Bestiblog.net

Rob da Bank's 'Imaginary Soundtrack for An Imaginary Film'

2012-02-03T17:16:00.001Z

i-DJ: Rob da Bank by i-D online

Rob da Bank has put a mix together for i-D magazine that he has dubbed 'An Imaginary Soundtrack for An Imaginary Film'.

Read the full article and interview here.

Besti-mix 82: Dave'll mix it

2012-02-02T10:23:00.003Z

Way, way back... when men were men and perms were de rigeur, Dave Grogan, a thrusting young orderly, met Halifax Hospital Radio legend Barry Peters in a chance union that would change the face of pub gigs in the north of England forever. Together, they traveled the length and breadth of Yorkshire thrilling audiences with their musical daring and enviable wardrobe. But, after 25 years of non-stop party nonsense, these two have had to part ways.

Stop that crying dear reader because Dave now flies solo, one man on a mission to reduce working men's clubs into havens of gay abandon up and down the country. And it seems to be working. He has built up quite a following (29 friends on Twitter) and is now ready... to unveil his quite literally (well, not literally) blinding Besti-mix. Featuring everyone from dapper dans The Specials to sisters with attitude Salt N Pepa via such musical greats as Debarge, Buggles and household faves Statler and Waldorf (no, us neither), this is one exclusive deejay session not to be missed!

Download: Bestimix 82 Dave'll mix it

1. The Specials - A message to you Rudy (FK5)
2. Bob Marley – Could you be loved
3. 10CC – Dreadlock Holiday
4. Diana Ross – Upside Down
5. Luther Vandross – Never Too Much
6. Prince – Kiss
7. Madonna – Holiday
8. Debarge – Rhythm of the Night
9. Wham! – Club Tropicana
10. Rose Royce – Car Wash
11. Grandmaster Flash – White Lines
12. Dee Lite – Groove is in the Heart
13. Denise Williams – Let’s hear it for the boys
14. Salt n Pepa – Push It
15. MC Hammer – U can’t touch this
16. Pointer Sisters – Jump (For my love)
17. Lionel Richie – Dancing on the Ceiling
18. The Buggles – Video killed the Radio Star
19. Queen – Don’t stop me now
20. The Prodigy – Out of Space
21. Kim Wilde – Kids in America
22. Nena – 99 red Balloons
23. Reef – Place your hands
24. Dolly Parton – 9 to 5
25. Dalida – Zorba the Greek
26. Statler and Waldorf – Boo
27. The Monkeys – Daydream Believer

Bestimix 82: Dave'll mix it by Bestimix on Mixcloud

12 New Things for Bestival 2012...

2012-02-01T15:06:00.000Z

1 The theme for Bestival 2012 is Wildlife We want you to unleash the party beast from the hinterlands of your imagination, covering Robin Hill with some properly wild things, from fantastic fauna, kings of the jungle and even organisms aplenty to just the outrageously wild... The sky is far from the limit of what can happen when you get amongst the wildlife…. And we will also be launching our very own Insect Museum and Animal Tug of War.

2 Barter for Bestival Can’t afford a ticket? Then barter yourself to us for a few hours to help with an IOW charity legacy project in exchange for a free Bestival ticket! 50 people from far and wide will get the opportunity to help create a community allotment space working with Natural Enterprise. Applications will open on 20th February when full details are announced so watch this space.

3 Film is coming to Bestival in 2012 New for 2012 are the Lost Picture Show – a vintage cinema to take you back to the golden age of movie going, plus Rob da Bank will be rescoring the 1930s original of King Kong at the brand new Amphitheatre performance space in the Woods with more film collaborations to be announced soon.

4 Soul Park Our new and expanded Healing Area will feature unique spaces for yoga, massage, relaxation, hammocks and meditation with the David Lynch Foundation, plus wood-burning Scandinavian hot tubs and a sauna area. Perfectly calm for when you just need to relax a little and refresh to get your positive energy recharged.

5 Arcadia Mechanical Cabaret Not content with having invented the crazy mechanical spider that spits flames and has scared the living pants off us at the last few Bestis, Arcadia have now trawled the world for brand new structures and insane fire art to wow us with, much of it from Burning Man.

6 Young British Foodies We’ve got the country’s finest young chefs, street food vendors, bakers and mixologists all under one roof! Winners of the nationwide search for the most talented Young British Foodies will be joined by the YBF all-star foodie judges to create a never-been-done-before, spectacular eating experience.

7 The Bollywood Bar is having a complete Josie da Bank makeover – with an old London bus being transformed into a Bollywood chill out bar in full Indian colours and the inside getting a cinematic Bollywood lick of paint.

8 Grand Palace of Entertainment Roll up roll up, we’ve cranked up the fun factor with this new venue! Expect twisted cabaret, raucous games and quizzes, dancing lycra-clad bearded trannies and multi-coloured, glitter strewn, late night parties.

9 More camping space Yes we may not be expanding on capacity onsite cos we know we’re the right size but we will be creating much more space for you… check out this aerial picture showing you all the new land we’ve taken.

10 Create a Bloco for the Bestival Carnival Your chance to unite with other festi-goers and get creative! We are inviting you to form your own Bloco and be part of our carnival parade on Saturday afternoon. From fabulous costumes, to drumming, dancing and giant puppets, we can’t wait to see what delights you come up with! Details of how to enter coming soon.

11 Cycle To Bestival Emulate mighty Mark Cavendish with a truly Olympic effort to ride almost 100 miles from Central London to Bestival… and raise cash for charity. More details will be available at the end of the month but you can get in training now if sounds like fun to you… on yer bike Bestivalites.

12 Rob da Bank’s Music Club Are you a rock star in the making? Head to Rob da Bank’s Music Club to find out! This project, set up in partnership with the Isle of Wight Youth Trust, is coming to Robin Hill to offer up a brilliant selection music and arts workshops.

As well as all the brand spanking fresh stuff there’s going to be a healthy dose of unbridled joy on the dancefloor too, as Bestival are overjoyed to declare that dance music legends Orbital will be crossing the Solent to join us for an epicurean adventure, or as we used to call it a proper rave up, headlining the Big Top on Sunday night! Renowned for their festival annihilating brilliance and a dashing line in torch specs, the brothers Hartnoll are true pioneers of dance music and with a brand new album, ‘Wonky’ currently getting the critics all giddy, you can expect nothing less than a legendary set!

"I've never been pestered so much on Twitter and even in clubs and on the street about who’s playing Bestival this year so we thought we'd better start the proceedings", announced Rob da Bank. "Legendary brothers of rave Paul and Phil Hartnoll aka Orbital are the first act who have self-announced themselves today… and what a classic to kick off on. As ever the theme of Bestival is a hotly debated topic - this year it’s Wildlife - so maybe you're thinking foxes, badgers or flamingos or go a bit more lateral and think of wild men and women, hedonists and crazy people? It’s an open book as ever. More news very soon!"

With many more acts to announce for Bestival 2012 and to build just a touch of anticipation for our headline announcements, Rob da Bank will be taking to his trusty Twitter announcing an act a day until mid-February when we’ll be announcing some headliner news. Until then, make sure you check the Twitter feed for news on some of the many acts that will be gracing Bestival 2012 with their presence.

Radio da Bank: First Aid Kit in session

2012-01-30T18:32:00.000Z

Swedish folk duo First Aid Kit are in session from the the BBC's Maida Vale, plus da Bank counts down the 5 hype records you need in your life right now in Rob's High Fives.

There are also fantastic tracks from the likes of Chairlift, Azealia Banks, Jamie N Commons and many more...

Catch up online via the BBC iPlayer

Fort Romeau — Jack Rollin - 100% Silk
Joy Orbison & Boddika — Swims - Swamp 81
Graphics — Mama Grizzlies - Made To Play
Willis Earl Beal — Evening's Kiss - XL
Scuba — Flash Addict - Hotflush Recordings
Daniel Avery — Airstrike - Relish

First Aid Kit — In the Hearts of Men (Radio 1 Maida Vale Session)

Tycho — Hours - Ghostly International
Clark — Com Touch - Warp
Raffertie — Brevity - Ninja Tune
Rusko — Somebody To Love
Azealia Banks — Need Sum Love (SXLND)
Kate Bush — Cloudbusting (Mighty Mouse Re work) - White
Frànçois & the Atlas Mountains — Les Plus Beaux - Domino
Nzca/Lines — Okinawa Channels - Loaf

First Aid Kit — The Lion's Roar (Radio 1 Maida Vale Session)

Joker — Skitta - Kapsize
Tom Williams and The Boat — My Bones - Moshi Moshi
Mary Epworth and The Jubilee Band — Black Doe - Hand of Vinyl
Enter Shikari — Arguing With Thermometers (Mr No Unofficial Remix)
Toy — Left Myself Behind - Heavenly
Netsky — Give Take - Hospital
Chairlift — Amanaemonesia
Charli XCX — Nuclear Seasons - This Is Music

Rob's High Five - Number 1
Jamie N Commons — Devil In Me - Luv Luv Luv

Dub Save The Queen

2012-01-27T16:49:00.000Z

Sly & Reggie, aka The Middle Class Soundsystem, cordially invite you, both loyal and disloyal subjects to partake in their latest musical project. 'Dub Save The Queen' is the title of a unique album planned for release later this year, the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee year.

The UK is about to celebrate 60 years of Queen Elizabeth on the throne. Are you celebrating or as mad as hell or just a bit dazed and confused? Put your thoughts into musical form and send the track to Sly & Reggie!

Their aim is to bring together the best musical and lyrical talent to write on the subject of Queen and country and showcase that talent on a new compilation album. So, be bold, be creative, be brilliant, but above all be involved.

Sly and Reggie have got the ball rolling already. Please rise for The National Anthem... in Dub:

Head over to dubsavethequeen.com for more information about the project, and to get involved yourself!

ps... while we're here, we can also highly recommend Sly & Reggie vs The World's latest album 'Middle Class Dub Vol 2' - check it here

Camp Bestival 2012: Hot Chip, Chic, Jimmy Cliff, Adam Ant, Kool & The Gang and more!

2012-01-27T16:38:00.002Z

Camp Bestival, Bestival’s family-friendly sister festival, has announced its line-up for 2012!

Headlining Friday night are Hot Chip. The London five-piece’s new album is due out this year, so this not only represents a chance to see one of Britain’s most reliable live acts, but an opportunity to hear music from album number five.

Saturday night is billed as Camp Bestival’s Saturday Night Fever, with Kool & The Gang, Chic featuring Nile Rodgers [above], and the Earth Wind and Fire experience featuring Al McKay leading the charge. Also scattered across the festival’s three days are live performances from Jimmy Cliff, Little Dragon, P Money, Youngman, Adam Ant, Rizzle Kicks, Henry Rollins’ Breakfast with Henry (a spoken word performance), Random Impulse and more.

On the DJ side of things, decks will at various points be manned by Ben UFO, David Rodigan, Mosca, Greg Wilson, Zed Bias, Stopmakingme, Jaguar Skills and more.

Wrap your ears 'round these disco-themed Camp Besti podcast, and check out the vid below featuring the one and only Nile Rodgers talking about his sure-to-be spectacular return to Camp Bestival and jamming the ultimate festival anthem, 'Good Times'.

Camp Bestival takes place from July 26 to 29 at Lulworth Castle, Dorset. For more information and to snap up tickets, visit the Camp Bestival website.

Besti-mix 81: Daniel Avery (Stopmakingme)

2012-01-25T12:15:00.000Z

Our latest Besti-mix is the handiwork of one of our favourite young DJs and producers of the past few years, Daniel Avery aka Stopmakingme. Inspired by the open-minded musically adventurous sets of his heroes Andrew Weatherall, Erol Alkan and Optimo, Daniel mixes up house, techno, cosmic drones, post punk and mutant no-wave in both his DJ sets and productions. No wonder Fabric snapped him up as resident.

A regular at Bugged Out and Durr, Daniel's releases - on labels including Tigersushi and Gomma - have cut swathes through dancefloors in 2011. And with big things planned including remixes of The Horrors and releases on New York's super-hip Throne of Blood label, his 2012 schedule should see Stopmakingme's star shine brighter still.

His exclusive Besti-mix sports a few of these as yet unreleased new cuts, as well as brilliant underground house and techno from the likes of Chloe, Tevo Howard and Steve Bug. As a wise man once said, don't stop 'til you get enough...

Download: Bestimix 81 Daniel Avery (Stopmakingme)

Scarlett and the Pixels - Sea Of LCD (Daniel Avery Remix) [Starlett]
Headman - Be Loved (Daniel Avery's 'Divided Love' Remix) [Relish]
Byetone - Topas [Raster Noton]
Raudive - End Of The End [History Clock]
Daniel Avery - Movement [Throne Of Blood]
New York Transit Authority - Off The Traxx (Catch That Train) [Lobster Boy]
Octo Octa - Coldwaves [100% Silk]
Steve Bug - This Is Acid [Poker Flat Recordings]
Daniel Avery - Airstrike (Remain Remix) [Relish]
I:Cube - Transpiration [Versatile]
Sei A - Flux (Martyn's Electromagnetic Mix) [Turbo Recordings]
Jokers Of The Scene - Black Mountie (Daniel Avery Remix) [Fool's Gold]
Naum Gabo - Iris [I'm A Cliche]
Worthy & Eats Everything - Tric Trac [dirtybird]
Chloe - Watch Out [Bpitch Control]
Tevo Howard - Intersection [Rush Hour]

Bestimix 81: Daniel Avery (Stopmakingme) by Bestimix on Mixcloud

Radio da Bank: Do Believe The Hype!

2012-01-23T17:59:00.000Z

Rob da Bank counts down the 5 hype records you need in your life right now in Rob's High Fives (#1 Willis Earl Beal pictured), plus a weird and wonderful introduction to Industrial Jazz Jungle, oh yes you read that right.

And epic music from the likes of Lianne La Havas, Django Django, Milagres, King Creosote and Jon Hopkins and more...

Click here to catch up with the show via the BBC iPlayer

We Have Band — Where Are Your People - Eats Everything Mix
Justice — On ‘N’ On - Ed Banger/ Because Music
BIGkids — Drum In Your Chest - White
Objekt — Porcupine - Hessle
AraabMuzik — Underground Stream - Duke

Rob’s High Five – Number 5
Nicolas Jaar — With Just One Glance (Feat Scout LaRue)

Jinja Safari — Mermaids - Young Mine Records
Stay + — Dandelion - Ramp
Django Django — Firewater - Because Music
Philco Fiction — Help! - Brilliance

Rob’s High Five – Number 4
Zeds Dead — Adrenaline - Dim Mak records

Young Magic — Sanctuary - Carpark
King Creosote & Jon Hopkins — Missionary - Double Six
M83 — Reunion - Naïve
Vincenzo & Tyson Ballard — They Are Looking At You - Poker Flat Records
Grimes — Genesis - 4AD

Rob’s High Five – Number 3
Milagres — Here To Stay - Kill Rock Stars

Lianne La Havas — Forget - Warner
The Weeknd — Dd

Rob Da Banks Guide To Barely Believable New Genres Of Music: Industrial Jazz Jungle
Beef Claw — Owl Smasher
Madeon — Icarus - White

Rob’s High Five – Number 2
Spector — Chevy Thunder - Fiction

Bird — Hey Hey Moonshine - Jack To Phono
The Egg — Catch - Neurodisc

Rob’s High Five – Number 1
Willis Earl Beal — Evenings Kiss - XL Records

Emeli Sandé — Heaven (Alpines Mix) - Virgin Records

Besti-vid of the week: Beardyman 'Big Man'

2012-01-20T12:55:00.000Z

Beardyman has gone and done yet another big thing, this time with help of director Chris Cairns.

As part of his upcoming Oh! EP featuring Foreign Beggars (out 29th January), Beardyman performs Big Man (a track from his debut album I Done A Album) and the video itself allows fans through Facebook to transplant their own faces onto the little miscreant in the video so they themselves can been seen tearing up the streets of London.

Click here to get involved yourself to see how it works.

And click here to buy the single, album and/or video on iTunes.

The Mojo Filter Vintage Edits

2012-01-19T19:11:00.000Z

Heads up ya'll, our amigo Mojo Filter recently released a compilation of his Vintage Edits via the rather excellent AOR Disco blog and its well worth a sniff and a few of your hard earned pennies.

Fulfilling an insatiable appetite for the new-wave of slo-mo house and disco vibes, AOR and Mojo Filter are leading the way in unearthing forgotten gems of old and giving them a little nip, tuck and re-edit. As Mr Mojo Filter explains: "Making something sound familiar and yet strange has a certain appeal. And even more alluring is making something that was made 20 years ago sound like it was produced well ahead of its time."

Check it out on Soundcloud & then go get your copy via the AOR Disco blog

AOR - Mojo Filter Vintage Edits by Mojo Filter

Besti-mix 80: The Guru (aka Pathaan)

2012-01-18T16:14:00.000Z

And now for something a little bit different! We're bursting at the sides with unbridled glee to bring you this week's exclusive Besti-mix, ably steered by the hand of long-time Besti fave Pathaan to celebrate the launch of his digital music mag Globetronica.

