Outpost

We've moved.

2011-01-25T06:34:00.000-08:00

Hello all,

The last post from us on here as we're moving all our blogging activity over to our new website.

Keep checking it out for all information about stuff we've got coming up!

Outpost x

Shad's Metro 'Hit List'

2010-12-01T09:02:00.000-08:00

Canadian hip hop artist Shad (Decon/Black Box Records) was featured in the Metro's 'Hit List' column today. The piece below is the third appearance in the paper from the new artist to promote his album 'TSOL', available now.

.
‘TSOL’ is the third album from Vancouver based MC Shad, released on Black Box/Decon. Widely hyped in the US and Canada, including a nomination for the Polaris Music Prize, the album sees Shad at the top of his game; combining a strong lyrical flow with beats that reveal influences from a wide range of genres.

You can read Metro's review of the album here: http://www.metro.co.uk/music/reviews/848652-shads-tsol-a-more-cerebral-brand-of-hip-hop and for more infomration on Shad and upcoming shows in the UK go to www.shadk.com/.

Outpost Media MD David Silverman Profile Feature

2010-11-19T05:36:00.000-08:00

Outpost MD & Founder David Silverman talks to Unicorn Jobs about the world for PR

In a band, and having promised the Arts Council he’d help promote new artists in return for a five grand grant, David Silverman found himself on the phone to a local newspaper securing coverage. It was then he realised he should perhaps quit the band and start a career in PR.

But the passion for music remained, so he moved to London and started working in music publicity. In late 2004 the entrepreneurial bug that had led to the aforementioned Arts Council grant returned, and he set up his own agency, Outpost.

Although probably best known for working with music clients, including labels, festivals, artists and DJs, David’s agency has gone beyond traditional music PR, working with brands like O2, Fiat, Red Stripe and Calvin Klein, though often utilising the company’s music expertise as part of those campaigns.

We spoke to David about his career to date, life at Outpost, and what makes a PR tick.

How did you first get into PR?

Well, it’s going to sound like a cliche, but I really fell into it. I was in a band and we applied for an ‘Awards For All’ lottery grant to set up a community-based record label. To our surprise, we were successful and they gave us £5000. We were on the dole at the time, so it was a lot of money, so we set about starting the label, and one thing that we had said we would do was set up a night to promote local artists.

The guy I was in the band with wasn’t really keen on getting involved with the events side, so I started promoting the night myself. I phoned up the local paper to start generating some publicity, mainly to get demos from bands interested in playing at our night. I got us in the music pages and, unbeknownst to me, had just generated my first bit of press. I didn’t even realise at the time that people got PAID to do that! The penny dropped and a PR was born.

Tell us a bit about the history of Outpost

Armed with my minuscule bits of self-generated press for my night, I moved to London in 2000 to work in PR, because it seemed my best bet of getting a job that I would look forward to going into everyday. By late 2004, I was an established music PR, having worked for a couple of different agencies.

The problem was that I was outgrowing the company I was with, mainly because they didn’t share my ambition, and I eventually became frustrated. So I decided to quit and start my own agency. Generally when you are offered an opportunity in life, that window only remains open for so long. So, when the opportunity came, I took it. And once you are committed to something, things start to happen that you could never predict. By our launch date in January 2005 I had four new clients. Within four weeks I had taken on Outpost’s first employee, and within six months we launched our online, radio and TV divisions.

Our culture is that we go into battle for our clients and we offer them the best service we can. We are also honest with them, and manage their expectations, something too often lacking in our industry. Sticking to these values allowed us to quickly create an excellent reputation for Outpost, and work started to flow in.

What kind of clients do you now work for?

We work with a range of clients. A lot of music companies, record labels, promoters, festivals, DJs, artists themselves. We’ve worked with so many over the years, Sony Music, Warner Brothers, The Big Chill Festival, Warp, !K7, Groove Armada, Skream, Terry Callier… I could go on.

We also work with consumer brands, mainly on their music projects. At the moment we’re working with O2 and Fiat, but in the past we’ve also worked with clients like Red Stripe, Calvin Klein and Coca-Cola. We’re also in the process of working with our first fashion client, Mr Jones Watches.

How does your work for music companies differ from what you do for consumer brands?

The terminology is different, and our actual clients within brands tend to be more experienced in marketing and communications, and to think more strategically. That’s not to say that’s never the case in music, the major record companies are very good when it comes to strategy.

But some of the smaller music firms, or when we are working directly for artists, those clients might find it harder to adjust to our way of thinking: after all, musicians are supposed to write and perform music, and not run businesses. In those cases, often we will have to explain the PR process to people.

If you’re working with a brand, then they’ve got a boss, who’s got a boss, and their job is on the line, so there is no messing around, which I prefer. As a result, you are judged on delivery of targets, and that more structured experience has definitely influenced the way we approach our music campaigns.

What is your typical working day like?

I usually get up around eight and check my e-mails and then get into the office about 9/9.30, sometimes later, sometimes earlier. I am definitely not an “up at 6am, in the office at 7am” person, that’s just not me. I’ll go through emails, catch up on the news, and then I will have short individual meetings with the team. I’ll spend the day dealing with current campaigns and clients, and maybe follow up on some interesting projects that I think we would like to work on. I finish around 7ish, but then I’ll be out at an event or I’ll check e-mails later in the evening, I don’t switch off.

You have relations with all kinds of media. TV and radio have always been priorities for the music industry, but less so for other sectors. Do you represent your non-music clients to these media to?

That’s where our music experience really comes in to play. We’ve got contacts at a level other traditional agencies can’t compete with, and brands want to tap into that. We’ve had considerable success in getting coverage for non-music clients on radio and TV. For example, we recently generated substantial coverage for Fiat on Radio 4 and ‘Newsnight’ on BBC2.

You’ve been doing online PR for sometime, how has this part of your business changed as the internet has developed?

We started doing online PR as a separate service to printed press almost right from the beginning. It was clear the way the media was going. Online is constantly evolving, if you went away for a year you wouldn’t know what was going on when you came back. Press and radio pretty much stay the same, except for a few changes here and there. Online moves at a frenetic pace and the landscape is constantly changing. And the appetite for content is voracious.

Do you think the growth of online and social media has had an impact on your more traditional PR work too?

Well, I think from a communication point of view, it’s been great – a whole new kind of media came up from nowhere that needed to be serviced. Information is everywhere, as much as you can eat. It has meant that the number of printed publications we work with have decreased though, by about half I would say, in the last ten years.

However the essence of communication is still there, it hasn’t changed – whether it’s online, offline, paid for or non-paid for, there are still the fundamental elements of communicating with consumers that need to be adhered to: is it believable? is it genuine? is it truthful? These are the basic building blocks for communication, and that has not changed.

What’s the best bit about your job?

The best bit is when you come up with a campaign plan – a cracking creative idea that you tell everyone is going to work – and then you see it in the press and think “we’ve created that”. When your colleagues and clients look at you in disbelief and say “how on earth did you do that?”. That’s the ultimate buzz you get from being a PR, there’s a real punch the air feeling. If you’re not getting a buzz from those big media hits, or indeed not getting those media hits at all, then you’re in the wrong job.

Running the company, I also enjoy it when you work with new members of staff, train them up so that they can achieve the same results, and have their own “how did you do that?” moments. Seeing the next generation of PRs race out of the traps is another great buzz.

What’s the worst bit?

Clients who have unrealistic expectations. When you are presented with very limited budgets and are expected to, how shall I say it politely, turn a sow’s ear into a silver purse. In fact we turn down about 40% of companies who approach us to work for them – mainly for these reasons. Maintaining our integrity as an agency is important to us and is what works in the long term.

What advice would you give people considering a career in PR?

It’s a tough climate, particularly in the music industry. The only advice I would give is persistence, without stalking – there’s a difference! Also, you need to have good written English. And be good on the phone. You have to be good at cold calling, and that starts by calling the people you want to work for. Emailing is too easy, there’s a whole generation of people that think sending an email equals working – and it really doesn’t. Young people have grown up with email and texts and forgotten the art of the phone call. When they come to Outpost it’s like we have to gradually retrain their text messaged/email brainwashed minds! PS that doesn’t mean every aspiring PR should start calling me everyday!

Tell us something about yourself we couldn’t find out on the internet

I just bought my first ever car yesterday, an Audi A3 Automatic – because I can’t be bothered changing the gears.

unicornjobs.com/articles/2010/nov/16/david-silverman-music-and-beyond/

Scientist Tour Kicks Off This Week

2010-11-17T07:26:00.000-08:00

Tickets are available for the Fabric date this Thursday here: fabriclondon.ticketabc.com/events/rbma18-11/

You can download a track from the album via our friends at XLR8R here: xlr8r.com/news/2010/11/download-track-scientists-upcomi

multiverse-music.com | myspace.com/tectonicrecordings

New Gangrene Release: ‘Gutter Water’

2010-11-17T07:06:00.000-08:00

Decon
Release Date: 17th January 2011

Famed producer/emcee The Alchemist and the left-coast rapper/beatsmith Oh No are collaborating as Gangrene to bring audiences the gritty opus ‘Gutter Water’ on Decon. Over the course of three years and a myriad of emails the two have built a project that celebrates their shared passion and distinctly different application for dusty breaks and lurid wordplay.

