Mantis Radio

18/07/2025

Episode 87 - broadcast July 17, 2025. This week, music from Fela Kuti, Harry Belafonte, Madonna, and Orbital.

We kick things off with Mark Pritchard & Thom Yorke, before rolling through tracks from Solipsism, Jazz-O-Tech's Mattia Prete, Daniel Calvi & Leonie, Lunar Disko's Armonics. An old dubby house record from Marco Bernardi. Some new house from Italy's Marco Passarani. And the excellent electro of French producer Umwelt. Before the melodic richness of ###y, and David Holmes' remix of Orbital's early anthem, Belfast.

From here we switch things up, with Harry Belafonte singing chain gang songs, and the dreamy surfer rockabilly of Bailey's Nervous Kats. You'll hear the original 1970 version of a track frequently sampled in 90s hip-hop, by Jean-Jacques Perrey. Trust me, you'll recognise it when you hear it.

There's a track from Mara Simpson's beautiful new record, and warm solo folk track from Mark Lanegan, before we get into a full on drum flex between two dons of percussion. Tony Allen and Ginger Baker, playing with Fela Kuti in 1978. It's an incredible recording.

In the final part of this week's show, Uganda's Geoffrey Oryema.Radiohead. Fugazi. And a double hitter from Massive Attack to close with two tracks the Bristol group worked on. One I knew in A Perfect Circle. And one I only recently discovered from the GOAT, Madonna.

Get a tracklist for this episode at patreon.com/mantisradio

LISTEN BACK
Darkfloor.co.uk / Patreon / YouTube

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Each week Mx Darkfloor soundtracks your morning, setting you up for the day. Drawing in myriad styles and genres. From deep drone, ambient, and dub, through to jazz, rock, grunge, jungle, breaks, downtempo, trip-hop, hip-hop, bass, experimental, African rhythms, Asian beats, folk, no wave, shoegaze, psych, fuzz. Basically, day friendly sound. Whatever Mx takes that to mean.

Find complete track listings for episodes on Patreon.

16/07/2025

Catch me back on the airwaves in the morrow, with another edition of my weekly radio show Mornings With.

Listen in at https://twitch.tv/mantisradio

11/07/2025

Episode 86. Broadcast July 10, 2025, this week music from Aphex Twin, De La Soul, Jazzanova, and Tyondai Braxton.

Starting with the deep dub of Italian duo Babe Roots, hear recent tracks from Loscil, Claire Rousay, and Rival Consoles. German group Jazzanova get an afrohouse refix courtesy of Kid Fonque. There's the cosmic jazz of Zoh Amba. The classic late 60s sound of Wayne Shorter. And Mali meets Ireland with a track from Rokia Koné & Jacknife Lee.

We go all the way back to the 1930s with a song sung my the incarcerated Moses "Clear Rock" Platt, recorded by pioneering musicologist and folklorist John Lomax. That's followed by those darlings of hardcore, Turnstile. Before we go back to 91 era Nirvana, peak BT, Evil Nine, and debut album De La Soul.

Sadly, last week, Friday July 4, film and TV composer Mark Snow died. Most known for his work on The X-Files, Snow worked on many TV shows from the mid 70s up until 2020. The 1996 CD single of his theme was the first record I bought with my own money. A CD I've kept fondly all these years later. RIP.

The show winds down with a rework of Theodore Shapiro's theme of hit Apple TV show Severance, by the US duo ODESZA. The grandaddy Aphex Twin. And the abstract electronics of Tyondai Braxton.

Closing out the show, another artist from my teens, Placebo.

Get a tracklist for this episode - and all in the series - at patreon.com/mantisradio

LISTEN BACK
Darkfloor.co.uk / YouTube

LISTEN LIVE
Thursdays on Twitch

Each week Mx Darkfloor soundtracks your morning, setting you up for the day. Drawing in myriad styles and genres. From deep drone, ambient, and dub, through to jazz, rock, grunge, jungle, breaks, downtempo, trip-hop, hip-hop, bass, experimental, African rhythms, Asian beats, folk, no wave, shoegaze, psych, fuzz.Basically, it is day friendly. Whatever Mx takes that to mean.

Mornings With is archived on Patreon and YouTube. Find complete track listings for episodes on Patreon.

05/07/2025

This week's episode of Mornings With Darkfloor packs Blur, GoGo Penguin, Peter Gabriel, and Tony Allen. Plus, Ilian Tape, The Hives, Jako Maron, and Skanna.

Get more from Mantis Radio on Patreon

03/07/2025

ON AIR + LIVE
— twitch.tv/mantisradio

10am - noon.

02/07/2025

AVAILABLE NOW - a brand new episode of Mantis Radio

It's a solo show this time with a roll through a load of recent tracks and a few older bits from the collection. Including music from Calibre, Ebass, Nadia Struiwigh, Rufige Kru, and Wata Igarashi.

