Besti-mix 24: Jon Carter

This week's Besti-mix is compiled by a dab hand in the fine art of partying and playing upfront club music. Having made his name DJing alongside the Chemical Brothers and at the famously debauched mid-'90s Heavenly Social parties, Jon Carter has subsequently channeled his love of acid house, dancehall and hip-hop through his various musical projects, from Monkey Mafia to his records with Wall of Sound (including 'Irratiational Anthem', with Banksy!) to his latest band Roosevelt High.

These days, Jon is one of the chaps behind of Camden's marvelous live music stalwart and reliable drinking den, the Lock Tavern, where he also plays at Rob da Bank's ludicrously popular Sunday Best nights.

A summation of his wide-ranging tastes, Jon's Besti-mix spans chest-puffing Jamaican dancehall, brain-cell scrambling 5am after-hours house tracks and, of course, a number from his old muckers The Chemical Brothers...

Bestimix 24: Jon Carter by Bestimix on Mixcloud

Download: Bestimix 24 Jon Carter

Tracklisting:
01. Took the Night - Chelley
02. Hess is More - Ssshhhh - Zombie Disco Squad Mix
03. Kingston Logic - Flyman - Greenmoney Mix
04. Untitled - DJ Falcon - Hijack Mix
05. Freak On - Lee Curtiss
06. Gimme Little - TOK
07. Pon Dem - Scott Cooper
08. Babbadabba - Rennaisance Man
09. Minima Muchacho - Joe Maker
10. Bauerpost - Cirez D
11. This Ain't No DIsco - Tim Davison, Dale Anderson, Anil Chawla, DAT Soundsystem, Oliver Moldan
12. Tension - Freakx Bros - Popof Mix
13. Scrub The Tub - Edwin Oosterwal
14. War Drums - Black Holes
15. Horse Power - Chemical Brothers
16. H3lix - Funkagenda

Musical bliss

One of our resident DJs Greg Wilson, yes he of Hacienda/electro pioneer/wicked bootlegs fame, has had a great idea - bringing people together in groups to 'listen' to a piece of music, and only music, meaning no talking, texting, emailing, tweeting, facebooking and such!

I think we should probably do this at Bestival. I'm on it! In the meantime, click here to find out more, and sign up to the August 1st listening session!

Rob x :)

Radio da Bank: 40 Years of Glastonbury special

Rob da Bank takes us on a journey through the last 40 years of Glasto! With Ed from Radiohead, Paul from Orbital, Andrew from MGMT, Florence from Florence & The Machine (pictured) and Rolf Harris!

Checkout the tracklisting below and get yourselves over to bbc.co.uk/radio1/robdabank to listen again online at any time this week...

T. Rex - Get It On (Bang A Gong) - Fly
David Bowie - Memory Of A Free Festival - EMI
Peter Gabriel - Solsbury Hill - Atco Records
New Order - Temptation - Factory
Tubeway Army - Are Friends Electric - Atlantic
Curtis Mayfield - Move On Up - Buddah Records
The Smiths - How Soon Is Now - Rough Trade
Midnight Oil - Beds Are Burning - CBS
Misty in Roots - Man Kind - Kaz Records
The Hot Potato 5 - Unknown - White Label
Van Morrison - Moondance - Exile
Pixies - Monkey Gone To Heaven - 4AD

Phoner With Ed From Radiohead
Hear him talk about his personal highlights and pick a tune from his first visit in 1990.

The Cure - A Forest - Fiction
PJ Harvey - Sheela-Na-Gig - Too Pure
Primal Scream - Rocks - Creation
The Velvet Underground - Who Loves The Sun - Verve
Orbital - Chime - FDM

Phoner With Paul From Orbital
Hear Paul from Orbital pick a track from the year they first played in 1994.

Björk - Human Behaviour - One Little Indian
Pulp - Sorted For E's & Wizz - Island
Radiohead - High & Dry - Parlophone
Foo Fighters - For All The Cows - Parlophone
Cornershop - Brimfull Of Asha - Wichita
Coldplay - Yellow - Parlophone

Rolf Harris Phoner

Rod Stewart - Maggie May - Mercury
Annie Nightingale's Choice
Freeland - We Want Your Soul - Marine Parade
The Beatles - Blackbird - Apple Records
Roots Manuva - Witness (One Hope) - Big Dadda

Jo Whiley's Choice:
The Flaming Lips - Do You Realize? - Warner

Jay-Z - Wonderwall - Creation

Greg James' Choice:
Blur - The Universal - Food

Phoner With MGMT

Parliament - Mothership Connection - Mercury

Phoner With Florence

Hot Chip - I Feel Better - Parlophone
Tinie Tempah - Frisky

Drunk Girls

Had a wicked Glasto and getting excited about Bestival? Then watch this ridiculous video of jousting crusties for the Holy Ghost remix of LCD Soundsystem's 'Drunk Girls'.

Let's re-enact it at Bestival Sunday night!

Besti-band of the week 4: Unicorn Kid

Like Crystal Castles hi-octane punk-meets-chip tune music but find the whole suicide-chic hipster posturing just a little overbearing? Well, in that case, meet your new favourite pop hero in waiting...video game-obsessed Leith-based teenager Oliver Sabin, aka Unicorn Kid.

Pet Shop Boys are fans, which is why they commissioned the 19-year-old to remix their last single, and Gorillaz have also benefited from the 'Kid's mercurial touch - listen to both those numbers, as well as his own productions, here. Expect big things indeed from his show at Bestival come September.

Having been an early supporter, Rob da Bank recently brought Unicorn Kid down to London to perform for his Radio 1 show as part of the Madia Vale sessions, and his description of what makes Sabin so special is about as spot on the money as you could hope for: "Ridiculously tall and jam-packed full of amazing hi-energy electro rave tunes, which combine chip music and trance - the right cocktail."

