Radio da Bank: Spark in session & Danny Byrd drops in for a chat

This week Rob's Maida Vale Session comes courtesy of Spark, and drum 'n' bass producer of the moment Danny Byrd (pictured with Rob) drops in the studio for a chat. Plus of course Rob brings you his Best and Improbably Greatest Record In The World Right Now... Possibly... Well At Least For This Morning... Maybe... and this week it's Woon's 'Night Air'.

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

Shy FX — Raver - Digital Soundboy
Annie — Songs Remind Me Of You (The Swiss and Donnie Sloan Mix) - Smalltown 12
Model 500 — OFI (Mad Mike Mix) - R&S
Maximum Balloon — Groove Me feat. Theophilus London - Fiction
Olof Arnald — Crazy Car - One Little Indian
Où est le swimming pool Où est le swimming pool — Dance The Way I Feel - Stiff Records
The Libertines — Don’t Look Back Into The Sun - Rough Trade
Tobacco — Fresh Hex feat. Beck - Anticon

Spark In Session
Spark — Revolving
Spark — Damage Done

Chain — Maje Part 1 - White
Flowers & Sea Creatures — International - Buzzin' Fly

Saturday Skank
Adam Prescot — On Dubstep Tip (feat. Dynamite MC & Jah Screechy) - Nice Up

Niki and The Dove — DJ, Ease My Mind - Moshi Moshi
George Lenton — Stay Around (feat. Jack Da Lad) - Under 5s
Manic Street Preachers — I’m Leaving You For Solitude - Epic
The Ting Tings — Hands (Low Sunday Mix) - Columbia
The Drums — Down By The Water - Moshi Moshi
Stardust — Music Sounds Better With You (Eat More Cake Mix) - Roule

Danny Byrd Interview
Danny Byrd — Amen Ally - Hospital

ShockOne — Polygon (feat. Reija Lee Thomas) (Dirtyphonics Remix) - Viper
Acen — Trip To The Moon - Production House

Spark In Session
Spark — Shut Out The Moon

2000 Fast Women — Letters From Vienna - Wrapt-Up
New Order — Blue Monday (Nicholas Jaar Remix) - Factory

Rob’s Best And Improbably Greatest Record In The World Right Now… Maybe
Woon — Night Air - White Label

Tensnake — Coma Cat - Defected

Bestival's new Main Stage!

Bestival's Main Stage has a new home, and a new design! Created by Josie da Bank and her crack team, it’s a truly unique psychedelic wonder replete with huge lightboxes, a reflection of the technicolour creativity writ large at Bestival.

Our central hub, this is the grandest most communal and euphoric setting on site to hear your favourites live acts – everyone from The Flaming Lips and Roxy Music to Hot Chip, Dizzee Rascal and The Prodigy, hosted by The Cuban Brothers, and their various alter egos!

Ahead of the greatest show on earth ever (c. Bestival) we caught up with Josie, Bestival's Creative Director, to find out more...

What's the big idea?
"Because the bands are getting bigger we had to change the shape of the stage this year to a vertec, we usually have an orbit. I really didn't want a big black monster of a stage so I had a good think about making if different."

How would you describe your creation?
"Lots of colour, light boxes, screen prints, psychedelic. I hope it's going to have the wow factor."

Where did the inspiration come from for your design?
"Angus Watt who makes the flags emailed me a picture of an amazing DJ stage at a European festival called Mystery land. It blew me away. I tried to hire it but it was to complicated for them to bring it over so I had to put pen to paper."

Tell us about the process of actually making the stage?
"I did a sketch of what I wanted, I sent it to Chris and Alex and their company called Spacial (they are making it for me). Star Events who provide the stage then said what was possible and we went from there bouncing back various different drawings. I then got together with my trusty designer Luke to fine tune the screen prints and final design. Fingers crossed it all comes together."

What are the craft processes involved?
"Printed scrim, aluminum frames of all different sizes made into light boxes, screen printed PVC made into large tubes. Back lit PVC. All very technical really."

Sign up to 10:10 & Win Bestival Tickets!

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 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 - an ambitious project to unite every sector of society behind one simple idea: cutting our emissions by 10% starting in 2010. We think it's a fantastic campaign to get involved with, which is why we've signed up to it...

... and we think you should too! 

So, if you sign up to 10:10 using the form below (it's quick, painless and free) you'll also be entered into a draw to win a pair of tickets to this year's Bestival. There are 4 pairs up for grabs in total so you all stand a good chance... good luck!

(NB: If you're reading this on Facebook you'll need to click here to see the form)

There will also be a 10:10 Tent in the Bollywood Field at Bestival this year where you'll be able to charge your mobile phone up using solar and bicycle power, for free!