Plus, Hooverian Blur, thatboytim, Bruce, and Hedchef. Personal favourites Hybrid prove they've still got the magic. And to close, a heavy wedge of drum + bass from the likes of dBridge, Soul Intent, DSCI4, Seba, + Onset Audio.

Listen to the episode on Darkfloor. Follow the show on SoundCloud, YouTube, and subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts and wherever you usually get your podcasts. I use Pocket Casts on Android.

Mantis Radio is an ad-free listening experience made possible by patrons, who get regular exclusive content for their support in helping to keep the show free to listen, for everyone. Find out more at patreon.com/mantisradio

You can find links to everything mentioned in the bio.
______

Mx Darkfloor is the presenter, producer and voice of the long running podcast Mantis Radio, and the dominant force behind the acclaimed Darkfloor. A person of many talents.

With a penchant for the darker, twisted side of techno, electro, D&B and other grimace-inducing bass heavy noise, Mx has been at the cutting edge of techno for years. Culminating in the emergence of record label Darkfloor Sound – pushing the work of Ontal, Interjector, Savagen, Savier, and Herd. Expanding and bridging the sounds they champion on Mantis Radio.

Their DJ sets present a varied selection – taking in sharp breaks, industrial noise, rich relentless bass weight, downbeat drone and an uncompromising techno backbone you can rely on. Over the years they’ve shared the stage alongside Mark Broom, Ben Pest, Svreca, Ancient Methods, Perc, Kamikaze Space Programme, Shelley Parker, Inigo Kennedy, Voidloss, P-Hocto, Coefficient, Jerome Hill, C Mantle, and many more.

27/06/2025

I've just heard the sad news that Blackmass Plastics, Ian Miley, passed away this morning, June 27, 2025.

His music was incredible, heavyweight dub pressure breakbeats. Rarely did it leave my bag. And his dubstep, under the name Crooked One, was equally solid like steel.

He was due to perform at Mantis Radio 100, an extended live radio broadcast and event in London, but had to cancel last minute due to ill health. He was gutted about it. As was I and most everyone at the event. Many of whom had travelled far to catch him play.

Despite his music being incredible, and those who knew, really knew, bizarrely he seemed underappreciated by the wider scene. But, every time I played a track of his in a set, everyone on the floor took a step back, made a bass face grimace, and skanked out.

I was honoured to feature a set from him, made up exclusively of his music, all of it unreleased, on an early episode of Mantis Radio in early 2011 (episode 76).

We had spoken over email a few times in the years since, I got the impression he was struggling with his health. In the last few years he got more into model making, some wonderful examples of which you can see on his IG .

Thank you Ian, for the amazing music and marking the mark you did on the scene. You will be missed.

RIP

27/06/2025

Yes lemon, episode 84 of Mornings With is out.

Broadcast June 26, 2025, this week's edition features music from Eric B & Rakim, Killing Joke, Radioactive Man, and Tipper.

Beginning with an early track from Eusebeia, before the likes of Massive Attack, Cautious Clay, and the incredible voice of Annahstasia.
We roll into some deep jungle from the 90s, before slipping into the likes of early Tipper and recent Underworld. You've funk from the Beastie Boys. Late-era The Fall. Boom bap from NYC's Kurious. And classic early 60s smooth as silk jazz from Ike Quebec and Grant Green.
You'll hear one of my all time favourite tracks, from Eric B and Rakim, getting the remix treatment from Coldcut. The neo soul of Genesis Owusu. John Lydon and PiL. Nine Inch Nails. The garage rock of Chrome Cranks. Local hardcore band Salt the Snail. The ever cowbell enriched Radioactive Man. A track from two of jazz music's masters, Thelonious Monk and John Coltrane. And a side project of a side project from members of Bauhaus.

Get a tracklist for this episode - and all in the series - at patreon.com/mantisradio

LISTEN BACK
Darkfloor.co.uk / YouTube

LISTEN LIVE
Thursdays on Twitch

Each week Mx Darkfloor soundtracks your morning, setting you up for the day. Drawing in myriad styles and genres. From deep drone, ambient, and dub, through to jazz, rock, grunge, jungle, breaks, downtempo, trip-hop, hip-hop, bass, experimental, African rhythms, Asian beats, folk, no wave, shoegaze, psych, fuzz.Basically, it is day friendly. Whatever Mx takes that to mean.

Mornings With is archived on Patreon and YouTube. Find complete track listings for episodes on Patreon.

20/06/2025

Episode 83 of the weekly Mornings With is now available.

Broadcast June 19, 2025, today's edition features music from Bill Bruford, Jeff Mills, rRoxymore, and Nine Inch Nails.

Ease in with the wonderful noodles of James Holden's new record, a collaborative work with Polish Jazz clarinettist Waclaw Zimpel. From there Armatures, Nightmares on Wax, and a track from rRoxymore's forthcoming album.

We go cosmic techno with the master Jeff Mills. There's brand new Adrian Sherwood, featuring the late great Lee Perry. New Soil continue their Woman In Jazz series and we feature last month's track from Emma Johnson.

