Tuesday, October 05, 2010

The Jesus And Mary Chain 'Upside Down'

The Jesus And Mary Chain are set to release their new collection 'Upside Down' on November 15th.

Mixing feedback with sweet pop melodies, The Jesus And Mary Chain introduced a new, feral brand of rock 'n' roll. Dressed in black, their hair fluttering over their eyes the band were at once iconic and threatening.

Centred on the Reid brothers, The Jesus And Mary Chain helped pioneer the shoegaze sound with their debut album 'Psychocandy' before beginning to experiment.

Splitting 1998, the band are now set to be celebrated on a 2-CD best of. 'Upside Down' collects key tracks from over two decades, including their seismic singles and a number of rare B-sides and live cuts.
The new compilation coincides with the documentary 'Upside Down: The Story Of Creation Records' which includes plenty of the band's material. The new album is named after the group's debut single, and charts their highs and lows.

The Best of The Jesus And Mary Chain is a 2 CD career-spanning overview that marks 25 years since their first album Psychocandy. The very first of its kind for brothers Jim and William Reid and their many notable musical cohorts, Upside Down features all single ‘A’ sides, key album tracks and rarities, with guest appearances by Shane MacGowan (The Pogues) and Hope Sandoval (Mazzy Star), and, of course, original drummer Bobby Gillespie (Primal Scream).

Early B-side 'Vegetable Man' is also made available while rare tributes such as 'Moe Tucker' are also on show. The band are now more relevant than ever, with groups such as Vivian Girls and Black Rebel Motorcycle Club openly admitting their debt to the Scottish feedback fetishists.

'Upside Down: The Best Of The Jesus And Mary Chain' is out on November 15th.

Thursday, September 30, 2010

Detachments Album Launch Party

Detachments album launch party! Signed copies of the CD and the bands latest single Holiday Romance will be available on the night. 

Expect Wartime RAF battlejackets, graceful to brutal divebombing synths, award-winning live drums, royal ballet, divine melodies to murder for, weird astral glimpses into the future... it's all flitting in and out of existence here. Electronic/darkwave/synthpop/indie/new Minimal Wave at it's best.
"The love-child of Fad Gadget and early OMD raised by Cabaret Voltaire has finally descended on us. Their debut album blends early industrial, coldwave and a tinge of synthpop to create an opaque masterpiece. Consider this to be the Yang to…let’s say Hurts’ or Monarchy’s Yin."

Support will come from:
Flash Fiktion
Savage Nomads

Plus Andy Blake (World Unknown / Dissident / Cave Paintings) who remixed Holiday Romance will be DJing inbetween bands. 

The date:
Tuesday, 05 October 2010 at 19:30
CAMP (City Arts and Music Project) London, United Kingdom
Don't miss it!

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Paul Weller 'Couldn't Wait To Leave Mercury Prize 2010'

Paul Weller has revealed that he “couldn't wait to get home” after he failed to win the Mercury Prize last week.

As we all know, the Jam  former star, was one of the favourites to get The Mercury Prize with his recent album 'Wake Up The Nation' , but eventually lost out to The xx.

In an interview, Weller revealed that he went home straight after the announcement was made so he could watch TV. “I'd been there all day, being old and miserable, I couldn't wait to get home,” he said. “I thought, I've had enough of this. I wasn't doing my upset diva bit, I just wanted to go home and watch telly."

Weller also admitted that he found it “hard to get excited” about the down-tempo sound of The xx's self-titled winning album. “It's not really my sort of thing. I'm not putting them down, just because they beat me,” he added.

Tuesday, September 07, 2010

Peter Hook’s Hacienda Memoirs get the Boxset treatment

As we all remember, celebrated co-founder of New Order and Joy Division, Peter Hook released his critically acclaimed memoirs in 2009 titled The Haçienda: How Not To Run A Club. The memoirs detailed his sordid life as a rock star and the demise of his finances.

Now these memoirs turns into boxset, with only a few hundred copies of it being made available. Inside it you'll find signed sections of the book accompanied by unpublished material. It also houses a 10" record with one of Peter Hook's new tunes, 'The Viking'.
The design for the boxset has been the job of English designers Foruli who with the help of Hook completed it with a special art print.

It was easy to guess it would be highly prized and limited so here are the details:
There are only 400 available of the standard edition which retail at £300.
100 copies of the deluxe at £600 which can you believe contains an actual piece of the Hacienda bar top.

Finally there are two ultimate editions available, which include one of only six handmade custom FAC51 Hacienda bass guitars.

