The Rolling Stones - Miss You (Special Disco Version) (EMI, 1978)

Bandwagon-chasing pays off.

This Stones-Go-Disco hit is elongated with a prowling, lip-smacking breakdown and build-back-up. The rhythm section is taut and smooth and the feel is reminiscent of Blondie's 'Rapture (Special Disco Mix)'.

From 3'10", the track breaks down to Fender Rhodes, drums and bass. It's sleek like an oiled puma, Jagger whispering, whining and yelping like a constipated diva. It all builds back with some scathing guitar and expressive disco-popping bass and a harmonica solo.

Well syncopated.

Download  The Rolling Stones 'Miss You (Special Disco Version)' (rock-disco-interface) (Box)

Stevie Wonder - I Don't Know Why I Love You (Motown, 1969)

Gritty, minimal love song with a tang of bitterness and frustration. 

It's about time we had some Stevie Wonder. This is the original version of the song that BEF and Scritti Politti's Green Gartside turned into a floating, synthetic soul fantasy in 1991. The b-side of 'My Cherie Amour', it's grittier and more emotional.

Fantastic stuff.

I'm obviously tempted to blog the Rolling Stones 1975 version tomorrow but that would have been somewhat excessive. Good record though.

Download Stevie Wonder 'I Don't Know Why I Love You' (Soul, Tamla Motown, mp3) (Rapidshare)

British Electric Foundation ft Green Gartside - I Don't Know Why I Love You (10 Records, 1991)

Crystalline pop cover featuring Green Gartside.

The man can do no wrong.

This cover of what is a pretty amazing Stevie Wonder song makes the song levitate. Where the Stevie Wonder original is gritty and simple, based around a broken clavichord sound, British Electric Foundation (BEF) and Green manufacture a synthetic symphony.

A whole different, but equally beautiful, kind of soul music.

Download British Electric Foundation & Green Gartside 'I Don't Know Why I Love You (But I Love You)' (pop mp3) (Divshare)

Spiritualized - Why Don't You Smile Now? (Alternate Mix) (1990)

Gorgeously, mellifluous Velvet Underground cover from the 'Lazer Guided Melodies' era.

It's possible to view Spiritualized as something of a one-trick pony. They arrived fully-formed with their brand of blissed-out Gospel Blues Spacerock fantasia. It was present and correct from their earliest releases - like this Velvet Underground cover - and then refined the blueprint through a sequence of albums over the next twenty years.

This is beautiful though.

Download Spiritualized 'Why Don't You Smile Now? (Alt Mix)' (indie, alternative, Spiritualized mp3) (Box.net)

Chapterhouse - Breather (Dedicated, 1991)

Euphoric, rushing, swooning, indistinct.

'Pearl' is, perhaps, the more obvious choice when it comes to Chapterhouse, but I love how this track bowls along in a rush of hormones and floppy fringe.

It was the opening track from their debut album and, whilst it does feature waves of swooning guitar and vocals in a Shoegaze style, it also has a delicious headlong energy and purpose to it. More 'Like A Daydream' than 'Catch The Breeze'.

Sweet.

Download Chapterhouse 'Breather' (Shoegaze Chapterhouse mp3) (Rapidshare)

Gene - For The Dead (Demo Tape, 1993)

Early promise on Gene's demo tape.

I received a copy of the Gene demo from their publicists of the time who must have handled a band who I fawned over. To be honest, I fell in love with 'For The Dead' and picked up the 7" when it eventually came out.

However, I never really took to Gene much beyond that track though it still stands up as a nicely-structured, well-crafted song with a certain loucheness, 'Drowners'-style dynamics and a very telling Morrissey growl towards the end.

Download Gene 'For The Dead (4-Track Demo)' (Britpop, indie, Gene mp3) (Rapidshare)

Pink Floyd - See Emily Play (EMI, 1967) (Pink Floyd mp3)

Classic 60s Pink Floyd whimsy.

