Watch: Alpaca Sports Unveil Video For "A Million Times"

Alpaca Sports have unveiled the video for "A Million Times", the b-side to the group’s upcoming new single 'As Long As I Have You' which will be released as 7-inch-single in February via Cloudberry Records.

The video was directed once again by Carl Jirestedt. Watch it below.

The House Of Love To Release New Album 'She Paints Words In Red' In 2013

The House Of Love have announced that they will return with a full length studio album next year. 

The new album entitled 'She Paints Words In Red', will be released in March or April of 2013 via Cherry Red Records according to their recent Facebook announcements. Take a look at the official tracklist for She Paints Words In Red below. 

Tracklist:

1. A Baby Got Back On Its Feet
2. Hemmingway
3. She Paints Words In Red
4. PKR
5. Lost In The Blues
6. Low Black Clouds
7. Money Man
8. Trouble In Mind
9. Never Again
10. Sunshine Out Of The Rain
11. Holy River
12. Eye Dream

Watch: The Courteeners New Video For "Lose Control"

The Courteeners have unveiled the video for their new single 'Lose Control' released on 28th January through V2. 

The single is taken from the band's third studio album 'ANNA' out 4th February and is part of our current playlist www.koolrockradio.com. 

The video was shot and directed by Joe Connor. Watch it below.

(facebook.com/thecourteeners)

Tags: The Courteeners

James Frontman Tim Booth "I do see Simon Cowell as some kind of Antichrist"

In an interview with Digital Spy, James frontman Tim Booth talked about how pop mogul Simon Cowell has significantly lowered the expectations of the public. 

"Punk brought in a slightly puritanical morality of not selling out. What happened in the early '90s was the media sold out. Q would put Spice Girls on the front cover and Robbie Williams. I'm not knocking them, but those magazines used to be about music, and just about music.

"That seemed like a betrayal. That seemed like a sell-out. They're accusing bands of selling out, it must be able to work the other way.

"From then on it became about money, and how much you sell. Rather than music. There's a crossover with that, obviously, but it shouldn't just be about money and celebrity. It became that when Spice Girls got some kudos.

"It was like, 'You're f**king kidding me!' This stuff was manipulated, created to con the pocket money out of young girls, essentially, and it worked. But it shouldn't get mythologised by the music press, just because it's successful. And by star-hungry journalists."

He added: "I've seen that happen and Pop Idol entrenched that, and all of those things. And I do see Simon Cowell as some kind of Antichrist, in that way. In the kind of Bill Hicks. You've been sent to the planet to lower the standards, so that people will forget that they are actually angels and divine beings. They kind of lose themselves in this s**t. So, yes, I can rant like that now and again!

"I would never say that he should be shot. I would just say that he's probably the Antichrist in my world. To me it's like what Rupert Murdoch did to this country and what Dennis Potter spoke out about. It's about dumbing down and lowering the standards.

"I totally get why people are attracted to it and kids are attracted to it as a shortcut. But it's a shortcut to a short life. I don't think it's very fulfilling. What I want to see is people expressing themselves. From their heart, from their soul. I don't think when you become part of a machine like that you have any chance of that happening."

"I went last night to see a band in Brighton called Soccer 96. Two guys, drummer and keyboard player, and it was genius. It was their own language. It was raw as f**k. There wasn't a chorus to rub together. It was fantastic. Tiny audience, but people going, 'Whoah'. You're watching a band who's going to influence a lot of people. Booth continued.

"They may not become huge - if they stay as bloody minded as they are. But genius. Then you watch Alabama Shakes and you go, 'F**king hell'. That's the music we want. That's the music that feeds us and touches our souls."

The singer added of the media: "The NME particularly sold out. It had to launch a new band to be the great band every two years and then destroy them after two years... it just became clearly an editorial conceit and a strategy to try and keep people interested. Aimed at manipulation."

