Wednesday 31 October 2012, 13:18 | By

Q&A: Graeme Park

Artist Interviews

Graeme Park

Graeme Park was working in Nottingham record shop Selectadisc when early house music records began to make their way over from the US to the UK. His interest in this new style of music soon led him to begin DJing, and as his profile rose he came to the attention of Mike Pickering at The Haçienda in Manchester. In 1988, Park was given a residency at the legendary club, and stayed there until 1996, a year before it closed.

This year marks the 30th anniversary of The Haçienda’s opening night and, amongst other activities surrounding it, Park, Pickering and the club’s former co-owner Peter Hook have put together a three disc compilation of classic tracks from the Haçienda era. With the compilation now out, CMU’s Andy Malt spoke to Graeme Park about The Haçienda, its legacy and how DJing has changed in the last 30 years.

AM: What was your first night in The Haçienda like?
GP: I first visited The Haçienda not long after it opened. I was a massive Factory Records fan and travelled up by train from Nottingham to watch some of the Factory bands play live. My first DJ gig there was a midweek night in February 1988, when Mike Pickering and I hosted The Northern House Review to showcase bands on the Deconstruction and Submission labels. As well as DJing, I performed live on stage with my band Groove, and Mike also DJed and performed live with his band T-Coy. Four months later I covered Mike’s Friday Nude Night when he was on holiday and I ended up staying until 1996!

AM: 30 years on, what is The Haçienda’s legacy in 2012?
GP: The spirit of The Haçienda lives on thanks to the love and support of the thousands and thousands of people who used to go religiously every week. It remains important to them because it was such an important part their lives, and because it was, without question, the first proper superclub in the UK, and was such a special, unique place. It became such a profound influence on so many people from so many different walks of life. Like early house music, it was fresh and exciting and like absolutely nothing else. As a result, the formula was copied but never bettered (apart from maybe financially).

I think Cream, Gatecrasher and Ministry Of Sound were heavily influenced by The Haçienda in so many ways, and even clubs today are subconsciously influenced by it, whether it is in artwork or interior design. However, no one has ever captured the true spirit of the greatest club there ever was.

AM: What effect did it, and has it had, on your own career?
GP: I was doing pretty well before I started DJing at The Haçienda (that’s how I came to their attention), but things just exploded for me afterwards. There’s not a weekend goes by without someone coming up to me to tell me their Haçienda story, and to thank me for the greatest nights of their lives. I do find it quite humbling, because without the people who’ve showed their massive support over the years I wouldn’t be able to continue to do what I love so much.

AM: After The Haçienda closed, did you think people would still be talking about it in such reverential terms all these years later?
GP: To be honest, for the first few years after the club closed it used to do my head in. I wanted to move on. But after a while, a lot of us realised just what we had achieved and started to do the odd Haçienda night. Things started to snowball, and now I’m proud to be involved in the amazing Haçienda parties that we throw around the UK, Europe and beyond every year. The parties at [Manchester club] Sankeys, in particular, are incredible and are as close as you’ll get to actually having being at The Haçienda.

AM: How does clubbing now compare to the 80s and 90s?
GP: Today there is so much choice, and so many clubs and DJs, that everything has become diluted. People don’t travel any more as a result. Another thing I’ve noticed in recent years is that people used to come to dance, have fun and just enjoy some great music, whereas today younger clubbers appear almost obsessed with the DJ and what tech and equipment they’re using, rather than the records they’re playing. As far as I’m concerned, it’s all about the music first and the DJ second.

AM: But there’s a lot more tech to obsess about now. Has that changed the way you DJ?
GP: To a point. I carry thousands and thousands of tunes on my laptop so I’m covered for any eventuality. But I choose to use Serato Scratch Live with vinyl, because it’s as close to traditional DJing as you can get. I still have to do all the work and you can’t beat the delicacy and nuances of mixing with turntables. When I discovered Serato I was overjoyed because I never really took to CDs but had no choice but to use them. I do occasionally use Pioneer CDs with USB drives, but only out of practicality and necessity, and to cut down on hand baggage too if I’m flying to Europe for one gig.

AM: As well as DJing live, you also have a podcast and iOS app. How has the internet changed how you work and discover new music?
GP: I love technology and grasped the potential of the internet and social networking very early on. The thing I love the most is connecting personally with people who choose to follow me. I love it! I also love finding stuff on the internet too and rely on technology to make my life simpler. I’m answering these questions on the train to London while downloading some tunes requested last minute by the celebrity bride and groom who’s wedding I’m DJing at tonight!

AM: How did you go about creating your mix for the ‘Haçienda 30’ compilation – presumably there were a lot more potential tracks than you could fit in?
GP: I started with a list of over 100 and waited to see who gave permission first. I chose tracks that were special to me and also some of the less obvious ones. Unfortunately some labels and publishers came up with some ridiculous conditions (eg no edits, no mixing for more that five seconds, you can use this track but only if you use three others too etc) that meant some tracks were immediately ruled out because I refused to be dictated to.

With the actual mix, I tried to use vinyl wherever practical, or Serato Scratch Live with vinyl discs where not. As a result, my mix is live and could well be the last ever live mix compilation ever to be released as nobody really does that any more. I wanted my mix to be as authentic as possible, and my eight year residency at The Haçienda was carried out exclusively with vinyl and three turntables. Listen out for the surface noise at the end. Glorious.

AM: Did you have to work with Peter and Mike to ensure there were no duplicate tracks in your mixes, or are your personal favourites more, well, personal than that?
GP: We each submitted completely different lists and there were absolutely no instances of duplicates whatsoever. What were the chances of that? But that was probably down to the personal nature of our choices more than anything.

AM: At The Haçienda’s birthday party earlier this year you DJed in the carpark under the flats that have replaced the club. How was it being back, but also not being, at the same time?
GP: Same place, same faces, same vibe. We actually travelled back in time. I will never forget that night. It was incredible and for a few hours we were all partying in the late 1980s.

AM: Which was closer to the real experience – that or playing in the recreated club for the ’24 Hour Party People’ film?
GP: That Haçienda set was uncannily and eerily accurate. It blew my mind. But the vibe of the 30th birthday was exactly like being in The Haçienda in every detail.

AM: Finally, where’s your favourite place to DJ now?
GP: I absolutely love The Sub Club in Glasgow and Sankeys in Manchester. They are proper clubs with appreciative crowds, great sound systems and amazing vibes.

