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We're marking May Day with a further taster from the Belleville sessions. The four-track Slacktivism EP will be available as a free download from here tomorrow. More news, possibly, as it breaks.

Come Thursday

First Stately podcast

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Until the skyline is clear

Picture this.

It's 5.30am, the sun is rising. You're trying to remember where you parked your car and wondering whether you're fit to drive.

There's a party in the woods behind you and you can just make out the strains of Strings of Life swooping through the pure morning air. Everything is possible, but you need to get your head down for a while.

Here's a free download to soothe your bones. Taken from the upcoming Belleville album, this is a Stately shortcut to the golden path which takes you home. There's more of this kind of nutrition here.

Meanwhile, make a note in your diary for May 5th and don't forget to download the Slacktivism EP on your way to the polling booth.

Space is the place

Here it is: part one of Stately's two-pronged tribute to the Belleville Three and the peculiarly British response to the first wave of Detroit techno.

This opening salvo tries to recreate the vibe of the era through our shared distant memories of warehouse and squat parties, all-nighters at the Rocket and Robey, the lovelabs of evolution and all its cultural trimmings. It was the summer of the Orb playing space-chess on Top of the Pops, the Criminal Justice Bill and Zippies. It felt like the underground was taking the mainstream by stealth. It was great to be alive.

Part two will feature the original versions of the songs that sparked these diversions. They are steeped in the English way but informed by the genius of Derrick May, Juan Atkins and Kevin Saunderson. There won't be a cover of Strings Of Life – but there will be strings. In the meantime, get a free download of Belleville Space here.