| CMU Daily - on the inside Friday 3rd November |
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In today's CMU Daily:
- Timberlake tops MTV Europe awards
- Victory sue EMI over Hawthorne Heights dispute
- Police bring suit against the Game
- Body found at Eminem video shoot
- Sanctuary confirm Maiden departure
- XL launch new imprint
- White on Stripes v Raconteurs, again
- Williams to duet with Anni-Frid?
- James says full Blur reunion not out of the question
- Cure live DVD shot by fans
- Love available in surround sound
- Polyphonic Spree, new look, new album, new digital EP
- New Damien Rice
- Take That DVD release doing well
- Dawn Of The Replicants best of, gigs
- Album Review: Various - Innervisions Mixed By Dixon
- The Doors play London for New Year
- Boy Kill Boy tour
- First Snowbombing confirmations announced
- Mono tour
- Unsigned band sell out Astoria
- Scissor Sisters would love to play Glasto
- Live Review: Jazzinho Live At Jazz Café
- AEG acquire US awards producer
- Brand upgraded to Radio 2
- Culture Club drummer on George's comments
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TOP BIT>>
OK, I just noticed that the piles of 'really must get round to reviewing' CDs sitting on mine and Caro's desks are getting embarrassingly large. As I've mentioned before, if you don't get a review for your record here in the CMU Daily, it might mean we don't like it, or it might mean that we like it so much Caro or I nabbed it before it got sent out to the review team, fully intending to but never quite getting round to reviewing it. As a slight rectification for that oversight, let's mention a few of them now. First, the brilliant new Ben Folds album, released a couple of weeks back, and bringing together a collection of covers and tracks previously only released digitally. One of those 'every track is a stand out track' albums, the stand out of the stand outs is probably 'Get Your Hands Off' (or his live favourite 'Bitches Aint Shit' cover). Second, the Deacon Blue hits album, also released last month. A friend of mine who doesn't go to gigs all that much recently revealed to me that of the nine gigs she's been to in her life, three were Deacon Blue concerts. Needless to say, she was quite a big fan, and I have to say, I was too, though I only really remembered quite how much on listening to this hits collection. Every one a classic. Next, and slightly newer, and from an entirely different genre, the brilliant new Krafty Kuts album, which features that full on favourite from earlier this year, 'Bass Phenomenon', plus fourteen other wall shakingly good tunes. Also, Amy Winehouse's new album 'Back To Black', which is packed with corking tunes, moody, lusty, often dark, and indicative of the songstress's maturing sound, of which we approve (though we don't approve of the fact that she's got so thin). And Oh-My-God. This should not have ever been overlooked - Akira The Don's debut long player, 'When We Were Young', which is another cracker, full of brilliant lyrics, catchy hooks and containing one of our favourite tunes of the year, 'Clones'. It really is another, nother reason why people should be sitting up and paying attention to UK hip hop instead of only ever listening to all those crap, bland American imports. And finally, brand new McFly. All the McFly lovin we do here is getting slightly embarrassing, so part of me hoped I didn't love new album 'Motion In The Ocean' as much as its predecessor, 'Wonderland'. But, damn them, I do. I know I'll never convince many of you out there in CMU land, but these guys really are making some of the best pop music of the moment. In 20 years time you'll all agree. You just see. This one is out on Monday. And that's them 'must review' piles looking slightly lighter. Phew.
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CLASSIFIEDS>>
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CMU RECOMMENDS>>
BREAKING GROUND
Another storming night for your diaries - the second edition of breaks fest Breaking Ground. All the big names are going to be on the bill - Pendulum (Live), Stanton Warriors, Rennie Pilgrem with MC Chickaboo, Splitloop (Live), Precision Cuts, Janette Slack, Breakfastaz, Deekline & Wizard with MC Ivory, Cltr-Z, Freshold, Si Begg, General Midi, Soto, Merka, Symmetrik, Dirtpop, Mr Sushi and Fyoog. Phew. It will all take place at London's seOne Club on Saturday 2 Dec, from 9.30pm to 6am. Tickets are £18.50 in advance - from http://www.ticketweb.co.uk - press info from Leyline.