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Wednesday 31 October 2012, 13:17 | By

Approved: El Perro Del Mar

CMU Approved

El Perro Del Mar

Having discarded the itty-bitty 60s schtick of her eponymous 2006 debut, Swedish soloist El Perro Del Mar – aka Sarah Assbring – is now in the throws of a contemporary pop phase she’ll immortalise via fourth record ‘Pale Fire’.

Pacing the space between the LP’s ‘Killer’ first single ‘Walk On By’ and official 12 Nov release date is new track ‘Hold Off The Dawn’, which casts its slight, gelid synths against greying shades of dub and an evasive tagline (“Stay away, away, away to hold off the dawn”). And even if it does sound quite like Lykke Li or Taken By Trees (who’ve both collaborated with Assbring in the past, by the way) we must remember, El Perro Del Mar was doing it all first.

Hear ‘Walk On By’ and ‘Hold Off The Dawn’, in that order, now; or alternatively wait to hear them live as part of Del Mar sets at Bristol’s Fear Of Fiction festival (10 Nov), London’s Village Underground (12 Nov), or via an in-store recital at the also capital-based Rough Trade East on 13 Nov.

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Wednesday 31 October 2012, 13:16 | By

Universal settles with FBT Productions over digital royalties

Business News Digital Digital Royalties Timeline Labels & Publishers Legal Top Stories

Universal Music

FBT Productions v Universal, the lawsuit that could as yet have massive ramifications on the major music companies, is at an end, with a closed-doors out-of-court settlement. It will mean that those artists suing the major labels they previously worked with for a bigger cut of digital revenue will not have FBT’s payout as a guide to potential damages. It will also save Universal from having the ways it calculates international royalties examined in court.

As much previously reported, the FBT case centred on digital royalties, and how pre-iTunes record contracts that make no specific reference to download sales should be interpreted. It was common in conventional record contracts to pay artists a much higher cut of ‘licensing revenue’ than ‘record sales income’, because the latter was traditionally so much greater than the former.

In contracts where downloads are not specifically mentioned, major labels have treated revenue from iTunes et al as if it is record sales income, paying the smaller royalty. But many heritage artists argue that download income is licensing revenue – because the upfront costs and risks to the label are minimal compared to releasing CDs, and income is generated by one-off licensing deals with each download store – and therefore the higher royalty should be paid.

The first artists to really sue on this issue were Cheap Trick and The Allman Brothers, though their litigation ran aground amidst legal technicalities. Then FBT, aka the Bass Brothers, producers on the early Eminem catalogue who are due a royalty on those recordings from Universal’s Interscope division, sued the mega-major. At first instance the major won, but on appeal the courts ruled in favour of FBT. The American Supreme Court subsequently refused to hear the case.

Universal insists that the ruling in the FBT case is unique to its agreements with the producers, but many artists, managers and music lawyers disagree. All the majors now face lawsuits on the issue, with the likes of Rob Zombie, Chuck D, Toto, Kenny Rogers, Sister Sledge, The Temptations, James Taylor and the Rick James estate all suing. And some of those cases have been declared class actions, meaning, if they are successful, any artists with similar deals could claim a higher royalty.

As common royalty percentages for record sales and licensing revenue were 15% and 40% respectively, if the majors were forced to pay the latter rate across the board to all artists with pre-iTunes contracts, the impact would be huge on the big music companies.

Sony, the defendant in the Cheap Trick and The Allman Brothers case, has proposed a more modest increase in digital royalties in a bid to circumvent a more costly court-enforced deal, though that proposal is still to be a approved by the judge overseeing the second round of Cheap Trick/Allman Brothers litigation, and then would have to be put to each affected artist individually, many of whom would likely rather wait and see what happens with the newer class actions being fought on this issue.

While officially the majors generally say the FBT ruling does not set an industry wide precedent, it’s thought deals are being done on this issue by the record companies with their key artists, including the aforementioned Cheap Trick and Allman Brothers. Whether, ultimately, such deals can stop the plethora of digital royalty cases getting an airing in court remains to be seen.

When FBT won their case against Universal on appeal in 2010, disagreements remained regarding how much money the Eminem producers were due. That argument was expected to be heard in court this year, though more recently an April 2013 date was mooted. That discussion would have been of great interest to those lawyers pursuing digital royalty lawsuits on behalf of other artists, though the terms of the FBT/Universal settlement will now remain confidential.

As previously reported, FBT also planned to raise how Universal deals with international revenues, and the tendency for portions of those monies to stay with local Universal divisions, so that the mega-major only has to pay the artist a share of the 29% of total revenue that ends up with the US division to which Eminem and FBT have their direct deal. Again the producers planned to argue that this was unfair in the digital age, where the cost to the record company of making music available in multiple territories is so much less once CDs are taken out of the equation. That issue will now not get a public hearing from this case.

So, the end of an important chapter in a very interesting story. All eyes will now be on whichever of the newer digital royalties lawsuits gets to court first.

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Wednesday 31 October 2012, 13:15 | By

iTunes 11 officially delayed

Digital Top Stories

iTunes

The all-new iTunes will not go live this month after all, which is just as well, because time was really running out on that pledge, and presumably Team Cupertino are planning to knock off early today from some Halloween festivities.

As previously reported, when Apple previewed its super-enhanced iTunes software and store at a press briefing last month, the company said the revamped service would go live in October. Many expected it to happen at a more recent press event, but last week, in an investor briefing, execs from the IT giant were somewhat vague about a launch date for the updated software.

And yesterday a spokesman confirmed iTunes 11 would not be online by midnight today, saying it was taking longer than expected to get the new software just right. Apple’s Tom Neumayr: “The new iTunes is taking longer than expected and we wanted to take a little extra time to get it right. We look forward to releasing this new version of iTunes with its dramatically simpler and cleaner interface and seamless integration with iCloud before the end of November”.

Some have already speculated whether the delay is linked to the sudden axing this week of Apple exec Scott Forstall, who ran software development for the iPad and iPhone. Gossipers say Forstall’s exit is mainly linked to executive tensions at the top of the Apple company, that have worsened since the departure of the firm’s late founder and CEO Steve Jobs, who was able to better manage clashing executive egos.

Forstall’s departure may have been hastened by the Apple Maps debacle, with some insiders at the firm reckoning Forstall rather than current CEO Tim Cook should have fronted the public apology for the bungled mapping app on the iOS6 operating system. Forstall instead insisted that criticism of the new app was exaggerated (arguably a more Apple-like response).

That said, Forstall had no responsibility for the new iTunes, so his departure is probably not relevant there – except that, given the Maps embarrassment, Apple is presumably extra-sensitive about getting things right when it comes to new software launches.

