The Moscow Coup Attempt – Recidivism

Top marks for best band name in this entire issue of RC! But what about the music? The pseudonym of LA composer David Whitacre, TMCA deliver über-chilled gothic-tinged ambience. Dark and eerie and very intriguing. If you want to try before you buy you’ll find a free MP3 download of a track called Sprout and the Bean on the official website. The album, meanwhile, collects B-sides and remixes and is the follow-up to 2005’s The Failure of Shortwave Radio. It’s download-only and is available at iTunes and most other online stores.

Loose Ends - A Little Spice (EMI)

Another digital download reissue from EMI’s vaults, this one fits exactly in the 80s-shaped gap between US funk and UK house. It’s the home to the band’s classic Hangin’ On A String (Contemplating) which – despite the albums that followed – they never really managed to better. While the entire album is now available for download, the 1991 CD edition is also now available as part of Amazon.co.uk’s four-for-three sale, making the choice between downloads and physical product even harder…

Various - UK:One-The New Music Collection (iTunes)

Mark Vidler – a/k/a Go Home Productions – is one of the UK geniuses behind the recent DJ mash-up craze. Along with Osymyso, he’s still leading that field, even though it has now been commercialised out of the underground and into the mainstream, as a recent comedy-tinged mash for Comic Relief proved. While he’s built his name remixing other people, Vidler’s first original release turned up recently on iTunes. It’s part of this download-only album sponsored by Coca Cola. His 20 Days Till The Roof Falls Down sits alongside Bo Popper and The Happiness but is undoubtedly the highlight of the whole set.

Dreadzone - The Remixes (tunetribe.com)

This one’s available to buy at all the usual download stores but TuneTribe is a great source of other Dreadzone-like bands. With 22 tracks for just £8.99, this is a great introduction to a much-overlooked bunch of UK talent. The most collectable track by far is William Orbit’s remix of Earth Angel. But splash an extra £0.89 while you’re there and get Asian Dub Foundation’s brilliant rework of Moving On too.

Kate Walsh – Tim’s House (Blueberry Pie)

This singer/songwriter is new to the pages of RC but has every right to be in our round-up this month. She recorded her album at a friend’s house for just a few quid, distributed it on iTunes and – after just a few weeks – managed to sell almost 10,000 copies, hitting number one on iTunes’ download chart. People first heard about her when the site gave one of her tracks Single Of The Week status. As Oliver Schusser, director of iTunes Europe says of her resulting sales “This is an incredible achievement when you consider Kate Walsh is unsigned and still outsold several major international artists.”

Dubstar - Disgraceful and Disgraceful Remixed (tunetribe.com)

Listening back to Dubstar’s finest moment – Stars – with modern, post-90s ears is a bit of a revelation. When it was originally released, the airwaves were swamped with dance and big beat and they never really had a chance to properly shine. But listened to in the context of 2007, and airwaves packed with pop and pap, it sounds like a wonderful breath of fresh air. Back in April, Star’s album – Disgraceful – received a digital –only reissue, as did it’s accompanying remix album. Disgraceful Remixed is well worth at least four downloads with Mother and Way Out West remixes of both Stars and Not So Manic Now.