| CMU Daily - on the inside Monday 20th February |
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In today's CMU Daily:
- T In The Park sells out quite quickly
- Foo Fighters announce more support
- Over a million turn out for Stones' beach show
- The Who play Liverpool, for first time in ages
- Bestival plan Spring Clean
- Pretty Girls Make dates
- Ten injured at rock venue
- Foxy Brown has surgery for deafness
- Brits ratings down
- OfCom step up war on radio pirates
- UK Arenas Association appoints new chairman
- New Universal UK appointments
- Single review: The Pipettes - Your Kisses Are Wasted On Me
- Sony Music help restructure Jacko debts
- Metallica album gets Rubin touch
- Polyphonic album news
- Kasabian speak about new album
- Chris Martin is collaborator shock
- Mogwai's website causing more trouble
- Chart update
- This week's Student Radio Chart
- Subshot playlist
- CMU radio show playlist
- Album review: DJ Icey presents Y4K
- Ray Charles' tour bus donated to US college
- Britney Spears update
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TOP BIT: NEW CMU RADIO SHOW LIVE TODAY>>
So, another Top Bit plug for the CMU Radio Show, which seems perfectly reasonable given that the second edition goes live today - around about now. As we mentioned this time last week, this is the radio version of the CMU Daily, a two hour weekly show which rounds up all the main music stories of the last seven days, plus features a stack of great music from the artists we've been raving about here in the Daily in recent weeks (maybe months, occasionally years) - a full playlist is included in the 'charts and lists' section of today's CMU Daily. You can listen to the CMU Radio Show at anytime in the next seven days, providing you have a PC, internet connection and Windows Media Player (it's all quite simple you know). To listen to the CMU Radio Show, just tap the following into the address bar of your good old web browser - http://www.thebeatsbar.co.uk/cmuradio - then click on the 'listen to the latest edition' button, and the radio show should start streaming through your computer. New editions go live every Monday. All this is possible thanks to totallyradio.com - the UK's leading radio-on-demand people. There's a load more great shows for you to listen to in a similarly simple fashion at http://www.totallyradio.com, and if you become a subscriber you can access 4,500 archive shows, including the not-at-all-shambolic pilot editions of the CMU Radio Show. So happy listening - and do let us know what you think ([email protected]). Should you want it, there's more info on the CMU Radio Show here:
http://cmumusicnetwork.co.uk/pressroom/cmuradio
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PRESS ROOM>>
BREAKING GROUND - THE OFFICIAL BREAKSPOLL AFTERSHOW
To continue the excitement of this Thursday's Breakspoll Awards celebrations, Leyline presents Breaking Ground, The Official Breakspoll Aftershow @ seOne club this Friday, 24th February 2006. The After-Show will be presenting a whole host of fantastic breaks DJs including Freq Nasty, Rennie Pilgrem with MC Chickaboo, JDS, Will Saul, Precision Cuts, The Teamplayers featuring Aquasky, UK Apache, Spyda, The Ragga Twins & Ban Jyang, Spiltloop, Pendulum (breaks set), Breakfastaz, Deekline & Wizard with MC Ivory, and Deep Impact with Screwface. All takes place this Friday from 10 pm - 6am, tickets are £10 in advance from http://www.ticketweb.co.uk or £12 on the door.
Press info from Leyline, full press release at:
http://www.cmumusicnetwork.co.uk/pressroom/breakingground
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T IN THE PARK SELLS OUT QUITE QUICKLY
So, as you most probably heard on Friday, tickets for Scottish music festival T In The Park sold out very quickly - within an hour of going on sale in fact. When advance tickets for this year's festival went on sale shortly after the 2005 event last July they sold out within four hours, but on Friday online, telesales and instore ticket sellers had sold out of their weekend-ticket allocations within hour of them going on sale. The festival, which takes place at Balado on 8 and 9 Jul, has become increasingly popular in recent years of course, though has no doubt benefited this year from the absence of Glastonbury from the festivals calendar.