A few weeks ago, Depeche Mode's Martin Gore also spoke about Cowell saying: "I'm not advocating violence, but I think somebody should shoot Simon Cowell! His influence in the music industry over the last God knows how many years it's been now... it's just like, so many people think that that's what music is. What happened to bands getting together? They are very few and far between now and the ones that do probably can't afford to get into a studio and make a record."

Watch: TOY New Video For "Make It Mine"

TOY have unveiled the video for their new single "Make It Mine" released yesterday (10th December) through Heavenly Recordings and taken from the band's self-titled debut album. The song is part of our current playlist www.koolrockradio.com.

The video was directed by Joe Morris. Watch it below

Depeche Mode To Release New Album In March 2013

Depeche Mode are set to release their 13th studio album in March 2013 on Columbia Records. 

"I am very happy with how the album turned out," comments DM’s Martin Gore. "The music has a similar vibe to Violator and Songs of Faith and Devotion and I think the songs on the album are among some of the very best we've done." 

The band has announced that the new album will contain brand new tracks written by Gore and Dave Gahan. Gahan reveals, "The album has a very organic and direct feel to it. It’s not a blues record, but it definitely has a soulful vibe. During the recording process we really tried to get the elements of performing and the live show into the album more." 

The band gave fans a glimpse into the making of the new album in October when they released the following video clip featuring new music (http://smarturl.it/dmcollage). Additional album details will be disclosed in the coming weeks.

Following the release of their new album, Depeche Mode will embark on a European tour, kicking off in Tel Aviv’s Hayarkon Park on May 7. A full North American tour will follow, with details to be announced shortly.

Watch: The Primitives Share "You Trashed My Christmas" Video

The Primitives have unveiled the video for their new Christmas song "You Trashed My Christmas". The song is already part of our current playlist www.koolrockradio.com.

The video was directed by Chris Croft. Watch it below.

Watch: Only Real New Video For "Backseat Kissers"

Niall Galvin, aka Only Real has unveiled the video for his new single "Backseat Kissers", which is set to come out through ASL Records on 28th January. The song is part of our current playlist www.koolrockradio.com.

The video was directed by Yoni Lappin and Fred Ellis. Watch it below.

Watch: Peace New Video For "Wraith"

Birmingham-based band Peace have unveiled the video for their new single "Wraith" out on 13 January 2013. The song is part of our current playlist www.koolrockradio.com

Watch it below.

Watch: Django Django Share "Life's a Beach" Video

Django Django have unveiled the music video for "Life's a Beach" taken from their self-titled debut album. the song is part of our current playlist www.koolrockradio.com.

The video was directed by Isaac Eastgate. Watch it below.

Watch: The Mary Onettes Perform ”Evil Coast” Live

The Mary Onettes have unveiled a new video performing an exclusive live version of 'Evil Coast'.

The song is taken from the band's upcoming album "Hit the Waves", which is released on March 12th through Labrador and it's part of our current playlist www.koolrockradio.com.

"Evil Coast" is a place inside the brain, not a natural beach. We wanted to show a live recording from our reality far from caipirinha and deck chairs. Said the band.

Watch the video below.

Watch: M83 New Video For “Wait”

M83 has unveiled the video for 'Wait', taken from M83 2011 album 'Hurry Up We're Dreaming'.

"I love composing music and making music with pictures in my head, it’s really what’s driving me. Cinema is the biggest influence for me – even bigger than music itself, so this album is built as a soundtrack, as an imaginary film." said Anthony Gonzales.

The clip is the final of three videos in collaboration with Fleur & Manu. Watch it below.

(facebook.com/m83)

Tags: M83

Kaiser Chiefs Drummer/Songwriter Nick Hodgson Quits The Band

Kaiser Chiefs co-founder Nick Hodgson has announced that he has quit the band.

Hodgson revealed the news today (December 4) via Twitter posting: "I can confirm I have left Kaiser Chiefs after 15 spectacular years. I'm moving on. I wish the rest of the band the very best!" 