At the height of Hook's fame during the Hacienda days, the band were throwing all their royalties into the running of the club with only £20 left for each of the band at the end of the week. You can buy these beautiful boxsets right here. 

Sunday, September 05, 2010

The Big Pink - 'Tapes'

“I think the songs are as good as anything out there. There are pop music melodies within that minimal production. And the best pop music for me has always been the stuff that the artist does on their own terms. Everything on the mix sounds like that. I think these guys are doing it for themselves and if people discover it then great.” Milo Cordell. 

Tracklisting:
1. GR†LLGR†LL - Slow Dancing
2. Love Distance - Move On The Rain
3. Gang Gang Dance - Ego War
4. Joker - Snake Eater
5. Active Child - Body Heat (So Far Away)
6. Henny Moan - Vreg Dreams (Little Slow Mix)
7. Sewn Leather - Smoke Ov The Pvnk
8. Balam Acab - See Birds
9. yusuf b - kiss the nite
10. ZVA - Nothing
11. No Bra - Minger (These New Puritans Remix)
12. jj - Let Go
13. Salem - Dirt
14. Light Asylum - Shallow Tears
15. The Big Pink - Velvet (BDG Remix By Gang Gang Dance)
16. Actress - Hubble
17. oOoOO - Mumbai
18. The xx - Fantasy

19. Horse Macgyver - Tetanus Wine

Wednesday, September 01, 2010

DETACHMENTS Band Of The Month for September on Kool Rock Radio

September is the month for our special guests 'DETACHMENTS'. Their album debut will be released on October 4th, preceded by the single 'Holiday Romance' which will be released on Sept 4th.

Detachments was the BEST NEW BAND for Kool Rock Radio in 2009 and their singles 'Circles' and 'The Flowers That Fell' were both number 1 in our Annual Chart the same year. And now this album debut could also be The Album Of The Year for 2010, an amazing record that transports you to the best part of 80s' decade, with this particular touch of new wave bands of late 70s'.

Detachments appear to be focused in the sounds of 1979 to 1982 to create this album, they have taken the best of Simple Minds, Kraftwerk, Joy Division, Devo, Blancmange, Mi Sex, Cabaret Voltaire, Gary Numan, New Order, Heaven 17, John Foxx, Ultravox, Wire, The Human League among many others.

The Album is ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT 9/10, the more you listen it, the more you fall in love with... This is how the new Cold Wave should sound.

DJ Relax/ Kool Rock Radio

________________________________________
More about Detachments:

This enigmatic debut album of synth pop noir from Detachments, some two years in the making, more than distinguishes the band from their contemporaries. The promise and intrigue in the potent jagged Detachments sound that drew such creative luminaries as Andrew Weatherall, Trevor Jackson and Tim Goldsworthy to work with the band has been fully realised here.

Working in tandem with Simian Mobile Disco’s James Ford, the bands creative force Bastien Marshal has delivered an album of eleven tracks that belie any comparison with contemporary artists or bands. The eleven tracks included illustrate the Detachments ascendance to a pure synth group.

Culled from almost 40 songs, Bastien and Ford worked day and night over a ten-day period at Ford’s Hackney studio in the bitter snow-dusted cold of late February 2010 (our coldest in some 40 years) an experience which brought to mind the bleakness of Berlin in the midst of winter, a well trodden destination of Bastien’s. It was this punishing schedule, a hallmark of any album produced by James Ford, which inspired Bastien creative vision for Detachments.

The mutual love Minimal Wave and also the sonic experiments that emanated from the BBC Radiophonic Workshop informed the decision to fully utilise the vast array of Ford’s vintage synth gear. This direction finessed the sound that seeps through every pore of their album.

This is a sound that always seemed deep lying in the Detachments DNA but is only fully realised here. During Bastien’s time in the critically acclaimed, post electro clash group R3mote, Andy Weatherall would pick out random tracks from the Cold Wave era and point out the similarities. Later Trevor Jackson would brand Detachments as “Cold Wave” a telling portent given where the band has sonically arrived. And how did they finally arrive at this cold wave sound? Eschewing the digital studio processes that plague modern music and seeking inspiration in the 80s analogue synth experiments – taking their cue from Minimal Wave and personal, all-time favourite European bands from the late 70s early 80s, whose influences were aligned with the Detachments – namely Human League, Fad Gadget and Cabaret Voltaire.

