It is December.

Advent is in full swing. Wikipedia states that, “The season offers the opportunity to share in the ancient longing for the coming of the Messiah, and to be alert for his Second Coming”.

You hear that? You need to be alert. As The Nativity draws closer, you can appease the ancient longing for Christmas by burrowing away under the duvet and soaking up these glorious slices of 24-carat-content. Stay festive. Stay wholesome. Stay hopeful. Stay in.

FKA twigs: Soundtrack 7

Manchester International Festival / BBC4

Shot at Manchester International Festival, twigs’s residency in the city was caught on film as she devised and filmed one bespoke piece of theatre per day. Thankfully, BBC4 broadcast the work last weekend and it’s on iPlayer for the next 25 days. Direct, unique and effective. Watch it here.

Albums of the Year 2016

Crack Magazine

This took ages so please read. Big up Craig David.

Carl Cox: Space Is the Place

Channel 4 / Resident Advisor

Go behind the turntables at a true clubbing institution. Carl Cox’s storied 15-year residency came to a close this summer and this documentary from Channel 4 and Resident Advisor tells the story of his triumphant final outings. Long live the King of Ibiza. Forever. 💘

Lil Yachty Freestyle

Beats1

We always knew Lil Boat could rap. Hip hop radio OG Ebro became the spokesman for all the old men when he beefed with Yachty over Twitter and said he had “High school bars”. The current Crack cover star wanted to prove the haters wrong so vowed to rap over any beat Ebro had for him. Pulling up an old school classic, Yahcty didn’t disappoint. If you ask us though, he’s better suited to these K-Pop sugary beats.

The Year in Streaming 2016

Pitchfork

The current stalemate between the various streaming giants, the labels, the artists and the fans is one of the most confounding puzzles for a modern music nerd. If you want a digestible and slightly depressing overview of where things stand, then this is the long-read for you.

Lexx at Brilliant Corners

Test Pressing

Taken from a gig with Apiento at Brilliant Corners in London, the enviable record collection of Swiss don Lexx gets rolled out for this mix hosted on Test Pressing. Highly recommended listening.

Will Toledo (Car Seat Headrest) on Kanye’s Most Repulsive (and Amazing) Album

The Talkhouse

There are going to be all kinds of reappraisals and reflections on the defining records of 2016. Thus far, Will Toledo’s in-depth analysis of Kanye’s ever-changing opus is the top of the takes. Keen to stress the connectedness of the LP, Toledo’s commentary can serve as a neat compliment to some of the record’s finer shades. Read it here.

Skepta live from Alexandra Palace

Apple Music

9PM GMT tonight (2 December), Skepta’s coming home. Playing the biggest headline date of his career – this landmark show is going to be momentous and full of surprises. Apple Music are streaming the whole thing and broadcasting live and direct across the planet. Very legendary.

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