The Kills, Jamie Hince and Alison Mosshart, have announced a string of UK tour dates and a free track 'DNA', taken from their forthcoming 'Blood Pressure' album.
The second song to taken from the album, following first single 'Satellite', 'DNA' is available as a free download from the band's website right now - www.thekills.tv
The duo also have a UK tour kicking off at the end of May, full details of the dates are:
MAY 27 - Central Methodist Hall, Manchester 28 - Evolution Festival, Newcastle (tickets already on sale) 29 - ABC, Glasgow 31 - Met Uni, Leeds
JUNE 01 - Academy, Oxford 02 - Anson Rooms, Bristol 03 - Roundhouse, London
Pre-sale tickets are available from Tuesday, March 15th at 9am HERE. General on sale of tickets will start at 9am on Friday, March 18th.
Kate Bush is to release a new album, 'Director's Cut', re-visiting some of her classic songs, on May 16th 2011.
Released on her own Fish People label, the British music legend has revisiting songs from her 'The Sensual World' and 'The Red Shoes' albums with a new version of 'Deeper Understanding' will be issued as a single in April.
The album will be released in a number of formats, as a digital album, a standard CD in a case-bound book, a deluxe CD featuring a three disc package, including 'Director's Cut', 'The Sensual Word' and re-mastered 'The Red Shoes' in a case-bound book and two-disc vinyl.
The occidental world, struggling to find influence, looked on in horror at Egypt engaged in bloody revolution. It was perceived - wrongly of course - that economic leviathans such as the USA would be able to stride in with the authority of a school teacher and break up this petty dispute between their political juniors. Alan Bishop of Sun City Girls and co-founder of Sublime Frequencies, has this to say of the revolt,
"One of the most fascinating aspects of the people's movement is anonymity. Whether it is by design or not, a faceless revolt does not offer a sacrificial representative to the Western and state media machine for them to dissect, overanalyse, and present as distorted personality to manipulate and divide support among the Egyptian people. Many in the movement consider it a disadvantage to not have a leader that can represent them in negotiations with the regime but I consider it a blessing that the regime must negotiate with millions instead of one."
"Sun City Girls utilised anonymity as much as possible through the first twenty years but when the internet was developed everything changed regarding anonymity and mystique. Anyone can now take photos and upload videos – destroy said mystique - and as it is for everyone now, we are no longer in full control of our own presentation."
Last year his label specialising in world music released a hit disc of Omar Khorshid's music. This Egyptian born electric guitarist with the boyish good looks of an Osmond and the shredding skills of Dick Dale is seen as a rocknroll hero of the Arab world. Khorshid is the modern man. He is traditional in a religious sense. Respectful to his form and the music of others. Tormented by his craft whilst trying to bring change to the music of his culture.
- - -
- - -
"Khorshid was ahead of his time. When the major Egyptian artists Oum Khoulsoum and Abdel Halim Hafez decided to incorporate electric guitar into their orchestras, Khorshid was summoned and asked to join both legends of Egyptian music. He was a visionary guitarist and composer, trapped in a culture that had few outlets for his forward thinking music. By the early 1970's Khorshid relocated to Beirut where the music industry was more progressive, westernminded, and supportive of his experimental ideas of composition. He managed to bridge traditional Arabic styles with the western sounds he was fascinated with, taking advantage of the Belly Dance Music craze that swept the time. His career was much too short due to his untimely death at 36 and the opportunities for him to control major elements of his career were few."
Khorshid's guitar music is awash with elements of electronics, reverb and delay. The objective is mind-bending melodies using not only the instrumentation but the form of Arabic dance music. The sound is purposefully exotic drawing on traditional folk music to serve his progressive values. What was once revolutionary is now banal. Let's hope Egypt's future generations will experience this in their politics.
Words by Samuel Breen
Alan and his brother Sir Richard Bishop will be on tour in the UK in May as The Brothers Unconnected: A Tribute to Sun City Girls and Charles Gocher. The music of Omar Khorshid is available to download from www.omarkhorshid.org
Hercules & Love Affair have been forced to cancel their upcoming British tour due to medical advice.
A loose-knit collective, Hercules & Love Affair centre on Andy Butler. Retreating to his hometown of Denver after their debut album, the producer began delving through his record collection.
Focussing on the sounds which inspired him to first become a DJ, Hercules & Love Affair began writing an edgy, house influenced second album. Released last month, 'Blue Songs' was a wonderful return from the New York based collective.
Receiving widespread acclaim, Hercules & Love Affair booked a full-scale British tour. However after a recent injury, the dates were thrown into doubt. Taking medical advice, the band have opted to cancel the tour.
A show tonight (March 11th) at the Village Underground in London will go ahead as planned, but all following dates have been postponed.
The exact nature of the injury has not been disclosed, nor who has actually been injured. However in a brief statement the band apologised to fans and confirmed that tickets for each show would be refunded.
Due to open tonight (March 11th) the tour was set to continue with a date at Leeds venue Faversham. Hercules & Love Affair were set to perform in Liverpool, Sheffield and more as the tour progressed.
A date at Manchester's FAC 251 was due to be a highlight, while Hercules & Love Affair were also set to perform at Glasgow's legendary Arches. Planned to finish with a show in Aberdeen, Hercules & Love Affair have now taken the step of cancelling all upcoming shows.
Refunds are now available, with the group promising to announce re-scheduled dates very soon.
Hercules & Love Affair have postponed the following shows:
March 12 Leeds Faversham 13 Liverpool Mojo 14 Sheffield Foundry 16 Bristol Metropolis 18 Manchester FAC 251 19 Glasgow Arches 20 Aberdeen The Tunnels
BMX Bandits are set to re-issue their early albums 'C86' and 'Star Wars' on CD for the first time in a decade.
Ah, Glasgow. The masculine identity of the city is deeply entrenched, yet alongside this the area has a dual role as perhaps the cradle of indie pop. From Orange Juice to Camera Obscura the city has birthed countless seminal groups in the genre.
Sadly neglected, BMX Bandits could be set to get their due. Inspired by 60s pop and whimsical indie, the band's initial blast of material was released on 53rd and 3rd - a label run by Stephen McRobbie.
Focussing on their first album, BMX Bandits quickly re-jigged their line up. Singer (and only continuing member) Duglas T Stewart was joined by some indie contemporaries, including Norman Blake of Teenage Fanclub.
Debut album 'C86' was a joyous, satirical swipe at the scene which spawned them. The title was an ironic swipe at the infamous cassette, whose tracklisting threatened to push the indie scene into a bottleneck.
The songwriting was a mixture of Byrds style pop and indie, and while BMX Bandits were viewed as twee the band themselves saw their style as being provocative. Rather than a celebration, 'C86' was intended as a threat.
"I saw it as ironic and provocative" explains Stewart. "I'd heard a story that Richard Hell used to walk around New York in the mid-70s wearing a T-shirt with a target on it and the slogan "Please Kill Me". For me our choice of title was like us holding up a target to those who might want to shoot us down."
For the follow up, BMX Bandits invited another soon to be legendary indie figure on board - Eugene Kelly of The Vaselines. 'Star Wars' deepened the eclecticism of their debut, containing a deep emotional rush.
The version of 'Green Grow The Rushes' is exceptional, while the original material brought comparisons to an indie Brian Wilson.
Due to be re-issued with extensive sleevenotes, this is the first time in a decade that 'C86' / 'Star Wars' have been available on CD. Hopefully allowing the band's influence to be felt, BMX Bandits are still writing and recording and plan to unleash a new album on the world in time for their 25th anniversary.
BMX Bandits are due to release 'C86' / 'Star Wars' in April.
These New Puritans are set to play a one off show with new material at Heaven on May 18th.
Criticised for being style over substance, These New Puritans responded in the finest manner possible. Released in 2009, 'Hidden' was a vastly ambitious work which linked indie rock, electronics and avant garde classical composition.
Lyrically, These New Puritans seemed to take an enormous step forward. 'Hidden' was by no means an immediate album but, if given time, it would seep into the consciousness of almost everyone who heard it.
Since then, the band have played a number of very special live shows. These New Puritans used orchestral accompaniment in a series of recent dates, bringing 'Hidden' to vidid life across the series of performances.
Returning to the studio, These New Puritans began working on new material. Now the group have announced plans to escape the recording process by playing a one off show.
Taking place in London's Heaven on May 18th, the band are promising to play old favourites, rare tracks and even some new material. Jack Barnett explains what's to be expected: "These New Puritans return with a one-off show – featuring an expanded band line-up – playing music old, new and current."
Simple as that.
No further live shows have been confirmed, although the press release we were sent does mention the possibility of festivals - more on that as it is confirmed.
Returning after twelve months of stunning live shows, These New Puritans are an astonishing concert experience. With new material in tow, the forthcoming show should be something very special indeed.
These New Puritans are due to play the following show:
Cult dance event The Glade is set to return with a new home and appearances from Trentemoller and more.
A mavericks among mavericks, The Glade initially began as the dance stage at Glastonbury. Growing a unique identity of its own, the festival was granted permission to flee the nest and spread its wings.
Becoming one of the country's top dance events, The Glade regularly bagged exclusive performances which belied its scale. Moving from its home in 2009, last year's event was called off at the last minute.