Recorded under his guise, The Guru, the legendary chill out DJ has this to say about his Besti-mix: "I have had this massive urge to DJ under a different guise called ‘The Guru’ for a number of years. So when the invitation very kindly came from the lovely people of Bestival to create a Besti-mix, I thought this would be a perfect opportunity to introduce ‘The Guru’ to you; the Bestival massive! And I have fantasised about dropping this kind of set on the main stage to get the revellers into a ‘party fuelled hedonistic state of mind’ at both Bestival and Camp Bestival before an act, after dark ever since the inaugural years. All I’ll say is, when you hear this mix you’ll get ‘The Guru’! Hope you enjoy!"

Tuck in, we're sure you will...

Download: Bestimix 80 The Guru (aka Pathaan)

01. M.C. Yogi - Chakra Beatbox
02. Indian Ropeman - Bullet Proof
03. Burt Latino & Friends - Bombay Cha Cha
04. The Bhutan Philharmonic - Foggy Day (In England)
05. Bombay Dub Orchestra - Hot Thing/Jane Do Naa
06. Brown Boy Breaks - Beat Root
07. Me&You - White Choo Hill
08. Usha Uthup - I Feel Love
09. Bollywood Freaks - Don't Stop Till You get To Bollywood
10. Psychemagik - Bombay Battle
11. Stereo MCs - Gringo [Pathaan's Spaghetti Eastern remix]
12. The Punk-A-Wallahs Mix - Dum Maro Dum
13. Orchestre National de BarbËs - Sympathy For The Devil
14. Transglobal Underground - Templehead [Pathaan's Worldpeace remix]
15. The Heliocentrics - Outro

Bestimix 80: The Guru (aka Pathaan) by Bestimix on Mixcloud

Radio da Bank: Random Impulse in the studio

2012-01-16T11:07:00.000Z

Random Impulse joins Rob in the studio armed with his acoustic guitar - a present from Ed Sheeran none the less!

He serenades da Bank with a live track and turns on the charm when we hear all about his life, what it's like having Ed Sheeran sleep on your couch, working with Pro Green and how he emerged from the Grime scene to learn how to play multiple instruments and storm our ear lugs with grime/indie/punk mash-up sounds!

Plus, Rob's High Five - the 5 hype records you need in your life right now and spanking new music from Grimes, Lucy Rose, Lana Del Ray, Zulu Winter, Azari & III and many more...

Listen to the show via the BBC's iPlayer

Tracklisting:
Ego Troopers — Polar (Blood Music)
Bjørn Torske — Langt Fra Afrika Banks, Todd Terjes Endallengre Mix (Smalltown Supersound)
Jess Mills — Pixelated People, Nocturnal Sunshine Mix
Shitmat — A ****** Shade of Pale (White)
The Grid — Flotation, Prins Thomas Miks (Is It Balearic)
Benjamin Francis Leftwich — Pictures (Unknown)
Rustie — Ultra Thizz (Warp)
Jon B. — Robot Lover (Warp)
J. Star — One Life One Hope, Roots Manuva Refix (J Star)
2:54 — Scarlet (Fiction)
The Black Crowes — I Ain't Hiding (Modern Artifacts)
Lana Del Rey — Born To Die (Leo Zero Mix)
Zulu Winter — Swimming (Unknown)
Pinch — Retribution
Random Impulse — Fell In Love With A Girl, Random Impulse Refix (White)
DJ Q — All Junglist (Uttu Records)
Graphics — There's A Way Back (Unknown)
Thuja Magus Imperium — Wolf Like Me (Unknown)
Cold Specks — Holland (Paradyse/Transgressive)
Azari & III — Reckless With Your Love, Tiga Mix (Island)
Lucy Rose — Red Face (Unknown)
Frankie Rose — Know Me (Memphis Industries)

Chuck D x Meat Loaf!

2012-01-12T13:34:00.000Z

One of Bestival 2011's undisputed highlights - for any of ye lot lucky enough to catch 'em - was hip-hop legends and rap all-stars Public Enemy. But even by the crazy standards of resident larger-than-life loon Flavor Flav, the news that PE main man Chuck D features on the new album by Meat Loaf(!) took us by surprise!

The Public Enemy lynchpin contributes to a cover of Tom Cochrane’s 1991 song ‘Mad Mad World’ to the Bat out of Hell's gut-busting singer's new LP, titled, appropriately enough, Hell in a Handbasket(!)

“Chuck D is the rapper’s rapper,” says Meat Loaf of his unlikely collaborator. “He is the original, and every rapper that has come after him wants to be like him. For us to have him on this record is a major coup and I am so impressed with what he wrote!”

Besti-vid of the week: Julia Holter 'Mairenbad'

2012-01-11T11:29:00.000Z

Radio da Bank: The 2 Bears World Exclusive

2012-01-09T10:25:00.000Z

If you missed Robby's Radio 1 this Saturday then fear not dear Bestivalite because because, as ever, you can listen to it again right here! From techno and bleeps to ambient and acoustic, this is a two-hour eclectic mix of music from the UK and beyond...

Listen to the show via the BBC's iPlayer by clicking here

Tracklisting:
Jakwob — Electrify (Mercury)
Electric Guest — American Daydream
Bullion — What Does She Know? (R&S)
Alby Daniels — This Dawn (Black Acre)
DJ Q — All Junglist (Uttu Records)
Talking Heads — Once In A Lifetime, Nirobi Edit (Tru Thoughts)
Woods — Who Do I Think I Am?
A1 Bassline — Why Do You (Dirtybird)
Real Estate — Easy (Domino)
Beth Jeans Houghton & The Hooves of Destiny — Sweet Tooth Bird (Mute)
Subwave & Enei — The Mines (Fabric)
The 2 Bears — Warm & Easy (Southern Fried)
Frankie Rose — Know Me (Memphis Industries)
Jacques Greene — Flatline (Vase)
Spank Rock — Car Song (Boys Noize Recordings)
Trailer Trash Tracys — Dies in 55
Miike Snow & Alex Metric — Devil's Work, Alex Metric Remix (Columbia)
Alabama Shakes — I Found You
Deco Child — Pray (Ninja Tune)
Michael Kiwanuka — I'm Getting Ready (Polydor)
Concrete Knives — Youth Compass
RedLight — Get Out My Head (G.O.M.H.) (MTA Records)
Friends — Friend Crush (Lucky Numbers)
The Black Keys — Lonely Boy (Nonesuch Records)
The xx — Open Eyes
Metronomy — The Look (Because)

Foxy Roxy!

2012-01-06T20:39:00.001Z

Having rocked Bestival's Main Stage in 2010, legendary art-poppers Roxy Music are kicking off 2012 in true style, courtesy of 2 new remixes of their classic tracks 'Love Is The Drug' and 'Avalon' - by Besti faves and Norwegian disco vikings Todd Terje and Lindstrom. Check 'em out here!

Besti-vid of the week: Air 'Sonic Armada' (A Trip To The Moon)

2012-01-04T16:53:00.000Z

Radio da Bank: New Year Revolutions

2012-01-02T18:41:00.000Z

Robby serves up an alternative breakfast of New Year Revolutions!

Da Bank's been strutting about Radio 1 HQ finding out which DJ's want to hear what as their first New Year Revolution. With musical choices from Fearne Cotton, Zane Lowe, Skream and Benga, Grimmy and of course you guys, the Radio 1 listeners.

Discover wonky new genres like Moombahcore, New Afro Pop and Future Garage; and see if you have the skills to play Rob's Rewind Quiz.

All this and music from Major Lazer, Metronomy, Ghostpoet, Adele and Jamie N Commons.

Guaranteed to kick start your 2012 in style!

Listen to the show via the BBC's iPlayer by clicking here

Tracklisting:
Major Lazer — Original Don feat. The Party Squad (Downtown Records)
Justice — D.A.N.C.E (Ed Banger)
Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs — Garden (Polydor)
Logistics — Burial (White Label)
Jack Beats — Revolution (Cheap Thrills)
Bon Iver — The Wolves, Act 1 and II (4AD)
Radiokillaz — Murder of Sound (J Trix Moombahcore Mix)
Doctor P — Sweet Shop (Circus Records)
The Horrors — Still Life (XL Recordings)
Caribou — The Sun
N.W.A — Express Yourself
Aphex Twin — Analogue Bubble Bath (Rabbit City Records)
Metronomy — The Look (Because)
Little Dragon — Ritual Union (Peacefrog)
Adele — Rolling In The Deep, Jamie XX Remix (XL)
New Order — Blue Monday (Factory)
Drums of Death — The Jerk (Civil Music)
Arcade Fire — No Cars Go (Sonovox)
tUnE-yArDs — You Yes You
King Krule — Portrait In Black & Blue (True Panther Sounds)
The Prodigy — Voodoo People (XL)
Joe Smooth — Promised Land feat. Anthony Thomas (DJ International)
Friendly Fires — Blue Cassette, Tiga Remix (XL)
The 2 Bears — Bear Hug (Southern Fried)
Ghostpoet — Cash & Carry Me Home, Performed Live At Maida Vale Studios (Brownswood)
Prince — Extra Loveable
The Stone Roses — She Bangs The Drums (Silverstone)
Emeli Sandé — Heaven (Virgin Records)
The Maccabees — Pelican (Fiction)
Gold Panda — Snow & Taxi's (Notown Records)
Friends — I'm His Girl (Lucky Number)
Eats Everything — Entrance Song (Pets Recordings)
Radiohead — The Daily Mail
Skrillex — Ruffneck, FULL Flex (Asylum Records)
Jamie N Commons — The Preacher (Luv Luv Luv)
Justice vs Simian — We Are Your Friends
Boards of Canada — Roygbiv (Warp)
Utah Saints — What Can You Do For Me? (Ministry Of Sound)
Ben Howard — Keep Your Head Up (Recorded Live at Green Man Festival 2011 Session)
Swede Mason — Masterchef Synthesia, Buttery Biscuit Base (Dental Records, Shine TV)
Chris Cornell — Seasons
Blur - Song 2 (Food)

Stream an unreleased demo from The xx

2011-12-28T21:13:00.001Z

Christmas may be over for another year but the pressies just keep comin' and one of our fave indie labels Young Turks have wrapped up a goodie - a new xx demo!

According to the trio, 'Open Eyes' was made “whilst creating our new album and we just wanted to share it with you”. You can stream the unreleased demo right here. The xx’s second album is expected in 2012.

Radio da Bank: Rob's Tinselly Ten!

2011-12-26T13:46:00.002Z

Da Bank picks his 10 essential records of the year, including PJ Harvey, Major Lazer and many more...

Plus, da Bank's Shiny Bauble Mix - perfect to chill you out as you recover from eating half your body weight in Turkey!

Click here to catch up with Saturday's show via the BBC iPlayer

Tracklisting:
Justice — On & On (Ed Banger)
Wiley — Cheer Up, It's Christmas (Big Dada)
The Tuss — Rushup Edge (Rephlex)
Akira The Don — Nothing Lasts Forever, feat. Envy
Major Lazer — Original Don, feat. The Party Squad (Downtown Records)
Young Gliss — Everything, feat. Dosage & Born I Music
Michael Kiwanuka — Home Again (Polydor)
Forest Swords — Miarches
The Flaming Lips — In Excelsior Vaginalistic (Warner Bros)
Bonobo — All In Forms, Mike Slott Lee (Ninja Tune)
Rune Lindbæk — Wonder, feat. Kurt Maloo (Beatservice)
Essay — Mountain Morning (Glyph)
King Creosote & Jon Hopkins — Missionary
Spike Jones — All I Want For Christmas (Is My Two Front Teeth)
Skeptical & Dub Phizix — Marka (Exit Records)
Warpaint — Billie Holiday (Rough Trade)
Bombay Bicycle Club — Leave It, Flipbook Mix (Island)
Florence + the Machine — No Light, No Light (Island)
PJ Harvey — Words That Maketh Murder (Island)
Art Department — Touch You Gently
Bon Iver — Calgary (4AD)
Howler — Back Of Your Neck (Rough Trade)
Disclosure — Tenderly (Make Mine)
SBTRKT — Living Like I Do
Lana Del Rey — Born To Die (Gemini Remix)
Goodbye Leopold — The Holly & The Ivy/Ding Dong Mashup (Performed Live At Maida Vale Studios Session)
Radiohead — Codex
A Trak & Zinc — Stingray (Rinse)
2 Bears — Be Strong
Metronomy — The Bay

Sunday Best: Increase The Peace, Vol. 5 - bargain digital compilation album!

2011-12-23T11:39:00.000Z

We proudly present the 5th in our occasional series of Increase The Peace digital compilation albums – designed to showcase Sunday Best Recordings' latest and greatest cuts, plus a few gems from our back catalogue, and all at a bargain price (12 tracks for £4.99) to help people can get a flavour of what we’re all about.

Featuring music by Beardyman, David Lynch, Dub Pistols (feat Terry Hall), Grand National, Kitty Daisy & Lewis, Sound of Rum and David E. Sugar, and remixes by Underworld, Jamie Woon, Doorly, Sunday Best, NICE UP! and Drums of Death, this compilation provides a delicious taster for the sounds of our high quality and ever eclectic musical output. Mmmm...

Click here to download from iTunes for just £4.99

Click here to check out Volumes 1 to 4 on iTunes
(all of which are also £4.99 or cheaper)

Sunday Best: Increase The Peace, Vol. 5
01 Beardyman – Twist Your Ankal
02 David Lynch – Good Day Today (Underworld remix)
03 Dub Pistols feat. Terry Hall – Problem Is
04 Grand National – Drink To Moving On (Sunday Best remix)
05 Kitty Daisy & Lewis – Messing With My Life
06 Sound of Rum – Best Intentions (Jamie Woon remix)
07 David Lynch – Stone's Gone Up
08 Beardyman – Where Does Your Mind Go? (Doorly remix)
09 David E. Sugar – Keep It Simple
10 Dub Pistols – Gangsters (NICE UP! remix)
11 Sound of Rum feat. Polar Bear – Concrete Pigeon
12 David E. Sugar – Although You May Laugh (Drums of Death remix)

Besti-vid of the week: James Blake 'A Case of You'

2011-12-22T09:00:00.003Z

Besti-mix 79: Rev Milo Speedwagon

2011-12-21T14:43:00.000Z

Every week we hope to bring a little joy into your (and our) lives by debuting an exclusive mix right here on our Bestiblog, but seeing as it's Christmas 'n all we thought we'd go overboard on the sherry and mince pies and turn the fun factor up to, I dunno, say, 11. Which is why we enlisted the ever-reliable help of beret-sporting Bestival legend the Rev Milo Speedwagon, a born entertainer whose eclectic smile-inducing sets have consistently raised our spirits over the years. It's usual for us to write an introduction to these mixes but Milo has done his own, and quite frankly, we can't top it, so, without further ado, tuck into our final Besti-mix of 2011, it's a good 'un...

"Hopefully this little mix will remind you of the joy of a carefree existence. From the wonky bass of David Essex's 'Rock On' (as played by Herbie Flowers from 'Walk on the Wild Side bass-line fame) to the exuberant funk of My Morning Jacket and Jonny Jenkins - you could say the downtempo is covered. And then there is the chuggy house of Grace Jones remixed by Aeroplane (as you can imagine, rather good) leading nicely into some reggae, breaks, booty and house... phew. Ending in a sun drenched closing number fit for any occasion."

"In general, a shonkily mixed selection, recorded live, in one take, from the Moroder Suite of De Bouviour Town. It should remind you the joy that festivals bring and the fact that we are all plonkers!"

Download: Bestimix 79 Rev Milo Speedwagon

01 Rock On - David Essex
02 The Beat Goes On - Casino Music
03 I Walk On Gilded Splinters - Jonny Jenkins
04 Metronomic Underground - StereoLab
05 Holding On To Black Metal - My Morning Jacket
06 Williams Blood (Aeroplane mix) - Grace Jones
07 Stars (Rodion & Mammarella Mix) - VISTI
08 Who's Gonna Make the Dance Ram? - Paul Andrew
09 War Dance - The Heatwave and Serocee
10 Close to Everything (Martin Brothers Mix) - Mickey Moonlight
11 Sandwiches - Detroit Grand Pubahs
12 Watch Me Dance (Weatherall Mix) - Toddla T with Roots Manuva
13 The Bay (Stop Making Me Mix) - Metronomy
14 The Bay (Erol's Mix) - Metronomy
15 Beam Me Up - Midnight Magic
16 Bustin' Out - Material / Nona Hendrix
17 Cyan - Kindness
18 Ritual Union - Little dragon
19 Da Da Da - Trio
20 Gone - Roland Bautista

Bestimix 79: Rev Milo Speedwagon by Bestimix on Mixcloud

Radio da Bank: Festive Festival Hangover Party

2011-12-19T14:53:00.000Z

Rob da Bank decamps to Maida Vale Studios with a host of live performances from Jamie N Commons, Azari & III, Crystal Fighters and a live Christmas DJ set from Mark Ronson!

Plus Goodbye Leopold and Lost & Found perform Christmas Carols... backwards!

And if you ever wondered what was in da Bank's bin bag your prayers have been answered.

The official Festive Festival Hangover Party, da Bank styleee!

Click here to catch up with the show via the BBC iPlayer

Plus, check out the video above (and more here) for all the festive fun.

