Listen Again

'Listen Again' is the new compilation in 2006 from Rob da Bank and Chris Coco, who offer up an inspired selection of both the celebrated and the undiscovered from across the musical spectrum.

'Listen Again' includes exclusive live recordings of Arab Strap, James Yorkston, Kitty, Daisy & Lewis and King Creosote from their BBC Maida Vale sessions.

Take one glance at the CVs of Rob da Bank and Chris Coco and you know that these two musical evangelists have dedicated so much time to the pursuit of new sounds that their own mothers probably struggle to recognise them. Luckily for us, Rob & Chris's family relationships are their problem, not ours, and we can sit back and enjoy the fruits of their labours in the form of 'Listen Again'. A two CD compilation that features a selection of celebrated and undiscovered gems from across the musical spectrum, this album enchants, entertains and promises to introduce even the most jaded listener to what could well be his new favourite band.

Chris and Rob have much more in common than bulging diaries and the love of new music: inspired by the sounds, freedom and DIY attitude of the late 80s / early 90s club scene, both have been 'getting involved', whether as journalists, club promoters, music producers, DJs or radio presenters, ever since - a journey which has taken them from being naive enthusiasts to two of the most respected names in music today.

Chris Coco first made his name as promoter during the acid house explosion of the late 80s, but quickly found himself reconnecting with a passion for moody electronica, dub reggae and film soundtracks first nurtured as a youthful fan of New Order, Kraftwerk and The Velvet Underground. He spent the mid to late 90s as a globe-trotting DJ spinning everywhere from sunset parties in Ibiza to fashion parties in Tokyo. DJing led to producing and compiling, Chris has been behind a string of acclaimed albums over the last decade, recording for labels including Warp and Distinctive, and collaborating with everyone from Nick Cave to Iain Banks in the process. He is also much in demand for his soundtrack work, making music for feature films and TV shows like 'The Football Factory' and 'Nip /Tuck'.

Rob da Bank's first foray into the business of music was in 1995, when he launched the Sunday Best night at Clapham's Tearooms des Artistes. Based on a love of chill out, electronica but with an anything goes musical policy, the club was so succesful that in 1997 it spawned a record label - Sunday Best Recordings which unveiled then unknown acts Groove Armada, Bent and Lemon Jelly to the world via single releases and compilations.

Such a good idea could never be contained in one small south London club, and over the last decade Sunday Best have partied everywhere from Glastonbury to Ibiza, and in 2004 launched Bestival - Rob's very own independent three-day festival on the Isle Of Wight. 2004 also saw the release of Rob da Bank's debut artist album, alongside Dan Carey, as Lazyboy. 'Penguin Rock' featured collaborations with Lee 'Scratch' Perry, Roddy Frame & Estelle and has been modestly described by the pair as a "beautiful mess".

With so much in common, it seemed inevitable when Rob & Chris were brought together by Radio 1 in April 2002 as the presenters of the Saturday morning Blue Room show. Presenting the show alone on alternate weeks, Rob & Chris strong shared musical vision quickly made the Blue Room one of the most influential shows for launching new music on the airwaves, a vision that was reflected in the two 'Blue Room' compilation CDs that were released in 2004 and 2005. Displaying the same disrespect for genre and ear for quality that is so evident throughout the two CDs of 'Listen Again', the pair made the Blue Room essential listening for anyone keen to discover extraordinary music - past, present and future.

In everything they do, Rob & Chris have both found ways of taking the best of what is perceived as 'fringe', 'leftfield' or 'niche' music and presenting it in a way that highlights its mass appeal. This is exactly what they achieve across the 26 tracks of 'Listen Again'. For every established act like Hard-Fi or Jose Gonzalez, there are little known gems such as Patrick & Eugene or Rainbow Family. For every slice of blissed out studio magic (The Freelance Hellraiser, Jim Noir) there is a slice of raw rock 'n' roll (Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Gogol Bordello). Thoughtfully the pair have also included some exclusive live recordings from Arab Strap, James Yorkston, Kitty, Daisy & Lewis and King Creosote from their BBC Maida Vale sessions.

From whichever angle you approach 'Listen Again', and with whatever musical prejudices you carry with you, we guarantee that you will be handsomely rewarded. And then some....