Besti-mix 32: David E. Sugar

Besti-mix 32 is a beaut, a party-starting, genre-trashing, boundary-blurring biggie from one of the most creative artists around, David E. Sugar. The latest signing to Rob da Bank’s label Sunday Best, this multi-talented singer, songwriter and producer first made his name as a computer-game sampling ‘chip-tune’ jacker and the same joyously wide-eyed approach informs his intricately layered precision perfect pop and dancefloor bombs.

Before signing with Sunday Best, David's single 'Oi New York, This Is London' was used to launch Joe Hot Chip's Greco-Roman label and he has also previously released music on that celebrated vanguard of groundbreaking electro, Kitsuné. His latest track, the suitably titled and irrepressibly catchy ‘Party Killer’, and forthcoming album 'Memory Store' should see him breakthrough to a whole new audience.

For now though, kick back, turn the volume up and enjoy David’s exclusive Besti-mix...

Bestimix 32: David E. Sugar (Celebration Of Curation Mix) by Bestimix on Mixcloud

Download: Besti-mix 32 David E. Sugar

Tracklisting:
01 David E. Sugar - Travel Light
02 Neurotic Drum Band - Robotic Hypnotic
03 Wish - Pia Fraus
04 Scott Grooves - Coco Brown
05 Ungdomskulen - I Dunno (David E. Sugar Remix)
06 Piej - Safeplace (Cloud Remix)
07 The Clash - Lightning Strikes (Not Once But Twice)
08 Talking Heads - Pull Up The Roots
09 Luke Vibert & Jean Jacques Perry - Moog Acid
10 The Fall - Arid Al's Dream
11 David E. Sugar - Alpha Department (09 Bootleg Mix)
12 STu - Insects
13 Si Begg - U R D Best

Besti-bod 23: The Trash-Guzzling Dragon

We’re very into our recycling round these parts, so what better way to welcome a new friend to Bestival than by resurrecting a 'pre-loved' feature? Besti-bod is back – for one week only – and Bestival Bugle ed Toby Collard is staring down the business end of a 12 metre long, pink and purple, trash-guzzling dragon, with a penchant for recyclable waste...

... it’s Jacques le Trash! Part-monster, part-French foodie snob, Jacques (created by We Are What We Do, the social movement behind the I'm not a Plastic Bag shopper and Historypin) is visiting Bestival this year to munch his way through all the food and drink packaging he can find. A connoisseur of everything that us careless humans often thoughtlessly discard, Jacques will be roaming the site all weekend guzzling your garbage, and he’s got a place for you to stick your used butts too, but you’ll have to find that for yourself.

Jacques, welcome to Bestival!

Name: Jacques le Trash

Bestivals attended:
”C’est mon premier fois!”

How come you’re there? 
”I will be rrrrhoaming Bestival this summer munching zee paper plates, zee plastic cups, zee tin cans and zee cigarette butts. You see, je suis un professional eater of zee rrrrhubbish.”

Who you there with?
"My friends from We Are What We Do - ‘ave a looook at my page: www.wearewhatwedo.org/jacquesletrash”

What’s your fancy dress for the ‘fantasy’ theme going to be?
”I do not need zee funny clothes. Je suis un pink and purple dragon of 12 metres.”

Everyone’s being encouraged to ‘Go Green to Bestival’ this year – what would be your ultimate way of travelling to Bestival?
”Travelling via every rrrrhubbish dump between my ‘ome in London town, and zee Isle of Wight. Mmmm....”

Who would you most like to see performing at Bestival?
”Dizzee Rascal. J’adore le Grime.”

What one item would you recommend everyone should take to Bestival, and why?
”Well, I cannot eat zee glass, it gives me zee ache of zee stomach. But zee bottles of plastique - Oh, j’adore! Délicieux!. Please bring me zee bottles of plastique to eat. Lots and lots of zee bottles of plastique.”

If Bestival is the answer, what's the question?
“Are you ‘ungry?”

Bestival Island Discs? (3 tunes you consider essential to a top Bestival):
Trash by The New York Dolls
Feed Me by Tricky
... and anything by Garbage

Radio da Bank: The Hundred In The Hands in session

Rob has New York duo The Hundred In The Hands (pictured) in session from Maida Vale. Plus his Best and Improbably Greatest Record In The World Right Now… Possibly… Well At Least For This Morning… Maybe courtesy of Niki & The Dove 'DJ, Ease My Mind'.

