The Agony & The Ecstasy

MUSIC TO MAKE OUT TO OF THE WEEK   - Ryan Hemsworth - 'BasedWorld'

Though he's best known for his maximising remixes of 'Thinking Bout You' and 'Genesis', Canadian producer Ryan Hemsworth shows the same finesse for epic electronics in his original compositions. On New Years Eve he uploaded the swirling synth vortex 'BasedGod' to Soundcloud with the advice: "PLAY THIS AT MIDNIGHT AND KISS SOMEONE <3". It's worthy music to start a new year to, snogging and all.

TRACK OF THE WEEK   - Azealia Banks - 'BBD'

Also on New Year's Eve, Banks premiered 'BBD', a buzz track to tide us over til the release of her debut album (scheduled for February 12). With its title as an abbreviation for "Bad Bitches Do It," Banks described the track on Twitter as "Trap, but it's Rave. it's Banjee, But still a lil classy." With its hyphy synth ramp and the earworm hook "ima spit that oooooh… lemme hit that ooooh", it's a stormer befitting of its nod to Bell Biv DeVoe. Banks also confirmed 'Miss Amor' as the first proper single from Broke With Expensive Taste, to be backed with a B-side 'Miss Camaraderie'.

REMIX OF THE WEEK - LA Vampires with Maria Minerva - 'Seasons Change' (Sapphire Slows Remix)

For the Japanese release of LA Vampires & Maria Minerva's recent album 'The Integration', Not Not Fun's Sapphire Slows takes the duo's track 'Seasons Change' on a wide-lensed night drive. The Tokyo-based producer pierces the minimal track with glimmers of light: a propulsive piano house riff, iridescent synths and looped, lingering vocal loops. It's gorgeous.

   UNEXPECTEDLY AMAZING THING OF THE WEEK - One Direction - 'Little Things' (TEEN WITCH FAN CLUB edit)

With his Teen Witch zine, Zain Curtis "puts BOP and J-14 through a kaleidoscope, aiming to honour and give praise to the gay and trans youth underground scene." To tie in with the second issue, he's transformed One Direction's patronising plaintive 'Little Things' into a Balearic house haze. Tagged as 'sad girl pop' on Soundcloud, the mix opens with a monologue from a distressed fan who bought counterfeit tickets to the boyband's concert ("I gave him over 800 dollars!" she sniffs), as squirm-inducing lyrics like "you can't go to bed without a cup of tea" are cut up, pitched-down and set to blissed-out rave rampups.