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.

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:

New mixtape: 2013 - The Memory Mix

Lovingly compiled over the past few weeks, this is a summation of my musical year. I've collected a host of tracks that represent my favourite singles and albums, bands I saw live, stuff I bought on Record Store Day and things that have made an impression on me in 2013. In terms of structure, there's no order other than the order in which I thought they sounded best! Of course, it's not just thrown together, so it's no coincidence that Arcade Fire (with David Bowie on backing vocals & produced by James Murphy) follows Murphy's remix of Bowie's track. Or that the Serafina Steer track (produced by Jarvis Cocker) comes after Pulp's 'After You'. You can listen via Mixcloud below or (if you promise not to tell anyone) scroll down to the bottom of the page to download the whole mix for free.

2013 - The Memory Mix by Dj Cull on Mixcloud

I hope you enjoy listening to this and that it brings back some good memories of 2013. Play it while you're wrapping your presents, or cooking the turkey, and you'll soon be bouncing round the room. Right, let's bring on 2014!

Tracklisting:

1. These New Puritans - This Guys In Love With You
2. The Society - 14 Hours
3. Arctic Monkeys - Do I Wanna Know?
4. The Child of Lov - Give Me
5. Lorde - Royals
6. Steve Mason - Fight Them Back
7. Kanye West - Black Skinhead
8. Paul White - Watch The Ants
9. David Bowie - Love Is Lost (Hello Steve Reich Mix by James Murphy)
10. Arcade Fire - Reflektor
11. Daniel Avery - Drone Logic
12. Koreless - Sun
13. Gold Panda - If U Knew (Reprise Long Live Take)
14. William Onyeabor - Good Name (Joakim Remix)
15. Pulp - After You (Soulwax Remix)
16. Serafina Steer - Disco Compilation
17. Pet Shop Boys - Vocal
18. Jon Hopkins - Open Eye Signal
19. Holden - Gone Feral
20. Major Lazer - Jah No Partial
21. Public Service Broadcasting - Signal 30
22. Drenge - Bloodsports
23. Queens of the Stone Age - My God is the Sun
24. Beak> - Mono
25. Seams - Rilo
26. Sinkane - Jeeper Creeper (Benjamin Damage Remix)
27. Moon Duo - Trails (White Rainbow Remix)
28. Bon Iver - Hinnom, TX (Unders Remix)
29. Villagers - The Waves
30. Ghostpoet - Meltdown (Squarepusher Remix)
31. Dan le Sac vs Scroobius Pip - You Will See Me
32. Mount Kimbie - You Took Your Time (Oneman Remix feat. Jeremiah Jae)
33. British Sea Power - Machineries of Joy
34. Teleman - Cristina
35. Vondelpark - California Analog Dream
36. The National - I Need My Girl
37. Thundercat - Heartbreaks + Setbacks
38. Oddisee - Own Appeal
39. Primal Scream - River of Pain
40. London Grammar - Strong
41. Daughter - Get Lucky
42. Indians - Somewhere Else
43. Haiku Salut - Los Elefantes 
44. Lapalux - Without You (feat. Kerry Leatham)
45. Adam Stafford - Please
46. Blaenavon - Denim Patches
47. Dean Blunt - Papi
48. Son Lux - Easy
49. James Blake - Retrograde
50. Apparat - K&F Thema

To download the whole mix right click HERE.

New podcast - Austerity Audio vol. 13

It's Friday 13th, and it's my 13th (and last) Austerity Audio podcast for 2013 - it just had to have 13 tracks on it.

You know the score by now - all of these tracks have been legally downloaded for free from the internet in the past few weeks, and bundled together for you to download in one go above (just right-click and 'save as' on the picture above). There's a wide range of genres and artists included (the tracklist is below) so there should be something for everyone's tastes. All I ask is that if you find something you really like then you spend a few pence to buy one or two of their tracks.

Austerity Audio will be back in 2014, but in the meantime I hope you have a happy festive period - see you all next year!