Besti-bod 19: Camp Besti's creative assistant

So the England team are gonna win the World Cup and Murray scalp Nadal to be crowned Wimbledon champ, then, but here on the Besti-blog we'd rather salute the real stars of our summer, the restlessly energetic types whose work behind the scenes at Bestival and Camp Bestival helps make 'em such joyous affairs. Dry your eyes and let Bestival Bugle scribe Toby Collard introduce you to another of the unsung heroes that make it all possible....

It's Katie Maddison! Katie's the creative assistant of Camp Bestival, helping the festival's co-founder and director of all things creative Josie da Bank co-ordinate all sorts of amazing loveliness for the Lulworth Castle shindig - one minute she's sorting out skate ramps for the new Freestyle Sports Village, the next she's on the case of the hundreds of flags that adorn the site. When all this isn't keeping her busy, she claims to spend the rest of the year hibernating (well, it is tiring work you know!)

Katie, hats off to you! ....Katie, wake up Katie, it's nearly July....

Name: Katie Maddison

Bestivals attended:
"Bestival 07-09 and every Camp Bestival since its birth."

Everyone’s being encouraged to ‘Go Green to Bestival’ this year – what would be your ultimate way of travelling to Bestival?
"Hot air balloon, 'cept it's not that green. Oh, okay: on my shiny red pushbike."

What would be your ideal fancy dress theme?
"I wear glasses and find it difficult to make them fit into an outfit: A dragon with goggles?; Snow White with specs?; Fairy with four eyes?; Just doesn't work does it? My ideal theme would therefore be 'spectacles'."

What one item would you recommend everyone should take to Bestival, and why?
"A sense of humour. It just helps."

Most memorable Besti moment?
"A prop I made out of a fabric conditioner bottle featuring centre-stage on the Channel 4 set. I loved watching my homemade rocket on TV swinging about in all its ribbon-and-glitter glory. I've never been so proud."

If Bestival is the answer, what's the question?
"What rhymes with testicle?"

Who would you most like to see performing at Bestival?
"The Divine Comedy. Lovely, lovely. My new favourite act is actually on the bill though: Mumford & Sons."

Funniest Bestival memory?
"It involves someone else and would be highly embarrassing for them if I repeated it, so I will do the right thing and keep schtum." (Boo - Ed.)

Message to any non-(Bestival)-believers out there?
"Join us!"

Bestival Island Discs (three tunes essential to a top Bestival):
Little Lion Man - Mumford & Sons
One Life Stand - Hot Chip
No Woman, No Cry - The Wailers

Ross Allen's Meltdown: Glasto here we come!

Morning All, this weekend is the big one GLASTONBURY... I am excited, it feels like it's going to be fun, and touch wood, HOT... Well those words could come to haunt me but here's hoping. I can't believe how tight the tickets are this year but if you have one, or are up for a challenge, I'll see you there...

We're going to mainly be at THE UNFAIR GROUND in the MUTATE BRITAIN TENT which I have helped programme and the line up is pretty heavy... All friends of the Meltdown and a diverse array of DJs that you will love and be surprised by. No schedule pit in yet but do come up to the field. Its run by Joe Rush and the Mutoid Waste Crew and is in the place were Trash City used to be... Its going to be bigger and better than before and it was pretty crazy last year. DJing a pinball machine was a new experience for me...

We also have our own backstage bar which we will have passes for if you are nice. Bring It on ! I am also playing at a few other places - The Stonebridge Bar in The Park area a gig that has gone off in the preceeding two years. As part of Greco Roman I will be there on Friday night/Saturday morning 2.30 till 5am. There are a few other things lined up but no times as of yet. Just head to The Unfair Ground and all will become apparent...

Bestival signs up to 10:10

It won’t come as much of a surprise to anyone to find out that we care about the environment at Bestival, you only have to have a quick look around our stunning Robin Hill Country Park site (home to the IoW's indigenous cheeky bugger, the beautiful red squirrel) to know that it’s worth looking after. So we were massively proud to be the recipient of an Outstanding Greener Festival Award in 2009, one of only 13 festivals worldwide to achieve this top level award.

Not content to rest on our laurels, this year we are pulling out all the stops to make Bestival an even greener and more environmentally friendly event than it already is. As part of our green masterplan we have signed up to the 10:10 campaign making a firm commitment to reduce our carbon footprint by 10% starting in 2010.

10:10 is an ambitious project to unite every sector of society behind one simple idea: cutting our emissions by 10% in 2010. We think it’s a fantastic campaign to get involved with, which is why we’ve signed up to it and you can too. It’s quick and easy to do, just click here.

Bestival, with the support of environment specialists Julie’s Bicycle, set a carbon output benchmark in 2009 and we are already putting in place measures to reduce this by 10% at this year’s event by reducing carbon emissions from on site energy use, waste and water consumption.

There are lots of amazing initiatives happening across the site which include the Plugged In Bandstand stage, which will be totally solar-powered once again this year, all with help from our green-minded friends at Southern Electric. What’s more, the whole surrounding area, (previously called The Village), will become our version of Tomorrow’s World – envisaging an inspired, sustainable, green and fun future.

Find out more by clicking here, and have a great green Glasto if you're going or already on-site!

Come on England!

Thank god we're through! We've only got to beat Germany (most likely), then Argentina (probs), then Brazil (assured) and then Spain (possibly) to win the bloody thing! Should be a breeze...for now, at least, let's celebrate with a man who knows how, the finest MC grime never had, Mr John Barnes...

youtube.com/watch?v=XnUh5LlrPZ4

Bestimix 23: Ramadanman

Bestimix 23 is a biggie, a blistering, exclusive session of upfront bass-heavy pressure from one of dubstep’s leading stars and brightest lights, Ramadanman.