Others have wondered whether the much mooted Apple streaming service will, in fact, be part of the new look iTunes, and that delays are linked to agreeing licensing terms with the majors on that element. Though label insiders in the US say that talks regarding iStream are not far enough advanced to allow a November launch of that service, as has now been promised for iTunes 11.

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Wednesday 31 October 2012, 13:14 | By

New Zealand police investigating Security Bureau over MegaUpload snooping

Digital Legal MegaUpload Timeline

MegaUpload

Police in New Zealand are now investigating the country’s Government Communications Security Bureau regarding its conduct in monitoring executives at MegaUpload before the controversial file-transfer site was shut-down back in January.

As the US authorities swooped on the Mega enterprise to take it offline, New Zealand police arrested four of the firm’s execs, including founder Kim ‘Dotcom’ Schmitz. But last month New Zealand Prime Minister John Key admitted that the country’s GCSB “acted unlawfully” in the way it gathered communications between former MegaUpload execs ahead of the arrest and raid.

While Key ordered an inquiry into the GCSB’s actions, the country’s Green Party made a complaint to the police under the New Zealand Crimes Act, and the party’s co-leader Russel Norman has now told reporters that a police investigation is under way.

Norman said: “I am very pleased that senior police investigators have started inquiries and expect to make an initial report by 15 Nov. It is reassuring to know that police intend to interview key witnesses to get to the bottom of how a New Zealand resident was illegally spied upon”.

He added: “I hope they will interview senior police and government ministers, including Prime Minister John Key and his deputy Bill English, about their involvement. Spies must be held to the same standards as other New Zealanders. They are subject to the laws of this land and must be held accountable by the police and the courts when they violate those laws”.

The news will be welcomed by Dotcom and his Mega team, who have been critical of the authorities in both the US and New Zealand ever since the criminal case against them was launched. The New Zealand police have also been criticised themselves after it was revealed that they had the wrong warrant when raiding Dotcom’s mansion, and that they broke rules by allowing US investigators to take items seized during that raid back to America.

Elsewhere in Mega news, the Motion Picture Association Of America has again expressed concern about former users of the now defunct file-transfer platform being given temporary access to the old MegaUpload servers to regain files that they were cut off from back in January. As much previously reported, while a lot of people used MegaUpload to share and access unlicensed music and movie content, some customers used it to store their own files, and they lost access to that data when Mega was shut down. One former customer, Kyle Goodwin, has been fighting through the courts to regain access to his lost files.

The MPAA has no problems with Goodwin et al being reconnected with their own data, but the Hollywood trade body says that any reopening of the MegaUpload servers must be managed so that unlicensed material is first removed. The problem is that that makes what could be a relatively simple process much more complicated. Team Mega say they would gladly manage that process if they are given access to some of their frozen funds to pay for it, but both the MPAA and US prosecutors are nervous about that solution.

With Goodwin’s legal bid to reclaim his lost files still rumbling through the courts, the MPAA this week requested to be part of any future hearings on the issue because of “the overwhelming amount of infringement of the MPAA members’ copyrighted work on MegaUpload”, adding that if users are reconnected to that content, even for a short time, it would “compound the massive infringing conduct already at issue in this criminal litigation”.

As previously noted, whatever their concerns, the problem for the MPAA is that, by throwing a spanner into the works with regards to reconnecting Goodwin with his files, the movie studios are basically saying that their copyrights must be protected at all costs, while the average man’s copyrights just don’t matter, and that’s not a good message to be sending out as an industry that desperately needs to convince the world at large (rather than just friendly politicians and judges) that copyright is something that should be respected by all.

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Wednesday 31 October 2012, 13:13 | By

Carly Rae Jepsen and Owl City accused of song theft

Business News Legal

Carly Rae Jepson

Carly Rae Jepsen and Owl City’s Adam Young are both being sued by an Alabama-based singer/songwriter called Ally Burnett who claims that their joint single ‘Good Time’, released earlier this year, nicked a bit of her 2010 song ‘Ah, It’s A Love Song’.

Burnett’s lawsuit says that ‘Good Time’ copies the “unique vocal motif” and hook of her song, which appeared on her album ‘The Takeover’. As well as claiming copyright infringement, the lawsuit also claims that Burnett has suffered reputation, emotional and psychological damage because fans may believe she ripped off Jepson and Young, even though her song is older, because ‘Good Time’ was a big hit.

Jepsen isn’t actually listed as a songwriter on ‘Good Time’, but is seemingly still listed as a defendant on the lawsuit, as are the song’s other two co-writers Brian Lee and Matt Thiessen, plus Universal Music, Songs Music Publishing, Schoolboy Records and collecting societies ASCAP, SESAC and BMI. None of the defendants have, as yet, commented.

Ah, It’s A Love Song:

Good Time:

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Wednesday 31 October 2012, 13:12 | By

Finnish Supreme Court allows web-block to stay in place

Digital Legal

The Pirate Bay

Web-blocking continues to spread around Europe, as the content industries seek to force internet service providers to block access to copyright infringing websites.

Following injunctions forcing net firms to block The Pirate Bay in the UK, Netherlands and Italy, the controversial file-sharing website will now be blocked in Finland, after the Finnish Supreme Court rejected a case by the ISP Elisa, which tried to have a Bay-blocking injunction overturned.

While ISPs across Europe have generally resisted and criticised efforts to make them police piracy online (unlike in the US, where a voluntary three-strikes-style system is in the works), few ISPs have actually fought web-block injunctions once they have been passed by a court. But Elisa hoped it could force a rethink after a Finnish copyright group, supported by the International Federation Of The Phonographic Industry, requested a Bay-block in the country’s courts.

Of course web-blocks on copyright grounds remain controversial even as they become more common, with critics arguing that such blocks constitute censorship, and that, anyway, they are always circumventable by anyone who knows what they are doing.

Meanwhile, in the UK, Virgin Media’s blocks against The Pirate Bay and file-sharing community Newzbin temporarily fell down last weekend, according to Torrentfreak, when users could suddenly reconnect to the controversial websites, presumably because of a technical error.

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Wednesday 31 October 2012, 13:11 | By

Artrocker announces second awards show

Awards

Artrocker Awards

Artrocker has announced its second awards show, after launching the Artrocker Awards last year. Voting in the various categories opened this morning, and the prizes will be handed out at the Sebright Arms in London on 7 Dec.

Artrocker Editor Marc Sallis told CMU: “The second annual Artrocker Awards will follow on from where the last one finished – at the bar. The Artrocker Awards are about the music, the bands and giving the industry and the public a great event with a line-up that will recall the heady days of The Brats and inject some much needed drunken fun and rock n roll back into the industry. It’s rock n roll in its simplest and rawest form”.