As an artist, The Alchemist cut his teeth making beats for NYC legends Mobb Deep and Jadakiss in the early 2000s. Both camps made appearances on Alc’s 2006 solo debut ‘1st Infantry’ and he has since become Eminem’s touring DJ as well as producing for the likes of Lil’ Wayne and Nas. Simultaneously, on the other side of the country Oh No was producing a plethora of tracks for Stones Throw, home to artist and Oh No’s brother Madlib, leading up to the release of his three solo albums. Gangrene’s ‘Gutter Water’ is the indie/mainstream middle-ground at which the two collide.

On ‘Gutter Water’ both The Alchemist and Oh No and share production duties while trading verses over each other’s dense compositions. Both find themselves remarkably at ease amongst the threatening drums pounded out on endearing vintage equipment, flipping verses that run the gamut from literal to abstract, amounting to an incredible collection of head-nodders. A myriad of artists including Raekwon, Evidence, Roc C, MED, Twins Gambino, Planet Asia and Fashawn are featured.

Officially formed in 2003 after the success of their first feature length film and cult classic ‘One Big Trip’, Decon Records has become a leader in the independent music scene, home to legends and tomorrow’s cultural leaders alike. Operating as an artistic partner, Decon only signs 50/50 deals with their artists, bringing their strategic marketing and video production arms into the fold, fostering multi-media experiences with every release. Decon artists cross a wide spectrum of talent, and include the likes of Dilated Peoples, Freestyle Fellowship, Jurassic 5, Chali 2na, Aceyalone, Evidence, Rakaa, RJD2, Lyrics Born, 88-Keys, and recent partnerships with Jay Electronica and Nneka.

deconrecords.com | sewergravy.com

Your festival, your audience: How to interact

2010-11-17T06:55:00.000-08:00

By Johnny Beverton, Online Account Manager at Outpost

Johnny Beverton is an expert in Online Public Relations. Here he gives his advice to festivals on how to get the most out of social media.

Strategy is the key

Social media is a key element to any successful festival. Keeping in touch with your fans will increase the awareness of your festival and maintain its profile during the periods when you need to translate tentative interest into confirmed ticket sales.

Your social networks will play a vital part in creating the momentum required to achieve this goal. Using Twitter and a Facebook page is a must - making sure they are kept relevant with regular updates. People spend a lot of their free time on their social networks (and for some, also a lot of their work time) alongside regular music and festival websites. You want to be sure that your social networking pages are a portal of interesting information for the discerning festival goer.

There are a lot of things you can do to grow these pages, build awareness and connect with your audience. For example:

Facebook - tagging competitions - those who join and tag themselves on your page are entered into a draw to win merchandise/CDs/tickets.

Twitter - retweet competitions - with those who follow you, inviting them to retweet a post you’ve made with followers scrambling to get a chance to win merchandise/CDs/tickets. This will give you an excuse to contact your followers with something they’re going to really be interested in.

Contact all your fans via Twitter and Facebook asking what they’d like to hear on your new monthly festival podcast – not only are you engaging with them but the podcast works as great promotional material to use for your PR campaign.

Interacting with your followers on a personal level will help to build the bond that will ultimately attract people to part with their cash. People will see your Twitter as a gateway to have contact with you, the festival organiser - take full advantage of this opportunity to engage with your fans and talk to them. If you treat them right they will do a lot of the hard work for you.

Facebook Places and Foursquare

Cheryl Cole’s doing it for her new album – why can’t you? Facebook Places and Foursquare campaigns are creeping into our everyday lives. Imagine a poster advertising your festival which invites fans to login to Facebook on their phone, join your page and register their location on Facebook Places. Those who do will be added to a prize draw to win merchandise/CDs/tickets, and you can set up Facebook to announce specific news of your choice about the Festival on their feed. Not only will people be aware of your marketing through the poster on the street but they’ll also be advertising it themselves.

People want content

Give your fans a reason to talk about your event - come to them with the goods. Artists available for interview, artists with new tracks, news and releases you can piggyback off will help you on your quest for talkability. Got something to say? You could do a video interview talking about the festival and make it available for all to see via your social networks, website and newsletter.

It’s all about synergy

Don’t call me cheesy – it’s true. Using Twitter, Facebook and various other tools alongside your other PR and marketing exploits will really bring your online presence together. It’s not about one network; each have their own strengths. Festival success will stem from keeping up with new technologies and using them to grow your communities. There’s never been more competition and the clued up people are the ones who can command results online. You want to be one of them, right?

Contact johnny[at]outpostmedia.co.uk or call 0207 684 5634 for more info.

O2 Your Country Live

2010-11-17T03:06:00.000-08:00

The O2 Your Country Live Tour takes over Shepherds Bush Empire for four day residency.

On 8th November, O2 began the O2 Your Country Live Tour in London taking over the Shepherds Bush Empire for a four day residency before moving on to Liverpool, Birmingham and Glasgow for regional dates.

The tour kicked off with a Carribean event and performances from reggae superstar Tarrus Riley and DJ David Rodigan. Next was a night of African music headlined by internationally acclaimed artist Nneka, supported by Ghana's most prolific contemporary musical icon Samini and resident Scratch DJ Richie Pitch. Australian act Regurgitator lead the Antipodean evening with help from New Zealand hip hop artist Scribe, with Poland's biggest singer-songwriter Kayah providing the finale supported by Czech pop band Toxique.

The sell-out shows were part of a FREE annual live music event to reward O2’s international calling community in the UK, with tickets available for customers through the O2 website.

Visit facebook.com/o2yourcountrylive for more information on the tour, and upcoming events.

o2yourcountrylive.co.uk

Outpost in PR Week: Fiat & Faithless Campaign featured in Campaigns section

2010-11-12T02:53:00.000-08:00

Punto Evo has everyone feelin' good
Campaign: Fiat & Faithless launch of Punto Evo 'Feelin' Good' special edition
Client: Fiat/Krow Communications
PR Team: Outpost
Timescale: July-September 2010
Budget: £20,000

Fiat and dance act Faitless announced a partnership to launch a special edition of the Punto Evo. A three-minute promotional video for Faithless single Feelin' Good was produced, which was also used as a TV advert for Punto Evo. The first airing of the ad took place on Sunday, 15 August on Channel 4 during Big Brother.

Objectives
To build awareness of the collaboration.
To publicise the new Punto Evo and generate demand for test drives.

Strategy and plan
The PR team used Faithless' established position in the house and pop music arena to target a broad range of media, and coined the term 'prommercial' to demonstrate the hybrid of promotional music video and TV commercial.

Measurement and evaluation
The campaign was featured in 108 titles in print and online, as well as on national TV and radio stations. Highlights included a full page in The Independent, a ten-minute discussion on BBC2's Newsnight, as well as coverage on BBC Radio 4, on the Telegraph's website and in The Sun, The Star and Music Week.

Results
Test drives of the Punto Evo during September were 45 per cent in excess of Fiat's initial target.

O2 Your Country Live

2010-11-10T06:39:00.000-08:00

O2 Your Country Live: Tarrus Riley / David Rodigan - 8th November 2010, Shepherds Bush Empire

Reggae stars Tarrus Riley and David Rodigan got O2 Your Country Live 2010 off to a flying start last night at O2 Shepherds Bush Empire. Braving the autumn weather, attendees were already queuing down the road before doors opened giving the proceedings a carnival atmosphere from the word go. Legendary DJ David Rodigan kicked the night off with a bang treating the crowd to a hit packed lesson in reggae, dub and roots that led to infections dancing throughout the venue. Jamaican star Tarrus Riley and his Blak Soil Band headlined the night combining a strong roots reggae tradition with modern showmanship; fully deserving of a rapturous encore at the end of their set.

Tonight’s show features the sensational Nigerian MOBO award winning Nneka supported by MTV Africa’s Best Performer Samini, DJ Richy Pitch and M3NSA.

O2 Your Country Live 2010 is free annual live music event is organized to reward O2’s international calling community in the UK. Tickets are still available for tonight: O2 customers simply text “YC2” to 66102 or visit O2Yourcountrylive.co.uk for a chance to get a free ticket. Winners will be notified by text message. On arrival at the venue visitors enter their unique PIN into the touch screen ticket machines to retrieve their ticket. Want to go to the gig but not on O2? Get your free SIM at O2Yourcountrylive.co.uk

o2yourcountrylive.co.uk | facebook.com/o2yourcountrylive

Vote for Outpost in the Record of the Day Awards 2010

2010-11-03T07:26:00.001-07:00

Please vote for us! Outpost has been nominated for 2010's Record Of The Day Awards for Music Journalism and PR.

Go to
www.recordoftheday.com/awards to support us. We are up for the following categories:

Best Independent PR Individual
Best Independent PR Company
Best Independent Online PR Company

Thanks!
The Outpost Team

Lyrics Born "Lies x 3" Video

2010-11-03T03:40:00.000-07:00

Watch the video for 'Lies X 3' taken from Lyrics Born's new album 'As U Were'. The album will be released on Decon Records on 13th December.