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

Shit Robot feat. Alexis Taylor - Losing My Patience - DFA
Mumdance - Smasher - Mad Decent
Phil Kieran - Skyhook (Green Velvet) - Cocoon
Aeroplane feat. Chromeo - She's A Superstar - Wall Of Sound
Fiction - Life Cycle - Shogun
Commix - Be True (Burial Remix) - Metalheadz

SUNRISE TRACK
Gold Panda - Snow & Taxis - Ghostly

Fete - The Islands - NeedWant
Kwes - In And Out The UK - Young Turks

THE HUNDRED IN THE HANDS IN SESSION AT MAIDA VALE
The Hundred in the Hands - Young Aren't Young

Azari & III - Reckless For Your Love - Tensnake Mix
65daysofstatic feat Robert Smith - Come To Me - Hassle

ROB'S GUIDE TO BARELY BELIEVEABLE NEW GENRES OF MUSIC - NU SURF
Real Estate - Beach Comber - Woodsist

Wavves - King Of The Beach - Bella Union
Best Coast - Sun Was High - Mexican Summer

Katy B - Louder - Rinse
MGMT - Congratulations - Columbia
Roots Manuva meets Wrong Tom - Chin Up - Big Dada
Flying Lotus - HmmMmm - Warp

THE HUNDRED IN THE HANDS IN SESSION
The Hundred in the Hands - Pigeons
The Hundred in the Hands - Commotion

Tensnake - Coma Cat - Round Table Knights
James Owen Fender - The Cloud


ROB'S BEST AND IMPROBABLY GREATEST RECORD IN THE WORLD RIGHT NOW… POSSIBLY… WELL AT LEAST FOR THIS MORNING… MAYBE
Niki And The Doves - DJ, Ease My Mind

Justin Bieber - U Smile - Ambient Remix
Psychemagik - Re-Release The Beast - White
Major Lazer feat. MIA & Busy Signal - Sound Of Siren - Mad Decent
Wild Beasts - All The King's Men - Domino
The Chemical Brothers - Another World - Parlophone

High Fidelity starring dan le sac Vs Scroobius Pip, Nick Frost & Riz MC

Check this ace spoof video featuring dan le sac, Scroobius Pip, Nick Frost (Shaun of The Dead, Spaced etc) and Riz MC!

It's to promote dan and pip's next single 'Caulifower' (out 11th October) and their forthcoming UK Tour...

October
14, The Forum, Hatfield
15, O2 Academy, Leicester
16, HMV Institute, Birmingham
17, O2 Academy, Bristol
19, Solus, Cardiff
20, Stylus, Leeds
21, Uni, Newcastle
23, QMU, Glasgow
24, Lemon Tree, Aberdeen
26, Academy 2, Manchester
27, Plug, Sheffield
28, Ultra, Nottingham
30, Uni, Southampton
31, Concorde 2, Brighton

November
1, Shepherds Bush Empire, London
3, Liverpool Music Week @ o2 Academy, Liverpool

Tickets can be found via lesacvspip.co.uk/?p=1191

Besti-mix 31: Nick Hollywood

Swinging into our thirties in style, our latest Besti-mix is by Nick Hollywood, founder of infamous late night cabaret institution Club Montepulciano and the electro-swing maestro who’ll be helping make this year’s Club Dada go-off big time at Bestival. Resident DJ at London’s Electro Swing speakeasy clubnight and Brighton's White Mink, if Nick’s hip-grinding mix of flapper specials and old-time boogie swing doesn’t get your spats tapping then nothing will!

Bestimix 31: Nick Hollywood by Bestimix on Mixcloud

Download: Besti-mix 31: Nick Hollywood

Tracklisting:
1.  Princess Crocodile - Gry with F.M. Einheit
2.  Memories - Waldeck
3.  Deep Henderson - Nick Hollywood
4.  Gypsie Doodle - Analogik
5.  Shake Ya Boogie - Mocean Worker
6.  Hold The Night - Lyre Le Temps
7.  Jolie Coquine - Caravan Palace
8.  Swing Bop - Der Dritte Raum
9.  Chambermaid Swing - Parov Stelar
10. King Of The Swingers - The Correspondents
11. Revue Noir - Nicolas Repac
12. Comes a Rainstorm - Kormac
13. I'm Crazy 'Bout My Baby - G Swing
14. When Hollywood Goes Black And Tan - Cleo Brown

David E. Sugar's Party Killer

David E. Sugar was recently very aptly described by Manchester's City Life Magazine as having a "Tom Vek vs Simian Mobile Disco vibe, with a little of the '80s funk of Roxy Music and the easy groove of Gorillaz thrown in" ... what's not to like about that ey?