Tracklisting:
Joe Goddard — Gabriel (feat. Valentina) - Greco Roman
Florence + the Machine — Fairytale In New York (feat. Billy Bragg)

Mark Ronson Live Christmas DJ Set at Maida Vale Studios

The Bluebells — 813
Lucy Rose — Driving Home For Christmas

Jamie N Commons Live at Maida Vale Studios
Jamie N Commons — The Preacher
Jamie N Commons — Nina

JFB — Cheeseburger Bum Tits - Unknown
Radiohead — The Daily Mail

Goodbye Leopold Live at Maida Vale Studios
Goodbye Leopold — The Holly & The Ivy/Ding Dong Mashup (Backwards)
Goodbye Leopold — Once In Royal's David City (Backwards)

Emmy the Great — Christmas Day (Wish I Was Surfing) (feat. Tim Wheeler) - Unknown
Nathan Fake — Silent Night - Border Community
The 2 Bears — Work - Southern Fried Records

Azari & III Live at Maida Vale Studios
Azari & III — Hungry For The Power
Azari & III — Reckless With Your Love

Gruff Rhys — Post Apocalypse Christmas
Caitlin Rose — You Never Come Home For Christmas (feat. Keegan Dewitt)
The Brand New Heavies — Dream On Dreamer - Virgin/EMI

Crystal Fighters Live at Maida Vale Studios
Crystal Fighters — Champion Sound
Crystal Fighters — At Home
Crystal Fighters — Plage

Prince — Dance 4 Me - Purple Music

Lost & Found Live at Maida Vale Studios
Lost & Found — Silent Night (Backwards)

East 17 — Stay Another Day (Fred Deakin Remix)

Party with The Cuban Brothers competition!

2011-12-15T14:26:00.000Z

Bestival faves The Cuban Brothers always put on a great show and you can catch them next at The Westbury in London on Friday 30th December. Even better, you can enter our competition and win free entry, copious amounts of Havana rum, Cuban cigars and a VIP table so close to the stage that you'll literally be dancing with the guys. So sexy, so nice.

To enter simply email competitions@westburybar.com with the name of The Cuban Brothers' Halifax Hospital Radio hosting alter-ego.

Check the Facebook page here for more info about the event.

Besti-mix 78: Subgiant (Dan Hayes)

2011-12-14T16:40:00.000Z

Besti-mix 78 is the handiwork of UK "live electronica" trio Subgiant aka Olly, Dan and Tushar, who've been mixing up dub, electro and house/techno as a force to be reckoned with at clubs and festivals, including our very own Bestival, since forming in 2000.

The three band members are all into quite different music, "which causes no end of argument", according to the lads, and producing this mix was a friendly fight over styles and genres. Olly wanted to put a dub/reggae mix together, Tushar wanted to go off on the Latin thing and Dan is well into his minimal house at the moment. Dan got the final word, so this session is a late night minimal and progressive affair in which Gorillaz and Groove Armada rub proverbial shoulders with Nic Fanciulli and Joris Voorn. And as you might rightly expect, it's heavy on the subs...

Download: Bestimix 78 Subgiant (Dan Hayes)

1. Snippa - Reset Robot
2. Stylo - Gorillaz
3. Together - Nic Fanciulli, Joris Voorn
4. Share It - Nightlife Promo
5. To The Point - Chris Lake
6. Look Me In The Eye Sister - Groove Armada
7. Shakedown - Joan Reyes
8. House Music Rules - Peter Brown
9. Filthy Tiger - Subgiant Promo
10. Keep on Jumping - Joey Negro
11. The Speech - Wehbba
12. Eye Speak - Ed Davenport

Bestimix 78: Subgiant (Dan Hayes) by Bestimix on Mixcloud

Radio da Bank: Buraka Som Sistema in session

2011-12-12T11:09:00.001Z

This weekend Rob da Bank had Buraka Som Sistema live in session from Maida Vale studios. Plus he guided us through the Barely Believable Genre of Psychedelic Dub and highlighted his High Five - his 5 hype tracks of the week.

Click here to catch up with the show via the BBC iPlayer

Kelly Rowland — Dilemma (BNRY Mix) - White
Zedd — Shave It - Owsla
Elephino — More Than Me - Somethubnk Sounds
Man Without Country — All Is Love
Stay Positive — Fever - Ramp

Rob’s High Five – Number Five
Ulrich Schnauss and Mark Peters — Gift Horses Mouth - Bureau B

Mosca - Baxx
Nas — Can I (DJ Will Rock Edits) - Gamm

Buraka Som Sistema Maida Vale Session
Buraka Som Sistema — Eskeleto

Dusky — Stick By This - Anjunadeep

Rob’s High Five – Number Four
Zammuto — Cp30 - Make Mine

Digitalism — Circles (Dillon Francis Remix) - Diffused
Stealing Sheep — Noah’s Days - Red Deer Club
Friends — I’m His Girl - Lucky Number Music
Azealia Banks — Slow Hands
El Kid — Hypnosis - Left_Blank
Underworld — Two Months Off - Junior Boys Own

Rob’s High Five – Number Three
King Charles — Bam Bam - Island/ Universal

Alt-J — Tessellate - Loud and Quiet
Gotye — Somebody That I Used To Know (Bibio Remix) - Ghostly International

Buraka Som Sistema Maida Vale Session
Buraka Som Sistema — (We Stay) Up All Night

Laura Marling — I Was Just A Card - Virgin

Rob’s Guide To Barely Believable Genres of Music – Psychedelic Dub
The Orb — Blue Room - Big Life
Sun Araw — Crete - Sun Ark Recordings
Peaking Lights — All The Sun That Shines - Weird World

Rob’s High Five – Number Two
Post War Years — All Eyes - Labour of Love Records

Miike Snow — Devils Work - Columbia

Rob’s High Five – Number One
Sub Focus — Falling Down - RAM

Azari & III — Reckless With Your Love (Paul Epworth Mix) - Island

Hear new Daft Punk remix featuring Ariel Pink

2011-12-11T09:48:00.000Z

Remember Daft Punk's score for Tron: Legacy? Well, now, pretty much when we'd forgotten the whole thing existed, out pops a very, very good remix of one of the lead tracks, 'Solar Sailer', featuring none-other than LA indie hero and all-round underground star of 2011, Ariel Pink.

Released by US indie label Vinyl International on, yes, you guessed it, limited edition (blue) vinyl, the new 10" EP called Sky Sailor features this version plus another DP remix by TRS-80, and three other cuts. You can listen it to 'Sky Sailor' (Float Away) below.

Daft Punk, TRS-80, & Ariel Pink - Sky Sailor (Float Away) by ErnestimesBlog

Hear FACT magazine's top 50 tracks of 2011

2011-12-09T13:30:00.002Z

Our friends at FACT have been counting down their favourite 50 tracks of the year all week and today they reveal their top 10, including the all important no.1 - even better, you can hear the lot of 'em and submit your own choices.

Besti-mix 77: D/R/U/G/S

2011-12-07T11:07:00.001Z

This week's Besti-mix is the work of much-feted Mancunian producer Callum Wright aka D/R/U/G/S, who specializes in the kind of euphoric sleazy club music that is likely be ruling dancefloors in 2012 once he drops his eagerly awaited debut album. But he's no one-trick pony. Inspired by the abstract, futuristic hip-hop of DOOM as much as the languid Euro-cool techno of Pantha du Prince, tracks like the elegiac 'Love/Lust', with its subtle piano refrain, remind us of not so much of the former but rather one of Underworld's epic, psychedelic instrumentals. That, by the way, is a very good thing. You can hear it for yourself on this Besti-mix, nestled between recent club classics (Midland's mix of Caribou's 'Sun' and Ame's 'Rej') and a smattering of the finest new underground house and techno from the likes of Berlin's Ben Klock and Brooklyn's Blondes.

Trust us when we say, this is a treat for your head and hips...

Download: Bestimix 77 D/R/U/G/S

01 D/R/U/G/S - DCG
02 Alan Fitzpatrick - Face Of Rejection
03 Alex Kenji - Adelante
04 Ame - Rej
05 D/R/U/G/S - Love / Lust
06 Caribou - Sun (Midland Remix)
07 Dubfire - I Feel Speed (Audion Remix)
08 Ben Klock - Check For Pulse
09 Adam Beyer - Dactyl
10 Solar Heights - No Trace (Popof Remix)
11 Booka Shade - Regenerate
12 Britney Spears - Breathe On Me (James Holden Remix)
13 Marco Carola - Jackpot
14 M83 - In The Cold Im Standing
15 Blondes - Moondance

Bestimix 77: D/R/U/G/S by Bestimix on Mixcloud

Sunday Best at the Independent Label Market: Spitalfields - this Saturday

2011-12-06T18:30:00.000Z

Sunday Best are very proud to be involved in this Saturday's Independent Label Market at Spitalfields in London. In association with AIM, the event has been set up to support the labels that lost their stock in the PIAS/Sony warehouse fire earlier this year.

The rioters who destroyed the entire stock of 165 independent record labels at the Sony Warehouse in Enfield have been charged and held to account for their crimes. But the record labels are still feeling the effects of this catastrophe, back catalogues have been wiped out and hundreds of thousands of CD and vinyl sales lost.

This Saturday 10th December (11am - 5pm) Independent Label Market will bring together the heads of various PIAS distributed labels to sell their wares directly to the customers at that traditional goods exchange - a market stall.

Joe Daniel, founder of ILM and Angular Records: "We've spent the last couple of months getting back on our feet and I hope this market will be a chance for the labels to recover some of the ground lost in August and September when we had no stock. It will also be a great way to celebrate independent music in 2011 whilst wearing a silly hat and enjoying some nice mulled wine."

We've had a good clear out of the Sunday Best office in preparation for this and unearthed some real gems in the process and so our stall will feature exclusive items including signed Kitty Daisy & Lewis albums, David Lynch TPs, limited edition posters plus the very last copies of albums and singles that are sadly no longer available anywhere else.

And we'll have plenty of items at unbelievable bargain prices too. Plus we have got dan le sac coming down to help us man the stall for the day and we'll have plenty of Christmas cheer and Baileys on tap!

As well as Sunday Best, you'll also find the following fine indie labels there:

Angular,
Accidental,
Best Before,
Big Dada,
Borstal Beat,
Brownswood Recordings,
Chemikal Underground,
Different,
Domino,
Double Six,
Fabric,
Fat Cat,
Kartel,
Loose Music,
Lucky Number,
Mais Um Discos,
Memphis Industries,
Ninja Tune,
One Little Indian,
Play It Again Sam,
Rekids,
Rough Trade Shops,
Sonic Cathedral,
Soundway,
Southern Fried,
Stolen Records,
Sunday Best,
Weird World,
Wonderfulsound.
X-tra Mile,

** More labels to be announced

Also the market will be one of the first Saturday markets held in more than one hundred years at Spitalfields. With the famous Victorian market hall decked in Christmas lights, this will make the perfect setting for christmas shopping at 'Independent Label Market: Spitalfields' on 10th December.

Rob da Bank, Scroobius Pip, dan le sac & many more support the London CALMzone

2011-12-06T10:56:00.001Z

On Friday 25th November, Rob da Bank and a host of other top DJs and producers including dan le sac, Zane Lowe, The Maccabees, Huw Stephens, Eddy Temple-Morris, Kissy Sell Out, The Loose Cannons and Herve, converged on Topman Oxford Circus to celebrate the launch of the London CALMzone and the new London helpline. And CALM also launched their new advertising campaign featuring Scroobius Pip, Kayvan Novak, Killa Kela, Faith SFX and Ashley Walters.

CALM, the campaign against living miserably, exists to support young men who are depressed or feeling down. The new CALMZone London helpline (0808 802 5858 - free, confidential & anonymous) and texting service (07537 404717 - please start your first text CALM1) launched on 26th November to help prevent suicide - the biggest killer of young men in London.

The new CALMZone service operates a telephone helpline between 5pm and midnight on Saturday, Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, every week of the year. Calls are free (from landlines and some mobile phone providers) and the helpline is anonymous and confidential.

Rob da Bank says: "Nearly all of us must have had or will have extremely dark or suicidal thoughts at some point during our lives. It’s human nature. That's why CALM are doing such an important job - not only helping and being a friendly ear for men experiencing those thoughts, but also reminding the rest of us that the issue is happening and is out there."

Scroobius Pip features in CALM’s advertising campaign and you can read an interview with him here.

Please head over to thecalmzone.net for more info.

Radio da Bank: Zeds Dead in da mix

2011-12-05T19:25:00.001Z

Toronto's finest Zeds Dead, aka DC and Hooks, deliver a storming guest mix for Rob da Bank.

Plus Rob's High Five, his 5 hype tracks of the week; get down and skanky with your morning cereal in the Saturday Skank; and expect tunes from Maya Jane Cole, A$AP Rocky, Japanese Popstars and The Maccabees.

Click here to catch up with the show via the BBC iPlayer

Zomby — Labyrinth - 4AD
Deadboy — Heartbreaker (Julio Bashmore 2009 Remix) - Well Rounded Housing Project
Unknown Mortal Orchestra — How Can You Love Me - White
Maya Jane Coles — Something In The Air - Hypercolour Records
Jon Hopkins — Abandon Window - Domino

Rob’s High Five #5
Das Racist — Happy Rappy - Big Machine

Vcg — Spock (DVS1 Voyage Home Remix) - Play All
Michael Kiwanuka — Home Again - Communion
High Highs — Flowers Bloom - Rocket Records

Rob’s High Five’s #4
Bon Iver — Towers - 4AD

Major Lazer — Original Don (Ft. Partysquad) (Crookers Remix) - Mad Decent
Crookers — Hummus - Southern Fried
Drake — Take Care (Ft. Rihanna) - Young Money Records
King Charles — Bam Bam - Island
Trent Reznor — Immigrant Song (Ft. Karen O)
The Japanese Popstars — Shells Of Silver (White Sea Remix)

Rob’s High Five #3
Man Without Country — Closet Anomymous - Kitsune

Manix — Feel Good - Reinforced

Saturday Skank
Little Roy — Lithium - Ark Recordings

Azealia Banks — 212 - White

Rob’s Guide To Barely Believable Genre’s of Music: Love Step
Two Inch Punch — Life and Death Morgana - Visionquest
A$AP Rocky — Bass - Sony

Rob’s High Five #2
The Maccabees — Pelican - Fiction

Alpines & Maya Jane Cole — Why - Phonica Records
Jessie Ware — Strangest Feeling - Island/PMR

Rob’s High Five #1
King Krule — Portrait in Black and Blue - True Panther Sound

Foster the People — Call It What You Want (Big Kids Remix) - Columbia Records

Rob da Bank on The Cure's legendary Bestival show & live album

2011-12-02T11:15:00.001Z

Rob da Bank met up with Virtual Festivals at this year's Festival Awards to talk through his crowning headline booking for Bestival 2011 and how it's to be immortalised in the first live Cure album since 1993.

"We were waiting for the Festival Awards [last year], and I was checking my blackberry every five minutes waiting for The Cure to confirm and [it was] one of the best moments of my Bestival life." Rob da Bank said about finalising the booking of The Cure for Bestival 2011, a band he'd wanted ever since he founded Bestival in 2004.

Talking about the live album release, Rob da Bank said: "Robert Smith actually got in touch straight after Bestival and said he really wanted to put out the live set on our label, Sunday Best Recordings, and he wanted to do it for charity, he didn't want anyone to be making any profit from it, he wanted all the money to go to a charity of our choice which ended up as the Youth Trust on the Isle of Wight which do great work with underprivileged kids."

'The Cure: Bestival Live 2011' 2xCD album and 32 track download is out this Monday 5th December and available from iTunes, Amazon and all good record stores.

Click here to read Chris Swindells' review of 'The Cure: Bestival Live 2011' for Virtual Festivals.

Besti-vid of the week: Beardyman 'Oh!' feat Foreign Beggars

2011-12-01T13:04:00.001Z

Besti-vid of the week returns with 'Oh!', the latest production from Bestival's mad-cap superstar Beardyman, and features Orifice Vulgatron and Metropolis from critically acclaimed British hip hop, grime and dubstep group Foreign Beggars on mic duties. Although that's not to say that Beardyman didn't use his voice too, oh no, most of the sounds in the tune are actually Beardy's voice mangled beyond all recognition.

'Oh!' will be released as a single mid-January backed with a host of exclusive tracks and remixes, plus a sick video for album track 'Big Man'.

Speaking of albums... Beardyman's 'I Done A Album' includes 'Oh!' and 'Big Man' (and another 18 tracks) and is out now on iTunes and Amazon.

Besti-mix 76: Crazy P

2011-11-30T16:14:00.001Z

Ladies and gentlemen, we're casting off the winter blues in true summer fashion with this week's Besti-mix, compiled by one of the best live dance acts around, those reliable good times bringers, Crazy P. Stalwarts of the UK club scene, Crazy P formed in Nottingham in 1996 and have made their name with five albums of lush structured songs and live power, whilst never forgetting their roots on the dance floors of the late '90s house, disco, and soul clubs. And they've been on fire in 2011. The start of the year saw them releasing ‘Crazy P presents MTS Vol.1’ - a two track EP of ‘bangers’ influenced by their increasingly busy DJ and Soundsystem show schedule, and more recently they unleashed their new album, 'When We On', a certified and justly acclaimed gem.