Read more about the video here:

THIS IS BOOKS MUSIC
http://www.thisisbooksmusic.com/2010/10/15/video-lyrics-born-lies-x-3/

SPIN
www.spin.com/articles/exclusive-new-clip-lyrics-born

DISCO SALT
discosalt.com/blog/2010/10/18/new-video-from-lyrics-born-lies-x-3/

lyricsborn.com | deconrecords.com

Kris Needs Presents... Dirty Water: The Birth of Punk Attitude

2010-10-27T09:06:00.000-07:00

VARIOUS ARTISTS
LABEL: YEAR ZERO
RELEASE DATE: 10TH JANUARY 2011

Legendary journalist and DJ Kris Needs compiles ‘Dirty Water: The Birth Of Punk Attitude’ – a radical look at the essence of punk music and the attitude behind it. With tracks sourced from ‘50s rock ‘n’ roll and ‘60s counter-culture through to the mainstream explosion in ’77; this collection reveals Kris’ profound knowledge and passion for proper punk attitude. Although featuring names without whom no such compilation should be without, the set also highlights less likely candidates through their influence, attitude or sheer courage in the face of adversity; mavericks and rebels shooting for the stars and going against the grain.

Starting with two quintessential garage-punk bands – The Standells (whose ‘Dirty Water’ provides the snotty title track) and Seeds (covered by Needs’ own long-forgotten band 35 years ago) – Kris’s lifelong New York obsession is covered with the untouchable New York Dolls, senses-shattering electronic punks Suicide plus two of their influences in Silver Apples and vocal group The Silhouettes, and Ramones influencing The Dictators.

The album approaches the punk spirit as a way of making music or conveying a message by any means necessary which makes the 1970 hip hop template of Harlem’s Last Poets also makes them prime candidates along with David Peel and the Lower East Side delivering their stoner street anthems in Washington Square Park. The Deviants were at the forefront of UK’s ‘67 counter-cultural revolution, leading to ‘70s UK proto-punk is represented by Jook, Third World War and The Sensational Alex Harvey Band. The rarest tune (on CD for first time) on this compilation is the Hollywood Brats’ storming treatment of the Kinks’ ‘I Need You’.

Kris found himself reaching back into his own adolescence, hence the inclusions of Mott The Hoople, Dr Feelgood’s Peter Hammill in the Rikki Nadir incarnation, Germany’s inestimably-influential Can, T. Rex when Bolan went electric and Detroit’s incendiary MC5. The Motor City is also represented here by The Stooges, MC5 sister band Up and brilliant but overlooked black punk trio Death. Sun Ra was a profound influence on the MC5 but he’s here for his star-sailing individuality and DIY spirit of his indie-pioneering Saturn label.

The album also casts its net around the rest of America with seminal Midwest outfits Red Krayola and Rocket From The Tombs, San Francisco’s fabulous Flamin’ Groovies, unique L.A. aliens Zolar X and The Monks (American G.I.s stationed in Germany). It all ends quite perfectly in 1977 with the timeless roots prophecy of Culture’s ‘Two Sevens Clash’, highlighting reggae’s towering presence in all this.

Kris Needs has been a writer and DJ for 40 years, finding himself at the forefront of several major cultural movements, while eternally inspired by his late friend John Peel regarding lacking control over his emotions when encountering any strain of great music. From being blown away by, then running the fan club for Mott The Hoople, Kris has fought for passion and honesty in music, whatever the name, but in the 70s found himself on the front line of the punk revolution while editing original fanzine Zigzag, touring with and befriending many major players. The set will be accompanied by extensive liner notes from Needs, who has also written books on The Clash, Primal Scream, Keith Richards, the New York Dolls and his own autobiography, currently being rewritten for publication in 2011.

yearzeromusic.com

‘SCIENTIST LAUNCHES DUBSTEP INTO OUTER SPACE’ UK TOUR 18TH – 25TH NOVEMBER 2010

2010-10-27T08:47:00.000-07:00

LIVE: SCIENTIST VS THE UPSETTERS
DJS: PINCH, MALA, LOEFAH, POKES

The legendary dub originator Scientist lands in the UK to celebrate the release of new Tectonic album ‘Scientist Launches Dubstep Into Outer Space’. The seven date tour kicks off at Fabric, London on the 18th November before visiting Dublin, Bournemouth, Glasgow, Nottingham, Brighton and Bristol – teaming up with Red Bull Music Academy in London, Glasgow and Brighton.

On this tour Scientist will be live dub mixing renowned reggae group The Upsetters, who were originally Lee Scratch Perry’s house band before going on to form the nucleus of The Wailers. Completing this very special line up is Tectonic boss Pinch and fellow dubstep luminaries Mala, Loefah, and Pokes.

Tectonic's most ambitious project to date, ‘Scientist Launches Dubstep Into Outer Space’ sees legendary dub engineer Scientist version 12 exclusive and unreleased dubstep rhythms from the scene’s top producers including Kode 9, Shackleton, Pinch and Mala. It's a vital and unprecedented move for dubstep; one year in the making, uniting roots and futurism in visionary style. In archetypal style, Scientist puts decades of tactile, hands-on experience to work, deftly transforming the killer originals into living, breathing dub music with his most sacred of black arts.

Hopeton Brown aka Scientist is one of Jamaica's most revered dub engineers. His career behind the mixing desk began in the mid '70s at King Tubby's Dromilly Road studios in Kingston earned him the “Scientist” tag in a legendary conversation between Bunny Lee and King Tubby. By the early '80s he was working at Tuff Gong studios and it was during this period that he created his seminal series of albums for Greensleeves including 'Scientist Rids The World Of The Curse Of The Evil Vampires' and 'Scientist Wins The World Cup'. In the tradition of Lee "Scratch" Perry, King Tubby, and Prince Jammy, Scientist developed a distinct and unmistakable style, manipulating reverb, delay and filters to create transient sonic dimensions which places him as one of the most distinguished dub engineers alive today.

With the advent of dubstep in the early '00s and its subsequent entry to international consciousness, Scientist's influence has never been more pertinent. From its genesis in sweaty, bass-loaded backroom sessions of South and East London to mainstream chart status, dubstep has come to define the cutting edge of dance music while still adhering to the deeply rooted principles of bass and space laid out by the original dub auteurs.

Label boss Pinch says “This project has taken over a year to put together from its conception late last summer. The final results are worth every minute of effort that's gone into this - this is definitely my proudest moment for Tectonic to date. The influence of dub swings round full circle!”

multiverse-music.com | myspace.com/tectonicrecordings

2010-10-27T08:36:00.000-07:00

Abracada Launch Party @ XOYO
5th November 2010
10pm - 3am

Line Up:
The Krays (Brodinski & Yuksek)
The Aikiu (Live)
Pilooski
Villa
The Magician
Mikix The Cat
Mustang
+ Unannounced Special Guests: Renaissance Man

Party starters Deadly People combine forces with Abracada, to present an amazing line up of DJ talent for the London leg of the ‘Its A Kind Of Magic’ European tour. Held at the capital’s finest new clubbing venue XOYO, the event will be showcasing some of the most exciting new talent emerging from the French dance scene.

Headlining the event are The Krays aka Brodinski and Yuksek, two of France's best loved and most prolific producers. After years of collaboration, the two have united their love for electro and techno to form the Krays. ‘We’re Ready When You Are’ ft. Ebony Bones is their first effort as a twosome, a rollercoaster ride of joyful acid house, discofied percussion and the energy of a thousand twisted raves.

Playing live on the night, The Aikiu bring their shiny new wave infested pop to the party. The band are lead by frontman Alex Aikiu , who after spending his formative years in the US cutting his teeth working with some of the biggest producers in the world, has relocated back to Paris to team up with Pilooski & Julien Vichnievsky. Inspired and influenced by Roxy Music, David Bowie and just a hint of Chic, decadence and glamour reign supreme in the music as they seek to keep the party going all night long.

Also on the bill is chart-topping DJ extraordinaire Pilooski. Paris born, Cédric Marszewski, is best known for his incredible reedits, in particular the monumentally successful reedit of Frankie Valli’s classic northern soul tune ‘Beggin’. The track won worldwide exposure, receiving heavy airplay in the UK from Radio 1 as well as being used as theme music for a worldwide Adidas campaign. As a DJ, Pilooski has played at some of the worlds greatest clubs & festivals. His sets are an eclectic mix of soul, disco, electro, rock & techno, highly influenced by the power of funk.

Topping off an already incredible line up will be DJ sets from The Magician (a mysterious individual, suspected to be a member of ex disco duo Aeroplane), Mikix The Cat, Mustang and
up and coming avant-garde disco popsters The Villa.

A late addition to the bill is unannounced special guests Renaissance Man. The Finnish house duo’s debut ‘Spraycan’ was released on Switch’s Dubsided in early 2009, followed by ‘Rhythm’ on the Kitsuné Maison 7 compilation. A subsequent EP on Parisian label Sound Pellegrino launched title track ‘What Is Guru’ as one of the year’s underground hits, making Renaissance Man highly sought-after remixers for the likes of Brodinski, Crystal Fighters and Health. The mayhem looks set to continue in 2010 with at least two new records, including an EP on the Made to Play Label, remixes for The Very Best, Solo and The Crookers, plus numerous international shows in prestigious venues including Fabric and Panorama Bar.