Lead singer Ricky Wilson responded to the news writing: "The door is on the latch and the key under the mat. X"

Bass player Simon Rix also expressed his well wishes to Hodgson, tweeting: "I can exclusively confirm we will still be collaborating on pints in pubs."

Away from the band, Hodgson runs the Chewing Gum record label and owns the Chewdio record label where bands such as The Vaccines, Mark Ronson and Ryan Jarman have all recorded material. He has also written songs for Duran Duran and Shirley Bassey, working closely with DJ and producer Mark Ronson.

(facebook.com/kaiserchiefs)

Tags: Kaiser Chiefs

The Horrors To Release 'Higher' Box Set

The Horrors have announced the release of a limited edition box-set, featuring remixes and videos from their 2011 album, 'Skying'.

"Higher" boxset,  contains remixes from Connan Mockasin, Seahawks, Andrew Weatherall, Blanck Mass, Peaking Lights, Cherrystones, Chris Watson, Daniel Avery, JTC and Andy Blake. Asked about his contribution, Andrew Weatherall said: "One of the pleasures of remixing is seeing how other people construct their music. Re-arranging the bricks in The Horrors wall of sound was a particular joy."

"I used Weddell seals singing at the intro recorded under the Antartic sea ice," said Watson. "The rhythms of the Humbolt current around the Galapagos Islands recorded with DPA hydrophones. Singing grey seals recorded out on the Farne Islands, Northumberland and the processed voices of Orca, killer whales, recorded in the sea of Norway." 

Speaking of how the boxed set came to fruition, The Horrors' Tom Cowan said; "We were driving through the deserts of California when we hatched the plan to release a boxed set of the singles from Skying, unaware that it would balloon into the monster that it did. We started off small, just one version per single. However, through chance encounters and wanting to involve more people whose music excited us, the box soon grew into an impressive collection of sonic tapestries and hypnotic grooves and it became apparent that this was no longer about the singles. It was now about this new music which had used the different elements of Skying as a springboard to other ideas. We encouraged everyone involved to be as obtuse as possible, to get as far away from the original source material as they could. The results are stunning, and I think it's just a shame we couldn't have done more."

'Higher' is out now digitally, and will get a physical release in March 2013 via XL.

The tracklisting is as follows:

12" Vinyl One
A1. Still Life
A2. Still Life (Connan Mockasin Remix)
B1. Still Life (Still Living Still Giving Cherrystones Remix)
B2. Dive In (The Pressure Ridges) - Chris Watson Remix

12" Vinyl Two
A1. I Can See Through You
A2. Monica Gems (Daniel Avery Remix)
B1. I Can See Through You (Blanck Mass Remix)

12" Vinyl Three
A1. Changing The Rain
A2. You Said (Peaking Lights Dub U Mix)
B1. Comes In Waves (Seahawks Skying Suite)

12" Vinyl Four
A1. Moving Further Away (Andrew Weatherall Remix)
B1. Moving Further Away (Andy Blake World Unknown Mix)

CD One
1. I Can See Through You (Blanck Mass Remix)
2. Monica Gems (Daniel Avery Remix)
3. Still Life (Connan Mockasin Remix)
4. You Said (Peaking Lights Dub U Mix)
5. Still Life (Still Living Still Giving Cherrystones Remix)
6. Moving Further Away (Andrew Weatherall Remix)

CD Two
1. Comes In Waves (Seahawks Skying Suite)
2. Moving Further Away (Andy Blake World Unknown Mix)
3. Dive In (The Pressure Ridges)
4. You Said (JTC Remix)
5. Wild Eyed (Andrew Weatherall Remix)
6. Moving Into Blue (Seahawks Skying Suite)

DVD
Still Life Video (Directed by Oliver Murray)
I Can See Through You (Directed by White Rabbit)
Changing The Rain (Directed by Pete Fowler)

Watch: Kid Astray Reveal "The Mess" Music Video

Oslo indie-pop band Kid Astray have revealed the video for their kool debut single "The Mess". The song is part of our current playlist www.koolrockradio.com.