Discussions with local authorities broke down, with The Glade forced to pull the plug. Now organisers have confirmed that the festival will return this summer, revitalised and ready for the fight.
The venue has not been disclosed, with organisers planning on keeping the location of the site a secret to the last possible moment. Capacity will be kept to a strict 5000 people, with the line up already bristling with talent.
Danish electronic collective Trentemoller are set to play a live set at the festival. A full seven piece performance, the group will take their techno edged productions into a whole new territory.
Elsewhere, Drumcode ft Adam Beyer are due to appear while performances from Andrew Weatherall, Photek and more have been confirmed. Having produced Primal Scream, New Order and more Andrew Weatherall has led an always contrary career, with DJ sets running the gauntlet from shoegaze to rockabilly via house and vintage techno.
Glasgow DJ team Slam will rock the crowd at The Glade, having spent more than 20 years putting on the very best in dance music in their native city. Dreadzone will make a live appearance, while Krafty Kuts, Dub Pistols, Dirty Vegas and more have been named on the bill.
Primal Scream are set to take their classic album 'Screamadelica' to Camp Bestival.
Held in the shadow of Lulworth Castle, Camp Bestival is a unique event. Family oriented, the festival mixes some big names acts with newcomers alongside a host of bizarre and child friendly events.
Announcing the latest batch of acts on the line up, Primal Scream are set to take their new album 'Screamadelica' to Dorset. Released in 1991, the album remains a peerless mixture of rave energy and rock influences.
Shattered by the impact of Acid House, Primal Scream threw everything into the mix. Moving between dub, psychedelia, country, house and techno the album remains an absolute classic of any genre.
Set to be re-issued in a lavish new format, 'Screamadelica' will be taken back out onto the road. The 20th anniversary shows are running throughout the year, with Primal Scream playing throughout the country.
Due to play a series of headline shows, Primal Scream are also set to hit the festival trail. The organisers of Camp Bestival have confirmed a Sunday headline performance, alongside a host of new additions.
Newton Faulkner is set to appear at the event, while Clint Westwood and more have also been confirmed. Meanwhile, Camp Bestival's annual flash mob is due to return with English National Ballet taking part.
At some point during the weekend, the company will suddenly burst into a performance of Swan Lake which will have to be seen to be believed.
A huge Primal Scream fan, organiser Rob da Bank said: "Screamadelica is undoubtedly in my top 5 albums of all time. It came out just as i was launching myself into raveland, soundtracked so many late nights and early mornings and is at heart one of the best combinations of dance, soul and rock n roll ever. Screamadelica and Primal Scream have stood the test of time better than most and I can't wait for Camp Bestival-goers old and young to hear it either again or for the first time. Come together!"
Ghostpoet and Kano have collaborated on the new free download track 'Cash And Carry Me Home'.
British music has always struggled to incorporate hip hop. A deeply American genre, it has only sounded at home in this country when it finds a very localised identity. Raised in Coventry, Ghostpoet is a good example of this.
Born in London, Ghostpoet's life story takes him from Coventry to Nigeria and Dominica. The rapper was always musical, and refused to allow himself to be limited to one style or a strict sense of genre.
"My parents enjoyed listening to music around the house but never really encouraged it as a career. I kind of pursued listening to various sounds late into the night when the house was asleep" he explained.
Signed to Brownswood, debut album 'Peanut Butter Blues & Melancholy Jam' is an astonishing introduction. Ghostpoet has a unique flow, which has grown from the eclectic array of samples flooding behind him.
Invited to perform at the Redbull Music Studios, Ghostpoet was introduced to Kano. A similar maverick spirit in the world of British hip hop, the MC is arguably one of the most distinctive rappers the country has produced.
The two hit it off immediately, heading into the studio to work on new material. So far one track has emerged, with 'Cash And Carry Me Home' mixing a sense of humour and some hefty beats.
How would you spend your last day on Earth? Marianne Faithfull would be in the company of friends...
Where would you like to wake up? Here in Paris. I do work very hard and I travel a lot, and I really love my flat. I love my bedroom. I've just made it really lovely - finally got some curtains up! And my paintings... I just love it. I like to wake up here.
What would there be left for you to achieve on your last day? I'd like to see all my friends. I would have my breakfast and then I would go to Ireland and see my friends - Frank McGuinness, Penny and Desmond Guinness...all those people. I would have lunch in the castle with Penny and Desmond and maybe some other people, then in the afternoon I would go to New York and do the same thing.
Who do you have at your final dinner? I'd go to London and I'd invite my son and his wife, Anita Pallenberg, David Courts and his wife, Will and Deborah Self, and Keith Richards as well.
What's on the menu? A really good green salad, and then roast beef with Yorkshire puddings, potatoes and vegetables, and fresh horseradish sauce. And then, fresh fruit.
What is the after-dinner entertainment? I'd go to a club and see a good band. I think I'd like to see The Smiths. I'd take everybody with me.
What would be your biggest regret? There are several answers to that question! But seriously, I think that I wasted so much time with drugs. It all worked out, because I've been drug-free for a long, long time now, and I've got back together, but still, I wasted a lot of time. It's one of the reasons I have to work so hard now, to make up for lost time.
How would you like to die? In my sleep.
What are your final words? 'Don't worry too much; things work out',
What would you have written on your gravestone? 'As Tears Go By'.
Who would you like to meet you at the pearly gates of Heaven? Otis Redding. We weren't really friends, but I'd met him. I just love him; I love his voice. It's easy to forget about him, but I never do.
If you could be resurrected the next day, what would you come back as and why? A child. I'd like to come back as a baby and start again. I think I'd want to be a girl.
Words by Simon Harper
Marianne Faithfull's new album 'Horses And High Heels' is released on 7th March on Dramatico Records, and plays The Barbican, London, on 24th May.
The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart are streaming their new album 'Belong' - listen to it now!
Part of a wave of groups emerging from Brooklyn inspired by vintage indie pop, The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart always stood out. Maybe it was the band's coherency, their sense of concentration or maybe it was the sheer verve of their songwriting.
Since releasing their debut album back in 2009, The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart have reached a far wider audience than they might have anticipated. Follow up EP 'Higher Than The Stars' was a massive success, before the band began work on their second album proper last year.
Due to be released on their long term home of Slumberland, 'Belong' could mark the point where indie pop re-engages with the mainstream. The ramshackle elements are there, but there is an extra sense of polish.
The songs are stronger, the producer is much more clear and The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart have rarely sounded better. Produced by Flood - whose credits include My Bloody Valentine, Smashing Pumpkins and more - the album is a much richer, more fulfilling experience.
Fresh from a performance at King's College, London the band are due to perform on the Letterman show later this month.
Due to be released on March 28th, you can listen to 'Belong' below...
Edinburgh artist Withered Hand needs your help to beat visa regulations and get on the plane to SXSW!
The past two years have seen the Edinburgh music scene reinvent itself. Battling apathy, struggling venues and more a series of artists such as FOUND, Broken Records and more have put the city on the map.
One of the real lynchpins of the Edinburgh scene is Withered Hand. An alias for musician Dan Wilson, the singer has helped energise the music community with his open, inventive brand of songwriting.
Invited to perform at SXSW, it seems that his visa has landed on the wrong desk. From the Withered Hand blog...
- - -
Bad news…. I found out, with less than a week to go till my flight on Saturday, that my visa petition, which I had been assured by my Visa agency was a strong one, has been flagged by a US immigration official as requiring more evidence of my "extraordinary ability" and proof that I have achieved "significant recognition" and have either performed or will perform at "events that have a distinguished reputation". er….. hang on… so being invited to perform at SXSW doesn't count? Apparently I am one of a handful of musicians who landed on the wrong desk, or on the wrong day and encountered a very unhelpful interpretation of the regulations.
- - -
What? I mean seriously... what!?
Debut album 'Good News' is a fantastic piece of work, and when you consider the major label charlatans who are ushered onto the bill at SXSW the news that Withered Hand could be blocked on grounds of quality really beggars belief.
Make your voice heard by signing a petition set up by fans HERE.
Sonic Youth guitarist Thurston Moore is set to release his new solo album 'Demolished Thoughts' on May 23rd.
Thurston Moore is one of the real lynchpins of American alternative music. The guitarist's career stretches back some three decades, moving from the murky world of the New York avant garde to grunge semi-stardom.
Part of Sonic Youth's twin guitar attack, Thurston Moore has led an occasional solo career. Teaming up with Beck Hansen, the musician began sessions last year for a potential new album.
Sessions were split between Los Angeles and Northampton (Massachusetts) and have resulted in a brave new album from the songwriter. Thurston Moore is known for experimental diversions in his solo career, with 'Demolished Thoughts' following suit.
Previous solo efforts include 1995's 'Psychic Hearts' and 2007's 'Trees Outside The Academy', both known for bordering on sound collage at times. Apparently Thurston Moore has decided to focus on his songwriting for the new album, yet 'Demolished Thoughts' remains forward thinking.
The guitarist's fourth solo album to date, sessions stretched through Autumn and Winter. 'Demolished Thoughts' owes its title to The Faith's 'It's Time' while the cover is a stark pen-and-paper illustration.
Due for release on May 23rd, 'Demolished Thoughts' follows a recent soundtrack project. Sonic Youth worked with a French film director, contributing some of their most left field recordings in some time.
