Recommended music: 'Sketchy EP' by Star Slinger

Ahead of two further EPs due later in 2016 the man like Star Slinger has dropped this new EP on us, and it's far from as sketchy as the title would have you believe. Unlike his previous releases this one actually features him singing on some of the tracks, and his voice turns out to be a great accompaniment to his music.

While the rest of his releases are set to come out with proper label support this one is self-released. You can buy it from iTunes or download it fro free from Bandcamp, the choice is yours.

Recommended music: 'Music Complete' by New Order

It's a funny thing when bands have a massive break and then come back with a new album. You wonder why they're doing it, and if they should've bothered. Some (like The Stone Roses) don't even get as far as making a record. When the band is question is one of your favourite acts of all time the questions become all the more demanding - what's the new stuff like? Does it '"desecrate the grave" (to quote John Squire) of their previous material, or add something worth hearing to their catalogue?

Such discourse brings us to 'Music Complete', a possibly ironic title given that bassist Peter Hook has left / been cast aside (depending who you believe) in a well-documented split. To counterbalance that Gillian Gilbert has returned, having not been part of the band since 2001, and her influence is keenly felt here. I'm not sure I ever gave her the credit she was due for her contribution to the band, but the keyboard-led tracks here must surely be partly due to her input.

So how does it sound? As I've said, it's definitely more keyboard focussed, dancier, and harks back more the 'Brotherhood' and 'Low-Life' era of the band (ironically, those are the 2 albums Hooky is currently touring with his band, playing mammoth sets each night to a rapturous welcome), and overall it's a pretty successful compilation of all best type of New Order songs. There are dancefloor bangers like 'Plastic', and more traditional songs like 'Academic'. La Roux's Elly Jackson contributes guest vocals to three of the songs and enhances these, rather than taking them over. The other guests are less successful though; Iggy Pop's spoken word effort on 'Stray Dog' reminds me of the track he did with Death In Vegas as few years ago and disrupts the flow of the record. Meanwhile Brandon Flowers undoubtedly came in his pants the moment he was asked to to sing on 'Superheated', but it's the least New Order-ish and therefore the weakest track here, a disappointing way to end the record. On the other hand Tom Rowlands from the Chemical Brothers manages to inject some contemporary rhythms into 'Singularity' and 'Unlearn This Hatred', which somehow results in these 2 sounding simultaneously sounding like the best bits of both bands at once.

I reckon it's a solid 8/10 type of record. I've certainly heard worse efforts from reforming acts (or those who refused to go away in the first place). I'm tipping them for a slot at Glastonbury next year - you heard it here first!

Recommended music: 'Hinterland' by LoneLady

"Beyond the dirty window there's a curios flame
In the dark heart of Hinterland that keeps on calling me"

With her second album for Warp Julie Campbell has delivered a mesmerising and hypnotic record that fuses industrial Manchester with motorised Michigan. This is a very architectural album, literally and metaphotically. From the initial recordings in her home studio in a towerblock - aptly called Concrete Retreat - she's piled layers and layers of analogue recordings, physically building the tracks up. And the titles - 'Bunkerpop', 'Hinterland', 'Mortar Remembers You', '(I Can See) Landscapes', 'Into The Cave' - all point towards an overall feeling of bleakness both within and outside of the environment. In some ways it's a record that's entombed in concrete, and you're not really sure whether it's accepted its fate or is trying to break free.

Put your headphones in and you'll hear a crisp, at times almost brutal sound as the layers of synths, live percussion and analog sounds compete for space in your head. But this is a record that works equally well from a set of speakers - the infectious grooves that underpin a lot of the tracks will definitely make you want to move your feat.

Musically there's a whole host of influences on display, from Liquid Liquid to Cabaret Voltaire to LCD Soundsystem to A Certain Ratio and maybe even The Fall. And although it's a record that maybe could've been made in Berlin or Detroit you can feel Manchester at its heart.

"Flee to the outskirts, the ground is crumbling,

The sky is falling"

Remix of the Day: 'Pray To God (Mike Pickering vs Calvin Harris Hacienda mix)' by Calvin Harris feat. Haim

Embracing his influences, Harris has let legendary DJ & remixer Mike Pickering loose on his latest single, with fantastic results. This version manages to sound contemporary while at the same time paying tribute to those great nights at one of the most famous clubs in the world. Have a listen, it's double good.