Other studio techniques used during the recording process included tape manipulation, on tracks such as “Sometimes” which achieve a sheer density of sound last heard on Gavin Russom’s superlative Black Meteoric Star album. Whilst on the subject of contemporary musical allies, Ford’s distrust of digital technology when knee deep in production can be likened to ex Dissident visionary Andy Blake and his passionate disregard for the mp3 format. Recognizing him as a kindred spirit, Blake was asked to provide a remix of “Holiday Romance” with the resulting 18-minute reinterpretation nothing short of stunning. Iconic producer Martyn, another contemporary figure to have brilliantly reimagined Detachments (“Circles” as featured on his Fabric mix) can be viewed as a further modern day influence with Bastien recognizing the Dutchman’s refusal to stick with the parameters of dubstep.

It’s not only the music of Cold Wave that struck a chord with the band though. Anyone who has heard Detachments’ ‘H.A.L.’ will have sensed unrest in the Orwellian themes that course through the lyrical veins. Thus it’s no surprise that Detachments could also relate to the socio political undertones that characterised the main groups of the cold wave movement.

Of course there’s plenty of other influence at play in the lyrics. “Audio Video” a celebration of technology and the limitless freedom of the internet, with furtive sideways glances to those masters of the macabre, Edgar Allen Poe and Irvine Welsh in glimpsing the vacuum of cyberspace and the reliance on sanctuary in technology.

Beneath the staid kick drums and gurgling synths of “I Don’t Want To Play” lie black humoured, Mike Leigh and Pinter-esque asides on status anxiety and the vulgarity of people disregarding their beliefs in the crude aspiration to impress the neighbours. Examples such as these demonstrate Bastien’s ability to lyrically draw on his own experiences and add substance via cultural references that resonate with his way of thinking.

The fear of being institutionalised into the 9 – 5 grind that unfolds on “Circles” relates to Bastien’s own experience in the marketing team for a high end London surveyor. The desire to escape the rat race, this descent into passively forgoing any sense of identity could be classed as social suicide -- leaving the sanctity and safety of the nine to five for the sake of his creative self – but how many of us have the strength of conviction to take that step? The track itself grooves with an edgy intensity before suddenly pausing. The sudden break and ascension towards the sonic unknown in the tracks closing moments makes for a powerful, transcendental refrain – conjuring a sheer intensity and textural sublimity that is reminiscent of the mighty My Bloody Valentine.

Elsewhere you can point to the feelings of bleakness Bastien endured as a youth in hometown Blackpool, in winter - a ghost town by any other name, as another point of lyrical influence. That coupled with the disappointment at old friends’ acceptance of being sucked into the rising dominant class, the parochial, often slightly uncomfortably right-wing, conformist, workers that litter the offices of Anytown or indeed The City as demonstrated on “You Never Knew Me” which pulsates with a venomous energy.

Deeper into the album lurks “Fear No Fear” as the dark, throbbing heart of this record, a black hole at the core of a galaxy - sucking in all light whilst in parallel – hurtling through the extremities of deep space. It’s certainly not all heavy though, you can contrast the simmering Orwellian themes that play out in “HAL” with “Art Of Viewing” as Bastien muses about appropriating Cold War psychic spying technology for his own romantic means. It’s this perversely black approach to humour that runs through quite a few of the album’s tracks.

This dark humour translates to the strikingly retro album artwork, naturally composed by Bastien. Closer inspection unveils the presence of eleven skull-faced cheerleaders – perhaps one for each song – a sly nod to German philosopher Herbert Marcuse whose ethos that intellectual and economic creativity and productivity are channelled through the consumption of largely irrational and wasteful leisure pursuits is intrinsic to the Detachments worldview. There are moments that touch on gleaming pop too, with lead single “Holiday Romance” detailing the internal, mini-drama of pondering your recent ex’s vacation activities. The accompanying video from respected director Stephen Agnew displays the bands penchant for the odd pop culture references by paying homage to French new wave classic A Bout De Souffle – coincidentally the 50th anniversary of the film.

It’s worth noting that “Tread Along” the albums most hauntingly beautiful moment should be the bitter sweetness of anaesthetizing the pain of lost love, escaping into an opiate haze deep in the unidentified countryside of the imagination. “Words Alone” is the closing moment of release and atonement with its soaring symphony of synth strings soulfully imbued with positive vibes.

Ultimately, the 45 minutes that documents the eponymous ascendance of Detachments as a pure synth group brilliantly exposes your senses to themes of romanticism; nihilistic tendencies; lost love; opiates; Cold War psychic spying; Orwellian paranoia; transcendentalism; the garishness of social climbing and mundanity of office politics. That the majority of these songs sweep through such matters in less than four minutes only serves to demonstrate the raw power of the Detachments vision.

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Stereolab Reveal 'Not Music' Details

Psych-pop outfit Stereolab are set to release their new album entitled 'Not Music' on November 16th.