The Abracada tour also visits New York, Paris, Brussels and Glasgow.

abracada.net | deadlypeople.net

Prince Fatty Free Download: Bedroom Eyes Dub feat. Natty

2010-10-13T04:42:00.000-07:00

To celebrate the imminent release of Prince Fatty's new album - Supersize - on 1st November, Supersize, Mr Bongo and Jus Like Music are giving away 'Bedroom Eyes Dub feat. Natty'!

<a href="http://princefatty.bandcamp.com/track/bedroom-eyes-dub-feat-natty">Bedroom Eyes Dub feat. Natty by Prince Fatty</a>

The Prince Fatty sound is once again in full flow on new album ‘Supersize’. Renowned sound engineer and record producer Mike “Prince Fatty” Pelanconi has been a prominent member of the reggae and dub scene in the UK since the mid 90s. Finding himself frustrated by the tempos and mixes of certain records he loved – typified by DJing one time after Don Letts who had already played half his selection – he set about recording his own versions with a supergroup of London’s finest reggae musicians.

princefatty.com | mrbongo.com

LOCATION ANNOUNCED: Terminal M Feat. Monika Kruse & Erman Erim Live Saturday 23rd October

2010-10-13T04:13:00.000-07:00

@ WESTON STREET WAREHOUSE,29 Western Street, London Bridge, SE1 3RR, 10pm-LateMonika Kruse : Erman Erim Live : Gianni Scotto : Lorenzo Panico : Sam Perez

The secret is out - DC7 Events are proud to announce the secret warehouse location for its opening winter party with Techno legend Monika Kruse and Erman Erim. The event, on Saturday 23rd October, will be at none other than the Weston Street Warehouse - aka The Blue & Red Arches of Debut! All earlybird tickets are now sold out, tickets are selling fast. Grab yours from RA, Data Transmission and other ticket outlets.

dc7events.com | myspace.com/dc7events | twitter.com/dc7events | soundcloud.com/dc7promo

OSCAR G: LIVE FROM NYC

2010-10-12T08:33:00.000-07:00

NERVOUS RECORDS
RELEASE DATE: 29 NOVEMBER 2010

Miami-based dance music legend Oscar G returns with a brand new two-disc set that’s all about New York City.

Disc One of ‘Oscar G Live from NYC’ was recorded live earlier this summer at the NYC super club Pacha. No pre recorded ‘studio mixes’ for Oscar, this set captures the inimitable experience of playing live. The sound of the crowd is intertwined with an impeccable track selection bringing a true sense of the atmosphere and context, so often missing from clinical mix CD’s these days.

Disc Two – worthy of a release on its own – showcases Oscar’s talents as a producer and features 10 brand new tracks including the new single ‘Fuck The VIP’ featuring DMS12 and ‘I’m Movin’ On’ featuring Tamara Wallace.

Recorded and engineered live by Stryke, the live disc is the culmination of months on the road, testing tracks and searching for the perfect mix that works a crowd into frenzy. Several months in the making and nearly 80 minutes in execution, ‘Oscar G Live from NYC’ pulls together the best tracks from Oscar’s tour (with some added editing and mash-ups).

With previous releases such as ‘Space Miami’ and ‘DJ’, Oscar G has carved out his own niche in the mix CD market, releasing mixes that are recorded live and feature all the intangibles that make a great club set. “I honestly believe the only way to truly enjoy electronic dance music is in a live environment. The energy from the crowd is such a huge part of the equation and I find listening to a set with the sounds of the crowd, smoke machines, sirens, etc, just makes it way more interesting. It’s also a testament to the fact that I can rock a room!’

While Oscar G’s previous live compilations were recorded in Miami, this release marks his first New York set to be captured. The decision to move it north was easy when you consider the history of New York City clubbing and Oscar’s influences. “I've had a long distance love-affair with NYC since I can remember and it has given me more musical inspiration than any other city. Plus, legendary NYC DJs like Danny Tenaglia, Junior Vasquez, David Morales, Tony Humphries, Louie Vega, Timmy Regisford and Francois Kevorkian have all taught me how to do what I do. I always feel a sense of responsibility when I play in New York to uphold the legacy built by all those great DJs and I’ve played for many years in New York working to earn their respect.”

djoscarg.net | myspace.com/djoscarg

LYRICS BORN: AS U WERE

2010-10-12T08:25:00.000-07:00

BLACK BOX/DECON
RELEASE DATE: 13TH DECEMBER 2010

‘As U Were’ is the latest release from independent artist Lyrics Born, on Decon. This is the fifth album from the Bay Area rapper, and exemplifies his most adventurous production to date, blending catchy pop-synth melodies with heavy guitar riffs and pop beats.

Those already familiar with Lyric Born’s previous releases will appreciate the classic collaborations with Gift of Gab and Joyo Velarde, as well as an overdue reunion with Lateef. He also draws on the talent of recently celebrated acts such as Trackademicks, Sam Sparro, and Francis and The Lights.

In a career spanning over a decade, Lyrics Born has built his name, reputation, and expansive international fan-base through continually experimenting musically and pushing the boundaries of the genre. As a musician he has been responsible for some of the most memorable and innovative independent hits and albums of the past decade, as a solo artist, a member of Latyrx and as a founder of Quannum Projects - the seminal independent label he reared with DJ Shadow, Blackalicious and Lateef.

Peter Bittenbender, president of Decon said:
"I have been a fan of Lyrics Born since the days of Latyrx and we are thrilled to add him to our diverse roster here. Throughout his expansive career, he has consistently exceeded his fans’ expectations when it comes to creativity, sound, and presentation. We look forward to continue pushing those boundaries with what we hope will be the first of many collaborations.”

lyricsborn.com | deconrecords.com

LAURA LOPEZ CASTRO: OPTATIVO

2010-10-12T08:22:00.000-07:00

NESOLA
RELEASE DATE: 13TH DECEMBER 2010

German-born Spanish singer Laura López Castro releases her latest album ‘Optativo’, in collaboration with French-German guitarist Don Philippe (alias Philippe Kayser) on German label Nesola. This is the third release from the duo, who together have created ten atmospheric, passionate, acoustic tracks heavily inspired by Laura’s Spanish heritage. Kayser’s guitar speaks a beguilingly simple language, with López Castro’s vocals.

‘Optativo’s’ distinctiveness is a result of López Castro and Kayser’s eclectic styles and broad influences coming together to create a collage of sounds and ideas that is coherent throughout. For Kayser the album is a result of a large South American influence, whilst López Castro’s emotional meeting with her grandmother in the Catalonian countryside has resulted in an open-hearted honesty in her vocals that is at times almost haunting.

The daughter of Spanish immigrants, Laura grew up in Stuttgart, Germany dancing Flamenco, making the inevitable experiments with her first rock band while listening to Björk, Elbow and Kyuss. Philippe Kayser, son of a Parisian mother and more than half a generation older than Laura, is well known in his hometown of Stuttgart and has been getting kudos from as far as Europe, Japan and the US with his project No Sé. He later co-founded Freundeskreis, one of Germany’s most successful and respected Hip-Hop outfits and worked closely on Joy Denalane’s solo debut ‘Mamani’, he is an avid Jazz fan and this shows in his work.

The duo are loyal to classical and Jazz forms, but by liberating them from much of their complexity, and adding a bit of abstraction, they have moved closer to independent music. Philippe Kayser enriches the album not only with his guitar, but also with drums, ukulele, synthesizer, and tambourine. Paul Kleber joins on the bass guitar and the double bass, with Jo Ambros on mandolin & pedal steel guitar. Sebastian Studnitzky has contributed an artful arrangement for strings. Another starring role on the album is taken by the Düsseldorf pianist and sound researcher HAUSCHKA, who plays on two songs and provides all-around inspiration: his primed piano adds positively cinematic dimensions to ’Noche Eterna’ and an otherworldliness to ’Mi Cansado Corazón Despierto’, enriching Kayser and López Castro’s idiosyncratic musical blend with a world-class classical touch.

nesola.de | lauralopezcastro.com | donphilippe.net

Outpost Media MD David Silverman In Music Week

2010-10-12T08:20:00.000-07:00

HIT OR MISS FEATURE
Michael Jackson returns to perform in UK after 12-year touring absence.
Published: 13th March 2009

Jacko's back:
Who could have missed the news that Michael Jackson is coming to the UK? The 'King Of Pop' last week told hordes of screaming fans that he would return to the stage to perform ten shows at the O2 in July 2009. Entertainment specialists The Outside Organisation handles the press conference on behalf of AEG Live. The agency sent 23 staff to the event, while 350 journalists attended from around the world.

How I see it: David Silverman MD, Oupost Media
The O2 generated some great coverage with the Michael Jackson London dates announcement, as one would expect. The media cannot get enough of him, but with that comes a danger: the Michael Jackson PR phenomenon is sometimes very difficult to control. The trick is to avoid the negative press associated with him and to steer towards what made him such a star in the first place - a great live show and great music. The O2 managed to control media interest (and limit the impact of anti-jackson supporters), and the campaign managed to deliver the main 'This Is It' message. A once in a lifetime chance to see the King Of Pop before he packs it in? It seems almost inconceivable that the shows will not be a total sell-out, so - at least from that perspective - a job well done.

www.prweek.com/uk/news/search/889872/Hit-Miss---Michael-Jackson-returns-perform-UK-12-year-touring-absence/

DC7 Events present: Terminal M Feat. Monika Kruse & Erman Erim

2010-10-06T04:16:00.000-07:00

Saturday 23rd October 2010 @ A Secret London Location, 10pm-Late

feat. Monika Kruse : Erman Erim Live : Gianni Scotto : Lorenzo Panico : Sam Perez

On Saturday 23rd October, London based DC7 Events celebrate the 10th anniversary of German techno imprint Terminal M by throwing an exclusive all night warehouse party at a secret London location, showcasing both the past, present and future of this distinguished label.