Fantastic smorgasbord of sound, noises, psychedlic ephemera, sped-up tapes, searing organ and, at the heart, a song.

Welcome into the world, Emily.

Download Pink Floyd 'See Emily Play' (Psychedelia, Pink Floyd mp3) (Divshare)

The Durutti Column - Arpeggiator (Factory, 1987)

Filmic, epic beauty from 1987 Durutti Column album.

I think it was actually the sleeve - which is truly beautiful - and the label that persuaded me to buy this album. My awe of Factory told me that I should probably like The Durutti Column but it was a long time before I tried some.

'Arpeggiator' was the first thing I heard - the opening track of the album - a Windham Hill ambience drifting across the urgent, staccato drum machine and, of course, guitar arpeggios.

Poised and correct for the most part, cello cutting an austere shape across the track, it builds until a distorted, disruptive bass-y guitar comes in, tripping off skysoaring guitar.

Beautiful like a desolate moor in the snow.

Download The Durutti Column 'Arpeggiator' (Factory, alternative, Durutti Column mp3) (Rapidshare)

Dexys Midnight Runners - The Way You Look Tonight (Mercury, 1984)

In celebration of the idea of a new Dexys album this year...

'Don't Stand Me Down' by Dexys Midnight Runners is one of the greatest records of all time. Bizarrely, it's a catastrophic, career-ending greatest album of all time. Pop is truly a fickle mistress.

This version of the Jerome Kern song was recorded in the sessions for said album but not released until 1988 on the b-side of a Kevin Rowland solo single. And then again on the Creation Records reissue of 'Don't Stand Me Down' in 1997, which is where I discovered it.

Kevin Rowland takes a familiar song - a 'standard' I suppose - and imbues it with so much pure passion that it's breathtaking.

A true genius.

Allegedly, there's a new Dexys album - 'One Day I'm Going To Soar' - on June 4th. Listen to a snippet on Youtube.

Download Dexys Midnight Runners 'The Way You Look Tonight' (genius, Dexys mp3) (Rapidshare)

The xx - VCR (Live in Porto, 2010)

Spartan but lush at the same time. 

It's about time we had something new from The xx but for the moment old tunes will have to do.

The sound of this live take on 'VCR' is spartan but lush, cold but warm at the same time with the vocals intertwining beautifully.

Download The xx 'VCR (Live in Porto, 2010)' (live, indie, The xx mp3) (Box.net)

Prefab Sprout mp3 - Donna Summer (Live 1980)

Fascinating missive from Prefab Sprout's post-punk period. Yes, really.

The version of 'Donna Summer' that was released on the b-side of 'When Love Breaks Down' in 1984 is a sultry, subtle synth-led thing. It's somehow redolent of faded glamour and reeks of showbiz nostagia. I love it and was going post that today but found this version that I'd forgotten about whilst rootling through my Prefab Sprout mp3s.

It was something of a surprise to revisit this Post-Punky early version and hear Paddy McAloon yelp "What's my name? What's my name? What's my name?!"

Download Prefab Sprout 'Donna Summer (Live 1980)' (post-punk, indie, 1980) (Box)

The Auteurs - Light Aircraft On Fire (Live at LSE 1999)

Splenetic, punky brilliance. Cellist forced to mimic sound of engine failure.

Part National Treasure, part national emetic, this live gallop through 'Light Aircraft On Fire' is from the late, who-gives-a-fuck phase and is pure searing, bile-stained genius.

Download The Auteurs 'Light Aircraft On Fire (Live at LSE, 1999)' (live indie mp3) (Rapidshare)

Download the whole 'No Dialogue With Cunts' live set over on archive:live+rare

Listening Post: Peter Broderick - http://www.itstartshear.com (Bella Union, 2012)

New and beautiful from Peter Broderick.

