VINCE CABLE TALKS COPYRIGHT
So, as expected, Business Secretary Vince Cable has confirmed that he plans to bring into law some of the key recommendations of the recent Hargreaves Review of copyright, in particular a private copy right, allowing people to make private back up copies of CDs they make (these days mainly by ripping them to PC or MP3 player), and a parody right, which would enable people to post parodies of songs on websites like YouTube without the permission of whoever owns the original work.

Cable has also announced a few other interesting bits of copyright related news. First, that his department will investigate the practicalities of launching some sort of digital rights exchange, another of Hargreaves' proposals. And second, that he and OfCom are now of the opinion that the section of the Digital Economy Act that would have put in place a system whereby copyright owners could force ISPs to block access to infringing websites was both unworkable and unnecessary.

It's not needed, Cable says, in light of last week's Newzbin ruling, in which BT was ordered to block access to a movie rights infringing website without any new law or system being introduced. BT itself, despite losing the Newzbin case, welcomed the ruling on the basis that it proved no new injunctions system was needed. ISPs, although not liking web-blocking in general, are happier if any such blocks come via a court order than through any faster kind of special injunction system, such as that the DEA had the potential to introduce (this section was always a bit vague, and basically on hold anyway).

Record label trade body the BPI, which lobbied hard for the web-blocking clause in the DEA, is not convinced, however. It told CMU this morning: "Every day blatantly illegal foreign sites flout our laws, rip off consumers and musicians and wreak huge damage on our creative sector. Government has recognised that blocking such sites could help to reduce levels of infringement, but that there needs to be a more effective framework that enables speedier action. Government must now act urgently to put in place effective means to protect consumers, creators and UK jobs from the impact of illegal foreign sites. A failure to do so will see some of this country's world-leading industries irreparably damaged on this Government's watch".

However the BPI said it welcomed the introduction of the private copy right in the UK, saying "As we have consistently said, BPI believes that consumers should be able to legally 'format shift' music they have legitimately bought to their own computers and devices, so we welcome the Government's consultation on this issue".

It remains to be seen, of course, whether the BPI's members push for a levy to be charged on digital devices in return for the private copy right, as happens in some other countries.

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JAY-Z DEFENDS BEST BUY DEAL, IT'S ABOUT THE LEAKERS
Jay-Z has defended his decision to sign up to exclusivity deals in the US for the sale of his and Kanye West's new album 'Watch The Throne'.

As previously reported, numerous indie record shop owners put their name to a letter last week criticising the rappers for getting into bed with iTunes and Best Buy for the digital and physical releases respectively, depriving them of the opportunity to sell the new record.

But Z says that, while he does feel a little bad about pissing off the indie record sellers of America, his and West's decision to do exclusivity deals with two retailers on this release was mainly an effort to stop the record from leaking online. Which is basically him saying indie record shop employees are more likely to illegally post unreleased records onto the internet. I don't think that will mend any broken relationships.

Speaking to New York radio station Hot 97, he said: "I feel a little bad about it, but at the same time we made this album, we took eight months, we should be able to release it the way we like without everyone being up in arms. The real reason behind it was because we didn't want the music to leak, we wanted to present it to the people - we were thinking about the people in its entirety".

He continued: "When you send it out to physical [stores], it pretty much, once it leaves the plant, it's on the truck and that's the end of it. And it has to go like two weeks before it goes to stores. That's not gonna happen, [so the album's] not gonna leak. We took great care to make sure it's not leaking at all". So there you have it.

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FRANKLIN CRITICISES SONGWRITING PARTNER'S LAWSUIT
Aretha Franklin has criticised one of her long term songwriting partners for suing her publishing company over a royalties dispute.

As previously reported, songwriter Norman West sued Springtime Publishing last month, claiming that the music publisher allowed 'Put It Back Together Again' to be released on Franklin's recent album 'A Woman Falling Out Of Love' without having signed a royalties agreement with him as co-writer. He also claims Springtime have acting improperly regarding royalties on another song he wrote with Franklin, 'Watch My Back'.

Although West stressed at the time of his lawsuit that he had no grievances with Franklin herself and he remained grateful to her for all her support over the years, the Queen Of Soul is not impressed with her one time collaborator's lawsuit. She said in a statement yesterday that she was "extremely disappointed" that West had gone legal, adding that he had "unmitigated gall" to pursue the legal action considering how she's "personally assisted and advised him over the past fifteen years".

Not sure whether that will stand up in court though, assuming West has a genuine claim on the two royalty disputes.

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MEAT LOAF FAINTS AGAIN
Meat Loaf has fainted for a second time in three days. As previously reported, the singer passed out on stage in Pittsburgh last week. He blamed his asthma and finished the show once he had recovered.

Now TMZ reports that he collapsed again, this time after he had finished his performance. Having come off stage at the New Jersey Balloon Festival on Sunday, he fainted and requested oxygen. He did not require further medical attention though.

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DIR EN GREY RAISE QUESTIONS OVER HANDLING OF JAPANESE TSUNAMI
With their new album 'Dum Spiro Spero' out this week, Japanese metallers Dir En Grey have published an open letter regarding how the ethos behind their latest LP was inspired and affected by the natural disasters that struck their country in March of this year.