One of the founders of the ever-influential Hessle Audio label,  David 'Ramadanman' Kennedy has not only been at the forefront of the most exciting sound to emerge from the UK’s clubs for years but has helped shape its trajectory. A DJ since the age of 14, beginning with deep house and hip hop and progressing to jungle, Rama’s dubstep epiphany came after being inspired by a Mala set at FWD back in 2006.

Since then Rama has racked up scene defining releases on labels including Soul Jazz, Tempa, Aus, Critical Music and Hessle Audio, the imprint he co-runs with Pangaea and Ben UFO, as well as remixing the likes of Ragga Twins, Scuba and many more. He is also heavily involved in organizing the Leeds night Ruffage as well as co-hosting the now infamous Ruffage Sessions weekly internet radio show on Sub FM.

With fans spanning the dance music divide – including Ricardo Villalobos, Skream, Francois K, Kode9, Gilles Peterson and Rob da Bank – Ramadanman’s bright future is all but assured.

Trust us when we say this exclusive Bestimix is something special, it is...

Bestimix 23: Ramadanman by Bestimix on Mixcloud

Download: Bestimix 23 Ramadanman

Tracklisting:
01. kim english - nite life (remix) [nervous]
02. altered natives - crop duster [3024]
03. ramadanman - grab somebody [white]
04. unknown - untitled [unreleased]
05. martyn - miniluv [osgut ton]
06. distance - feel me [chestplate]
07. ramadanman - mir [white]
08. menta - snake charmer [road]
09. ramadanman - fall short [swamp 81]
10. distal - apple bottom [unreleased]
11. unknown - untitled [unreleased]
12. loefah - goat stare [dmz]
13. peverelist - better ways of living [punch drunk]
14. blawan - potchla vee [unreleased]
15. instramental - rift zone [unreleased]
16. ludacris vs joe - how low claptrap (dj orgasmic bootleg) [unreleased]
17. sx - wooo remix [digital]
18. addison groove - this girl [unreleased]
19. benga - one on one [big apple]
20. pariah - crossed out [forthcoming r&s]
21. sigha - light swells (in a distant space) [hotflush]

Radio da Bank: Sonar Festival Special

It's a Sonar Festival special with music from Delorean (pictured), Nosaj Thing, Lucrecia Dalt, Cluster and The Sugarhill Gang recorded live at the event. Plus Rob da Bank celebrates Monday's Summer Solstice in the Sunrise Track with 'Sun' from Caribou and we hear what Festival Boy has got up to last weekend...

Checkout the tracklisting below and get yourselves over to bbc.co.uk/radio1/robdabank to listen again online at any time this week...

Plan B - Prayin' (Breakage Remix)
Fake Blood - I Think I Like It
Portishead - Roads (Max Cooper Mix)

Sunrise Tune
Caribou - Sun

Magnetic Man - I Need Air

Live from Sonar
Cluster - Unknown
Lucrecia Dalt - Ionosfara

Polka Party - Korean Cinema - White
Gorillaz - On Melancholy Hills (She Is Danger Mix)
Crystal Fighters - In The Summer - Zirkulo Records
Deep Dive Corp. - Shine

Desert Island Disco
Shine - Deep Dive Corp - In-D

Live Track from Sonar
Nosaj Thing - Unknown

Turntable Dubbers - Rasta Be Good To Me - Nice Up! 
Rusko and Amber Coffman - Hold On
Olof Arnalds - Close My Eyes
Kode9 - You Don't Wash

Live track from Sonar
Delorean - Unknown

Faction G - The Bouncer
Monarchy - Love Get Out Of My Way (Holy Ghost ft Dixon Remix)

Festival Boy

Stevie Wonder - If You Really Love Me (Remix)
Underworld - Scribble - Cooking Vinyl

Live from Sonar
The Sugarhill Gang - Rapper's Delight

Rob's Best & Improbably Greatest record in the World Right Now... Possibly...Well At Least For This Morning...Maybe
cocknbullKid - Cocknbullkid

Katy B - Katy On A Mission
Mr Benn - Vuvuzela Rhythm

Besti-band of the week 3: Visions of Trees

If you've been to the sunny village fete we like to call Bestival before then you'll know you'll encounter lots of rather delightful visions of trees all over fayre Robin Hill and yonder on the Isle o' Wight. This year they'll be joined by their namesake, an equally lovely shoegaze-inspired London-based duo sure to win over fans of star-sprinkled electronica and elegiac indie alike.

Our very own Rob da Bank, is a big Visions of Trees fan: "If, like me, you grew up listening to the Cocteau Twins and the 4AD back catalogue you're gonna love this slo mo psychedelic head music."

Think tribal-electronica, awash in echoing techno-ambience with vocals that range between cavernous and soothing - perfect for those transcendent festival moments sat or, indeed, a good old fashioned celebratory dance.

Brighten up your day by having a listen to their tunes right now, then see them in the flesh come September!

Sunday Best Podcast: Fresh Label Goodness

Sunday Best June 2010 by Sunday Best Podcast on Mixcloud

Julian and Duncan took Rob da Bank's place in the Sunday Best Podcast hot seat this week and played tons of fresh new music from our latest Sunday Best record label signings. Tune in for some bona fide goodies by The Ghost, David E. Sugar, Wish, Trenchman and Think About Life ... whoop whoop!

There's also a lo-fi interview with dan le sac Vs Scroobius Pip recorded at Sunday Best HQ in the midst of the band's global touring escapades.  Listen up to hear them talk about their latest LP 'The Logic of Chance', touring Europe and learning new dance moves...

You can subscribe to this podcast and make your world a richer place for evermore via iTunes, Mixcloud/SundayBestPodcast or Feedburner. Do it!