Headlining the event will be label boss Monika Kruse who will be performing a mammoth three hour set demonstrating her skills behind the decks. She will be joined by up and coming Terminal M signing Erman Erim who will be performing an exclusive hour long live set. Support for the night will come from DC7 residents Gianni Scotto and Lorenzo Panico.

2010 sees the dawning of a new chapter in a label that has helped to shape techno history. The label ethos of Terminal M, the concept of exploring the wide spectrums of electronic music, is firmly rooted in the world class DJ career of label boss Monika Kruse. An incredibly skilled A&R, she has built the Terminal M catalogue with an instinct learned through 20 years of spinning records every weekend at major clubs and festivals around the world.

Monika Kruse has been cooking dance floors from Chicago to Tokyo for over 17 years. Beside her DJ activities the native Berliner follows her own idea of ‘Techno Funk’ as producer, party host and label impresario. She has played an integral part in German club culture since 1991, starting as resident in the Munich based Parkcafé and as member of the Ultraschall Crew. Beside her seven DJ-mix albums – including On The Road Volume 1, 2, 3 & 4 her DJ-Schedule has taken her from Japan’s largest indoor Rave Wire to the Loveparade closing ceremony in front of 1.5 million people. In Berlin - she is a regular at the world-renowned clubs Berghain/Panorama Bar and Watergate.

Istanbul's Erman Erim (awarded 'Best Newcomer' & 'Best Live Act' in Raveline and Groove Magazines) is a one to watch on the techno scene. Erman has released 3 EPs on Terminal M so far having been presented beside Monika Kruse in the Terminal M Showcases in Berlin, Switzerland, & ADE in Holland to great success.

The DC7 philosophy is strictly music based, focusing on bringing the finest underground dance music DJ’s to London, with the aim of creating a regular clubbing hotspot for house and techno. The brand is now in its second year in London, having started back in March 2009 at London clubbing institution The Egg with a series of infamous hedonistic parties, regularly booking international touring DJs. Managing Director Diego Carannante set up the company as a platform to promote his club nights and manage a roster of Italian techno artists including Danilo Vigorito, Flavio Diaz, Gianni Scotto, Irregular Synth, Joseph Capriati, Lorenzo Panico, Markantonio, Marco Corvino, Rino Cerrone and Uto Karem.

“Ten years of Terminal M means ten years of friends and family; of discovering the unknown and sharing it with the world, traveling from city to city and professing our love affair with the dance floor.” - Monika Kruse.

dc7events.com
myspace.com/dc7events
twitter/dc7events

Facebook: DC7

Bigga Fish in association with SBTV present: IT JUST GOT BIGGA TOUR

2010-10-05T09:02:00.000-07:00

LINE UP
GRIMINAL | MZ BRATT | PRINCESS NYAH | LOICK ESSIEN | MARVELL BOYS | TRILLA | RIO | ANGEL | LIONESS | MELEKA | BABY BLUE | RD (RUFF DIAMONDZ) | NASTY JACK | BIG MAN ZEST | RAW VYBES | DR PSYCHO | JAZZIE | POLICY | DJ RANDOM | MESSY | DA BATCH | BIGGA BLOCO

London 25th October @ Camden Centre – 5pm – 10:30pm
Sheffield 26th October @ O2 Academy 2 – 6pm – 11pm
Manchester 27th October @ Academy Club – 6pm – 11pm
Bristol 28th October @ O2 Academy 2 – 6pm – 11pm

One of London’s biggest under 21 parties is going nationwide. The non-profit youth organisation Bigga Fish has announced the final line-up for this year’s It Just Got Bigga Tour, hosted by Bigga Fish in collaboration with SB.TV, one of the UK’s most popular online youth entertainment channels.

The tour is a series of four shows across the UK that will give local performers aged 13-21 the opportunity to showcase their talent alongside some of the UK’s hottest urban artists including Griminal, Mz Bratt, Princess Nyah and Loick Essien.

Schools and youth projects from each area (London, Sheffield, Manchester and Bristol) have been invited to nominate young people who they think best represent their talent and creativity. Each act will be performing in front of a live audience and A&R representatives from some of the country’s leading record labels. At each show, the acts nominated to perform will have the chance to receive feedback from industry experts and build their profile through exposure on the www.biggafish.com website and www.SBTV.co.uk, who have over 20m views of their video content.

The initiative is a great incentive for schools to become more active in urban and pop music and involve teenagers in a range of activities that will encourage creativity and open up opportunities for the future. The tour also provides a chance for schools and pupils to see first hand the positive effect Bigga Fish programmes have had on the lives and careers of young people in London and across the UK.

Bigga Fish currently has a street team of 160 young people and in the last 12 months has showcased UK acts including Tinie Tempah, N-Dubz (Bigga Fish graduates) and Chipmunk. Already this year the organisation has co-produced the ‘What’s Next’ event at Somerset House, headlined by N-Dubz and supported by 30 up-and-coming artists for an audience of 3000. The street team, alongside the numerous large events happening throughout the year, aim to empower young people and provide them with the opportunities and entrepreneurial skills to build their own careers.

Tickets £5-£15
Available at biggafish.com

sbtv.co.uk | urbanworld.co.uk | ukrecordshop.com

Shad: TSOL

2010-10-05T08:44:00.000-07:00

BLACK BOX/DECON
RELEASE DATE: 29TH NOVEMBER 2010

‘TSOL’ is the third album from Vancouver based MC Shad, released on Black Box/Decon. Widely hyped in the US and Canada, including a nomination for the Polaris Music Prize, the album sees Shad at the top of his game; combining a strong lyrical flow with beats that reveal influences from a wide range of genres.

An initial listen to ‘TSOL’ will immediately lead one to believe that it’s an immense hip-hop achievement - but such sentiments merely scratch the surface. The album is a self-effacing commitment to the art of rhyme, as evidenced on the soulful singles ‘Rose Garden’ and ‘Yaa I Get It’. The release also features input from some of Canada’s most talented, notable musicians – Brendan Canning and Lisa Lobsinger of indie-rock mega-conglomerate Broken Social Scene lend vocals and instruments to ‘Lucky 1’s’, whilst Canadian hip-hop staple Classified offers up a brash slab of a beat on ‘A Good Name’.

The son of Rwandan immigrants, Shad invested time into his craft while growing up in London. It was during these formative years that he immersed himself in hip-hop culture, awestruck by the music of true-school graduates like Common, Rass Kass and Outkast. Reared on these dynamic sounds, whilst diligently pursuing an education, his character is an even-keeled amalgam of these influences, glaringly manifested on the introspective, multi-faceted ‘TSOL’.

When 2007’s ‘The Old Prince’ was released on Black Box Recordings, critics immediately added Shad into a group of the most well regarded MCs in North America. The album went on to be nominated for Rap Recording of the Year in the prestigious Juno Awards, and it is only a matter of time before Shad is as revered in the UK as he is in the US.

Look out for the new single ‘Rose Garden’ out on the 25th October 2010.

“One of the most gifted lyricists –foreign or domestic” - RCRD LBL

myspace.com/shad
shadk.com
deconrecords.com

O2 YOUR COUNTRY LIVE 2010

2010-09-22T04:43:00.000-07:00

8TH - 11TH NOVEMBER @ O2 SHEPHERDS BUSH EMPIRE, LONDON
14TH NOVEMBER @ O2 ACADEMY, LIVERPOOL
16TH NOVEMBER @ O2 ACADEMY, BIRMINGHAM
18TH NOVEMBER @ O2 ABC, GLASGOW

O2 Your Country Live is a fantastic FREE annual live music event to reward O2’s international calling community in the UK. Bigger and better than ever before, this year’s event presents renowned artists from East European, African, Antipodean and Caribbean communities across the network of national O2 academies.

The Caribbean community will be treated to a night with reggae superstar Tarrus Riley and legendary DJ David Rodigan; the sensational MOBO award winning Nneka headlines the African night supported by MTV Africa’s Best Performer 2009 Samini; Polish icon Kayah will entertain East European customers alongside fast rising Czech act Toxique; and hit Australian rockers Regurgitator take on the Antipodean crowd with New Zealand rapper Scribe.

O2 Shepherds Bush Empire
Mon 8th – Tarrus Riley, David Rodigan (Caribbean)
Tues 9th – Nneka, Samini (African)
Wed 10th – Regurgitator, Scribe (Antipodean)
Thurs 11th – Kayah, Toxique (East European)

O2 Academy, Liverpool
Sun 14th – Kayah, Toxique (East European)

O2 Academy, Birmingham
Tues 16th – Kayah, Toxique (East European)

O2 ABC, Glasgow
Thurs 18th – Kayah, Toxique (East European)

Your County Live began in April 2008 as an event at the O2 Indigo with Wilkie from Poland. In 2009 the event was extended to three sell out nights, again at the Indigo O2, featuring the Parlatones, The Ruby Suns and Ben Lee for the Antipodean community; Malkit Singh and The Dohl Foundation for the South Asian community and Myslovitz and Morandi for the East European community. In 2010 the South Asian night developed into O2’s sponsorship of the nationwide network of Melas.