Confirming the speedy sell out, Geoff Ellis of festival organisers Big Day Out Ltd told CMU: "Once again music fans have shown that T in the Park tickets are the most hotly sought after in the UK! The beautiful Balado location coupled with the unrivalled passion of the Scottish audience and of course the consistently brilliant line-up all add up to a festival experience that is unrivalled anywhere else in Europe. Whether you are a T in the Park regular or this is your first visit to the festival, we look forward to delivering another fantastic event for you in July!"
George Kyle, Head of Sponsorship at Tennent's Lager added: "Seeing T in the Park once again smash its own record by selling out within 1 hour is a huge indication of the now global stature of the festival. Our thanks must go to our partners Big Day Out Ltd for putting together another outstanding line up. However, huge thanks must also go to the legendary Balado crowd who are an integral part of the best festival experience in the world. T in the Park truly is unique, and we can't wait to build up towards another fantastic event. We at Tennent's Lager look forward to seeing all of those who purchased tickets this morning and last year in July at Balado."
As previously reported, the 2006 T In The Park line up includes The Who, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Kaiser Chiefs, Arctic Monkeys, The Ordinary Boys, Sigur Ros, Felix Da Housecat and Slam. The Strokes joined the bill on Friday.
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FOO FIGHTERS ANNOUNCE MORE SUPPORT
Talking of events happening in parks, Foo Fighters have confirmed that The Subways and former Blink 182 man Tom Delonge's new band Angels & Airwaves will be supporting them in that previously announced Hyde Park show set to take place on 17 Jun. As previously reported, Queens Of The Stone Age and Motorhead will also guest at the concert.
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OVER A MILLION TURN OUT FOR STONES' BEACH SHOW
Officials say well over a million people amassed on Rio's Copacabana Beach this weekend for the previously reported Rolling Stones gig. Whether those crowds got close to the 2 million officials expected prior to the event is not yet clear, though reports on Sunday said some 400 city workers were busy removing 200 tonnes of rubbish that had been dropped onto the beach by music fans at the event. The stage that hosted the show was the height of a seven-storey building, and on it the band performed a twenty track set, including a number of classic tracks like 'Jumpin' Jack Flash' and 'Satisfaction'.
There were presumably thousands of Stones fans at the event, though the AFP news agency interviewed one audience member who said: "I've never heard their music but I had to come. It's going to be boiling and we won't be able to get very close. But if they love our country, that's good."
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THE WHO PLAY LIVERPOOL, FOR FIRST TIME IN AGES
The Who are set to play two nights at this year's Liverpool Summer Pops, dates which will mark the band's first live gigs in the city for nearly four decades. The group play the 4500 capacity Big Top Arena on 5 and 6 Jul, joining Simply Red and Il Divo, who appear on 18 and 21 Jul respectively, in the Summer Pops line-up. More acts for the event's month long calendar of concerts will be announced in the coming months.
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BESTIVAL PLAN SPRING CLEAN
The Bestival team will once again take over Koko in Camden, this time on 18 Mar, for another Bestival-type party. This one is being called the Bestival Spring Clean, and will feature the Cuban Brothers, The Aliens, Puppetmastaz, Kitty, Daisy & Lewis, The Laundrettas, Heatwave DJs, Rob da Bank and much much more (there'll be some fancy dress in there, I'm sure). All takes place on 18 Mar from 9pm to 3am - tickets are a tenner in advance or £12 on the door. More info at http://www.bestival.net
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PRETTY GIRLS MAKE DATES
Pretty Girls Make Graves have announced two UK tour dates ahead of the release of new album 'Elan Vital' on 10 Apr. They will appear at Manchester University on 3 Apr and London's 100 Club on 4 Apr. More gigs are expected to be announced at some point soon.
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TEN INJURED AT ROCK VENUE
Ten people were injured last week after a wall collapsed during a concert at the Rock Café in Stourbridge. A twelve metre high wall collapsed as fans were gathering in the venue for a Noise Pollution gig, leaving two people with fractured pelvises, whilst eight others were treated for cuts and bruises. A spokesman for West Midlands Police told reporters: "Police are continuing to investigate the circumstances of the collapse of the wall in conjunction with the Health and Safety Executive."