Full info>> http://www.leylinepromotions.com/breakingground
PRODUCTION MAGIC
Music Tank and the Music Producers' Guild's Production Magic conference is the one stop all day event for anyone working in music production, with a stack of top names offering their insights into this exciting sector of the music biz. Dance music pioneer Nile Rodgers will provide the opening address, multi-Grammy winning Phil Ramone will be interviewed, plus Guy Chambers, John Leckie and Hugh Padgham are among the other producers who will speak at the event. Also speaking are EMI A&R chief Chris Briggs and producer Magnus Fiennes - both just added to the line up. This all takes place at the London offices of the Magic Circle a week on Saturday - 11 Nov. For full details you need to get on over to http://www.musictank.co.uk. Admission to the conference is £155, but CMU readers can get a £40 discount (ie the trade association rate) - for details of how to book with that discount email [email protected]
Full info>> http://www.musictank.co.uk
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CMU FRIDAY TIPS
VIGSY'S CLUB TIP: Journeys at the Egg
I'll have to admit I've not been to this N7 venue, but I hear it's pretty good, and the line ups have turned my eye from time to time. Tonight the Journeys crowd will have some proper legends in the basement: Robert Owens (who is actually resident, apparently), Boo Williams and underrated don K-Alexi, who may just strip the floor to the bone with his filthy electro. Meanwhile, on the Terrace, Dan Foate (from Phonica), Markus Enochson and Andy Whittaker will belt out some house bangers in a modern style. All good.
Friday 3 Nov, 10-6am, The Egg, 200 York Way, London, N7, £12, £8 b4 midnight with flyer, info from http://www.egglondon.com/ or 07979 815810.
CARO'S LIVE TIP 1: Rooster
Rooster play at the Mean Fiddler tonight, and I'm not going. If I were in London tonight I would be. Now, some of our readership might mock, because I think people can be a bit derisory about Rooster. But they are a great live band. I "quite liked" their first album. When I went to see them, they were so bloody, bloody entertaining, I wondered why I'd only "quite liked" it. So I went back and listened to it, and still "quite liked" it. I think they are one of those bands that really, truly, genuinely are better live, and on the basis of one live show, I'd recommend checking a gig, even if you're very much not down with the kind of soft pop rock they're peddling.
Friday 3 Nov, The Mean Fiddler, 157 Charing Cross Road, London WC2 0EN, doors 7pm, £12.50 advance
CARO'S LIVE TIP 2: The Fratellis
Something of a theme, here, I think. Don't get me wrong about this - I love The Fratellis' debut album. It's a lot of fun. But this is another band that grabbed my attention because their live performance was so brilliant. Not that I'm saying the album doesn't match up. It really is good. But these guys are in their element on stage, and if you, like me, love their album, you owe it to yourself to see these boys live, because you'll love them even more. Could be preaching to the converted - The Fratellis, who I discovered, of course, are now much, much bigger than they were then. It's just possible that this gig may be sold out...
Sunday 5 Nov, The Astoria, 157 Charing Cross Road, London, WC2 8EN, doors 6.30pm, £13.50 advance
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TIMBERLAKE TOPS MTV EUROPE AWARDS
Well, it was the MTV Europe Music Awards in a rather chilly Copenhagen last night, and it was a good night for Alexandra Kovae, Diam's, Bushido, Finley and La Excepcion, which is surely all that really matters. They were the respective winners of the headline grabbing Best Adriatic, French, German, Italian and Spanish Act awards. Freshlyground was voted the best band in that favourite European country of mine, Africa, while the winners of the Best Swedish and UK/Ireland act awards really ought to consider merging to create a cross-European supergroup - Snook & The Kooks; now that's a band I could get excited about.
Anyway, the headlines, of course, went to the US dominated pan-European awards. Justin Timberlake kind of dominated because, not satisfied with hosting and performing at the awards show, he went and won two of the prizes too - Best Male and Best Pop Act. The only other multiple winner of the evening was Gnarls Barkley, who won Best New Act (or 'the Future Sounds Award', as it was called) and Best Song for 'Crazy'.
Other pan-European winners included the Red Hot Chili Peppers, who won Best Album for 'Stadium Arcadium', Depeche Mode, who took Best Group, Muse, who were named Best Alternative Act, The Killers, Best Rock Act, Christina Aguilera, Best Female, Rihanna, Best R&B and Kanye West, Best Hip Hop Act.