David initially made a name for himself as a pioneer of 'Chip-tune'  (think early 90's computer game soundtracks dragged through an iMac) with the help of his Nintendo Game Boy and other toys like ET's favourite the 'Speak & Spell'. He then developed his sound further and before signing with our Sunday Best label, David's single 'Oi New York, This Is London' was used to launch Joe Hot Chip's Greco-Roman label and he has also previously released music on that celebrated vanguard of groundbreaking electro, Kitsuné.

'Party Killer', his debut single for Sunday Best, is out this week as a double A side 7" single backed with 'Travel Light' while on iTunes & co you can also find reworks by Disco of Doom, Adam Smith, The Phenomenal Hand Clap Band, Renaissance Man and Sunday Best's own re-take. Click here for more info ... and to get your copy :)

youtube.com/watch?v=_WEePM0sRqA

This video for Party Killer, created by Arnold&Barber, uses crafty projection techniques to capture an artistic and imaginative take on David's performance. A 'blank canvas' of David interacts with images of himself to mesmerizing effect!

Radio da Bank: Cocknbullkid in session

This week we have a Maida Vale session courtesy of Cocknbullkid and the usual weekly bounty of new music from the da Bank record box including new tracks from Aeroplane, Pariah, James Yuill and more.

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

Aeroplane - Superstar - Wall Of Sound
Canblaster - Jet Pack - Sounds Of Sumo
Booka Shade - Teenage Spaceman (Tim Deluxe Mix) - Get Physical
Stardust - Music Sounds Better With You (Eat More Cake Mix) - White
Caribou - Sun (Midland Re-Edit) - City Slang

SUNRISE TRACK
Arp - Pastoral Symphonies - Smalltown Supersound

Magnetic Man - I Need Air (Digital Soundboy Mix) - Columbia
Fly, Frankie, Fly - I Am The Seed - White
Caitlin Rose - Own Side Now - Names

COCKNBULLKID IN SESSION
Cocknbullkid - Yellow

Pariah - Railroad - R&S Records
J Dilla - Safety Dance - Stone Throw
Die Antwoord - Enter The Ninja - Interscope
Katy B - Katy On A Mission - Rinse
Gullet - Crazy - Kaptein Kaliber

SATURDAY SKANK
Lobsterdub - Rocket Mon In Dub (Elton John vs Scientist) - White

The Count & Sinden - After Dark featuring Mystery Jets (The Count's After Dub Mix) - Domino
Chilly Gonzales - I Am Europe - Boys Noize
James Yuill - First In Line - Moshi Moshi

COCKNBULLKID IN SESSION
Cocknbullkid - Misery
Cocknbullkid - Yellow

Sky Ferreira - One (Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs Mix - Parlophone
Röyksopp - The Drug - Wall Of Sound
Radiohead - Creep - EMI
The xx - Islands - XL
The Jolly Boys - Rehab featuring Albert Minott - Wall Of Sound

Besti-residents 2: Woon

With a voice to tear your heart out, soulful South London singer Jamie Woon mashes poetry, chanting and voodoo soul into a magic potion. Perhaps that's why the notoriously picky producer of the decade Burial selected to remix his track,'Wayfaring Stranger', one of only a handful of reversions he has ever done, and a beauty to boot.

The fourth generation of a line of professional musicians, which includes Hugh and Ted McKenna from the Sensational Alex Harvey Band and his mother, Mae McKenna, a folk/celtic artist and session singer, having made a name for himself over the past two year's on London live circuit Woon is now ready for the big lights.

Expect this boy wonder to go stellar in 2011, and discover his soulful vibes for yourself at Bestival!

UK festi exclusive: Janelle Monáe to play Bestival!

Just confirmed! Amazing US singer-songwriter-dancer-megastar-in-waiting Janelle Monáe will play Thursday night at Bestival in her only UK festival appearance this year!

A protege of Outkast's Big Boi and championed by the likes of Jay-Z, Kanye and Diddy, this girl is going to be a massive, massive star.

Already famed for her incredible costumes, dancing and looks, her otherworldly R&B draws inspiration from the masters of high drama and science fiction, namely Alfred Hitchcock and Blade Runner writer Philip K Dick. Do not miss this live show!

Besti-mix 30: Bestival Radio (Fantasy Zoo Mix)

Bestival Radio is back for 2010 and to celebrate three days of gleeful lunacy on the Robin Hill airwaves this week’s Besti-mix is their Fantasy Zoo Mix. An interstellar ride through time and space, Besti-mix 30 showcases the new and old, from Roxy Music’s timeless ‘Avalon’ to Dam Funk’s 22nd century space boogie, from David Bowie’s brilliant ‘Dance Magic Dance’ (anyone remember Labyrinth?) to New York spaz-punk-funk of Liquid Liquid’s ‘Cavern’.