Apparently more linear, 'Demolished Thoughts' is said to focus on songcraft rather than the overall sonics. Thurston Moore has invited musicians such as violinist Samara Lubelski, harpist Mary Lattimore, bassist Bram Inscore, drummer Joey Waronker and Beck.
Thurston Moore is set to release 'Demolished Thoughts' on May 23rd.
Jamie xx is among the acts set to play the Sub Club Soundsystem at this year's RockNess.
One of Scotland's foremost clubbing destinations, Glasgow's Sub Club has always had a close relationship with RockNess. Nights such as Optimo love partying by the loch, while the club itself has run small stages.
Now the Sub Club has unveiled a massive new partnership. The Sub Club Soundsystem is set to venture North, with some of the hottest talent in European dance music set to join them.
Jamie xx is the man of the moment, following a series of impressive remixes. No mean talent as a DJ, the producer was invited to remix Gil Scott Heron's album 'I'm New Here' in its entirety.
An overwhelming success, 'We're New Here' has gained critical plaudits. Taken from the album, new 12 inch 'I'll Take Care Of You' is a moving mixture of house inspired beats and spoken word.
Set to perform at RockNess, Jamie xx will be joined by a stellar cast. German bass heavy beat mashers Modeselektor are set to play, having torn up dancefloors across Europe and beyond. Recently completing a round of side projects, the German duo will have plenty of surprises up their sleeves.
Elsewhere, Numbers guru Jackmaster will bring his dextrous set to Dores. One of the real lynchpins of the Glasgow scene, the DJ was recently invited to curate a special mix for the Fabric series.
Scottish duo Clouds are set to perform, while Hahaha and Boom Monk Ben will bring a lil Mixed Bizness to the shores of RockNess. Sub Club Soundsystem is a showcase for the club, its residents and beyond with the stage set to be joined by several special guests during the weekend.
With plenty more names to be announced, tickets for RockNess are flying out - better grab yours now!
Toddla T has collaborated with Roisin Murphy on new 12 inch 'Cherry Picking'.
Hailing from Sheffield, Toddla T is a law unto himself. The dancehall producer stormed the soundsystems with his debut album back in 2009 but has taken his time over delivering a follow up.
Working with Major Lazer led to a Jamaican adventure, with Toddla T tracing dancehall back to its roots. Returning to London, the producer is holding down a few DJ slots as well as completing his second album.
Now signed to Ninja Tune, the new album is set to boast a series of collaborations. Toddla T is set to break cover for Record Store Day, after confirming the release of his new 12 inch 'Cherry Picking'.
Available from April 16th, the track features some effortlessly glistening vocals from Roisin Murphy. Kept to a strictly limited edition, the 12 inch only release is drawn from Toddla T's new album.
Titled 'Watch Me Dance' the material recorded somewhere between Sheffield, London and Jamaica. Containing a carefully picked guest list, Roisin Murphy's cut is apparently one of the stand out tracks.
'Cherry Picking' sets the tone, before the release of 'Take It Back'. The first genuine, proper, full release single to be taken from the new album Toddla T is joined by soulful vocalist Shola Ama.
Set for release on May 23rd, the track will be available on download and vinyl. Taken from the new album, 'Watch Me Dance' contains guest appearances from Skream, Ms Dynamite, Wayne Marshall and more.
Toddla T is due to release 'Cherry Picking' on April 16th. Available on Ninja Tune, keep checking back for the latest Record Store Day releases.
ClashMusic is teaming with Liverpool Sound City to bring you this fantastic event, and amazing competition! You and a friend have the chance to win free passes to this year's proceedings - you also have the chance to win backstage passes to a gig of your choice. As well as this, up for grabs is a CD featuring the main headline acts.
Liverpool Sound City is an inspiring and illuminating music, arts and cultural showcase which takes over the city from Thursday 19th May to Saturday 21st, set across many of the city's most iconic venues with well over three hundred bands expected to perform. Already announced for this year's showcase include artists such as Jamie xx, Black Lips, Spank Rock, Frank Turner, Steve Mason, Funeral Party, Mona, The Whip, Three Trapped Tigers, Yuck, Wave Machines, and The Chapman Family.
There's a dedicated Youth Live programme too, which encourages the region's young people into all facets of the music industry, as well as a full conference which runs alongside LSC, with global keynote speakers addressing key issues facing the music industry.
Enter this competition to win tickets to Liverpool Sound City as well as backstage passes to a gig of your choice and an album featuring the acts performing, by answering the question below.
Arcade Fire are set to play a headline set at this year's instalment of Irish festival Electric Picnic.
One of the most naturally beautiful countries in Europe, there are few more pleasing ways to spend a weekend than trooping around Ireland. Throw in a few massive headliners, some old favourites and unknown newcomers and you essentially have Electric Picnic.
Held in Co. Laois, Electric Picnic has earned a reputation for punching above its weight. The site itself is only an hour outside Dublin, with thousands of fans flocking to the site at Stradbally Hall.
This year's headliners are set to be none other than Arcade Fire. With their new album 'The Suburbs' the band completed a remarkable opening trilogy, before playing a triumphant UK tour in December.
Set to return for a number of one off shows later this year, Arcade Fire are determined to stop off at Electric Picnic. First playing the festival back in 2005, the group have cited it as a breakthrough performance.
Arcade Fire's Jeremy Gara explains: "The feeling of Electric Picnic and how excited we were and the people were, that's undeniable. It was like: 'Wow, something really special is happening here.'"
A very special headliner, Arcade Fire will be joined by an eclectic array of acts. Reformed Britpop legends Pulp are due to perform at Electric Picnic, following a Jarvis Cocker solo show at the festival back in 2007.
Elsewhere, The Chemical Brothers are set to rock Irish soil once more. The dance duo returned with a new album last year which proved that there was still room to manoeuvre in the big beat formula.
Other new additions include acclaimed English songwriter PJ Harvey, gloomy New Yorkers Interpol and more.
Yuck have added a series of May tour dates ahead of their new single 'Get Away'.
For anyone who was there, the current fascination with all things 90s appears to be a little strange. Pat Sharp, four channels and Paul Ince stomping all over the Premiership make it a period to forget.
Yet for bands like Yuck, the 90s have been a point of inspiration. Sure, there's a lot more going on in their debut album but it is difficult to little to the record without flicking through your Dinosaur Jr collection.
Not that this is a bad thing - Yuck have plenty of youthful abandon around them - it's just... Pat Sharp. Cycling shorts. Bum bags. The 90s had plenty which should be left in the past!
Currently stomping all over the indie scene, Yuck have confirmed a busy few months. The band are due to appear at SXSW, after completing a series of tour dates with Australian group Tame Impala.
Meanwhile, singer Daniel Blumberg is due to launch his solo project Oupa. Never ones to sit still, Yuck have now confirmed a series of British tour dates opening in Brighton at The Great Escape.
Dates follow in Cardiff, Bristol, London and more. Yuck are set to play the Glasgow leg of Stag & Dagger on May 21st, with the tour drawing to a close in Southampton's Joiners venue on May 28th.
To coincide with the shows, Yuck have confirmed details of their new single 'Get Away'. Due for release on April 18th, the single will be available as a download and seven inch with the bonus track 'Doctors In My Bed'.
Yuck have confirmed the following shows:
May 14 Brighton The Great Escape 15 Cardiff Millennium Music Hall 16 Bristol Thekla 18 London Scala 19 Liverpool Sound City 20 Leeds Cockpit 21 Glasgow Stag & Dagger 22 Cheshire Friends Of Mine 24 Nottingham Rescue Rooms 26 Southampton Joiners
There is a tendency to ignore the debut album from Queens Of The Stone Age.
Nestling uneasily between the periods occupied by Kyuss and Queens, the debut features a new group finding their feet. Often viewed as being a Kyuss album in all but name, this really misses the point.
So let's get this out the way: 'Queens Of The Stone Age' is not a Kyuss album!
Josh Homme had assembled a new line up, moving away from the desert sludge of his older group. Sure, Kyuss were never the stoner template some have described them as but Queens Of The Stone are simply more eccentric, more melodic and more willing to take chances which might not come off.
Released back in 1998, 'Queens Of The Stone Age' made a tiny ripple. However for the few that heard it the album became a clear indication that rock was not dead. The visceral power of the guitars is matched to Josh Homme's songwriting and the overwhelming atmosphere of debauchery.
Queens Of The Stone Age have always walked it like they talked it. Tracks such as 'Walkin On The Sidewalks' have a near palpable sleaze that it matched by the oddball humour of 'These Aren't The Droids You're Looking For'.
The coolest geeks on the planet? Most definitely. Listen to opening track 'Regular' right now...
And my sixteen-year-old-self waits with baited-breath, wracked with the same nervous excitement I had a decade ago except this time, there's anticipation and expectation, justification, even, for an album I've waited almost half my life for.
Instantly recognisable with Walter Schreifels' sinewy vocal at the forefront of choppy guitar dynamics and familiarly comforting post-punk melodies, lead single 'Shot After Shot' wins the race for immediacy but amidst the largely amiable listening, 'Choose Your Own Adventure' is the vibrant snapshot of the contemporary Rival Schools - by no means perfect but they made it.
Watch Noah and the Whale's Charlie Fink talking about five albums that inspired the band's new album 'Last Night On Earth'.
