Video of the Day: 'Block 9: Temporary Alternative Realities'

Continuing with the Glastonbury theme from earlier, here's a fantastic 30 minute film about the Block 9 late night area in the South East / Naughty Corner are of the site.

If you've never been to Glastonbury but think you know it from what's shown on TV then think again - imagine stumbling into this area at 1 in the morning and just seeing what you can find. If you ave been then you'll know how impressively constructed the area is, and what a great vibe you can find here.

Recommended music: 'Algiers' by Algiers

Like some futuristic imagined nightmare of 23rd century slavery, the debut album from Algiers bridges old time gospel music, protest songs. blues, soul and sampling to create an ominous, brooding vision of what we might become. The twin pinnacles of Franklin James Fisher's soaring vocals and Lee Tesche's scything guitar are underpinned by a deep, rumbling bass from Ryan Mahan. Together they combine with an almost religious fervour, provoking your feet to move and your brain to think at the same time.

It reminds me a bit of Young Fathers in terms of attitude and power (imagine them making a sequel to Moby's 'Play' and you'll get a sense of what this sounds like) - it's not often that a record comes at you with such intensity that you feel pinned back into your seat and forced to listen to it, but that's what happens here.

To pick out any one track is to do the others a disservice - 'Blood' is probably the most immediate, and 'Black Eunuch' is the track I first heard that drew me to the album, but it's very much a record that should be listened to as a whole so you can soak up the atmosphere - it's like being transported to the deep South, you can feel the heat and sense the simmering tensions.

If you can't find something in this record to interest you then you probably shouldn't be reading this blog - it spans so many genres that unless you listen to black metal 24 hours a day you'll find it worth hearing. Buy it now!

Algiers - "Blood" from Algiers on Vimeo.

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.

Track of the Day: 'Transition' by Violet ft. A.M.O.R, Nightwave, Nancy Whang, Mamacita & Coco Solid

To celebrate International Women's Day (which was a couple of days ago, and which I always share with my birthday) this posse of empowered women gathered together and made a rather awesome tune. Covering Underground Resistance's Detroit techo classic 'Transition' they've made a track dedicated to the women of the world, but I'm sure they won't mind if you're a man but you still want to dance to it. Grab the free download below.

Remix of the Day: 'Your Love Will Set You Free (c2's Set U Free RMX)' by Caribou

One of the best tracks from Caribou's 'Our Love' album gets a remix from the wondrous hands of Mr Carl Craig. The result is a bass-heavy beast of a tune that feels gritty and dangerous - you're never really sure if it's going to ask you to dance or punch you in the face. It's out now on vinyl and download and has instantly become one of my favourite remixes of the year.

Track of the Day: 'Ready To Fuck' by The Soft Pink Truth

So this is gonna piss a lot of people off. The Soft Pink Truth, the nom de plume of Drew Daniel of Matmos, have made an album of electro-house and techno covers of black metal songs. The album, called 'Why Do The Heathen Rage?', is out soon on Thrill Jockey Records, and from it here's their version of Sarcofago's 'Ready To Fuck'. If there's a better way to deal with the ridiculous pomposity, sexism, racism, anti-Semitism and homophobia that often pervades Black Metal tracks then I've yet to find it. Enjoy!

Track of the Day: 'Lay Claim To My Grub' by Karen Gwyer

Not so much a track as half an album for some people, this 16 minute instrumental epic never tires or loses its way as it ebbs and flows. The mechanical, insistent rhythms are matched with a swooning, swamping set of keyboards that create dark layers of sound. It  pretty much brings together all of Gwyer's influences and sounds in one track, and comes highly recommended.

The track is pert of the 'New Roof' EP which is out on Feb 17th on No Pain In Pop - you can pre-order the limited edition 12" from them here.

New music: 'And' by Dauwd

Taken from an EP called 'Heat Division', which is due out on Ghostly in March, this track by Dauwd trip along nicely. It's upbeat without being smiley, a little bit enigmatic, and just about the right length. Looking forward to hearing more when the EP arrives!

Christmas-themed mix of the day

Holy Mix by Roland M. Dill

A Christmas themed (check out the track titles) but not very Christmassy-sounding mix from German techno giant Roland M. Dill. Continuing the festiveness, it's free to download, so grab it and get your groove on!