CMU
Daily - on the inside Friday
21st January
In
today's CMU Daily:
- Brown bitches about Squire
- Clear Channel plan instant DVD
- SOAD single online
- Client tour
- Brits extend best single nominations after admin error
- Marley and the Stones added to Grammy hall of fame
- Album Review: M83 - Before The Dawn Heals Us
- Universal launch their own TV station
- Bertlesmann settle over Napster charge
- Mobile music firm secure EMI catalogue
- GLC added to tsunami aid gig
- GLC look for tour support among hip hop hopefuls
- BBC face more legal action over Springer opera
- Single Review: Soul Central Feat Kathy Brown - Strings Of
Life
- Oasis on why they didn't go for a double album
- Portishead return
- Music DVD sales continue to grow
- Audioslave on Roskilde bill
- Kylie records Magic Roundabout song
- Elvis impersonator to perform number one on TOTP
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CMU
FRIDAY TIPS
VIGSY'S
CLUB TIP: United House Fundraiser for Tsunami-Aid
The club tip is a year old today, so it's apt we've got a special
tip this week. Turnmills is a good venue on any night, and on
this night everything that is happening there is for charity,
so there's a double reason to make the effort. With the support
of the likes of DJ Mag, Defected, House FM and Pure Dance the
confirmed line-up for this benefit so far includes big name
Sandy Rivera from Defected, a live PA from Kathy Brown performing
her rather sacrilegious 'Strings Of Life' rework (more on that
below - I am warming to it actually), another live PA from the
legend that is Robert Owens, Garage titans Bobby & Steve
and the soulful Reel People performing live. Also on the decks
will be Copyright and the Audiowhores. Worth having a sore head
on a Friday morning for, and all for a damn good cause.
Thu
27th Jan, Turnmills, 63B Clerkenwell Road, London, EC1M 5NP,
10pm - 3am, Suggested donation: £8, info: 020 7250 3409
and http://www.united-house.org
CHRIS'
CLUB TIP: Remix Night
Don't go forgetting, Xfm's Remix Night has moved nights. Yep,
from this month Cargo's longest running regular night is on
the third Friday of the month, which the clever counters among
you will realise means tonight. It's a 'Dig The Nu Breed' special
with some of the Remix team's tips for 2005, including the very
great breaks DJ team that is The Breakfastaz plus no less than
three live bands: Vatican DC, Little Barrie and Weapons Of Mass
Belief. Should be a good'un.
Fri
21 Jan, Cargo, Rivington Street, London, EC1, 8pm - 3am, £6
b4 9, £10 after, press info from Leyline.
JANE'S
CLUB TIP: Electric Dreams
Quite simply London's best weekly night for superb new romantic
and synth pop tunes - always a CMU tip, though extra special
this week cos it's their eighth birthday party.
Mon
24 Jan, The Soho Lounge, Dean Street, W1, 10pm-3am, £4,
info at http://www.electricdreamsclub.com
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BROWN
BITCHES ABOUT SQUIRE
So, when can we expect a Stones Roses reunion? Well, no time
soon presumably following a 6Music interview with Ian Brown
in which he responded to comments made by former band mate John
Squire, who called Brown a "tuneless knob" and a "paranoid
mess".
Continuing
the ongoing Roses feud, Brown said of Squire: "For me,
right, he split up the best band in the country at the time,
the Roses, and he went on to do what? Nothing. Nothing to write
home about, so he must be a bit bitter because he's got to watch
me steaming forward. There's no stopping it, I announce shows
and they're gone in a day. It must be killing the kid. They
say he was the best guitarist of his generation, which I think
he is. Was. I hear his music now and what's happened to his
guitar playing? All I know is that when he was stood next to
me he had pure success. Since he's been apart he's had nothing."
So
that's him told.
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CLEAR
CHANNEL PLAN INSTANT DVD
The recording of a sell out homecoming gig from Pop Will Eat
Itself is set to become the fastest produced live music DVD
ever as Clear Channel extend its Instant Live concept to video.
The
live music company has been developing the instant CD concept
in both the US and Europe. Recordings of key gigs are made and
mastered at the venue, meaning fans can buy a recording of the
concert they have just seen within hours of the band leaving
stage, sometimes as they are still leaving the venue.
