Skiddle Stereo Selections - Friday 28th November

Image: Sarah Neufeld

Ahoy! We're squeezing every inch out of our office stereo before the Christmas songs inevitably takeover. We're no Scrooges here, but when you your ears around this week's picks, you'll understand why the month-long prospect of a Slade marathon is grim. 

Sarah Neufeld 'The Ridge'

Sarah Neufeld is the violinist from Arcade Fire, so she's pretty accustomed to striking string arrangements. Working on her debut solo project, this is the title track from her forthcoming album with the band's drummer Jeremy Gara also on board.   

Throughout this eight minute long stretch, violins swell intensely, the percussion crashes and a beating kick drum comes together like a Siberian blizzard. Not even the intermittent angelic vocal layering can halt the storm, but the musicianship is enthralling and we cant wait for the album. 

Ben Smith

Pusha T 'Untouchable'  

We're a couple of weeks late on this absolute stone cold heater from Pusha T, where the new G.O.O.D Music president spits his trademark Mafioso genius over a claustrophobic Timbaland beat with a killer Biggie sample. Head nod factor ratcheted to 11.

Jimmy Coultas

David Bowie 'Blackstar'  

Bowie's dropped all aspects of pop for this cinematic pile driver, taken from his forthcoming album Blackstar. Collaborator Donny McCaslin has said that the album takes inspiration from Death Grips and electronic ensemble Boards Of Canada.

With its eerie cosmic outposts, influences of the latter seep through, but Death Grips x Bowie is a fascinating thought should that influence prove fruitful on any juncture of the album. 

BS

Nina Simone 'My Baby Just Cares For Me' (The Reflex edit)

Big balls taking on a classic such as this which, if we're being honest, isn't really something that fits well with what you expect to work on a dancefloor. Recorded in 1958, Nina's lounge jazz staple is a mesmerisingly beautiful piece of music which is languid 

French re-edit don The Reflex has somehow managed to make the track much spacier, dubbing out the feel and making it almost more relaxed, yet adding a degree of dancefloor acumen for it. Expect this to be a beach bar staple for years, as well as a winter 

JC

Tensnake 'Keep On Talking' (Gerd Janson RAW Mix)

Gerd Janson knows how to deliver a groove. His mix of Tensnake's normally tinny sounding eighties track takes a welcome turn down a piano avenue, with acid laced throughout. Sorry Tensnake, but this is much better than the original. 

Becca Frankland

Keep up to date with our Stereo Selections playlist on Spotify