Now comes the greatest honour of the lot (ahem), a Besti-mix. Download, turn this up loud and let Crazy P do their thing...

Download: Bestimix 76 Crazy P

Bestimix 76: Crazy P by Bestimix on Mixcloud

Radio da Bank: Future Garage Special from Maida Vale

2011-11-28T13:13:00.001Z

Rob da Bank decamps to the BBC's Maida Vale Studios for a brilliant Future Garage Special with the legendary DJ Zinc (pictured) joining him in the studio!

With interviews and live performances from 14th and Hackman and a DJ set from Mosca - the future's bright, the future's Future Garage!

Click here to catch up with the show via the BBC iPlayer

Tracklisting:
Hackman — You Deliver - Ramp Recordings
Eats Everything — Entrance Song (Remix) - Dirty Bird
Double 99 — Ripgroove - Satelitte
Julio Bashmore — Jack Got Macked - Future Boogie
DJ Zinc & MC GQ — 138 Trek - Phaze:one Records
Roy Davis Jnr & Peven Everett — Gabriel - Telstar
Zinc — Juicy Fruit - Rinse
Zinc — Sprung

Hackman live at Maida Vale
Hackman — Cares With A Warning (feat. Binisa Bonner)
Hackman — You Come Down (feat. Marita Hackman)

Jamie xx — Far Nearer - Numbers
Metronomy — Everything Goes My Way (Jesse Rose Mix) - Big Beat
Det Boi B2B Haus — Too Much Trouble
SBTRKT — Hold On - Young Turks
2 Bears — Work - Southern Fried
Bass Boy — Yes
Lethal B — Leave It Yeah (feat. JME & Fire Camp)
Wiley — Boom Blast
Scuba — M.A.R.S
Mosca — Dom Perignon - 3024
R.I.P. Productions — Deep In You - Ice Cream
Rozzo — I Wish I Was A Balck Cat - Track Down
Ziro — Coded - White
Benny Stock — I Don't Deserve You
Mellow Bee — Tick Tock VIP (Mosca Dubplate Special)
Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs — Garden - Greco Roman

14th live at Maida Vale
14th — Hide Yourself
14th — Take Me There

Feed Me! — What You Want

Besti-vid of the week: The Weeknd 'The Knowing'

2011-11-25T08:57:00.000Z

The Weeknd - The Knowing (Official Video)

Yes, friends, Romans and fellow Bestivalites, you're quite right...it has been quite some time since we've showcased a Besti-vid of the week. But hey, when you come back, come back strong...

This amazing mini sci-fi epic short film - which features Aslan (yes, from Narnia), Emperor Haile Selassie III (legendary Ethiopian dude who Rastas reckon is the incarnation of God) and some ideas surely swiped from Stargate (no bad thing) - for one of 2011's genuinely brilliant breakthrough acts, The Weeknd, is just so bonkers is might just be the best music vid of the year...

Besti-mix 75: Psychemagik

2011-11-23T17:45:00.001Z

Bringing you a blast of summery Balearic-style dancefloor action to blow away the winter blues, our latest Besti-mix is the work of one of the UK's hottest production duos, Psychemagik, whose tasty re-edit of Fleetwood Mac's classic 'Everywhere' has been ripping a giant size hole in the interweb and clubs from London to Ibiza this year, while their Discotheque Wreckers vinyl imprint - home to a series of gorgeous disco oddities - is fast becoming justly lorded by those in the know.

And their Besti-mix, a perfectly poised 4/4 club set that kicks off with their own reworking of Azari & III's 'Reckless With Your Love', is sure to win them yet more converts... get stuck in.

Download: Bestimix 75 Psychemagik

Tracklisting:
01 Reckless With Your Love - (Psychemagik Remix) - Azari & lll
02 Breathe & Pop - Ultrasome
03 Buffalo Bill - Cole Medina
04 Everybody feat. Evelyn Champagne King - Miguel Migs
05 I Know The Way (Tommy Disco Remix) - Lou Teti
06 Just Think About (Art of Tones Remix) - Mario Basanov feat. Miss Bee
07 Stop Your Hate - Maceo Plex
08 Lezgo - Justin Martin & Ardalan
09 Beat My House - Kenny K Collins
10 Abstraxion - Jaipur's Elephant
11 La Musica (Azari & II Remix) - Munk
12 Tetra (Leisuregroove & Rustem Rustem Remix) - Hollywood Hills & Drew Scott
13 Smash & Grab - Joe Europe

Bestimix 75: Psychemagik by Bestimix on Mixcloud

Rob da Bank's Music Club

2011-11-23T16:10:00.001Z

Back in September this year, just a few weeks after Bestival itself, Rob da Bank and The Bestival Foundation held the inaugural Rob da Bank's Music Club, in partnership with the Isle of Wight Youth Trust and hosted at Quay Arts on the Isle of Wight.

As Rob da Bank explains: “I’ve been thinking about starting a musical youth club for a while now. The more time I spend on the Island, the more talent I discover, but I can see the problems of transport, equipment and talent actually making it to the Island outside of festival time... I really hope we can start a credible, educational and fun Music Club that will continue for years. Hope to see you there!”

Rob da Bank's Music Club is held on the last Tuesday of every month and is somewhere for teenagers to go to after school to hang out, be inspired, entertained... and learn the occasional thing along the way!

Each month they have instruments to try and on which to watch demonstrations, inspirational speakers (from both a local and global level) to give a talk each month and to talk afterwards – encouraging and answering questions.

The next one is on Tuesday 29th November (5 - 7pm) and will feature a Q&A Session with Rob da Bank, a Music Production workshop with Brighton DJ and producer Dan Ascherl and Lo (who worked as part of legendary producer Martin Hannett’s New Order production team), Guitar, Bass, Drum and Singing workshops, DJ and CDJ Decks workshops, an AV workshop, a Street Dancing workshop and a Jam Session. Plus you'll also find Graphic Design from IOW College, and a new Jewellery workshop.

And all for FREE! :)

Watch Animal Collective live in New York

2011-11-23T11:45:00.000Z

Animal Collective have just posted a bizarre but kinda brilliant video on their Facebook page documenting the performance piece they created for New York’s Guggenheim Museum last year, which you can watch here.

The work, a collaboration with Danny Perez, was entitled Tranverse Temporal Gyrus. Three hours in duration, it featured original music by Panda Bear and chums, “played through a 36-channel speaker set-up around the museum’s ramp.”

Some of this music features in the pretty out-there (even by Bestival's standards!) six minute video clip, which was filmed by Bobby Boothe and edited by Perez.

Radio da Bank: The A to Z of Wretch 32

2011-11-22T17:30:00.001Z

If you missed it on BBC Radio 1 last night you can catch up with the latest in Rob da Bank's series of musical A to Zs, this time with Jermaine Scott aka Wretch 32.

Click here to catch up online via the BBC iPlayer

Tracklisting:
Akon - Sorry Blame It On Me
Bob Marley – Three Little Birds
2Pac – Changes
Kanye West feat Jay-Z – Diamonds Are Forever (Remix)
Elephant Man – Log On
Chipmunk – Flying High
Bob Marley – Get Up Stand Up
Dizzee Rascal – Just A Rascal
Nas – One Love
Jay Z – Girls Best Friend
Kanye West – Family Business
Kano – London Town
Michael Jackson – Bad
Nas – Made You Look
Aaliyah – One In A Million
P Diddy feat Mace - Can’t Nobody Hold Me Down
Q-Tip - Breathe & Stop
Roll Deep – When I’m ‘Ere
So Solid Crew – 21 Seconds
Tinie Tempah - Pass Out
Usher – Burn
Major Lazer feat Vybz Kartel – Pon De Floor
Beenie Man – Who Am I
DMX – X Gon Give It To Ya
R Kelly – You Remind Me Of Something
Jay-Z feat Rihanna & Kanye West - Run This Town

Demos, Demos, Demos ...

2011-11-22T10:56:00.000Z

Sunday Best receives thousands of tracks a year through our Soundcloud account from bands who want to play at Bestival and Camp Bestival.

We take the time to go through all the tunes sent in and we get to discover some real little gems as a result.

Unfortunately, it would be impossible to give everyone who wants to play a slot, even if we think they're ace, but we can take this opportunity to highlight some of the great tracks that have come in over the last year and celebrate how much great music there is out there. Keep it coming!

Let's theme them as fictional football teams, for absolutely no reason whatsoever...

THE DREAM TEAM
To ease you into the listening process, here are the dreamy, soothing, low key favourites we've had in from the UK and across the pond:

The Perennials (pictured) - When I Met You
The Perennials - When I met you

Elsa Hewitt - Wet Denim
Wet Denim by Elsa Hewitt

Ivan Campo - Diceman
&amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://ivancampo.bandcamp.com/track/dice-man"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Dice Man by Ivan Campo&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;gt;

Folly and The Hunter - Cost
Cost by follyandthehunter

Message To Bears - Mountains
Message To Bears - Mountains by The Sound Is Not Asleep

Childhood - Blue Velvet
Blue Velvet - Childhood by El Hunt

The Cush - The Drone

JOLLYSVILLE FC
This lot should put you in a good mood with their little ditties:

Bill Davro - And Even Though
And Even Though by billdavro

The Sun Electric Band - Shock Town
&amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://thesunelectricband.bandcamp.com/track/shock-town"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Shock Town by The Sun Electric Band&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;gt;

Speakeasy - Young Love
Young Love by SpeakeasyMusic

ELECTRO SYNTHONIA
To love Bestival is not just to love classic acts, Rock and Pop legends, Hip Hop winners, scorching Indie newcomers and all round musical oddballs, to love Bestival is also to love a bit of wobble, click, hiss and bleep....

Here are some Electronica tracks to get you in the mood for Bestival at night:

Flipbook - The Hilo Bay Halfway
The Hilo Bay Halfway by Flipbook

Stendek - Yume
Stendek-Yume by stendekaudio

Okinawa Lifestyle - Wir Sind In Der Zukunft Geblieben
Wir Sind In Der Zukunft Geblieben by Okinawa Lifestyle

Wave Department - Cycle Surf
CYCLE SURF by WAVE DEPARTMENT

Throwing Snow - Un Vingt
Un Vingt by Throwing Snow

Shadow Orchestra - Sweet As A Nut
04 Sweet as a Nut by Shadow_Orchestra

THE INDIE WANDERERS
These dudes really know how to write Indie bangers. Get your ear-holes on the end of this:

Napoleon in Rags - Don't Let it Out
Don't Let It Out by napoleoninrags

Capitals - Hello World
Hello World by Capitals

I Am Harlequin - The Liberty
I am Harlequin - The Liberty by I am Harlequin

Key.To.Machinery - Recite.This.Clock.Stopwatch
Recite.This.Clock.Stopwatch.(DEMO) by Keys.To.Machinery.

The Paris Mob - Health
Health by theparismob

Pickpockets Love Tourists - Anything In This World Could Be Yours
01 Anything in this world could be yours by PickPockets Love Tourists

Letters To Fiesta - Traveller
Traveller by Letters To Fiesta

Civil War - Fairwell on Thursday
Farewell On Thursday (Home Demo) by civilwar

We Are Animal - Luminous Lights
Luminous lights by We are animal

Jay Brown - Video
Video by JAY BROWN

Vault of Eagles - Taken From Love Inside
Taken From Love Inside MASTER by vaultofeagles

THE AFROBEAT ROVERS
Let the jittery rhythms of these Afrobeat belters and other quirky numbers keep you up all night doing the Watusi...

London Afrobeat Collective - Lagos Junction
London Afrobeat Collective - Lagos Junction by fvfestival

Ariya Astrobeat Arkestra - Crosstown Traffic
Crosstown Traffic - Ariya Astrobeat Arkestra by djgilla

Kalakuta Millionaires - Bukon Mashie
Bukom Mashie by KalakutaMillionaires

Hackney Colliery Band - Africa [Cover of Toto]
&amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://hackneycollieryband.bandcamp.com/album/africa-7-single"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Africa 7&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot; Single by Hackney Colliery Band&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;gt;
Spoek Mathambo - Mishini Wam
02 Mishini Wam by BGMC

THE DOWNERTOWNERS
We can't always be happy. Sometimes it's good to take the energy down a notch and have a bit of a reflective one. That's where these guys come in, easing you back down from the dizzying heights you've scaled enjoying all those great tunes, and easing you back into the slightly-less-thrilling reality of life. But don't panic, next year there will be more musical offerings to look forward to. Hurrah!

Nick Hudson - Birth Guilt of the Misconceived
Birth Guilt of The Misconceived by nickhudsonmusic

Music of Seville - My Grand Tour
My Grand Tour by Music of Seville

Please do keep sending us your music via soundcloud.com/sundaybest/dropbox ... we can't promise to give you any feedback, but we can promise to give em all a listen :)

ps... BIG thanks to Julian Peck for putting this article together.

Radio da Bank: The Shivers in session

2011-11-21T12:48:00.001Z

New York duo The Shivers, aka Keith Zarriello and Joanna Schornikow, jet into the BBC's Maida Vale Studios for a beautiful da Bank Session. They were so excited to be recording in the legendary studios, Keith was even running around taking photos of the Beatles plaques! More details in the session interview.

Plus: Rob's High Five - his 5 hype tracks of the week that you need in your life; da Bank's Guide to Unbelievable Genres - Rob delves into the world of Nu York Disco; and, as always, an early morning Saturday Skank. Then there's music from DJ Shadow, Major Lazer, 14th, Dauwd and Speech Debelle.

Click here to catch up with the show via the BBC iPlayer

Tracklisting:
Major Lazer — Original Don - Downtown Records
The Correspondents — Cheating With You
Julio Bashmore — Ensnare - Futureboogie
Wise Blood — Loud Mouths - Dovecote Records

Rob's High Five #5
14th — Hide Yourself - 14thMusic

Dauwd — Whats There? - Picture Music
Charlie XCX — Nuclear Seasons (Hackman Remix) - This Is Music
Speech Debelle — Studio Backpack Rap - Big Dada

The Shivers Maida Vale Session
The Shivers — Kisses

FC Kahuna — Hayling - Skint
Skream — Anticipate (Cassius Remix) - Disfigured Dubz

Rob's High Five #4
Zulu Winter — Lets Move Back To Front - Double Denim

Talk In Colour — Nightshift (Microburst Remix) - XLR8TR

Saturday Skank
Max Romeo — I Chase The Devil - Island

Mia Dora — Hypnotise
Florence + the Machine — What The Water Gave Me - Island

Rob's High Five #3
James Blake — At Birth - R and S

Jack Beats — End Of Love - Columbia / Deconstruction

The Shivers Maida Vale Session
The Shivers — More
The Shivers — Silent Weapons In Quiet Wars

Tom Gandey — The Piano Track - Southern Fried
Washed Out — Amor Fati - Domino

Rob's Guide To Barely Believable Genre - Nu York Disco
Holy Ghost! — Hold My Breath - DFA

Tom Vek — Someone Loves You - Island

Rob's High Five #2
DJ Shadow — Scale It Back (feat. Little Dragon)

Wretch 32 — Forgiveness (Todd Edwards Remix) (feat. Etta Bond) - Ministry Of Sound
King Krule — Noose Of Jah City - True Panther Sounds

Rob's High Five #1
2 Bears — Work - Southern Fried

Serenades — Come Home - Bluebird Records
RedLight — Get Out My Head - MTA

Sound of Rum on tour with Billy Bragg... now!

2011-11-18T12:59:00.000Z

Since taking over the running of the Left Field at Glastonbury Festival in 2010, Billy Bragg has made an effort to showcase young artists who are mixing pop and politics. And his Left Field in Motion Tour has now taken that concept on the road, with a ticket price pegged lower than usual in an attempt to connect a new generation to the power of music with something to say.

Writing in the NME recently, Bragg recognised that the English riots had created a unique moment for young artists to step up and offer their perspective: “The disturbances of the past weeks have stirred up a shit storm of opinion in the mainstream media, much of it from people who have no real experience of the pressures faced by this generation, the first in a century that are likely to grow up worse off than their parents. Though this situation has been building for some years, the disturbances have created an opportunity for young people to provide an alternative commentary.”

Bragg followed that call to arms by bringing together a brace of contemporary artists whose songs are full of social comment on the Left Field In Motion Tour, including the astounding genre defying hip hop poetry of Sound of Rum as they continue to attract endless superlatives in their unshakeable quest to make everyone "hear what we are doing".

Ska/punk radicals The King Blues will also be joining him for selected dates bringing their acclaimed righteous sense of ire and fervour, frustration and celebration. And for the remaining dates, and in recognition of what is currently the most political music scene in the UK, MOBO Award winning hip hop artist and founder of The Hip Hop Shakespeare Company, Akala will also be joining the tour.

Bragg says “Music helped me to make connections when I was growing up – between the situation I found myself in and the powerful people who put me there. Artists need to start engaging in this debate again and The King Blues, Akala and Sound of Rum are inspiring examples of those prepared to push against the power.”

Read Billy Bragg’s NME article ‘Why Music Needs To Get Political Again’ here.