Tracklisting:
01 The Ghost - City Lights (Sunday Best)
02 David E. Sugar - Party Killer (Sunday Best)
03 Wish - Milan (Sunday Best)
04 Jamie Blanco - Beach of Mind (Russell Club Records)
05 AM - It's Been So Long (AM Sounds)
06 Think About Life - Havin' My Baby (Sunday Best)
07 Interview: dan le sac Vs Scroobius Pip
08 dan le sac Vs Scroobius Pip - Sick Tonight (Doctor P remix) (Sunday Best)
09 Trenchman - Hacienda (Sunday Best)

Best album cover of the year?

Salvador Dali eat your heart out...this surreal work of genius belongs to new rave originators, Bestival favourites and former art school kids Klaxons, and tis the cover of their eagerly awaited new LP, 'Surfing The Void', out in August. We've not heard the album yet but if it's anywhere near as good or weird as this, then we're in for a treat...

Besti-bod 18: The Internet Setter-Upper

It’s Thursday…. It’s Besti-bod….

It’s Cris Verrinder! Today, Bugle bloke Toby Collard meets the guy whose company click4internet are responsible for all the internet and telephone connections into and across the Bestival site, because although the real world might feel like it’s a long way away at Bestival, we do like to maintain the odd link to it (if only so we can make sure everyone knows what fun we’re having!)

When he’s not up to his elbows in cables and strange-looking connector thingummies, the beat-heads amongst us may have come across Cris in his Lektroluxe alter-ego, playing out at clubs and parties and knocking out electro-house classics for Frigio Records.

So there it is – a plug for the man who makes sure Bestival’s plugged in. Cris, you’re a legend!

Name: Cris Verrinder

Bestivals attended:
"Never missed a Bestival yet!"

What would be your ideal fancy dress theme?
"I think I liked the space/sci-fi theme best personally - that's a hard one to top. But whatever the theme, it's always great fun.”

Most memorable Besti moment?
"It would have to be Kraftwerk last year – incredible! If you understand making electronic music and creating the sounds, you realise just how amazing those guys are at ‘krafting’ the music, especially heard at that volume. And the robot bit blew me away."

If Bestival is the answer, what's the question?
"42?”

Who would you most like to see performing at Bestival?
"I thought last years line-up was pretty good for my tastes, but I’d also love to see UHU, Devo, Subs, Acid Jax, David Axelrod, Mick Wills and Traxx. Maybe even Lektroluxe!”

Funniest Bestival memory?
"Scissor Sisters (dressed as scary clowns), when they noticed and mentioned the fact the whole crowd was gurning big time!”

If Bestival was a type of food, what would it be and why?
"It would be a pizza. Very palatable with a lot going on in a conveniently-sized area.”

Message to any non-(Bestival)-believers out there?
"I want to believe….”

Anything to add?
"Peace."

Bestimix 22: The Correspondents

As any of you who’ve spent the night breaking sweat at Come Dancing in our beautiful Spiegeltent at Bestival or Camp Bestival can attest, we’re partial to the odd spot of hip-swinging, retro-flavoured big band swing, jazz and be-bop, which is why we’re stoked to bring you the latest installment in our exclusive mix series, a celebration of all that ol’ time good stuff by The Correspondents. 

"A journey through swing, jazz, 50’s R&B, be-bop, nu-soul, electro swing, hip-hop and chap-hop" courtesy of MC Mr Bruce and DJ/producer Mr Chuckles, Bestimix 22 splices swing samples with squelchy synths over dusty drum loops to make for a head-nodding, foot-tapping toe curling "get your brogues on" dance floor swing hop.

Party like it’s 1929 people...

Bestimix 22: The Correspondents by Bestimix on Mixcloud

Download: Bestimix 22 The Correspondents

Tracklisting:
01 Mama Swing - Unknown
02 Who Said Shorty Wasn't Coming Back - Lucky Millinder
03 Murder At Peyton Hall - Charlie Barnet
04 I've Found A new Baby - Lester Young
05 Clarinet A La King - Benny Goodman & His Band
06 He Sends Me - Nellie Lutcher
07 Vinces Tune - The Jomar Dagron Quartet
08 Kiss Me One More Time - Willie Cobbs
09 Shake, Rock And Soul - Eddie Bo
10 Talk To Me - Bob Williams
11 Safronia B. - Calvin Boze
12 Just A Little Love - Nappy Brown
13 Quiet Whiskey - Wynonie Harris
14 Not Me - The Orlons
15 Gospel Train - The Sould Agents
16 Day In, Day Out (Cut Chemist remix) - Nat "King" Cole
17 Memory banks (feat Baby Sol) - Lazy Habits
18 Moodsets (Part Time Heroes) - Wallis Bird
19 Jungle Drum - Emiliana Torrini
20 That Ain't It - Get The Blessing
21 Beauty - Edan
22 This Is The Thing - Fink
23 Mr B's World Cup Song - Mr B. The Gentleman Rhymer

Radio da Bank: Babeshadow in session

Rob da Bank's leftfield show on Radio 1 at the weekend saw a Maida Vale session from Babeshadow. Plus Caspa comes in for a chat, there's a Sunrise track by Four Tet, Festival Boy gives a run down of the events over the coming weeks, there's a new 'Barely Believable Genre of Music' called Purple Wow and 'Rob’s Best And Improbably Greatest Record In The World Right Now… Possibly… Well At Least For This Morning… Maybe' is by the Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs.

Checkout the tracklisting below and get yourselves over to bbc.co.uk/radio1/robdabank to listen again online at any time this week...

