Arctic Monkeys Announce New Single

Arctic Monkeys are due to release new single 'Don't Sit Down 'Cause I've Moved Your Chair' on April 16th.

Completed somewhere between Los Angeles and London, Arctic Monkeys are due to release their new album 'Suck It And See' in June. So far, fans have only heard one track - the riff heavy 'Brick By Brick'. Streaming online, the song caused a mixed reaction amongst fans with drummer Matt Helders making a rare turn on vocals.

Available on seven inch, the single boasts 'Brick By Brick' on the B-side. Meanwhile, the A-side will be released digitally on April 11th. Available exclusively for Record Store Day, Arctic Monkeys are preparing a full single release on 7 inch, 10 inch and mp3 on May 30th.

Of course, Arctic Monkeys are long term devotees of vinyl. Each single from 'Humbug' was pressed onto seven inch vinyl, with British charity Oxfam using their shops as an exclusive distribution point.

Full release details as follows:

Record Store Day 7”

Don’t Sit Down ‘Cause I’ve Moved Your Chair

Brick By Brick

7"

Don’t Sit Down ‘Cause I’ve Moved Your Chair

I.D.S.T.

10"/Digital Download

1. Don't Sit Down 'Cause I've Moved Your Chair

2. The Blond-O-Sonic Shimmer Trap

3. I.D.S.T

The album, 'Suck It and See' is released on Domino on Monday 6th June 2011.

The Music To Split Up After August Tour

The Music have announced that they will split after their farewell tour in August.

Battling against the industry, the Leeds band packed out venues across the North of England when still unsigned. That early momentum saw them pick up a deal with Hut, who released their self-titled album back in 2002.

Touring across the world, The Music became festival favourites, their hi-octane live show sat somewhere between early Verve and Led Zeppelin, mixing electronics with huge riffs. However trouble set in when singer Robert Harvey succumbed to addiction. Admitting problems with drink and drugs, a spell in rehab took The Music off the road for almost two years.

Stalling the momentum of their career, a lacklustre third album 'Strength In Numbers' followed in 2008. Since then, the band have struggled to regain the sense of purpose which fuelled those early live shows.

Now the band have announced that they are to part company after ten years together. In a statement The Music said: "We've come so far together and now it's time to end things the right way and in the place we love the most - onstage playing live. We're going to give it our all for these last times together and it's going to be emotional, but were really glad to get back to Japan one last time where people have been so good to us over the years, and we send our love and thoughts to everyone there who has been affected by the terrible events of March 11th."

"We'll be saying thankyou to so many people over these dates and we'll start now by saying thanks to anyone who’s been with us on this incredible trip. We're all looking to the future and what comes next, but we'll always be grateful for the years, times and experiences we've shared. We're going to make these shows as much of a party as we can, and we hope people turn up to celebrate with us."

Split between Japan and the UK, The Music are to play the following shows:

July

25 Osaka Big Cat

26 Nagoya Club Quattro

27 Tokyo Club AX

August

4 London Shepherds Bush Empire

5 Leeds O2 Academy

Depeche Mode Announce Remix Album

In an update posted on their official website, the band revealed that the collection will be available in a single-CD version, as well as a triple-CD set or a six-LP box. It will also be released as a digital download.

"On 6 June 2011, Depeche Mode will release Remixes 2: 81-11 on Mute. An inspiring collection of new and classic mixes of material covering their entire career, the album includes remixes of tracks from their 1981 debut Speak And Spell, through to 2009's Sounds Of The Universe, and is the follow-up to 2004's million-plus selling Remixes 81-04. These remixes reinforce Depeche Mode's standing as one of the world's most influential and innovative acts.

Depeche Mode have been at the forefront of remix culture for the best part of three decades and this new compilation includes classic mixes from M83, UNKLE, Trentemøller, François Kervorkian and Dan The Automator, alongside all-new mixes from Stargate, Eric Prydz, Karlsson & Winnberg (from Miike Snow) and Röyksopp. In addition to this, the expanded editions include exclusive remixes by former band members Vince Clarke and Alan Wilder - the first time either artist has remixed tracks for their former colleagues."