This
weekend Clear Channel Entertainment Television will produce
an Instant DVD. The PWEI show at the Carling Academy in Birmingham
will be filmed on Sunday. That recording will be mixed and mastered
overnight and released as a DVD at the London's Shepherds Bush
Empire the next morning - the band play their next gig there
that evening. Clear Channel say the DVD, which will also be
sold via their UK website, will be the fastest produced music
DVD release ever.
Press
enquiries on the Instant DVD to Steve Guest at Clear Channel
- steve.guest@clearchannel.co.uk
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SOAD
SINGLE ONLINE
A track from the forthcoming System Of A Down album(s) 'Mezmerize/Hypnotize'
is online. We can't make out if its an official leak, though
Aussie website Undercover say it was brought to their attention
by the band's publicist, so presumably it is endorsed. The track
is called 'Cigaro' and will feature of the first bit of the
two CD album which, as previously reported, is due in Apr. You
can download the MP3 at http://www.srcswccbi36.com/
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CLIENT
TOUR
CMU favourites Client, whose collaboration with Libertine Carl
Barat - 'Pornography' - is at number 22 in this week's chart,
have announced a string of UK and European tour dates, with
both their own gigs and support slots on the upcoming Erasure
tour (shown with an *). UK dates as follows, press info from
Mute IH:
28
Jan: London Borderline
16 Feb: London Koko Club
28 Feb: Edinburgh, Usher Hall*
1 Mar: Glasgow, Academy*
3 Mar: Newcastle, City Hall*
5 Mar: London, Hammersmith*
7 Mar: Nottingham, Royal Concert*
9 Mar: Manchester, Apollo*
14 Mar: Bristol, Colston Hall*
16 Mar: Wolverhampton, Civic Hall*
18 Mar: Norwich, UEA*
20 Mar: Cardiff, St Davids*
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BRITS
EXTEND BEST SINGLE NOMINATIONS AFTER ADMIN ERROR
Oh how we laughed when the Canadian music industry's main awards
event, the Junos, had to extend the number of nominations for
best album to six after an administrative error meant Nickleback's
album 'The Long Road', which should have qualified for the five
album shortlist, had been missed off.
Well,
it seems the Brits people aren't immune to admin errors either.
Following the release of the Brit nominations earlier this month
someone pointed out that the 2004 chart year consisted of 53
rather than 52 weeks. Because the nominations for Best Single
were calculated based on a 52 week year, the final five announced
at the nominations party weren't necessarily the five that should
have been on the shortlist. To overcome the problem the Brits
people have extended the Best Single nomination list to ten
rather than five nominees - which is good news for Natasha Bedingfield,
The Streets, Keane, George Michael and the Sugababes who all
now appear.
A
spokesman for the Brits told reporters: "It has been brought
to organisers' attention that the 2004 chart year comprised
53 weeks rather than 52. To avoid any ambiguity, and in the
interest of accuracy and fair play, the Brits committee has
decided to expand the nominations list to ten. A happy side-effect
of this decision is that the British Single nominations now
look more exciting than ever."
The
new nominees join a shortlist that already included Band Aid
20, Jamelia, LMC vs. U2, Shapeshifters and Will Young. The overall
winner will be announced at the awards event on 9 Feb.
--------------------------------------------------
MARLEY
AND THE STONES ADDED TO GRAMMY HALL OF FAME
Music from Bob Marley and The Rolling Stones are among the latest
additions to the Grammy Hall Of Fame, which contains musical
works of "lasting qualitative or historical significance".
Marley's 1974 hit 'No Woman No Cry' is among the 20 new additions,
as is the Stones' 1969 album 'Let It Bleed'.
Other
new entries into the hall of fame include the late Ray Charles'
1972 recording of 'America The Beautiful', Frank Sinatra's 1958
recording of 'One For My Baby', Billie Holiday's 'Embraceable
You' from 1944 and Louis Armstrong's 'All Of Me' from 1932,
plus the complete soundtrack to 1944 film 'Meet Me In St Louis'
which includes, among other things, the song 'Have Yourself
A Merry Little Christmas'.
Musical
works must be at least 25 years old to be considered for the
Grammy Hall Of Fame - the oldest addition this time is a 1911
recording of Alexander's Ragtime Band.
--------------------------------------------------
ALBUM
REVIEW: M83 - Before The Dawn Heals Us (Gooom)
2005 has barely begun but already it seems we have a hot contender
for inclusion in the top ten albums of the year. M83 is essentially
Antibes based Anthony Gonzalez, especially since he has departed
company with collaborator Nicholas Fromageua who he worked with
on the last album 'Dead Cities, Red Seas & Lost Ghosts'.