West welcomed his prize by telling his audience "this is amazing for me to be recognised this far away from America", but he was less gracious when he lost out on the Best Video Award, the only non-viewer voted category, which went to Justice Vs Simian's 'We Are Your Friends' (a brilliant record and video, and proof that more often than not choosing award winners is best not left to the public). West told reporters: "Best video should have been mine. I should have won", adding that the judged award had gone to Justice because of a "spreading-the-wealth type thing". Of course what West didn't consider is that Justice winning was possibly what God always intended. I hear God's a big Justice fan.
Some 3000 people were in attendance at Copenhagen's Bella Center Convention Hall to watch the awards show, with another 10,000 people amassed in the Danish capital's main square where they watched coverage of the event plus live performances from the likes of The Killers.
For fans of full lists of winners, this list is for you...
Best Song: Gnarls Barkley - Crazy
Best Group: Depeche Mode
Best Album: Red Hot Chili Peppers - Stadium Arcadium
Best Hip Hop Act: Kanye West
Best R'n'B Act: Rihanna
Best Alternative Act: Muse
Best Female: Christina Aguilera
Best Pop Act: Justin Timberlake
Best Rock Act: The Killers
Best Male: Justin Timberlake
Best Video: Justice vs Simian - 'We Are Your Friends'
Future Sounds: Gnarls Barkley
Adriatic Act: Alexandra Kovae
African Act: Freshlyground
Baltic Act: BrainStorm
Danish Act: Outlandish
Dutch & Belgian Act: Anouk
Finnish Act: Poets of the Fall
French Act: Diam's
German Act: Bushido
Italian Act: Finley
Norwegian Act: Marit Larsen
Polish Act: Blog 27
Portuguese Act: Moonspell
Romanian Act: DJ Project
Russian Act: Dima Bilan
Spanish Act: La Excepcion
Swedish Act: Snook
UK & Ireland Act: The Kooks
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VICTORY SUE EMI OVER HAWTHORNE HEIGHTS DISPUTE
More fun on the old Victory Records / Hawthorne Heights dispute. As previously reported, the US emo band have fallen out with the independent label and announced earlier this year that they were ending their relationship with the record company, accusing Victory of mis-representing them and failing to come through on royalty payments. However, when the case went to court last month a judge dismissed the band's allegations that the label was in breach of contract, and ruled that they are obliged to fulfill their outstanding obligations to the label according to that contract, which is another two albums if I remember rightly.
Anyway, in the latest development, Victory has filed a lawsuit against EMI and their Virgin US division alleging that they induced the band to break their contractual obligations or, to be precise, that they are guilty of "tortuous interference with contractual relations", which sounds almost painful. The lawsuit claims that Virgin US President Jason Flom and the label's Business Affairs chief Jason Kempler encouraged the band to declare themselves free of their Victory Records contract so that they could sign them to a new presumably lucrative record deal. The independent is demanding $10 million in compensatory damages and $10 million in punitive damages off the major for trying to steal their best selling act.
The Hollywood Reporter quotes an EMI spokesman responding thus: "We're confident there is no basis for a suit. Though we'll know more just as soon as we figure out what a 'tortuous interference' is". Well, they said some of that.
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POLICE BRING SUIT AGAINST THE GAME
Five police officers who apprehended The Game, in that previously reported incident at a US shopping mall last year, have filed a defamation suit against the rapper, real name Jayceon Taylor. As you may remember, the hip hopper was arrested in October 2005 after the mall's security services called the police because Taylor was said to be causing a public disturbance, wearing a full-face Hallowe'en mask and cursing loudly. When the police arrived, he made no attempt to moderate his behaviour, whilst members of his entourage apparently surrounded the officers in a threatening manner. The Game was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct and resisting arrest.
The lawsuit, brought by officers Hien Nguyen, Matthew Brown, Ryan Childrey, Romaine Watkins and David Gregory, relates to comments made by The Game in a subsequent TV interview, in which he compared his treatment that day to the assault of Rodney King, and claimed to have been arrested for signing autographs. The policemen also take exception to the distribution of a video of the incident, which claims to show Taylor "being wrongfully arrested and brutalized by the police in North Carolina".