The band reveal they were in Tokyo working on the album, the title of which translates as 'While I Breathe, I Hope', when the initial earthquake hit on 11 Mar. In particular, their letter draws attention to the Japanese government's official statements (or lack thereof) addressing concerns over radiation levels in the aftermath of the catastrophe.

In the letter, they say: "The safety regulations for safe levels of radiation exposure keep getting increased higher and higher, yet the only official announcement is that 'there is no effect on health'. We can no longer tell whether we are a democratic nation. Unless you are careful with your words, you will be taken down with significant force. At this point we do not have the ability to truly find out what is occurring in our own country".

"However, we want to know the truth", they later write. "People are able to overcome huge obstacles and problems if they know the truth".

Read the full letter here: www.msopr.com/?q=node/6751/

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KINGS OF LEON "NOT BREAKING UP"
Kings Of Leon drummer Nathan Followill has denied that the band are on the verge of breaking up, after they cancelled their current US tour.

As previously reported, the band cut short a show in Dallas on Friday after frontman Caleb Followill walked off stage three songs before the show was due to finish, saying: "I'm trying to sing but I haven't got a voice, I've got nothing".

The band then cancelled a show in Houston the next night and then the whole tour. The official line is that Caleb is "suffering from vocal issues and exhaustion" and that dehydration at the Dallas show caused "his vocal chords to seize".

However, bassist Jared Followill said via Twitter: "There are problems in our band bigger than not drinking enough Gatorade ... There are internal sicknesses and problems that have needed to be addressed".

Following the cancellation of the tour (and indeed prior to it) rumours began to circulate that the band are on the brink of splitting. But Nathan Followill tweeted yesterday: "Bummed about the tour not happening. So sorry for all the fans. We just need some rest. Thanks for understanding. WE ARE NOT BREAKING UP!"

They are so breaking up. Although they are due to begin touring again in Vancouver, Canada on 28 Sep.

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SCOTT WEILAND HINTS AT VELVET REVOLVER REUNION
Velvet Revolver's remaining members - former Guns N Roses types Slash, Duff McKagan and Matt Sorum - have struggled to find a new frontman since booting Stone Temple Pilots vocalist Scott Weiland out and bad mouthing him all around town.

Having tried pretty much everyone out in a bid to find a replacement for Weiland, it seems that they might now choose the one person no one expected. OK, one of the two people no one expected; Axl Rose is not joining. No, they might actually reunite with Weiland.

The singer told The Pulse Of Radio this week: "We patched things up and we get along. I see them every now and again ... who knows, maybe we'll do some shows sometime soon".

Reflecting on his time with the band, he added: "That was right when I was getting off dope and those guys were all sober and clean, and I had a very special kind of kinship because we'd all experienced the same things. It was a great band to see live, and I think we made two exciting albums".

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FOO FIGHTERS CRASH FANS' GARAGES IN NEW TOUR DOCUMENTARY
As per the results of a Blackberry-sponsored contest that ran back in April, a handful of US garage-owners won the chance to host Foo Fighters at their very own homes for a one-off series of live concerts. Footage from the so-called 'Garage Tour' has now been crammed into a 40 minute documentary that charts the Foos' garage-to-garage charge across North America.

The band, who recorded their latest album 'Wasting Light' in a studio rigged up in Dave Grohl's garage, look perfectly at home rocking out amongst the petrol cans and DIY paraphernalia in fans' super-sized car lock-ups. And, you know, it's nice to see a band of the Foos Fighters' stadium-filling proportions take such a humble, appreciative attitude to their fanbase, conversing and riding about in tractors like ordinary blokes. Watch the 'Garage Tour' doc below.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=JYArUl0TzhA

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MODESELEKTOR ANNOUNCE NEW ALBUM
German techno wunderkinds Modeselektor are to make a return to their club-orientated beginnings with new album 'Monkeytown', their first since 2007's 'Happy Birthday!', which they will self-release on 3 Oct via their own Monkeytown Records label.

Far from being a concept album about a settlement ruled by apes, the LP is instead a body of cerebral beats that features collaborations with the likes of Thom Yorke and Apparat.

As for catching Modeselektor live, the duo has a lone UK appearance lined up at London's SW4 festival with a DJ set on 28 Aug.

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SLEEP ∞ OVER ANNOUNCE DEBUT ALBUM
CMU approved dream-poppers Sleep ∞ Over have announced that they will release their debut album, 'Forever', via Hippos In Tanks on 27 Sep.

Have a listen to new track, 'Romantic Streams', here: soundcloud.com/sleep-over/romantic-streams

Tracklist

Behind Closed Doors
Romantic Streams
Porcelain Hands
The Heavens Turn By Themselves
Casual Diamond
Crying Game
Flying Saucers Are Real
Stickers
Untitled
Don't Poison Everything

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NOEL GALLAGHER'S HIGH FLYING BIRDS TO TOUR
Following the release of their eponymous debut album on 17 Oct, Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds are set to take off on their first ever batch of live shows, with Noel due to air his solo ventures alongside some well-loved Oasis stalwarts. Lead 'High Flying Birds' single 'The Death Of You And Me' has received a warm reception from fans, despite Liam's alleged likening of the track to the work of mediocre warbler Dido. What a shitbag.