How does he do it? From the opening piano chords, building through violin and, presumably using his trademark looping pedal action, more piano and violin, Peter Broderick magicks heart-stopping beauty from the simplest of ingredients.

The sound is in keeping with his 'Home' album rather than the more experimental side projects he's released of late. It's gorgeous, with flowing streams of guitar and/or piano, beautifully arranged and recorded.

Amusingly, for those who have ever been involved in a website project, it says "Coming Soon" at http://www.itstartshear.com.

He's better at music than websites then.

Tunng - Bullets (Max Tundra Remix) (Full Time Hobby, 2007)

Classic from the early days of folktronica.

Have been listening to the Diagrams album a lot recently which is the work of former Tunng man Sam Genders. It has a healthily eclectic approach to augmenting his songs and unique voice.

The way the songs are arranged - krautrocking, electronics and more - is reminiscent of the best of Tunng's work and reminded me of this kitchen-sink remix of 'Bullets'. Max Tundra seems to throw layer upon layer of sounds, arrangement and glitches at the song but it still works and Sam Genders voice still sounds like it's whispering in your ear.


Download Tunng 'Bullets (Max Tundra Remix)' (folktronica mp3) (Divshare)

The Stooges - Down On The Street (Take 8) (Elektra, 1970)

Peerless fusion of raw energy, jazz, punk spirit and fury.

Few records stand-up to the scrutiny of having every take from its recording sessions released. And even fewer have me reaching for the credit card.

The Beach Boys' 'Pet Sounds' is one. The Stooges' 'Fun House' is the other. A melting pot of free jazz influences, alienated fury, rough-edged power and a middle-finger salute to the world.

Take 8 of 'Down On The Street' is slower and more prowling that the eventual album version but is still taut and brooding. Music doesn't really get much better than this.

Download The Stooges 'Down On The Street (Take 8)' (Punk Rock, Garage Rock, mp3) (Mediafire)

Trespassers Williams - Vapour Trail (Bella Union, 2003)

Languid version of the Ride shoegaze classic.

Now, let's be honest, it couldn't be better than the original. However, Trespassers William's slow, soft version of the closing track on Ride's perfect debut album is a joy.

The jangling, ringing guitars of the original are replaced with a steady piano line and yearning, male Shoegaze vocals are replaced with a blissed-out female take and heavenly backing vox. Beautiful.

Download Trespassers Williams 'Vapour Trail' (shoegaze mp3, Ride cover, mp3) (Mediafire)

The Impossibles - Privilege (Fontana, 1990)

Sweet Acoustic Shoegaze originators. If that's a genre that's even feasible.

The Impossibles were a female duo who released a handful of singles on Fontana and then... nothing.

Their songs were beguiling things ranging from sweet, even twee, indie (How Do You Do It?) to gallumping, circular stoner anthems (The Drum). They embraced the post-Acid House remix with both hands (Andrew Weatherall, Fluke and Farley & Heller turned in mixes for them) yet found time for Dinosaur Jr covers (Tar Pit). Wonderfully confounding.

'Privilege' was one of the tracks on the 'How Do You Do It?' 12"and it's a slice of engrossing acoustic guitar and voice that somehow suggests Shoegaze without using any of the associated pyrotechnics. Must be in the chords.

Download The Impossibles 'Privilege' (acoustic, indie, mp3) (Rapidshare)

Kings Of Convenience - I Don't Know What I Can Save You From (Royksopp Remix) (Source, 2001)

Folktronic re-rub. Gorgeous.

The electronic re-setting of this lovely Kings Of Convenience tune works perfectly, adding gentle percussive momentum that gives it a frosty, widescreen feel. Like sitting on a warm train, looking out across the Alps from a window seat.

As the track builds, curlicues of refracted guitar and piano lift it even further in the heavens.

Download Kings Of Convenience 'I Don't Know What I Can Save You From (Royksopp Remix)' (indie, pop, remix, mp3) (Rapidshare)

The Boo Radleys - I Will Always Ask You Where You've Been... (Creation, 1993)

Delightful skronk-then-sweet vignette.

