Here we go. A few weeks ago I had the idea to put together a free compilation to go out to you all, as a celebration of (almost) a year of these weekly mails. I got in touch with some people, many of whom have either featured on or been supporters of Bandcloud since the start of the year. The response was touching, and here are the results. It all came together and there are 12 tracks that all fall somewhere on the Bandcloud spectrum: noise, hip-hop, rave, house, field recordings and what have you. It's been a joy for me to get to know these tracks so I really hope you enjoy them too. 

Bandcloud Christmas Compilation 2014
SoundCloud stream
Bandcamp download

Wonja - Mausoleum
Spare - Singe
SertOne - Raid That
Holmes Price - The Right to Be Forgotten (Dub)
ECODAD - no sync bad mix
Demonic Glare - It's All About The Fear, I Make It
Shape Worship - Untitled
Ivy Barkakati - Chupa
Violet - Xpress
Howes - 131214
CHRONONAUTZ - ALL PRESENT AND DISCONNECT
Talbot Fade - The Fear In Which I Wake

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Wonja is someone you should know, as she's taken care of Bandcloud on two occasions while I've been busy travelling the globe. She lives in San Francisco and enjoys techno, dancehall, gamelan and plants. This atmospheric piece of field-recording-meets-ambient felt like the perfect way to start off the compilation.

Spare is a Nottingham-based producer whose tireless work rate sees him sending tunes and mixes my way every other week. After a release on Well Rounded and an appearance on the Coyote Kings Vol 1 compilation in 2013 he dropped the 1BLT EP on the latter label this year. This exhilarating grimey rave (ravey grime?) number is a perfect introduction to his sound.

SertOne is an impressively prolific producer, remixer, DJ and radio host, who always seems to have something on the go. Right now the Liverpool-based Ulsterman is knee deep in the Fly High Society, but he took the time to gift us this atmospheric joint.

Holmes Price is another ex-pat from this island, living in London after a few years based in sleepy Bath. He's also tirelessly productive, having remixed The Juan MacLean and Black Strobe, garnering plays from Dimitri from Paris, Tensnake and The Magician, and even having a remix of Lebanese singer Yasmine Hamdan playlisted on KCRW! His solo effort, the Work It Out EP, broke the Beatport Top 40 in September, and it's an original track, not a remix, that he's given us. Twisted vocals and 'Thriller' bass lines come together for a sinister yet utterly danceable disco groove. 

ECODAD is utterly unknowable. I've got nothing, so just enjoy.

Demonic Glare is based in the north of England, and he's been knee deep in live and recorded music since the late 90s. He's sent me some music from 10 years ago that sounds as vibrant and essential as anything released on Boomkat this week. This track sounds like Hi Scores-era Boards of Canada, but doesn't feel retro at all.

Shape Worship is London gentleman Ed Gillett. I don't mean gentleman like Mark-Francis Vandelli, more like Joe Gargery. His sound belongs in the emotional, musical techno sphere, a thoughtful and considered sound that's somewhere between Four Tet and Call Super. He's released on Exotic Pylon and the rather excellent Gang of Ducks, and now he can put Bandcloud after his name too.

Ivy Barkakati is an American based in Barcelona (so many ex-pats), where she runs the Anòmia label with Arnau Sala Saez. This year she had a superb tape release on Dominick Fernow's Hospital Productions, as well as appearing on the delightfully elusive, yet equally rewarding angoisse 08 cassette. 'Chupa' is a wonderfully abrasive slab of noise.

Violet is a Portuguese DJ and producer presently based in London, where she lives with her partner (in crime) Marco Rodriguez, aka Photonz. This year she's covered Matias Aguayo for Cómeme, she's featured alongside Basic Soul Unit and more on a VA single for Snuff Trax, and she's put out a split release with Marco as part of their D55 venture. An EP is due out soon on One-Eyed Jacks. 'Xpress' is a singularly bouncy affair, possibly the most frivolous and energetic cut here. Those howls get me every time.

CHRONONAUTZ are a live duo who really DGAF. Churning out fully formed and masterfully crafted music as often as some producers tweet, this Leeds act play with harmony and brutalism, psychedelic playfulness pervading their often lengthy techno workouts. 'ALL PRESENT AND DISCONNECT' is a rasping snarl of bombast, crisp and slick with the dirty sweat of the rave.

Howes has broken a lengthy silence here, for which we are hugely thankful. His last release came in mid-2013 on Melodic, but he's the type to create tunes for the sake of it, preferring making them to engineering them. This particularly blissful track was made on a Saturday morning (the date of the title) when he wasn't feeling well, and its curative effect was instant. As well as this beautiful output, he also enjoys building his own software and browsing on Discogs (don't we all?). 

Talbot Fade has had a very quiet year, but he was good enough to provide me with the perfect closer for the compilation, following on beautifully from 2013's November Is So Alive For Better And For Worse piece in its elegiac wistfulness. 

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A big thank you goes to all of the artists above for their time and talents, and obviously big thanks go to all you readers, without whom I wouldn't be bothering.

All the best,

Aidan