As if that wasn’t winner enough, we’re getting all generous and giving you the chance to host your own radio show at Bestival this year as judged by Bestival Radio and Rob da Bank. Our studio will be yours to use, as will our producers. We want you experimental Bestival revellers to submit your show's tracklisting based on the festival’s fancy dress theme. Whatever floats your fantasy boats. Click here for more info and to enter. Ship us off to your distorted fairyland via your selection!

Bestimix 30: Bestival Radio (Fantasy Zoo Mix) by Bestimix on Mixcloud

Download: Besti-mix 30: Bestival Radio (Fantasy Zoo Mix)

Tracklisting:
01 The Doors - People Are Strange
02 Liquid Liquid - Cavern
03 David Bowie - Laughing Gnome
04 Late Of The Pier - The Bears Are Coming (Beyond The Wizards Sleeve Rework)
05 Caribou - Odessa
06 David Bowie - Dance Magic Dance
07 Space Women - Charlie
08 Goblin - Tenebre (Serge Santiago Edit)
09 Imagination - Just An Illusion
10 Theophilus London - Light Years
11 Dâm-Funk - Fantasy
12 Antoni Maiovvi - Future Space Love Party
13 Incredible Bongo Band - In A Gadda Da Vida
14 Roxy Music - Avalon

Sunday Best Knees-Up-Mother-Brown at The Lock Tavern - this Sunday and Free!

Rob da Bank and his Sunday Best band of brothers return to the Lock Tavern in Camden this Sunday 15th August for another free knees-up-mother-brown of a party! Attempting to compress a taste of Bestival into a Sunday afternoon is no mean feat, but this wildly eclectic line-up should do the trick:

Rob da Bank
Visions of Trees
Skinny Lister
DJ Shepdog (NICE UP!)
Sombrero Sound System

Kicking off at 3pm (get down early for the roasts!) and carrying on until 11pm (in time for you to catch the last tube home and be in bed by midnight, should you wish!) ... there's no other way to spend a Sunday really. Oh, and did we mention its free entry?

Ross Allen's Meltdown: And then there was nothing...well almost

Hi there...well, there is not too much to say this week... I have been mainly staying in. So no boring rant this week - what a relief, i hear you say.

A trip to Dub Vendor, and a lot of time mucking about with music. Anyway check the show, its a good one - heavy on the bass...

The Meltdown 11th August 2010
on Ministryofsound.com

Download

Stream

Tracklisting:

Mr Williams - London - necessary mayhem 7"
Da Grinch - Jam 1 - Necessary Mayhem 7"
Big Boi - Follow Us - Def Jam CD (Alex P re edit)
Kevin Rudolph feat Lil Wayne - Made It (Rockwell Still D n B remix) - CDR
Kabuki feat Jeru the Damaja - Watch Your Step - V Recordings LP
DJ Shadow - Stem (Blank Image Remix) - CDR
Sigma - Baltimore - CDR
Joy White - Dread Out De- Leo 7"
Omar Perry - Save The Earth - Makafresh 7"
M.I.A - Teqkilla - XLLP (from the album Maya)
Digital Mystikz - Unexpected - DMZ LP (from the album Return 2 Space)
DJMadd - Detroit Skank - CDR
Greg Nice - Motherfucker (Nick Catchdubs refix) - CDR
Ramadanman - Work Dem - Swamp 81 12"

Distance - Beyond - CDR
Ikonika - Ingredients - Planet Mu 12"
Urban Tribe - Program 008 - download
Fourtet - Nothing To See - Soul jazz12"
Pitto - Sea Lion Woman (Pitto Rmx) - download
James Teej - 7 Day Mend - Rekids download
Count & Sinden - Panther - domino CD. (from LP Mega, Mega, Mega)
Nas/Damian Marley - Promised Land dub - rudebwoy 7"
Brinsley Ford - Promised Land - Sip a Cup 7"
Roman Virgo - live Mi Life- jukebox 7"
Assasin - History Book - Jukeboxx 7"
Busy Signal - Dem Nuh Care - Jukeboxx 7" all on Boops Riddim
Roots Manuva meets Wrong Tom - Worl' A Mine - Big Dada CD (from Album Duppy Writer)
The Supremes - World Is Empty Without You - Hard Food 7"
The Jacksons - Buttercup - Motown CD (from Album Unreleased Masters)
The Voices of East Harlem - I Wanna Be Free (previously unreleased) - Elektra CD (from album Right On Be Free)

Hope you liked that...