1. Barbados - In Your Eyes
2. Serengeti - Sprung (w/Doseone)
3. Pontiak - Innocence
4. Milagres - The Letterbomb
5. Chrome Sparks - Lookin' At Me
6. William Onyeabor - Something You'll Never Forget (Policy remix)
7. Orchestra of Spheres - 2000000 Years
8. Friends - The Way (Blood Orange mix)
9. Dudley Perkins - Hearing Test (feat. Percee P)
10. Grizzly Bear - Will Calls (Diplo remix)
11. Nils Frahm - You (Teen Daze remix)
12. Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds - The Mercy Seat (live from KCRW)
13. Savaging Spires - We Could Be Dead Together

Losing My Edge with DJ Cull & friends - the radio show

A few weeks ago I did my first proper radio broadcast on Show Full of Bombs radio. I was ably assisted by Lee Maher (from the band Weird Gear), and between us we bounced a load of tracks of each other, hopefully for the entertainment and education of anyone listening. Although we had a few technical problems it was great fun to do, so here's the podcast for you to listen to, with the tracklisting below.

Losing My Edge with DJ Cull & friends - 24/11/2012 by Dj Cull on Mixcloud

1. LCD Soundsystem - Losing My Edge
2. Charlotte Gainsbourg - Trick Pony (Boyz Noize mix)
3. William Onyeabor - Good Name (Joakim remix)
4. Daniel Avery - Drone Logic
5. Grizzly Bear - Will Calls (Diplo remix)
6. Moodoid - Je Suis La Montagne
7. Rotifer - Black Bag
8. Fidlar - Wake Bake Skate
9. Cloud - Boy Sees Mirror
10. The Superman Revenge Squad Band - A Funny Thing You Said
11. Klaus Johan Grobe - Koordinaten
12. Trentemøller - Gravity (feat. Jana Hunter)
13. Swim Deep - Honey
14. Gold Panda - If U Knew (Reprise Long Live Take)
15. Death Grips - Get Got
16. Marijuana Deathsquads - Top Down
17. Dizzee Rascal - I Don't Need A Reason
18. Oddisee - Own Appeal
19. Yelle - Ce Jeau
20. John Grant & Villagers - My Love My Life
21. David Bowie - Love Is Lost (Hello Steve Reich mix by James Murphy)

New podcast - Austerity Audio vol. 10

So we've got to the tenth one of these podcasts - that's over 100 great tracks that I've shared with you since I started this back in May.

To download the podcast for free, just right-click on the picture above and save the file. If you'd rather just listen to it then left-click and you should hear the 10 great tracks listed below. As usual, if you hear something that you like then all I ask is that you spend a few pence buying a track or two from that artists next time you have a some spare change. Here are the details of this week's tracks:

1. Chrome Sparks - Your Planet
2. Phoenix - Chloroform (Sleigh Bells Remix)
3. Oddisee - Own Appeal
4. Koett - Lost Time (Sau Poler Remix)
5. Sampha - Without (Bodhi Remix)
6. Roman Remains - This Stone Is Starting To Bleed
7. Eaux - New Peaks (Tuff Sherm Remix)
8. Le Thug - Tenerife
9. Policy - In A Huff With Tantrums
10. Fuzz - Loose Sutures

New podcast - Austerity Audio vol. 9

Another instalment in my semi-regular series of free music podcasts. As usual there's a massive range of genres covered in the 10 tracks, proving that there really are only two sorts of music - good music and bad music. Hopefully you'll agree we've got the good stuff here.

Each of these 10 tracks has been legally downloaded for free over the past couple of weeks. The idea of these podcasts it to highlight new music to you, so that if you like it you'll go out and buy a track or two from some of the artists - you get good music, they get some money, and the world's a better place to be. To download the podcast just right-click on the picture above. Here's this week's tracklist:

1. Lomaji - The Show
2. Sidi Toure - Ay Hora : My Dance
3. This Frontier Needs Heroes - No More War
4. Samantha Crain - For The Miner
5. Cuushe - Butterfly (Kidsuke Remix)
6. Date Palms - Sky Trails
7. Cloud Boat - Amber Road (The Haxan Cloak Remix)
8. Dustin Wong - Liberal Christian Youth Ministry
9. The Superman Revenge Squad Band - A Funny Thing You Said
10. Sisters - Clearhead

Recommended music: 'Wash The Sins Not Only The Face (Remixes)' by Esben And The Witch

I've always felt that E&TW have somewhat under-performed. A good band, full of energy live, their records always seems to have just a little something lacking, as if they're holding back on what they really want to be. There's nothing disappointing about this package of remixes that they've just made available to download for free though. Full of intriguing twists and turns, although they're done by 6 different people they really go together well as a set, each one bringing out a different facet of the band's character. It's hard to pick a favourite, the first and last (by Maps and Teeth Of The Sea respectively) would probably top my list, but really there are no bad apples here.