And the nominees are…

Band Of The Year: Django Django, Arctic Monkeys, Toy, The Black Keys, The Maccabees

International Band Of The Year: Liars, A Place To Bury Strangers, Japandroids, Atari Teenage Riot, Tame Impala

Best New Band: Dark Horses, Spectres, Savages, Tall Ships, Towns, Citizens!, Howler, Fear Of Men, Dog is Dead, 2:54

Heavy Band Of The Year: Pulled Apart By Horses, Black Moth, Gallows, Turbowolf, DZ Deathrays

Electro Act Of The Year: Crystal Castles, Gum Takes Tooth, Dirty Beaches, Atari Teenage Riot, Public Service Broadcasting

Album Of The Year: Toy – Toy, Children – Apnea, The Futureheads – Rant, Django Django – Django Django, Tim Burgess – Oh No I Love You

Single Of The Year: Mystery Jets – Greatest Hits, Egyptian Hip Hop ‘Yoro Diallo, Tall Ships – Gallop, Dark Horses – Radio, Now Now – Threads

Reissue Of The Year: My Bloody Valentine – Isn’t Anything’ & ‘Loveless (Re-mastered), Manic Street Preachers – Generation Terrorists (20th Anniversary Edition), Royal Trux – Accelorator, Blur – 21: The Box, Dr Feelgood – All Through The City (1974-1977)

Live Band Of The Year: The Black Keys, TOY, Bo Ningen, Antlered Man, DZ Deathrays

Video Of The Year: The Duke Spirit – Glorious, Tame Impala – Elephant, Arctic Monkeys – R U Mine?, Wet Nuns – Why So Cold?, Django Django – Hail Bop’

Festival Of The Year: 1234 Festival, Swn Festival, Southsea Festival, Bestival, Green Man

Vote yourself silly here.

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Wednesday 31 October 2012, 13:10 | By

Noel Gallagher discusses shelving Amorphous Androgynous album

Artist News

Noel Gallagher

Noel Gallagher has expanded on comments about the possibility of shelving plans to release an album with Future Sound Of London’s psychedelic rock offshoot Amorphous Androgynous, which he made to The Sun earlier this year. Gallagher originally announced plans for a collaborative release with Amorphous Androgynous in July last year at the same time as announcing his first Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds record. However, he says the unexpected success of that latter album took him away from the Amorphous Androgynous project, and that now “the moment has passed”.

Speaking to AV Club, Gallagher said: “I don’t think it will come out. I’m pleased with the songs. The songs that I did when I was in the studio – I’ll probably re-record them. But the moment has passed, I think. Do you know what I mean? When you have records, there’s a window before their moment passes. I’ve already moved on from that Amorphous Androgynous thing. I’ve written a bunch more songs since then, so I’m afraid, unfortunately, the success of this album killed that one. I wasn’t planning on being on tour for fifteen months”.

Noting how the Amorphous Androgynous project differed from his usual output, he continued: “It was a record that contains songs that weren’t conventional songs. It wasn’t verse-chorus-verse-chorus. They’re a bit trippy and a bit floaty. My songs, in general, they don’t really rely on the mix. They’re all written on acoustic guitar. They’re as good with me just singing them into the microphone in the style of Bob Dylan as they are with a full band. The High Flying Birds album didn’t rely on the mixes. The songs were there. But this was a record that absolutely, 100% relied on the mixes, because they weren’t songs, so to speak. They were grooves and, you know, there weren’t many chords in them. And the mixes weren’t fucking right. And unfortunately, I didn’t have time to go back in and remix it. And now I’m too fucked. I’m fucked. I’ve been on the road for fifteen months. I am fucked”.

Still, he’s never saying never, adding: “If I got in the studio next time and somebody says, ‘What about that track you did with those fucking hippies?’ I might go and listen to it and think, ‘Hmm. Well, okay’. I don’t know, but I don’t think so”.

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Wednesday 31 October 2012, 13:09 | By

Mumford & Sons preview concert DVD, name new single

Releases

Mumford & Sons

Road-faring gentlemen Mumford & Sons have shared a rather grand trailer for their new concert film, ‘The Road To Red Rocks’, as is being released via DVD and Blu-Ray on 26 Nov and, on 10 Dec, as part of a Christmassy box set that also includes a vinyl LP, hard-cover book and a deluxe version of the band’s new LP ‘Babel’.

The film charts the Marcus Mumford et al’s two sold-out concerts at Colorado’s Red Rocks Amphitheatre this past summer, and presumably, the road-trip thereto. Hurrah! The band have also just made it known that the next official single to be released from ‘Babel’ will be ‘Lover Of The Light’. It’s out on 3 Dec, but meanwhile here’s that trailer I was just talking about:

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Wednesday 31 October 2012, 13:08 | By

Rihanna has put some stuff in a box, do you want it?

Releases

Rihanna

Do you have quite a lot of money and a burning desire to get rid of it in ways that will bring you little to no tangible reward? That’s nice. One thing you could do would be to donate some of that money to charity. Another thing would be to purchase the ‘Diamonds Executive Platinum Box’ edition of Rihanna’s new album ‘Unapologetic’.

Many people have questioned what Rihanna is unapologetic about since she announced that title, seemingly it’s that she’s not worried about asking fans to pay £154.50 plus delivery and customs charges for a box of stuff they’ll probably stick under their bed or lose within a week of receiving it. Or maybe I’m wrong, let’s have a look at all the things you get in Rihanna’s magic box:

Item 1: “A Rihanna ‘Unapologetic’ 2GB credit card-style USB flash memory drive with plentiful room for high-definition photos, graphic-intensive documents, videos, spreadsheets, presentations, term papers and music that can be stored and retrieved in a flash”.

Well that’s a couple of quid covered. What next?

Item 2: “A unisex shirt featuring a stunning Michael Muller photo of Rihanna taken during her ‘Unapologetic’ album photo shoots spanning several weeks. Printed on a black 100% soft cotton shirt”.

Or, to cut a long story short, a t-shirt.

Item 3: “Seven art print 12×15 lithographs featuring Michael Muller photography, a Magnus Voll Mathiassen illustration and exclusive never-before released Rihanna ‘Unapologetic’ images, bound together with her iconic handwritten R logo band”.

Some photos.

Item 4: “Three device adhesives featuring Rihanna’s ‘Unapologetic’ cover, logo and image, compatible with iPhone, Blackberry and all other smartphone devices”.