The officers claim in the suit, filed at the Guilford County Courthouse this week, that they were libelled, slandered and had their images misappropriated. They are each seeking in excess of $10,000 in damages.
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BODY FOUND AT EMINEM VIDEO SHOOT
Akon has revealed that a dead body was found at the location in LA where he and Eminem were recently filming a promo for their upcoming release 'Smack That'. The pair were shooting the video at a derelict hotel in the city, and Akon says that there was a bit of a spooky vibe, vibes which proved founded as a body was subsequently found in the building. That said, there generally is a spooky vibe in derelict buildings, really, so don't go getting excited and thinking Akon's psychic or something.
Anyway, he told MTV: "Some weird stuff was happening that whole weekend. I think it was a haunted hotel or something. Man, that whole weekend was just dark, but the results were incredible. A dead body was found on the floor under us the next day. A real dead body. I was like, 'wow!' It was mad that we were right above that body just wiling out, just 'smackin', that's crazy!"
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SANCTUARY CONFIRM MAIDEN DEPARTURE
Struggling London based music company Sanctuary have confirmed those recent reports that the company's co-founder Rod Smallwood has formally parted company with the group, and that he will be taking his management relationship with Iron Maiden with him. Sanctuary, of course, was original formed in the late seventies by Smallwood and recently ousted chief executive Andy Taylor in order to manage the affairs of the legendary rock band.
Sanctuary will, however, maintain a relationship with Iron Maiden. Sanctuary owned Bravado will manage the groups merchandising, while the band have re-signed a recording contract for the US with Sanctuary Records in relation to their new album 'A Matter Of Life And Death'. Sanctuary will also continue to release the Maiden back catalogue in the US. Smallwood will now manage the band through his new company Phantom Music Management. He will also continue to act as a consultant to Sanctuary for at least six months.
Confirming the changes in the company's relationships with Smallwood and Iron Maiden, Sanctuary CEO Frank Presland told CMU: "Although we are obviously sad to see the band and Rod depart from a management and company standpoint we are delighted to be able to continue with the band long term as their worldwide merchandiser and US Label. The parting with Rod and Maiden is entirely amicable and we are delighted that Rod has made himself available to Sanctuary as a consultant and look forward to a long a valuable relationship with him and the band. All at Sanctuary wish them both the very best for the future."
Smallwood himself said: "Its obviously a bit of a wrench leaving Sanctuary after all these years but at this time in my career and with the band's ever increasing international stature it makes total sense for me to concentrate on developing the band's huge potential in the many areas of what is now a very complex and time consuming business. The band and I leave many friends at Sanctuary and we wish them and the company every success in the future and look forward the continuing successful relationships in merchandising and US Records".
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XL LAUNCH NEW IMPRINT
Beggars division XL Recordings is launching a new label with DJ and journalist Imran Ahmed. The new venture, called Abeano Music, is hoping to discover and develop young talent. Ahmed will be the only employee of the new venture, working in an A&R chief role. Marketing, distribution, legal, tea making, envelope stuffing etc will be handled by the existing XL team. Three acts are already signed up, To My Boy, I Was A Cub Scout and Blood Red Shoes.
Commenting on the new venture Ahmed, a former Radio 1 and 6Music DJ and NME contributing editor, told CMU: "Abeano Music has one key aim: to sign and develop young, (mostly) British artists away from the mainstream A&R spotlight. To be honest, if it's on those guys radar, we probably won't be interested in it. We already have three artists on our roster and the fact that they are all two pieces is pure coincidence! XL are a brilliant company, they are completely music focused but also great at looking after business and we are going to be a great team".
XL top guy Richard Russell added: "Imran can spot interesting new music at an early stage and that's what XL has always been about. He is going to bring us fresh, new artists and we are going to give him help on a number of levels and the benefit of our experience to get some great new music into the marketplace. His first three acts are already receiving great media reactions and I think our collaboration is going to be fruitful".
Obviously religious laws dictate we're not allowed a MySpace Of The Day on a Friday, but if you are looking to waste some time on the old social networking juggernaut later today, perhaps you could check out Abeano's first three signings.
http://www.myspace.com/tomyboy
http://www.myspace.com/bloodredshoes
http://www.myspace.com/iwasacubscout
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WHITE ON STRIPES V RACONTEURS, AGAIN
Jack White has been musing out loud again about what he's more committed to, White Stripes or The Raconteurs, and this time he's saying he loves them both equally.