Albums mentioned by Charlie as inspirations include Tom Waits 'Bonemachine', Lou Reed 'Berlin', Arthur Russell 'Calling Out of Context', Prince 'Dirty Mind' and Brian Eno's 'Before And After Science' and 'Another Green World'.
Read Clash's review of Noah And The Whale's 'Last Night On Earth' album HERE
"Right now you probably think I'm a puppet to the man", spits Vile, "well I'll tell you right now you best believe that I am". An irreverent fuck you to anyone doubting Kurt's shift from home-production weirdo to hotly-tipped Matador signing. A relatively cleaner sound will no doubt irk the kind of people who said Pavement sucked after their second limited EP. To the uninitiated, this kind of '70s-inspired thrum-rock might sound a bit AOR, but given time it reveals its nuances, placing Vile somewhere between a rougher-edged M. Ward and a bluesy Ariel Pink.
Arctic Monkeys are preparing to release their fourth album 'Suck It And See' on June 6th.
All the signs we there of a return. Arctic Monkeys had begun confirming a series of festival appearances, and warned fans to expect a smattering of new material. Now the Sheffield band have gone a step further and confirmed details of their new studio album.
Recorded in a series of sessions out in Los Angeles, 'Suck It And See' is a quickfire return from Arctic Monkeys. Previous album 'Humbug' dropped in 2009, and since then the band have rarely been off the road.
Taking time off to write new material, the band must have hit a purple streak. Recently unveiling the Matt Helders voiced track 'Brick By Brick' the group are now able to confirm details of their new album.
'Suck It And See' will be released through long term home of Domino on June 6th. Containing twelve new tracks, old friend and SMD producer James Ford was at the controls during the stint in Sound City Studios.
Engineered by James Brown (no, not him) the album was mixed by Craig Silvey (yes, him). Due to be released on CD, vinyl and download the tracklisting contains some curious sounding songs.
Opening with 'She's Thunderstorms' Arctic Monkeys seem to be in a mischievous mood. 'The Hellcat Spangled Shalalala' and 'Don't Sit Down 'Cause I've Moved Your Chair' are just two of the more oddball names, with the album closing on 'That's Where You're Wrong'.
Lead track 'Brick By Brick' split fans, causing furious debate over its merits. A riff heavy rocker, it seemed to be indebted to greats such as The Who. Will 'Suck It And See' follow suit?
Arctic Monkeys are due to release 'Suck It And See' on June 6th. Tracklisting:
1. She's Thunderstorms 2. Black Treacle 3. Brick by Brick 4. The Hellcat Spangled Shalalala 5. Don't Sit Down 'Cause I've Moved Your Chair 6. Library Pictures 7. All My Own Stunts 8. Reckless Serenade 9. Piledriver Waltz 10. Love is a Laserquest 11. Suck It and See 12. That's Where You're Wrong
London's indoor dance event Adventures In The Beetroot Field is set to return next month.
The festival season seems to get earlier each year. Already fans are looking out their welly boots and attempting to see if that faithful old Tesco value tent will stand up to another summer of being carted across the country.
With this in mind, the promoters behind Adventures In The Beetroot Field have stepped in to ease fans into the festival season. Essentially an indoor festival, it takes place across the three rooms of Fabric and boasts some stellar talent.
Past instalments have included appearances from Mount Kimbie, Friendly Fires and Hot Chip with this year's event bursting at the seams with hotly tipped talent.
House don Tensnake is due to appear, with his track 'Coma Cat' becoming one of 2010's undeniable anthems. A near unavoidable classic in the making, there's a lot more where that came from with the producer's live set placing the emphasis on fun rather than genre point-scoring.
Elsewhere, Riton and Mehdi are set to to unveil their Carte Blanche project while Young Turks signing CREEP will bring some dance noir to Fabric. Oxford's Chad Valley is a unique talent, moving effortlessly between indie and electronica.
Set to appear at Adventures In The Beetroot Field, the producer will be joined by the likes of Casper C, influential UK funky producer Girl Unit and more.
Split across three rooms, Room 3 is set to be curated by the influential label Tri-Angle. Best known for its involvement with what has become known as Witch House, the imprint specialises in uniquely distorted electronics.
Tri-Angles have invited some friends and admirers along to the party, with DJ Tearjerker from Glasgow's Numbers crew set to visit.
Advance tickets are on sale now. Oh, and you won't need to bring the tent. Or an umbrella - promise!
Adventures In The Beetroot Field takes place on April 21st.
J Mascis is preparing to release his new album 'Several Shades Of Why' and you can listen to it now!
After two and half decades of all out noise, J Mascis has decided that his eardrums simply need a rest. Accepting a challenge from a long term friend at Sub Pop, the grunge pioneer began writing material on an acoustic guitar.
The resulting album is a fascinating experience. Sure, J Mascis has used an acoustic before - albeit sparingly - but this is the first time he has devoted an album to it.
Far from 'Dinosaur Jr unplugged' the album takes in influences from country, classic rock and a decent dose of Neil Young. With guest appearances from Kurt Vile, Ben Bridwell (Band Of Horses) and Kevin Drew (Broken Social Scene) the album is a relaxed, varied songwriting excursion.
'Several Shades Of Why' is due to be released on March 14th, but Sub Pop have stepped in to stream the album before its release. Listen to it below...
J Mascis is set to take the album on the road in April. Bound to be one of the few times in your life you will be able to catch him with armed solely with an acoustic, the singer has confirmed an intimate London show.
Set to take place in Cargo on April 14th, tickets for the show are on sale now.
New Bristol festival We, The People has revealed the first names on the line up.
Bristol is a music heartland. Famously attached to bass frequencies, the city's network of soundsystems have produced Massive Attack, Tricky, Portishead, Zomby, Pinch and a hell of a lot more.
Alongside this, though, Bristol has a thriving indie community. Self-contained, the DIY energy of the city is now set to fuel the new festival We, The People.
More than 10,000 people are set to come through the gates each day, with the weekend long event gathering some top names alongside new talent. Set beside Bristol harbour, organisers have confirmed the first acts on the bill.
We, The People have grabbed one of the most successful names in bass music. Emerging from the drum 'n' bass scene, Chase & Status quickly became addicted to the emerging dubstep sound.
Since then, the duo have taken the sound to the masses. Even Snoop Dogg is a fan, having added some slick rhymes to their early cut 'Eastern Jam'. With bass music storming the mainstream, Chase & Status are among the front line troops.
Elsewhere, much loved Birmingham group The Streets are due to play Bristol one last time before parting company. A vehicle for Mike Skinner's everyman observations, the group are responsible for some seminal material.
Returning with one last album, The Streets have watched as their beloved UK garage sound comes back into fashion with the dance cognoscenti. Departing on a high, their set is due to be an emotional occasion.
More and more acts for We, The People are due to be confirmed closer to the time, with some special performances in the pipeline. Early bird tickets are on sale, with weekend passes beginning at just £25.
Morrissey has announced plans for a nationwide tour, opening in Perth on June 15th.
Morrissey is a law unto himself. Fed up with British music, the press and the industry in general the singer has simply stopped making new material. Sending himself into exile once again, fans doubted when his next tour would be.
However in a shock move Morrissey recently announced a headline slot at this year's Hop Farm festival. Now the singer has confirmed a full scale tour, though some of the dates are in rather unusual locations.
Opening in Perth on June 15th, Morrissey has arranged show in Hawick, Dunoon and more. Seeming to prefer rather more out of the way locations, the indie icon will continue the tour with some English dates.
Shows in Hawick, Grimsby, York and Bradford are set to follow. The tour is due to finish in Cheltenham on June 30th, with no dates in either London or Manchester being confirmed by the singer.
The slightly obscure schedule is matched by the puzzling choice of support acts. Morrissey has picked Flats to support him, with appearances from much hyped groups Mona and Brother also planned.
Back to basics indie rock 'n' roll, Mona and Brother have puzzled the singer's fan base. However Morrissey is known for his bizarre choice of support acts, which have included El Vez - a Hispanic Elvis impersonator.
Equally, there is the dreaded 'curse of Morrissey' where a literate, fresh faced indie group will secure a support slot with the singer only to disappear. Could it happen again? Brother and Mona had better watch out...
Morrissey has confirmed the following shows:
June 15 Perth City Hall 17 Inverness Ironworks 18 Dunoon Queens Hall 20 Dunfermline Alahambra Theatre 21 Hawick City Hall 24 Grimsby Auditorium 25 York Barbican 27 Bradford St George's Hall 30 Cheltenham Centaur
Adele is continuing her chart onslaught after remaining at number one on the Billboard countdown.
For years, the British and Stateside charts stood apart. The two nations' tastes seemed to have polarised, with both countries becoming increasingly insular in their taste. In the past few years, though, there have been signs that British acts are making inroads in the United States.
For the first time in 25 years, all three top entries in the Billboard charts come from British acts. Adele is continuing to slay American audiences, with her new album '21' retaining the top spot after a week of terrific sales.
Currently at the top of the British chart as well, Adele has completed a remarkable Transatlantic achievement. Elsewhere, Mumford & Sons have reached a tipping point after the Grammy awards.
Collaborating with Bob Dylan at the ceremony, debut album 'Sigh No More' went screaming up the charts. Breaking into the Top Ten, it now lies at number three following a huge increase in sales.