This, the third M83 album, is fresh and original, a dreamy epic
bursting with ideas and ambition. It starts strongly with 'Mooonchild'
a big atmospheric number which involves a variety of intriguing
synthesised sounds including the evocative theramin, recalling
the prog-rock of bands like Pink Floyd. 'Don't Save Us From
the Flames' sees a change of pace with mad, frantic keyboards.
The mood changes again for 'In The Cold I'm Standing', with
crystal clear sounds evoking glacial landscapes. In places the
songs are sweet and melodic sounding like the spaced out psychedelia
of Grandaddy or Flaming Lips, especially on 'Farewell / Goodbye'.
Meanwhile, the lovely 'Teen Angst' is one of several songs to
feature layer upon layer of backing vocals which sounds like
a heavenly choir, before low building marathon track 'Lower
Your Eyelids To Die With the Sun' brings the album to a triumphant
close. 'Before The Dawn Heals Us' has all the hallmarks of a
record critics will be falling over themselves to applaud but,
more importantly, it is a joy to listen to. JW
Release date: 24 Jan
Press contact: Gooom IH [CP, RP, NP] Anglo [CR, RR, NR]
--------------------------------------------------
UNIVERSAL
LAUNCH THEIR OWN TV STATION
The previously reported new music TV channel from Universal
has launched in the US. Called the International Music Feed,
the aim seems to be to offer a slightly more global flavour
that rival American music stations.
In
fact, in a note on their website, the network's President Andy
Schuon and Vice-President Greg Drebin wax lyrical about that
aim telling potential viewers: " The International Music
Feed went live on January 20th of this year, and was founded
on the thought that great music comes from all over the world.
Until now, it was impossible to see and hear all the artists
and music we present every day on IMF. Music truly is universal,
and we're committed to creating a 'Pangaea', or single continent,
with the videos and other music programs we offer. Every day
you can see all the best new music from the US, plus the biggest
hits from every other country in the world. Hopefully you'll
not only like the music on IMF, but you'll also enjoy the sense
of discovery that comes with it. So, call your cable or satellite
company and tell them you want to get the International Music
Feed." Lovely.
It
is not entirely clear yet which US cable networks will take
Universal's music channel, nor what their global roll out plans
might be. Also no confirmation on whether the channel will play
exclusively music from artists signed to Universal labels, although
their launch playlist would suggest this is the case.
--------------------------------------------------
BERTELSMANN
SETTLE OVER NAPSTER CHARGE
Bertelsmann, owners of the BMG bit of SonyBMG, have reached
an agreement with one of the many companies still chasing them
through the courts over their support of the old Napster.
As
previously reported, in the months prior to the original Napster's
bankruptcy, Bertelsmann providing the P2P network with funding
as they desperately tried, unsuccessfully, to find a business
model that would win the approval of the other major labels.
After Napster's bankruptcy, a number of music companies argued
that Bertelsmann's funding had allowed the Napster P2P network
to continue operating for several months longer than it would
otherwise have been able to, and that therefore the German entertainment
conglom should accept some liability for all the copyright theft
conducted on the P2P network during that period. Needless to
say, Bertelsmann disagreed saying they did not take any equity
in Napster (though, had the project been a success, they would
have done) and therefore, they argue, they never undertook any
liability for the P2P company's activities.
But
alas legal action brought against them by major labels and publishing
companies continues to rumble on. As part of those legal wranglings
Bertelsmann has agreed to pay Michigan company Bridgeport Music
a $50,000 settlement in return for them dropping allegations
that Bertelsmann facilitated online piracy. Remains to be seen
if the other companies pursuing the German major accept similar
settlements, or if they argue that the fact Bertelsmann is paying
any settlement fees at all implies some kind of liability regarding
Napster's actions.
--------------------------------------------------
MOBILE
MUSIC FIRM SECURE EMI CATALOGUE
Mobile music company Chaoticom, who have mobile download contracts
with Orange plus a number of other European tel cos, have confirmed
a deal with EMI which will allow them to sell the major's catalogue
over their mobile music download platform. The company's VP
of Marketing and Product Management, Adam Sexton, told reporters:
"This deal builds on our commitment to deploying the strongest
mobile music download platform in the industry and enable consumers
to discover new music and download music over the air directly
to their mobile phones."