He told Uncut: "I have to honestly say that I'm divided totally 50/50 between The Raconteurs and The White Stripes. My brain now has two options for songs that I write, and it's a really nice luxury to have as a songwriter. I have so many songs now for another White Stripes record: Meg and I are working on songs during breaks from touring with The Raconteurs."
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WILLIAMS TO DUET WITH ANNI-FRID?
According to reports, Robbie Williams has spoken to Anni-Frid Lyngstad about doing a duet with her. The former ABBA singer is quoted by the Daily Star as saying: "Robbie and I talked about doing an ABBA hit together. He has not yet come back on that one".
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JAMES SAYS FULL BLUR REUNION NOT OUT OF THE QUESTION
Well, I've got used to reporting on Damon Albarn's continued hopes for a full Blur reunion, but now Alex James is chipping in too. Saying that he thinks that the full band is "too good a thing to let disintegrate", he told the BBC: "I've got high hopes that Blur will have a happy four-piece ending. I think it would be a shame if it didn't really. I think we'd all like to make another record. We'd all like to do it with Graham. I've been talking to Graham a bit and hopefully I can persuade him. I'm going to have to beg him though."
He continued: "One way or another, there'll be another Blur album, with or without Graham - but hopefully with Graham. I think it's definitely worth trying. I'm sure Paul McCartney feels the same, but I still don't think we've made our best record yet. That's one of the things you get when you're a musician. You think, 'I'm going to do something brilliant in a minute'. If you don't think that, you've got to stop."
Personally I'm not sure that reunion is ever going to happen, although presumably James is on better terms with Coxon than I am, and perhaps his powers of persuasion are extraordinary. I seem to remember that the last time this issue came up, Coxon said: "I hate Blur, it ruined my life, and I would rather die than ever record with Albarn and company ever again, ever. Ever. Ever. Okay?" Well, it was something like that, anyway.
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CURE LIVE DVD SHOT BY FANS
The Cure are set to release a live DVD shot by the band, their crew and some of their fans - which sounds similar to the format of the Beastie Boys' 'Awesome - I Shot That!' film. 'Festival 2005' consists of footage shot during the course of the band's nine European festival dates last summer. It's out 5 Dec and the tracklisting is as follows:
Open
Fascination Street
alt.end
The Blood
A Night Like This
The End of the World
If Only Tonight We Could Sleep
The Kiss
Shake Dog Shake
Us or Them
Never Enough
The Figurehead
A Strange Day
Push
Just Like Heaven
In Between Days
From the Edge of the Deep Green Sea
The Drowning Man
Signal to Noise
The Baby Screams
One Hundred Years
Shiver and Shake
End Encores
At Night
M
Play for Today
A Forest
Plainsong
Disintegration
Faith
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LOVE AVAILABLE IN SURROUND SOUND
EMI US division Capitol have confirmed that much previously reported new Beatles album 'LOVE', created by George Martin and his son Giles around the Cirque du Soleil show of the same name, will be available in 5.1 surround sound, and HitsDailyDouble say they've heard it and it will "blow your mind". Of course they heard it at Capitol Studios, who presumably have a pretty good sound system. Playing it on your laptop might not have the same mind blowing impact. The album is released on what is becoming a very busy release day, 20 Nov.
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POLYPHONIC SPREE, NEW LOOK, NEW ALBUM, NEW DIGITAL EP
The Polyphonic Spree have launched a brand new look. Gone are the white robes, in are black combat uniforms bearing a white heart, a red cross and an image of the robed Spree. Actually, it's really rather scary. Go, look for yourself...
http://www.tough-cookie.co.uk/images/polyphonic_spree_derobe.jpg
Here's what chief Spree Tim DeLaughter says: "The image of the 'old robe look' is actually us in the robes...we refer to it as our 'badge of strength' ...we always liked the fact it was in abstract form. A mass of some type, not particular to robes. The heart is a symbol of care and thoughtfulness. The cross represents first aid...all these as humans, we're capable of. It's just a reminder. We are The Fragile Army." Nope, didn't understand a word of that either.