Remixes 2: 81-11 will be available in two different CD formats; Single and Triple Disc versions, as well as Downloads and as a 6 x 12" vinyl LP box set.

Depeche Mode are set to release 'Remixes 2: 81 - 11' on June 6th. Single disc tracklisting:

1-Disc version:

1. Dream On - Bushwacka Tough Guy Mix Edit (2001)
2. Personal Jesus - The Stargate Mix (2011)
3. Suffer Well - M83 Remix (2006)
4. John The Revelator - UNKLE Reconstruction (2006)
5. In Chains - Tigerskin's No Sleep Remix Edit (2011)
6. Peace - SixToes Remix (2009)
7. Tora! Tora! Tora! - Karlsson And Winnberg (from Miike Snow) Remix (2011)
8. Never Let Me Down Again - Eric Prydz Remix (2011)
9. I Want It All - Roland M.Dill Remix (2011)
10. Wrong - Trentemøller Remix (2009)
11. Puppets - Röyksopp Remix (2011)
12. Everything Counts - Oliver Huntemann And Stephan Bodzin Dub (2006)
13. A Pain That I'm Used To - Jacques Lu Cont Remix (2005)

3-Disc version

Disc 1:
1. Dream On - Bushwacka Tough Guy Mix (2001)
2. Suffer Well - M83 Remix (2006)
3. John The Revelator - UNKLE Reconstruction (2006)
4. In Chains - Tigerskin's No Sleep Remix (2011)
5. Peace - SixToes Remix (2009)
6. Lilian - Chab Vocal Remix Edit (2006)
7. Never Let Me Down Again - Digitalism Remix (2006)
8. Corrupt - Efdemin Remix (2009)
9. Everything Counts - Oliver Huntemann And Stephan Bodzin Dub (2006)
10. Happiest Girl - The Pulsating Orbital Vocal Mix (1990)
11. Walking In My Shoes - Anandamidic Mix (1993)
12. Personal Jesus - The Stargate Mix (2011)
13. Slowblow - Darren Price Mix (1997)

Disc 2:
1. Wrong - Trentemøller Club Remix (2009)
2. World In My Eyes - Dub In My Eyes (1990)
3. Fragile Tension - Peter Bjorn and John Remix (2009)
4. Strangelove - Tim Simenon/Mark Saunders Remix (1988)
5. A Pain That I'm Used To - Jacques Lu Cont Remix (2005)
6. The Darkest Star - Monolake Remix (2006)
7. I Feel You - Helmet At The Helm Mix (1993)
8. Higher Love - Adrenaline Mix Edit (2004)
9. Fly On The Windscreen - Death Mix (1985)
10. Barrel Of A Gun - United Mix (1997)
11. Only When I Lose Myself - Dan The Automator Mix (1998)
12. Ghost - Le Weekend Remix (2009)

Disc 3:
1. Personal Jesus - Alex Metric Remix Edit (2011)
2. Never Let Me Down Again - Eric Prydz Remix (2011)
3. Behind The Wheel - Vince Clarke Remix (2011)
4. Leave In Silence - Claro Intelecto 'The Last Time' Remix (2011)
5. In Chains - Alan Wilder Remix (2011)
6. When The Body Speaks - Karlsson And Winnberg Remix (2011)
7. Puppets - Röyksopp Remix (2011)
8. Tora! Tora! Tora! - Karlsson And Winnberg (from Miike Snow) Remix (2011)
9. Freestate - Clark Remix (2011)
10. I Want It All - Roland M. Dill Remix (2011)
11. A Question Of Time - Joebot Presents 'Radio Face' Remix (2011)
12. Personal Jesus - Sie Medway-Smith Remix (2011)

(via the band’s official site).

Friendly Fires Announce 'Pala' Release Date

Friendly Fires have announced they are set to release their second album, 'Pala', on May 16th.

Releasing their debut album in 2008, the trio became a slow burning success. Kept in the charts by continual touring, Friendly Fires enjoyed massive success. Since then, the band have kept a low profile.

Returning to the studio, Friendly Fires began work once again with producer Paul Epworth, who worked with them in England, France and New York.

