Remix of the Day: 'Give Me A Reason (Weatherall Meets Jonnie Two Heaters Uptown Part 1)' by Jagwar Ma

As much as I love Jagwar Ma's albums, I love their live shows and remixes even more. Both seem to take on a dancier, darker, trippier vibe that I love. This new mix is a good case in point. As far as I can gather it's a collaboration between the legendary Andrew Weatherall and Jono Ma and it very much picks up the baton from Richard Norris' dub mixes of 'Howlin''. Suffice to say there are acid squelches, distorted vocals, a persistent loop of rhythm, and the whole thing is about twice as long as the original, which is exactly what you need from a remix like this. Have a listen below.

Remix of the Day: The Throw (Dreems Sounds of the Universe Remix) by Jagwar Ma

So I'm back from my trip to New York (more of that another time maybe) with this massive remix for you, both literally and metaphorically.You'll have noticed from previous posts that I love pretty much everything Jagwar Ma have put out, both their original tracks and the remixes that have been done of them. On this version of 'The Throw'  Dreems works his magic on the already impressive original, turning into something like on of the Amorphous Androgynous psychedelic trips. Over 21 minutes you're gradually lifted up and then brought back down to earth on a heady, whirlwind ride. Apparently this will only be available on vinyl so get in quick if you want to order one from here.

Recommended music: 'Cosmic Logic' by Peaking Lights

If the music you release is an good indication of how things are going in your life, then all must be pretty good in the Peaking Lights camp right now. Husband and wife team Aaron Coyes and Indra Dunis have made an upbeat electro-pop-dub record that's surely designed for sunshine and good times, rather than their previous releases which were more made for late nights, weed and relaxing. I guess having two kids can make your life change like that.

The murky, scratchy, lo-fi dub of old had been replaced with bright and crisp electronics that in places almost veers towards eurobeat. The one constant is Indra's floaty voice, which swoops and wafts over the backing. Album opener 'Infinite Trips' is a bit of a red herring - it's not trippy, and it's also not very much like the rest of the tracks on the album. 'Telephone Call', which is next up, is a much better indication of things to come, in which Indra signs about phone calls from space and seems to be more than a bit influenced by The Space Lady. Later on, 'Everyone and Us' has a bassline that really reminds me of 'Giant' by The The, although it's probably highly unlikely that they (or even you dear reader) will have heard that. 'Eyes To Sea' (I love that title) is built around a hypnotically repetitive electronic loop, and is followed by 'Bad With The Good', which seems to have stolen all of its keyboard and drum settings straight from the 80s - like a lot of the songs on here it's refreshingly simple and uncomplicated.

'New Grrls' is lyrically the best song on the album, telling how Indra tries to balance being a mum and a wife with being in a band, before listing role models like Joan Jett, Kim Gordon, Yoko Ono and Lydia Lunch. Even if it does sound a bit like Ace of Base 'Breakdown' is a brilliantly catchy tune, and 'Tell Me Your Song' then closes the standard version of the album with a whirligig waltz.

I bought the vinyl version which comes with an extra 12" with remixes of 'Breakdown' and 'Bad With The Good', both of which are excellent. Overall this is probably their most consistently good album and one which is well worth your hard earned pounds or dollars.

Video of the Day: 'Breakdown' by Peaking Lights

The first track from Peaking Lights forthcoming album 'Cosmic Logic' now comes with a clever and amusing video about how someone's obsession with a smart phone ruins their life. It's a cautionary tale for sure so make sure you take the message on board my friends.



The album comes out on October 6th via Weird World Records, and the band will be playing a few dates in Paris, Glasgow, Liverpool & London between 21st and 28th November, so go see 'em.

Remix of the Day: 'Mesmerise (The Time and Space Machine Remix)' by Temples

After working his magic on most of the tracks from Jagwar Ma's debut, Richard Norris has moved his time and space machine onto Temples' sonic structures. The result is a fantastic stream of sunny psychedelia, brimming with melodies and guitars, which is guaranteed to banish the rainy blues. As they celebrate their album entering the charts at number 7, this is the perfect way for you to join the Temples party. Let's hope they set him loose on the rest of the album...


PS If you've not heard the Time and Space Machine dubs of Jagwar Ma's Howlin' you really should try and track them down. To my mind the finished set is a better experience than the original album, it really moves it into 'Screamadelica' territory.

Track of the Day: 'Portland' by Brolin

It seems to be commonplace to describe artists as 'mysterious' these days, and Brolin is one of those to whom the epithet is frequently supplied. But on the basis of this track he might have to become a whole lot more outgoing - it's hard to make a record this summery and infectious and then hide away from the world. The addition of Peaking Lights on production duties has given this a light reggae touch, while the simple vocals encourage a beach-party sing-a-long.

