Track of the Day: 'Lit' by Gidge

Taken from the album 'LNLNN' which is out today on Atomnation, this is a beautifully Scandinavian slice of crisp and clean electronica. The tracks on the new album have evolved from their last album 'Lulin', but this time the ambient shapes have been defined into a more dancefloor-oriented style.

Glastonbury 2016 - The Ones To Watch - T-18 Days: Khruangbin

This three piece from Texas eschew traditional down-home boogie for the esoteric delights of Thai funk and drifting, dream-like grooves, as in the video below.

As you can see, they're not short on talent (or, for 2 out of 3 of them, hair) and when their music find its groove it's a real treat.

Their album 'The Universe Smiles Upon You' was recently released on the Late Night Tales record label, which gives you some idea of the kind of vibe they create. There are a couple of chances to catch them on Sunday this year at Glastonbury - I'll probably see you at the Park first thing in the morning (before drifting over to Four Tet's early morning DJ set in the Stonebridge bar, which will follow this perfectly).

Glastonbury 2016 - The Ones To Watch - T-23 Days: Floating Points

When Sam Shepherd's debut album 'Elaenia' was released towards the end of last year it received massive critical acclaim. Its mix of electronica, jazz and ambient styles took on the kind of atmospheres created by the likes of Caribou and Four Tet and weaved new magic with them.

Having created this expansive world on record, he's since developed it into a live act which is likely to go down a treat on the West Holts stage. With a live band and great visuals he's definitely one to chill out with as the sun sets.

Glastonbury 2016 - The Ones To Watch - T-26: Maribou State

Maribou State have been around for some five years now, but it was last year's album 'Portraits' that brought them to a lot of people's attention (including mine).


They're playing on one of the stages in Silver Hayes on Sunday, which is great as this morning when I was playing this record I was thinking what a great Sunday morning album it is. It's relaxed but not too laid back, and will ease you into the last day of this year's Glastonbury perfectly.

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.

Recommended music: 'The Gambler' by Nonkeen

The first couple of listens to this (on the train, with headphones) left me a bit ambivalent about it. But then the vinyl arrived and something clicked with me. Listening to the record seemed to open up the analogue warmth of the original tape recordings. Recorded over many, many years by 3 lifelong friends (of which the most famous is Nils Frahm) the final product is the result of hours of material using primitive equipment and single-take sessions. These were sometimes processed and over-dubbed, and at others left raw and original.

The album flits from trip-hop ('Saddest Continent On Earth') to Krautrock ('Ceramic People') and on into ambient territory, all the time retaining an organic feel and flow that enables you to really drift away with it. Although sonically it might be quite removed from Frahm's usual solo work I'm sure it will apeal to lovers of his previous material. For me he can do no wrong and it's good to hear him in this group environment - I imagine these tracks will develop further when they play them live as a band in the forthcoming months.

It's worth mention that if you get the vinyl you get an extra track (which takes up the whole of side D). The record comes with a download code for the digital version of the album as well, so it's worth the investment in a physical copy.

'The Gamble' is out now on R & S Records - you can stream and and follow the purchase link below.

Remix of the Day: 'Four (Darkstar Remix) by Olafur Arnalds & Nils Frahm

The original version of this track can be found on the 'Loon' EP, which came out on Erased Tapes earlier this year. Darkstar's mix builds and builds, based around a guitar riff that Aiden started playing as they listened to the track. It's fair to say that Darkstar & Nils Frahm are currently two of my favourite artists so this is a real treat for me, and I hope it is for you too.

Recommended music: 'Foam Island' by Darkstar

On their new album for Warp the electronic duo have created an electronic reflection on northern Britain (specifically Huddersfield) in 2015. It's a brilliant encapsulation of the thoughts and emotions of young people in the town, showing both the good and bad sides without passing judgement on either. The theme allows the band to create possibly their most cohesive album to date - as it takes you on a journey through various rhythms and styles, from the upbeat to more ambient tracks, it never loses its focus or sense of purpose.

The titular 'Foam Island' (a euphemism for this once green and pleasant land) is definitely one of the highlights, full of deft electronic touches, while 'Stoke The Fire' is a brilliant slice of electro-pop with an ultra-catchy melody that showcases the best of their song-writing. The most abrasive track here is closer 'Days Burn Blue', which I guess is what you'd expect from a song that was written while the votes were being counted for the bastard Conservative Party's victory in the last election.

I've listened to this record a number of times over the past week and can honestly say that it still gets better and better with each hearing. Concept albums (for that's effectively what this is) can be a hard thing to pull off, but they've done it with aplomb here.

Track of the Day: 'a short 1 about floating down the river face down, obviously dead, but sooooo chill' by Slugabed

Winner of the song title of the week award, this new track from Slugabed is a deep and mellow slice of music. It's kind of freeform and kind of trippy and kind of dark and kind of slippy. Get a free download on the down low below.

