Underworld - Two Month's Off (Album Version) - (Junior Boy's Own, 2002)

Euphoric, epic, stream of consciousness, classic Underworld.

Real life got in the way and the blog took a back seat for a couple of months, so what better way to come back from two months off than with this humongous Underworld classic.

A nine minute 'journey' building from dark and long-ness to dancefloor joy to weightless breakdown to cloudsurfing and back again. Chiming bells, repetitive chanting and a cowbell outro. Immense.

Download Underworld 'Two Month's Off (Album Version)' (epic, progressive, house, mp3)

The Housemartins - Think For A Minute (Session Version)' (Go! Discs, 1986)

Strident, indie version.

Nice, guitar-bass-drum band version of The Housemartins in their prime.

Download The Housemartins 'Think For A Minute (Saturday Live Version)' (indie mp3) (Divshare)

Saint Germain - Easy To Remember (F Communications, 1995)

Majestic deep house.

From the amazing 'Boulevard' series of 12"s, 'Easy To Remember' is ten minutes for sumptuous jazzy deep house.

It mixes gorgeous organic touches with chugging machine beats. It begins with a locked piano and brushed drum loop, throwing in ride cymbal, Detroit techno clicks, a lonesome Miles Davis-esque muted trumpet and a double bass run building, building, building before hitting a delicious groove propelled by a sweet, cubic four-to-the-floor beat.

There's lots going on but it's all masterfully arranged to leave loads of smoky space and allow the groove to ebb and flow as the track progresses.

Awesome.

Download Saint Germain 'Easy To Remember' (Deep House mp3, Jazz) (Divshare)

Laika - If You Miss (Laika Virgin Mix) (1995)

Burbling, dubbed out dub indie.

This remix version of 'If You Miss' from Laika's debut album, throbs will sampled tones creating a woozy setting for Margaret Fiedler's hazy vocals.

Download Laika 'If You Miss (Laika Virgin Mix)' (Too Pure, Post-Rock, Dub, mp3) (Divshare)

These New Puritans - Numerology (AKA Numbers) (Angular/Domino, 2008)

Edgy, angular post-punk.

These New Puritans have yet to receive widespread acclaim but have turned in a couple of great albums so far. 'Numerology' is a slice of widescreen post-punk that fuses Gang Of Four martial shrillness with an epic chorus.

It opens with an ominous, restrained drumming before clipped guitars and percussive clattering joins in. The vocals are barked and the overall effect is one of veiled threat and menace. The chorus bursts across the soundfield with spirals of delayed guitar before paring back to the terse verse.

Download These New Puritans 'Numerology (AKA Numbers)' (Post Punk, mp3) (Divshare)