2014 has been The Quietus sixth year of sticking words into the internet, general righteousness and impecunious living. We've seen our traffic keep slogging on upwards towards the glowing orb of the sun, have released Grumbling Fur's brilliant Preternaturals to critical acclaim, and generally had a rare old time of it in various places around the UK and the world. To celebrate all this, and to look forward to 2015, we're going to be putting on a Christmas gig on Wednesday, December 17th at Oslo in Hackney, a venue with one of the best systems we've heard in recent times. First on will be Sex Swing, a new group formed from various bits of the dearly-departed Dethscalator... in our recent European Psychedelia Survey John Doran enthused thus: "Dan Chandler isn't roaring like a minotaur who's just stepped on an upturned plug with bare feet, he's actually singing, and he sounds a little bit like Ian Curtis. Jase Stoll (Mugstar) adds chunky guitar, while Tim Cedar (Part Chimp) plays a mean Alan Vega style organ and Colin Webster is on a giant saxophone, itchily skronking away somewhere between Fela Kuti and Colin Stetson. I mean, I don't want to jinx it or anything but they might actually be superb…"

Second will be long-time Quietus favourites Zun Zun Egui, who we've been after putting on for about four or five years now. They've got a new record coming out via Bella Union in January - called Shackle's Gift it as ever should be celebrated for just how many influences that the group manage to cram into what they do without everything falling apart into a dubious fusion too. This album is perhaps ZZE's heaviest, most rock-shaking record to date, and we can't wait to see it live. You can listen to 'Want You To Know', the ace first track to be released from the LP here.

And finally, who else could we ask to headline but Grumbling Fur? A year ago Grumbling Fur's gig at the 2014 Quietus Christmas do was pretty much what inspired us to ask them if they'd be interested in releasing a weird drone 12" with The Quietus Phonographic Corporation. Little did we know that they'd give us an album that'd be praised to the heavens and act as the soundtrack to our entire year, as well as providing Solace in various Hours Of Need. In The Times of London's recent notice about Grumbling Fur's support slot with East India Youth at Heaven, Mr Will Hodgkinson praised the 'Fur thus: "one of the best new electronic bands in Britain". Tickets for the Quietus Christmas Party at Oslo, Hackney can be purchased here.