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GLC
ADDED TO TSUNAMI AID GIG
Wales' finest, the Goldie Lookin Chain, are the latest additions
to tomorrow's tsunami-aid gig at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.
They join a burgeoning bill that also includes the Manic Street
Preachers, Stereophonics' frontman Kelly Jones, Eric Clapton,
Snow Patrol, Feeder, Keane, Embrace and Badly Drawn Boy. Confirming
their involvement the GLC said: "It's all about the people
who've gone out and bought these 60,000 tickets in record time,
we're just doing what we can to help."
The
benefit concert, which organisers hope will raise £1 million
for the post-tsunami relief effort, will kick off at 3.30pm.
Live BBC coverage will be aired on BBC 2 between 6 and 7pm,
with highlights from 11pm.
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GLC
LOOK FOR TOUR SUPPORT AMONG HIP HOP HOPEFULS
Talking of the GLC, the Newport posse are inviting up and coming
hip-hop and rap acts around the country to put themselves up
for support slots on their forthcoming 'Road Top Rehab' tour.
Anyone interested in supporting the Chain should send a demo
to I Want To Play With Goldie Lookin Chain at: (followed by
the town you want to play), c/o Metropolis Music, 30a College
Green, Bristol BWS1 5TB by 29 Jan. Dates of the tour as follows:
11
Feb: Manchester Academy
12 Feb: Glasgow Barrowland
14 Feb: Newcastle, Northumbria Uni
15 Feb: Hull University
16 Feb: Birmingham Academy
18 Feb: Southampton Guildhall
19 Feb: Exeter University
21 Feb: Truro, Hall For Cornwall
22 Feb: Folkestone, Leas Cliff Hall
23 Feb: Brighton Dome
24 Feb: London Brixton Academy
25 Feb: Colchester, Essex University,
27 Feb: Cambridge, Corn Exchange
28 Feb: Gloucester, Gl1
1 Mar: Llangollen, International Pavilion
2 Mar: Dublin, Ambassador Theatre
3 Mar: Belfast, Ulster Hall
5 Mar: Port Talbot, Afan Lido
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BBC
FACE MORE LEGAL ACTION OVER SPRINGER OPERA
An organisation called the Christian Institute has told BBC
bosses they will begin legal action over the screening of Jerry
Springer - The Opera unless it apologises for offending Christians
and promises to never repeat screen the musical. They will seek
a judicial review against the Beeb unless both are delivered
in seven days.
The
case is likely to taken up by Paul Conrathe of solicitors Ormerods
who told reporters this week: "We think there is a good
case here. We think they have acted illegally". The case
against the BBC will centre on both whether or not they have
broken their own Royal Charter which says the Corporation should
not broadcast programming that is " offensive to public
feeling", and also on whether or not they have breached
article nine of the European Convention on Human Rights which
states that everyone has " a right to manifest their religious
beliefs". Of course if the Institute were to pursue the
BBC on the grounds of article nine of said convention, the Beeb's
lawyers would presumably insist the courts read on to article
ten which states that everyone has " a right to freedom
of expression".
Commenting
on his organisation's commitment to fight the BBC in court,
Christian Institute director Colin Hart told reporters he felt
the Beeb were treating Christianity in a way they would never
dare treat any other religions: "Genuine religious debate
and criticism is one thing, but this show is an offensive, spiteful,
systematic mockery and willful denigration of Christian belief.
It is inconceivable that the BBC would broadcast a show that
abused the prophet Muhammad or Guru Nanak in the same way. Why
is Christianity singled out for such gratuitous and spiteful
abuse?"
Given
that the Beeb is unlikely to accept the Institute's demands,
an interesting test case in the status of blasphemy in modern
society may well be looming.
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SINGLE
REVIEW: Soul Central feat Kathy Brown - Strings of Life (Defected)
I must admit to being a little bit miffed by the release of
this one. An absolutely outstanding 1987 instrumental acid house
classic from Derrick May gets some lyrics courtesy of Kathy
Brown and Soul Central's Andy Ward and Paul Timothy. You can
occasionally hear those strings, but the original track is very
much backing here, which seems a bit disrespectful to Mr May's
original. OK, so May himself has approved the project pleased
that his tune will reach a new generation. And OK, the massive
lyrics are belted out in a fine fashion by Brown, while the
Soul Central boys engineer them well, meaning you end up with
a hugely infectious tune that should be massive. That's all
good. But it's still pretty much sacrilege when the original
was such a classic! PV
Release date: 10 Jan
Press contact: Phuture Trax
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OASIS
ON WHY THEY DIDN'T GO FOR A DOUBLE ALBUM
Noel Gallagher has told Nuts magazine that Oasis had 66 songs
ready for their next album, but that they resisted the temptation
to release a double CD in case they inadvertently gave too much
to their record label Sony. Gallagher: "The album's finished.