Blessed with one of the greatest (and longest) songtitles of all time, this was tucked away on the b-side of 'I Hang Suspended'.

'I Will Always Ask You Where You've Been Even Though I Know The Answer' starts with a soup of skronk and primordial, I've-just-been-listening-to-My-Bloody-Valentine-in-the-bath-with-my-head-under-the-water atmospherics before bursting into a sweet, joyous piece of Martin Carr songwriting.  

Download The Boo Radleys 'I Will Always Ask You Where You've Been Even Though I Know The Answer' (indie, shoegaze, mp3) (Divshare)

Scritti Politti - Faithless (12inch Version) (Rough Trade, 1982)

Expansive version of the Scritti Politti classic that takes in Lovers Rock, Miles Davis and Zapp.

What exactly is Scritti Politti?

From scratchy post-punk beginnings to unashamedly uber-polished machine-tooled pop. And onwards to home-made meta-pop across a journey of 30 years. It's always been hard to comprehend an artist responsible for both 'Skank Bloc Bologna' and 'Oh Patti (Don't Feel Sorry For Loverboy)' but I love them equally.

I came to the 'Songs To Remember' after the future-perfection of 'Cupid & Psyche '85' and it is probably the coolest of all the Scritti albums. A concoction of dub, Lovers Rock and just a hint of the scratchiness of the early records.

Though I wasn't buying Scritti Politti records (or any records at all for that matter) in 1982, you can see that each single release leading up to the album gained an extra lacquer of polish. The sleeves are works of art, modelled on a range of luxury brands, seeming to suggest that Green Gartside was slowly turning Scritti into something similar.

This extended, extended version of 'Faithless' runs to almost ten minutes. It's a luxurious, funk-tinged thing that spins off into instrumental bliss, weaving Miles Davis-esque trumpet and Roger Troutman vocoder into the loose, relaxed extemporisation. Of course, both these influencers would go on to appear on later Scritti records (answers on a postcard...).

Sublime.

Download Scritti Politti 'Faithless (12" Version)' (alternative pop mp3, RT101) (Rapidshare)

Palace Songs - Winter Lady (Leonard Cohen Cover) (Mojo, 2012)

Leonard Cohen covered in the unique Palace style.

Mr Bonnie Prince Billy made this Leonard Cohen song his own on a 1994 Palace Songs EP. An almost drunken shuffle backs up his unique singing style sounding like a backroom band playing for the love it.

Download Palace Songs 'Winter Lady' (Mojo Presents Leonard Cohen Covered, mp3) (Rapidshare)

Anna Calvi - Desire (Live on Woman's Hour) (2012)

Live version of one the standouts from her 2011 debut album.

If I'm honest, I don't tend to look to Radio 4 or Woman's Hour for the latest from the UK alternative scene. However, in this case, they've come up with a nice, strident take on one of Anna Calvi's 2011 singles.

Maybe I'll tune in next week to see if they've got Cerebral Ballzy in session. Or maybe not.

Download Anna Calvi 'Desire (Live on Woman's Hour)' (alternative mp3) (Divshare)

Annie - The Greatest Hit (Telle, 1999)

Sumptuous, Madonna-sampling darkpop

Anne Lilia Berge-Strand deals in a delicious strain of moody pop and has released a handful of delightful singles and co-written with the likes of Richard X and Saint Etienne.

'The Greatest Hit' is a bouncing, disco-hand-clapping explosion of day-glo pop with Pigeon Street syndrums, rubbery bass and a sassy strut.

Download Annie 'The Greatest Hit' (dark pop mp3) (Rapidshare)

The Telescopes - Candy Says (Velvet Underground cover) (Imaginary, 1990)

Lovely, splindly but rolling version by The Telescopes.