Tickets for all shows are available at musicglue.com/billybragg

Besti-mix 74: Pete Gooding

2011-11-16T14:54:00.001Z

As the much-loved decade-long resident of Ibiza's Cafe Mambo, Pete Gooding cemented his place in the hearts of clubbers worldwide, renowned for his suitably Balearic open-minded approach to both DJing and making music, winning the coveted 'Best Ibiza DJ' award in 2002. But Pete's tastes and notoriety extend way beyond chill out; he's spun everything from bleeding edge techno to wistful electronica at Renaissance parties all over the globe since the late '90s, and since 2006 has been producing dance hits like 'Runnin' (1.8 million YouTube hits and counting) with James Doman as well as under the alter-ego The Machine, recording underground club tracks for the likes of Size, Audio Therapy and Stereo Productions, as well as on their own imprint, Superficial Recordings.

As you might expect, there's nothing superficial about Pete's Besti-mix - a riot of upfront club tunes and heavy bass rattlers from the likes of Fever Ray, Modeselektor and Crystal Fighters. For Pete's sake, get involved people...

Download: Bestimix 74 Pete Gooding

Tracklisting:
01. Fever Ray - Triangle Walks (Ben Hoo's Still Frame mix) [Rabid]
02. Composer - Aqualung [Infine Music]
03. Modeselektor ft Miss Platnum - Berlin [Monkeytown]
04. Mario & Vidis ft Giedre - Slow [Silence Music]
05. Afterlife & Pete Gooding present No Logo - This City Never Sleeps (Max Essa Dub) [Melodica]
06. Crystal Fighters - Plage (Compuphonic Remix) [Wall Of Sound]
07. Pillow Talk - Long Lost Friends [Life And Death]
08. Dj Nibc - The Doorman (Casino Times Remix) [Trunkfunk]
09. 1Blip2 - Alone [Melodica]
10. Above and Beyond ft Zoe Johnston - You Got To Go (MJ Cole Remix0 [Anjuna Beats]
11. Modeselektor with PVT - Green Light Go [Monkeytown]
12. Gangcolours - Fireworks In Pocket (Alex Patchwork Remix) [Brownswood Recordings]

Bestimix 74: Pete Gooding by Bestimix on Mixcloud

Besti posters - the perfect Xmas gift!

2011-11-15T13:53:00.000Z

As those of you who attend the open air musical marvel that was Bestival 2011 will no doubt remember, for the first time this year we created a series of beautiful limited edition posters of your favourite artists (The Cure, Shadow, PJ Harvey, Bjork and more) with original artwork from a collection of the UK's finest. Several of these babies sold out like proverbial hotcakes but there are still a smattering available to pick up, making for the ideal Xmas gift for your mates, mum or trendy Auntie. Just head over to the Screenadelica shop to persuse the selection in full and snap up one today!

While you're there, you'll be able to read interview with several of the artists, including Toby Whitebread, whose DJ Shadow poster is pictured here in all its cat-friendly glory, and whose words of wisdom and inspiration you can divulge right here...

Where are you from/ Where do you come from?
I'm from Kent originally, but have spent time living in the Midlands, Liverpool, Manchester and Sydney. Right now, I'm back in Manchester one of the most creative and inspiring places that I have had the pleasure of living in.

How would you describe your work?
On a personal level, my work is about the development of my visual language, about change and adaption. I love the notion of instilling narrative to poster design. Visually my work contains references to cultural and social obsessions of mine. There's a lot of 60's TV, Sci Fi, 2000AD and large love of music to what I do.

How did you start designing posters?
I started producing posters and flyers for a promoter friend of mine while I was studying my MA at Manchester Metropolitan. As a freelancer I produce a wide range of work, from beer bottle wraps to album covers to clothing. Over the last few years the number of clients asking for posters has really grown, I think my enthusiasm for the medium has rubbed off on quite a few of them. I'm a huge fan of vintage film posters and a passionate screen printing.

What’s the nicest thing anyone has said about your work?
I'm really not sure, I tend to tune out when I hear people discussing my work in case they don't like what they see. I feel quite honoured that people like my work enough to buy it, especially as we all have to watch the pennies these days.

What have you got lined up for the future?
I'm continuing to produce posters for live music events in Manchester, over the next couple of months I have posters for The Field, DJ Vadim & The Electric and for the Sun Ra Arkestra. There may be another album in the works, and next year will see my first of two clothing lines for Fenchurch.

Radio da Bank: Golden Fable in session

2011-11-14T15:20:00.001Z

Tim and Becca, aka Golden Fable, de camp from North Wales and perform a beautiful session at the BBC's Maida Vale Studios.

Plus Rob's High Five, his 5 hype tracks of the week - and, as always, a chance to skank with your breakfast in the Saturday Skank.

Also with music from Niki & The Dove, Azealia Banks, Chairlift, Worship and Bombay Bicycle Club.

Click here to catch up with the show via the BBC iPlayer

Tracklisting:
DJ Rashad & Gant Man - Heaven Sent (Planet Mu)
Crystal Fighters - Champion Sound (Mustang Mix) (Zirkulo)
Azealia Banks - Slow Hands (White)
Shaolin Jazz - Gil’s Pinky Ring
Starkey - Blood Roses (White)

=Rob’s High Five #5=
Niki & The Dove - Mother Protect (Phaelehs Rave Remix) (Sub Pop)

Chairlift - Sidewalk Safari (Young Turks)
Eugene McGuiness - Lion (Domino)

=Golden Fable Maida Vale Session=
Golden Fable - Always Golden

Hybrid Theory – Whispers (Whole Sick Remix) (Four 40 records)
Zomby - Labyrinth (4AD)

=Rob’s High Five #4=
Dot Rotten – Keep it on a Low (Mercury)

Lone – Cobra (White)
Hackman – You Deliver (Ramp)

=Saturday Skank=
The Bamboos - The Wilhelm Scream (Ft. Megan Washington) (Tru Thoughts)

Chocky – Down With Idris (Chockys THC remix) (DSCNTD)
Ford & Lopatin - I Surrender (Kemado)
Friendly Fires - Blue Cassette (Tiga Remix) (XL)

=Rob’s High Five #3=
Mwen – Bones (White)

Jonny Kearney & Lucy Farrell - Stand Up Show (Rabble Rouser)
Dinky – Teka (Visionquest)

=Golden Fable Maida Vale Session=
Golden Fable - The Chill Part. 2
Golden Fable - Be Alive

DJ Ketchup - O Babo (Mental Groove)

=Rob’s High Five #2=
King Krule - The Noose of Jah City (True Panther Sounds)

Dr. Horse - Jack That Cat Was Clean (Trikont)
Ed Sheeran - Lego House (Goldie’s Mechano Remix)
Sepalcure - Pencil Pimp (Hotflush)
Worship – House of Glass (Killing Moon Records)

=Rob’s High Five #1 aka The Greatest Record In The World Right Now=
Hans-Peter Lindstorm - Du Javu

Citizens! - True Romance (Kitsune)
Bombay Bicycle Club - Leave It (Island)

Rob da Bank crowned Independent Entrepreneur of the Year at AIM Music Awards

2011-11-11T12:15:00.001Z

Last night saw the inaugural AIM Independent Music Awards take place at Floridita in London's Soho, presented by Steve Lamacq and Huw Stephens. And team Sunday Best were there in force to see Rob da Bank win the award for Independent Entrepreneur of the Year. Big up da Bank!

Sunday Best Recordings artist Beardyman was also up for the Hardest Working Artist Award but lost out to Frank Turner. He made up for it though by replacing Bjork as the closing act and then performing classic Bjork tracks using only his voice and his customised samplers!

Congratulations too to all the other winners... including Bjork for her Outstanding Contribution to Music, Adele for Best 'Difficult' 2nd Album and Most Played Independent Act, SBTRKT for Independent Breakthrough of the Year, John Robb for Indie Champion of the Year and Laurence Bell from Domino Recordings for his well-deserved Pioneer Award. And thanks to AIM for putting on the event... bring on next year!

10 Classic David Lynch Soundtracks

2011-11-10T15:46:00.001Z

In celebration of the fact that David Lynch released his debut artist album 'Crazy Clown Time' on our very own Sunday Best Recordings this week our friends at FACT have chosen the Tinsletown legend's top 10 soundtracks, and handily included audio from each of them for you to while away your wee hours to. Enjoy!

Besti-mix 73: Sly and Reggie (The Middle Class Sound System)

2011-11-09T13:32:00.001Z

Our latest Besti-mix is a dub-heavy head-ride jam packed with exclusive cuts created by two self-confessed "middle class white boys". Sly and Reggie first took to the streets of Dulwich on The Middle Class Sound System - a black Morris Minor Pickup and a pile of speakers - fusing old school reggae with 'white toasting', a mixture of spoken word and rant. Their debut album, Middle Class Dub Volume One, pricked up the ever-attuned ears of local boy made good Rob da Bank, who invited them down to Camp Bestival and Bestival in summer 2011. Their second album Sly and Reggie Vs The World (Middle Class Dub Vol 2) is set for release in later in the year and is sure to catapult them into the dub-reggae stratosphere, or thereabouts.

Between now and then, there's this: a 16-track dubwise session that contains a stack of exclusive Sly and Reggie soundclashes with the likes of Richard Burton, William Burroughs and, erm, the Arab Spring(!) alongside the dub poetry (ahem) of Philip Larkin and the proto rap genius of The Last Poets. Seriously...

Download: Bestimix 73 Sly and Reggie (The Middle Class Sound System)

Tracklisting:
01 Sly and Reggie Vs Richard Burton
02 Sly and Reggie Vs William Burroughs
03 Mark Rylance - Acceptance Speech
04 The Last Poets - Black Thighs
05 Sly and Reggie Vs Gill Scott Heron
06 Sly and Reggie Vs Kate Tempest
07 Sly and Reggie Vs The Redgraves
08 Sly and Reggie Vs The Bourgeois Ballsup
09 Philip Larkin - This Be The Verse
10 Sly and Reggie Vs The Beat Generation
11 Sly and Reggie Vs Ian Dury
12 Sly and Reggie Vs The Arab Spring (featuring John Farnham)
13 Sly and Reggie Vs Allen Ginsberg (Listen To The Jew In Your Heart)
14 Sly and Reggie - Streetsweeper
15 Sly and Reggie - Shelter From The Money Storm
16 Sly and Reggie Vs The National Anthem (Dub Save The Queen)

Bestimix 73: Sly and Reggie (The Middle Class Sound System) by Bestimix on Mixcloud

Bestival 2011 by Jamie Baker

2011-11-08T18:00:00.000Z

Re-live Bestival 2011 with these stunning photographs by Jamie Baker accompanied by the Fear of Theydon remix of 'Plough & Orion' by Skinny Lister.

Click here to watch the video slideshow if it doesn't appear above

Bestival returns September 6th-9th 2012 with early bird tickets on sale now here.

David Lynch guest-edits The Guardian's Film&Music

2011-11-08T12:52:00.000Z

David Lynch, the director-turned-musician, turned into an editor last Friday for The Guardian's Film&Music pages where they discovered that sometimes a fish will tell you how it wants to be cooked, the block-and-tackle is a mysterious and powerful device, Duran Duran ought to have scored a Hitchcock film, precisely what will four 21-year-old men from the Ozarks make of Lynch's new album… or, for that matter, a blond high-school girl from Columbus, Ohio?

If you missed Friday's print edition you can catch up with it all online here.

David Lynch's album Crazy Clown Time is out this week on Download, Deluxe CD and Double Heavyweight Gatefold Vinyl (with free download code). Click here for all the info

Radio da Bank: L-Vis 1990 in session

2011-11-07T12:12:00.000Z

L-Vis 1990 are in session at Maida Vale for Rob, there's a new featurette called 'Rob's High 5', and 'Belgium Step' features in Rob's Guide to Barely Believable Genres.

Click here to catch up via the BBC iPlayer

Willy Moon — I Wanna Be Your Man (Drop The Lime Remix) - Loog
Yuksek — Always on the Run (Peter & the Magician Remix)
Traits — Fever (feat. Elizabeth Troy) - Digital Soundboy
Hooray for Earth — True Loves (Cereal Spiller Mix) - Memphis Industries

Rob's High 5: no5
Redlight — Get Out Of My Head

Dirty Beaches — Lord Knows Best - Badlands EP, ZOO MUSIC
Cos-Ber-Zam — Ne Noya (Daphni Remix)
Roots Manuva — Get The Get (Miadora Remix) - Big Dada

Maida Vale Session
L-Vis 1990 — Tonight

5kinandbone5 — Stomp (feat. YG)

Rob's High 5: no4
L.A. Salami — Monday Maybe Coming

Gold Panda — An Iceberg Hurtled Through The Clouds (Peaking Lights Vocal Mix) - !K7

Saturday Skank
Lord Echo — Long Time No See - Bastard Jazz Recordings

The Living Graham Bond — Group Logic
Florence + the Machine — Spectrum - Universal
Justice — Helix - Ed Banger
Gruff Rhys — Whale Trail - Turnstile

Maida Vale Session
L-Vis 1990 — Lost In Love
L-Vis 1990 — I Feel It

Tommy Kid — Alarm Riddim

Rob's High 5: no3
Lianne La Havas — No Room For Doubt (feat. Willy Mason)

Trim — Moments In Trim (Chrissy Murderbot Remix) - Planet Mu
Grimelock — Total Recall
Apashe — Excision

Rob's Guide to Barely Believeable Genres: Belgium Step
Science — Blow Up - Warriorz Records

The Juan MacLean — Happy House (Cut Copy Remix)

Rob's High 5: no2
Eats Everything — The Size - Dirtybird

Rob's High 5: no1
Friends — I'm His Girl - Lucky Number

Crystal Fighters — Champion Sound - Zirkulo

Dandelion Radio keep the spirit of John Peel alive with the 2011 Festive Fifty... get your votes in!

2011-11-04T12:57:00.000Z

The Festive Fifty is an annual chart featuring the previous year's best tracks, as voted for by listeners of Dandelion Radio. Legendary BBC broadcaster John Peel presented the first ever Festive Fifty on Radio 1 back in 1976, and continued to do so until his sad death in October 2004. Our very own Rob da Bank then hosted the poll in 2004 and 2005 as part of Radio 1's One Music show, before Peel's former production team asked Dandelion Radio to become the new home of the Festive Fifty from 2006 onwards.

So get yourselves over to dandelionradio.com/festive50.htm to vote for your favourite tracks of 2011 and keep the spirit of John Peel alive. Voting closes on 30th November and each entry gets a chance to win CDs and copies of Mark Whitby's book 'The Festive Fifty'.

Besti-mix 72: David Lynch

2011-11-03T18:38:00.000Z

Unless you've been living under a rock on the Outer Hebrides for the past year you'll be aware Tinseltown legend David Lynch has created a genuine wave of excitement and interest across the music spectrum in 2011, releasing his debut single - an acclaimed electronic masterstroke - on our very own Sunday Best Recordings back in January.

Now comes his debut artist album, Crazy Clown Time, recorded with his long-time musical partner 'Big' Dean Hurley and featuring a remarkable guest spot from Karen O of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, out this Monday. To whet your appetites (even more) David and Dean have put together a collection of tunes that they've been digging, featuring classics from Gary Clark Jr, Sonny Boy Williamson II, Elvis and the like, as well as contemporary offerings from James Blake, The Kills and Gnarls Barkley. You don't need us to tell you this is pretty much unmissable - dig in, and drift into the Twilight Zone.

Download: Bestimix 72 David Lynch

Tracklist:
1. Gary Clark Jr. – Bright Lights
2. Sonny Boy Williamson II – Bring It On Home
3. The Kills – The Search for Cherry Red
4. Gnarls Barkley – Who’s Gonna Save My Soul
5. Conway Twitty – It’s Only Make Believe
6. Kitty, Daisy & Lewis – Going Up The Country
7. Elvis Presley – That’s All Right Mama
8. Big Brother & The Holding Company feat. Janis Joplin – Ball & Chain
[Live recording from Monterey International Pop Festival]
9. James Blake – Limit To Your Love
10. Morris Stoloff & The Columbia Pictures Studio Orchestra – Moonglow
[Theme from 'Picnic']
11. This Mortal Coil – Song To The Siren

Bestimix 72: David Lynch by Bestimix on Mixcloud

The Cure to release Bestival Live 2011!

2011-11-02T13:16:00.000Z

Good news Bestivalites! The Cure are to release a recording of their headline set at this year's Bestival, an amazing night of back-to-back Cure classics and new material.

Due out via our very own Sunday Best Recordings on December 5, Bestival Live 2011 documents the band’s two-and-a-half hour set on the festival’s main stage across two CDs (it’s also available as a digital download). There are 32 songs in total, including such classics as ‘The Lovecats’, ‘Close To Me’, ‘Friday I’m In Love’, ‘Just Like Heaven’ and ‘Boys Don’t Cry’.

Rob da Bank, Bestival and Sunday Best mainman, says: “Since I was 15 and backcombing my hair, donning my sisters eyeliner and singing the lyrics to ‘A Forest’ into my hairbrush I’ve had an unhealthy fascination with The Cure. To say it reached its peak at Bestival 2011 is an understatement, as after seven years of pestering I not only landed The Cure to headline Bestival, but now appear to be putting out one of their live records on my own record label. How strange! For any of the 50,000 who were at Bestival and saw all or some of the two and a half hour set, this live album will transport you back. For fans of The Cure who didn’t make it I know this will be a legendary addition to your Cure collection!”