Recommended music: 'Ghosts of Then and Now' by Illum Sphere

With his first full-length album for Ninja Tune, Illum Sphere (Ryan Hunn) has created a sonic landscape that accurately reflects his Manchester homeland. There's a wide range of influences that you can hear on these tracks, from Burial to Four Tet to Caribou to Jon Hopkins, and the whole thing combines to good effect, making a musical palette that blurs the boundaries of electronic music.

'It'll be over soon' even sounds quite a lot like latter-day Radiohead, and it's easy to see why he was asked to remix a track from 'The King of Limbs'.

Like the best albums, this is a record to really immerse yourself in. It's perfect for late night trains, long drives or dark evenings when the rain is lashing down outside. That's not to say there aren't a few dancefloor friendly tunes on here, but it works so well as a whole album that you really need to give it that time and attention.

You can buy the album on various physical and digital formats from the Ninja Tune shop here.

Live review - in pictures: BBC 6 Music Festival, Victoria Warehouse, Manchester 28/2/14

The inaugural 6 Music festival had its first day yesterday - 2 live stages and a silent disco held in an old warehouse just a short hop on the tram from Media City. We arrived about 4.30 and dived straight in to catch the end of Weird Shapes in Room 2, one of the bands selected for the bill by BBC Introducing.

Weird Shapes onstage 28/2/14

There were bottlenecks moving between the 2 stages, but we squeezed our way through the gap and emerged into the much bigger Room 1 to see Luke Sital-Singh. He opened with an absolutely storming number, and while the rest of his set was good it didn't quite live up to the power of the start. For me he's definitely at his best when he's got an electric guitar in his hands.

Luke Sital-Singh live 28/2/14

Next up it was back to Room 2 for the brilliant Drenge. I don't know how they manage to make so much noise with just the 2 of them playing, but they were awesome. 'Bloodsports' incited a full-on mosh pit and people bounced off each other while the sound bounced off the concrete walls. They're sure to be a festival fixture throughout the summer, so make sure you catch them.

Drenge, 6 Music Festival 28/2/14

Back to the main room for Kelis. She put on. Good show but the sound mix was poor and it was all a bit 'Vegas revue' style for us, so after hearing the classic 'Milkshake' we headed outside for some food.

Midlake never disappoint, and tonight they were on fine form. They always sound to me like a band who properly practice together - their sound is much more powerful live  and they just feel like a 'proper' band. They played a good mix of old and new stuff - of the new ones 'The Old and The Young' has now developed into a proper live 'moment' and sounds built for festivals.

Midlake at the Victoria Warehouse 28/2/14

Towards the end of their set they were joined by collaborator John Grant, who flew in from Iceland just to perform one song, the brilliant 'Sigourney Weaver'.

John Grant with Midlake at the 6 Music Festival 28/2/14

Not many people would have the nerve to play their first gig with a new band headlining a festival that was being broadcast live, while also showcasing a brand new album that people haven't heard, but Damon Albarn has got the balls to pull it off.

Damon Albarn solo (but with his new band) 28/2/14

Despite a few ignorant people in the audience who weren't prepared to give the new stuff a try, he played a great set. The new songs have got a great feel to them (I confidently predict a Mercury Prize nomination) and he threw in a few curve balls from his back catalogue as well. The band he's put together to play live are really good and I for one think it's great that he continues to evolve and mature as an artist. He might lose a few beery 'Parklife' fans as a result but I'm definitely sticking with him. Here's the setlist:

• Everyday Robots
• Hostiles
• Lonely Press Play
• Tomorrow Comes Today
• The Selfish Giant
• You & Me
• On Melancholy Hill
• Hollow Ponds
• Photographs (You Are Taking Now)
• Kingdom of Doom
• All Your Life
• Mr Tembo
• El Mañana
• Heavy Seas Of Love

Damon at the keyboard 28/2/14

New music: 'Sex EP Remixes' by The 1975

Fresh from the hotly-tipped and probably over-hyped Manchester band The 1975, you can grab this set of remixes for free (or rather in exchange for your email address above). Pick of the bunch is probably the Ryan Hemsworth mix of 'Sex'.

I saw The 1975 live a couple of weeks ago (at Chinnerys in Southend) and they seem to have two distinct sets of songs - the ones they want to write, and the ones their management/label have told them to write to break them into the big time. It remains to be seen whether this will work, and if they'll sell their souls in the process, but I think that somewhere inside the polished exterior there's a decent band trying to get out.

The 1975 live at Chinnerys, Southend 6/2/13