Walls — Hang Four - Kompakt
Evil Nine — Ultimo - For Lovers
Paul Chambers — Yeah, Techno (Soulwax Remix) - Phantasy

SUNRISE TRACK
Four Tet — Angel Echoes (Jon Hopkins Remix) - Domino

The Flaming Lips and Stardeath and White Dwarfs with Henry Rollins and Peaches Doing The Dark Side of the Moon — The Great Gig In The Sky - Warner Bros
Cults — Go Outside - Forest Family
Mopp — Everything - Euphonios

BABESHADOW MAIDA VALE ACOUSTIC SESSION
Babeshadow — Queenie
Babeshadow — Every Heart

Clubroot — Waterways - Lo Dubs
Ghostpoet — Morning Mstr - Brownswood
The Chemical Brothers — Horse Power - EMI

ROB’S GUIDE TO BARELY BELIEVABLE NEW GENRES OF MUSIC - PURPLE WOW!
Guido — Sax Mad - Punch Drunk
Joker — Tron - Kapsize

Gemmy — Rainbow Road - Planet Mu
David Lynch — Good Day Today
Lissie — When I’m Alone (Tensnake Remix) - White

SATURDAY SKANK
Mr Curtamos — Walk N Skank - Step Express

CASPA IN FOR A CHAT IN THE STUDIO
Caspa — Back For The First Time - Sub Soldiers

Emalkay — Crusader - Dub Police
Benga featuring Kate B — Katy On A Mission - White

BABESHADOW MAIDA VALE ACOUSTIC SESSION
Babeshadow — Sea Serpents

Aeroplane — We Can’t Fly - Wall of Sound
Joe Worricker — Wrap Me Up - Rough Trade

FESTIVAL BOY
Aphex Twin — Windowlicker - Warp

The Roots feat Jim James & Monsters Of Folk — Dear God - Def Jam
Cee-Lo — Georgia - Elektra
Spark — Shut Out The Moon - Boom Records

ROB’S BEST AND IMPROBABLY GREATEST RECORD IN THE WORLD RIGHT NOW… POSSIBLY… WELL AT LEAST FOR THIS MORNING… MAYBE
Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs — Garden - Greco-Roman

Benji Boko — A Very English Mixtape - White
Arcade Fire — The Suburbs - Mercury
Jason Derulo — Ridin' Solo

Besti-band of the week 2: Sisters of Transistors

Our campaign to familarise you good people with the best new acts playing this year's Bestival continues apace this week as we introduce none other than Bontempi's answer to Destiny's Girls, Sisters of Transistors.

Proudly, with tongue somewhat in-cheek, calling themselves "The UK's Premier Ladies Organ Quartet" (the runners up must be gutted) these Sisters are actually four organ-playing females from Manchester in an outfit produced by ex-808 State man Graham Massey.

Playing their "baroque disco pop" at church halls, airfields and scooter runs, the Sisters of Transistors blend themes from hymns and horror movies to hypnotic if ever-so-slightly disturbing effect, using a shed-load of vintage electric organs and synthesizers.

Fans of The Wicker Man, Ghost Box and Chrome Hoof will love them, while the rest of us will wonder why more bands don't adopt cult mythology, don white hooded cloaks and go hell for heather with a singular self-declared ambition, to play a heavily amplified sound known as "Wall of Cheese".

See you down the front...

Blast from the past part 6...The Prodigy raving in outer space!

youtube.com/watch?v=Di9OBlcCiDk

Getting that Friday feeling yet? No? In that case, let us help you into weekend party mood with a little rave reminiscing, courtesy of The Prodigy's still magnificent 'avin it large funfest from 1992, 'Out of Space', a tune that famously samples Max Romeo and The Upsetters' reggae classic, produced by Bestival favourite and all-round legendary spaced-out dubhead eccentric Lee 'Scratch' Perry.

Bring on Bestival 2010, bring on Sunday night, where forty-odd-thousand of us we'll be living this out for real in a field on the Isle of Wight!

Two Inches to the Right

vimeo.com/11693318

Check out this thought-provoking poem by Mat Lloyd, wonderfully illustrated and animated by Matt Frodsham. The pair won Best Film at the Shortcuts Film Festival 2009 for their previous collaboration, the equally brilliant 'Blokes'.

'Two Inches to the Right' was inspired by real life events, as Mat Lloyd explains: "I wrote the poem on a canvas with a marker pen the morning after I was attacked.

The night before I was in my local park on the opening day of the skate park I'd helped get built, it was nearly midnight. We'd organised a DJ to play the day out in a marquee and I just popped out to take a leak. In my drunken state I was stumbling to find a bush when I heard, and felt, a sort of 'boink' sound. I knew I'd been hit on the back of the head, and I knew it wasn't with a fist. I don't remember much else other than being back at the marquee with a bleeding head.

I was very lucky as a number of my friends and other revelers had spotted me being kicked on the floor and ran over to drag me out. For that I am very grateful.

Living near London, the poem has never been retired and still appears in my performance sets. With youth violence seemingly growing year on year, the poem is as relevant now as it was when I wrote it. People blame hip hop culture, movies, video games, parents, the education system, unemployment, the list goes on. I don't have the answer.

The saddest thing about '2 Inches to the Right' is all to often, someone from the crowd comes to speak to me after I leave the stage and tells me of their friend who died in a similar situation. The poem gives them hope that some may listen, and think twice."

Besti-bod 17: The Steward

The excitement is rising.... the tension is palpable.... millions of people across the globe united in expectation.... and finally it's here! Nope, not the World Cup - that starts tomorrow - we're talking about the latest Besti-bod profile. And this week Bugle ed. Toby Collard meets a man who quite a few of you have probably met before....

It's Darren Rogers! Darren enjoyed the first few Bestivals so much he decided to get involved helping others have a good time too, and this year you'll find him doing just that as a steward at both Bestival and Camp Besti. When he's not busy saving the world as a tooling technician in the wind turbine industry, Darren enjoys relaxing pursuits like chilling at festivals, a nice spot of fishing and, erm, the occasional trek up Mt. Kilimanjaro!

