Friday Threeway

Here it is - a new regular feature (I hope)!

Each week I'll add 3 new(ish) tracks to this playlist, with a bit of blah about each one. As I missed out on posting this last week, the first one is a bumper double edition, featuring the following tracks:

• Liam Gallagher & John Squire - Just Another Rainbow. Anything that gives us a chance to hear the majestic Squire letting rip on a guitar again is alright by me, especially if it ends up sounding like The Beatles meeting The Stone Roses, and then accidentally bumping into Led Zeppelin
• The Smile - Friend of a Friend. A track that sounds more like Radiohead than a lot of Radiohead's later output, it makes you wonder how the other three must feel about it
• Fat Dog - All The Same. Newly signed to Heavenly Records, who rarely put a foot wrong. From reviews of the band live this wasn't what I was expecting, but it's a riot
• Biig Piig - Watch Me. Breathy vocals over hard-edged beats? Sign me up.
• Antony Szmierek - Dance Better (Ell Murphy Remix) - remixed from his 2023, this track from the former teacher turned Streets-esque poet/rapper is a really upbeat tune you can't help but sing along with
• Sprints - Heavy. If you're looking for a track to rock your socks off, this song does exactly what it says on the tin

New band of the day: JOHN

Fresh from a European tour slot supporting IDLES, this noisy two-piece look set to start making waves in the UK. Hailing from Crystal Palace, two guys, both called John, have come together to bring you a sounds that's much larger and rounded than you would imagine from 4 arms and 4 legs. Adding some thoughtful lyrics to the their meaty, bouncy rock ensures that this duo should rise above their peers. Apparently they're awesome live too so get yourself along to one of their shows, and in the meantime have a listen to their debut album 'God Speed in the National Limit' below.

Recommended music: 'The Road: Part 1' by UNKLE

It's no secret that I'm a massive fan of UNKLE, but that doesn't mean that I think everything they've put out has been an unqualified success. In particular the last album 'Where Does The Night Fall' suffered from having too many guest vocalists and a lack of a single vision or theme - to me it didn't really know what it wanted to be which meant in reality it really wasn't much at all.

I'm pleased to say that's not the case with 'The Road: Part 1' though.With the exception of Mark Lanegan there are no real 'starry' guests - instead Lavelle chooses to work here with a pool of singers he's been using for some years now, to much greater effect. On a number of tracks they - Elliott Power, Eska, Mink - share the vocals which adds to the ensemble feel of the record. And while there are number of different types of UNKLE on display here - instrumental soundtrack UNKLE, deep beats UNKLE, rock band UNKLE - there's a cohesiveness to this album that's been lacking in the past. It's a cliche but 'The Road' does feel like something of a journey, and it least on here all of the participants are travelling in the same direction.



Mostly Lavelle's desire to front a rock band is kept in check, in favour of strings, some dark electronics and more sombre, more atmospheric tunes (although the Elliott Power-led songs do now make it sound like he wants to front Massive Attack instead). We can forgive him his moment on the mic on 'Nowhere To Run / Bandits', even if it does prove he's a better producer than lyricist. The tracks that have been around for a while - 'Cowboys or Indians' for example - fit well with the ones we've not heard before, and show that he's been thinking about this release as a whole items rather than just a collection of tracks he's gathered over the past 5 years.



It's clear that this record means a lot to Lavelle, particularly in the way he's packaged it and tried to present it almost as an art project rather than just a record - and as a result of this care and attention he's given us a record that's up there with UNKLE's finest output. I can only hope that there's a 'Part 2' and we don't have to wait as long for it as we did for 'Part 1'.

Track of the Day: 'War Is Coming (If You Want It)' by Car Seat Headrest

"This is a song about not murdering people"

It's great to have a new Car Seat Headrest track to listen to, especially one as pertinent to our times as this one.Will Toledo's lyrics are bang on - "Last night I dreamed you'd murdered some kids" he sings, "If it has been on TV I would've changed the channel".

The world needs more songs like this and more bands like Car Seat Headrest, and less fuckwits like Donald Trump and Theresa May. That's just my opinion of course, but you and I both know it's true.

Listen and buy the track below.

Recommended music: 'Midnight Versions' by Roosevelt

Having seen Roosevelt as a support band (I can't remember who for) I was keen to give this EP a try when I saw it. It really hits the spot, sounding like a long-lost collection of remixes from the 80s (which I'm all for). Each track is allowed to extend and get its groove on, and I particularly like all the percussion sounds which sound exactly like a lot of my favourite 80s tracks. From the starting funky bass of 'Close' (a track which reminds me of a slowed-down version of George Benson's 'Gimme The Night') through the electro-pop of 'Night Moves' and the congas and house-piano of 'Colours' and finishing with synth and guitar-led 'Wait Up', it's a glorious ride through the sunshine of the past.

You can stream the whole EP and get it on a 'pay what you want' deal below.