Now Music Week reports that sandwiched in-between the all conquering pair is another British artist. Former Floetry singer Marsha Ambrosius has turned solo, with her album 'Late Nights & Early Mornings' making its debut at number two.
The feat means that all three acts in the Top Three of the Stateside charts are British. This is the first time this has been achieved in more than 25 years, although British acts have a long way to go to match past records.
The 'British Invasion' saw the Billboard charts turned into a holiday camp for Beat groups. Following in the wake of The Beatles, the boom in 1964 - 66 saw countless British bands lay waste to the American charts.
Then in the early 80s the synth-pop boom saw the likes of Culture Club, Depeche Mode and Yazoo turned into Stateside stars. A second British Invasion was hailed, although this time it had little lasting impact.
Could a third wave be on the way? The empire strikes back...
Young Knives have confirmed details of a ten date nationwide tour, opening on May 16th.
Hailing from middle England, Young Knives appear to be the model of respectability. Yet beneath the array of tank tops, bow ties and cord jackets lies a deeply satirical post-punk sensibility.
Taking time off to focus on new material, the trio began writing last year. Stockpiling new songs, Young Knives broke cover to play a tiny handful of shows. Now with their third album looming, the band have decided to announce a nationwide tour.
Due to be released on April 4th, new album 'Ornaments From The Silver Arcade' is a typically acerbic return. Razor sharp riffs are married to songs which could only be produced in today's Britain.
Kept firmly under wraps, to date few fans would have seen the new material live. Young Knives are now set to break cover after announcing a series of nationwide dates, running throughout May.
Celebrating the release of 'Ornaments From The Silver Arcade' Young Knives are due to launch the album at XOYO on the day of release (April 4th).
An always entertaining live act, Young Knives match a sharp sense of humour to some great material. Finding their niche and sticking with it, the new album contains no surprises but should delight fans.
Opening in Newcastle on May 16th, the tour continues with shows in York, Glasgow, Birmingham, Sheffield and more. Due to play Bristol on May 26th, the tour draws to a close on Hertfordshire on May 28th.
Tickets are on sale now.
Young Knives are due to play the following shows:
May 16 Newcastle Academy 2 17 York Fibbers 18 Glasgow King Tuts 19 Birmingham Academy 2 21 Sheffield Academy 2 24 Oxford Academy 2 25 Bournemouth Old Firestation 26 Bristol Academy 2 27 Portsmouth Wedgewood Rooms 28 Hertfordshire Forum
Let's Wrestle have confirmed that their new Steve Albini produced album 'Nursing Home' is due to be released on May 16th.
A London trio, Let's Wrestle blend furious energy, heavy Black Sabbath style riffs and pop hooks. Live, the three piece are a blizzard of broken strings and sweat, with a series of EPs building a cult following.
Released in 2009 debut album 'In The Court Of Wrestling Lets' was a funny, unique piece of British rock music. Collecting some of their finest material to date, it seemed to act as a summation rather than a statement of intent.
Let's Wrestle opted to continue writing new material, and when the opportunity came to work with Steve Albini the trio grabbed it with both hands.
Recording in the Electrical Audio studio last year, Let's Wrestle seemed to tap into something new. As usual with Albini's production, the drums are to the fore with the vocals driven deep down into the mix.
Yet this doesn't prevent Let's Wrestle from indulging their pop side. Completed in one short burst, 'Nursing Home' is a blast of energy which seems to emphasise both the darker and more melodic elements.
Speaking to fans on their blog, Let's Wrestle reflected on a recent spate of secret shows which have seen them debut the new material. "We have been playing some secret shows and 1 announced one which have been great fun it was good to come up with some fake names (Melrose Place and The Apartment Ponies) thanks to all who came down we should be doing some more shows at some point even if they are one offs before we started touring big time".
The track titles for the new album underline the band's emotional sense. 'For My Mother' sits alongside 'If I Keep Loving You' while 'I Will Not Give In' adds to the sense of determination which runs through 'Nursing Home'.
Let's Wrestle are due to release 'Nursing Home' on May 16th. Tracklisting:
'In Dreams (part 2)' 'If I Keep On Loving You' 'In the Suburbs' 'Bad Mamories' 'Dear John' 'For My Mother' 'You're So Lazy' 'There's a Rockstar in My Room' 'I Forgot' 'I Am Useful' 'I Will Not Give In' 'Getting Rest'
Bombay Bicycle Club are set to headline this year's 5th anniversary instalment of Underage.
The underage movement has left a massive impact on live music. Across the country, age barriers have been lowered allowing kids to see their favourite bands and even promote their own shows.
Beginning in London, it seems that a generation in the capital have come of age. A massive one day event, Underage is set to turn five years old and the organisers are definitely in the mood to celebrate.
Veterans of the underage scene, Bombay Bicycle Club returned last year with their album 'Flaws'. An acoustic set to follow the indie thrills of their debut, it demonstrated a growing maturity in the band.
Live, though, Bombay Bicycle Club still like to rock out. Growing in tandem with the underage scene, the London based outfit are due to return to Victoria Park for the festival's fifth anniversary.
Taking place on August 5th, the one day event is open only to fans between the age of 13 - 17 years old. The bill is already taking shapes, with the likes of cocknbullkids, Crystal Fighters and Dog Is Dead due to perform.
Mixing sci-fi with soul, Janelle Monae stormed 2010 with her new album 'The ArchAndroid'. Due to perform at Underage, the singer will strut her stuff on a bill which also includes appearances from Frankie & The Heartstrings, Florrie, Yasmin and more.
"We are delighted to be in our 5th year and wanted to celebrate this by opening it up to a younger audience, after gathering feedback from past festival goers whose younger friends have been disappointed they can't get tickets, we welcome 13 year olds for the first time at this year's Underage Festival. It's a great opportunity for those that love music to come and experience their first ever festival" explained promoter Tom Baker.
Once the dashing King of Narnia, Ben Barnes is about to hit the big screen as a wannabe rock god competing with Ireland's finest. Clash met the rising Brit star to discuss his role in the new movie 'Killing Bono'.
King Caspian X, Dorian Gray… Neil McCormick? Those are three names that you're unlikely to hear listed together anywhere outside of the filmography of actor Ben Barnes. Not least because at this moment in time, the successful music journalist and author Neil McCormick isn't the household name that his teenage self predicted he would be.
That could all be about to change with the release of the new movie 'Killing Bono', which is loosely based on McCormick's autobiographical book 'Killing Bono: I Was Bono's Doppelganger'. Together with his brother Ivan, the McCormicks strove desperately to become rock superstars while their classmates U2 took the fast lane to the very top.
As McCormick himself explains: "I went to school with Bono. In mid-Seventies Dublin, we formed rock bands, blew the lid off the school disco and set off together to conquer the world. U2 made it all the way to Wembley Stadium. I got about as far as Wembley Coach And Horses. Bono became a rock star, and I had to settle for being a rock critic."
McCormick's compensation for what he calls "being played for laughs as a geeky loser" is being portrayed on screen by Barnes, best known for his lead roles in two of the three The Chronicles Of Narnia films. As Barnes joins Clash in a sprawling suite in The Dorchester, it's immediately apparent why he has become the focus of scores of fan sites and Facebook profiles. Even prior to styling, he's tall, slim and his teeth gleam like pearls: his heartthrob status is without question. Sporting a vintage Mott The Hoople T-shirt and a Tamla Motown man-bag, he's just an immaculately coiffured whisker away from looking like a rock star on his own merit.
- - -
- - -
Killing Bono's journey from page to screen was a lengthy one, and Barnes himself came to the process late. "I think they were waiting for me," he smiles self-deprecatingly. When he was first sent the script he decided not to even read it. As the film's schedule clashed with his own he chose to ignore it knowing that if he loved it, he wouldn't be able to do it. But while working in Australia on the third Narnia film The Voyage Of The Dawn Treader, the opportunity arose again. Barnes called on the help of fellow Narnia cast member Will Poulter to practise his lines, while another actor Shane Rangi (who plays Aslan, the minotaur and others) was enlisted on guitar for an impromptu recorded screen test. "He came and played 'Satisfaction' by the Stones and played guitar for me off screen. I stood there and sang and it looked like crap," sighs Barnes. Undefeated, for his second attempt he held his laptop (complete with an internal webcam) to his face and hollered the lyrics at the screen. A rudimentary method it may have been but "it worked. You never know where the jobs will come from."
Barnes credits much of his initial interest in the role to the script that was crafted by The Commitments writers Ian La Frenais and Dick Clement. "It's the first script I ever read that made me laugh on every single page," he states. In his enthusiasm, he often delivers huge flourishes of speech: "I'm a huge Motown and soul fan so The Commitments was always a big film to me. This came along, and I saw the same writers, it was set in Ireland, it had rock music in it; it was set in the Eighties so the costumes were going to be amazing and the hair would be ridiculous. And then I started reading it, praying it was good and it was really, really funny."
Words by Ben Hopkins
Read Clash's full interview with Ben Barnes in the latest issue of Clash Magazine out now. Subscribe to Clash magazine HERE.
UK hip hop newcomer DELS has been added to the bill for A Taste Of Sonar.
Held each year in Barcelona, Sonar is one of the most respected electronic music events in Europe. The festival has earned a reputation for exclusive performances, and is now set to travel to London to give clubbers a flavour of the event.
