Ali Love has been on the scene for a minute, as a vocalist on Chemical Brothers’ “Do It Again” and a few early singles that gave him enough shine that you can’t help but notice. There’s been buzz on his new album, but already we’re starting to get a steady stream of remixes. It’s obvious that the trainspotters and Ableton massive are on it.

It wouldn’t quite feel like the holiday spirit without some kinda festive dance soundtrack now would it and dropping that right in ours laps today is the new Exclusive 66 Mix by Plain Janes – the liveliest collective in London at the moment. The ‘Janes’ are an arts collective made up of artists, poets, photographers, DJ’s and promoters organizing a wide spectrum of Arts and Culture Nights, exhibitions, gigs, book clubs, dance nights, and guerilla art attacks …..

Emika is our new fave find: hailing from Berlin by way of Bristol and London, she’s like a perfect combination of all those cities’ musical styles. She’s got the clear sonic force of Berlin’s techno scene (she’s a member of the famous Berghain family), the up-to-the-minute hipness of London, and the grimy bass thump of Bristol, as well as the haunted melancholy of that city’s hometown heroes Portishead and Massive Attack.

The Brownswood crew have just turned in another Exclusive killer mix, this time from DJ Mumblz ‘n up ‘n comer insider you’ll be hearing more ‘n more from in Londontown. “This mix is trying to represent the diversity of what I feel Brownswood is all about. My aim was to take the listener through the full rainbow spectrum of grooves that make up Brownswood’s identity but maintain an underlining vibe that connects it all together.

Not every 16-year-olds claim Grace Jones, Isadora Duncan, and Toots and the Maytals as influences on their MySpace – then again, Charli XCX is not your average teenager. This young Londoner is about to explode – she’s the next La Roux, the new M.I.A., and a serious contender for taking over Lily Allen’s day job.

It’s not often that you’ll find us going on about a blogger, but sometimes you find a blog that makes you go “damn!” and immediately add to your bookmarks to keep checking. It’s the same thing I used to do as a kid with zines. Amazing Grace a/k/a Grace Ladoja is a filmmaker from London…

Theophilus London has dropped another hit right into our laps. The new single “Enjoy the Sun” produced by Machine Drum, is another smooth pop/r&b sing-a-long that is so fresh and crisp – just like a nice autumn day in BKLYN.

The XX marked the spot last night at Shepherds Bush Empire in London. I was truly excited about seeing them open up for the glamourous Florence & The Machine. This was the first time I purposely went to a gig to solely catch the supporting act instead of the headliner.

This is the kind of track we like to celebrate hump-day with. Joy Orbison’s “Hyph Mgno” catches our rays with its bright homage to disco, house, and 2-step. Joy is another South London producer who originates from the thriving dubstep scene but takes a venturing detour past those breaks to a funkier place and time.

It’s been a while since the Jaxx’ last full-length, and even longer since the last decent record. To be fair, Crazy Itch Radio, had its moments, but now the real Basement Jaxx are back with Scars, their fifth CD. It was just a matter of time before the guys, Simon and Felix…

One of my favorite cultural venues in London, The Roundhouse has turned itself into one gigantic musical instrument. “Playing the Building,” is Talking Head’s David Byrne new sound interactive installation that uses an old pump organ connected to cables and wires affix to the rooms infrastructure to create gothic sound waves.

The enclosed clip aired over the weekend on Britain’s Soccer AM which, for those American’s unfamiliar, is a Saturday morning sports show which features highlight football (soccer) footage as well as celebrity guests including footballers, TV personalities and sometimes musicians.

These particular young cyclists are bringing their own flavor to the singular tandem jumping on rooftops, strolling with their pets and promenading along Regents Canal.

Now this is the kind of CCTV we don’t mind. In preparations leading up to the 2012 games, they’ve installed cameras for us fans to geek out in anticipation of the greatest sporting ever built.

The London Triathlon is only a couple weeks away (August 1st and 2nd) and there is a sense in the local parks, public lidos and streets of whose been training for it. They’ve got that Triathlon focus face on. You know the rock steady look of “Im capable of doing 1500m swim, 40km bike and 10km and be home in time for lunch.”

The London skateboard/bmx/graf community was not going to let the city hold the sole fate of their 35 year old homestead beneath the Southbank Centre without a match. Last year when “the Undercroft” (under the Queen Elizabeth Hall) was being threatened by lingering urban development, the wheels community got together and decided to film and distribute a 22 minute documentary called Save the Southbank

It felt to me like their recent show at the WF in Sete had soared to new heights – with a mix of that incredible Pimps energy, the oceanside setting with an immmediate packed upfront dancefloor, the new songs (including a stompin’ Pigbag cover) and classics given an almost pop feel if possible from jazz players this incredible !

Ever have an image shock you back into another era? Well, then, don’t be surprised if the works of artist Elizabeth Peyton catapult you back to the swingin’ ’90s of Britpop’s golden era: one look at her 1996 portrait of Liam Gallagher…

It’s time for another Summer Bubblers at Cargo London this coming Saturday 20 July featuring a top lineup celebrating the next gen of Bass Allstars. No worries if you are not in fact in London cause you can still get a taste of the evening by downloading this Katie Skills podcast right here. For those in the area you have a chance to WIN a pair of tickets by answering with 2 artists who were at the first Summer Bubblers.

Gilles is inviting all those who enjoyed this past weekend at WF09 in Sete to continue the party at the mighty Soil & “PIMP” Sessions live at Koko this Thursday July 9th – bring with your wristband or proof of purchase of WF tickets are you’re IN !