Track of the Day: 'Say What You Want' by Andrew Hung

Andrew Hung is increasingly branching out from his role as half of electronic duo Fuck Buttons. Lately he's co-written and produced the excellent 'Kidsticks' by Beth Orton, released a couple of EPs and also recorded the soundtrack to the polarising movie 'The Greasy Strangler'. Next up in October will be his own solo album, which you might be surprised to find features vocals from Andrew himself. Even Andrew is not entirely sure what to make of the vocals, having said "Yes, it's me, but it's not me. I see an oscillation between myself and the character of the album".

The first track from 'Realisationship' is 'Say What You Want', which contains some Talking Heads rhythms and a mantra-like vocal that will get stuck in your head for weeks. The album is out on October 6th through Lex Records.

Record Store Day 2017

It's hard to believe that today is the 10th anniversary of Record Store Day. I think I might've missed the first one or two, then spent a number of years making unfeasibly early train trips to Rough Trade East, before South Records opened in Southend and became my local 'go-to' store.

This morning I arrived at around 6.20 a.m. and took the coveted 10th spot in the queue, with my purchase list in one hand and flask of coffee in the other. My good spot led to a few phone calls with friends to see if there was anything I could grab for them, which helped to pass the time and to distract from the fact that it had started to rain.

8 o'clock rolled round soon enough, and the entry to the shop was a much more civilized affair this year, with numbers in and out controlled to avoid a mad scramble of arms and legs at the record racks. So thanks to Richard and the team for doing a great job of looking after their customers.

My records were bagged in one of the special edition Fred Perry tote bags and I was soon back on my way home to start spinning the vinyl. Here's what I bought this year:

1. Polica - 'Lipstick Stains'; white vinyl 7"
2. British Sea Power - 'Keep On Trying / Bad Bohemian'; pink vinyl 7"
3. The The - 'We Can't Stop What's Coming'; etched 7"
4. Elbow - 'August & September (The The cover)'; etched 7"
5. Swet Shop Boys - 'Sufi La'; white vinyl 12"
6. Prince - 'Pop Life'; 12"
7. Prince - 'Sign O' The Times'; 12"
8. Follakzoid feat. J. Spaceman - 'London Sessions'; 12"
9. Primal Scream - 'Mixomatosis'; 12"
10. BP Fallon & David Holmes - 'Henry McCullough (Andrew Weatherall mix); white & brown splatter 12"
11. David Bowie - 'No Plan EP'; blue vinyl etched 12"
12. The Atomic Bomb Band - 'Plays The Music of William Onyeabor'; 12" album
13. Maximo Park - 'Risk To Exist'; red & yellow splatter vinyl 12" album
14. David Bowie - 'Cracked Actor'; triple vinyl 12" album
15. Various Artists: Oxfam Presents - 'Stand As One - Live at Glastonbury 2016'; one red & one green 12" vinyl album

I know some people are a bit snobby about Record Store Day and yes, it is commercialised to a degree, and people should support their local shops all year round, but if this gets new people into those shops I'm all for it. Long may it continue!

Video of the Day: 'Silurian Blue' by Floating Points

Floating Points have a new video / album project on the way entitled 'Reflections - Mojave Desert'. Filmed by Anna Diaz Ortuno, it was recorded last August while the band were rehearsing for the US tour, when the desert became a unique recording environment for them.

The album is due for release on 30th June, and from it comes 'Silurian Blue', a fantastic journey through instrumental jazz and prog-rock themes. I'm imagining the whole project might turn out to be a like a modern day version of Pink Floyd's 'Live at Pompeii' film - which is no bad thing.

Video of the Day: 'Aaja (feat. Ali Sethi)' by Swet Shop Boys

The new video from Swet Shop Boys tells the age-old tale of love from different sides of the tracks - in this case Flushing, Queens and Coney Island, Brooklyn. This song has an insanely catchy hook which will stick in your brain for days.

Coincidentally this video has been released on the day that Riz Ahmed gave a lecture on diversity to the UK Parliament.

Remix of the Day: 'Your Maker (Daddy G Remix)' by Gonjasufi

Having called Massive Attack 'one of the most influential groups of all time'. Gonjasufi was honoured to have Daddy G remix the opening track from his recent album 'Callus'. It's a great job too, making the track both more tuneful and more insistent, amping up the threat. You can listen to it below or click here for a free download.

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.

Recommended music: 'Life & Livin' It' by Sinkane

The new album from Sinkane is here, and it's by far their best yet. Informed by an extensive touring schedule, both as themselves and as part of the Atomic Bomb! William Onyeabor project, it successfully mixes the African rhythms of 'Mars' with the more mature lyrics and r'n'b grooves on 'Mean Love' to deliver a satisfying journey through the human experience.

Most of the record was recorded live by the band playing together, and you can feel the warmth and unity that provides to the tracks. the lyrics meanwhile encourage positivity and togetherness, as message that is sorely needed in these troubled times. "If we illuminate ourselves we'll overcome" Ahmed sings on 'U'Huh', "Kulu shi tamaam", which is an Arabic phrase meaning 'everything is ok'.



Possibly my favourite song on the record is, ironically, 'Favorite Song', a song inspired by Ahmed's dj sets and that moment where you put a record on that everyone knows and loves.

Elsewhere there are disco grooves on 'Telephone' and some heavier afro-caribbean vibes on 'Theme from Life & Livin' It', while the whole album is underpinned by an infectious feeling of friendship and goodness.



