When I first heard this joyful celebration of Africa and freedom, on a mixtape made by Polly Harvey, I thought it must be by an African group. In fact it’s an entirely home-grown affair – a collaboration between the British neo-soul collective Sault and the British singer Michael Kiwanuka.

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I can’t pretend I was an early adopter of hip-hop and I can’t remember whether I heard this landmark song when it came out in 1983.

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This sweaty, soulful, stripped-back take on one of Jimi’s biggest tunes is by his first group – a few years after he left.

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It’s one of life’s great musical pleasures that at the age of 70 Kim Gordon is still making loud abrasive music that’s every bit as antisocial as she was back in downtown NYC in 1981.

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Those who know me will probably guess I’m not a big Eurovision fan. I can’t remember the last time I watched it. But the UK entry this time around is a pretty decent song.

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If acid house was the first truly underground music scene to come along since the early days of punk rock, then jungle was its natural successor.

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Once seen, you’ll never get this video out of your mind. Especially this, Chris Cunningham’s full ten-and-a-half minute version of Windowlicker by Aphex Twin.

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LCD Soundsystem made their debut in 2005 with this satirical send-up of the cool kids and what they were listening to over an electronic dance rhythm blending punk and disco.

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Bill Callahan has been plying his lo-fi trade for more than 35 years. I caught him at one of his first UK gigs when he still went by Smog.

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The summer of ’79 witnessed one of those rare occasions when a reggae song struck a chord with the entire nation – and was the first lover’s rock tune to be sung on Top of the Pops. Dennis Bovell wrote, produced and played the music on Janet Kay’s lover’s rock classic Silly Games – then stripped it back to this killer dub. (more…)