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FOXY BROWN HAS SURGERY FOR DEAFNESS
According to Jay Z, Def Jam signed hip-hop star Foxy Brown has recently been through ear surgery, and is on the way to a full recovery. Brown had lost her hearing in both ears due to a condition known as 'sudden sensorineural hearing loss', a rare disorder that can cause permanent deafness if it goes untreated. The Def-Jam president said: "She just had an operation out in LA and hopefully within the next couple of weeks her hearing will slowly start to come back."
Jay Z made the comments during a webchat with fans on the Roc-A-Fella site last week, also revealing that a tribute track for producer Jay Dee, who, as previously reported, recently died from Lupus at the age of 32, is set to be released: "They had made a song dedicated to him before he passed and we're gonna put that out in honor of him".
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BRITS RATINGS DOWN
While the Brits got press coverage a plenty last week, and helped to boost album sales over the weekend, the Brits TV show scored its worst-ever TV ratings, with viewing figures less than a half of those achieved ten years ago. Reports on Friday suggested that about 5.3 million tuned in to the start of the show, but that soon dipped to 4.5 million, with only 2.9 million watching through to the end of the show. Ten years ago some 11.1 million tuned in the music industry's big night out.
An ITV spokeswoman put a positive spin on the listening figures saying: "In the multi-channel environment of today's market, we are delighted the Brit Awards got a third of the 16-to-34 audience", but insiders at both ITV and the Brits are said to be disappointed with the figures - and presumably sponsors Mastercard would have been hoping for a bigger audience also.
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OFCOM STEP UP WAR ON RADIO PIRATES
According to the Media Guardian, media regulator OfCom is to press for tougher penalties against the people behind pirate radio stations following growing concerns that the pirates are taking over increasingly large portions of the airwaves, especially in London. Officials are also reportedly frustrated that whenever they raid a pirate radio station, the group behind it can quickly get back on air - sometimes within hours - mainly because a studio and transmitter costs as little as £3000 these days, while some stations bring in £5000 a week in advertising.
OfCom says that while many people have something of a romantic image of pirate radio, the 80 operating in London and 150 based elsewhere in the UK are interfering with legit radio services, while some pirate groups are tied up with drugs or other crime. With that in mind, OfCom chiefs are stepping up their efforts to close down pirate stations, and are hoping to secure the support of the courts to convince the people behind the pirates that they won't continue to get away with it.
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UK ARENAS ASSOCIATION APPOINTS NEW CHAIRMAN
The chief executive of the National Ice Centre & Nottingham Arena has been elected chairman of the UK's National Arenas Association. Geoff Huckstep of the Nottingham Arena takes over from Wembley Arena's Peter Tudor, who recently completed his three year term at the top of the industry association.
Confirming his new role at the industry association, Huckstep told reporters: "I would like to pay tribute to Peter's exceptional leadership of the Association over the past three years. The NAA is indebted to his guidance in a number of key areas of development within the industry not least on ticket touting, the implementation of the Private Securities Industry Act, and new guidelines on rigging at venues. I am looking forward to working with the members of the Association and with the promoters to deliver the best possible service to the ticket buying public at a time when attending live events has never been so popular."
Huckstep's deputy will be Phil Mead of Glasgow's SECC, while the association's 'Steering Group' will include former chairman Tudor plus Linda Bull (NEC & NIA, Birmingham), David Vickers (Hallam FM Arena, Sheffield), Nicky Dunn (Odyssey Arena, Belfast).
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NEW UNIVERSAL UK APPOINTMENTS
Universal Music announced two new exec appointments on Friday.
Firstly, Hassan Choudhury, currently Senior Director Of Global Marketing Europe at SonyBMG, will be joining Universal Music UK as VP International, where he will coordinate the worldwide marketing of the company's artists, including U2, Elton John, Keane, Scissor Sisters, Snow Patrol and Kaiser Chiefs.
Secondly, Mark Crossingham is to become General Manager for Concord/Fantasy at Universal Music International. The appointment follows that previously reported worldwide licensing and distribution deal between the major and the US independent which will cover music from the likes of John Fogerty, Peter Cincotti, Sergio Mendes, Isaac Hayes, Chick Corea and Curtis Stigers plus the Prestige, Riverside, Stax, Specialty and Milestone labels.