There are some misleading words in this one, mainly ‘device’ and ‘compatible’. Rihanna should have said (because she definitely writes these product descriptions herself) “Some smartphone stickers”.

Item 5: “Seven laptop stickers featuring artwork by Mario Hugo, ‘Unapologetic’ album and ‘Diamonds’ single artwork, and other Rihanna surprises”.

More stickers.

Item 6: “11×17 Rihanna handwritten personal note to her Navy”.

In the picture of all this stuff, the “handwritten personal note to her Navy” is a sheet of paper with some wavy lines on it and Rihanna’s signature at the bottom. Maybe she and her ‘Navy’ have a secret code. Also, as her ‘Navy’ is her entire fanbase, presumably she will be delivering this to all of them, regardless of whether or not they buy this box of stuff. Or maybe those who do buy it will have to devote some time to taking it around to other fans’ houses for them to have a look. The description isn’t clear on this.

Item 7: “A collectible coloured vinyl featuring ‘Diamonds’ remixes”.

When I was two or three years old I apparently had a collection of broken lolly sticks. My point being that anything is collectible. Still, I guess, “a record most of you won’t have the equipment with which to discover that these remixes aren’t actually very good” doesn’t have quite the same ring to it.

Item 8: “A Rihanna 3D experience available exclusively in this boxset. Collect this exclusive custom-made white View-Master with silver detail including a collectible vintage reel of never-before-released 3D images depicting Rihanna’s iconic style transformation”.

That’s right, a View-Master. A Rihanna View-Master to be exact. That is a thing they’re putting in this box. An exclusive thing.

Item 9: “A 40 page custom Rihanna notebook with handwritten notes and lyrics”.

A notebook that someone has already used.

Item 10: “‘Unapologetic’ deluxe CD version with a 28 page photo and art booklet featuring Michael Muller and Melissa T Forde photography and a 20 minute DVD featuring never-before-released footage, a first look from Rihanna’s sold out ‘Loud’ tour performance live from London’s O2 Arena”.

Hey! They’re even throwing in a copy of the album! And a DVD that apparently isn’t worth mentioning as a separate item.

Item 11: “Exclusive fan mosaic poster featuring members of Rihanna’s Navy and a breathtaking ‘Unapologetic’ image”.

I’m not really sure what this is, but I reckon it’s probably the first thing in the box that will give most people the inkling that they might have wasted their money. You might say the View-Master, but I reckon there’s a good hour of mild enjoyment to be had from that. And you can’t put a value on that sort of enjoyment. Oh wait, yes you can, it’s £154.50 plus sundry charges.

If you want that sort of enjoyment, you should go and wave your credit card in this direction.

Good luck to you if you do, because you’ll be missing out on the alternative ‘Diamonds Deluxe Edition Box’, which, while it doesn’t feature as many items, is over £100 cheaper and includes “a limited edition genuine, conflict-free diamond bracelet in celebration of ‘Diamonds’ … hand-chosen by Rihanna for her Navy”. An actual diamond bracelet and some other stuff for £50! I’m buying seven, that’s gotta be worth way more than that. I’m gonna be rich!

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Wednesday 31 October 2012, 13:07 | By

RZA to direct Genghis Khan movie

Artist News

RZA

Wu-Tang producer RZA is preparing to release his debut film as both a director and screenwriter, ‘The Man With The Iron Fists’, in US cinemas later this week, but he’s already announced his next film project. Why doesn’t he just calm down and see how this one goes first, eh? Always bloody rushing around, that’s RZA’s problem. He never listens to me.

Anyway, whatever, he’s going to direct a biopic about Genghis Khan called ‘No Man’s Land’, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The musician takes over directing duties on the project from writer and producer John Milius, who’s decided he can’t be bothered, or something.

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Wednesday 31 October 2012, 13:06 | By

Stone Roses set three 2013 dates

Gigs & Festivals

The Stone Roses

Their Heaton Park reunion having done marvels for the Mancunian economy back in July, those Stone Roses have consented to play three more large-scale shows in 2013.

Only this time, they’ll be playing twice at London’s Finsbury Park (7-8 Jun) and just the once at Glasgow Green (15 Jun). So, that’s nice.

Tickets go on sale as of 9.30am this Friday via www.thestoneroses.org

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Wednesday 31 October 2012, 13:05 | By

Austra to play in Victorian Vaults

Gigs & Festivals

Austra

Promoters SULK and ATP are presenting a one-off show starring Austra. It’s happening at The Victorian Vaults in London on 24 Nov.

In the meantime, the Canadian band are apparently in the studio recording a sequel to last year’s ‘Feel It Break’. Hear a sample of what they’ve been doing – as may or may not feature as part of the new LP – in the shape of this performance of ‘Painful Like’, which dates back to an August Scion Session for AUX TV:

So that’s about it, apart from this link to buy tickets to the London date.

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Wednesday 31 October 2012, 13:04 | By

Pandr Eyez add London show

Gigs & Festivals

Pandr Eyez

Alt-R&B pair Pandr Eyez are pushing their new single ‘Physical Education’ – as is out on 26 Nov via Double Denim – at the moment, and as such have signed up to a post-release gig at London’s Shacklewell Arms on 28 Nov.

If you can’t wait for that, they’re also billed to play Moshi Moshi Records’ Halloween party tonight at the Dalston Victoria. Advance tickets for the latter are available here, whilst those for the Shacklewell show are here.

And finally, presenting ‘Physical Education’:

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Wednesday 31 October 2012, 13:03 | By

Festival line-up additions – 31 Oct 2012

Artist News Festival Line-Up Update Gigs & Festivals

Eurosonic

EUROSONIC NORDERSLAAG, Groningen, The Netherlands, 9-12 Jan 2013: Adrian Crowley, Agent Side Grinder, Baby Guru, Broken Twin, Chvrches, Compuphonic, Concrete Knives, Daily Bread, Fenster, Jupiter, Kadavar, Kraantje Pappie, Leslie Clio, Lukas Graham, MØ, Oscar And The Wolf, Palma Violets, Pascal Pinon, Public Service Broadcasting, Sarah Ferri, Shaka Ponk, Talbot, Tangarine, The Royal Concept, We Butter The Bread With Butter. eurosonic-noorderslag.nl/en/

OPTIMUS ALIVE, Lisbon, Portugal, 12-14 Jul 2013: Kings Of Leon. www.optimusalive.com

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Wednesday 31 October 2012, 13:02 | By

Live Nation COO comments on Hyde Park decision

Business News Live Business

Live Nation

Live Nation COO John Probyn has spoken to Access All Areas about his company’s decision not to bid to run the festival stage in London’s Hyde Park, and it seems the live firm’s mind is very much made up on the issue.