You've mid 90s DJ Food, when it was a collective of bods and not strictly, Strictly Kev. Long overdue, there's a short track from late 80s era mbv. Early prog from dons Yes - the first of several Bill Bruford drummed tracks on today's show.

A classic from Queens of the Stone Age. Dusty rolling breakbeat from Skee Mask. Robert Plant singing with Alison Krauss. A Glaswegian banger from new band Vlure. A new b-side from The Chems' Tom Rowland. All before two tracks from the master that is Trent Reznor and Nine Inch Nails. And some chap called David Bowie.

Running towards the end of the show. A track from Little Simz' brand new album Lotus. Bill Bruford, again. This time channelling the big band swing of Buddy Rich. SKAM. And, to close, Supertramp.

Get a tracklist for this episode - and all in the series - at patreon.com/mantisradio

LISTEN BACK
Darkfloor.co.uk / YouTube

LISTEN LIVE
Thursdays on Twitch

Each week Mx Darkfloor soundtracks your morning, setting you up for the day. Drawing in myriad styles and genres. From deep drone, ambient, and dub, through to jazz, rock, grunge, jungle, breaks, downtempo, trip-hop, hip-hop, bass, experimental, African rhythms, Asian beats, folk, no wave, shoegaze, psych, fuzz.Basically, it is day friendly. Whatever Mx takes that to mean.

Mornings With is archived on Patreon and YouTube. Find complete track listings for episodes on Patreon.

18/06/2025

Last week, this week. And over last week I listened to these artists, more than others.

I've been revisiting the music of Deaf Center a lot recently. In part due to the reissue of an expanded edition of their 2005 debut album Pale Ravine popping up on my radar. That, and their 4th album, 2011's Owl Splinters. The Norwegian duo create beautiful darkly tipped sound.

Folllowing the news of Douglas McCarthy's passing last week, at 58, I of course like many of you, got lost in the music of the band Nitzer Ebb, the EBM band that he fronted alongside school friends Bon Harris, and David Gooday. Tim Burrow's obit on tQ is worth a read. It's titled: We Play For Real: Remembering Douglas McCarthy, Son of Essex. Those first two album still rattle and punch hard.

Also on rotation a lot last week, the timeless drum & bass music of Source Direct. These days, a solo endeavour from Jim Baker, but back in the day, a duo of Jim and Phil Aslett. Their tracks of the mid to late 90s still sound like little else. Razor sharp, deep, cutting, and oh so very moody.

What have you been listening to recently?

18/06/2025

Just letting you know I'm back on my Twitch thing in the morrow with Mornings With. From 10am til noon.

Follow on twitch.tv/mantisradio
Listen on patreon.com/collection/144197
Watch on https://youtube.com/?sub_confirmation=1

Requests are welcome. I hope you can join me.

Mantis Radio presents a wide range of dark leaning music + sound, fuelled by a backbone of techno, electro, drum & bass, and ambient. Presented by Mx Darkfloor, bringing a passionate voice to upfront tracks, forgotten gems, rediscovered cuts, and personal favourites. With 350+ shows to date, broadca...

13/06/2025

Episode 82 of Mornings With is, you guessed it, available now.

Broadcast June 12, 2025 this edition of my weekly radio show features tracks from The Beach Boys, Massive Attack, Nitzer Ebb, and Source Direct.

A track from Loscil's new album starts the show, before we roll into some lovely dub techno from Lithuania's Pagalve, and early material from The Orb. This week has been marked by the death of Brian Wilson, legendary creative force behind the iconic Beach Boys, and Douglas McCarthy, vocalist and frontman of Nitzer Ebb. Both are featured on this edition of show.

Elsewhere you've music from J. J. Cale. John Zorn, and Texan band Loma. Massive Attack gets the reversion treatment from Mad Professor. I play yet more Emma-Jean Thackray. There's something from the excellent NEW album from Pulp. You've The Dandy Warhols, covering Gang of Four. UNKLE. Ireland's Sound Breaking Sky reworking Kim Wllde. Yes. That Kim Wilde.

Plus, The Who. Shellac. And Niagara. Before a drum heavy finale featuring Roni Size, Sully, Total Science, and Source Direct.

Get a tracklist for this episode - and all in the series - at patreon.com/mantisradio

LISTEN BACK
Darkfloor.co.uk / YouTube

LISTEN LIVE
Thursdays on Twitch

Each week Mx Darkfloor soundtracks your morning, setting you up for the day. Drawing in myriad styles and genres. From deep drone, ambient, and dub, through to jazz, rock, grunge, jungle, breaks, downtempo, trip-hop, hip-hop, bass, experimental, African rhythms, Asian beats, folk, no wave, shoegaze, psych, fuzz.

Basically, it is day friendly. Whatever Mx takes that to mean.

Mornings With is archived on Patreon and YouTube. Find complete track listings for episodes on Patreon.