Named 'Pala' - after the island in Aldous Huxley’s 1962 novel ‘Island’ - the band's second album is due to drop on May 16th.

The band will be playing some Canadian dates shortly after the album’s release:

• 5/28 Theatre Corona, Montreal, QC
• 5/30 Phoenix Concert Theatre, Toronto, ON
• 5/30 Wrongbar, Toronto, ON (after party DJ set)
• 6/4 Venue, Vancouver BC

The art work for 'Pala' features a photograph of a parrot shot by famed fashion photographer Sølve Sundsbø, while guests on the album include The Harlem Gospel Choir and Holy Ghost’s Alex Frankel.

Tracklisting:

1. Live Those Days Tonight
2. Blue Cassette
3. Running Away
4. Hawaiian Air
5. Hurting
6. Pala
7. Show Me Lights
8. True Love
9. Pull Me Back To Earth
10. Chimes
11. Helpless

Mumford & Sons To Involve Fans On Their Next Album

Mumford & Sons have revealed that they would love to involve their fans on their next album.

The band, who picked up Best British Album at this year's BRIT Awards, have said that the follow-up to 2009's 'Sigh No More' will have a live sound feel.

''We really love the idea of involving our audiences in some way. That's how we did 'Sigh no More', Ted Dwane told.

He added: ''We did it live, the songs were played in front of crowds, they evolved in front of an audience. We're quite intent on doing that again fro the second album. It feels like a logical way to work out what you want to record.''

Meanwhile, Mumford & Sons have become the first band since Coldplay to sell over a million copies of an album in the UK and US.

Faithless To Split Up

The 'Insomnia' dance group announced they will go their separate ways after 15 years together after their preset tour ends on April 8.

Singer Maxi Jazz made the announcement on the official Faithless website. "After 15 years and six albums I think we've probably made our collective point by now and that it's time to close the book and return to the library" he said.

Continuing, the Faithless rapper thanked fans for their support throughout the band's career. "We've had, with you (fans), the most unbelievable, epic and moving experience, stretching over years and tens of thousands of miles. Joyful, exhilarating and empowering, we never for a moment thought an affair could last this long."

The group is completed by DJ Sister Bliss and producer Rollo, who does not appear with the band for live shows.

Faithless released their first single, 'Salva Mea', in 1995 and quickly became one of the most popular electronic acts in the UK. Their single 'Insomnia' became s a top three hit in 1996 and they had seven top ten hits in total, including 'God Is A DJ' and 'We Come 1'. They group's released their last album 'The Dance' last year' in 2010.

Announcing a final European tour, Faithless have confirmed three British shows:

April

4 Glasgow O2 Academy

7 London O2 Academy Brixton

8 London O2 Academy Brixton

Alice In Chains Bassist Mike Starr Dies At 44

Former Alice in Chains bassist Mike Starr, aged 44, was found dead in Salt Lake City on Tuesday(March 8), police said.

Alice In Chains were often tagged as a grunge group, but in reality the band had little in common with the scene bar geography. Formed in Seattle, the group shared a love of fuzzed up riffs but were in reality an unreconstructed metal group.

Bass player Mike Starr departed the band shortly after the release of 'Dirt' and became a cult figure to fans. Drifting out of the music industry, Starr became one of the great lost talents of the grunge era. Re-emerging some time after, Mike Starr took part in a controversial reality TV show. Broadcast on VH1, the bass player revealed much about his decade long struggle to free himself from drug addiction.

Arrested three weeks ago on an outstanding warrant, it was immediately apparent that drugs were still a problem in Mike Starr's life. Now living in Salt Lake City, the bass player was found dead in his apartment.

Just 44 years old, the news broke on TMZ. Police have confirmed the death, with Mike Starr's father commenting only to say: "It's a terrible shock and tragedy."

The death is thought to be a drug overdose. "There is nothing to indicate that this was foul play by another individual," police said.

In a sad twist, Alice in Chains frontman Layne Staley died from mixture of heroin and cocaine in 2002. The remaining members of Alice In Chains have yet to comment on the news.

RIP Mr. Starr.

