New mixtape - DJ Cull presents The Lockdown Getdown

So we've all been stuck indoors now for far too long, but one of the upsides is some extra time to do stuff we might usually be too busy for. As well as reading tons of books and watching the whole of the Star Wars saga (including The Mandalorian, which I thought was great) I've got the mixing gear out again and made the mixtape above. It's mostly tracks from 2020 with a few new versions of older songs thrown into the mix - I just wanted to make something positive and upbeat to put a smile on your face and a beat for your feet. Here's the tracklisting:

1. Valentine - Violet Sky [Joe Goddard Remix]
2. Holy Fuck - Deleters (feat. Angus Andrew)[APRE Remix]
3. Basement Jaxx - Red Alert [The Cube Guys Remix]
4. Sonny Federa & King Henry - Before U (feat. AlunaGeorge)[Illyus & Barrientos Remix]
5. New Order - Fine Time [Nollan Remix]
6. Love Regenerator - Peace Love Happiness
7. Robbie Doherty & Keees - Pour The Milk [ExtendedMix]
8. Jacques Greene - Night Service (feat. Cadence Weapon)[Fort Romeau Remix]
9. Caribou - Never Come Back [Morgan Geist Remix]
10. Four Tet - Baby
11. Bicep - Atlas
12. Darkstar - Wolf [John Talabot's Euphoric Remix]

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.

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.

Remix of the Day: 'Tiny Cities feat. Beck (Lindstrom & Prins Thomas Remix)' by Flume

Swooping in on the wings of 2017, this 10 minute, uplifting and extremely danceable remix is sure to banish the January blues. Flume's star is really in the ascendancy at the moment and this will definitely help keep up the momentum.


I can't help but be reminded of 'Wide Open', the track that Beck did a couple of years ago that was my favourite song of 2015. In case you missed it, here's the Joe Goddard mix of that track for you to listen to.

Remix of the Day: 'White Crow (Erol Alkan Rework)' by Beyond The Wizards Sleeve

This is a really interesting one, as Erol Alkan, one half (with Richard Norris) of the duo Beyond The Wizards Sleeve, reworks his own track. The result is this fantastic electronic version, which surely deserves to be on a movie soundtrack someday soon. Just picture this on the soundtrack to Drive and you'll understand where I'm coming from with this.



There's actually been a set of really good remixes from the album 'The Soft Bounce', each one of which has come on different colour vinyl. They're well worth getting - not only do they look great but they put a different spin on the record, which made it to number ten on my albums of the year list here. Here's my set:

Remix of the Day: 'E.V.A. (Vessels Remix)' by Public Service Broadcasting

There's an album's worth of remixes coming from 'The Race for Space', including this lovely take on 'E.V.A.' by Vessels. I love the gently repetitive, quietly chugging guitar riff, mixed with the funky bass bursts. There are some interesting remixers lined up for the album, including Maps, Dutch Uncles and Field Music, so it should definitely be on your shopping list when it comes out in June.

Recommended music: 'Global Underground #41: James Lavelle presents UNKLE Sounds - Naples'

I must confess to being more than a bit disappointed with this when I first got it last year. This was mainly because, having paid £35 to buy the deluxe edition direct from Global Underground, I discovered that only got you the 2 full length mixes on the cd, and not the full individual tracks as well (I'm sure that wasn't what it said when I ordered it, and I'll come on to why I wanted them a bit later). And to be honest, the mixing on it isn't even all that great - there are some rather clunky transitions, the track ordering is a bit jarring in places, and overall I don't think it really works all that well as a DJ mix. So all that being said - why am I recommending it?

The truth is, you have to come at this from a different angle. It may not be a great mix cd, but what it is instead is a great document of James Lavelle, the records he's made, his collaborators and his remixes. At the start of this year I caved in and bought the download from Amazon, where for £9.99 you get 32 full length tracks and the 2 mixes. Even without the mixes that's 3 hours and 42 minutes of music, most of which Lavelle has at least a finger in, if not a whole hand. There are hard to find remixes, in particular 2 from the last Queens of the Stone Age album. There are tracks recorded live at UNKLE's Redux show at the Southbank in 2014. And there's a whole raft of UNKLE classics (which of course I've already got but are great to hear again). If you think you're not familiar with Lavelle's band then give this a listen and you'll realise that you know more than a few tracks. It's the closest thing there's been to an UNKLE greatest hits.

So ditch the deluxe edition, download the digital, and take a trip with UNKLE Sounds.

Remix of the Day: 'Montage Resolution (Truss Total XTC Remix)' by East India Youth

Taken from a new 3-track remix EP, this is a great way to round off the year and the success of the 'Culture of Volume' album by East India Youth. As well as this remix by Truss, the EP features versions by Blank Mass and Yosi Horakawa. I love the insistent, pounding rhythm of this and the fact that it keeps up all the way through the track.



You can stream or buy the whole EP here.

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.

Track of the Day: 'We All Fall Down (Jamie's Version)' by A-Trak & Jamie Lidell

An alternative version of A-Trak's new single, which is apparently closer to the original that they recorded before A-Trak mucked about with it. Showcasing Lidell's vocal ability to full effect, there's something a bit 80s about the production (in a good way), as well as the fact that the "you're only human" refrain is reminiscent of 'Human' by The Human League. This is quite possibly the track that could make a start out of Jamie Lidell, which in my mind would be no bad thing.