As previously reported, Live Nation, which has staged concerts and festivals in the London park for over ten years, has decided not to re-bid for the rights to stage events there, claiming that rules enforced by the Royal Parks and Westminster Council in recent years have made staging events in Hyde Park more or less impossible. They also had problems with elements of the Royal Parks’ rebid process.

Speaking to Access All Areas, Probyn said: “Royal Parks has ignored everything else and gone for the money and we’re really good at walking away when something makes no sense. Hyde Park is the most expensive venue in the country and the stakeholders just don’t want events in there. I’ve kept saying that it’s a fantastic site, and in its heyday it was, but for the last four years it’s been a nightmare. We have no desire to be involved with a loss-leading project, or to work with someone who doesn’t understand what we’re doing”.

Probyn added that other venues had already approached his company about hosting the regular events Live Nation staged in Hyde Park, such as the Wireless and Hard Rock Calling festivals, and that while other promoters would probably be interested in taking over the Hyde Park stage, he felt that the investments that need to be made and the hassles tough licensing conditions cause, which make it increasingly difficult to persuade a-list acts to play there, would make the venture very challenging for any company that committed to it.

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Wednesday 31 October 2012, 13:01 | By

HMV marketing boss defends appearance policy

Business News Retail

HMV

HMV’s Marketing & E-Commerce Director has defended the flagging entertainment retailer’s previously reported new ‘appearance policy’, which, amongst other things, asked staff to cover up ‘extensive’ tattoos and piercings.

An internal memo outlining the new policy was widely covered in the press, and much criticised on the social networks, and word has it some HMV employees have been vocal on the issue internally too. The retail firm insists that its new policy has been misrepresented in the papers, and the company’s marketing man Mark Hodgkinson has told Marketing Week that, while he stands by what the policy is trying to achieve, he concedes it could possibly have been communicated better.

Hodkingson: “It’s been taken out of context and sensationalised and we’ve given a wrong impression of what we want to do. The [appearance policy] is part of something bigger within HMV about being really welcoming and inclusive to customers and encouraging more diversity of customers and making them feel comfortable, welcomed and embraced by our stores. We will continue to embrace diversity in our colleagues – we have one of the least stringent codes in retail and we’ll continue to – we’re just saying where it is too extreme, bear in mind we’re trying to attract broader customers and it could be something that would deter some customers”.

The marketing magazine also spoke to retail analyst Neil Saunders about the new HMV policy, who noted that, while part of a move to widen HMV’s potential customer base as the chain’s product range expands, if such new policies alienate core staff the retailer could lose its most valuable asset on the high street, employees who are knowledgeable and passionate about the entertainment products being sold.

Says Saunders: “HMV is a brand where people don’t care much about appearance of staff. They’ve got to be careful not to end up creating something too sterile and taking away from the differentiation the brand has. Most people aren’t that judgmental and would prefer friendly knowledgeable service from someone with tattoos and long hair than a neatly presented person who is offhand. If you look at the Apple store, you wouldn’t say their staff are neat, they’re ‘hip and cool’ and as a tech brand that works quite well”.

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Wednesday 31 October 2012, 13:00 | By

Republican students apologise for using National track

And Finally Artist News

The National

A group of Republican supporting students from Ohio University have apologised for using a track by The National in a pro-Mitt Romney campaign video they made ahead of next week’s US Presidential elections. The students responded after the band’s Matt Berninger seemingly posted a comment on the political support group’s YouTube channel, noting both the group’s copyright infringement and his disdain for their politics.

According to Spin, the Republicans said: “We apologise for offending The National and their fans by using a cover/remix of the band’s melody for ‘Fake Empire’. We were attempting to reinvigorate and unite the disgruntled fans wary of supporting the President as they did in 2008 with ‘Signs Of Hope And Change’, with a new movement of people who believe in real recovery and reform in supporting Mitt Romney”.

Writing below the now removed YouTube video, Berninger had said: “Our music was used without our permission in this ad. The song you’re using was written about the same backward, con game policies Romney is proposing. We encourage all students to educate themselves about the differences between the inclusive, pro-social, compassionate, forward-thinking policies of President Obama and the self-serving politics of the neo-conservative movement and Mitt Romney. Every single person involved in the creation of the music you’re using is voting for President Obama”.

Artists frequently get tetchy when politicians use their music as part of campaigns. If tracks are used at rallies and events, often the artist cannot stop their music being used because political parties are covered by blanket licences. However, if a track is synced into a video then musicians usually can act.

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Tuesday 30 October 2012, 12:09 | By

The CMU Podcast – October 2012

Setlist

EMI

A lot’s gone on since the last edition of the CMU Podcast, not least the sale of EMI’s recordings division to Universal, which went through the day after the last one went out. So, that and subsequent EMI-y goings on are our lead topic this month, plus Chris and Andy chat about AEG’s attempt to take on Ticketmaster, MegaUpload and Grooveshark’s attempts to get artists on side, and Trent Reznor’s return to the world of big music companies.

Get the CMU Podcast each month by signing up via iTunesRSS, Mixcloud, or Stitcher, and listen to the latest edition via SoundCloud here:

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Tuesday 30 October 2012, 11:56 | By

Approved: Roses Gabor

CMU Approved

Roses Gabor

Quite probably best known for her guest vocals on SBTRKT’s ‘Pharaohs’ from the producer’s acclaimed 2011 debut album, Roses Gabor has also recorded with a long list of enviable collaborators, including Buraka Som Sistema, Shy FX, Jakwob, Ty and Redlight, as well as acting as a live vocalist for Gorillaz. Now signed to Toddla T’s Girls Music label, she’s ready to launch herself as a headline artist in her own right.

Her debut single for the label, ‘Stars’, due for release on 12 Nov, sees her again teaming up with Redlight as producer (their last work together being his 2010 single ‘Stupid’). The track’s warm synths are occasionally interrupted by what sounds like the round-ending siren from ‘Family Fortunes’, which here announces the entrance of a rumbling bassline. Roses’ vocals, at home equally on lighter and heavier tracks, flourish in this environment, as they’re cut up and rearranged around her.

Watch the video for ‘Stars’ here:

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Tuesday 30 October 2012, 11:55 | By

Google Play signs up Warner; scan-and-match and European roll out now incoming

Business News Digital Labels & Publishers Top Stories

Google Play

Good news for the 57 people buying their digital music from Google Play – yes, you will be able to buy the new Bruno Mars LP from your download store of choice come 11 Dec, because the web giant has finally persuaded the Warner Music Group to get on board with its digi-beats-shizzle, launched, as I’m sure you’ll all remember, at that ‘Lets Pretend To Be Steve Jobs’-athon Google execs put on for us all last November.