The Cure’s Robert Smith adds: “We had such a great time in the Isle of Wight at Bestival that we wanted to release this show as a way of thanking fans and islanders alike. Bestival is the best!”

All profits from the sale of Bestival Live 2011 will go to a registered charity, the Isle of Wight Youth Trust, which “offers counseling, advice, information and support services to young people aged 25 and under on the Isle of Wight (the home of Bestival) and, in some cases, their parents or carers.”

Bestival Live 2011 tracklist: 
CD1 :
01. Plainsong 
02. Open
03. Fascination Street
04. A Night Like This 
05. The End Of The World
06. Lovesong
07. Just Like Heaven 
08. The Only One 
09. The Walk 
10. Push 
11. Friday I’m In Love
12. Inbetween Days 
13. Play For Today 
14. A Forest 
15. Primary 
16. Shake Dog Shake

CD2:
01. The Hungry Ghost 
02. One Hundred Years 
03. End 
04. Disintegration 
Encore 1:
05. Lullaby 
06. The Lovecats
07. The Caterpillar 
08. Close To Me 
09. Hot Hot Hot!!!
10. Let’s Go To Bed 
11. Why Can’t I Be You? 
Encore 2:
12. Boys Don’t Cry 
13. Jumping Someone Else’s Train 
14. Grinding Halt 
15. Saturday Night 
16. Killing Another

Radio da Bank: The A to Z of Bombay Bicycle Club

2011-11-01T14:55:00.000Z

Recorded for BBC Radio 1's 'Stories' show, Bombay Bicycle Club head off on a musical journey through the alphabet with Rob da Bank. Recorded backstage in Oxford on their recent UK tour. Expect some acoustics tunes that influenced their second album Flaws, a few old skool hip hop tunes they use before going on stage and the odd curve ball.

Click here to listen again online

Tracklisting:
AZ - The Come Up
Bon Iver - Perth
Gillian Welch - Caleb Meyer
Dog is Dead - Hands Down
Ennio Morricone - Ninna Nanna Per Adulteri
The Flaming Lips - Race for the prize
Binary Star - Glen Close
Bibio - Haikuesque
Iggy pop - Gimme danger
Joanna Newsom - Emily
Broken Social Scene - KC
Arthur russell - Love is overtaking me
John Martyn - May you Never
Nas - N.Y state of mind
Amerie - One thing
Stereolab - Peng! 33
Reptar - Blastoff
Lucy Rose - Scar
Talking Heads - This must be the place
ustad abdul karim khan - piya bin chain nahi aavat
Can - Vitamin C
Washed Out - Feel It All Around
Xploding Plastix - Funnybones & Lazylegs
Sam Cooke - You Send Me
Frank Zappa - Peaches en Regalia

Radio da Bank: Laidback Luke stands in for Rob

2011-10-31T15:03:00.002Z

While Rob was away on holiday, Laidback Luke laid down a two hour retrospective mix of Dutch house music from past to present. With messages from Shapeshifters, Afrojack, Rehab, Mason and Sidney Sampson, plus music from Tiesto, Steve Angello, Swedish House Mafia and Example.

Click here to listen again to the show

Kitty, Daisy & Lewis: New UK Tour, Single & Video

2011-10-28T14:11:00.000+01:00

The Durham siblings 2nd album 'Smoking In Heaven' is a bona fide classic. Yeah we would say that, but we do really mean it, passionately, and we implore you to check it out. Check this interactive YouTube player to preview all the tracks.

They are also an incredible live band, infused with a raw energy and musicality that's rare these days. In fact at this year's Bestival, Robert Smith from The Cure told us they were the best band he saw all weekend... high praise indeed!

They have a short UK Tour coming up in late November - visiting London, Sheffield, Liverpool, Lancaster, Cambridge and Brighton. Head here for the dates and ticket links.

Their latest single 'Don't Make A Fool Out Of Me' came out this week. It features Lewis on vocals and is available on heavyweight 45rpm 7" vinyl, limited edition 78rpm vinyl and no-inch download. Buy it, love it.

Check the stylish video here...

And preview the album here...

Freak Out with Chic feat Nile Rodgers live - 'The greatest disco group ever'

2011-10-27T12:03:00.000+01:00

Everyone who caught Chic feat Nile Rodgers on the Main Stage at either Bestival 2010 or Camp Bestival 2009 was blown away by the experience, stunned to learn of the amazing array of classic songs written by Nile for the likes of Madonna, Diana Ross, David Bowie, Eric Clapton (and many more) and, of course, Chic! It is thus with very good reason that The Guardian have labeled them "The greatest disco group ever", and we concur!

They make a welcome return to the UK to preform live at the HMV Forum in Kentish Town on Thursday 10th November and we have some special discounted tickets to offer you.

Click here for tickets at £18.50 (instead of the usual £23.50)

Their live shows have always been rare and selective and even during their big hit days the band NEVER toured, so we suggest you snap up this chance to see them live while you can!

Nile Rodgers' BioClip™ from REDfish9 on Vimeo.

Florence x Lagerfield x The Weeknd

2011-10-27T10:31:00.001+01:00

Our friends at The Vinyl Factory, who produced a lovely David Lynch vinyl for us earlier in the year, are now set to release Florence + the Machine's new single 'Shake It Out' on white vinyl, featuring a remix by The Weeknd and cover photography by perma-sunglass-sporting silver fox fashion legend Karl Lagerfield.

Released as a limited edition of 500 hand numbered copies, each cover has been screen printed, silver foiled and hand numbered on pristine white card and features photographic portrait of our Flo' personally taken by the Chanel head honcho.

The record itself is the only physical release of 'Shake It Out', and includes the much sought after remix by The Weeknd, which you can listen to below.

Sunday Best Halloween Party feat Drums of Death, Rob da Bank & more - this Sunday!

2011-10-26T13:50:00.001+01:00

We return to The Lock Tavern, our favourite London boozer, this coming Sunday (30th October) for an evil night (& day) of wicked fun and hauntingly good music featuring Drums of Death (live), Rob da Bank, iLLBiLLY HiTEC (live), Sombrero Sound System, Electro Future Beard Club (live) and Kaptin Is Dead.

Starting at 3pm with Roasts, Apple Bobbing and some Trick-or-Treating and FREE to get in if you're dressed up appropriately. Also FREE to get in if you're not ;)

More info here

Boo x

ps... for a free Drums of Death track click here

Besti-mix 71: Ulrich Schnauss

2011-10-25T16:07:00.000+01:00

As any of you who delved into our aptly-named Ambient Forest at this year's Bestival can attest, we're massive fans of dreamy mood music here at Bestival. Which is why we're giddy with excitement to be able to present an exclusive Besti-mix from one of the genre's true legends... the one and only Ulrich Schnauss.

Combining multilayered synthesizers with beats and ethereal vocals, the German producer's music is at once both uplifting and otherworldly. "I've always used making and listening to music as a way to escape," he says, "putting on headphones is a great way to leave reality behind for a while, reminding yourself why it still makes sense to carry on." Inspired by British alt.indie bands like Chapterhouse and My Bloody Valentine as well as acid house and widescreen electronica (Tangerine Dream, The Orb) Schnauss began releasing records in 2001 after moving to Berlin from his rural German home. Perhaps still best known, and loved, for his brilliant album 'A Strangely Isolated Place', Schnauss continues to keep us smiling with his melodic electronic odysseys.

A new album is set to come soon, but for now, do as the man himself would, pop on your headphones, leave reality behind and drift away to the lush sounds of our latest Besti-mix...

Download: Bestimix 71 Ulrich Schnauss

Tracklisting:
01 Sensa & Haste "The Place" (Audio Danger)
02 Shimah "Swordfish" (Playaz)
03 Bungle "The Source" (Critical)
04 Nu:Tone "Balaclava" (Hospital)
05 BCee "Captured In Time" (Spearhead)
06 Command Strange "When The Morning Comes" (Antillectual Beats)
07 Technicolour "Half A Chance" (Technique)
08 Bungle "Constant&Clear" (Spearhead)
09 Artificial Intelligence "Stand Alone" (V)
10 Qns "Qns1" (Qns)
11 Instra:Mental "Photograph" (Darkestral)
12 Nu:Tone "Set Me Free" (Hospital)
13 Anile "Last March" (Deep Soul)
14 Synkro "Summer Blues" (Blackout)
15 Logistics "Slow Motion" (Hospital)

Bestimix 71: Ulrich Schnauss by Bestimix on Mixcloud

Radio da Bank: Summer Festival Flashback

2011-10-24T13:05:00.001+01:00

Rob da Bank brings you a summer festival flashback with live music from Radio 1's Big Weekend, Green Man, T in the Park, Glastonbury, Sonar and more!

Listen again now via bbc.co.uk/radio1/robdabank

Tracklisting:
Bart B More — The Bass (Ft. Drop The Lime) - Trouble & Bass Recordings
Joe Goddard — Gabriel (Ft. Valentina) (Compound One Mix) - Greco Roman
Dutch Uncles — The Ink - Memphis Industries

Live music from Green Man Festival
Other Lives - Untitled

Eats Everything — Entrance Song - Pets Recs
SebastiAn — C.T.F.O (Ft. M.I.A.) (Nero Remix) - Ed Banger

Live music from Sonar Festival
Toro y Moi — Still Sound

Lucy Rose — In The Middle Of The Bed - Fauna
Bwana — Baby Let Me Finish - Infinite Machine
Unicorn Kid — Chrome Lion - Unicorn Music

Live music from Glastonbury Festival
Friendly Fires — Live Those Days Tonight

Echo Park — Fiber Optic (12th Planet & Finch Mix) - Disfigured Dubz
St Lucia — All Eyes On You - Heavy Roc Records
Plaid — Missing - Warp

Live Music from T in the Park
Chase & Status — Flashing Lights

Paul White — A Weird Day (Ft. Homeboy Sandman) - One-Handed Music
Marina & The Diamonds — Radioactive - 679

Live Music from Rob da Bank's Wig Party at Radio 1's Big Weekend in Ibiza
Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs — Stronger

Djanjo Django — Waveforms (Wild Geese Mix)
Gemini — Graduation - Titan Records

Live music from Underage Festival
Bombay Bicycle Club - Shuffle

Foster the People — Pumped Up Kicks (Soul Clap Mix) - Sony
Subscape — Turn Me On - Play Me Records

Live music from Green Man Festival
Fleet Foxes — Helplessness Blues

Duck Sauce — Big Bad Wolf (Gesaffelstein Remix) - 3Beat

Rob’s Best and Improbably Greatest In The World Now … Possibly … Maybe
Florence & the Machine - What The Water Gave Me - Island

Besti-mix 70: Luv*Jam

2011-10-21T17:46:00.000+01:00

This week's Besti-mix come courtesy of Coley who produces under the name of Luv*Jam, the name of the parties that a small north Welsh tribe developed to pursue their musical tastes in Wrexham. Some of you might have had the pleasure of experiencing their no-holds-barred party for yourself at this year's Bestival or at any of the unusual party locations they've made their own over the past 12 months; this lot have had it away everywhere from concrete bunkers to the terrace at Space.

Now, comes their own music and art project, Crow Castle Cuts - named after a local medieval fort in Llangollen, whose third release is out on November 11 (lovingly packaged on vinyl only and including ancient text about sacred fairies!), the same date as their next Luv*Jam party.

Right now though, tuck into their Besti-mix, a 23-track vinyl-only recording starring Aphex Twin, Jason Fine and F.U.S.E. (aka Richie Hawtin)...

Download: Bestimix 70 Luv*Jam

Tracklisting:
01 Glyn Ceriog / Froncystyllte Swamp / Crow Castle Cuts
02 Jason Fine / Secret Order / Kontra Music
03 Aphex Twin / i / R&S Records
04 Ubik / Harmonise Me / Zoom Records
05 Automatic Nasty / Welcome Ohm Luv / Lunar Disco
06 Mark Du Mosch / Swingin It / Tabernacle Records
07 Mark Du Mosch / Captain Bligh (Luv Jam Outro Edit) / Moustache Records
08 Mark Du Mosch / Outer World / Moustache Records
09 Alden Tyrell / Rendezvous at Rimini / Clone Records
10 R-Tyme / Illusion (Juan Mix) / Transmat Classics
11 Earth People / Reach Up To Mars (808 Mix) / Champion Music
12 Analogue Cops & Blawan / 45 Dollars / Restoration Records
13 Mr. Tophat / High Valley / Junk Yard Connections
14 Adalberto / One Lesson / Acidicted records
15 Dynamo Dreesen & Eric P / House House House / Acido Records
16 F.U.S.E. / Dimension Intrusion / Plus 8 Records
17 Free Fall / Sofa Surfing / Full Frequency Range Recordings
18 Katorski / Chains / Lany Recordings
19 Moody Manc / Joy (RL Dub) / 2020 Vision Recordings
20 S.A.S / You Gotta Think (Luv Jam Short Edit) / Foot & Mouth
21 Mark Du Mosch / Shields Up / Moustache Records
22 Aphex Twin / Selected Ambient Works vii / Warp Records
23 Glyn Ceriog / Knaresborough Bird / Crow Castle Cuts

Bestimix 70: Luv*Jam by Bestimix on Mixcloud

Stream: Lana Del Rey 'Video Games' (Joy Orbison remix)

2011-10-20T11:03:00.002+01:00

2011's brightest burning pop-star in waiting Lana Del Rey has cited Sunday Best's very own David Lynch as a key influence and you can hear his filmic Americana in her impossibly catchy ‘Video Games’ tune - which has been given a typically twilight remix by Bestival-fave Joy Orbison. Stream it right here...

David Lynch In-Studio Footage

2011-10-19T16:54:00.000+01:00

Get a behind the scenes peak of David Lynch himself in the studio creating 'Crazy Clown Time'.

Visionary filmmaker David Lynch will make his solo debut as a musical artist this fall with 'Crazy Clown Time'. Produced and written by Lynch, the album’s 14 original songs spotlight him on guitar and vocals. The album will be released internationally on November 7th (November 8th in North America) by Sunday Best Recordings / [PIAS] America

The album will be released as a Deluxe CD, Double Heavyweight Gatefold LP, Digital Download and a limited Super-Deluxe Collectors Edition - all with original artwork by David Lynch himself and design by Vaughan Oliver (v23).

Click here to visit David Lynch's website where you will find album pre-order links for all worldwide territories.

You can also find a free download of the album's title track 'Crazy Clown Time', which is as creeping and surrealistic as you'd expect from Lynch, via David Lynch's Facebook page.

Besti-mix 69: Timo Garcia

2011-10-18T19:41:00.004+01:00

This week's Besti-mix is by much-loved big room house don Timo Garcia. Here's his set from this year's Bestival which ranges from a respectable 122bpm to no-holds-barred 130bpm because when Timo started playing there was only a small crowd but by the time he finished he had a few thousand heads going nuts in front of him!

As you'd expect from a former Ministry of Sound resident and man who's released on such sterling 4/4 imprints as Sharam's Yoshitoshi as well as Audio Therapy, Cr2, Nervous and more, this is a masterclass in house: featuring tracks by Azari & III, Romanthony and X-Press 2 as well as a healthy smattering of his own tracks and re-edits, including ingenious reworks of Musical Youth's 'Pass the Dutchie' and Ian Brown's 'Stellify'. Get involved...

Download: Bestimix 69 Timo Garcia

Tracklisting:
1. Kraak & Smaak - Let's Go Back feat Romanthony (Solomun Remix) [Jalapeno Records]
2. Timo Garcia - F#cking Bats
3. Timo Garcia - Thief [Nurvous Records]
4. Azari & III - Hungry For The Power (Jamie Jones Ridge Street Remix) [Turbo Recordings]
5. Deetron - Starblazer [Rejected]
6. Teva - Public Life! [Alive Recordings]
7. X-Press 2 & Timo Garcia - Frayed Of The Light feat. Amber Jolene (Wehbba Remix) [Skint Records]
8. Timo Garcia ft Amber Jolene - Lady Luck (Solee Remix) [Yoshitoshi Recordings]
9. Tom Glass - Time [Hope Recordings]
10. Sharam - God Always (Take It) [Yoshitoshi Recordings]
11. Timo Garcia vs Musical Youth - Pass The Dutchie [Bootleg]
12. Timo Garcia vs Ian Brown - Stellify [Bootleg]

Bestimix 69: Timo Garcia by Bestimix on Mixcloud

Radio da Bank: Diagrams in session

2011-10-18T12:19:00.000+01:00

Diagrams session it up this week, Burial remixes Massive Attack and The Weeknd fiddles with Florence and the Machine.

There's also new music from James Blake, Nero and Portishead; Kutski introduces Rob to French-core; and there's a remix of Chris Isaak to get your Saturday Skanking... Saturday or not.