On the club news front The Meltdown is returning and weekly at the Heavenly Social, Little Portland Street. The night going to be called THE SOCIAL MELTDOWN and it's every Friday from 7pm till 1am. It starts September 4th with guests from Glasgow's Numbers Crew and Various (formerly Various Productions) and me playing all things Meltdown'ish. There are a whole slew of other great and interesting guests lined up but i think this will be a good one. I hope you can join us.

Cheers I am off to try and do something interesting this week. in fact the reason it is so short is also because i am about to get on a plane to Budapest - that should reap some fruits... I'll let you know.

See you then

Ross
x

Radio da Bank: Ibiza Chill Special

Rob da Bank continues BBC Radio 1's Ibiza weekend with an Ibiza Chill Special.

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

Unknown — Down To The Sea
The Orb — Back Side Of The Moon - Universal Music
Vangelis — Love Theme - Universal
Boards of Canada — Sunshine Records - Warp
Brian Eno — 2/1 - Virgin
Aphex Twin — Heliosphan - Apollo
Sébastien Tellier — La Ritournelle - Lucky Number
Global Communication — 1431 - Dedicated
Marina & The Diamonds — Hollywood (Mr Fogg’s Dub Mix) - White
Nuyorican Soul — I Am The Black Gold Of The Sun - Talkin’ Loud
Baz Luhrmann — Everybody’s Free To Wear (Sunscreen) - EMI
Beloved — Sun Rising - WEA
Radiohead — Reckoner - XL
The Golden Girls — Kinetic (Morley’s Apollo Mix) - R&S Records
Prince Fatty — Insane In The Brain - Mr Bongo
Aeroplane — We Can’t Fly - Wall Of Sound
Caspa — Back For The First Time - Sub Soldiers
Florence and The Machine — Cosmic - Island
Mount Kimbie — Adriatic - Hotflush
Foals — Spanish Sahara (Mount Kimbie Mix) - Warners
Skream — Fields Of Emotion - Tempa
Chicane — Offshore (Ambient Mix) - Modena
Primal Scream — Come Together - Creation
Röyksopp — Eple - Wall Of Sound
New Order — Blue Monday (Jam & Spoon Remix) - Club Standards
Midnight Magic — Beam Me Up (Jacques Renault) - Permanent Vacation
Cut Copy — Where I’m Going - Modular
The Chemical Brothers — Swoon (Lindstrom and Prins Thomas Remix) - Parlophone
Nightmares on Wax — Les Nuits - Warner Dance
The xx — Islands - XL
Magnetic Man featuring Angela Hunte — I Need Air - Columbia

Besti-band of the week 8: Neon Indian

Looking for the new MGMT, only one that sounds more like the old MGMT than MGMT do these days? Confused? Don't be...ease back and allow us to introduce you to the psychedelic charms of Neon Indian, aka Alan Palomo, a 21-year-old synth-wizard.

A man of many talents, this one-man-bedroom-producer is credited as part of the new American wave of determinedly lo-fi dreamers making blissed-out electronic sounds including the likes of Washed Out and Toro y Moi.

Neon Indian's debut album 'Psychic Chasms' was released in the US last year, getting props from the good folk at Fader, Spin and Rolling Stone among others.

Since then, Palmo's remixed Grizzly Bear and Au Revoir Simone, festival appearances at Pitchfork Music Festival and Bonnaroo as well as supporting Massive Attack on their first shows in the America in four years.

Find out what all the fuss is about for yourself by catching him live at Bestival this September...

Besti-residents 1: Joy Orbison

Meet the marvelous performers and DJs playing both our festivals this summer...

We're delighted to introduce such a mixed bag to kick off our first year Bestival residency - from indie to folk to disco, beatboxing and hands in the air techno all musical bases covered - just like at our festies.

Some of our residents will already be familar faces to regular readers of this blog, yesterday's mix came courtesy of one of them, the great Greg Wilson, while previous Besti-band of the week profiles have shone a light on two other multi-talented Besti-resident songstresses destined for pop stardom, namely Charlie XCX and Beth Jeans Houghton (scroll below for more!).

Our first proper Besti-resident intro right here though belongs to a certain future UK dance music star and someone who can truly say they've coined a distinct sound, South London producer Joy Orbison.

Unless you've been living under a rock for the past year you'll have definitely danced like a loon and most probably loved doing so to the 23-year-old's now classic debut tune 'Hyph Mungo', voted the best of 2009 by our friends at both FACT magazine and Resident Advisor.

Follow-up singles have melded dubstep, garage, UK funky and house to similarly impressive effect, and we can't wait to hear what the youngster has in-store for us at Bestival this Sep.

Sounds like: Brooding Burial like synth pads overlaid with skittering Detroitian techno which make dancefloors go radio rental!