The stule of Stereolab are almost impossible to classify. Their music moves through huge stylistic shifts, with the band's recorded output moving from glistening psych-pop to exotica, electronic and plenty more. At times singing in different languages, Stereolab have always sought to defy convention. Recently the band have begun operating in France, developing a home studio in the Southern city of Bordeaux.

Due for release later this year, 'Not Music' is a typically inventive recording. The band worked from rhythm tracks upwards, experimenting with up to seventy drum loops before constructing the actual songs.

The band's twelfth studio album to date, will be released via Stereolab's own Duophonic UHF Discs, the song titles are typically hallucinogenic. 'So Is Cardboard Clouds' and 'Everybody's Weird Except Me' share space with 'Two Finger Symphony'.

Tracklisting:

1. Everybody’s Weird Except Me
2. Supha Jaianto
3. So Is Cardboard Clouds
4. Equivalences
5. Lelekato Sugar
6. Silver Sands
7. Two Finger Symphony
8. Delugeoisie
9. Laserblast
10. Sun Demon
11. Aelita
12. Pop Molecules [Molecular Pop 2]
13. Neon Beanbag [Atlas Sound Mix]

The Drums Reveal Second Album Plans

The band's debut album was a huge succes for Kool Rock Radio in 2009, and so it is now for the rest of the world, which was easy to guess because of their fresh style and inidie hits. Tracks such as 'Lets Go Surfing' have a euphoric sound, despite being lyrically downbeat, we could say they are the Beach Boys of  today.

As we all now the music industry moves at a ferocious pace. No sooner do a hot new band release their debut album than a record company begins requesting more new material. Spending the summer playing at British festivals, The Drums have begun to focus on the inevitable need for more tracks.

The Drums explained on an interview that they have already begun sketching out plans for their new album.  The band have spent the summer travelling from country to country, rarely staying in one city for longer than a few days.

Frontman Jonathan Pierce explains: "It’s great, but it’s very very very busy, and everyone that we come in contact with us that works with us, we hear the same thing from all of them: they’ve never worked with a band that works this hard!" 

Talking about what to expect about their second album, Connor Hanwick explained that they don’t want to do a whole lot of change. "What’s exciting us is songs, not stylistic stuff. Stylistically and sonically and production-wise, the album will sound pretty similar to this one, just with new songs. If something new comes along and we think it feels good we’ll go with it. We’re not gonna shun anything new just because it’s new, but at the same time we’re firm believers in if it’s not broke don’t fix it" he said.

Will be good to have more of The Drums.

Chemical Brothers 'Another World' Remix Package Released

The new single of package "Another World" from the Chemical Brothers has arrived! The digital release, out this week.

With "Further", the Brothers went back to basics, shaking free big name guest vocalists and instead releasing a studied, concise 8 song opus with dazzling accompanying visuals - which wound together proves to be one of their most cohesive and compelling records yet.

Now is time for the new single "Another World", which shows just how this stripped down approach works so well; it's a shimmering, pulsating, lolloping slice of electronica, one which builds, slowly and steadily, from a simple piano break, before growing to become an encompassing, dreamily propulsive epic. It's simple yet devastatingly effective, particularly as it progresses towards its euphoric climax – and another potent reminder of just why The Chemical Brothers are still, after all these years, in a league of their own.

The Chemical Brothers - Another World

The single release boasts an eclectic selection of mixes and features the much in demand 'BoysNoize' and 'Popof' remixes, as well as the 'Lindstrom & Prin Thomas' remixes - which are available on all formats.

Tracklisting:

Digital Download available NOW:

1. Another World (Radio Edit)
2. Swoon (Boyz Noize Summer Remix)
3. Swoon (Lindstrøm & Prins Thomas Remix)
4. Horse Power (Popof Remix)

12" Remix Vinyl available August 23rd:
A1 Swoon (Boyz Noize Summer Remix)
A2 Swoon (Lindstrøm & Prins Thomas Remix)
B1 Horse Power (Popof Remix)

Monday, August 16, 2010

Morrissey's Favourite Albums of All Time

Morrissey has chosen his favourite albums, featuring some surprise selections.
After his recent collection of B-sides and rarities and currently without a label, the singer is collaborating with his former home of EMI to release a revised version of 'Bona Drag'. The 1990 collection will be complimented by a re-issued 'Everyday Is Like Sunday' - and evergreen single taken from the singer's solo debut LP 'Viva Hate'.

Enjoyning some free time, Morrissey has revealed his Top 13 albums of all time. Writing for a magazine, the singer revealed some of the albums which make him tick, including classics alongside lesser known works. 