If you haven't seen Sinkane live then do your best to catch them on this tour - I've seen them 4 times now and each time I've left the venue with a smile on my face, their enthusiasm and joy is infectious.

'Life & Livin' It' is out on February 10th on City Slang.

Track of the Day: 'Coma' by Ghost Culture

This hypnotic dance groove is the lead track from Ghost Culture's new EP 'Nucleus, which will be out on 24th February through Phantasy Records. It's a proper head-nodder, with a really positive feel and also a particular sound every now and then that reminds me of 'Blue Monday'. Have a listen below, and pre-order the vinyl here.

Recommended music: 'Yesterday's Gone' by Loyle Carner

It's been more than 2 years since I first wrote about Loyle Carner in this blog. In that time he's gradually built up a solid following, playing bigger and bigger shows, been mentioned in the BBC 'Sound of' list, opened a cooking school for kids with ADHD (from which he himself suffers) and has now released his debut album, the brilliant 'Yesterday's Gone'.

It's clear from the opening bars of 'The Isle of Arran' that this is no ordinary rap album. A track about a remote Scottish island featuring a gospel choir, it's not exactly a track about gangs and bitches is it?



That's the wonder of this whole record - it manages to be the authentic sound of British rap without resorting to cliches and lowest common denominator lyrics. Who else would write lyrics about his imaginary sister? Or would write about his parents with such love and warmth, including a poem from his mum and a track by his step-dad who dies last year? Even on the more traditional kind of track 'No CD' he manages to enthuse about the emotional attachments to old records - "Pretty ancient plastic discs of greatness that your parents used to play with" and "The crackle of the vinyl, sweet onto repeat" in a way that belies his youth.



This is singularly the most truthful and honest rap record that I've ever heard. It's not afraid to deal with the most complex of human emotions and it doesn't feel the need to be full of swaggering bravado. It celebrates our frailties as well as our successes, and for that it will always have a place in my heart.



'Yesterday's Gone' is out now on AMF Records, and the tour to support the album starts tonight in Dublin - full details here.

DJ Cull presents January Jams

It's the last day of January so here's a mix of the tracks I've listened to most this month. Hopefully I'll do one every month and then it will make the selection of my 'Best Of 2017' tracks much easier at the end of the year! Here's the tracklisting:

1. Beyond The Wizards Sleeve - White Crow (Erol Alkan Rework)
2. sir Was - Falcon
3. Loyle Carner - The Isle of Arran
4. Thundercat - Drunk (feat. Michael McDonald & Kenny Loggins)
5. Sinkane - U'Huh
6. Romare - All Night
7. Matthew Dear - Wrong With Us
8. The xx - On Hold
9. Run The Jewels - Talk To Me

Recommended music: 'Occult Architecture Vol. 1' by Moon Duo

2017 will see the release of Moon Duo's fourth album 'Occult Architecture', split across two volumes, the first of which is out on February 3rd. Celebration the hidden patterns and connections embedded into life, having two separate volumes signifies the light/dark, day/night and yin/yang of everything.

So what do we get on Volume 1? You may already have heard the driving, pounding riffs on lead single 'Cold Fear', a track that gnaws at your bones like some psychedlic horror-trip soundtrack.


This album spreads its wings wider than that. There's the fast-paced, electro-riffing of 'Cross-Town Fade' which reminds me A LOT of 'Love Missile F1-11' by Sigue Sigue Sputnik - the video for that is below in case you've never heard it.



'Cult of Moloch' is a glam-rock stomp through child sacrifice, while 'Will of the Devil' is a much more open and straightforward 80s type of track. Closer 'White Rose' is the album's epic Krautrock moment, complete with motorik drum beat and phased guitars, and gives you a full ten and a half minutes to lose yourself in an alternative musicverse.

It will be interesting to see how 'Volume 2' differs when it's released later in the year, but for now this is a suitably dark and wintry half of the story.

Video of the Day: 'Hallelujah Money (feat. Benjamin Clematine)' by Gorillaz

They're back - and it's about time! Damon Albarn loves a political comment, so what better time to release this scathing attack on capitalism than on the eve of the inauguration of President Donald fucking Trump. Featuring the beautiful vocals of Clemantine as well as some input from Albarn himself, it's a more mature sounding Gorillaz (for all the Spongebob Squarepants featuring video in the background). Let's hope for much more like this from him as 2017 rolls on.

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.

Remix of the Day: 'Utopia (Jana Hunter Remix)' by Austra

'Utopia' is the first track from 'Future Politics', the new Austra album which is released on January 20th. Here Jana Hunter (Lower Dens) remixes it, and in doing so she somehow make me thing of Eurythmics. It's definitely got an 80s vibe to it, have a listen and see what you think.

Track of the Day: 'Wrong With Us' by Matthew Dear

Created in collaboration with Simian Mobile Disco, this is Dear's state of the nation address over a deep and dark house groove. "As time marches on I don't know what else I can do" he sings, "maybe something's wrong with us". Unfortunately he's probably right.

This track is featured on Dear's forthcoming DJ-Kicks collection which is out on January 27th through !K7.