Gosia Manka, O2 Channel Marketing Manager said:

‘’Your Country Live has been hugely successful for us, helping to build brand consideration amongst international communities and raise awareness of relevant O2 offers. Through leveraging our sponsorship assets we’ve been able to deliver great experiences to these communities.”

Your Country is an O2 pay & go SIM that rewards free minutes to international mobiles and landlines from the UK when you top up every month. Ticketing is simple. O2 customers text a keyword to a unique number or visit O2Yourcountrylive.co.uk for a chance to get a free ticket to the gig of their choice. Winners will be notified by text message up to one week before the chosen event. On arrival at the venue visitors enter their unique PIN into the touch screen ticket machines to retrieve their ticket. Want to go to the gig but not on O2? Get your free SIM at O2Yourcountrylive.co.uk

• Text YC1 to 66102 for Tarrus Riley & David Rodigan on 8th Nov
• Text YC2 to 66102 for Nneka & Samini on 9th Nov
• Text YC3 to 66102 for Regurgitator & Scribe on 10th Nov
• Text YC4 to 66102 for Kayah & Toxique on 11th Nov
• Text YC5 to 66102 for Kayah & Toxique on 14th Nov
• Text YC6 to 66102 for Kayah & Toxique on 16th Nov
• Text YC7 to 66102 for Kayah & Toxique on 18th Nov

O2Yourcountrylive.co.uk

SCIENTIST LAUNCHES DUBSTEP INTO OUTER SPACE!

2010-09-22T04:35:00.000-07:00

RELEASE DATE: 29TH NOVEMBER 2010

Tectonic's most ambitious project to date, ‘Scientist Launches Dubstep Into Outer Space’ sees legendary dub engineer Scientist version 12 exclusive and unreleased dubstep rhythms from the scene’s top producers including Kode 9, Shackleton, Pinch and Mala. It's a vital and unprecedented move for dubstep; one year in the making, uniting roots and futurism in visionary style. In archetypal style, Scientist puts decades of tactile, hands-on experience to work, deftly transforming the killer originals into living, breathing dub music with his most sacred of black arts.

The effect is most radical when he renders the ultra modern surfaces of Guido's 'Korg Back' or Pinch and Emika's prescient stepper '2012', realigning the dance's depth perception with the skill of an electro-acoustic mastermind. No less, when working with vocalists such as Dokkebi Q's Hitomi and poet Roger Robinson in King Midas Sound's 'U' or the dread vibes of Spaceape on Kode 9's 'Abeng', he enhances their duppy potential tenfold. Perhaps most spooky of all is his version of Shackleton's 'Hackney Marshes', morphing the original's Nyabinghi-like percussion into a subtly spiritual and psychoactive slab of riddim minimalism. However, for many the highlights will be the dreadnaught overhauls of Mala DMZ's bassbin punishing 'City Cycle', and Loefah & Sgt. Pokes' 'Dog Money' respectively, realising many dub-fiend's most feverish dreams in ultra-heavyweight fashion.

Hopeton Brown aka Scientist is one of Jamaica's most revered dub engineers. His career behind the mixing desk began in the mid '70s at King Tubby's Dromilly Road studios in Kingston earned him the “Scientist” tag in a legendary conversation between Bunny Lee and King Tubby. By the early '80s he was working at Tuff Gong studios and it was during this period that he created his seminal series of albums for Greensleeves including 'Scientist Rids The World Of The Curse Of The Evil Vampires' and 'Scientist Wins The World Cup'. In the tradition of Lee "Scratch" Perry, King Tubby, and Prince Jammy, Scientist developed a distinct and unmistakable style, manipulating reverb, delay and filters to create transient sonic dimensions which places him as one of the most distinguished dub engineers alive today.

With the advent of dubstep in the early '00s and its subsequent entry to international consciousness, Scientist's influence has never been more pertinent. From its genesis in sweaty, bass-loaded backroom sessions of South and East London to mainstream chart status, dubstep has come to define the cutting edge of dance music while still adhering to the deeply rooted principles of bass and space laid out by the original dub auteurs. Creating an optimized, tactile experience with emphasis on physical bass weight and immersive psychoacoustics is an aesthetic clearly shared by the original Jamaican engineers and the vanguard of contemporary dubstep.

Label boss Pinch says “This project has taken over a year to put together from its conception late last summer. The final results are worth every minute of effort that's gone into this - this is definitely my proudest moment for Tectonic to date. The influence of dub swings round full circle!”

multiverse-music.com
myspace.com/tectonicrecordings

Thievery Corporation: It Takes A Thief

2010-09-22T04:24:00.000-07:00

15TH YEAR ANNIVERSARY
ESL MUSIC
RELEASE DATE: 15TH NOVEMBER 2010

‘It Takes a Thief ‘is a retrospective compilation from Thievery Corporation celebrating 15 years of pioneering and revolutionary beats by the masters of downtempo music.

The album is a collection of tracks specially selected by Rob Garza and Eric Hilton for both long time fans and for music lovers who have heard of Thievery Corporation but may have never listened to the band. Rob Garza said “looking back and realising it’s been almost 15 years since we started, we figured maybe now is the time. These tracks are some of our favourite moments.”

Thievery Corporation have released 5 studio albums to date and sold over 1.5 million records since 1996. Thievery’s tracks have been licensed for film, TV and advertisements including True Blood, Entourage, Six Feet Under, CSI, Skyy Vodka, Jaguar, Lexus, EA Sports and many others.

Spanning right across the last 15 years of their career, the album unfolds in a kaleidoscope of sonic colour. It serves to demonstrate the versatility and diversity of their sound as it showcases classic tracks like “Warning Shots” featuring incendiary reggae toaster Sleepy Wonder, “Vampires” featuring Afrobeat heir Femi Kuti, “Shadows of Ourselves” featuring multi-lingual Persian singer Lou Lou, and of course the hit track “Lebanese Blonde” featuring the late jazz chanteuse Pam Bricker. ‘It Takes a Thief’ also features an exclusive, never before released track “The Passing Stars” also featuring Pam.

This release is, however, more than just a collection of great songs. It is also an inspirational example of a band on a small independent label who can transcend the hype machine that surrounds the modern music industry and the ‘throw away culture’ inherent in dance music to become a ‘dominant force’ as godfathers of the electronic landscape.

From the release of the duo’s first LP, its been remarkable to witness the growth of Thievery Corporation's fan base as it has steadily grown in such a DIY, organic fashion. Hilton himself notes, "We were so inspired by the true do-it-yourself ethos of the DC punk scene that Rob and I both grew up on. A lot of great music reaches fans without the typical hype and fanfare enjoyed by bands on the majors.”

This fan base has only got stronger as the years have passed, to such an extent that Thievery Corporation have been able to sell out the famed Hollywood Bowl, London's Shepherd's Bush Empire and countless other legendary venues around the globe.

Their infectious live show features 15 musicians and a carousel of performers unlike any other live band playing today. In 2009, Thievery Corporation sold out 2 nights at New York’s Terminal 5, and recently finished a 13 date European tour including Morocco, Rome, Athens, Paris, Berlin and Amsterdam.

"As we are in the midst of recording our sixth studio album this year, it just seemed like the time was right to release this collection. It's been a great journey - musically and personally - and we just wanted to have that one definitive document. It Takes a Thief is it," explains Garza. "We feel like it's a great look back for some; and for others, an excellent introduction to our sound."

The band is preparing to announce a major US tour for the autumn of 2010 and is recording a new album to be released in 2011.

thieverycorporation.com
eslmusic.com

Prince Fatty Launch Party

2010-09-13T09:10:00.001-07:00

David Silverman Outpost Media Metro

2010-09-13T05:52:00.000-07:00

>Cost of night on the tiles 'is down'<

The price of a night out on the tiles has plummeted by nine percent in the past 20 years according to new research. The average night out cost £32.64 in 1990, compared with £53.89 in 2010. But comparing average salaries then and now, the real cost of boozing, nightclub entry and travel has gone down, PR company Outpost aid. In 'modern money', the price of a night out from 1990 is now equivalent to £59.40. 'Consumers are getting a much better deal in today's clubbing market than they had in previous years,' said Outpost spokesman David Silverman.

Outpost Media MD David Silverman Talks to House Magazine

2010-09-13T04:11:00.000-07:00

Here is an interview that MD David Silverman gave to House magazine (Soho House Group)issue 11 2009.

Company
Outpost Media

What do you do?
I am the MD of Outpost Media - a multi-media PR agency. Our clients include record labels, brands, festivals, venues and events.

What are you working on right now?
We're currently working on a strategy of maximising PR for one of our artists who has been awarded a 2009 MOBO. I'm also speaking to one of our clients about a big gig he is putting on at KOKO and how best we can promote the event. It's Outpost's 5th birthday soon too, so the team brainstormed some ideas of what kind of party we want to put on and where. We're looking forward to announcing the Glade Festival 2010 and we have a constant stream of new projects which at the moment seems like it is turning into a river...