Warner, so often the hold-out on new digital services, has finally agreed to play ball with the web giant, meaning the mini-major’s catalogues will slowly start to appear in the Google Play store. Perhaps more importantly, having all three major labels on board now means that Google can add scan-and-match functionality to its digital locker, bringing its file-storage offer for music fans inline with rivals Apple and Amazon.

As previously reported, while in most territories (though not the UK) web companies can offer basic cloud-storage for music files to consumers without having any deals in place with music rights owners, if they want to add enhanced functionality – in particular the function whereby the digital locker platform scans a user’s offline MP3 collection and automatically replicates it online without said user having to do any uploading – then label and music publisher licences are required.

Both Amazon and Google entered the digital locker market without such licences, but with both recognising the need for scan-and-match – especially once Apple launched its licensed digital locker service – talks with the music companies were ongoing. Amazon added scan-and-match in August, and rumours that Google would likewise go that route imminently emerged last month, though having a gap the size of the Warner catalogue in that service (meaning any Warner-owned tracks could not be automatically placed into a user’s locker), would have been a major weakness.

With Warner now on board, and scan-and-match ready to be added to its digital locker, Google will also launch its music service in five European territories – the UK, France, Italy, Germany and Spain – on 13 Nov; in fact it looks like European users might get access to Google’s scan-and-match service before existing Google Play users in the US. All of which is good news for that European Bruno Mars fan who had pledged to only buy the pop dwarf’s new long player via the web giant that is Google.

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Tuesday 30 October 2012, 11:54 | By

US says Mega v2 could breach Dotcom’s bail

Digital Legal MegaUpload Timeline Top Stories

Kim Schmitz

The American Department Of Justice has filed papers with the US courts arguing that if MegaUpload founder Kim ‘Dotcom’ Schmitz relaunches his file-transfer platform next year, as he is currently planning to do, he could put himself in breach of his bail conditions in New Zealand, and might face additional criminal charges.

Prosecutors in the States, who are trying to extradite Dotcom and three other former Mega execs, filed new legal papers after the Mega founder announced plans to launch a new file-transfer business that would offer very similar services to the original MegaUpload, which was shut down by the US authorities in January amidst allegations of copyright infringement, money laundering and racketeering.

Dotcom says that his new service, to be called Mega, will encrypt files as they are uploaded to his company’s servers. This would, in theory, make it harder for users to help themselves to unlicensed music and movie files stored in other user’s digital lockers, because they would need an unlock key to access that content.

And that would possibly make the new Mega less likely to become a prolific source of free but illegal music and movie files (which, US prosecutors argue, was by far the most popular and profitable element of the original MegaUpload).

Dotcom’s lawyers also reckon that, as the Mega company wouldn’t be able to see what files were stored on its servers once the auto-encryption system is in place, even if the whole thing did become a piracy haven once again (via the free trading of unlock codes), the business itself wouldn’t be able to distinguish between legit and illegitimate files, so could not be held liable for the storage of unlicensed content, as has happened in the criminal case against MegaUpload and its founders in the US.

Whatever, it’s not the specific legalities of Mega v2 that the DoJ is currently objecting to, rather the fact that Dotcom is involved in launching a new venture very similar to the one the American authorities shut down back in January. The US notes that, when applying for bail, after being arrested by the New Zealand authorities at America’s request at the start of the year, Dotcom said he had neither the motivation nor the means to relaunch MegaUpload.

Indeed, Techworld has published Dotcom’s exact words from January, when he told the New Zealand courts: “There is no realistic prospect or possibility of restoring the business or recommencing the business having regard to both the seizure of the requisite servers and data storage equipment and to the seizure of all funds, monies and assets held both by MegaUpload and by me personally. Further, it is likely that users would consider any new iteration of MegaUpload as inherently unreliable as it could be subject to a further incident in which the US government takes action to close the site down and thereby prevents users from having legitimate access to their data”.

But this month Dotcom has told his Twitter followers how programmers have been busy preparing Mega v2 for launch, how investors are lining up to fund the new business, and how the new service will be hosted out of the reach of the American authorities (or prosecutors or judges in any one jurisdiction) meaning users can be assured their files won’t disappear overnight.

In their court filing last week, the DoJ wrote: “Defense Counsel’s claim that the corporate defendant can and should be allowed to operate undermines the sworn statements of Dotcom that he has no plans or ability to continue to operate or fund the businesses in the indictment during pendency of the extradition process. If defendant Dotcom intentionally misled the court in New Zealand about his intentions and capabilities in order to obtain his release from pre-extradition confinement, it seems Defense Counsel’s representation might endanger Dotcom’s bail situation or even subject him to additional charges”.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the Mega legal team has quickly rejected these new claims by American prosecutors, I think by arguing that the new Mega is sufficiently different from the old MegaUpload to mean the new business can be launched without Dotcom going completely back on his pledge to the New Zealand courts. Legal man Ira Rothken told reporters: “It sounds like the United States is attacking a technology before they fully investigate it. This looks to be the second time they’re doing that. Kim Dotcom is innocent, and he’s entitled to be involved in technology and business”.

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Tuesday 30 October 2012, 11:53 | By

Vince Power buys Benicassim from Music Festivals plc

Business News Live Business Top Stories

Benicassim 2012

Vince Power has bought Spanish festival Benicassim back from his former company Music Festivals plc. As previously reported, Power’s publicly listed festivals business, only set up in 2011, went into administration last month after a difficult summer across its event portfolio.

Power told Hot Press: “I’m delighted that we have entered into an agreement to acquire the shares of Benicassim Ltd that has secured the future of the festival”.

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Tuesday 30 October 2012, 11:52 | By

AIM Independent Music Awards dished out

Awards Business News

AIM Awards 2012

The winners of the second annual Independent Music Awards, put together by the Association Of Independent Music, were announced last night at a ceremony in London. Held at The Brewery in Clerkenwell, the night was hosted by Huw Stephens and Steve Lamacq, with live performances from Frankie And The Heartstrings, Big Deal and Land Observations.

Opening the evening, AIM CEO Alison Wenham took the opportunity to reiterate the trade body’s negative view of the recent sale of EMI to Universal, saying that even a senior person at UMG had described the merger at “horrible”. However, she also paid tribute to EMI, saying that the indie community was “horrified” this week to see new figures putting the soon-to-disappear major’s market share at 7%, adding that with it gone the independent companies filling the room “are now the British music industry”.

