This week, Matt gets some help.

Rubin Steiner - Guitarlandia Remixes (EMP)
French fusionist's friends serve up his hip-jazz-hop on two vinyl plates. Some are less digestible, but tuck in to analogue electronics, ripped-up window lickings and summery salsa-fied Spanish guitars. Sped up or chilled down it works, and hats off to Mr Neveux whose funky beats and light guitar blend score a blaxploitation version of the holiday programme. Judith Chalmers chasing Craig Doyle in an afro: brilliant. Eight remixes might sound excessive but it also sounds surprisingly diverse, and really bloody good. Steve Folland

listen to rubin steiner interview

Turin Brakes – Pain Killer (Source)
The acoustic duo return with Pain Killer, taken from their forthcoming Ether Song album (out 03 March). Featuring Beck bassist Justin Meldal-Johnsen and Air’s drummer Brian Reitzell, it revolves around Olly and Gale’s trademark acoustic riffs, harmonies and upbeat reflection. The single displays a more mature approach to production and will almost undoubtedly trouble the Top 20 given its radio-friendly vibe. It’s backed by a new track Where’s My Army?, and a demo version of Little Brother.

watch pain killer video
read interview with olly

Appliance – Go Native (Mute)
The first taste of new material from the leftfield trio’s third long-player Are You Earthed, which arrives 10 March. Go Native features a Primal Scream-style insistently driving bassline, discordant strings and laid-back vocals. They sound very Manchester but there is also Beta Band type tendencies at play here. There are a couple of new tracks on the flip which are also rather fine.

LoudBomb – The Fall Collection EP (Cooking Vinyl)
Polished offbeat electronica with pop sensibilities, the waves of sound crash hypnotically against your ears like a dark sea against a photogenic landscape. Interesting samples and sounds fill this EP in a very early 90s way, like dance music looking up its family tree. All the tracks are taken from the forthcoming Long Playing Grooves album. Matt Walton 13 February 03