Ganger 'Guts And Bravoodoo' (Vesuvius, 1996) (mp3 download)

More magic from the mysterious Post Rock genii Ganger.

Another piece of hard-to-find rolling, post rock majesty from a 12" EP released on the label run by Pat Laureate of Melody Dog. The other two tracks on the EP were included on the 'Fore' compilation album (released on Domino in 1996 and highly recommended).

The lush 12" vinyl lets the sonorous magic of Ganger ring through. As ever, it's a gorgeous, swirling, inviting sound, a bit like Mogwai with the noisy bits, using tone and intensity rather than volume and distortion pedals to make their impact. File alongside the similarly bass-led genius of Tortoise's debut album.

Download Ganger 'Guts And Bravoodoo' (mp3 music download) (Box.net)

Isolee 'Beau Mot Plage' (Playhouse/Classic, 1999) (download)

Wonderfully crisp and sparse piece of Balearic-tinged minimal house.

The original 'Beau Mot Plage' meanders and burbles along, creating a fascinating soundscape of minimal melodic chirrups, vibrant bass and crunchy, twitchy beats.

Tweaked to perfection in this ten-minute Freeform Reform version, some more verdant, soulful bursts are added to the variety with more breakdowns, rhythm guitar texture and some free-blowing flute.

Perfect summer bliss that would sound nice sandwiched between Ultramarine's 'Saratoga', Farley and Heller's remix of Espiritu and Flowered Up's 'Weekender'.

Download Isolee 'Beau Mot Plage' (mp3, 320k) (Mediafire)

Ultramarine 'Saratoga' (Rough Trade, 1992) (download)

Delightful, airy jazz-inflected, chilled, funky.

From the excellent 'Every Man And Woman Is A Star', 'Saratoga' is Ultramarine at their lithe, languid best. Rock an Eagles sample and adding burbling bass and sinuous synths and lots love rhythms and textures.

My introduction to Ultramarine was via a Rough Trade Singles Club 7". They presented a stunningly atypical sound when placed against the fizzing indie Mary Chain-isms of Sweet Jesus, the arch, bookish acoustic pop of The Auteurs and the progressive leanings of Levitation.

If it were a hot summer day, this would be perfect. Even if it's not, it's still a fine, fine track.

Download Ultramarine 'Saratoga' (mp3) (Mediafire)

The Fall 'Bremen Nacht (Alternative)' (Beggars Banquet, 1988)

Extended fusion of Krautrock and boogie from the career-high 'Frenz Experiment' album.

A fusion of sax and guitar riffing is driven along by some steamhammer rhythm work. It locks into a riff and stays there with just the occasional pause to draw breath and regroup.

The track's intensity and insistence matches the spat-out words of Mark E. Smith, grooving out to over nine minutes.

Download The Fall 'Bremen Nacht (Alternative)' (mp3) (Mediafire)

PJ Harvey 'Ecstasy' (Island, 1993) (download)

Epic distorted Blues from the 'Rid Of Me' album.

'Ecstasy' is a monster of a track, shimmering and shuddering sheets of guitar orbit a powerful rhythm section that beats out a foreboding, almost Led Zeppelin-esque pulse.

Recorded by the right man for the job, Mr. Steve Albini, the sound is crystal clear and at the 'mighty' end of the Richter Scale. It delivers on the power and strength that 'Dry' implied.

The opening solo guitar used a slide to twist and bend and when PJ starts singing it sounds like she's struggling to stay on the song, hollering lustily to be heard over the maelstrom.

Mighty stuff, as John Peel used to say.

Download PJ Harvey 'Ecstasy' (mp3) (Mediafire)