Instra:mental: Leave it all behind / Forbidden (Apple Pips) - 12"
Al Tourettes: Dodgem / Sunken (Apple Pips) - 12"

Another stunning left turn from Apple Pips, where I expected inward looking dubstep but actually ended up with the best house tune this summer never had. A sweet vocodered refrain drips over a bassline bursting with love and reflective synthetic holds. Memorable for all the right reasons. The B-side slips into the dark with a highly-effective wobble that disrupts the layers above. I would recommend that you buy this record.

The amusingly monikered Al Tourettes pitches in with 'Dodgem', which is accomplished but forgettable dubstep fare: rhythms that shuffle, weak melodies and structurally uninteresting. 'Sunken' is much better as it nudges closer to gnarly techno territory; weighty kicks and distorted bleeps weave in and out of a pulsating throb and pin-sharp glacial tones. But despite the warm words, this is easily the weakest release on the label so far.

Matias Aguayo: Ay Ay Ay (Kompakt) - LP

First Kompakt album I've bought in a while, not counting the Total series of compilations (recent ones have been a bit hit-and-miss). This is Matias' follow up to 2005's stunning 'Are you really lost' ('De Papel' was and still is a house vocal classic). This time, the USP is that he uses his voice to create the majority of sounds; from basslines to percussion. This has the effect of limiting the palette and therefore creating a cohesive narrative. But it also has the effect of being slightly annoying on repeat listens.

Rhythmically, he totally owns it, there's enough going on here for house wannabes to pilfer for aeons. Check out the insane shuffle of 'Ritmo Tres' or the swaggering march of 'Ay Shit'. He also about manages to pull off a smart cover version of a UK house classic: No Smoke's 'Koro Koro'. Embellishing the original's tribal minimal with playful refrains and layered harmonisation.

Suggestions could be made that he should have sourced a more powerful vocalist, at times it sounds weedy and unconvincing. But I felt it would take away from the pseudo-DIY aesthetic; the sole artist responsible for everything. It's not perfect but it's endlessly entertaining, wonderfully produced and thoroughly original.

Ok, another podcast. This one is by me again. I'll write some words about the track selection when I think of something interesting. You can read more about it here.

Download the podcast: failcast008_071109.mp3
(122.9Mb / 1hr, 32mins, 21secs / 160kbps)

Subscribe to the feed via iTunes / Podcast program: http://www.failme.net/failcast/index.xml.

You can also stream the podcast straight off this page via SoundCloud:

I'm laptop DJ support at the upcoming Vladislav Delay gig at London's Union Chapel. Expect pin-sharp ambience in reverential surroundings. More information about the gig can be found here: http://www.last.fm/event/1187801+Vladislav+Delay. There is a £8 guestlist too which you can get onto by e-mailing this splendid chap: ben@jointhecircle.net. Tell them I sent you.

Hopefully see some of you there!