What's your best feature?
Oooh - my eyebrows.

Favourite Building
I actually love the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben. Admittedly, thats not too exotic but I think they look amazing and every time I see them I realise that, yes, I do actually live in London

Contact Details?
david@outpostmedia.co.uk
020 7684 5634

Outpost PR MD David Silverman Writes For Music Week

2010-09-08T09:27:00.000-07:00

Fresh from announcing Faithless’ groundbreaking new partnership with Fiat, Outpost Media’s David Silverman considers how best to gel a relationship between brand and band that benefits both parties.

As music and brands becoming increasingly entwined with each other, critics have debated the right formula for a brand and band collaboration.

The bands we are talking about here are generally the big music ‘brands’ of our day – the Duffy’s and The Florence’s and the brand ‘investors’ in music like Coca-Cola and Impulse. What we are starting to see at the moment is a trend which encourages a closer relationship in the creative process as illustrated by the recent Faithless and Fiat partnership.

One of the key areas to look at is alignment. A brand can enhance their image by association with another brand of equal footing in another industry. This gives them the opportunity to market to each others audience, including any cross over, while enhancing the credibility of their own brand to their existing audience in the process.

The issue comes down to creativity - building and marketing a product is a different type of creation, but creation is what it is. The key is to match up that creativity with an artist that has the same creative values.

Who are their fans? What is the demographic of those fans? What are the key elements of the artists sound and what is their reputation? These are all questions that need to be worked through. Choosing the right artist to work with becomes a question of believability: is it trustworthy, does it make sense - are consumers going to believe this partnership.

Many critics of the brand / music tie in would note that a certain artist has appeared to ‘sell out’ but making sure the partnership is believable goes someway to stopping this happening.

Overt criticism of these types of deal display a lack of knowledge and understanding of how difficult it is for artists to put records out these days. The brand sells drinks, the band sells music. Artists have customers too – it’s just that they are called ‘fans’.

As record labels focus more and more on back catalogue, sign more artists to spend less time on each, a new generation of record label is emerging: one that is more of a partnership than the traditional record label model. It’s just that no one thought that someone who invented a fizzy pop drink a hundred years ago would end up being the saviour of the music industry.

musicweek.com/story.asp?sectioncode=28&storycode=1042159&c=1

Mr Jones Watches Launches Masters of Time Collection

2010-09-07T08:01:00.001-07:00

LAUNCHES: NOVEMBER 2010

The Mr Jones Watches brand is defined by the innovative and exciting designs that experiment with the idea of time keeping. The range thinks of watches as portable artworks as well as practical devices.

This Autumn the brand launches the ‘Masters of Time’ collection. The range of five iconic pieces is the result of a series of collaborations with influential individuals – an author, an artist, a comedian, a sportsman and a DJ. Each watch designed to represent the persona of its designer whilst maintaining the brand’s unique style.

For the collection Mr Jones selected five influential figures who he felt represented the creativity and uniqueness of the brand: Graeme Obree World Record breaking cyclist, Iain Sinclair award-winning author and essayist, Willam Andrews writer and comedian Tom Middleton DJ and pioneer of electronic music and Brian Catling poet, sculptor and performance artist.

Mr Jones worked closely alongside each collaborator on their watch to ensure that every detail was incorporated to convey both the ethos behind the brand and the ideas behind the design:

“The watch today is a defunct tool - we all have a mobile phone to check the time on, but the watch endures because it expresses something of our personality. Whilst many watches are a symbol of material wealth, Mr Jones Watches are concerned with ideas.”
Crispin Jones, founder Mr Jones Watches

Each watch in the Master of Time collection is available as part of a signed,
numbered edition of 100 pieces and is priced at £145.

The Masters of Time series is available exclusively from Mr Jones Watches.

MrJonesWatches.com

Prince Fatty: Supersize

2010-09-07T07:56:00.000-07:00

LABEL: MR BONGO

RELEASE DATE: 1ST NOVEMBER

“One of the best sessions in the last few years - reggae royalty” Mark Lamarr - BBC Radio 2

The Prince Fatty sound is once again in full flow on new album ‘Supersize’. Renowned sound engineer and record producer Mike “Prince Fatty” Pelanconi has been a prominent member of the reggae and dub scene in the UK since the mid 90s. Finding himself frustrated by the tempos and mixes of certain records he loved – typified by DJing one time after Don Letts who had already played half his selection – he set about recording his own versions with a supergroup of London’s finest reggae musicians.

“I have worked with many of the UK based reggae musicians at one point or another so I went about selecting the best possible musicians from my experiences with two criteria in mind – the best skills and the most vibe. At the same time my Dub Supervisor and Reggae Jedi aka Little Roy and I started to record tracks for his new album and I found myself recording reggae every day. The Pioneers were dropping by my studio, Alcapone was cutting specials and singers like Winston Francis were just hanging out.”

As well as versions of favourite reggae and soul songs, two tracks stand out – Ol’ Dirty Bastard’s ‘Shimmy Shimmy Ya’ and ‘Insane in the Membrane’ by Cypress Hill.

“I was sad when Ol’ Dirty passed away and for me the great hip hop era ended with him. I cut the version of ‘Shimmy Shimmy Ya’ soon after he died, as a tribute we often hold a minutes silence when me and Horseman do this live. We did ‘Insane In The Brain’ for fun as we had a show supporting Madness coming up. The nutty boys challenged us to a sound clash and they lost. Though we played a dirty hand, they were gracious in defeat.”

The vocal line-up also include Slits singer/daughter of Sex Pistols drummer Paul Cook/new Mr Bongo signing Hollie Cook and features a dub of ‘That Very Night’ from her own album to be released in 2011.

Prince Fatty’s 2007 debut album ‘Survival Of The Fattest’ achieved widespread critical acclaim from the music press and was supported across BBC Radio, resulting in a raucous live session on Mark Lamarr’s show.

Favouring recording on vintage equipment to preserve his signature sound; Pelanconi’s unique style has attracted the likes of Lily Allen, Graham Coxon, Little Barrie, Gregory Isaacs and Sinéad O'Connor to work with him. He has recently opened his own studio The Ironworks in Brighton.

Launch Party Friday 22nd October @ Hootananny, 95 Effra Road, Brixton, London, SW2 1DF

princefatty.com | mrbongo.com

Intern of the Month...

2010-08-23T03:34:00.000-07:00

The Outpost team welcomes a new recruit. Rob will be helping out at Outpost HQ for the next weeks...

‘BUSTIN’ OUT 3: 1983’ - Various Artists

2010-08-23T03:26:00.000-07:00

LABEL: YEAR ZERO

RELEASE DATE: 4TH OCTOBER 2010

‘Bustin’ Out 3’ is the third installment in veteran DJ Mike Maguire’s sparkling, ongoing series chronicling the seismic developments in electronic based music through the often misrepresented 1980s.

By 1983, electronic instruments were no longer a novelty. Musicians, especially drummers and bassists, were getting nervous as drum machines and synthesised basslines made their presence felt in a big way as producers got more familiar with the machines and would-be studio fiends started seeing the day that music could be created in the bedroom. A spirit of adventure ruled in this brave new world, made possible by new technology which meant nothing was sacred as source material anymore; from Saturday morning kids’ TV to movie soundtracks, inspiring either moods, melodies or mischief.

Following the post-punk foragings of volume one and the follow-up capturing the global groundswell of excitement as electronic music came into its own, the microscope now falls on 1983, when the fallout from the previous year’s ‘Planet Rock’ spawned electro funk in tandem with the emerging hip hop and graffiti cultures, while electronic developments started infiltrating many more stratas of new music, whether disco, punk or even mainstream.

Such was the volume of electronic delights raining into the import bins and up from the UK’s own rapidly-adapting scenes, we can only hope to present an exotic snapshot blend of that year’s titanic deluge. To this end, Mike Maguire has done a brilliant job of capturing the panoramic spirit of a year when New York radio‘s ‘mastermixes’ were like gold bullion in clubbing circles while clubs like Danceteria were providing Damascene moments for visiting groups such as New Order, black music was besotted with the drum machine and, most oddly, Kraftwerk were the biggest influence on dance music.

But the collection also steers clear of the obvious route, kicking off with electro-punk poetess Anne Clarke from Croydon, proceeding with an atmospheric mix of legendary film director-composer John Carpenter’s theme to ‘Assault On Precinct 13’, before hitting New York City’s boiling electro scene with Special Request’s ‘Salsa Smurf’ and later the Jonzun Crew’s ‘We Are The Jonzun Crew’, while Downtown is represented by Liquid Liquid‘s ‘Optimo’. New York’s clubs also massively influenced New Order, as beautifully shown on their ‘Power, Corruption And Lies’ album, represented here by the grand melancholy of ‘Your Silent Face’, while San Francisco’s innovative electronic movement is represented by Twilight 22 [formed by Stevie Wonder’s former synth programmer Gordon Bahary].