Confirming his appointment, Choudhury told reporters: "I am thrilled to be joining a team packed full of such talented individuals both in the UK and internationally. The diverse and ever expanding roster of acts within Universal Music UK fills me with huge excitement. I very much look forward to sharing in their further development and success within the international marketplace."
On his appointment, Crossingham said: "The opportunity to work with an independent powerhouse like Concord doesn't often come along, especially on a worldwide scale. The breadth and depth of these artists, this music and these catalogues are second to none, and it's the challenge of a lifetime."
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SINGLE REVIEW: The Pipettes - Your Kisses Are Wasted On Me (Memphis Industries)
Though they're three polka-dotted beauties who sing what sound like lost '60s girl group classics, The Pipettes' new single kicks off with a great shout-along that just owes more to Shampoo than it does to The Shangri-La's. Soon we're back in more predictable territory, as 'Your Kisses' segues into masterful sparkly retro-pop. With this much charm, criticism seems boorishly disagreeable; the backing voices sing "boy" with such finger-wagging reproach that you can't help but side with them against the rascal who done them wrong. Seconds later you're launched into an epic choirgirl bridge, so loaded with cymbals and strings that it nearly falls over - and it all sounds so damn youthful and wise, it makes you yearn to go back and relive every great moment of your youth. Fittingly, the whole thing's over in just over two minutes. WP
Release Date: 27 Mar
Press Contact: Triad Publicity [all]
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SONY MUSIC HELP RESTRUCTURE JACKO DEBTS
Sony Music has reportedly coordinated a deal with Fortress Investments regarding Michael Jackson's much reported debts. Fortress acquired some $270 million of Jackson's loans off the Bank Of America last year. According to Fox News columnist Roger Friedman, the new deal will see the loans transferred to Citigroup. Sony are apparently concerned Fortress could, as early as this week, make moves to sell off Jackson's 50% share of the Sony ATV Music publishing company to reclaim their money. Sony are concerned Fortress would do this at a bankruptcy auction, and that they would have no control over who acquired the other half of their publishing business. The transfer of the loans to Citigroup would postpone any forced sale of Jackson's share. Neither Sony, Jackson or Fortress's people have as yet commented on those reports.
Friedman also reports that Jackson's plans to launch a record label with his current benefactor, Sheik Abdulla bin Hamad Al Khalifa, continue, despite other reports that the relationship between the singer and the Bahraini prince has become less amicable of late. Both Universal and Sony are rumoured to be considering distribution deals with the new label. Whether that label will release new Jackson music remains to be seen - though its first venture, the much reported charity single in aid of those who suffered during Hurricane Katrina, is said to be finally nearing completion.
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METALLICA ALBUM GETS RUBIN TOUCH
Metallica have confirmed that they are working with high profile producer Rick Rubin on their new album. The band released a statement saying stuff like this: "We just wanted to let our friends know that we have been jamming, writing, just plain messing around and having fun in the studio for the last few weeks. Oh, and by the way, this up and coming producer guy named Rick something-or other, has been coming by the studio every now and again to listen to some of our new stuff and throw his two/three cents in. Since this Rick dude is new to all of this, we thought it would be a nice gesture to help break him into the music business by asking him to produce our next record. We're very happy he said yes! In other words, we are psyched to share with you that Rick Rubin is producing the next Metallica album! Fuck YEAH!"
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POLYPHONIC ALBUM NEWS
Polyphonic Spree are to release a new album 'The Fragile Army' on 3 Jul, according to their official blog. The group, working at the Pachyderm Studios in Minnesota, say that they have completed fourteen songs for the new LP.
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KASABIAN SPEAK ABOUT NEW ALBUM
Kasabian frontman Tom Meighan has been talking about his band's new album, and says it's gone in a different direction from their previous work, telling The Star: "What we've done is become more real. It's not about the sampled beats anymore, it's all about real drums. But don't worry, the album's still really fucking ugly. Sometimes even I'm upset by its ugliness. It's a proper beast of a record and I can't wait to get it out there. But to be honest... the whole album just picks you up and tears through you."
He added: "Noel Gallagher's been in the studio a couple of times for a listen and given it the thumbs up, so you know it must be as good as I'm saying." Well, if you consider Noel Gallagher to be a true arbiter of taste and discernment, presumably.
