Track of the Day: 'Beautiful People (feat. Thom Yorke)' by Mark Pritchard

Pritchard has a new album called 'Under The Sun' which will be out in May on Warp Records. From it comes this blissful track featuring Thom Yorke, which will do until both Pritchard's ad the new Radiohead albums come along. Yorke's vocals almost perform two different functions, providing a wash of melody over which he weaves a lead vocal to keep you entranced. This is one of the loveliest things I've heard so far this year, let's hope there are tracks to match on both their new records.

Track of the Day: 'Reformer' by Darkstar & Empress Of

The first new music from Darkstar since their brilliant 'Foam Island' album in 2015, this track sees them teaming up with Empress Of to deliver a darkly melodic slice of electronica. Musically you can still feel some of the influence of their previous albums, but with the female vocals added it reminds me a bit of Polica (which is a good thing). The track is released today on Warp Records., have a listen below.

Recommended music: 'Morning / Evening' by Four Tet

It's Friday, which, according to the worldwide record label overlords, is apparently now the day on which new albums are released. And so on this gloriously sunny day comes this wondrous new release from Four Tet. As with the best of Kieran Hebden's releases it's hard to pigeonhole it into a specific genre. Even though there are only 2 tracks (a Morning Side and an Evening side) there's a whole range of music on dispay. If it wasn't such a dirty word I'd be tempted to call it 'world music', not just for the samples from the Indian sub-continent but also because it's the sort of music that really can be enjoyed by anyone in the world, transcending cultures or creeds to create a really spiritual piece of music. You could maybe even call it 'prog', given its concept and its 2 twenty minute tracks.

The Morning side draws you in slowly and gently, rousing you from your slumbers and bringing you alive. As the vocal sample rises in the mix you'll feel the sun rise on a new day, as layers or found sound and synthesizers combine. The Evening side meanwhile starts equally slowly but in a more electronic vein, building bleeps and analogue chords, mixing them with more Hindi samples and blending them into a Balearic sunset. The samples then subside as the track dips and then rebuilds with characteristic Four Tet bleeps and some surprisingly live-sounding drums before adding some crunchier beats towards the end

If you could only take one album on holiday with you this year then this should probably be the one - it's made for heat, haze and sun. Have a listen below.

Albums of the Year 2014 - top 3 compilations

As a prelude to my full list of albums I've decided to call out some records in a few different categories that might have slipped under your radar. So here's my favourite three compilation / various artist records of the year. Each one of these is really special, and if you bought all three your music collection would have improved immeasurably.

1. What?! - William Onyeabor / various (Luaka Bop)

One of my favourite purchases on Record Store Day this year, which was subsequently given a full release by Luaka Bop. The album features a rang of cover versions, re-interpretations and remixes of tracks from the 'Who is William Onyeabor?' album, With the artists involved as diverse as Hot Chip (who made my favourite track here), Scientist, The Vaccines and Daphni (a,k,a, Caribou) the record manages to expand the sonic frequency of Onyeabor's music while still retaining the essence of who he is and what he does.

2. The Time and Space Machine presents The Way Out Sound From In - Richard Norris / various (Ample Play records)

A collection of some of the best remixes Richard Norris has produced over the past few years in his Time & Space Machine guise. If you don't recognise his name then you might be more familiar with him as being half of both The Grid and Beyond The Wizard's Sleeve, The standout tracks for me here are his mixes of Jagwar Ma and A Mountain of One, but he also does great stuff to Temples, Warpaint and lots more. (full review here)

3. Bleep: 10 - various (Bleep / Warp)

Bleep is the online store originally set up to sell Warp releases, which soon expanded to sell all manner of great music. They celebrated their 10th birthday this year, and as well as having the obligatory birthday bash (which I reviewed here) they also put out this excellent album of tracks from artists who are have been favourites in the store. Featuring exclusives from Autechre, Fuck Buttons, Lone, Modeselektor, Machinedrum and loads more, if you've ever bought anything on the Warp label then you're pretty much guaranteed to like this (full review here).

Track of the Day: 'I'm not into Twerk, I'm into KraftWerk' by Modeselektor

Released as part of an album that celebrates 10 years of Bleep, Warp Records' online music store, this track from the German outfit is a bouncing, vibrant piece of electronica. Even if you don't like the track, you have to admit it's got one of the best titles so far this year.

The celebrations for Bleep's birthday continue tonight when Fuck Buttons and Mount Kimbie play a special show at the Barbican in London together. I'll be there - watch this space for a report!