Listen to the full set and grab the mixes for the price of an email address below.

New podcast - Austerity Audio vol. 3

It's been a few weeks since the last one, due to the fact that my laptop was in the menders for 10 days. Because of that I've forgotten where some of these tracks actually came from - the rules are still the same though, each one has been downloaded free and legally from the internet.

Left click on the picture to listen to the podcast, or right click to download it for free. It's another genre-hopping selection that should prove to you that there's good free music out there for you, whatever style you're into. And remember - if you hear something you really like then why not buy a track or two from that artist next time you have some spare cash - everyone needs to make a living.

1. Yong Yong - Bzzzr (available on Soundcloud)
2. Paul White - Watch The Ants
3. The Jet Age Of Tomorrow - De-Generic (from The Jellyfish Mentality bonus tracks EP)
4. Hodgy Beats - Years (from the new EP, get it on the Odd Future site)
5. Fenech-Soler - Magnetic (Sane Beats Remix) (available on Soundcloud)
6. Rustie - Slasherr (Flume Edit)
7. Grumbling Fur - Dancing Light
8. Thunder Tracks - Graffiti (available on Soundcloud)
9. Old Pretender - I'm Alright
10. White Hills - Forever In Space (Enlightened) (details here)

New podcast - Austerity Audio vol. 1

In these cash strapped times we all need a helping hand to make our pounds / dollars / yen / whatever stretch a little further. So what could be better than a free downloadable podcast featuring 10 new music tracks? Not much eh? So here you go, the first in what I hope will be a fairly regular series of podcasts that you can download to the music device of your choice and listen at your convenience.

There are only 2 rules I'll use in compiling these: 1) The music must be free and 2) it must be good. There are no restrictions on genre or style, so expect a good mix of ideas. Each of these tracks has been culled from the internet for free over the past week or so from purely legal sources - in the majority of cases that means they've been given away by the artist or their label. If you want to get hold of any of the tracks individually I've put some pointers below, or a quick search of t'internet should turn them up for you. I'll just ask one favour from you - if you really like anything here then next time you have a few pounds to spare why not buy something from that artist? We're all in the same boat, so let's share some music, share some love, and make the world a better place. To grab the download just right-click on the picture above and save the file (drop me an email if you have any problems using the contact box in the sidebar). If you'd rather just listen to it then left-click and you'll be able to play it.

Here's the tracklisting:

1. Ryan Hemsworth - All Our Thoughts Are Physical (from his new EP 'Stay Alive' click here for details)
2. Yadi - Unbreakable (Mo Laudi Remix) (available on Soundcloud)
3. Slugabed - BomBok (from his new EP 'This Is A Warning' click here for details)
4. French Kiwi Juice - Lying Together (available on Soundcloud)
5. Weval - The Most (David Douglas Remix)
6. Indians - I Am Haunted (Jason Lytle Remix)
7. Pure X - Somewhere Else (available on Soundcloud)
8. Mathew Sawyer - Feeeeling (click here for details)
9. Four Tet - Unspoken (promo version) (available on Soundcloud)
10. Denai More - Gone (available on Soundcloud)

Record Store Day 2013 - the podcast

OK, so I finally got round to making a podcast / cloudcast / mixtape / whatever of some of my favourite purchases from this year's Record Store Day (you can read my write-up of the day here). Just click on the rather large 'Play' button below to listen, the tracklist follows after the jump.