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CHRIS MARTIN IS COLLABORATOR SHOCK
Aha. So this is what he meant by what he said at the Brits. Chris Martin wants more time to spend collaborating with other artists that aren't his band, that's what it is. Not only is he rumoured to be playing away with Kanye West, but according to Nelly Furtado, he has guested on a track for her third album 'Loose'.
The new LP has been produced by Timbaland, who Martin was apparently desperate to work with. Furtado told Rolling Stone: "I was telling [Martin] what I was up to, and he's like 'I love Timbaland. Can I come by?' But [Timbaland's] like a big dude and Chris was scared to sit down at the keyboard. I'm like, 'Chris, sit down. Let's make some music.' I'm always the instigator."
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MOGWAI'S WEBSITE CAUSING MORE TROUBLE
I'm not down with this anymore. The first couple of rants posted on Mogwai's website were slightly more delicately put, but now they're calling people 'twat' and 'fuckface', I'm not sure I can approve, even if they are referring to a member of Coldplay.
Surprisingly, the band's Barry Burns has some good words to say initially: "First off let us say a big well done to the Arctic Monkeys for not turning up to the Brit awards and instead playing a gig in Portsmouth," but he soon gets more negative when talking about the Brits themselves, saying: "Why would you go? I think you have to pay to go anyway, which is a joke."
He continued: "And the Kaiser Chiefs won best 'rock act' which is just mental. They're not a rock band. (I met one of them in Japan and he was lovely, if a little scared by my over-affable-drunkness but they're no rock band). We all know that the winners are discussed between the big major labels and they decide who'll get the honours that year. Before you dispute this, we know, we've been told by one of them. What a waste of everyone's time and money."
And so to the slightly more vicious stuff. Burns has a go at James Blunt: "I have spewed blood down dirty toilets with more talent than him. Twat."
And then Mr Gwyneth Paltrow: "Coldplay's Chris Martin hinted he may avoid the limelight. 'People are fed up with us and so are we,' he said. No shit fuckface."
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CHART UPDATE
So, with Meck ft Leo Sayer still number one, the Notorious BIG / P Diddy / Nelly collaboration still number two, Ordinary Boys still number 3 and Chris Brown ft Juelz Santana still number 4, you have to go to number five to find a new entry on this week's singles chart - and when you get there you find it's Liz McClarnon's 'Woman In Love'/'I Get The Sweetest Feeling'. Wonderful.
In fact, not so many new entries at all on this week's singles chart, though there are some, as follows: Friday Hill's 'One More Night Alone' is at 13, Goldfrapp's 'Ride A White Horse' is at 15, The Magic Numbers' 'I See You You See Me' at 20, Boy Kill Boy's 'Back Again' at 26 and Nickelback's 'Far Away' at 40.
Albums wise, and there's just no shifting Arctic Monkeys off the top of the chart, they being at number one for the fourth week running with 'Whatever People Say I Am That's What I'm Not'.
Whether the Brits newcomer prize helped them maintain their hold on the top spot we don't know, but the rest of the top ten certainly has a Brits theme to it, with eight of the top ten artists have performed at the awards event last week: Kaisers at 2, James Blunt at 3, KT Tunstall at 4, Jack Johnson at 6, Gorillaz at 7, Coldplay at 8, Kelly Clarkson at 9 and the new Jam hits collection, 'Snap' at 10.
Of course it was Paul Weller who actually performed at the Brits, not the Jam, though that hits package enters the chart somewhat higher than the modfather's solo hits collection, which goes in at 32. Meanwhile Weller's most recent album, 'As Is Now', re-promoted in light of the outstanding contribution prize, re-enters at 38.
Just two other new entries on the album chart this week: Beth Orton's 'Comfort Of Strangers' at 24 and Panic At The Disco's 'A Fever You Can't Sweat Out' at 25.