Darren, you're up there with the best of them!

Name: Darren Rogers

Bestivals attended:
"All six so far, and Camp Bestival last year."

What would be your ideal fancy dress theme?
"Jungle Fever. I don't think I'd make a very good Tarzan though. Maybe a monkey...."

Most memorable Besti moment?
"Basement Jaxx in 2004 was magical, made the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. I've seen them a few times - before and since - but nothing touches that night."

If Bestival is the answer, what's the question?
"Where did I randomly lose my false tooth a couple of years ago? (I even phoned Lost Property to see if it turned up!)"

Who would you most like to see performing at Bestival?
"Thievery Corporation - they're my main squeeze at the minute."

Funniest Bestival memory?
"So many, but probably a random mud fight in 2008. Everyone was joining in except me, but then I got hit by a bit of mud and that was that - in I went. I wasn't on duty at the time."

If Bestival was a type of food, what would it be and why?
"It would have to be curry. Hot, cool, spicy, fruity - something for everyone."

Message to any non-(Bestival)-believers out there?
"Just do it!"

Anything to add?
"Don't take anything too seriously. Except having fun."

Besti-mix 21: The Jinks

We're as much about championing new talent at Bestival as we are about whetting ourselves at the prospect of booking our musical heroes past and present. And what better showcase for emerging DJ talent that our very own Besti-mix series.

Queue... Besti-mix 21, a brilliant selection of classic '80s disco, funk and club classics from the likes of Grace Jones, Kid Creole and Rick James by London-based duo The Jinks (aka Chris Gau & Dan Savidge) who made their Bestival debut last year in the Hidden Disco and who's productions and remixes adorn the current catalogue of Strictly Rhythm and Defected Records.

Besti-Mix 21: The Jinks by Bestimix on Mixcloud

Download: Besti-mix 21 The Jinks

Tracklisting:
01 My Jamaican Guy (The Jinks' Edit) - Grace Jones
02 Don't Stop The Music - Bits & Pieces
03 Adventures In Success (Dub) - Will Powers
04 Close To Me - The Cure
05 Nipple To The Bottle - Grace Jones
06 Genius of Love (The Jinks' Edit)- Tom Tom Club
07 All Night Long - Mary Jones Girls
08 Pull Up To The Bumper (The Jinks' Edit) - Grace Jones
09 Atomic Dog - George Clinton
10 Fashion - David Bowie
11 Rapture - Blondie
12 Twilight - Maze feat. Frankie Beverley
13 Sound of Music - Dayton
14 Far Beyond - Locksmith
15 Stool Pigeon (The Jinks' Edit) - Kid Creole & the Coconuts
16 Born Under Punches (The Heat Goes On) - Talking Heads
17 I Know What I Know - Paul Simon
18 Behind The Groove - Teena Marie
19 You Don't Know  (The Jinks' Edit) - Serious Intention
20 Rock The Beat (The Jinks' Edit) - The Jamaica Girls
21 Magnificent Seven (The Jinks' Edit) - The Clash
22 Give It To Me - Rick James
23 Boogie's Gonna Get Ya (Francois Kervorkian 12" Mix) - Rafael Cameron
24 Baby Dee - Konk
25 Do It All Night - Prince

New Sunday Best single by The Ghost 'City Lights'

New Sunday Best signings The Ghost explode onto the UK music scene this week with the release of the single 'City Lights' ahead of their debut album 'War Kids' later this month. Here's the video which has been made by our in-house quirky animation superstar Ruth Barrett...

youtube.com/watch?v=NmnMUefIo00

The Ghost are two young Danish musicians who have fast become renowned in their native Faroe Islands music scene: Filip Mortensen on vocals and Urbanus Olsen on electronics. The band first came to Rob da Bank's attention at The Iceland Airwaves Festival where their live performance, on-stage charisma and energy blew him away. They also caught the attention of the NME who returned to the UK proclaiming the band as 'One's to Watch'. 

The remix package propels the track firmly onto the dancefloor with re-takes by David E. Sugar, The Deadstock 33s (AKA Justin Robertson), Repeat Offenders and The Kenneth Bager Experience.

It's out this week on download (iTunes / Amazon-mp3) and the album 'War Kids' follows on 21st June on CD (pre-order from our Sunday Best webshop!) and download.

Go Let's Go!

Radio da Bank: Festival Boy Special

Rob da Bank's leftfield show on Radio 1 at the weekend was a Festival Boy Special. Rob gives his guide on who to see and where to see them at the summer's festivals.

Checkout the tracklisting below and get yourselves over to bbc.co.uk/radio1/robdabank to listen again online at any time this week...

The Chemical Brothers — Swoon - Astralwerks
Round Table Knights — Calypso - Made To Play
Skream — Listening To The Records On My Wall - Tempa
Paul McCartney — Check My Machine (Nirobi Re-Edit) - White
Dead Boy — Long Way To Go - Well Rounded Records 12”

SUNRISE TRACK
Kyle Hall — Ghosten - Third Ear Recordings

The Third Man — Messier 66 - Applied Rhythmic Technology 12”

DESERT ISLAND DISCO
Hypno — Over The Top - Ramp

Wrongtom — Riddim Killin - Nice Up! 7”
Sage Francis — Slow Man - Anti-
Jamtech Foundation — Too Fast (Zombie Disco Squad) - Discobelle
Tame Impala — Solitude Is Bliss (Midnight Juggernauts Mix) - Modular

ROB’S GUIDE TO BARELY BELIEVABLE NEW GENRES OF MUSIC - THIS WEEK IT’S ACID JUNGLE!
Acid War — Keane vs Green - White
Justin Bieber — Somebody 2 Love (Acid War Mix) - White
Electric Tribe — Kill The Whales - Ectopic Beats