Record Store Day 2013 by Dj Cull on Mixcloud

1. Public Service Broadcasting - New Dimensions In Sound
2. The Wedding Present - 425 Fidelio (German version)
3. Moon Duo - Sleepwalker (Zombie Zombie Remix)
4. Elliott Smith - Angeles (alternate version)
5. Paul Weller - Flame-Out!
6. Moon Duo - I Been Gone (Life Coach Remix)
7. Public Service Broadcasting - Signal 30
8. Beak> - Welcome To The Machine
9. Sinkane - Jeeper Creeper (Benjamin Damage Remix)
10. Moon Duo - Trails (White Rainbow Remix)
11. Mercury Rev - Pick Up, If You're There (DJ Nickel 1998 Remix)
12. Moby & Mark Lanegan - The Lonely Night (Photek Remix)
13. Ghostpoet - Meltdown
14. Grizzly Bear - Sleeping Ute (Nicolas Jaar Remix)

New music: 'Second Summer (RAC and Ben Aqua remixes) by Yacht

Here's your chance to grab a couple of free remixes of the latest single by Yacht, courtesy of the ever-lovely DFA Records. The two mixes are quite different, personally I prefer the RAC one but they're both worth a listen and they suit the sunny weather vibe.

Recommended music: 'Elemental Themes (DJ Cull's Music Non Stop Mix) by Chrome Canyon

Regular readers will know how much I live 'Elemental Themes', and the remix album that came out this year gave some new perspectives on some of the tracks. It also gave me the inspiration for this - a non-stop mix of my favourite bits from both versions of the record, with some bits of film dialogue thrown in for good measure. Have a listen below (the download option is disabled for now, unless Morgan or Stones Throw give me the nod to set it free on the world). I had great fun making this - I hope you have as much fun listening to it.

Recommended music: 'Circles Remixed' by Moon Duo

From the moment that the needle touches the vinyl and an eerie space noise starts to emerge, you know that this is going to be a good record. Pressed especially for Record Store Day 2013 by Souterrain Transmissions and limited to 1,000 copies, the album features eight of the original nine tracks from 'Circles', each remixed by a different artist. And despite the fact that the mixes have been done in isolation and are pretty diverse in styles the album really works as one piece and gives a totally different perspective. Side 2 has definitely got the more experimental mixes on it  (from Sun Araw and Eric Copeland (Black Dice)) but there's nothing too 'challenging' on here.

If you can still find one in your local record emporium then snap it up quickly. It's definitely one of the best things I bought on Saturday (click here for my report on the day and full list of purchases) so grab it while you can. Here's the full tracklisting, after which you can download (for free!) possibly the best track on the album, the White Rainbow mix of 'Trails'.

1. Free Action - Tom Furse (of The Horrors) mix
2. Trails - White Rainbow Trail Blazer edition
3. Sleepwalker - Zombie Zombie mix
4. I Been Gone - Life Coach mix
5. I Can See - K-X-P live mix
6. Ville Cranian (Circles) - Sun Araw mix
7. Sparks - Eric Copeland mix
8. Rolling Out - Umberto mix

Recommended music: Mogwai / Bill Wells & Aidan Moffat Record Store Day 2013 7"

This is definitely one of the best things that I bought on Saturday from Rough Trade East. Aidan Moffat (in his L.Pierre guise) remixes 'Special N' from Mogwai's current album, the soundtrack to the French TV show Les Revenants. In return Plasmatron from Mogwai casts his magic of 'The Copper Top', one of the best tracks from Wells & Moffat's 'Everything's Getting Older' album. It gets bonus points from me for being pressed on white vinyl too.

If you didn't join a queue outside a record shop on Saturday then it's unlikely that you'll be able to get one of these, but you can listen to the two tracks below, and if you haven't already then you should buy both of the albums that the originals came from.

Recommended music: 'Elemental Themes Remixes' by Chrome Canyon

Regular readers of this blog or my twitter feed will know how much I loved last year's Chrome Canyon album 'Elemental Themes' (you can read my review here). It's a record that I probably would never have heard without the Stones Throw Drip.fm subscription service, so I'll be eternally grateful to them for sending it through.