Though 'The Fragile Army' is actually the name of the new Polyphonic Spree album, due to drop next year. But you can get brand new Spree sooner than that. London indie Tough Cookie release a digital only EP on iTunes next week, 7 Nov, featuring two tracks from the album, plus covers of songs by Nirvana, the Psychedelic Furs and DeLaughter's former band, Tripping Daisy. Track listing as follows:
Mental Cabaret (new album track)
Love My Way (Psychedelic Furs cover)
Sonic Bloom (Tripping Daisy cover)
Lithium (Nirvana cover)
I'm Calling (new album track)
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NEW DAMIEN RICE
I always have a slight negative feeling towards Damien Rice, because I get the impression he might have pissed off Bell X1 when he quit their previous band Juniper just as they signed a big record deal. And Bell X1 are, of course, one of our very favourite bands. Then again, if Rice hadn't quit perhaps Bell X1 in its current form would never have come into being - so we should possibly like him for that.
Anyway, Rice's solo work is pretty good too, and his brand new album '9' is out on Monday. You can preview tracks and check other gubbins at http://wmuk-apache.co.uk/hyperlaunch/damienrice/
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TAKE THAT DVD RELEASE DOING WELL
Take That are doing pretty well, and all, what with Q Awards and the recent tour and that upcoming album. Their new DVD - 'The Ultimate Tour - Live In Manchester' - shot to number one in the UK music DVD chart last week, outstripping the cumulative sales of the entire top 50 music DVDs that week. Which seems good. Their new single 'Patience', which I trust you've heard by now, is out 20 Nov, and their new album, 'Beautiful World' is out on 27 Nov.
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DAWN OF THE REPLICANTS BEST OF, GIGS
You all remember Dawn Of The Replicants right? Well, they recently celebrated their tenth anniversary by releasing a greatest hits album, 'Bust The Trunk', which I don't think we've reported on before, which was an oversight. The album is out on SL Records - you can buy it on download here...
http://www.tunetribe.com/Album?album_id=517916
It's relevant today, because the band have announced they'll play two intimate gigs in Scotland in the next week - at The Goat in Glasgow on Sunday at 8pm, and at Henry's Cellar Bar in Edinburgh a week on Sunday. A UK, US and Germany tour will follow in the New Year, details will be posted at http://www.dawnofthereplicants.com.
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ALBUM REVIEW: Various - Innervisions mixed by Dixon (Sonar Kollectiv)
A slightly off centre compo from the Teutonic Kollectiv stable: Steffen 'Dixon' Berkhahn really takes us off road - opening with Chateau Flight's 'Baroque' and then into the monster (but perhaps overrated) 'Rej' by Ame before Frank Rogers' 'Back and Forth' provides us with a touch of jazz. Atjazz then reigns supreme with his 'For Real' track, while Stephan Goldman's 'Sleepy Hollow' is abstract, and Ame's 'Basic Track' is minimal and a tad bland. Tokyo Black Star takes us retro with a banal 'Violent Rush', then a better 'Blade Dancer', before it all goes more housey with 'Dragon Loop' by Worgull, which has a slightly anthemic feel. The finale is the epic 'Where We At' - a mash up from Schrwarz /Dixon/ Ame and Derrick Carter. Definitely one for the more anoraky types into the abstract feel of the label, but I enjoyed it nonetheless. Better take off my Gore-Tex jacket. PV
Release date: 23 Oct
Press contact: Rocketscience [all]
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THE DOORS PLAY LONDON FOR NEW YEAR
The Doors are playing London on New Year's Eve, though CMU can exclusively reveal Jim Morrison won't be involved. Apparently he's going to be too dead. Actually, former The Doors members Ray Manzarek and Robbie Krieger won't be performing under The Doors name when they tour the UK at the end of December - they will perform as Riders On The Storm (there was a long running legal dispute over the use of The Doors name, as you may remember, with former drummer John Densmore, no longer touring because of hearing problems, objecting to Manzarek and Krieger using the name). The pair will be joined by former The Cult man Ian Astbury, who has toured with the regrouped The Doors previously. Dates of the upcoming tour are as follows:
29 Dec: Clyde Auditorium, Glasgow
30+31 Dec: Camden Roundhouse, London
2 Jan: Civic, Wolverhampton
3 Jan: Apollo, Manchester
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BOY KILL BOY TOUR
Boy Kill Boy have announced some tour dates. Which is nice. Also, they're playing at the Roundhouse on Tuesday 7 Nov with Feeder to raise money for CMU favourite War Child (yes, CMU favourites can be charities as well as bands). As previously reported, the proceeds from the band's upcoming singe release, 'Shoot Me Down', out 13 Nov, are also going to the cause.