Catherine AD — Better Than Love (Hurts Cover) - Outsiderhood
S.P.Y — Favela - Metalheadz
Mystery Jets — Dreaming Of Another World - Rough Trade
Crystal Castles — Baptism - Fiction
M — Pop Muzik (Todd Terje Mix) - Permanent Vacation
The Good Natured — Your Body Is A Machine - Kitsuné

SATURDAY SKANK
Dreadzone — Gangster (Trolley Snatcher Remix) - Dubwiser

Mos Dub — History Town - White
Jay-Z — Big Pimpin’ - Roc-A-Fella
Wild Beasts — Hooting & Howling - Domino
Faction G — The Bouncer - Can You Feel It

ROB’S BEST AND IMPROBABLY GREATEST RECORD IN THE WORLD RIGHT NOW… POSSIBLY… WELL AT LEAST FOR THIS MORNING… MAYBE
Arcade Fire — The Suburbs - Merge Records

Katy B — Katy On A Mission - White
Klaxons — Flashover - Polydor
M.I.A — Xxxo - XL
Lissie — When I’m Alone - Columbia
Mumford & Sons — Roll Away Your Stone

Besti-band of the week 1: Phosphorescent

So, you all know and love this year's big-name Bestival headliners like the 'Lips, Dizzee, The Prodigy, Hot Chip, Gil Scott-Heron et al, but what about the stars of tomorrow that aren't yet household names. We regularly pat ourselves on the back for introducing many a future pop star for the first time each year at Bestival so in an effort to brief you a little better on who's who from the myriad roster of brilliant new bands playing Robin Hill this year, welcome to our new Besti-blog weekly feature, the imaginatively titled 'Besti-band of the week'.

And who better to shine a long-overdue light on than Alabama-born Matthew ‘Phosphorescent’ Houck - a guitar-strumming Americana-style troubadour who is bound to win over fans of Bon Iver, Grizzly Bear and most likely Neil Young too.

Galvanised by heavy hitters like early 70’s Rolling Stones, Bobby Charles and Dylan’s Street Legal (1978), Houck found his songwriting path through to some killer tunes that are given enough space for them to really fly.

If Houck's first album, Pride, was built for 5am introspection, Phosphorescent's new LP, Here’s to Taking It Easy, seems as though it’s made for any time, any season - perfect, in other words, for a sun-kissed festival field on the Isle of Wight in late summer.

As the man himself says, “I ain't came to stand here for none of this bullshit, I came here to play”

Sac 'n' Pip 'n' glitter-vomit

Here's the brilliant glitter-vomit filled video for dan le sac Vs Scroobius Pip's new single 'Sick Tonight', directed by David Fishel and shot in New York's Bronx earlier this year...

youtube.com/watch?v=QwjzJKCZWYc

'Sick Tonight' came out this week as a double A side single, alongside 'Great Britain', on 12" vinyl and download backed with some frankly massive remixes by Doctor P, Mumdance and more.  More on that, plus some links to buy it (you know you want to), can be found on their website just here lesacvspip.co.uk/?p=1111

And least we forget that this comes from their ace 2nd album 'The Logic of Chance' so here's a handy as you like link for that as well lesacvspip.co.uk/?page_id=1025

Radiohead man remixes human brain

We all know Radiohead are musical geniuses but remixing the human brain? Surely some things are beyond even clever clogs Thom Yorke? Apparently not. Well, sort of...

London’s Nonclassical label is set to release a Thom Yorke remix of "the rhythms and timbres derived from neuronal models of the human brain”. 'Cortical Songs', a series of compositions by Matthias & Ryan recorded with the String Ensemble of Trinity College of Music originated from the duo's observation that the rhythms created by firing neurons had a certain musicality, and indeed scientific literature has been known to describe these repeating sequences as “cortical songs”.

Surely Flying Lotus' Brainfeeder label missed a trick by not following up FlyLo and Thom Yorke's recent collab with this aptly monocled little ditty...

Besti-bod 16: The Pie Man

What with all the amazing food on offer at Bestival and Camp Besti, it can get a bit difficult to make a decision come mealtimes. Although never the best at decisive action, Bestival Bugle ed Toby Collard knows exactly who to talk to in these circumstances - the same guy he's talking to for the latest Besti-bod profile....

It's Patch Robertson, the man behind the most excellent Pure Pie stall! As you'll see from his answers, Patch's world might appear to revolve around pies, but he assures us that when he's not earning a crust he likes to spend as much time with his family as possible. However, it would seem there's a more than good chance that both would slip in importance for an hour or so should Kevin Rowlands and friends make a surprise appearance at Bestival.....

Patch, for what we will undoubtedly receive, my lord we'll be truly thankful!

Name: Patch Robertson

Bestivals attended?
"I missed the first year but have been there ever since - lucky to get involved at an early stage."

What would be your ideal fancy dress theme?
"Everyone dressed as pies with a pre-paid pie purchase token sown into the fabric of their fancy dress soul."

Most memorable Besti moment?
"When the sun came up in the really wet year and my squashed and flooded tent suddenly no longer mattered."

If Bestival is the answer, what's the question?
"What’s the most aptly named festival around?"

Who would you most like to see performing at Bestival?
"Dexys Midnight Runners."

Funniest Bestival memory?
"All of them rolled into one."

If Bestival was a type of food, what would it be and why?
"A pie, as there is no other type of food!"

Message to any non-(Bestival)-believers out there?
"It’s very good!"

Anything to add?
"See you there!"

Ross Allen's Meltdown: I Wanna Go Back !!