BOTM March 2011 - MINAARS

Minnaars is an Indie, Math Rock and Dance-Punk band based out of Leicester, England. The name Minnaars comes from the Dutch word meaning 'lovers'. This five-piece is formed by Neil Humphrey, Gavin Thorpe, Benjamin Cropley, Adam Pickering and original bassist Russell Haynes. Haynes then left to be replaced by Daniel Faulkner, childhood friend of Humphrey, who completed the line-up.

The band went on to perform on the BBC Introducing Stage at Reading and Leeds before doing a short European tour with the band Gallops. In October 2010 the band begun working with Strata Music Group and released an EP, entitled "Ideal & Error", that was readily available from January 2011, to coincide with a lengthy European tour and also as a footing into the UK market.

**Plus: Their songs 'Are Lovers' and 'Busy Hands' reached the Top 100 on Kool Rock Radio's BEST TRACKS OF 2010 chart.

New Tribute Album To The Smiths

A new tribute album to The Smiths has been arranged featuring The Wedding Present and more.

American Laundromat Records have managed to secure a series of special cover versions by some modern acts. 'Please, Please, Please: A Tribute To The Smiths' is due to be released later this year, and contains a raft of guest appearances. Fellow Northern indie types The Wedding Present have agreed to take part, tackling the band's debut single 'Hand In Glove'.

Elsewhere, The Leisure Society cover 'That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore' while Katy Goodman - Vivian Girls, La Sera - also contributes. Joy Zipper cover the classic single 'What Difference Does It Make?' while Built To Spill singer Doug Martsch takes on the early album track 'Reel Around The Fountain'.

Available on CD, the tribute album opens with a version of 'London' by David Gedge's other group Cinerama. You can't help but feel that John Peel would have enjoyed listening to this album...

The tribute album will be adorned by a classic picture of Sandie Shaw. The Smiths frequently used 50s and 60s pop culture icons as their cover art, and backed Sandie Shaw on a rendition of 'Hand In Glove' in 1983.

American Laudromat lynchpin Joe Spadaro was delighted by the results of the compilation. "I’m a huge Smiths fan and have been planning a tribute for a few years now. Timing just never seemed right" he explained.

"Then late last year, for several weeks, everywhere I went, I heard The Smiths playing… at the mall, at restaurants, on my car radio. It was weird… I felt like the universe was telling me now was the time. I started reaching-out to artists in November and the response was overwhelmingly positive. This is going to be one of the best tributes we’ve ever produced."

The 'Please, Please, Please: A Tribute To The Smiths'  disc is now available for preorder from the label.

Tracklisting:

Cinerama / London

Class Actress / Ask

Dala / Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loved Me

Doug Martsch (Built To Spill) / Reel Around the Fountain

Elk City / I Know It's Over

Greg Laswell / Half A Person

Joy Zipper / What Difference Does It Make?

Katy Goodman (Vivian Girls, La Sera) / track to be announced

Kitten / track to be announced

Mike Viola / How Soon Is Now?

Sara Lov / track to be announced

Sixpence None the Richer / I Won’t Share You

Tanya Donelly w/Dylan in the Movies / Shoplifters Of The World Unite

The Leisure Society / That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore

The Rest / Stop Me If You Think You've Heard This One Before

The Wedding Present / Hand In Glove

Trespassers William / There Is A Light That Never Goes Out

William Fitzsimmons / Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want

The Drums Working On New Album

The Drums have confirmed they are currently working on a new album, and hope to have the record released this year.

The band’s frontman Jonathan Pierce explained in an interview how the recording process is closely linked to the formula which produced their successful debut.

“This year we’ll put something out. We’re writing and recording every day in New York. Currently recording in our kitchen so it’s a very home spun effort again,’ he said. “Right now its just guitar based, drums, vocals and I’ve bought this really old modular analogue synthesiser from Tokyo that we’re sort of implementing.”

The Drums were treated to a big build up towards the end of 2009 and into early 2010, featuring prominently on the BBC‘s annual Sound Of rundown, while KOOL ROCK RADIO included them in the top 10 of the Best New Bands of 2009.

The follow-up to their successful 2010 self-titled debut will be released later this year.