Here are those dates:
2 Dec: Brunel University
3 Dec: Gloucester Guild Hall
4 Dec: Leicester Charlotte
5 Dec: Coventry Warwick University
6 Dec: Bolton Soundhouse
9 Dec: Exeter Phoenix
11 Dec: Wrexham Central Station
12 Dec: Stoke Sugarmill
13 Dec: York Fibbers
14 Dec: Greenock Lava Lounge
15 Dec: Dundee Fat Sam's
17 Dec: Orkney Fusion
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FIRST SNOWBOMBING CONFIRMATIONS ANNOUNCED
Snowbombing have announced the first set of acts confirmed for their 2007 line up. Making good on their previously reported pledge to increase the number of live bands, the festival have revealed that this year's event will see performances from the likes of The Young knives, Sunshine Underground, Rumblestrips, Kitty Daisy and Lewis, Kid Carpet, and The Cuban Brothers - with more acts yet to be announced. DJs lining up for the winter festival include Scratch Perverts, James Zabiela, Annie Mac, Rob da Bank, Justice, Evil Nine, The Glimmers, Soul of Man, Jeff Automatic, and Sombrero Sound System, again, many more to come.
So, it's all looking pretty promising. If you love snow sports and music, Mayrhofen in Austria is pretty much going to be the best place you could be from 9-15 Apr next year. Snowbombing's Gareth Cooper says, "We're very pleased to add the live element to Snowbombing, which we feel reinforces our position as one of the biggest winter festivals in Europe. Watching bands playing at 2000 metres with the snow capped Austrian Alps in the background is certainly different."
More info and booking options from http://www.snowbombing.co.uk, press info from Get Involved.
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MONO TOUR
Not at all because their PR put "thanks for making me laugh so much everyday" in her PS, I think we must mention that Mono (that Japanese rock group, not the nineties trip hop duo) will be playing some dates in the UK this week, as follows...
3 Nov: The Cockpit, Leeds
4 Nov: The Hub, Dublin 2,
5 Nov: The Bunker, Belfast
6 Nov: ABC2, Glasgow
7 Nov: Corporation, Sheffield
8 Nov: The Cooler, Bristol
9 Nov: The Underworld, Camden
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UNSIGNED BAND SELL OUT ASTORIA
I'm always a bit dubious of bands who sell themselves on the back of how many MySpace friends they've got (it can, after all, just mean the band have someone on board willing to go and ask everyone on MySpace to be their friend). However, unsigned band Enter Shikari's 40,000 MySpace friends and 1.73 million MySpace track plays possibly do really mean something - because they've just sold out a gig at the London Astoria, despite having never released a single, which is, if I'm not mistaken, quite an achievement. The gig, taking place tomorrow tea time, had already been upgraded from its original slot at the Astoria's smaller sister venue Mean Fiddler. Some guest list spots are available, though they are presumably in demand - get in touch with Toast PR for more details. If you want to know what the band sound like (the PR says a mix of hardcore punk, emo/screamo and trance, if you can imagine what that's like) you could check that aforementioned MySpace - http://www.myspace.com/entershikari.
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SCISSOR SISTERS WOULD LOVE TO PLAY GLASTO
Scissor Sisters frontman Jake Shears has said that he'd love to play at next year's Glastonbury Festival, but thinks the likelihood is slim. He told Xfm: "I would absolutely love to play Glasto next year but I don't know if it's going to happen. I would give anything to do it, but I'm not going to get my expectations up so that way I'm not too disappointed. One of the big problems is that I'm sure Kylie's going to do it this year. I can't imagine her not doing it, and unless they want it a really gay Glastonbury then I dunno. I would love to play it."