Recommended music: 'Søren Juul' EP by Søren Juul

You might be familiar with Søren from the 2013 album 'Somewhere Else' - that was released under the Indians moniker but he has since reverted to his own name. The 3 track EP, released on the 4AD label showcases his songwriting talents and fragile, gentle vocals to good effect. Opener 'Ambitions' has hints of Sigur Ros in its melodies and a definite Scandinavian feel - it's warm but detached at the same time, and I love the part towards the end when then keyboard refrain kicks in.

'Manly Beach' (a place I've actually been to) is a simpler, piano-led affair that then sweeps in with some gentle keyboards. The final track 'Soulseeker' actually reminds me a bit of Grandaddy when it starts, and then it becomes a swooping ballad full of heartbreak, with some lovely instrumental passages that have a touch of Pink Floyd about them.

Overall it's a great step on the way to his next album, which will be released early next year. You can listen to all three of the tracks below.

Video of the Day: 'Trance Frendz - An evening with Ólafur Arnalds and Nils Frahm'

There seems to be new material appearing from Messrs Arnalds and Frahm. First there was the single 'Life Story / Love and Glory', then the announcement of their new EP 'Loon', and now this. What started out as a planned recording of one improvised piece turned into an 8-hour session, all of which was filmed by Alexander Schneider. At the end of the night they had a number of new pieces that had been composed on the spot which they've shared with us here (along with some more homely shots of Nils cooking the dinner). Edited down to 46 minutes, it really does show two masters at work, not to mention showcasing Nils' lovely studio in Berlin.



'Loon' is released on October 2nd and you can pre-order it from Erased Tapes here.

Recommended music: 'Bones' by Son Lux

The new album from Son Lux sees Ryan Lott expanding the band to a trio. Having originally added Ian Chang and Rafiq Bhatia to flesh out his live sound, he soon realised what a great combination they were and how well they worked together creatively, and hence this album is a full collaboration between the three of them.

You can feel the power of three throughout the album - Lott's voice is still the distinctive centrepiece of the tracks, but the sound is broader, more fleshed out. In places surprising (as when the melodic chorus of 'This Time' give way to crashing guitars, or in the offbeat rhythms of 'Undone', or the stroming end of 'White Lies') the record maintains the innate sense of melody and emotion that has characterised all of his releases. And talking of surprises, if you never expected them to have a video featuring a bona fide tv star, then check out the visuals for 'You Don't Know Me' below, featuring Tatiana Maslany from the excellent series Orphan Black.

This feels like the most mature Son Lux record to date, but also points the way to further development and expansion. I can imagine that once they take these new songs back out on the road they'll sound even bigger and better.

You can see Son Lux performing at the Visions Festival in London on August 8th (I'll see you there). In the meantime you can stream and buy the album 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.

Recommended music: 'Island' by Ruf Dug

Arriving perfectly in time for your summer holidays, 'Island' is the sound of beach, sea and sunshine encapsulated in vinyl. From the moment that 'Tendacayou' starts up you're immediately transported to a hazy, shimmering world of heat and light that evokes that feeling of the sun warming your bones as you escape the world.

Recorded in Guadeloupe over 12 weeks using a host of portable equipment, Ruf Dug's first album for the Music For Dreams label is perfect for whatever island you may be heading to this year, whether that's somewhere lonely and deserted, or somewhere more hedonistic like Ibiza. Influenced in part by Wally Badarou's work at Compass Point Studios in Nassau, there are also other lineages on display here, in particular on the first two tracks. 'Tendacayou' is very reminiscent of somvee of the ambient records that The Art of Noise made (particularly their cover of 'Robinson Crusoe'), while 'Speedboat' has more than a hint of John Carpenter. 'Mangrove Dub' also has that Art of Noise feel, while the album's stand-out track 'Le Rayon Vert' could easily have been included on any Cafe del Mar compilation. Steeped in Balearic sunrises it features the guest vocals of Nev Cottee, and is pretty much guaranteed to be included on any mixtapes I make for the rest of the year.

It's not entirely successful, with the noodling 'Mosquito' being the most disappointing track here, but overall it's a pretty great soundtrack for the summer.

'Islands' is out now on double vinyl, and you can stream the whole thing below. BTW, big shout to the team and Wax and Stamp for including this in their package this month - I doubt I'd have heard it otherwise.

Recommended music: 'Kite Without A String' by Beach Moon/Peach Moon

Another release from the bijou Paper Trail records, this hazy, gently lo-fi record will slowly drift into your consciousness. Full of warmth and tinkling melodies, it's an album that never outstays its welcome but makes the most of the time it has with you.

Starting life as a solo vehicle for Robert Prisco from San Francisco (I love how that rhymes), but since expanded to a full band, at its heart Beach Moon/Peach Moon revolves around Prisco's high, softly-sung vocals. Like Mercury Rev's Jonathan Donahue but with less angst, he subtly swoops through the tunes, using his voice as an integral instrument within the overall set-up. Meanwhile the lyrics are full of missed opportunities and stolen moments that fit well with Prisco's world-weary delivery. "Thoughts are fleeting, seething through my barren bones" he sings on The Fog, one of many references to the natural world and our environment. On 'Firefly Stars' he tells us how "She filled my sky a deep dark indigo, That's how I saw how bright the moon was", before moving on to the end of the relationship on the title track: "I'm not mad at you, I'm just sad at us".