A Taste Of Sonar is due to take place at the Roundhouse on March 19th, and is already brimming with talent. Announcing a series of new acts, UK hip hop newcomer DELS is set to take part.
Recently releasing his debut album 'Gob' DELS is a unique talent. The rapper's flow is distinctive, mixing a love of classic hip hop with a deeply British outlook. Hooking up with some guest producers, the rapper recorded his standout single 'Trumpalump' with Hot Chip's own Joe Goddard.
DELS is now set to appear at A Taste Of Sonar. The London event is gearing up for an eclectic night at the Roundhouse, with the bill moving between blistering electro, UK garage and avant hip hop.
Hailing from Los Angeles, The Gaslamp Killer is one of the most thought provoking producers around. Sitting at the helm of Low End Theory, his sets can move from post-rock to straight up hip hop in just a few seconds.
One of the foremost names in UK garage, MJ Cole has enjoyed a renaissance of late. The current revival of garage - hello, Jam City et al - has certainly helped, but a series of old skool cuts have pushed him back to the forefront of the scene.
Portugal's Buraka Som Sistema are also set ton play while newcomers such as Braiden, Axel Boman, Tiger & Woods and more have been named on the bill.
Clash's latest issue is out today, our Film special, with actor Ben Barnes gracing the cover.
Fresh from his adventures in Narnia, Ben Barnes ditches his crown for a guitar, forsaking a magic land for the streets of Dublin in 'Killing Bono', the tale of two brothers' quest for rock and roll stardom, and the school mate who eclipses them... He speaks exclusively to Clash on the film, the music that inspired him, and Pete Postlethwaite's final role.
Read an excerpt from our interview with Ben Barnes on ClashMusic.com HERE.
Also in the magazine are Ewan McGregor on Trainspotting at 15, Robert Downey Jr and Zack Gilifianakis, our top 25 movie music moments, the author of 'Control', Matt Greenhalgh, shares in How To Write A Music Biopic and Sonic Youth talk about their soundtrack work.
As well as all those celluloid treats we also have your essential album reviews, fashion, technology and music news and regular columns featuring Marianne Faithful, Bob Marley, New York Dolls, R.E.M. and more.
Guillemots have revealed that they are set to play four more secret shows around the country.
One of the most distinctive bands in the UK, Guillemots have been silent of late. Lead singer Fyfe Dangerfield has become a pop heart-throb, scoring a genuine smash hit single early last year.
Since then, the band have hooked up to record a new album. Due to be released later this year, 'Walk The River' ends a three year period of silence from Guillemots. Planning a low-key return, the group recently played two top secret shows in London. A huge success, Guillemots mixed material from their soon to be released album with past favourites.
Kept secret until the last possible moment, the shows are now set to be repeated across the country. The band are planning four similar shows held around the UK, with secret locations already being booked up.
Guillemots are due to play mystery shows in Birmingham, Manchester, Glasgow and London early next month. Opening on April 10th in Birmingham, the short run of dates concludes with a show in Glasgow on April 21st.
Tickets for the shows go on sale this Friday (March 11th) at 11am. More information is set to follow.
The band are planning a host of surprises to go alongside the new dates. Recently playing a secret show in London, Guillemots finished with an acoustic encore in the foyer of The Tabernacle.
Meanwhile, lead single 'The Basket' is set to become available on Sunday (March 13th). A technicolour pop epic, the track is taken from Guillemots new album 'Walk The River' which follows on April 18th.
Guillemots are due to play the following shows:
April 10 Birmingham 18 London 20 Manchester 21 Glasgow
Mumford & Sons have added a final show to their Highland tour, with the group due to play in a mystery location.
Passing the one million copies sold mark in both the UK and the United States earlier this week, Mumford & Sons have become accustomed to playing sold out arena shows to thousands of fans at a time.
However last month the band threw fans a curveball. Swapping vast arenas for tiny village halls, Mumford & Sons chose to play a series of tour dates in some of Scotland's most remote locations.
The Highland tour was an opportunity for the band to get off the beaten trail, dropping in a few new songs as they go. Due to come to a close with a show in Orkney's St Magnus Cathedral, Mumford & Sons have decided to extend their stay by one more night.
The folk types will now play an extra - top secret - show this Saturday (March 12th). The location has yet to be revealed, although the capacity has been confirmed as a meagre 250 people.
As with previous shows on the tour, tickets can only be bought in person. No tickets will be sold online, with no phone line being set up to deal with enquiries.
Tickets are due to go on sale this Saturday (March 12th) at 10am. Sold from the Ironworks venue in Inverness, last time tickets went on sale the city centre was brought to a standstill by an epic queue.
The location of the show will be revealed upon purchase of the tickets, with the gig kept to a strict 18+ curfew.
Promoter Robert Hicks commented: "I am absolutely thrilled that the guys are having such fun and have decided to add one last show whilst in the Highlands".
Mumford & Sons are set to play the following show:
Raekwon is a consistent type of a cat; pulling off two classics fourteen years apart is a rare skill - on 'Shaolin vs...' he vows to banish the Bieber collabo nightmares and get back to the Staten Island grain.
Rae killed enough "turkey burgers and blunts" to give him a pimp roll making 'Only Built...I', and it's clear that this album was made quicker. We miss the Jay Dillas and Dres on this cut, and while we see Nas back with Rae for a 'Verbal Intercourse' sequel, the killer cuts come with Ghostface, on 'Silver Rings' and 'Molasses'.
Gorillaz are set to release a vinyl version of 'The Fall' in time for this year's Record Store Day.
Breaking America with their album 'Plastic Beach' Gorillaz agreed to undertake the largest tour of their career. Bringing with them a host of guest stars, the cartoon collective were left with a lot of time to kill between shows.
As a result, Damon Albarn bought an iPad. Jotting down musical ideas, these ideas quickly became fully fledged songs. Gathered together as a new album, 'The Fall' is a unique insight into life on the road.
Released on Christmas Day as a free download, 'The Fall' was only available to members of the Gorillaz fanclub. Now the band have decided to press their recent album on hot wax, for a vinyl release.
Designed to coincide with Record Store Day, the new release will see 'The Fall' finally become available on a physical format. Following this, Gorillaz will then release the album as a CD and download on April 18th.
2D explains: Uhmmm….The first Gorillaz album, our debut record, was more Russel's…like… lots of hip-hop, funk and Cuban dub stars. Demon Days right, came more from Noodle and her dark doomy demos that she made, and all of her contemplations on the world 'in a place of night'. Plastic Beach came out mainly from Murdoc's head, all of his mucky exploits and global collaborations and legendary mash-ups recorded on the Plastic Beach island in the middle of the ocean."
"Very rum and piratey… And this one The Fall, is mostly just me…something more gentle and just…well…it's just me and an iPad really mucking about…trying out some stuff. Just looking at America and then tapping on the screen…I'm not really concentrating too hard on it….So, right, each album got all of us on it somewhere, but each time it's… more of one of us than the others….Well, that's how I see it anyway."
Gorillaz are set to release 'The Fall' on April 16th. Tracklisting:
1. Phoner To Arizona 2. Revolving Doors 3. HillBilly Man 4. Detroit 5. Shy-town 6. Little Pink Plastic Bags 7. The Joplin Spider 8. The Parish of Space Dust 9. The Snake In Dallas 10. Amarillo 11. The Speak It Mountains 12. Aspen Forest 13. Bobby In Phoenix – featuring Bobby Womack 14. California And The Slipping Of The Sun 15. Seattle Yodel
One of our top picks to watch in 2011 provides this week's podcast – enigmatic French producer Gesaffelstein, demonstrating why we flagged him as a face to remember.
One of the most innovative names in the often-stagnant electro-techno sphere, Gesaffelstein – real name Mike Levy – keeps a relatively low-profile, with only a handful of releases (most recently on Tiga's Turbo label) but when they hit as hard as the frantic, lasered pulse of 'Variations' or the swirling, Hacker-esque 'Selected Faces', a handful is all you need.
His Clash mix begins with some uncharacteristically subtle tones (reminiscent of fellow countrymen Zombie Zombie's creeping Krautrock synths), gradually working its way through minimal club sounds before exploring classic Parisian disco and electro from the likes of Krikor, and then going full-pelt and filthy, with deep, jagged techno from Pan Tone and Bukaddor & Fishbeck
Other artists in Gesaffelstein's 60 minutes include Magda, an Applebim and Ramadanman collaboration (edited up by Carl Craig) and none other than Kraftwerk.
A selection of tunes which demonstrate the true range and depth of electro, all weaved together by a subtly masterful hand. Keep watching Gesaffelstein, more brilliance is sure to come.
(On a Mac hold Ctrl +click and select 'Save link as...') (On a PC right click and select 'Save link as...')
Gesaffelstein DJ Mix Tracklisting
1. Francois de Roubaix - Rencontre Avec Le Skua 2. Magda - Get Down Goblin 3. Appleblim and Ramadanman - Void 23 (Carl Craig Edit) 4. Redshape - Future Shock 5. Son of Sam - Nature Make A Mistake (Ame Remix) 6. DJs Pareja - Kenia 7. Charles Manier - At the Bottle 8. Krikor - Crackboy (Querelle Remix by Plein Soleil) 9. Mmm - Nous Sommes Mmm 10. Pan Tone - Hair of the Dog 11. Bukaddor & Fishbeck - Monofolder 12. Abe Duque - Outlook 13. Kraftwerk - News 14. Das Ding - Reassurance Ritual
Check out the previous episodes of our Dj Mix Series on iTunes HERE or individually on ClashMusic.com HERE
While Papercuts might seem to arrive as the complete package, the band's new album 'Fading Parade' belies years of work.