Morrissey's Top 13 albums of all time are:
Jobriath - 'Jobriath'
Jeff Buckley - 'Grace'
The Smoking Popes - 'Born To Quit'
Damien Dempsey - 'Seize The Day'
Roxy Music - 'For Your Pleasure'
The Velvet Underground - 'The Velvet Underground & Nico'
The Velvet Underground - 'White Light/White Heat'
Sparks - 'Kimono My House'
Iggy & The Stooges - 'Raw Power'
Nico - 'Chelsea Girl'
Patti Smith - 'Horses'
Ramones - 'Ramones'
New York Dolls - 'New York Dolls'

Friday, August 13, 2010

Friendly Fires to Collaborate on Bugged Out! Mix

UK's disco-leaning indie-dance trio Friendly Fires, are set to curate a new mix for the Bugged Out label.

Entitled Bugged Out! Presents Suck My Deck, the mix album contains 19 tracks from names like Tom Trago, Tensnake, Lindstrøm & Christabelle, Redshape, and Bot'Ox, and an eclectic affair, including a collaboration between the band and Toronto house crew Azari & III.

All three of the band boast a background steeped in dance culture, with singer Ed MacFarlane even producing his own tracks. Released through Skam, the cuts provide a backdrop to the current success of Friendly Fires. 

The story begins when The band were invited to curate a special Bugged Out party in London, mixing performances from indie newcomers such as The Invisible with sets from Kompakt boss Michael Mayer and Hot Chip producer Joe Goddard. The huge success of the show cemented relations between the pair, with Bugged Out inviting Friendly Fires to produce a new mix CD. 

Tracklisting:

1. The Egyptian Lover - Freak-A-Holic
2. Bot'Ox - Bearded Lady Motorcycle Show
3. The Phenomenal Handclap Band - You'll Disappear (Munk Remix)
4. Tom Trago - Lost In The Streets of NYC (Boris Werner Lost In Malta Remix)
5. Ryan Crosson - Metro Bunker (Original Mix)
6. Lindstrom & Christabelle -Baby Can't Stop (Aeroplane Remix)
7. Rebotini - 777 (Discodeine Remix)
8. Tensnake - Coma Cat
9. Munk - La Musica (Azari & III Remix)
10. Friendly Fires and Azari & III - Stay Here
11. Redshape - Dog Day
12. The 2 Bears - Be Strong
13. Butch - No Worries
14. George Kranz - Din Daa Daa
15. Jody 'Fingers' Finch - Jack Your Big Booty (BHQ No Acid Vocal)
16. BDI - City & Industry
17. Alan Fitzpatrick - Green Light
18. Boo Williams - Mortal Trance
19. Round Two - New Day (Club Vocal Mix)

Friendly Fires will release their Bugged Out mix on September 27th.

Wednesday, August 04, 2010

"In Rainbows" tracks removed

A number of blogs have been targeted by the RIAA and the IFPA after placing Radiohead material on their sites.

Radiohead have a curious relationship with the internet. The band's 2007 album 'In Rainbows' was released as a ground breaking download, with the band deciding fans were able to 'pay what you like'.

The release broke new ground, with Radiohead receiving praise for existing outside the label structure. However in a high profile spat last year Lily Allen attacked the band, claiming that the scheme only worked due to their fame - established by major label EMI.

Radiohead guitarist Ed O'Brien is the head of the FAC, and has previously adopted a pro-file sharing stance. Lily Allen's outburst brought the issue to a head, poking holes in the band's argument.

Now bloggers have been targeted by copyright organisations after placing Radiohead material on the internet. The tracks stem from 'In Rainbows' with the RIAA and IFPI issuing a takedown plea to Google.
The request means that Google would stop listing the sites, effectively blocking them off the internet due to the power of the search engine.

ChillingEffects have managed to get hold of the letter RIAA sent to Google, which demands the takedown of the blogs. The organisation claims that the tracks "have not been authorised" for free download by their "member companies".

Radiohead have yet to comment on the matter. Meanwhile, singer Thom Yorke is preparing to perform at this year's Big Chill. The singer is set to play solo, with recent sets leaning heavily on both Radiohead material and his own album 'The Eraser'.

Drummer Philip Selway, meanwhile, is preparing to release his debut solo album. Recorded earlier this year, 'Familial' is a confident introduction to his rarely heard songwriting.

Kings Of Leon are to release their new album 'Come Around Sundown'

Southern indie giants Kings Of Leon are to release their new album 'Come Around Sundown' on October 18th.

Kings Of Leon are one of the hardest working bands around. Since releasing their fourth album 'Only By The Night' in 2008 the group have toured the world, playing dates on almost every continent.