The video was directed by Hamid Waheed. Watch it below.

Get the track on iTunes

PANAMA - Band on the Month December 2012

A classically trained pianist from the age of six, songwriter and frontman, Jarrah McCleary grew up in the sticky heat of the Northern Territory. His previous project, The Dirty Secrets saw the band working between Australia and London with iconic producer and engineer, Nick Terry (Klaxons, Libertines).

Panama is the new incarnation for McCleary, who is joined by his old band mate, Cam Edwards and a collective of hand-selected local artists to create Australia’s finest five-piece. Steeped in splashes of yacht rock, Hopeful house music and an avid appreciation fro the '80s, Panama make music that is as brimming with a quiet, golden nostalgia as it is bright and anthemic in its delivery.

Panama's debut single 'Magic' premiered in early 2012 on Filter Magazine. It received significant airplay across their natal Australia and also in many countries around the world, including Kool Rock Radio. 

Recorded in Los Angeles with super producer, Eric Broucek of DFA Records fame (Holy Ghost, LCD Soundsystem), Panama's latest EP "I'ts Not Over" continues to prove that the success of this Sydney quintet has only just begun. The EP also sees the band enlist some high hat help from Jim Orso on drums (Holy Ghost!, Hot chip) adding a layer to the sound that is as relevant and 'now' as it is brimful of '80s influence.

Released via iconic indie dance record label, Future Classic, "I'ts Not Over" is the dark horse of content-heavy dance-pop world. channelling the likes of Peter Gabriel with nods to companions Cut Copy and Van She, this six-track EP is a 2012 staple for any discerning listener.

"It's Not over" is out now and you can order your copy on iTunes.

Website: http://wearepanamatheband.com

Album of the Week 03/12: Born Blonde "What The Desert Taught You"

West London based outfit Born Blonde formed in 2009 when lead singer Arthur Delaney enlisted Fraser and George as musicians for a solo folk music project. Schoolmates Josh and Tom were next to join, and so the band was born.

They released their critically acclaimed 'Solar' and 'Radio Bliss' singles in 2011 and early early this year, they surprised us again with the track 'I Just Wanna Be' which features the bands trademark sub bass organ pedals, taking in their rich influences of 60s psychedelia, late 80s and early 90s shoegaze, channelled through a progressive 21st century outlook.

Recorded with Simon ‘Barny’ Barnicott (Arctic Monkeys, Kasabian), the band's debut album "What The Desert Taught You" imparts a sublime sense of disorientation; a sense that you don't want to recover from, but at the same time you want to recover from it so you can get on with the serious business of getting lost again. 

About the album titled, Delaney said in an interview: "We decided on that because we felt it was a summary of everything we had gone through to finish the album. We got obsessed with the idea that we had left our road, gone in search of these songs and found ourselves coming round in a place of no feeling, a bit warped and void of all of the emotions and ways of being that you could normally associate with happiness. It took us quite a while to get back from that wilderness, and this collection of songs are about the journey out there and the attempt to get back; I think were one of those bands that are always up for really pushing ourselves in search of discovery, but this seems to always have a fall out or a price you have to pay for that"

"A lot of songs are about trying to cross the void between what your aspirations are and what your reality is. We all go through these periods in our lives when we're in crisis or can't seem to find the answers we are looking for from the world. Sometimes we have to spend some time away from what is real or true while we wait for those answers to come and to us: that is the 'desert'."

Born Blonde debut album 'What The Desert Taught You' is OUT NOW. You can purchase your copy here: iTunes, CD, Bandcamp (CD & Download).

Tracklist:

01. Solar
02. I Just Wanna Be
03. The Architect
04. Light On
05. Radio Bliss
06. Signs of Fear
07. Dreamland
08. Other Side
09. These Days I Dream of Pyramids
10. Wide Eyed