Now, less than a year later, there's a set of remixes of 5 tracks from the album which breathe new life into it and take the music in some different directions. Probably my favourite of all is the track that opens the album, Gavin Russom's remix of 'Branches' but really, there's not a duff version on here. From Airbird's vocal version of Branches through to Peaking Lights' closer, a great version of 'Chasing The Dead', each remixer brings something different to the party - you only have to listen to the two very different versions of 'Memories of a Scientist' by Saarid and Matthew David that are placed together here to see what diverse sounds you can end up with when you start with the same track.

If I have any complaint at all with this it's that only 5 of the tracks have been remixed - I'd like to hear remixes of everything. If there were 8 or 10 different tracks on here it could almost be approaching the first (and seminal) remix album 'Love and Dancing' by The Human League - in fact with a bit of tweaking the Thomas Barfod remix of 'Carfire of the Highway' could even fit on that record.

You can hear some of the tracks from the album below, and even download the Peaking Lights remix for free.

New Music: 'California Analog Dream (Factory Floor Remix)' by Vondelpark

I must admit to being a bit worried about what this would sound like - the original is one of my favourite tracks so far this year, and Factory Floor aren't exactly well known for their sensitive remixes. As trepidatious as I was, somehow the marriage of the two works. There's not a great deal of the original left apart from the vocals, but it's an interesting take on the track.

For comparison, I've also included the Bullion mix of the track below so you can hear two completely different versions - there's much more of the original in this one but it's still pretty different from the album version. Both tracks are on the single which was released this week on R & S Records.

New music: 'Yard Sale' EP by Torus

To celebrate their first birthday Sonic Router Records are giving away this five track EP from Torus, featuring 3 new tracks and 2 remixes (it's actually one of those name your own price deals, so you can oay for it if you want to).

The first couple of tracks are menacing slow-burners, while the 3rd one 'Shallow Depth' picks up the pace and the beat to become something of a dancefloor botherer. '2mrrw' is my pick of the bunch, but they're all good, so have a listen and grab it if you like it.

Choice Cuts #7 2013

DJ Cull's Choice Cuts #7 by Dj Cull on Mixcloud

Here's the latest crop of new-ish music that I'm listening to at the moment - I had a big pile of tracks to choose from, but these are the one that went best together, so you may well get another one before the week is out. Just click on the play button above to listen, here are the track details:

1. Lapalux - Without You (feat. Kerry Leatham) - new single, also on the forthcoming album 'Nostalchic'
2. The xx - Angels (Four Tet remix)
3. Peaking Lights - Dream Beat (Cole MGN Dreamix) - from the 'Lucifer Re-Lit' EP
4. Laura Mvula - Green Garden (Farm Remix) - free download here
5. Tricky - Nothing's Changed (feat. Francesca Belmonte) - free download here
6. Woman's Hour - To The End (Boxed In Remix) - free download here
7. John Grant - Why Don't You Love Me (Bon Homme RMX) - from the new album 'Pale Green Ghosts'
8. Crow 44 - If You're Feeling Down (Part 2) - new out on Stones Throw Records
9. Cloud Boat - Wanderlust - new single out now
10. The Lions - More Higher Ways (feat. Black Shakespeare & Malik Moore) - from the new album 'This Generation'
11. Frank Ocean - Super Rich Kids (Bird Peterson's Way Too Sexy Remix) - free download here

Choice Cuts #6 2013

DJ Cull's Choice Cuts #6 by Dj Cull on Mixcloud

Ten more brilliant new tracks for you to soak up. Just click on the play button to listen, the full track details are below:

1. Ghostpoet - MSI MUSMID - click here for free download
2. Marijuana Deathsquads - Top Down (free download of the week on this blog)
3. Yunioshi - Tanlines - new single, click here for details
4. Daniel Avery - Drone Logic (Factory Floor / Gabe Gurnsey Remix) - new single out now
5. Bon Iver - Hinnom, TX (Unders Remix) - click here for details
6. FaltyDL - She Sleeps (2000Black Remix) - from the new single out now
7. The Crystal Ark - Rain - click here for free download
8. Laura Mvula - Green Garden (Karma Kid Remix) - click here for free download
9. Apparat - K&F Thema - from the excellent Krieg und Frieden album, click here for details
10. Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - Higgs Boson Blues (from the new album 'Push The Sky Away')