Starting in teenage combos, lead singer Robert Quever made fast, angry, aggressive punk rock. Hardcore years after the event, it took some time for Quever to begin to slow the tempo and explore his songwriting.
Forming Papercuts, the band's first three albums chart a rare progression. As the music slows down texture and colour begin to appear, like a green bud turning into a daffodil over the space of a few weeks.
This progression culminates with 'Fading Parade'. On first listen Papercuts impress, with their slowcore influenced songwriting containing more than a hint of shoegaze. However over time the sheer variety and depth of music on display begins to seep in.
The traditional drums-bass-guitar set up is aided by a variety of strings, autoharp, Mellotron, Moog and more. Giving a lush new palette to choose from, Papercuts have been able to really let their songwriting breathe.
Out now on Sub Pop, 'Fading Parade' is a remarkably cohesive effort which marries a rich sound to some deeply affecting songwriting.
ClashMusic has grabbed 'Do What You Will' as a free download.
Papercuts might seem to arrive as the complete package, the band's new album 'Fading Parade' belies years of work.
Starting in teenage combos, lead singer Robert Quever made fast, angry, aggressive punk rock. Hardcore years after the event, it took some time for Quever to begin to slow the tempo and explore his songwriting.
Forming Papercuts, the band's first three albums chart a rare progression. As the music slows down texture and colour begin to appear, like a green bud turning into a daffodil over the space of a few weeks.
This progression culminates with 'Fading Parade'. On first listen Papercuts impress, with their slowcore influenced songwriting containing more than a hint of shoegaze. However over time the sheer variety and depth of music on display begins to seep in.
The traditional drums-bass-guitar set up is aided by a variety of strings, autoharp, Mellotron, Moog and more. Giving a lush new palette to choose from, Papercuts have been able to really let their songwriting breathe.
Out now on Sub Pop, 'Fading Parade' is a remarkably cohesive effort which marries a rich sound to some deeply affecting songwriting.
ClashMusic has grabbed 'Nightingale' as a free download.
Magnetic Man are amongst the latest additions to the massive London dance event South West Four.
One of the biggest dance festivals in the country, South West Four turns a timid corner of London into a weekend long rave. Attracting some massive names, organisers aim to present an eclectic cross-section of the current electronic scene.
Growing in stature each year, South West Four is set to host a hometown show by Magnetic Man. The dubstep trio have taken bass music into the charts, boosting the profile of the London dance scene in the process.
Skream, Benga and Artwork boast impeccable back catalogues. On record, Magnetic Man are perhaps to overtly 'pop' for some, but live the trio really turn it on pushing the bass heavy productions until they splinter.
Festival favourites, Magnetic Man are due to headline South West Four in yet another London exclusive. "SW4 is an important gig for us! It's on our home turf, the atmosphere is always incredible and we can get a taxi home at the end" explained Skream.
"We can't wait to tear it up in front of our friends and family. This will also be the only chance to catch us in the great outdoors, in the capital this year. So it's going to be very special indeed - see you there!"
Running across two nights, the remaining headliners are already confirmed as Underworld and Pendulum. Both performances are London exclusives, with South West Four the only festival in the capital to bag these sets this summer.
More massive names are due to be confirmed, with future announcements planned in the run up to the event.
Early bird tickets are on sale, with prices for weekend passes beginning at just £85 per person.
South West Four takes place between August 27th - 28th.
Parting company with their record label, things looked bleak for The Boxer Rebellion.
Struggling to survive without support, the band began demoing material for their second album. Listening back to the track, The Boxer Rebellion felt inspired enough to go it alone - opting to self-release the material.
Rejecting the traditional label structure, 'Union' sounded like it could fill stadiums despite the fact that the band couldn't afford a physical release. A remarkable comeback, it turned The Boxer Rebellion into one of the biggest groups in the country as they challenged Kings Of Leon at the top of the download charts.
A true word of mouth success story, follow up 'The Cold Still' doesn't quite have the same redemptive edge as 'Union'. However it will delight fans and finds the band at ease, working together in the studio without the immense pressure which surrounded their previous album.
Out now, 'The Cold Still' is the sort of album the record industry would deny exists. The Boxer Rebellion have risen to every challenge and beaten them all. Sitting down to write a few words for ClashMusic, the band described the making of 'The Cold Still'...
- - -
No Harm We wrote this song rather quickly at the end of a rehearsal. We tend to spend hours and hours sitting around waiting for ideas to form out of thin air and eventually, if we're lucky, a song like 'No Harm' will come along. Recording the song was a little tricky and at first I really wondered if we could make it work. We ended up stripping down the song and building it back up based around a live drum loop. The song itself is about a relationship that isn't really working out. I imagined it being about a veteran returning home to find that he'll never be the same - almost vacant. "Maybe there's no harm in you, so watch what you see, there's a beast that's in me". It's probably my favourite song on the album.
Step Out Of The Car We came up with this idea of a rogue cop being chased by his own department. I'm quite positive no one would ever get that story from the lyrics, but the whole idea spawned off the title. The guy is hearing voices in his head and I suppose feels victimised in life - "Rumours of corruption. Acts of desperation leave you in mess. Voices winning me instead, undercover in my head". We never try to write singles, but this song jumped out as one as soon as we'd finished it. It also gives the record some balance.
Locked In The Basement The rest of the guys were away for a few days after our tour in Australia and Japan so I tried to do some writing in our rehearsal room. I believe this is the only thing that made the cut. I started singing "I will lock you down" over and over and we eventually fleshed it out into a song about kidnapping (As I'm writing this I've had a little laugh to myself as I didn't realise how dark our subject matter seems to be). It's also about control over another with the "life is never yours to make it" line coming to mind.
Cause For Alarm This is really about looking after yourself first and foremost. You can always try to please others, but sometimes it's just good to please yourself. I was thinking about someone getting bullied, nothing specific, but unable to speak about it. "A cornered tongue can never speak, the empty threats that scratch your cheek. Tattooed on in crimson red, the velvet bruise beneath this head." I think everyone's been in a situation of pressure and deciding whether or not to give in to it. "Offer up another limb, one to make it alright. Nothing you can do for them, only with your own life."
Caught By The Light This is one of the most chilled out songs we've ever done. It reminds me of Fleetwood Mac's "Albatross". It's a song about dying, but in a peaceful sense. Being surrounded by loved ones and drifting away. I had the idea of having an out of body experience and seeing yourself in a hospital bed, "Drifting away with one final breath. The further you climb, a calm silhouette. And time leaves you alone." I've been in the situation as the family member, gathered around, and while it's sad it was also quite peaceful. I hope that comes across - the loss of suffering, the stoppage of time - "Far from world ailing to live. Far from the wreckage you were left with."
Organ Song As 'Caught By The Light' is very much about The End, 'Organ Song' is about rebirth. I think I've shouted about it before, but I'm really into many a TV series: Dexter, Breaking Bad, The Wire, etc. For some reason or another Mad Men inspired the lyrics to this song. I took the idea from Don Draper's story of stealing the identity of a World War II victim in order to change his own life. "There is nothing in between, born unraveled at the seams. Lost where other seems to be. The first horizon wakes with me underneath." Sometimes names just stick because they've been called the same thing for far too long. 'Organ Song' suffered somewhat from that fate - "Can we play the one that starts with the organ?"
Memo We wrote this song in Melbourne, completely skipping a snowy England, and enjoying constant sunshine. We had a few days to write and we found a little place called The Bakehouse. When I recorded a very rough demo on my phone it automatically saved, as it does with everything, as 'Memo' - hence the earth-shattering name! The lyrics are about having to listen to constant, uninspiring drivel - not music, but chatter - when someone is on a soapbox and/or drunk. "Keep drinking on your own, to love, for love and love alone." I suppose it's born out of the frustration of trying to reason with someone who is unable to reason - "You say nothing if you say at all. I'm not listening to you".
Both Sides Are Even This was the first song written for the album and the song that really made us want to work with Ethan Johns. We'd recorded a demo for the this song the same way we'd worked on 'Union' and it felt like we were rehashing old ground. We needed a second opinion. The song is about a relationship tug-of-war - about two people at loggerheads and unable to move forward. It's the age old idea that in a relationship there always needs to be a bit of give and take or each person will end up waving their flag alone. "Both sides are even, they are even and alone. It's the same thing right or wrong."
The Runner This was the last song written for the album and the only thing we wrote at Real World. We had about a week left and we came to the conclusion that for the sake of album flow we needed another uptempo song. I think on some occasions we surprise ourselves and actually surpass our own expectations because we wrote, recorded and mixed this song within a day. It's about someone who is tired of being lied to and is basically saying "enough is enough". It's not about feeding, but handing the helpless over to the wolves to face their own consequences - "Dear friend they'll destroy you, but it ain't nothing to me".