Listen again now via bbc.co.uk/radio1/robdabank

Tracklisting:
Nero — Crush On You (Brodinski Mix) - Mercury
Black Samurai — Information Critic (Ft. Daddy Freddy & Ragga Twins) (Benny Page Mix) - Nice Up! Records
Chairlift — Peculiar Paradise - Terrible records
Modeselektor — German Clap - Monkeytown
tUnE-yArDs — You Yes You - 4AD
Vetiver — Can’t You tell - Subpop
Seams — Focus Energy - Pictures Music

Diagrams Maida Vale Session
Diagrams - Woking

Mickey Moonlight — Close to Everything (The Martin Brothers Mix) - Ed Banger
Porter Robinson — Spitfire - OWSLA

Saturday Skank
Chris Isaak — Wicked Games (TM Dubby Games Mix) - Warner Bros

Jack Beats — End Of Love - Columbia
Star Slinger — Dumbin (feat Reggie B) - Green Label Sounds
Portishead — Chase The Tear - XL Recordings
Radiohead — Lotus Flower - SBTRKT Remix

Diagrams Maida Vale Session
Diagrams - Tall Buildings
Diagrams - Hill

Fanfarlo — Deconstruction - Atlantic
Atlas Sound — Lightwork - 4AD
Lianne La Havas — No Room For Doubt (Ft. Willy Mason) - White

Rob da Bank’s Guide To Barely Believable Genres: Frenchcore!
Human Resource — Dominator (DJ Smurf Remix) - White
The Big Pink — Stay Gold - 4AD

SebastiAn — Love In Motion (Ft. Mayer Hawthorne) (Skrillex Funk-t Out Mix) - Ed Banger

Rob’s Greatest Record In The World Right Now… Possibly… Maybe
Massive Attack — Four Walls (Burial Remix) - The Vinyl Factory

Florence & the Machine — Shake It Out (The Weeknd Remix) - Island
Azealia Banks — 212 - White

Stream: Massive Attack vs Burial

2011-10-14T08:11:00.002+01:00

youtube.com/watch?v=VisKkedFZjw

Besti-mix 68: Greg Wilson (Reels of Steel live at RizLab at Bestival '11)

2011-10-12T11:18:00.003+01:00

Our latest Besti-mix is a wee bit special. Granted, all our mixes are special affairs, lovingly crafted by the world's finest DJs and compiled exclusively for your listening pleasure. Legendary Manchester DJ Greg Wilson - a man famed for helping break electro and house in the UK and one of the first dudes to cut-and-splice tracks together in what was essentially an early form of remixing - spent the last year digging through his extensive video archive to compile a show-reel of delights that was projected live at RizLab at Bestival 2011 to accompany this signature mix of disco, house, electro, funk and all the rest, all worked through his trusty Revox reel-to-reel tape machines and computer. Like we said, it's pretty special...

Download: Bestimix 68 Greg Wilson (Reels of Steel live at Bestival '11)

Tracklisting:
1.Project Tempo - Get Up And Clap Your Hands
2.Paula Cole - Feelin’ Love (Psychemagik Reem Mix)
3.Gary Byrd - The Crown (Tabro T & Chris Yardley Edit)
4.Late Nite Tuff Guy - One Nite In The Disco (Greg Wilson Edit)
5.Paul Simon - Diamonds Dub (Todd Terje Edit)
6.Gino Soccio - Try It Out
7.Gina X - No GDM
8.Subvader - Each Time We Touch (Ebar Mix / Greg Wilson Version)
9.Ooft! - Make U Mine
10.Frankie Goes To Hollywood - Welcome To The Pleasuredome (Robot 84 Rework)

Bestimix 68: Greg Wilson (Reels of Steel live at RizLab at Bestival '11) by Bestimix on Mixcloud

PS... The closing track of Greg's full Bestival set was in fact his amazing re-edit of Electronic's 'Getting Away With It' and you can hear (and see!) this via YouTube here

The Underground Food Rave

2011-10-11T12:55:00.000+01:00

Kerstin Rodgers, aka food blogger MsMarmitelover, introduced her Underground Restaurant to Bestival and Camp Bestival this year with huge success. Well now she has introduced the concept of an Underground Food Market to the world with 2 events taking place over Bonfire Weekend - 4th & 5th of November.

There will be a bonfire, a cocktail bar on the ironing board, live music, hot food stalls, crafts and food to buy to take home. And on Saturday afternoon they will again have the foodie 'dragon's den' in which start up entrepeneurs in the food world can show their products to an expert panel and get feedback.

Click here for more info and to buy tickets.

Radio da Bank: Zola Jesus in session

2011-10-10T11:38:00.000+01:00

Zola Jesus, aka Nika Rosa Danilova from Wisconsin, joins Rob da Bank for an exclusive Maida Vale session. She tells us about the making of her new album Conatus and how she goes about writing and recording tracks.

This week's Saturday Skank comes courtesy of El-B, plus Rob's got new music from the likes of James Blake, Diplo, Jamie N Commons and Mr Oizo.

Listen again now via bbc.co.uk/radio1/robdabank

Tracklisting
Scuba — M.A.R.S - !K7
Larry Heard — And So I Dance (Julio Bashmore mix) - Alleviated
Modeselektor — Shipwreck (feat. Thom Yorke) - Monkeytown
SebastiAn — Love In Motion (feat. Mayer Hawthorne) (Skrillex remix) - Ed Banger
Kuedo — Reality Drift - Planet Mu
Luca C and Brigante — Space Lullaby - Southern Fried
Jamie N Commons — The Preacher - Luvluvluv
Fracture & Neptune — Hush The Crowd - Blackout

Zola Jesus in session at Maida Vale
Zola Jesus — Skin - Sacred Bones
Zola Jesus — Lick The Palm Of The Burning Handshake - Sacred Bones

Clock Opera — Lesson No. 7 (Tom Vek's Tripping remix) - Moshi Moshi
Phil Kieran & Green Velvet — Free Yourself - Phil Kieran Recordings

Saturday Skank
El-B — Slow (feat. Ether Banks) - DPR

Mr. Oizo — Douche Beat (feat. Ether L Banks) - Ed Banger
Bombay Bicycle Club — Lights Out, Words Gone - Island
Azealia Banks — 212 - White Label
M83 — Midnight City - Naïve
Leonidas and Hobbes — Driftin - White Label

Zola Jesus in session at Maida Vale
Zola Jesus Zola Jesus — Seekir - Sacred Bones
Zola Jesus — Vessel - Sacred Bones

Diplo — Horsey - Mad Decent
Mozart Parties — Black Cloud - Merok

Rob da Bank's Guide To Barely Believable Genres: Moombahcore
Radiokillaz — Murda Sound (J Trik's Moombahcore mix) - Rogue Industries
Elephant — Assembly - Memphis Industries
Dems — House - Bad Life

James Blake — We Might Feel Unsound - Atlas

Rob's Greatest Record In The World Right Now... Possibly... Maybe
Feist — How Come You Never Go There? - Cherrytree

Birdy — People Help The People (Two Inch Punch remix) - 14th Floor

3 days in the life of a Bestival Wedding Photographer

2011-10-06T13:40:00.000+01:00

The Big Love Inflatable Church returned once again to Bestival this year for its 7th year running and the giant blow-up church was bursting at the seams with more excitement and mayhem than ever before. And Isle of Wight Wedding Photographer Chris Cowley was on standby to capture every magical moment from start to finish.

A grand total of 48 weddings took place over the weekend with Reverend’s ‘Nickerless’ and ‘Randy Johnson’ preforming ceremonies with the help of dishevelled bridesmaids, a mother in-law and a maid of dishonour.

A wide variety of ceremonies took place over the weekend including numerous blessings, vow renewals (one only a week after the couple were legally married), civil partnerships and a stand-in wedding for a couple who couldn’t afford the one they initially planned.

Whilst every wedding was memorable for its own unique reason, a few in particular services stood out from the rest, including an Island group who have gotten married every year at the Big Love Inflatable Church for the last 7 years. A pirate wedding who were getting married for their 3rd time in a row (this time in the presence of their new-born daughter), another wedding who were led down the aisle by Edinburgh brass band ‘Horndog’ and the grand finale which was a special wedding for the Inflatable Church company director Tristram (a former Inflatable Church vicar) and his partner Sophie.

A full gallery of photos from the weekend can be found at isleofwightweddingphotographer.co.uk/bestival

Bestival Bugle - (download &) read all about it

2011-10-03T16:39:00.000+01:00

If you weren't one of the early(ish) risers who managed to grab their daily copy of the Bestival Bugle this year, fear not. Bugle editor Toby Collard's just woken from his post-Bestival slumber and pinged over the PDFs of this year's editions, and they're available for download for free here - along with every single copy since the Bugle was born in 2005.

"7,000 copies get distributed each day onsite, but they're always snapped up by the early afternoon," confirmed a still-yawning Toby, "but if you missed out at all, get yourself over to the Bestival website where you can enjoy the Bugle in all its monochrome splendour."

"Is the kettle on?" he continued, before apparently heading off for a quick nap. Bless.

Radio da Bank: Sage in session

2011-10-03T14:26:00.000+01:00

This week Rob had new MC Sage in session from Maida Vale Studios. Plus he plays the hottest new remixes of Florence & The Machine, Givers, Alex Winston and L-Vis 1990.

Listen again now via bbc.co.uk/radio1/robdabank

Tracklisting
Mr Nô — The Snake - Different Recordings
L-Vis 1990 — Lost In Love (Neon Dreams Club Mix) - PMR Records
The Magician — I Don’t Know What To Do (ft Jeppe) (Erkka Mix) - Kitsune
The Drums — How it Ended - Moshi Moshi Records
Psycatron and Paul Woolford — Stolen - Hot Flush Recordings
Friends — My Boo - Lucky Number
Swimming — Neutron Wireless Crystal (Trenchurian Mix) - Tummy Touch
Torb — Forever Young - Cassius Records

Maida Vale Session – Sage
Sage — Groovy Mojo

DJ Friction & K.Tee — Jupiter - Shogun
Nautiluss & Lord Sky — Ultraviolet - Hemlock

Saturday Skank
White Town — Your Woman (Seekae Resmash Mix) - Chrysalis

Hackman — Sunburst - Greco Roman
Florence and The Machine — Shake It Out (The Weeknd Remix) - Island
Laura Marling — The Beast - Virgin

Maida Vale Session – Sage
Sage — Swing Ting
Sage — Lonely People

Actress vs Dave ID — SUMR (Azd Rain Mix) - White
Real Estate — Green Aisles - Domino
Korrallreven — As Young As Yesterday (Girl Unit) - Svensk Musik
Tracey Thorn — Night Time - Strange Feeling
Givers — Meantime (Bombay Bicycle Club Remix) - Island Records
Alex Winston — Velvet Elvis (Crystal Fighters Mix) - Island Records

Watch Bestival DJ sets from Fatboy Slim, Jon Hopkins, Derrick Carter and more!

2011-09-30T13:59:00.001+01:00

Our friends at B@TV were on-site at Bestival this year, recording live sets from some of the world's finest DJs - including Fatboy Slim, Derrick Carter, Jon Hopkins, Mike Pickering, The Japanese Popstars and more - and now you can watch 'em, right here, right now, for absolutely nowt!

Stream L-Vis 1990's Neon Dreams

2011-09-29T14:57:00.001+01:00

Next week, Night Slugs co-founder and Bestival favourite L-Vis 1990 will release his debut album Neon Dreams.

More pop-orientated than L-Vis’s previous work, it regardless expands on the more song-based formulas he explored on last year’s ‘Forever You’ EP, with a wealth of guest vocalists on board.

Earlier this year our friends at FACT magazine premiered the first single, ‘Lost in Love’; now their streaming the entire album - go listen to it here.

Besti vibes in the 'house

2011-09-27T17:24:00.001+01:00

Reese Yeates is a young person from the Roundhouse Studios, who left London for the first time ever to perform at this year’s Bestival. He had something of a life-changing experience, so he wrote to us to say thanks and his story inspired us to share it with you fellow Bestivalites. So, here it is, in Reese's words..

"I got involved in Roundhouse Studios, when my YOT (youth offending team) worker recommended that I sign up for a project. I met Angus, the Roundhouse Youth Support Worker, and stayed in touch with him. Angus knew I had always wanted to be an actor, so when the opportunity to perform at Bestival came up he asked me to get involved, and I jumped at the chance. I’ve been having some bad stuff go down lately in London, and I really needed get out of the city. I’ve never left before. So it was a great opportunity in a lot of ways.

"We were asked by the festival to come up with a walkabout performance for the woods, so we worked out a funny routine about being in a (bad) beat boxing band.

"When I was traveling down with the rest of the Roundhouse group, I was looking at everyone else thinking, I am not going to get on with these people. They’re so different from me, why am I doing this? I was also really worried that the show wouldn’t go down well, as it’s not typically arty.

"When we got there and I got to know the rest of the Roundhouse team, it was wicked. And the festival itself was insane. Like nothing I’ve experienced before. I’ve never been somewhere where everyone is so happy and just up for a good time. No bad vibes at all. I was opened up to loads of new music- The Cure, Primal Scream- I’d never even heard of these bands before. My favourite performance was definitely the Charlie Chaplin thing (Diego as Charlie on the Alfresco Stage). He was properly talented and a really inspiring performer.

"When we were performing our walkabout show, it was amazing, the best part of being there for sure! The audience reaction was crazy- they were taking photos, getting involved, asking for our details. And the ladies were loving it- kissing us and everything! It got everyone excited and was so much fun!

"I wish I was back at Bestival now, but I’ve got other things going on. Next up is NYT’s Playing Up and I’m also auditioning for the Roundhouse Theatre Company, which will be about developing a show for the World Shakespeare Festival. I’d love to go back to Bestival next year with something bigger - it was such a wicked festival!"

The Roundhouse Studios offer creative opportunities for young people between the ages of 11-25. They brought a variety of performers to Bestival including spoken word, theatre and cabaret. Find out more here

Radio da Bank: Yes Sir Boss in session

2011-09-26T17:31:00.002+01:00

Bristol based Yes Sir Boss (pictured) are in session this week, catching up with Rob about being the first UK act to sign to Joss Stone's label Stone'd, talking about their forthcoming debut album and hand out some wonderful advice they learnt first hand from the festival circuit this summer.

Plus, Rob introduces another Barely Believable Genre - New Afro Pop; throws in a Saturday Skank; and spins tunes from DJ Shadow, Metronomy, Four Tet, Maceo Plex and Rack N Ruin.

Listen Again Here

Tracklisting:
Dexter 'Great Northern Driver' (Clone)
Hunee 'A Study In Wild' (Permanent Vacation)
DJ Shadow feat. Tom Vek 'Warning Call' (Island)
Four Tet 'Locked' (Text)
Metronomy 'Everything Goes My Way, Caze Nove Mix (Because)
Daughter 'Love' (Communion)
Blu Mar Ten 'Problem Child' (BMT)
Rockwell '4 U' (White)

Yes Sir Boss Maida Vale Session
Yes Sir Boss 'Desperation State' (Stone'd)
Feed Me 'Cotts Face' (Mausetrap)
Korallreven 'Loved Up' (Fastcut)

Saturday Skank
Tenoshi 'Papa Was A Rolling Stone' (Skamla Motown)

Real Estate 'It’s Real' (Domino)
Bombay Bicycle Club 'Lights Out Words Gone' (Island)
Switch 'I Still Love You' (Phantasy Sound)
Maceo Plex 'Falling' (Visionquest)
Boys Noize And Erol Alkan 'Avalanche', Remix (Phantasy Sound)

Yes Sir Boss Maida Vale Session
Yes Sir Boss 'Not Guilty' (Stone’d)
Yes Sir Boss 'Never Know' (Stone’d)
Zeds Dead 'Coffee Break' (Mad Decent)

Rob’s Guide To Barely Believable New Genres of Music: Afro Pop
tUnE-YaRdS 'You Yes You' (4AD)
Rack N Ruin Ft. P Money 'Signal' (Black Butter)
Wild Beasts 'Thankless Thing' (Domino)

Rob’s Greatest Record In The World Right Now . . .Possibly
MJ Cole & Scrufizzer 'Southern Electric' (Prolific)

Spank Rock '#1 Hit' (Boyz Noize Records)
The Rapture 'How Deep Is Your Love, A Trak Remix (DFA)

Sunday Best star remixer soundtracks Bestival 2011 video highlights!

2011-09-23T17:25:00.002+01:00

Sunday Best's bonafide remixer to the stars Julian Peck AKA Fear of Theydon is fast becoming the go-to-man for adding the extra spark to any release. And you can hear four of his ace remixes right here as they soundtrack this year's video highlights from each day at Bestival 2011.

As a former Sunday Best employee, Julian has remixed most of the Sunday Best singles since 2008. Tracing from his Aeroplane-inspired Cosmic Dub of dan le sac Vs Scroobius Pip’s ‘Thou Shalt Always Kill’ to his very heady, futuristic Slow Motion Dub of Beardyman’s ‘Where Does Your Mind Go?’ and the Grand National classic 'Drink To Moving On'; wrap your ears round a cherry-picked selection of Julian's melodic reworkings below.

The Sunday Best Remix By Fear of Theydon by Sunday Best

Please vote for Bestival, Sound of Rum and Beardyman

2011-09-22T17:31:00.000+01:00

We really had the time of our lives at Bestival this year and if you did too were looking for a bit of love from you! Voting for the UK Festival Awards’ Fans Favourite Festival Award has begun, so we’d be hugely honoured if you’d head over to festivalawards.com and vote for us. Voting closes on October 10th and anyone who votes will be entered into a prize draw to win a pair of tickets to every single winning festival at this year’s UK Festival Awards which will be held on November 15th.