Remix of the Day: 'Ene Nyame (Henrik Schwarz Blend)' by Ebo Taylor & Pat Thomas

Somehow this passed me by until the other day, which unfortunately means I missed out on playing it every day in the summer. I shall remedy the situation by playing it every day in the winter instead, thereby giving myself a slice of sunshine through the dark months. This epic remix manages to skilfully combine Afrobeat and Highlife with house music to stunning effect - the moment the bass kicks in you won't want to listen to anything else for the rest of the day.

Remix of the Day: 'Here I Am (Wolfram Remix Edit)' by The Juan Maclean

Grab yourself a free download of this satisfying dark and moody piece of electronica. Sounding a bit like the soundtrack for some sci-fi blockbuster when it starts it soon heads for the dancefloor while still remaining rather menacing.

It's all up to the usual high DFA standards so have a listen and download below.

Recommended music: 'Meow The Jewels' by Run The Jewels

OK, so it started as a joke, a random suggestion that a cat-themed remix album could be crowd-funded to make it happen. Things snowballed (as they do on the internet) and pretty much a year after 'Run The Jewels 2' came out here we are. Along the way the project has picked up some major names from both sides of the pond - the remixes feature the likes of Boots, Dan The Automator, Zola Jesus, Geoff Barrow (from Portishead) and 3D (from Massive Attack).

The weirdest thing about this is that the inclusion of the cats doesn't make this a sweet sounding album. If anything they bring a really sinister, eerie feel to the tracks, may of which feel more menacing than in their original versions. This must definitely be the darkest cat-themed project ever born. Also, never has the line "lick my pussy real good" seemed more appropriate!

Better than it deserves to be? Miles better, and another step on the road to Jaime and Mike's well deserved world domination.

You can get the whole album for free here.

Remix of the Day: 'Never Die (Paul White Remix)' by Golden Rules feat. Freddie Gibbs & Yasiin Bey

This new version of the 'Golden Ticket' album track sees Golden Rules' rapper Eric Biddines trading rhymes with both Freddie Gibbs and Yasiin Bey (Mos Def). With a harder, piano-led backing and some tribal drums it takes up a darker vibe to the album version, making the struggle sound greater. Have a listen below and get hold of it from their Bandcamp site here.

Remix of the Day: 'Rainbow (Club)' by Romare

Out on Monday, this epic new version of one of the standout tracks on 'Projections' keeps the funky bassline but updates the 70s disco tribute to fit in today's clubs. I love the little snatches of piano at the start, the way the track builds with hints of vocals and then the bass kicks in to get you strutting across the floor. Take a listen below.

Remix of the Day: 'Teach Me (Château Marmont Remix)' by Joey Bada$$ feat. Kiesza

Fresh from France and fly as fuck, this sultry, sexy remix slows down the beat but turns up the heat. The dancefloor filler becomes a bedroom thriller as they change the mood and make 'dancing' a euphemism for a much more intimate behaviour. If you play this out in a club its hard to believe that people won't actually be having full on sex by the end of it, It's hot and horny as hell. Even better, you can download this slice of sexiness for free if you follow the link below.

Remix of the Day: 'I Wanna Know (Seven Davis Jr Midnight Remix)' by Beat Spacek

First released in February, 'Modern Streets' by Beat Spacek has just received the 'deluxe' treatment and is now available with three extra remixes. This choice version of 'I Wanna Know' comes courtesy of Seven Davis Jr, who looks set to become one of 2015's stars himself. He sprinkles his dub-funky magic over the track to make it even more of a winner.



You can get the deluxe version in all the usual places, but the best is here at Ninja Tune.

Track of the Day: 'Out The Trunk (Remix) feat. Busta Rhymes' by Fashawn

Freshly remixed from his great album 'The Ecology', this track from Fashawn now comes with an added dose of Busta Rhymes. "Turn the volume up and bang it out the trunk" are the instructions, and that's really all you need to do - it's a monster of a track so just turn it up and let it loose in your neighbourhood. You can get a free download by following the link below.

Austerity Audio 2015.4

It's been longer than it should have been since the last Austerity Audio mixtape, so thanks for hanging on in there patiently. Here's the latest instalment, 10 diverse tracks to stimulate your ears.

As per the usual modus operandi, each of these tracks is available for free (and legal download) from within the wonders of the internet. You might have to search harder for some than others, but that's part of the fun. And if you find something you like then why not spend a few pence or cents on actually buying one of that artist's tracks...it seems only fair since you've got these 10 for free. To download the mixtape just right-click on the picture above, or left-click to just kick back and listen to it. Here's the tracklisting:

1. When Will I Stop Dreaming - Cadenza (feat. Kiko Bun & Loyle Carner)
2. Belong To The World - Oddisee
3. 2Shy (Warpaint Remix) - Shura
4. Ariam (Bizzeea Remix) - Eskimo Twins
5. Lighthouse (Daedelus Remix) - Bass Sekolah
6. Clean (Chris Allen Remix) - The Acid
7. God It - De La Soul feat. Nas
8. Total Recall - Dfalt
9. Planes (Remix) - Jeremih feat. Chance The Rapper
10. Vernon - Show Me The Body