Admittedly, it's not much of a stretch for The Telescopes to attempt a Velvet Underground cover but this works really well.

The moment the Shoegaze-y guitar solo bursts over the track is really nice, strafing off into the stratosphere after the strung-out stroll of the rest of the track.


Download The Telescopes 'Candy Says' (Velvet Underground cover, mp3) (Mediafire)

The Hope Blister - Happiness Strings (4AD mp3) (2005)

This Mortal Coil Mark II's  Gorecki-like rendering of David Sylvian classic.

The Hope Blister was the name that Ivo Watts-Russell gave what was effectively the fourth This Mortal Coil album '...Smile's Okay'.

A further collection of gorgeously sombre covers and originals, it featured covers of songs by Brian Eno, Slowdive, John Cale, Cranes and more. It was mined for a further album of odds and ends ('Underarms') and then a final scraping ('Underarms & Sideways') which collected string parts, fragments and such.

This string arrangement for the cover of David Sylvian's 'Let The Happiness In' is a frosty piece of modern classical, redolent of Gorecki and therefore somewhat akin to the Constellation/Godspeed You! Black Emporer sound.

Austere and restrained, it hangs in the air like a fog of longing and contemplation.

Download The Hope Blister 'Happiness Strings' (alternative, modern classical, 4AD mp3) (Mediafire)

Diagrams - Famous Blue Raincoat (Leonard Cohen Cover) (Mojo, 2012)

The voice of Tunng takes on classic Leonard Cohen cover.

A swirling, dreamy, layered version of the Leonard Cohen classic, creating a Shoegazey fairground feel.

One of the stand-outs from the recent Mojo magazine covermount collection and a good taster for the Diagrams album that sees Tunng's Sam Genders re-emerge with a lovely album.

Download Diagrams 'Famous Blue Raincoat (Leonard Cohen Cover)' (Mojo Presents Leonard Cohen Covered, Diagrams mp3) (Mediafire)

The Field Mice - Annoint (Peel Session mp3) (1990)

Wonderful Peel Session track from the Field Mice-go-New Order era.

This track from a 1990 Peel Session sees The Field Mice fully-ensconced in their 'Missing The Moon' phase where a distinct New Order influence came into play. It adds a thrilling edge to their dreamy romanticism. And a gorgeously sonorous bass, of course.

It builds through a long instrumental opening, driven by simple drum machine and augmented with washes of guitar. The song displays a sonic ambition that leaves the, admittedly brilliant, tweeness of past glories behind. Lovely stuff.

Download The Field Mice 'Annoint (Peel Session)' (indie pop, Sarah Records, Peel Session, Field Mice mp3) (Mediafire)

Eric Chenaux - Amazing Backgrounds (Constellation mp3, 2012)

Gorgeous, plaintive, dusty beauty with some Fripp-y guitar.

Eric Chenaux coaxes a strangled violin-like sound to open this track but his voice comes in, calming and a soothing against soft tones.

'Amazing Backgrounds' is reminiscent of David Sylvian's work with Robert Fripp on 'Gone To Earth' and is a thing of great beauty taking Constellation into new territory.

Chenaux's guitar weaving guitar comes back to take the song to a close, creating a mood of desert desolation.

Download Eric Chenaux 'Amazing Backgrounds' (Constellation mp3 download) (Mediafire)

American Spring - Fallin In Love (United Artists, 1972)

Light-as-air girl group action.

Introduced to me as a b-side cover by Lush, this is from an excellent collection of Brian Wilson's extra-curricular production work.

Rolling piano, soothing waves of vocals, gently unfolding string arrangement, utterly beautiful. A reflective, wistful take on the girl group sound that surely struck a chord with Saint Etienne.

Beach Boys connections through being written by Dennis Wilson and produced by Brian Wilson.

Download American Spring 'Fallin' In Love' (Beach Boys, Produced by Brian Wilson mp3) (Mediafire)