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)

Tom Tom Club - (You Don't Ever Stop) Wordy Rappinghood (Island, 1981)

Lovely dubbed-out version.

Totally unclassifiable slice of alternative dancefloor joy. This b-side dub version let's the groove breathe, adding refractions of the keyboard squiggles, backing vocals and the chikka-chikka guitar to stunning effect.

Download Tom Tom Club '(You Don't Ever Stop) Wordy Rappinghood' (mp3) (Divshare)

Saint Etienne - Just Friends (Amy Winehouse Cover) (2012)

Amy Winehouse tune given 'Tiger Bay' reworking.

The original's spartan Stax-y treatment is replaced by a spartan folk-dub re-rub in the vein of Saint Etienne's classic 'Tiger Bay' album. Sarah Cracknell hasn't got Amy Winehouse's voice, obviously, but the clear, simple approach works well with acoustic guitar and vibes. Sweet.

Download Saint Etienne 'Just Friends' (Amy Winehouse cover, Back to Back to Black, mp3) (Divshare)

Jaga Jazzist - Animal Chin (Smalltown Supersound, 2002)

Breakneck, melodic Post Rock-Jazz madness.

A flurry of melody and breakneck rhythm, this track by Norwegian Post Rock big band Jaga Jazzist is a deliciously tricky beast. The melodic side is driven by a Cardigans-esque flute but the shifting layers of rhythms are a flood of energy and shifting directions.

It's like being thrown around in the world's first 4D helter skelter water slide. Nice.

Download Jaga Jazzist 'Animal Chin' (Post Rock mp3) (Divshare)

Smoke Fairies - She Sells Sanctuary (Co-Op/V2, 2012)

Arresting take on The Cult's classic.

Smoke Fairies' recent album is a delightful thing. Intertwining vocals recalling Fairport Convention and Sandy Denny, angular drums recalling something more Post Rock-y.

This shuffling, sweeping version of The Cult's 'She Sells Sanctuary' is available on a bonus CD (from all good independent stores, etc).

Red House Painters - Silly Love Songs (Island, 1996)

Extended, anaesthetised take on chirpy Wings classic.

This record has a strong risk of coming over as some sort of conceptual joke but this extended, jammed-out version of Paul McCartney & Wings' chirpy 70s pop song actually works. The 70s AM radio sheen is replaced by desolate distorted guitar and time is slowed to glacial pace with some massive reverb the drums.

Red House Painters' Mark Kozelek's trademark yelp isn't heard until we're over five minutes into the track but, surprisingly, his rendering of the chorus sounds sincere.

It's a track that could result in a fairly harrowing Valentines Day should someone be unlucky enough to pick the wrong version in itunes. That would be a pretty disastrous eleven minutes of awkwardness in an otherwise lovey-dovey mixtape.

Download Red House Painters 'Silly Love Songs' (slowcore mp3) (Divshare)

The Cribs - Back To Black (Amy Winehouse Cover) (Q Magazine, 2012)

Surprisingly good cover by The Cribs.

Opening with some 'Baby Love' xylophone augmented by angry-sounding guitar clang, The Cribs deliver a moody, desolate cover of Amy Winehouse's 'Back to Black' for music mag covermount.

Having never quite been taken in by The Cribs, this is a pleasant surprise. Phil Spector producing Babes In Toyland while Steve Albini abuses a guitar in the background.

Download The Cribs 'Back To Black' (Amy Winehouse cover mp3) (Divshare)

The Rapture - House Of Jealous Lovers (DFA/Output, 2002)

Even more cowbell.

Total classic dancefloor abandon.

Driving, euphoric, unhinged.

Download The Rapture 'House Of Jealous Lovers' (DFA, Punk-Funk, mp3) (Divshare)

The Rapture - Get Myself Into It (Vertigo, 2006)

Need more cowbell? Check this out.

Shuffling punk-funking tune from The Rapture's third, gone-off-the-boil album. Not quite of the level of 'Olio' or 'House Of Jealous Lovers' (must post that too) but it's tight and gets into an insular dancefloor groove.

Wiggly sax in the chorus reminds of something but can't quite think what. Ace Of Base maybe?

Download The Rapture 'Get Myself Into It' (DFA, punk-funk, mp3) (Divshare)

Elvis Costello and The Attractions - I Want You (Single Version) (Imp Records, 1986)

Unsettling, sinister, spartan.

Strikingly creepy and vitriolic single from Elvis Costello. The vocal is close and breathy, sounding like he's in the undergrowth outside her house. The backing is restrained and edgy with some nice tremolo guitar flourishes and a simmering organ. Reminiscent, in fact, of Talk Talk's 'Spirit Of Eden'. (Less uplifting, admittedly. And not an instrumental.)

Download Elvis Costello and The Attractions - I Want You (Single Version) (mp3) (Divshare)