Johnny Boy 'You Are The Generation That Bought More Shoes And You Get What You Deserve' (Vertigo, 2004) (mp3)

A record of such staggering pop bombast and brilliance that - every time I listen to it - I can't believe that it hasn't been number one since the day it was released. I know that sounds like quite a grand claim, but just listen to it, it's perfection.

Wall of Sound production. 'Be My Baby' drum intro. Swirling, swooning melody. Driving beat. Trumpets. Fireworks. Politics.

What more do you need? What more could it be possible to work into a three-minute pop record?

And I know the title is long but why didn't everyone realise that a record with title that outlandish had to me utterly, utterly amazing?

Up there with 'The Story Of The Blues' and 'Be My Baby' and 'Always On My Mind' and 'This Is What She's Like' and 'Wanna Be Starting Something' and 'Stay Together' and 'Let's Spend The Night Together' and 'Hey Ya' and 'Good Vibrations' and 'Groove Is In The Heart' and...

I could go on. Save me the bother and just listen to this record.

Download Johnny Boy 'You Are The Generation That Bought More Shoes And You Get What You Deserve' (mp3) (Box.net)

Arcade Fire 'Neighbourhood #3 - Power Out (Hotel2Tango Version)' (Rough Trade, 2005)

Early, more indie, version of this corker from the debut Arcade Fire album, recorded at Constellation Records/Godspeed You! Black Emporer's Hotel2Tango studio in Montreal in August 2003.

It's a looser take on the song, more emphasis on the chugging guitars and less on the pounding rhythm. It still has a strangely New Order-y feel and the same energy and feel and florid instrumentation as the version that made them famous.

Download Arcade Fire 'Neighbourhood #3 - Power Out (August Session)' (mp3) (Mediafire)

!!! (Chk Chk Chk) 'Me and Guiliani Down by the School Yard (A True Story)' (Touch and Go/Warp, 2003) (mp3)

A monstrous piece of funked-up party madness from the impossibly named !!! (apparently to be pronounced as "Chk Chk Chk or any three hard sounds").

There's cowbell, there's a unrelentingly funky bassline, there's choppy guitar and there's an almost whispered vocal, setting up a juggernaut of post-punk-funk.

I guess it's fair to say that in the way !!! have obviously heard PIL or Pigbag or A Certain Ratio, Friendly Fires have definitely heard this 2003 classic. LCD Soundsystem were listening too.

The intensity is built and maintained over nine minutes through an angry pulsating chorus, a strung-out almost shoegazey section with shimmering delayed guitar, a tight, tight breakdown before hitting an outro of just drums and accapella vocals. It's structured like a club track, building, breaking down, building again, breaking down and then going mental.

Available to buy - you know, with money - on their Warp debut UK album 'Louden Up Now'.


Download !!! (Chk Chk Chk) 'Me and Guiliani Down by the School Yard (A True Story)' (mp3) (Mediafire)

New Music - The Horrors 'Still Life' (XL, 2011)

I really can't decide what I feel about The Horrors. For each of their three albums so far, they've adopted three distinct and different sounds from three eras of music history. I wonder whether this is representative of: a) a questing, restless spirit, b) first-class diletantism, or c) a cynical pop-laboratory approach to their music.

Doesn't matter, I suppose, as long as the music is good.

'Still Life' is the first track to emerge from their third album and follows on from Faris Badwan's Cat's Eyes side project. It's early-80s stadium alt stuff - think the 'Pretty In Pink' soundtrack - a la Psychedelic Furs, early Simple Minds (when they were still good), live New Order - with a plodding bass and drum lope plus epic synths.

As with all their stuff, it takes a while to settle in your brain.

The Horrors - Still Life by 1FTP

Paperclip People 'The Climax' (Planet E, 1995)

'The Climax' is perhaps the most perfect combination of elegant techno poise and dancefloor thump I've ever heard.

Carl Craig (aka Paperclip People aka 69 aka Innerzone Orchestra aka Psyche etc etc) is well-renowned as a ground-breaking genius and for good reason. 'The Climax' takes in a host of movements, all gliding unrelentingly towards... well, actually, a twinkly fade-out.

Covered recently by LCD Soundsystem, 'The Climax' open with moody stabs, joined by burbling synth lines and then a harsh, driving beat. A twinkly synth section see the motion get more lateral and funky before it builds again and finally breaks down to repose with the twinkly synths alone.

Download Paperclip People 'The Climax' (mp3) (Mediafire)