Following the ceremony, Wenham told CMU: “Our second awards has marked a stellar year for the independent sector – congratulations to all the nominees and winners! This list of winners is like no other, and truly reflects the breadth of talent and diversity in the independent sector. A fantastic night was had by all, and we look forward to celebrating further success for the independents in 2013”.

And the winners are…

Best Live Act: The Prodigy
Independent Breakthrough Of The Year: Alt-J
Hardest Working Band Or Artist: 65daysofstatic
PPL Award For Most Played Independent Act: Adele

Independent Album Of The: Enter Shikari – A Flash Flood Of Colour
Best Difficult Second Album: First Aid Kit – The Lion’s Roar
Special Catalogue Release Of The Year: The 13th Floor Elevators – Music Of The Spheres
Genre Spotlight Award: Wiley – Evolve Or Be Extinct

Independent Label Of The Year: 4AD
Best Small Label: Black Butter Records
Best Independent Festival: LeeFest

Independent Entrepreneur Of The Year: Simon Raymonde, Bella Union
Indie Champion Award: Ian Evans, IME Music
Outstanding Contribution To Music: Edwyn Collins
Pioneer Award: Daniel Miller, Mute

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Tuesday 30 October 2012, 11:51 | By

Jimmy Page remastering Led Zep catalogue

Artist News

Led Zeppelin

Jimmy Page is currently in the process of remastering Led Zeppelin’s entire back catalogue, the guitarist’s manager Peter Mensch has told The Times.

Blabbermouth also notes that Page told Mojo earlier this year about his plans to re-release each of the band’s albums as a boxset with additional material, while The Australian has reported that artist Shepard Fairley has been asked to create new artwork for the releases. Next month the band will also release a live DVD of their 2007 O2 Arena show, having aired it in cinemas earlier this month.

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Tuesday 30 October 2012, 11:50 | By

Eminem’s hat hints at new LP in 2013

Releases

Eminem

Eminem has hinted via a baseball cap that he’ll release a new LP in the year 2013. Well, it’s an original publicity device, I’ll give him that. The rapper modelled the pretty un-subliminal hat – as is embroidered with dates matching the release years of his solo records to date plus 2013 at the end – at Sunday night’s World Series baseball game.

Just in case you’re sitting there thinking ‘but he could have done something else in all those years’, replicas of the hat are now also available for sale on the rapper’s online store with a product description announcing that the “side panel is dedicated to the landmark Eminem solo albums”. So there you go.

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Tuesday 30 October 2012, 11:49 | By

Esben And The Witch share LP details, live dates

Releases

Esben & The Witch

Esben & The Witch have just assigned a title to their new long player, and that title is ‘Wash The Sins Not Only The Face’. So, that’s nice and instructional, like something you’d read on the inside of a really religious school’s student toilets. They’ll release it as a sequel to last year’s ‘Violet Cries’ via Matador on 21 Jan, and have also arranged to tour the following month. Live dates as listed:

7 Feb: Birmingham, Hare & Hounds
8 Feb: Glasgow, School Of Art
9 Feb: Manchester, Bunker
26 Feb: London, Scala

Take a listen to LP track ‘Death Waltz’ – which isn’t as morbid as it sounds – now via YouTube:

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Tuesday 30 October 2012, 11:48 | By

Wrongtom announces new label, ‘punky reggae’ compilation

Business News Labels & Publishers Releases

Wrongtom

Producer and DJ Wrongtom has announced the launch of his new record label Rongorongo, the first release from which will be a compilation that will “shine a light on the grey area between punk and reggae”, entitled ‘Spiky Dread: Issue 1’.

Explaining how the compilation came together, Wrongtom told CMU: “‘Spiky Dread’ started out as a mixtape which quickly spiralled into an idea for a documentary, then a lack of time and money led it back to becoming a compilation. It occurred to me, whilst making a mix of post-punk disco tracks, that so many of these bands had tried their hand at a reggae release or experimented with dub to varying degrees, so with the help of my mate Ed Zed we started documenting our favourite records at Skank Blog Bologna whilst chasing up the owners of some of the lesser known records we’d uncovered. A year or so later and here it is”.

On the label itself, Tom added: “Rongorongo is the name of the ancient alphabet of the Rapa Nui from Easter Island, I mainly chose it because I like alliteration and repetition, but also the characters are cool, they remind me of a cross between work by Keith Haring and Sally Cruikshank. And then there’s the obvious namesake too. I’m not entirely sure where Rongorongo will go in future, but I’ve already got the second release lined up, a re-release of The Offs’ first record (who also feature on ‘Spiky Dread’), and I have plans to release my usual vintage dancehall business on an offshoot called Rongorock – something which will hopefully tie in with the Wrongtom Meets series on Tru Thoughts”.

‘Spiky Dread: Issue 1’ will be released on 17 Dec, the tracklist is as follows:

The Offs – Cool Down
Glaxo Babies – Who Killed Bruce Lee? (version)
Family Fodder – Bass Adds Bass
Chantage – Same Thing Twice
Ruts DC – Pleasures Of The Dance
Jah Scouse – Merge
Peter & The Test Tube Babies – Trapper Ain’t Got A Bird
Return Of The Panthers – Calling Captain Nemo
Sir Horatio – Sommadub
Red Beat – More Or Less Cut
Dangerous Girls – Danger
Bad Brains – Stay Close To Me
The Slits – Animal Space
Electric Guitars – Work

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Tuesday 30 October 2012, 11:47 | By

Green Day cancel plans until March 2013

Artist News Gigs & Festivals

Green Day

Green Day have announced that they are cancelling all touring plans until March 2013, as frontman Billie Joe Armstrong continues to receive treatment for substance abuse. However, they will bring forward the release of ‘¡Tré!’, the third of a trilogy of albums, from 14 Jan to 10 Dec. Currently the change in the schedule only affects US shows.

Bassist Mike Dirnt said in a statement: “Obviously the timing for this isn’t ideal, but Billie Joe’s well-being is our main concern. We are happy to say that Billie Joe is doing well, and we want to thank you all for the outpouring of support and well wishes that we have received, and we can’t wait to see you all again soon”.

Drummer Tré Cool added: “We feel bad we have to delay our tour, so to make up for it we want to give our fans the music earlier than we had planned. If we couldn’t be there to play it for you live, the least we could do was give you the next best thing”.

As previously reported, Armstrong went into rehab after an outburst at the iHeartRadio Music Festival in Las Vegas in September.

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