While you are there we'd like to highlight that the very brilliant Sound of Rum are up for the Best Breakthrough Artist Award... which we think they thoroughly deserve to win, with your help :)

Also, for the first time ever, the Association of Independent Music (AIM) is holding the AIM Independent Music Awards which will include The Golden Welly Award (in association with the Association of Independent Festivals and Virtual Festivals) which will be awarded to the Best Independent Festival as voted for by the public. So we’d be very much obliged if you could show us your support once again by clicking this link and voting for us. Thank you!

And Bestival legend and Sunday Best colossus Beardyman is deservedly up for the Best Live Act at the AIM Independent Music Awards too and if you saw his set on Friday at Bestival you’ll know just why. So if you’d like to show your appreciation for him you can head here to vote.

Listen again to the best bits from Bestival Radio

2011-09-21T14:47:00.000+01:00

Bestival Radio 2011 ran 24 hours a day for 4 days on a nonsensical mission to reenact the very best elements of Talking Heads ‘Stop Making Sense’ film, taking us all on a surreal journey to bring the sonic airwaves to life with all heads talking. Over the course of the weekend they pulled in the great and the very good from the Bestival line up to present exclusive shows... including Magnetic Man, Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs, Mogwai, Katy B, Ghostpoet, Friendly Fires, Modeselektor, Lovesick, a daily Sunday Best show, and many many more.

Head over to the Bestival Radio Mixcloud to check them all out (and click 'follow' to keep up to speed as new shows are being added every day), and/or check em all out here...

Bestival Radio's Cloudcasts on Mixcloud

Videopia at Bestival

2011-09-21T11:00:00.000+01:00

Videopia were at Bestival this year with their candy striped horsebox to help you nurture your acting abilities, have a load of fun and create miniature masterpieces of your favourite Hollywood films. Well done to all the aspiring actors and actresses who got involved... you were all absolute stars!

You can find all your tributes to films such as ET, Back To The Future, Wizard of Oz and Jaws on the Videopia - Bestival YouTube playlist via the Videopia Facebook page....

Here's one of our favourites...

Besti-mix 67: Skinny Lister

2011-09-20T18:03:00.001+01:00

We're an open-minded bunch here at Bestival, as all of you who've attended our madcap musical jamboree's over the years will attest! And much as you'll find everything from wigged out psychedelia to post-dubstep via acoustic folk, gazillion-miles-an-hour jump-up polka and majestic heart-tugging goth-pop (take a bow, The Cure!) at Bestival, likewise our exclusive Besti-mixes run the genre-trashing gauntlet.

Our latest, compiled by the "UK's hardest working live outfit" (a mere 400 gigs this summer!) punk-folk revelers Skinny Lister, being a case in point. As the band prepare to unleash their debut album (produced by Bat For Lashes and James Yorkston expert knob-twiddler David Wrench) on an unsuspecting world later this year, this lot give us the skinny (sorry!) on what makes 'em tick with this glorious selection of both classic and contemporary folk and rock, featuring the well known likes of The Libertines, The Smiths, The Pogues and The Clash alongside the band's old friends Phil Reed, Roger Wilson and George Thomas (the latter being Lorna and Max from the band's Dad!), with other tracks taken from various singing sessions up and down the land on the band's endless travels!

Get on the bus people, the soundtrack is purpose built for a party-hardy adventure, Besti-styleee...

Download: Bestimix 67 Skinny Lister

Tracklisting:
The Pogues - If I Should Fall From Grace With God (0”00’ – 2”18’)
Tony Hall – Byndertwine (2”18 – 4”06’)
The Smiths – London (4”07 – 6”11’)
John Kirkpatrick – When Jones's Ale Was New (6”12’ – 7”00’)
The Clash - London Calling (7”01’ – 9”58’)
Stan Rogers - Barrett Privateers (9”58’ – 14”11’)
Kathryn Tickell - Rothbury Hills (14”11’ – 16”51’)
Roger Wilson – Delia (16”52’ – 20”40’)
The Libertines – What A Waster (20”40’ – 23”30’)
Andy Lamb - Mary Ellen Carter (23”30 – 23”57’)
Alasdair Roberts & Friends - Young Emily (23”57’ – 26”12’)
Phil Reed - Dogger Bank (26”12’ – 28”42’)
Sir John Betjeman – Business Girls (28”42’ – 30”40’)
Alex Glasgow - Wor Nannys a Mazer (30”40 – 33”32’)
The Pogues – Lullaby Of London (33”32’ – 36”58’)
George Thomas – Crack Another Bottle (36”58 – 39”53’)
Company of The Stagg, Hastings – Bye Bye my Roseanna (39”53 – 40”44’)

Bestimix 67: Skinny Lister by Bestimix on Mixcloud

The Cure guitar winners are...

2011-09-19T17:24:00.000+01:00

Bestival teamed up with The Cure and Schecter to offer an exclusively designed guitar to three lucky winners. The guitar of choice for Robert Smith, these beauties were specially pimped in honour of The Cure’s Bestival 2011 appearance and were signed by the man himself!

The three lucky winners of Robert's Curetoon Bestival Schecter Ultracures are Stafford Savage, Dominique Crouzieres and Adam Briant ... congratulations!

And thanks to everyone who entered ... the competition raised more than £3,000 for Ataxia UK, St Jude's Childrens Hospital and St Catherine's IOW!!!

Thanks also to April for the photo.

Radio da Bank: Gross Magic in session

2011-09-19T11:35:00.000+01:00

Gross Magic (pictured) are in session for Rob, plus the Guide to Barely Believable Genres moves on to Drumstep!

Listen again to the show!

TRACKLISTING
DJ Mehdi — Signatune (Thomas Bangalter Edit) - Ed Banger
Buraka Som Sistema — We Stay Up All Night - Enchufada
Crystal Fighters — Champion Sound (Mustang Mix) - Zirkulo
Joe Goddard — Gabriel (Feat.Valentina) (Compoun One Mix) - Greco Roman
Beirut — Santa Fe - Pompeii
A1 Bassline — True Romance 2011 - White

Maida Vale Session with Gross Magic
Gross Magic — We’re Awake Tonight

Marcus Intalex — Virgo - Dispatch
Shabazz Palaces — Recollections of the Wraith - Sub Pop
DJ Earl-e — Enlightenment - Planet Mu

Saturday Skank
Goth-Trad — Babylon Fall - Medi Musik

Justice — Audio Video Disco - Ed Banger
Florence and The Machine — Shake It Out - Island
Daft Punk — Drive Unreleased 1994 - Soma
Scuba — Adrenelin - Hot Flush

Maida Vale Session with Gross Magic
Gross Magic — Teen Jamz
Gross Magic — Sweetest Touch

Toddla T — Streets Are Warm (Zed Bias Mix) - Ninja Tune

Rob’s Guide To Barely Believable New Genres of Music: Drumstep
Modestep — Sunlight
Urban Assault — Dope (Drumstep Mix)

Dub Foundation — Subsonic - Technique Recordings
Little Dragon — Little Man - Peacefrog

Rob’s Greatest Record In The World Right Now . . .Possibly
Metronomy — Everything Goes My Way - Because

Friendly Fires — Hurting (Benoit & Sergio Remix) - XL
Niki and the Dove — The Drummer (Fake Blood Mix) - Moshi Moshi

Ross Allen's Meltdown: Best of All!

2011-09-15T19:26:00.004+01:00

It's all been about Bestival this weekend... we had a ball this year.

It has always been up there as a festival, and yes I am biased, having known the da Banks from a very long time ago and having been a regular guest at the original Sunday Best sessions all those years ago on Wandsworth Road. Well, to say they have come along way is an understatement. This years expanded edition was the best yet and I had a great time. Definitely my favourite festival of the season this year. It normally is Glastonbury but I think weather and size made Bestival just that bit more manageable and, being that I am ageing (rapidly after the last few years at so many of these things), also far more enjoyable.

I love the way that Bestival takes the best bits of Glastonbury, the outer fields, the creativity and the nuttiness and adds to it with a great line up and this years was pretty ridiculous. There was so much to see and do and basically never a dull moment. The most boring bit of the weekend was on Thursday when I got roped into hiring a camper van and had to suffer a full inventory check of the entire contents of said van.

"6 forks, 6 spoons, 6 knifes... gap... 1 potato peeler, 1 drying rack...." he could, and did, go on. Obviously this is all basic procedure and all very well apart from the fact that you are the other side of London from the gig you are meant to be at, aware that the van has a top speed of 40mph and that you have 30 mins to get there. I was soooh irritated. Though the van came into its own when post gig I got picked up from home, refused to join in the excitable antics of few pre Bestival ravers too keen/greedy to wait, and got in the bunk. I was out until I woke up at the site ready to check in. I was soooh happy. I almost forgot about the inventory!

I do love seeing a festival, especially one of such splendour, you get it at Glastonbury when you look over the site and see a small town glowing and sitting pretty in the distance. We had this at Bestival as it slunk down the (albeit mini) valley. It looked great, it's bigger than before - it's good thing, it needed to expand - it's definitely come a long way since the first one - but the attention to detail hasn't been lost, or at least I didn't think it had. Crews like Mutoid Waste, Arcadia and Block 9 (who's Swamp Shack was another amazing creation in a list that includes the legendary NY Downlow from Glastonbury and Love Box. A Guy Called Gerald played a killer drum and bass set in there on Saturday night which was amazing though we could have done with out Normski. The guy in the back room bar was playing some quality mid tempo Boogie and Disco too, the trannies were loving it !) plus a myriad of other individuals add the extra dimension that takes this festival away from the corporate cash tastic enterprises that so many of these 'festivals' are or are trying to be. The food is decent on the whole and the music was fantastic.

From the DJ side musically it was very diverse. There were two large camps: lots of old rock n roll, blues and jump music. Then the new school post dubstep sounds of now. I always feel a bit old trying to give a name to that area of music but it doesn't seem to have one. I know I have mentioned this before but it's an odd grouping if you are older because it's born out of the dubstep/grime scenes but is actually more housey than that music ever was, and I always thought that that was the anti to those two scenes. I suppose you have to go back a bit further and take it to the garage days that both grime and dubstep came from. It's a bit complicated but may be someone with nothing better to do will do some family tree thing and/or give it a nice neat irritating tag that will be cool for a few months ! At least I won't have to explain it all the time. We need Wiley or someone to give it a title and a song ! Anyway after that detour hopefully you know what I mean and if you don't put Rinse FM on for a day and you will.

There was obviously lots of music in between, in fact I think you would be hard pressed to think of genres that weren't covered. My favourite DJ set was, and some of you will think I am biased because he is a good friend but the Africa Hi Tech set was put simply... Sick. It was just so fresh, new and fearless. Helped and egged on by Steve Spacek (on vocals), Mark Pritchard dropped the most radical selection of music that I have heard in ages. Mixing Coki dubs, into odd ball electronic hip hop in to footwork/juke into jungle and their own tracks and the anthem that is 'Out in The Streets'. The set lurched from pure energy into total weirdness but kept the crowd moving and when the footwork sounds dropped back in the crowd went nuts. It may feel odd to many of you but 4/4 at 160bpm really does work... don't be scared if you dance on the half time you won't fall over. If you get too excited at 160 you may come unstuck ! Skream loved it as did the crowd. I suppose if you have spent the last couple of hours being Global Communications in ambient bliss. Footwork is the ying to that yang !

So there were lots of great DJ's but live wise the line up was ridiculous. Aided and abetted by the Lucky Cat Bar I managed to see so much more than usual. Thank god they asked me to DJ there or I either would never have been let in or would never have bothered with it. It is however a great idea and an ideal location to see bands in a reclined position. In effect it is a VIP area but rather than being back stage were you can't see anything it's to the stage right with a great view of the bands even if you are sitting on one of their comfy/bed like seats. It was a bit tricky to get in even when I turned up with a bag full of records to DJ but once in and with the correct wrist band it was a treat and actually allowed me to see so many great acts throughout the day and night that otherwise I would have missed. Due to this bar I saw great sets from Bjork, Magnetic Man, Kelis, The Drums, Omar Souleyman, B.A.D. to name but a few. I also saw and heard Pendulum who I know are popular but are also really bad. Hearing them after Magnetic Man was shocking. Their bass is thin and their MC weak... really irritating ! It felt a bit flat too but not being in the think of it it could have been fun for some (deaf, blind, mutes by the sound of it !).

Other areas rocked or rolled, pending on the acts but the Big Top area was another guaranteed good time arena with a great selection of acts probably peaking with Primal Scream shocking it late night with their Screamadelica set. It was almost religious at points and I do really regret falling asleep in the Lucky Cat toilets for about an hour and missing a large proportion of it. I also lost my colleagues on emergence from the said toilets and my records ! They all turned up though. I stumbled over to the Scream and in that half awake state that you have on arising watched with a kind of joy music from 20 years ago still fill the masses with euphoria. People love to slag the Scream but they continue to innovate and made an all time classic album. I'd say that was a pretty decent career, if they made another one it'd be an incredible feat and they seem like they have had a good time during the process too. If I was in a band I'd be happy with that ! So I lost my friends (again ! I wish they could all come back !!) and decided that they must have headed back to camp. So I did. The downside of the camper van is that you can lock it and typically I was locked out. So against all odds I went back out into the night. That was when the Swamp Shack came into its own. Sometimes its good to be forced to do things even when all you want to do is sleep...

All this is a pre amble to the highlight of the festival for me: Saturday night on the main stage which was PJ Harvey and The Cure. I was Djing before PJ and dead keen, only to be foiled (again) by a DJ set up that was not set up until a few records before PJ came on. I missed about 25 minutes of my set !! Very disappointing and classic. Stage crews have very little time for DJ's and their role in festivals/mainstages which was disappointing but they surprisingly got it together so that Rob da Bank could play before The Cure. Weird eh ? Being the loveable chap that he is he got me to play with him. It was just like the old days at Sunday Best events except there were 30 or 40, 000 people in front of us ! It was great fun as was The Cure, who I don't know too much about apart from the hits but do want to find out more about post their two and half hour set. they were great and funky in an odd kind of way. I became obsessed with his hair which has never been great but has aged terribly. An odd Brillo pad like creature which sat atop his painted face. In profile and with the glare of the stage lighting it had a real haze around it too. Shocking but intriguing. It was a good night and a great weekend. Oh and if you need telling PJ Harvey was amazing.

Worked forced me to leave the site at about 1am but by that point I had chatted to many, drunk lots, eaten well, danced a bit, played music, explored exotic creations and basically had a ball. I still hate fancy dress though !!

Festival season is over for another year now and for me its now all about The Meltdown. I am very much looking forward to Friday with Jamie Blanco playing live and Terry Farley coming down to play music from across the board. It should be a good one as ever. See you there or at one of these as the Autumn/Winter collection unravels at 4 Little Portland Street, off Great Portland Street, W1W.

Ross
x

Robert Smith from The Cure's favourite act at Bestival...

2011-09-15T18:58:00.000+01:00

Robert Smith from The Cure's favourite act at Bestival? Our very own Kitty Daisy and Lewis no less! Here's the video to their forthcoming single 'Don't Make A Fool Out Of Me', out 24th October 2011 on Sunday Best Recordings and taken from the album ‘Smoking in Heaven’.

Bestival Radio - Friday's Sunday Best show

2011-09-12T17:37:00.000+01:00

Sunday Best - Friday by Bestival Radio on Mixcloud

Jonny (Sombrero Sound System) and Julian (Fear of Theydon) talk saunas, divas and fancy dress whilst playing some tunes of the highest standard.

Bestival 2011 - Sunday highlights video

2011-09-12T00:52:00.000+01:00

Sunday highlights: Last day at Bestival 2011 with Kelis, Robyn, The Cuban Brothers, Meditation with the David Lynch Foundation in the Ambient Forest, pole-dancing robots in the Science Tent in Tomorrow's World, the stunning Carneskyʼs Tarot Village, English National Ballet, burlesque cabaret in Time For Tease and Come Dancing.

Watch the Sunday highlights video here.

Bestival 2011 - Saturday highlights video

2011-09-11T18:27:00.000+01:00

Saturday highlights: It's Fancy Dress day at Bestival 2011 with thousands of Rock Stars, Pop Stars and Divas showing off their incredible costumes. Check out the Fancy Dress parade, The Cure, Village People, Helter Skelter, Grandmaster Flash, Roller Disco, Wall Of Death and the awesome Lords Of Lightning on the Afterburner Stage.

Watch the Saturday highlights video here.

Bestival 2011 - Friday highlights video

2011-09-10T16:47:00.002+01:00

Friday highlights: We explore Bestival 2011 taking in the sights and sounds of The Alfresco Stage, Pendulum, Public Enemy, The Cuban Brothers, our Swim to Bestival legends, a Charleston Flashmob, The Wishing Tree, Swamp Shack, Polka Club and the awesome Afterburner!

Watch the Friday highlights video here.

Remember to check out Bestival FM which is not only streaming live from the festival here but is also being broadcast live on the legendary East Village Radio!