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