Critics say: "Somehow euphoric yet mournful, banging yet sad, drenched in keyboards, and rhythmically straddling the previously uncharted terrain between dubstep, garage and house." Paul Lester (The Guardian)

Ross Allen's Meltdown: Erykah Badu and Onk!

Ahoy There ! Well, we are back on dry land and full of the joys of the British countryside. A trip down the river really is a great way to get away from it all. Our 5 day trip down the river Wye was just great, away from London, traffic and free to think freely and empty your head, with nothing to distract you except the odd bird, a narky fisherman or other canoeists.. oh yes and the boat behind you - the one with your mates in shouting a near constant stream of gibberish, at you, at others, a particular favourite, culled from Mike Leigh's 'Nuts In May' is/was "Onk" try it... its very therapeutic. Often shouted at full blast it's a great way to upset the peace of the River, take the piss out of Brummie's or upset fishermen, why are they so moody in general ?

Anyway, it was a weak full of Onking, scouse jokes and sore arms. I have to thank Rocky (without Diesel) and Scouse Alan for a week of sneering cynicism, dark humour and stupid jokes plus an over riding appreciation for all things nature and natural - bitter and scrumpy being two. The only things to bring the week down a bit were the tinned meals we ate whilst 'wild' camping and the pikeys that drilled into Rocky's petrol tank and stole what, at best, was £20 worth of petrol. Is it a sign of the times ? or the work of a couple of 'butes' (cheers for that Alan, and a whole load of other scouse descriptive terms). A perfect tonic to the hectic ness of the preceding weeks activities and those that are forth coming...

Besti-mix 29: Greg Wilson (live mix from Camp Bestival 2010)

Keeping last weekend’s magic alive a little bit longer, our latest Besti-mix is an exclusive session recorded live at Camp Bestival 2010 by the turntable legend that is Greg Wilson. As you’d expect from a man with over 30 years experience of smashing it at the finest clubs in the country, Greg’s mix is a genre-spanning special, with his own beatific remixes of Florence & The Machine and The xx taking pride of place in amongst oldies but goodies from Diana Ross and Fleetwood Mac, sparkling modern pop from Goldfrapp and classic piano house courtesy of Hacienda faves T-Coy. Tuck in kids...

Bestimix 29: Greg Wilson (Live Mix From Camp Bestival 2010) by Bestimix on Mixcloud

Download: Besti-mix 29: Greg Wilson (live mix from Camp Bestival 2010)

Tracklisting:
1. Rocha - Feel the Love (Greg Wilson version)
2. T-Coy - Carino (Greg Wilson edit)
3. Chaz Jankel - Glad to Know You (Todd Terje edit / Greg Wilson inst re-touch)
4. Sharon & Diana - Specialist Hangover (Henry Greenwood mash-up)
5. 40 Thieves - Don’t Turn It Off (Greg Wilson edit)
6. Fleetwood Mac - Everywhere (Psychemagic edit)
7. Florence & The Machine - Rabbit Heart (Raise it Up) (Leo Zero mix / Greg Wilson edit)
8. The xx - Night Time (Greg Wilson version)
9. Goldfrapp - Dreaming (Greg Wilson version)

Radio da Bank: Fanfarlo in session & Mount Kimbie pop in for a chat

This week Rob da Bank has a Maida Vale session courtesy of Fanfarlo (pictured) and Mount Kimbie pop in for a chat about what's going on with them right now and their new album 'Crooks & Lovers'.  Plus there's all the latest shenanigans including Rob's Best & Improbably Greatest Record, a new Barely Believeable Genre and of course, Festi Boy giving us a round-up of festival bits and bobs from the last couple of weeks.

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

Underworld - Always Loved A Film - Cooking Vinyl
L-Vis 1990 - Into The Stars - Night Slugs
Sunday Girl - Self Control (Azari & Ill Remix) - Geffen
Johnny Flynn - Barnacled Warship - Transgressive
Toro Y Moi - Leave Everywhere - Carpark
Vampire Weekend vs Basement Jaxx - White Sky

FANFARLO MAIDA VALE SESSION
Fanfarlo - Fire Escape
Fanfarlo - The Walls Are Coming Down

Stray - Frost - More Blood
Crystal Fighters - In The Summer (Brookes Brothers Remix) - Zirkulo
Sleeping Bags - Cantaloupe - Jodie & Victor

ROB'S GUIDE TO BARELY BELIEVEABLE NEW GENRES OF MUSIC - ELECTRO SWING!
Lyre le temps - Hold The Night
Caravan Palace - Suzy
The Correspondents - Washington Square
The Knocks - Make It Better - Neon Gold