The trio of tour dates are as follows:

23 Oct: Dublin, Olympia Theatre
27 Oct: Edinburgh, Usher Hall
29 Oct: London, Hammersmith Apollo

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FEIST UNVEILS A UK TOUR DATE
In what's to be her first UK performance in over three years, lesser-spotted Canadian songbird Feist is to showcase material from her forthcoming album 'Metals' at a just-announced show at The London Palladium on 17 Oct.

As previously reported, a series of vignettes previewing aspects of the new LP will be released on Feist's website in the weeks leading up to its release on 3 Oct. So far, there's a noisy one, a woodsy one, and a pleasant-sounding orchestral piece (conducted by 'Metals' co-producer Chilly Gonzales) to choose from.

www.listentofeist.com

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ALBUM REVIEW: Various Artists - Hammock House: Africa Caribe (Produced and mixed by Joaquin 'Joe' Clausell) (Fania Records)
This project sees New York 'tropical music' label Fania enlist house head Joe Claussell to remix a selection of tracks from the company's back catalogue, and he's stepped up admirably with some great moments on this compilation.

Some of the reworkings are more drastic than others. Claussell radically rejigs Celia Cruz's trad Yoruban chant 'Chango' with additional percussion in from brother Jose, and neuvo piano flurries from Bennett Paster. Meanwhile, the remix of Eddie Palmieri's 1978 energetic 'Lucumi' is just slightly airbrushed smooth.

The best track is Claussell's take on Mongo Santamaria's 'Mambo Mongo'. It's more of a retouch, but the results are nonetheless superb; it's warmer, with slightly more emphasis on rhythm, but while maintaining the original infectious vibe.

There are also some brand new tracks. 'Undeniable Love' with Jai Veda could perhaps be see by the uninitiated as coffee table music, but it's far more than that; Veda's lyrics are beautiful, over a sublime chilled backdrop, with some slighty odd yet catchy yacht rock riffs thrown in. Very different is 'Exodus', a Ray Barretto tribute. Opening with chanting, it builds with piano and percussion to only release at seven minutes in.

An enjoyable project, it's not earth shattering, but shows you some insight into Claussell's influences, his profound respect for them, and his attention to detail. PV

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APPLE ANNOUNCES ICLOUD PRICING
Apple has announced the US pricing of its iCloud online storage system, which is due to launch later this year (in America, UK launch likely in 2012). As previously reported, the service will keep contacts, calendars, photos, emails and apps synced across all of your Apple devices (and PCs, too) without you having to do anything. Of course, iCloud also features a licensed music locker function, which will allow you to upload all of your music to the internet and listen to it anywhere.

At launch, a 5GB iCloud account will be available to all for free. What's more, music, apps and books purchased from iTunes, as well as photos taken on iOS devices (which will be automatically pushed to iCloud), will not count against that 5GB. Users can then purchase additional storage on top of that, with another 10GB costing $20 per year, 20GB costing $40 per year, and 50GB costing $100 per year.

That extra space may come in handy because, as previously announced, iCloud will allow you to upload your whole MP3 collection to your locker, oblivious of where you got your digital music from. Doing so will cost you $25 a year, a transaction which some have referred to as an amnesty on illegally downloaded music (though the rights owners would very much like you to stop calling it that, thank you very much).

iCloud will also launch with an online version of Apple's iWork software, which will put it in competition with Google Docs and other similar cloud-based office-style software packages.

More information here: www.apple.com/icloud/features/

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BJÖRK LOOKS TO HACKERS FOR WIDER DISTRIBUTION OF BIOPHILIA APP
Björk's recently released 'Biophilia' app has impressed many, but it has also brought her some criticism, as the software is only available for Apple iOS-powered devices. But she has now said that she expects it to become available on other systems eventually, if not entirely legally.

Speaking to Drowned In Sound, the singer said: "I'm not supposed to say this, probably. But I'm trusting that the pirates out there won't tie their hands behind their back. That's why we really made sure when we wrote all the programs that they will transfer to other systems. I mean, I don't totally understand technologically or what it is that makes that possible".

The 'Biophilia' app is available from Apple's App Store. The 'Biophila' album will be released through One Little Indian on 26 Sep.

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BEASTIE BOYS RELEASE ACTION FIGURES
Beastie Boys are now selling a set of action figures based on the group via their website. The three figures come with a variety of accessories, allowing you to dress them up in casual attire, or as they appear in the 'Intergalactic' video. Which all sounds like fun. Although for $750, I'm not sure you'll be letting the kids near them. Children will, however, benefit, as proceeds will be donated to two charities which work with children who have cancer, Pablove Foundation and Alex's Lemonade Stand.

You can see the action figures in, er, action in the new video for 'Don't Play No Game That I Can't Win', from the band's 'Hot Sauce Committee Part Two' album, here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=w-QIiVS_7Hs

And you can buy the here: shop.beastieboys.com

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