Weather(all) Report: Sun God Shining

As unabashed fans of Andrew Weatherall, we are pleased to see a late entry into his 2011 output. A remix of Cut Copy's 'Sun God' track from their Grammy(!)-nominated Zonoscope set. One wise wag described it as "trancey Pete Shelley". That's a good thing, yeah? And the band have seen fit to make the mix available as a free download.

Cut Copy - Sun God (Andrew Weatherall Remix) by modularpeople

Watch Roots Manuva Dance

British hip hop's most celebrated exponent Roots Manuva seems to have done a 'Dizzee' and got down with the club kids. However when Manuva does it, it's not with Dizzee-style collab partners like Armand Van Helden or Shakira. Nup, Manuva rolls with a higher class of dance boffins altogether. And, that's why one of the year's catchiest UK funky tracks witnesses the fitness of grime upstart Toddla T and the grandad of indie dub Andrew Weatherall on 'Watch Me Dance' with Manuva. Grimey Sheffield lad T has worked with Manuva previously (eg 2008's Slime & Reason), before T became a mainstream go-to remixer through work with Tinchy Stryder, Hot Chip and Ladyhawke. In the meantime, Weatherall has quietly been releasing some of his best work in recent years despite many considering his golden period as the time he spent remixing indie bands in the '90s. Weatherall's work with Harvey, Fuck Buttons and David Holmes, as well as his 2009 A Pox On The Pioneers album, is not only in a league of its own - other players can't even get in the draft for it. Manuva + T + Weatherall = superfunkpunkdub. Listen to the remix, out now thru Ninja Tune, and then wrap your eyes around the clip of the OG radio cut - Manuva looks like he fell into a Clavin Harris set.
Toddla T - 'Watch Me Dance (with Roots Manuva)' (Andrew Weatherall Remix) by toddla_t

Argh! Pop Tekkers In Helsinki

Newly signed to UK's Heavenly label (home to Saint Etienne, The Soft Pack and Edwyn Collins) is Helsinki duo Le Corps Mince De Francois. These Finnish sisters create a baggy pop funk that the label quite rightly compare to Shaun Ryder but their current single 'Gandhi' also recalls the '80s beat-driven pop of King Trigger, Kissing The Pink and Altered Images. There are also obvious nods to the late '90s electropunk scene from which they have arisen. There's an album promised next year and, for now, there are dub'd up reloves by Andrew Weatherall available for you to purchase from your nearest online record store.

Le Corps Mince de Francoise - Gandhi by cooperativemusic_germany

Countdown To Leo Zero

UK DJ/blogger/tune-editor Leo Zero has been quietly posting edits and remixes online for some time now. He seems willing to tackle any genre or any artist - from Freddie Mercury and Bryan Ferry to Massive Attack and Nas (even Empire Of The Sun). As a promoter he's drawn in the likes of Andrew Weatherall, Bow Wow Wow's David Barborosi and Rusty Egan to play his parties - honouring his wonky dance roots while placing them in a modern context, not just going for a retro bandwagon jump. Zero's own past has involved Chicane (who also spun off A Mountain Of One) and being championed by Idjut Boys and Harvey. In 2004 he caused a buzz with his rework of Lou Reed's 'Satellite Of Love' and last year remixed Zarrylade ('Eyes Above Your Head' was one of last year's slow growers). Now he is dazzling with a northern soul inspired remix of 'No Tears To Cry', lifted from one of the albums of the year, Wake Up The Nation by the man with the best hair in music Paul Weller. He's also putting his artful touch to newer indie music like 'Skin Orders' by LA rockers Historics. He's creating post-Balearic bagginess.

Historics 'Skin Orders' ( Leo Zero Remix) by Leo Zero

Paul Weller - 'No Tears To Cry (Leo Zero Remix)'