of the most engaging, exciting and extravagant drummers I've ever seen live. It's difficult to put into words the visual and aural experience of seeing him drumming live but it's one that you don't forget once seen. 

I was reminded of him from that Ray Lamontagne video with David Gray lurking in the background. He's not always been my cup of tea but certain songs hit the spot and with Clune providing a live trip-hop sound this song in particular is one that I do like a lot. Just check out the drumming.

ray lamontagne - 'are we really through'

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With a voice and rich and evocative as someone like John Martyn or Daniel Lefkowitz and a songwriting talent to match, a Ray Lamontagne live in session recording is always going to sound special. I've been listening to 'God Willin' and the Creek Don't Rise' whilst doing a few chores and it's been like re-visiting an old friend after a long time apart. Here's a wonderful live version for BBC Four.

nick cave and the bad seeds - 'live at krcw'

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Just a heads-up that there's a new live album pencilled in for the end of next month. Here's the full listing:

1.   Higgs Boson Blues

2.   Far From Me

3.   Stranger Than Kindness 

4.   The Mercy Seat

5.   And No More Shall We Part 

6.   Wide Lovely Eyes 

7.   Mermaids

8.   People Ain't No Good

9.   Into My Arms (limited vinyl only)

10. God Is In The House (limited vinyl only)

11. Push The Sky Away

12. Jack The Ripper

Looks like I'll have to get the limited edition vinyl as those two vinyl-only tracks are up there with my favourite Nick  Cave songs.