SATURDAY SKANK
Roots Manuva - Jah Warrior featuring Ricky Ranking - Big Dada

Claire Maguire - Strangest Thing - White
Squarepusher - Cryptic Motion - White
Alex Warren & Terema Wainwright - Newport (Ymerodraeth State of Mind)
The Jolly Boys feat. Albert Minott - Great Balls Of Fire

Mount Kimbie - Carbonated - Hotflush
Mount Kimbie - Before I Move Off - Hotflush

Delorean - Come Wonder - True Panther
Om Unit - Searching (Adam Freeland Mix) - Marine Parade
Kisses - People Can Do The Most Amazing Things - White
Dels - Shapeshift - Big Dada
John Grant - Chicken Bones - Bella Union
The xx - Islands - XL

ROB'S BEST AND GREATEST RECORD IN THE WORLD RIGHT NOW… POSSIBLY… WELL AT LEAST FOR THIS MORNING… MAYBE
Tracey Thorn - Swimming (Seth Troxler Remix) - White

Marina & The Diamonds - Oh No! - 679

The House of Fairy Tales at Camp Bestival

Blessed with some of the most magical acts, beautiful natural countryside and a wonderful crowd commandeered by kids(!), this year's Camp Bestival was one to remember. Amongst the many highlights was our first residency from rather amazing traveling art circus The House of Fairy Tales, who transformed a field next to the Magic Meadow into a surreal parallel world where all things are possible and nothing is first as it seemed.

Established in 2007 by acclaimed British artists Gavin Turk and Deborah Curtis, The House of Fairy Tales is a visionary arts & education production company dedicated to creating magical learning experiences through theatre, story-telling, art, science and magic for children of all ages and their families.

Over the weekend, they hosted a series of specially devised workshops, performances, installations and special surprises in collaboration with an illustrious team of artists, authors, garden designers, composers, sculptors, illustrators, actors, philosophers, yoga masters, set designers, inventors, fairy tale characters and story tellers. We spoke to Gavin & Deborah to find out more…


Where did the inspiration for House of Fairy Tales come from?

"The project has evolved out of 15 years of organising events both within the art world and theatrical events for families. We have three children and it seemed like a natural step to link their experience to that of the art world, which is rather adult centred but full of playful characters. The House of Fairy Tales in its current incarnation was born in the Port Eliot Festival as a tribute to the late Jago Eliot who was a friend and extraordinary personality he was brilliant at performing magic and telling stories - hence the name. The ambition for the future is to become a major national education charity, influencing government policy on state education. There is a real need out there for a creative world that is not tied into the commercial art market."

What is so special about Fairy Tales as opposed to other children’s stories?

"Fairy Tales are non-authored tales that have been passed down through the storytelling tradition. They are by their nature an improvised made up story with no standard linear structure and can change location or plot in the rubbing of a magic lamp or the relocation of a Tardis. As we all remember, they have certain traits in common for example there is usually a journey, adventure or a challenge that has to be undertaken by the central character who is often a downtrodden and tattered ordinary peasant. They feature mythical characters such as elves, or goblins and have magic and enchantment at their heart. They are often a kind of hierarchical invented monarchy with a powerful moral democracy. They represent hope for the general populace, their echoes lie at the heart of our contemporary life: TV shows such as 'Pop Idol' riff on Fairy Tale principals of discovery and transformation.  In short they are rich in imagination and transformative possibilities that transcend the pragmatic prison of contemporary life with its shallow values of celebrity culture and cynical politics."

What personal experiences have led you to consider art as transformative?

"Art is visual philosophy and some of our richest learning experiences have happened when grappling with conversations and experiences around art. But art can be found in literature, theatre, film, music and even science and maths when the eureka moment happens. Sometimes art and horror can happen simultaneously which can be a very cathartic experience and prepares us for death."



Do you paint with your kids?

"Of course we have done art projects with the children but probably not enough, we are too busy making creative projects for the masses! Our children probably miss out on our attention. The two older ones are excelling at triple science so genes and environment don't necessarily count although maybe science is easier to understand if you have a free thinking brain

."

Some artists, Duchamp for example, consider children’s art often the most exciting and interesting...would you agree?
"
The child's mind is fresh and unfettered by preconceptions about our world. They ask challenging and interesting questions about very obvious stuff that as adults we forget to question. They help us adults to re-engage with our universe. Drawing and art making is a vital part of that self-expression before they are articulate enough in language and writing.

"

Who dreams up all the magical creative ideas?

"We work with an extraordinary network of creative people and so The House of Fairy Tales is one big collaboration. Some of the core ideas such as the characteristics, passport, badges and medals have evolved from past incarnations of the project. The good ideas stay around. We owe an enormous debt of gratitude to the amazing artists we work with.

"