An enormous success, 'Only By The Night' spent more than a year in the UK Top Forty and spawned several hit singles. Scooping four Grammy awards, the album even won over fans in their homeland becoming their most successful record yet in the United States.

However amid this spectacular success it seems that the band have been plotting their next move.
In a statement released today (August 4th) Kings Of Leon confirmed that they are set to release their fifth album 'Come Around Sundown' on October 18th.

Apparently written during clandestine meetings away from the road, three tracks from the album were showcased in a special show at Hyde Park. Performing in front of countless thousand fans, Kings Of Leon dropped in a handful of new songs. Stoking rumours of their new album, even the wildest of estimates struggled to see a new album dropping before January.

Recorded in New York the sessions were once again helmed by Angelo Petraglia and Jacquire King. Apparently recorded back in February, the lightning quick return comes as Kings Of Leon reach the end of their touring commitments.

The band are set to play the Golden Gate Park in Los Angeles before hitting Britain's twin site V Festival. Due to finish a North American tour at the end of September, Kings Of Leon will then get one month's reprieve before the release of their new album.

The Return of SQUEEZE

UK legends Squeeze to release new recordings of their classic hits.

As teenagers on the South London Scene in the 1970s, teenage friends Chris Difford and Glenn Tilbrook formed Squeeze, the pioneering UK band that saw them dubbed ‘The New Lennon and McCartney.” Championed early on by the Velvet Underground’s John Cale, who produced their debut EP, Packet Of Three,” Squeeze established their position as one of Britain’s most beloved bands with 1979’s Cool For Cats, setting off a career that would spawn decades and produce hits in the UK and abroad.

Now, some 35 years later, Squeeze have re-recorded 14 of their classic tracks for Spot the Difference, an album of all their classic hits re-recorded in a way so painstakingly faithful to the originals that they challenge you to spot the difference.

Tracklisting:
01. Another Nail In My Heart (3:00) 
02. Black Coffee In Bed (6:08) 
03. Cool For Cats (3:10) 
04. Goodbye Girl (3:00) 
05. Hourglass (3:16) 
06. Is That Love (2:32) 
07. Labelled With Love (4:30) 
08. Loving You Tonight (4:09) 
09. Pulling Mussels (From The Shell) (3:59) 
10. Slap & Tickle (4:12) 
11. Some Fantastic Place (4:41) 
12. Take Me I'm Yours (2:47) 
13. Tempted (4:01) 
14. Up The Junction (3:09) 

KOOL ROCK RADIO Proudly presents:
SQUEEZE - THE SPECIAL
Squeeze is back!!!
Don't miss it.
Stay Tuned

AIRSHIP - BAND OF THE MONTH FOR AUGUST

Already August in our calendar and it's AIRSHIP turn.

Airship started in the suburbs of Manchester 2004 with Elliott Williams strumming chords and singing melodies in his bedroom, who was then joined by Tom Dyball on the bass. 

With a few line up changes along the way, Marcus James joined the band with the intention of playing keyboards, but went on to become the lead guitarist, then Steven Griffiths came and blessed the trio with his drumming skills to round off the solid 4 piece.

They have a sound that can be compared to the pop melodies of The Cure, 90's Alternative American Indie and good, old fashioned songwriting.

The EP Algebra was released by Love & Disaster on 10 Maythrough Love & Disaster Records.

*Plus, their single 'Kids' were in the Top 20 of Kool Rock Radio's Annual Chart on 2009.

Monday, July 05, 2010

Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti - Band Of The Month

We open a new month and we also have a new band to talk about the whole month.

This time the turn is for ARIEL PINK'S HAUNTED GRAFFITI with their new album 'Before Today' which is highly recomended for Kool Rock Radio.

Before Today offer us 11 catchy tracks that will lead you back in the 60's, kind of psychedelic and wave sounds, the album is a great collection of pure pop songs released this year.

The first single "Round and Round" is one of the finer tracks of the album, a slow-burning pop ditty that sounds like it could've been recorded in1972. In fact, “Round and Round,” “Beverly Kills,” “Can’t Hear My Eyes”, the instrumental “Reminisces” and ass-kicking closer “Revolution’s a Lie” have all appeared in alternate incarnations on past releases, keeping the personal mix-tape modus operandi Pink has followed all along.

Before Today could easily be the best Ariel Pink's album of  to date and might just find him a whole new legion of listeners with the flavours in their pop, still feels like it's just the tip of the iceberg for this staggeringly talented songwriter. He seems to have created a truly classic LP.

We assure you it will be part of your music collection.