The single is out now.

Recommended music: 'Ruled By Passion, Destroyed By Lust' by The Asphodells

If you're not familiar with the name, this is the new project from Andrew Weatherall, who's paired up with Timothy J Fairplay to put out this debut album on the Rotters Golf Club label.

It's a surprisingly varied album that leaves behind Weatherall's more recent rock'n'roll leanings and harks back to an 80s post-punk and electro sound. There are dub moments, bits of early OMD, New Order and all sorts of other influences on display, but they combine in a satisfying way to make a record that seems at one familiar and warm, but with enough nooks and crannies for you to explore it for many listens to come. Occasionally some of the tracks begin to sound like Weatherall remixes of other people's songs, but he's one of the best remixers in the world so even that's no bad thing.

If you want to buy the cd it's album of the week at Rough Trade here and you can also get the cd from Rotters Golf Club here, or the download for the bargain price of a fiver with 3 extra tracks from them here.

The album is accompanied by a single 'Beglammered' - you can watch the video for that below.

New Music: 'Beautiful Son (Eskimo Twins Remix)' by Peaking Lights

Wherein Eskimo Twins take the gentle loveliness of last year's 'Beautiful Son' and turn it into an early 90s Cafe Del Mar Ibiza-style smash. I must admit that I was slightly underwhelmed by the release of 'Lucifer' last year, but mixes like this, together with the excellent 'Lucifer In Dub' album that came out at the end of last year show that there really were some unpolished gems on the record that are now shining through. Have a listen and download it for free above.

Recommended music: 'Out of Time - Out of Touch' by Group Rhoda

Not a group at all, but a solo work by San Franciscan Mara Barenbaum, this intriguing debut album ha smuch more to offer than might at first meet the eye. The basic drum machines and simple basslines are a gateway into a world that owes as much to seventies film soundtracks as it does to Californian dubbed-out stoner vibes. Think Peaking Lights meets John Carpenter and you'll have an idea of the musical vibe. Throw in a hint of East German coldness and some reverb'ed organ and you'll be about there.

Over the top of the tracks floats Mara's distinctive vocals - often sounding aloof and detached from the music, they somehow compliment the overall feel by sounding slightly out of place, as if she was just passing through on her way to another life.

The album is out now on one of my favourite indie labels, Nightschool Records - buy it from them here.

You can listen to a clutch of tracks from the album below.

New Music Mix - 25/7/12

DJ Cull's New Music Mix - 25/7/2012 by Dj Cull on Mixcloud

Click on the play button above to listen to the latest selection of tracks that have wormed their way into my aural cavities. Here's the tracklisting:

1. Childish Gambino - Silk Pillow (feat. Beck)
2. Piano Magic - Never It Will Be The Same Again
3. Chrome Sparks - Marijuana
4. Shigeto - Huron River Drive
5. Matthew Dear - Her Fantasy
6. alt-J - Tessellate (Dam Mantle Remix)
7. Das Ding - H.S.T.A (J. Rocc edit)
8. Teotl Expansion - Pyrah
9. Evian Christ - FYTS
10. Jacques Greene - Dakou
11. Ghosting Season - A Muffled Sound of Voices (Alternate Version)
12. Truth - Don't Explain (Riskotheque & Marchmellow Remix)
13. Hot Chip - Look At Where We Are (Major Lazer vs. Junior Blender Remix)

New Music Mix - 15/6/12

DJ Cull's New Music Mix - 15/6/2012 by Dj Cull on Mixcloud

Here's the latest mix of music that's been clogging up my brain for the past few week. Press the play button to listen above, the tracklisting is below. If you've got any new music you think I should be listening to then please send it to me - one of the main points of this podcast is to introduce people to new artists that they might not have heard of before (as well as including a few more well known tracks). Enjoy!

1. Ghosting Season - Time Without Question (Russell.M.Harmon remix)
2. Fhloston Paradigm - Chasing Rainbows
3. Actress - Raven
4. Gold Panda - Financial District
5. Eliphino - Don't Make Sense
6. Luke Abbott - Modern Driveway
7. Mogwai - How to be a Werewolf (Xander Harris Remix)
8. Cakewalk - Glass
9. Lussuria - American Babylon
10. Gravenhurst - Fitzrovia
11. Seamus Fogarty - The Wind (Geese Remix)
12. Peaking Lights - Beautiful Son

Track of the Day: 'Lo Hi' by Peaking Lights

The first track to reach our ears from the forthcoming second album 'Lucifer' by Peaking Lights. The record is out on 18th June on Weird World Records and if this taster is anything to go buy it'll be a logical progression from their first release. 'Lo Hi' features dub rhythms, flutes, a child's voice and a whole host of other things designed to soothe your mind.

You can pre-order the album here.