Overall then it's a wistful but not downbeat album, full of touching moments and hidden pleasures. Well worth a listen.

Recommended music: 'Hot House' EP by The Cyclist

For his third release, in three years, on three different labels, The Cyclist provides us with six tracks of his trademark woozy, fuzzy music that he himself describes as 'tape throb'. On some of them Andrew Morrison (who's behind the nom de plume) has definitely stepped up the dance beats, making them a lot less ambient and a lot more house. It's kinda of weird hearing a floor-filling bassline topped off with a super-crackly sample, but somehow it works. The result is a type of dance music that feels organic rather than manufactured, as if it's been left in a closed, boarded up club for the past sixty years ad just allowed to evolve on its own.

Well worth a listen (which you can do below) but even more worth a purchase as it's only a few quid.

Recommended music: 'Culture of Volume' by East India Youth

This is the second album from the Mercury Prize nominated Will Doyle in his East India Youth guise, and the first for a major label (XL Recordings). After a few listens it's clear that, possibly as a result of one or both of those facts, this is an even stronger record than his debut. It's more mature and assured, and hangs together more cohesively as an album than 'Total Strife Forever' did. Like that record this one is a mixture of vocal tracks and instrumentals, but here everything is beefed up - the melodies are catchier, the dance tracks are beefier and the vocals are stronger. It's like Doyle has found his voice (literally and metaphorically) and is happy to use it.

Musically it's quite hard to pinpoint his influences, although 'Beaming White' definitely seems to be doffing its cap to the Pet Shop Boys. 'Turn Away' actually reminded me of Villagers when I first heard it, if they were to explore their electronic leanings a bit more. Other tracks are developments of ideas from the first record, with 'Hearts That Never' in particular sounding like a vocal sequel to 'Hinterland', and the switch from that to 'Entirety' is one of my favourite bits of the record as we go to an all-out banging club tune (think Daniel Avery for this one). The fact that this is followed by the torch song of 'Carousel' just shows how confident Doyle now is - this is a real show-stopper of a track that's got 'movie climax' written all over it.

To sum up, this is a record that moves East India Youth's sound a good few steps forward. I reckon that come the end of the year it'll be pretty near the top of my 'most played' list - I can imagine how good it will sound sitting by the pool on my summer holiday - and even if it doesn't earn Will another Mercury nomination it's definitely the most essential of this week's new releases. 

Recommended music: 'Solo' by Nils Frahm

This, like pretty much everything Frahm puts his name to, is a thing of beauty. Recorded on his own as improvisations, with no overdubs, it's full of sublime melodies and gentle keystrokes, evoking solitariness but not loneliness, and a sense of calm and stillness that's just mesmerising. Even on the more vibrant and animated 'Wall', which undercuts the calmness with a slight air of menace, you still feel by the end that all is well. It's an amazing example of what one man can achieve with one piano and a bucketload of talent, but there's more...

You see, this record has a purpose, and that purpose is to raise money for the building of the Klavins M450 piano. One of a kind, this will be the largest piano in the world, standing 4.5 metres tall. A prototype, the M370, has already been built, and it's that on which Frahm recorded this album (as you might have guessed that one is 3.7 metres tall). The income from 'Solo' is being used to cover the materials and labour for the construction of this wonderful instrument, which will hopefully culminate in a festival to unveil it in Berlin on Piano Day 2017. So by buying this release you're helping this historical project to succeed, as well as getting a stunning piece of music for yourself. You can buy it here, and listen to a track from it below.

Recommended music: 'Late Night Tales - Jon Hopkins'

Even by Late Night Tales pretty faultless standards, this album is exceptional. Jon Hopkins has curated an immaculate collection of tracks. There's 5 or 6 on here that I already have and love, but every single one of the others sounds like something I should have heard and loved before. From Four Tet to Letherette, from Bibio to Helios, it's a stream of musical consciousness that ebbs and flows on an aural tide.

And you don't only have to listen to it at night either; staring out of the train window, or curled up in an armchair in a cosy corner, or walking across the windswept moors - this is a collection that just works whatever your circumstances. It will soothe and revive you, comfort and inspire you, and just leave you in a better place than it found you.

In the process of putting this together Mr Hopkins has shown that not only does he make great records of his own but that he can recognise greatness in others as well - a true skill.

Sheer perfection.

Remix of the Day: 'The Sky Opposite (Tim Hecker Remix)' by Dorian Concept

This track will be out in April as part of an EP of remixes from Dorian Concept's 2014 album 'Joined Ends'. Also featured are mixes from Bibio, Nathan Fake and Kuedo which have not yet been forthcoming, but for now we have this ace slice of electronic textures from Tim Hecker. As the track progresses and the white noise subsides the melody gradually coalesces as if from nothing. Listen below, and you can order the EP in advance from Ninja Tune here.