We recorded it three times. It's been a major pain in the arse
but it's come out really good. We've written 66 songs between
the four of us and I think there's 11 or 12 on the album. We
were going to do a double album, but we don't want to give Sony
too much 'cos it's our last one, so fuck 'em."
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PORTISHEAD
RETURN
Portishead have a new album in the pipeline, and the band's
Geoff Barrow has been talking to 6Music about why it took eight
years to make the follow up to 1997's eponymously titled long
player. He told the station: "We've just had our heads
down really, we've never actually broken up, or parted, or whatever.
So for us it just seems, even though we haven't played for years,
we still see each other and write - we just haven't released
a record for a long time. But we're actually into it as we speak.
We took some time off for Christmas, but generally we're doing
another record."
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MUSIC
DVD SALES CONTINUE TO GROW
The sales of music DVDs continued to grow in 2004, making video
sales an increasingly important revenue stream for the music
business. According to a report by Informa Telecoms and Media,
while global music sales fell by 1 per cent in 2004 to $29.4
billion, music video sales (which basically means DVD sales)
rose by an estimated 26.3 per cent to $2.7 billion.
The
research firm reckons overall audio sales, even with the growth
in digital music, will be "almost unchanged" this
year, while the sale of DVD videos will continue to rise, perhaps
as much as 18 per cent. That is a pattern analysts reckon could
continue for the foreseeable future meaning that by 2010, when
they reckon annual music DVD sales will be worth $38.7 billion,
the video sector will provide a crucial part of the music industry's
income.
Informa's
Simon Dyson told reporters this week: "The continued rise
in home DVD hardware penetration has created for the music industry
a valuable new income stream. Although the digital sector has
grabbed all the headlines, overall growth in the next few years
is likely to come from music video."
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AUDIOSLAVE
ON ROSKILDE BILL
Audioslave, the side project of Soundgarden singer Chris Cornell
and Rage Against The Machine's Tom Morello, Tim Commerford and
Brad Wilk, are on the bill for this year's Roskilde Festival
- their performance will follow the release of their second
album, due in May.
Also
confirmed for the Danish festival, which takes place from 30
Jun to 3 Jul, are Tom Vek, Jamie Cullum, Danish R'n'B star Karen
and perennial favorites DAD.
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KYLIE
RECORDS MAGIC ROUNDABOUT SONG
Kylie has recorded the theme song to the upcoming movie version
of The Magic Roundabout, which will premiere here in the UK
on 11 Feb. As previously reported, Kylie provides the voice
of Florence in the movie, with Robbie Williams as Dougal, Joanna
Lumley as Ermintrude the cow, Jim Broadbent as Brian The Snail
and Rocky Horror Show creator Richard O'Brian as Zebedee.
Elsewhere
in Kylie news, and an exhibition dedicated to the singer has
opened in Melbourne featuring no less than 300 costumes which
she has worn during her career - from the overalls she wore
as Charlene in Neighbours to the slinky dress from her Slow
video - plus memorabilia, photos, awards, tour passes and videos.
On the exhibition Kylie told the Melbourne Herald-Sun: "It's
been surprisingly emotional. I feel really proud. In a way it's
like sending the kids away: 'OK, go off, look after yourself'.
They're being put out to pasture, which is better than being
shoved in a box somewhere."
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ELVIS
IMPERSONATOR TO PERFORM NUMBER ONE ON TOTP
Given that the real one is working in a chip shop in East Ham,
the BBC have turned to an Elvis impersonator to perform the
chart topping 'One Night' track on tonight's Top of the Pops.
The
pop show are relying on actor Mario Kombou, who plays the Presley
role in the musical Jailhouse Rock, to perform the Elvis track
- the 1000th ever number one in the UK - because they have been
unable to secure the use of real Presley footage.
Given that Elvis' 'A Fool Such As I' is on course to go number
one on Sunday, Mario might have another booking next week too.