Morning all, my radio show this week was, as it was a bank holiday, and my birthday, a real trip through the vaults. The first half is a soul, funk and jazz special settling on the 80's, 70's and 60's. The second half is full of housey gems from the 80's and 90's. A few tunes that spark a few memories for me. Hopefully it'll do the same to you or may be expose a few that you had missed before. The house tracks don't sound dated at all really, it does always amaze me how little that sound has changed over the years, I love it but it is the reason that I can't play that music all the time. I need more variety especially after 20 years or more ! Still there are, and will continue to be, some great tunes and that is all we are looking for...Enjoy...

Besti-mix 20: Zero 7 (soul / boogie mix)

We are officially 20 mixes old, or should that be young? Anyhow, in celebration of our minor anniversary we’ve drafted in major musical talent in the shape of much-loved purveyors of downtempo goodness Zero 7.

A reflection of their eagerly-awaited set at this year’s Camp Bestival, Henry Binns and Sam Hardaker’s exclusive mix of classic soul, boogie and disco by the likes of diva deluxe Diana Ross, diamond-dusted lung-busting gals the Pointer Sisters and vibes legend Roy Ayers is perfectly pitched for summer days and nights kicking back in the great outdoors with friends. And now that the sun’s final here, you can do exactly that by clicking on the download below. As Roy Ayers himself is fond of saying, everybody loves the sunshine...

Besti-Mix 20: Zero 7 by Bestimix on Mixcloud

Download: Besti-mix 20: Zero 7 (soul / boogie mix)

Tracklisting:
1. Brian Bennet - Solstice
2. The Valentine Bros. - Lonely Nights (Intro)
3. Big Noyd - My Rhyme (Dub)
4. The Stylistics - Hurry Up This Way Again (Dub)
5. Grey & Hanks - How Can You Live Without Love
6. Gene Harris - Losalamitolatinfunklovesong
7. Bobbi Humphrey - My Little Girl (Edit)
8. Earth Wind & Fire - You Cant Hide Love
9. Timmy Thomas & Nicole Mcloud - New York Eyes (Edit)
10. The Love Unlimited Orchestra - Strange Funky Games & Things
11. Diana Ross - Love Hangover (Edit)
12. Leroy Hudson - All Because Of You (Edit)
13. Sylvia - Sweet Stuff (Edit)
14. Bobby Caldwell - Open Your Eyes
15. Loose Ends - Hangin On A string
16. Sylvia Striplin - You Turn Me Away
17. The Pointer Sisters - Dont It Drive You Crazy
18. Teddy Pendergrass (R.I.P) - Close The Door
19. Roy Ayers - When I See You (Edit)

Radio da Bank: Silver Columns in session

Rob da Bank was back in the hot seat at the weekend presenting his leftfield show on Radio 1 - an eclectic two-hour mix of music from the UK and beyond, featuring a session from Silver Columns (pictured).

Checkout the tracklisting below and get yourselves over to bbc.co.uk/radio1/robdabank to listen again online at any time this week...

Die Antwoord - Zef Side (SITB Remix Teen Symmetry Edit) - Interscope
Sticky K - The Weirdo - Southern Fried
Untitled - Unicorn Kid (Dreamcatcher) (Last Japan Mix) (Data)
Connan Mockasin - Forever Dolphin Love - Phantasy

ROB'S BEST AND IMPROBABLY GREATEST RECORD IN THE WORLD RIGHT NOW… POSSIBLY… WELL AT LEAST FOR THIS MORNING… MAYBE
Aeroplane - We Can't Fly - Wall Of Sound

Underworld - Scribble - Cooking Vinyl
Jarvis and The National Trust - Belton House Birdsong
Jarvis and The National Trust - Brownsea Island Waves Lapping Against The Shore
Jarvis and The National Trust - Blickling Hall Clock Tower
Tiefschwarz - Whistler - Souvenier
Bang! Bang! Eche! - You And Me As Thick As Thieves - White

SILVER COLUMNS MAIDA VALE SESSION
Silver Columns - Warm Welcome

SpectraSoul - Absentis - Shogun Audio
Beastie Boys - Sabotage (Alex Metric Mix) - White

SUNRISE TRACK
Tracey Thorn - Swimming - Strange Feeling

Faction G - The Bouncer - Can You Feel It
The Chemical Brothers - Swoon - Parlophone
School of Seven Bells - Windstorm - Full Time Hobby
Gayngs - The Beatdown - Jagjaguwar
Caspa featuring D1 - Back For The First Time - Dub Police
Babeshadow - Sea Serpent - Luv Luv Luv Records
Riz MC - Hundreds & Thousands - White

SILVER COLUMNS MAIDA VALE SESSION
Silver Columns - Cavalier
Silver Columns - Brow Beaten

Fatboy Slim & Hervé - Machines Can Do The Work - Skint
Tom Jones - Burning Hell - Island

ROB'S GUIDE TO BARELY BELIEVABLE NEW GENRES OF MUSIC
Cold Cave - Life Magazine - Matador Records

Xiu Xiu - Apple For A Brain
Zola Jesus - Night
The King Blues - Headbutt (Dr Meaker Mix) - Transmission Recordings
Phoenix - Lasso - V2
Mystery Jets - Dreaming Of Another World - Rough Trade

El Guincho: Piratas de Sudamérica

The love child of Animal Collective post-everything blissed-out ambient whizz Panda Bear and South American renegade techno hero Matias Aguayo, one-time Besti favourite the brilliant El Guincho is back, with a mind-blowing series of interpretations and rearrangements of South American standards and lost classics - you can stream the EP in its entirety here.

The series, called 'Piratas de Sudamérica', features five tracks and special guests including Julieta Venegas and Adrián de Alfonso. Recorded at El Guincho's Barcelona home “with limited frequency response”, it preceedes the producer's El Guincho’s sophomore LP Pop Negro, due to drop in Autumn.