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THIS WEEK'S STUDENT RADIO CHART
1. [7] We Are Scientists - It's A Hit (EMI/Virgin)
2. [2] The Go! Team - Ladyflash (Memphis Industries)
3. [1] The Strokes - Heart In Cage (Rough Trade)
4. [8] Fallout Boy - Sugar We're Going Down (Universal/Mercury)
5. [4] Maximo Park - I Want You To Stay (Warp)
6. [6] Corinne Bailey Rae - Put Your Records On (EMI)
7. [23] Madonna - Sorry (Warner/Maverick)
8. [3] Arctic Monkeys - When the Sun Goes Down (Domino)
9. [11] Goldfrapp - Ride a White Horse (EMI/Mute)
10. [15] Mystery Jets - The Boy Who Ran Away (679)
11. [5] Clap Your Hands Say Yeah - In This Home On Ice (Wichita)
12. [RE] Ashlee Simpson - Boyfriend (Universal/Geffen)
13. [9] The Feeling - Sewn (Universal/Island)
14. [13] Graham Coxon - Standing On My Own Again (EMI/Parlophone)
15. [26] Hot Chip - Over and Over (EMI)
16. [25] Delays - Valentine (Rough Trade)
17. [NE] Orson - No Tomorrow (Universal/Mercury)
18. [NE] Panic! At The Disco - I Write Sins Not Tragedies (Warner/Atlantic)
19. [14] The Darkness - Is It Just Me (Warner/Atlantic)
20. [20] Kubb - Grow (Universal/Mercury)
21. [12] El Presidente - Turn This Thing Around (SonyBMG)
22. [RE] Morning Runner - Burning Benches (EMI/Parlophone)
23. [24] The Concretes - Chosen One (Licking Fingers)
24. [22] Editors - Munich (SonyBMG/Kitchenware)
25. [NE] All American Rejects - Move Along (Universal/Polydor)
26. [10] Jose Gonzales - Heartbeats (Peacefrog)
27. [30] Saucy Monkey - I Touch Myself (Measured Records)
28. [21] Bell X1 - Flame (Universal/Island)
29. [NE] Sean Paul - Temperature (Warner/Atlantic)
30. [NE] The Storys - Me By Your Side (Korova)
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SUBSHOT PLAYLIST
The videos being played over there on SUBtv, via screens in students' unions all over the UK. New entries marked with one of your ** things.
A LIST
**All American Rejects - Move Along (Universal/Polydor)
Fall Out Boy - Sugar, We're Going Down (Universal/Mercury)
Freemasons Ft. Amanda Wilson - Watchin (Loaded)
**Madonna - Sorry (Warner)
Maximo Park - I Want You To Stay (Warp)
**Ray J - One Wish Sanctuary (Sanctuary Urban)
The Delays - Valentine (Rough Trade)
The Mystery Jets - Boy Who Ran Away (679)
The Rakes - All Too Human (V2)
The Upper Room - All Over This Town (SonyBMG/Columbia)
B LIST
Absentee - Something To Bang (Memphis Industries)
Alkaline Trio - Burn (Vagrant)
Bell X1 - Flame (Universal/Island)
Boy Kill Boy - Back Again (Universal/Mercury)
**Fund*Mental - Jump (Daworks)
**Jason Mraz - Geek In The Pink (Warner/Atlantic)
Jenny Lewis With The Watson Twins - Rise Up With Fists (Rough Trade)
Living Things - Bom Bom Bom (Red Ink)
Regina Spektor - Us (Transgressive)
**The Like - June Gloom (Universal/Geffen)
The Noisettes - Iwe (Transgressive)
The Rifles - Repeated Offender (Red Ink)
**The Young Knives - Here Comes The Rumour Mill (Transgressive)
Three 6 Mafia - Stay Fly (SonyBMG/RCA)
**White Rose Movement - Girls In The Back (Independiente)
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CMU RADIO SHOW PLAYLIST
Tracks played on this week's CMU Radio Show, which you can listen to right now at http://www.thebeatsbar.co.uk/cmuradio.
Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Gold Lion (Universal/Fiction)
The Fratellis - Creeping Up The Back Stairs (Universal/Island)
El Presidente - Turn This Thing Around (SonyBMG/One Records)
Big Strides - Let's Get Nice (Tall Order Records)
The Killers - Glamorous Indie Rock n Roll (Lizard King)
Thee Comrades - Over And Over (Unsigned - off Fopp Unsigned Bands CD)
Kish Mauve - Two Hearts (Sunday Best Recordings)
Grand National - Drink To Moving On (Sunday Best Recordings)
JD73 - Happy People (Wax On)
The Go! Team - We Listen Every Day (Memphis Industries)
Moby - Temptation (EMI/Mute)
Basix - Purple Rain (RecArt Music)
Freelance Hellraiser - Want You To Know (SonyBMG)
Alex H & Others - Bacardi Through The Grapevine (Bootleg)
Mr_fister ft Yello & Vanilla Ice - Nice Ice Baby (Bootleg)
Eighteen 18 - Ashtray Blues (Northbridge Records)
Goldie Lookin Chain - Sister (Warner/Atlantic)
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ALBUM REVIEW: DJ Icey presents Y4K (Distinctive Breaks)
DJ Icey doesn't have that many tricks up his sleeve, but the ones he has work a treat. His simple recipe for sexy, sassy breakbeat is perfect for sweaty cavorting long into the night, and has perhaps rightfully earned him the title 'king of funky breaks'. A product of the '90s electronic scene in Orlando, Florida, Icey has borrowed sounds from acid house and electropop, and fashioned them into something very contemporary. It's all good, chunky, up-tempo breakbeat, with velvet vocals set off by gravelly bass that clunks away pretty much relentlessly throughout the record. Artcrime's 'Like This' sets off on a seedy lusty pelvic thrusty strut, then turns to b-boy playtime, before accelerating off again into more coital pulse. Icey's own 'Come Closer' has a more subtle seductive quality, with an uplifting and cheekily psychedelic beat building into something a little trancey, and leading smoothly onto a series of harder-hitting tracks. 'The Ride' by Move Ya! and Steve Lavers stands out as the most developed part of the mix, with sweet 'n' chic '80s electropop interludes chiming in between solid, gritty breaks, all pinned together by an infectious build-up/climax structure. The mood is par for the Y4K course: Icey keeps the energy high and beats big, pounding away the need for intrigue. WE
Release Date: Mar 20
Press Contact: Trailer Media [all]
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RAY CHARLES' TOUR BUS DONATED TO US COLLEGE
The tour bus used by the late Ray Charles has been donated to Atlanta's Morehouse College, an arts institution for black American men. The 35 seater bus, which has its own kitchen as well as four TVs, will be used for student trips. Charles, who died from liver disease back in June of 2004, supported the college during his lifetime, and received an honorary scholarship from them in 2001. He and his manager Joe Adams each donated $1million towards a performing arts centre for the school.
College president Walter Massey said: "This is a fitting symbol to illustrate the relationship that Ray had with Morehouse. The Performing Arts Center, which will be named for Ray, as well as the symbolism of the bus, will inspire our students."
Joe Adams added: "This is where Ray would have wanted to be. It served us well and now we want it to serve the wonderful students at Morehouse College."
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BRITNEY SPEARS UPDATE
Britney Spears has told US Magazine just how much she fears the paparazzi, presumably to stop everyone calling her a bad mother for driving with her baby son on her lap.
"Princess Diana got killed by one of these people," she said (I'm not sure that's an indisputable fact - wasn't there something about a drunk guy driving her car too fast?), adding: "they're crossing the line. I've pulled over and asked the cops 'Could you please help me? They've been driving recklessly back there' and they say 'Sorry ma'am, I can't help you.' I don't really go out with [baby Preston]. It's kind of sad because I can't walk down the street with a stroller. I'm not expecting people to pity me. I'm just telling the truth. I sound bitter. I'm not bitter. I'm doing great. I really am. I'm happy."
The singer also went on to imply that nobody is as good as her, and that not much has happened in the world of pop whilst she's been away: "It's a huge lull. I haven't seen anybody out there who has had a performance where I'm like, 'That's awesome.' It's been boring. Nothing's been wow to me." Luckily, she is going to release a new album soon, so not to worry.
Spears also says she is missing her work, despite having a husband and five month old son to keep her occupied. She apparently said: "This may sound weird but I miss travelling. I miss the road, seeing different places and being with the dancers and having fun. That feeling of being on the stage, knowing it's your best - I love that. I needed a break. I needed to be hungry again. I belong out there. I can do these things."
What, taking care of a small child is ever so slightly less exhilarating than playing to a stadium filled with thousands of adoring fans? Egad, what a surprise.