Monday, June 07, 2010

DEVO are to star in an episode of 'Futurama'


DEVO are set to guest star in 'Futurama'. The show's creator Matt Groening is a huge fan of the band, and has asked them to appear in the 100th episode of the award winning animated show.

Returning with a new album this summer, DEVO are ending twenty years of silence. To coincide with this, the band have taken part in a number of bizarre events.

The episode will see DEVO campaign for mutant rights. Leela's parents are second-class, mutant citizens who live underground in the sewers, the members of Devo have mutated over the years, while vocalist Mark Mothersbaugh helps out with their campaign for equality.

Sounds intriguing! The show is set air later this year. Meanwhile, preparations continue for the band's new album. 'Something For Everybody' contains guest appearances from Santigold and more, with comeback single 'Fresh' out now.

DEVO are due to release new album 'Something Everybody' on June 14th

Monday, March 08, 2010

Sparklehorse Singer Mark Linkous Dies

American rock singer Mark Linkous has died, according to the latest reports from the United States.

Formed in the mid 90s, Sparklehorse went on to become one of the most celebrated groups of their generation. Linkous' voice soared over music which continually altered yet was at once instantly recognisable.

Over the course of four albums the group remained at the forefront of American music, despite never tasting mainstream success. Mark Linkous suffered from frequent health problems, caused by an incident in 1996.

The singer 'died' for two minutes after ingesting a cocktail of drugs. Emergency services brought the frontman back to life, but sadly Mark Linkous was left almost paralysed.

Extensive surgery to his legs allowed the musician some mobility, but Mark Linkous struggled continuously with his health. Despite this, the singer worked on a number of projects and recently helped Danger Mouse to compile his new multimedia collection 'Dark Night Of The Soul'.

Sadly, it seems as if this is the last thing Mark Linkous worked on. A statement from the singer's family confirmed the tragic news that the American singer has taken his own life. "It is with great sadness that we share the news that our dear friend and family member Mark Linkous took his own life today," the family said.

"We are thankful for his time with us and will hold him forever in our hearts. May his journey be peaceful, happy and free. There's a heaven and there's a star for you."

Saturday, March 06, 2010

THE LAB OF DJ RELAX TOP 100 - 2009

THE LAB OF DJ RELAX TOP 100

01.- Empire Of The Sun - We Are The People
02.- The Drums - Let's Go Surfing
03.- Delphic – Counterpoint
04.- White Lies - To Lose My Life
05.- The Temper Trap - Sweet Disposition
06.- Animal Kingdom - Signs And Wonders
07.- The Big Pink – Dominos
08.- The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart - Higher Than The Stars
09.- The Veils - The Letter
10.- Amazing Baby – Headdress
11.- Kasabian - Where Did All The Love Go
12.- The Penelope(s) - Stuck In Lalaland
13.- Editors – Papillon
14.- Arctic Monkeys – Cornerstone
15.- White Lies - Farewell To The Fairground
16.- Simple Minds - This Is It
17.- Depeche Mode – Wrong
18.- Autokratz - Always More
19.- Passion Pit - The Reeling
20.- Animal Kingdom - Tin Man
21.- Grand Avenue - Almost Gone
22.- Julian Casablancas -11th Dimension
23.- Muse - Undisclosed Desires
24.- The Cribs - We Share The Sames Skies
25.- Black & White Years - To Modern Science
26.- Florence & The Machine - Rabbit Heart (Raise It Up)
27.- The Invisible - London Girl
28.- Marmaduke Duke - Rubber Lover
29.- Empire Of The Sun - Walking On A Dream
30.- Mando Diao - Dance With Somebody (Radio Version)
31.- The Killers - Four Winds
32.- Reverend And The Makers - Silence Is Talking
33.- Ladyhawke - My Delirium
34.- Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Heads Will Roll
35.- Maximo Park - Questing Not Coasting
36.- U2 – Magnificent
37.- Metric - Sick Muse
38.- Bloc Party - One More Chance
39.- Moby - One Time We Lived
40.- Boy Crisis -The Fountain Of Youth
41.- The Cribs - Cheat On Me
42.- Yo La Tengo - Nothing To Hide
43.- War Tapes - Dreaming Of You
44.- Better Than Ezra - So Alive
45.- Phoenix – 1901
46.- Florence & The Machine - Dog Days Are Over
47.- Vampire Weekend- Cousins
48.- Animal Kingdom - Two By Two
49.- Oasis - Falling Down
50.- Stricken City - Pull The House Down
51.- A Place To Bury Strangers - In Your Heart
52.- Crocodiles - I Wanna Kill
53.- Howling Bells - Cities Burning Down
54.- Pet Shop Boys - Love Etc.
55.- Sonic Youth - Sacred Trickster
56.- Silversun Pickups - Panic Switch
57.- The Raveonettes - Last Dance
58.- Julian Casablancas - Out Of The Blue
59.- Streophnics – Innocent
60.- The Lost Valentinos – Thief
61.- Miike Snow -Black And Blue
62.- Kasabian – Fire
63.- Muse – Uprising
64.- Simple Minds – Rockets
65.- Depeche Mode - Fragile Tension
66.- Passion Pit – Sleepyhead
67.- Bad Lieutenant - Sink Or Swim
68.- Goldhawks - Where In The World (2009)
69.- Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Zero
70.- Spoon - Got Nuffin
71.- Echo & The Bunnymen - Think I Need It Too
72.- Jamie t - Sticks n Stones
73.- The Postmarks - No One Said This Would Be Easy
74.- Bat For Lashes – Daniel
75.- The Twang - Barney Rubble
76.- Placebo - Ashtray Heart
77.- Tiny Masters Of Today - Pop Chart
78.- Julian Plenti - Fun That We Have
79.- Girls - Lust For Life
80.- Stellastarr - Graffiti Eyes
81.- Morrissey - I'm Throwing My Arms Around Paris
82.- Doves - Kingdom Of Rust (radio edit)
83.- Camera Obscura - The Sweetest Thing
84.- Joan Jett - Destination Unknown (2009)
85.- Snow Patrol - Just Say Yes
86.- Friendly Fires - Kiss Of Life
87.- Placebo - For What Its Worth
88.- The Bravery - Slow Poison
89.- St. Vincent - Actor Out Of Work
90.- Keane - Disco 2000
91.- Ladyhawke – Magic
92.- The Prodigy – Omen
93.- Depeche Mode – Peace
94.- The Enemy - No Time For Tears
95.- Franz Ferdinand - No You Girls
96.- Spinnerette - Baptized By Fire
97.- Jet - She's A Genius
98.- Devo - Don't Shoot (I'm a Man)
99.- Ian Brown – Stellify
100.- Radiohead - These Are My Twisted Words