Doubt This is about reflection on life. I had the idea of some people in the woods caught inside a cabin during a fire, unable to escape. It's the idea that if you know you're about to die, would you be happy with how you'd lived - "Doubt there's doubt, what you celebrate, the errors from here, from the errors you made. Doubt there's doubt to love as you should, the trouble with time that you did all you could". The title of the album comes from the lyrics of 'Doubt' - we simply shortened the phrase "the cold still of night", which is, in essence supposed to convey more of a feeling rather than anything literal. Though the song is seemingly dark (and for the record, I love it when people form their own ideas of what a song is about) I like to take the stance that sometimes doubting what's going to happen in the future can also give hope, and doubting what has already passed can help one learn from his mistakes.
Three Trapped Tigers are giving away a track taken from their forthcoming album 'Route One Or Die'.
It begins with squealing guitars, like an alien race trying to reinterpret Iron Maiden. Bursts of electronics fire out the speakers before the drums taking control, pounding the track into smithereens.
Yup, 'Cramm' is pretty special. Taken from Three Trapped Tigers debut album, the song (if we can use such a reductive term) is available right now and all is costs you is an email address. Fair swap? YUSS.
Due to be released on May 30th, 'Route One Or Die' is the first full length from Three Trapped Tigers. Following a series of EPs, the London group have focussed their groundbreaking ire on the album format.
If 'Cramm' is anything to go by, the results will be spectacular. Promoting the album with a nationwide tour, Three Trapped Tigers have invited Brighton trio Tall Ships to hop aboard the van.
Dates as follows:
May 11 Colchester Arts Centre 14 Brighton The Great Escape 15 Southampton Talking Heads 16 Cambridge The Portland 18 Birmingham Hare & Hounds 19 Cardiff Buffalo Bar 20 Liverpool Kazimier 21 Glasgow GSA 22 Newcastle The Head Of Steam 23 Manchester Night & Day 24 Sheffield The Harley 25 Leeds A Nation of Shopkeepers 26 Preston Mad Ferret 27 Bristol Start The Bus 28 Glynde Place Meadowlands Fest 31 London Cargo
Alice In Chains' bass player Mike Starr has been found dead after suffering a drugs overdose.
Alice In Chains were often tagged as a grunge group, but in reality the band had little in common with the scene bar geography. Formed in Seattle, the group shared a love of fuzzed up riffs but were in reality an unreconstructed metal group.
Breaking through in 1992 with their album 'Dirt' the band enjoyed massive success. However Alice In Chains were always dogged by personal problems, including a lengthy history of drug abuse.
Bass player Mike Starr departed the band shortly after the release of 'Dirt' and became a cult figure to fans. Drifting out of the music industry, Starr became one of the great lost talents of the grunge era.
The group carried on without him, enjoying even greater success. However in 2002 Alice In Chains were left devastated after singer Layne Staley was found dead in an apartment in his native Seattle.
Re-emerging some time after, Mike Starr took part in a controversial reality TV show. Broadcast on VH1, the bass player revealed much about his decade long struggle to free himself from drug addiction.
Arrested three weeks ago on an outstanding warrant, it was immediately apparent that drugs were still a problem in Mike Starr's life. Now living in Salt Lake City, the bass player was found dead in his apartment.
Just 44 years old, the news broke on TMZ. Police have confirmed the death, with Mike Starr's father commenting only to say: "It's a terrible shock and tragedy."
The death is thought to be a drug overdose. "There is nothing to indicate that this was foul play by another individual," police said.
The remaining members of Alice In Chains have yet to comment on the news.
Jamie Woon has confirmed the tracklisting for his highly anticipated debut album 'mirrorwriting'.
Jamie Woon doesn't like to be rushed. The fluke success of his debut 12 inch 'Wayfaring Stranger'- remixed by Burial - was followed by three years of silence as the London songwriting patiently honed his material.
Built up over vast recording sessions, the singer admits to using dozens of vocal takes to perfect his approach. Jamie Woon mixes R&B with folk, dubstep with classic songwriting to produce something quite distinct.
Last year's single 'Night Air' was almost unavoidable, with live shows quickly selling out. Sampling his voice, Jamie Woon was able to create in-the-moment loops which would turn his fragile tongue into a dense choir.
With venue sizes creeping up and up, it seems that word is most definitely out on Jamie Woon. Confirming details of his debut album 'mirrorwriting' the singer is beginning to countdown to its release.
A dense but always involving album, Jamie Woon is typically reluctant to talk about his material. "It's personal, almost therapeutic. I'm quite a private person and I don't set out to talk about my business in public but when songs are done you can't get around it. They are like a code, and all you need is a mirror to read it."
Due to be released on April 11th, the tracklisting for 'mirrorwriting' is as follows:
1. Night Air 2. Street 3. Lady Luck 4. Shoulda 5. Middle 6. Spirits 7. Echoes 8. Spiral 9. TMRW 10. Secondbreath 11. Gravity 12. Waterfront
Jamie Woon has confirmed the following shows:
May 26 Glasgow ABC 28 Newcastle Evolution 29 Manchester Academy 30 Leeds Met Student Union 31 Sheffield Leadmill
June 2 Bournemouth Old Fire Station 3 Bristol Anson Rooms 4 Birmingham HMV Institute 6 Norwich The Waterfront 7 Nottingham Rescue Rooms 8 Brighton Concorde 2 9 London O2 Shepherds Bush Empire
Brandon Flowers is the latest artist to be added to the line up for this year's Eden Sessions.
Stepping outside the confines of The Killers, Brandon Flowers had little expectations from his solo project. However the Las Vegas songwriter could hardly have expected one of the biggest hits of his career.
Debut solo album 'Flamingo' was an enormous commercial success, hitting the top spot on the UK charts. Since then, Brandon Flowers has re-joined The Killers for a one off Christmas single released in December.
Rumours of new material followed the band, but Brandon Flowers seems content to work by himself for the time being. Arranging a number of summer dates, the singer is due to appear at the Eden Sessions.
The one off show will take place in the grounds of the unique Cornwall venue The Eden Project. Set to play one of the largest sets of his solo career to date, Brandon Flowers will be joined by a stellar supporting cast.
Mystery Jets returned with their new album 'Sertonin' last year, and the Eel Pie Island crew are due to perform at the Eden Sessions alongside Brandon Flowers. The show takes place on July 12th, following shows from the likes of Primal Scream, The Flaming Lips, Fleet Foxes and more.
Tjarko Wieringa, Eden Sessions Creative Director, said: "Brandon is one of the most recognisable and exciting artists around the moment and we're really excited that he'll be coming to Eden this summer."
"Flamingo was one of the best al-bums of last year and Brandon has proved both with The Killers and during his solo shows that he is one of the best live performers there is."
Tickets are on sale now.
Brandon Flowers is set to play the Eden Sessions on July 12th.
UNKLE have made their recent collaboration with Nick Cave available to stream.
UNKLE have a history of teaming up with acclaimed rock vocalists. Past releases have included the voices of Thom Yorke, Richard Ashcroft, Badly Drawn Boy and more with James Lavelle searching for names in his little black book.
One artist which had so far eluded him was Nick Cave. The legendary Australian songwriter would seem tailormade for an appearance with UNKLE, but until now the timing just hadn't seemed right.
Taken from the expanded edition of 'Where Did The Night Fall', new track 'Money And Run' features Nick Cave in full-on demented preacher mode. Add in some blistering electronics courtesy of UNKLE and you have a track which lives up to the hype.
UNKLE are gearing up for a special show at the Brixton Academy. Due to take place on April 1st, the rare outing by the group is designed to coincide with the release of 'Where Did The Night Fall: Another Night Out'.
Tickets are close to selling out, with UNKLE setting up a competition for fans. You could win a set of four free tickets to the show, as well as signed copies of the new album.
Drive-By Truckers are set to return to the UK later this year for a series of nationwide tour dates.
In terms of sheer effortless songwriting, 'Go Go Boots' is one of the finest albums you will hear this year. Drive By Truckers have been playing together for more than a decade, and this near telepathic ingenuity allows them to push into new areas.
An extremely natural album, 'Go Go Boots' deserves to be heard by a much wider audience. However for some reason it seems that Drive-By Truckers are doomed to remain exclusive to a cult following.
Returning to the UK recently, the band played a short burst of live shows. Drive-By Truckers were promoting a new documentary about their career, with 'The Secret To A Happy Ending' gaining its premiere at the Barbican.
As much about the allusive atmosphere of the American south as it is about the band, 'The Secret To A Happy Ending' was an intriguing insight into the musical background which spawned Drive-By Truckers.
Playing a number of acoustic sets, Drive-By Truckers were on reliably wonderful form. Due to return to the UK for a series of full band dates, the American outfit have also confirmed a new single.
Taken from their recent album, 'Dancin' Ricky' will be released through Play It Again Sam on May 2nd. Coinciding with the launch of the new tour, Drive-By Truckers will open the dates in Leamington Spa on May 4th.
Playing London on May 5th, the dates continue with shows in Dublin, Edinburgh, Liverpool and more. Ending in Leeds on May 11th, the short run will see Drive-By Truckers reach back into their back catalogue.
Tickets are on sale now.
Drive-By Truckers are set to play the following shows:
May 4 Leamington Spa The Assembly 5 London Shepherd's Bush Empire 6 Bristol Anson Rooms 7 Dublin Button Factory 9 Edinburgh Queen's Hall 10 Liverpool Academy 11 Leeds Metropolitan University
No comments:
Post a Comment