By the way, you can still watch that previously reported webcast of the Scissor Sisters' Brixton Academy Hallowe'en show, organised by anti-global warming organisation Global Cool, and available via the Tiscali website, but I think tomorrow is the last day. Full info at http://www.global-cool.com/
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LIVE REVIEW: Jazzinho Live at Jazz Café, London on 29 Oct
Jazzinho's front woman Guida da Palma took to the stage in front of a packed crowd with a changed band, and started with the opening track of the new album - 'Lagoon Monster'. Sadly, it lacked the punchiness of the album version so the hard nosed café-sters weren't instantly taken by it, and the flute was hard to hear. However, 'Maria Mulata' took us into more of a groove, with quick paced delivery from Guida, who had picked up the triangle to aid her band. 'Vertigo' from the first album lacked the flugelhorn usually provided by Graeme Flowers, and suffered for it, but Guida shined through, and the room began to get sucked into the sun-kissed vibes. Afro-influences then took over, with a large uni-stringed bow on stage, and a song about a shipwreck. Producer Chris Franck (of Da Lata fame) then took to the stage after being persuaded to join in, and with trusty guitar went face-to-face with the other guitarist for a bit of a showdown - he looked like he enjoyed every second of the limelight. Guida then worked the crowd to sing in the chorus of the Portuguese 'Camponesa'. A modern day Latin hymn about country women, it was guaranteed go down well live and fully involved the by now attentive crowd. The standard Jazz Café encore followed, and I expected another few rounds of 'Camponesa', but instead we got a slightly more poignant track, 'Tides', which is about the forgotten dead - quite refreshing, and the power of this almost a cappella track showed that Guida is a major force in today's Latin jazz. A set which took a little while to get into, but as I said three years ago, there is huge scope for the live workings of this band, and I think they can take on further to even higher levels. The second album 'Atlas' is out now, and is worth checking. PV
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AEG ACQUIRE US AWARDS PRODUCER
AEG, the US parent company of live entertainments conglom AEG Live, has bought production company Ken Ehrlich Productions who, among other things, produces the Grammy, Emmy and MTV Movie Award programmes.
While details of the deal are not known, it is thought AEG hope its new acquisition can bring production expertise to its arena business, and especially its new 7250 seat Nokia Theatre which is due to open in LA next year.
Tim Leiweke, president of AEG, said in a statement yesterday: "With less than one year before opening the 7,250-seat Nokia Theater Los Angeles (part of the $2.5 billion LA Live development project), Ken's credibility and experience will give us the ability to not only bring every existing award show and production to the theatre, but the wherewithal to create signature entertainment productions and events that Los Angeles and our industry are desperately in need of".
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BRAND UPGRADED TO RADIO 2
Good news for fans of being irritated. Irritating comedian-come-presenter Russell Brand has been upgraded from 6Music to BBC Radio 2. Having been cited by BBC radio bosses as one of the reasons for 6Music's recent impressive RAJAR performance, Brand will leave his Saturday morning show on the digital station to present a Saturday evening show over on Radio 2. Brand said this: "I had a brilliant time on 6 Music and I now can't wait for the challenge of Radio 2".
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CULTURE CLUB DRUMMER ON GEORGE'S COMMENTS
You'll remember that Boy George dissed the new singer with the reformed (without George) Culture Club, because we reported on it some time ago. Sam Butcher, recruited to the group via an audition, responded pretty immediately to George's comments that he is really awful, but now drummer Jon Moss has made some comments too. Took his time, didn't he? Moss told the AP: "We've never said anything about George, because George has always been George," but added "This has gone too far."
The band are also annoyed with George for accepting a songwriting award for 'Karma Chameleon' at the recent Q Awards. Bassist Mikey Craig said: "We should have been there. George wasn't the sole writer of the song. We wrote collectively. At the end of the day, Culture Club was very much ours as well as George's. He was the visual impact that everyone got, but there was a hell of a lot behind it".
Moss also responded to claims in George's autobiography, 'Take It Like A Man', that he was ashamed of the romantic relationship between the pair. Now married with children, the drummer said: "I'm not ashamed of anything. My parents, all my friends knew. There's no problem there. He's like a nightmare ex-wife. This guy's being rude about me all the time. I've lived with it for years and I've just had enough".