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Florence And The Machine Songwriting Row Gang Gang Dance 'homage'


BRIT Award winning star Florence And The Machine is set to hand over a chunk of her songwriting royalties.

Florence And The Machine appeared to arrive fully formed in the Spring of 2008. A series of hit singles led to debut album 'Lungs' which went on to dominate the British charts.

Recently topping the countdown, the Mercury nominated effort later claimed a BRIT for 'Best Album Of The Year'. However recently the group have been dogged by accusations of copying Gang Gang Dance.

Florence And The Machine's track 'Rabbit Heart (Raise It Up)' bears an uncanny resemblance to 'House Jam' by Gang Gang Dance. The two tracks are so similar, in fact, that the Brooklyn group will now be credited on 'Lungs'.

The song was released without the knowledge of Gang Gang Dance, who only stumbled across the track after catching the video on late night television. Bringing to case to the attention of Florence And The Machine the band admitted using 'House Jam' as a blueprint for their own track.

"They did acknowledge the infringement and said that they were aware of it," according to Warp Records - home to Gang Gang Dance.

Meanwhile, Florence And The Machine insist that the track was meant as a homage to Gang Gang Dance and have apologised for missing them off the credits. "Yeah that's true, it's no secret. I've spoken about it in interviews before. I'm a massive fan of Gang Gang Dance and it was in homage to them" reports Pitchfork.

One of the best selling British albums of 2009, the case is likely to result in a substantial pay off for Gang Gang Dance.

We quite agree Tom...


KASABIAN singer Tom Meighan has blamed the internet for "killing" rock stars.

The outspoken frontman claims there are no iconic musicians left because artists reveal too much about themselves on blogging websites such as Twitter.

He said: "It's not like what it used to be like in rock 'n' roll. In the '60s and '70s you had the likes of David Bowie and Marc Bolan, and then in the '80s you even had shit acts that were rock stars. Then in the '90s you had the Britpop revival.

"I think - especially in the last three or four years - the internet's taken a stranglehold and killed off the myth of the rock star now. You know when you used to buy the records and there was the myth behind them? There's too much on blogs now and I think it's killed it off. Nobody's surprised by an interview anymore or anything. It's quite tragic."

He also said blogging has taken away the spirit of rock 'n roll'. He told Bang Showbiz: "There are so many rock stars writing these self pitying blogs and it's not in the spirit of rock 'n' roll, it's like 'Wow, what rubbish'."