Rather than focusing entirely on US developments, the set carries on its tradition of exploring Europe’s often darker use of the new technology, including Belgium’s Front 242 and The Neon Judgement, Denmark’s Laid Back with the enigmatic electro of ‘White Horse’, German goth-punks Xmal Deutschland, while Koto’s dub of ‘Chinese Revenge’ spotlights the burgeoning Italo disco movement. Another standout track comes from German synth duo The Unknown Cases fronted by legendary former Traffic percussionist Reebop Kwaku Baah on the rousing Afro-electro of ‘Masimba Bele’. After such a potent, multi-strained hotbed, the UK’s Cocteau Twins make the perfect finale.

1983 was as unpredictable as it was exciting, with musical boundaries falling all the time and clubland on fire with the oddest anthems. At the time the word buzzing around New York summed everything up: fresh. Same goes for the latest gem to appear in this wonderful series, telling the whole story in the celebratory spirit of that amazing era.

futurenoisemusic.com

Fiat and Faithless take over London's Southbank

2010-08-23T03:10:00.000-07:00

FIAT AND FAITHLESS LEAVE LONDON FEELIN’ GOOD - TV’s first prommercial takes over London’s Southbank

On Friday 20th August Fiat and dance act Faithless marked the launch of their groundbreaking creative collaboration with a projection of Faithless’ new video ‘Feelin’ Good’ onto London landmarks including the National Film Theatre and Royal Festival Hall. The team behind TV’s first prommercial transformed the Southbank into a pop-up billboard while a surprised audience gathered along the Thames.

This is only the second time the Faithless video has been seen in its entirety by the public following the premiere on Channel 4 last weekend. The three-minute video was played on a loop while the sun set on London’s skyline.

The video’s plot follows the extraordinary night of a young man and woman, whose incredible dance moves begin to attract the attention of fellow clubbers. It soon becomes apparent that the dancers’ moves are being directly affected by the movements of stylised dolls in the form of Maxi Jazz and Sister Bliss, hanging from the rear view mirrors of separate Fiat Punto Evos. As the cars navigate the dark city streets the dolls’ movements become more erratic and our dancers’ moves even more unbelievable. Inspired by the track’s lyrics, performed by Dido and Maxi Jazz, the video follows our dancers as they are awakened and energised by the cars’ journey through the city.

Fiat recently broke new ground by releasing the world’s first ‘prommercial’ - a hybrid of promotional video and TV commercial – which can now be seen nationwide until 12th September.

Faithless said:

“We’re always looking at new ways to get our music to different audiences and exploring new ideas.”

Elena Bernardelli, marketing director, Fiat Group Automobiles UK and Ireland said:

‘This collaboration was all about getting the Punto Evo and the Feelin Good track out to a wider audience, so projecting the video onto buildings in London where everyone and anyone can see it, seemed like a natural progression for the campaign. The video is really fun and uplifting so we're hoping it’ll give people that feel good feeling as they pass by’.

As part of the campaign, Fiat is launching a special edition Punto Evo Feelin Good that comes fully equipped with the Blue&Me hands-free multimedia system, Start&Stop system, metallic paint, 15” alloys, sports bumpers, rear spoiler, dark tinted headlights, adaptive cornering foglights. You can get all this on a 3-door Punto Evo Feelin Good for only £9,595.

The car also comes with the test drive incentive of a free 2GB MP3 player and a copy of Faithless album ‘The Dance’, including an exclusive track, to anyone who test drives the Punto Evo before the 21st of September, on a first come first served basis.

evomusicrooms.com | facebook.com/evomusicrooms | faithless.co.uk | myspace.com/faithless

Fiat / Faithless prommercial takes a life of its own

2010-08-17T02:25:00.000-07:00

Fiat's collaboration with Faithless through their "prommercial" achieved coverage across the board last week, resulting in a section on Newsnight and Radio 4 as well as features in The Independent, Telegraph, BBC News, AOL Music and NME.

See the video here, watch the Newsnight clip here and listen to the Radio 4 segment here

Jack Sparrow - Circadian

2010-08-09T06:58:00.000-07:00

Rising Leeds star Jack Sparrow launches his debut LP ‘Circadian’, following previous faultless Tectonic tribalistic anthems ‘The Chase’ and ‘Terminal’. Following in the footsteps of 2562, label boss Pinch and Cyrus (Random Trio), Sparrow is one the few dubstep producers capable of making the leap from hard-hitting 12" dancefloor releases to full length album.

As the restrained 4/4 kick drum of opening track ‘Loveless’ pounds in, warming chords rise up, and snatches of soulful vocal cuts chime in over building drum layers - you already know you’re headed for an involving journey with this album. Fans of Mala, Martyn, Quest and Silkie will feel at home with the vibe of the opening track, yet Sparrow takes things in his own direction with a sound that combines elements of deep house with a tribal side of dubstep.

The vibe switches then for ‘Dread’ – a collaboration with fellow Leeds based producer Ruckspin – a dark, cold ragga-techno rhythm before Sparrow breathes new life into his original Tectonic tribal anthem, with a VIP version of ‘The Chase’. ‘Salvation’ continues with a voodoo laden tribal theme, taking things into slightly more tech-y territories before we hear a fresh take on ‘Terminal’.

‘Shoal’ pulls back a little on the pace, venturing into new territories as technology battles with organic sounds. Next up the sweet sounds of vocalist Indi Kaur (who sang on Pinch’s ‘Angels In The Rain’) meet with Sparrow’s adept production skills for a soulful meander in the endearing ‘Subterranean’ - a lighter touch on the LP.

‘Dune’ takes things back into a more sinister world, with its lunging half-step rhythm and earthquake sub bass and ethno-decentralised atmospherics. ‘Relapse’ kicks in at 160bpm, Jack Sparrow demonstrating his prowess as a highly versatile producer with this “autonomic” take on his dubstep sounds - highly rhythmical whilst pushing forward the technological boundaries of sound. ‘Regress’ keeps with the uptempo bpm but steps back the pressure, allowing for memories of the early days of ambient jungle to seep in.

Pause for a deep breath as the final track, ‘Exit’, gently delivers you out of the ‘Circadian’ journey. A unique track that warms your heart and chills your bones simultaneously, and lets you float off fully satisfied.

‘A circadian rhythm is a roughly 24-hour cycle in the biochemical, physiological, or behavioural processes of living entities.’

myspace.com/sparradubz | myspace.com/tectonicrecordings
multiverse-music.com

Wax Tailor - In The Mood For Life

2010-07-28T04:25:00.000-07:00

French producer Wax Tailor releases his long awaited third album ‘In the Mood for Life’ through Wagram. Wax Tailor’s distinctive style is instantly recognisable but evolved writing and emphasis on string arrangements sees him embrace 60s pop and soundtracks to add to his palette of soul, funk and hip-hop.

His first album ‘Tales of the Forgotten Melodies’ drew comparisons to the likes of RJD2, Portishead and DJ Shadow, while his second ‘Hope & Sorrow’ (80,000 sold worldwide) landed him nominations at the prestigious Victoires de la Musiques and US Indie Awards. Wax Tailor is coming off a year which saw him tour relentlessly (over 200 concerts) and score the title track for the movie ‘Paris’ by Cedric Klapisch.

Having an “urban mood” in mind, Le Saoût headed across the Atlantic to produce ‘In the Mood for Life’ in New York as well as Paris. WT states “it's a long story about New York, just because that's the basis for a lot of things that have influenced me; about music, about cinema, about a lot of artists.”

A chance encounter in New York with artist and musician Sara Genn inspired Wax to write her the song ‘Dry Your Eyes’ with his friend Marina Quaisse, especially to match her voice. Other guest vocalists include Scandinavian hip-hop kings Speech Defect, Dionne Charles - one of the great voices of UK soul, singer-songwriter Charlie Winston, Mattic – the charismatic MC who has been there since the first album, the European collective ASM - who provided one of the highlights of the last album, Voice & Ali Harter – an incongruous meeting of the Louisiana MC and of one of folk music’s best kept secrets; and consistent muse Charlotte Savary.

Wax Tailor is the working pseudonym of French hip hop producer, Jean-Christophe Le Saoût. Born in 1975 in Vernon, Eure, Le Saoût has been involved in the French music scene from the early 90s. “I think when I began to work on this project it was 2002. That was the moment when I was quite bored about those separate things (jazz and hip hop) and wanted to have a blend of all the influences and the things that I really liked to mix. So that was the point when I was thinking about all my influences and thinking I want to make everything in it.”

Wax Tailor has performed around the world and shared the stage with a variety of acts including Air, Bonobo and De La Soul.

His music is beyond genres and defies categorization, it is a modern brand of pop music, designed with a rigor and an expertise that betrays the love this artist puts into his craft.

myspace.com/waxtailor | twitter.com/waxtailor

Gecko Turner - Gone Down South

2010-07-28T04:16:00.000-07:00

Just as autumn arrives, Gecko Turner will be releasing his much anticipated album ‘Gone Down South’ just in time to brighten up those darkening days.

It’s been a long four years since his last release ‘Chandalismo Ilustrado’ and Gecko’s effortless style has once again delivered. Taking on board new sounds and experiences exposed to him, he’s crafted what many will feel his greatest release.

Recorded in California, Texas, London and Madrid with the help of Sunny Levine, Tim Gerron and Antonio Feola, ‘Gone Down South’ features a multitude of talent including trumpet maestro Irapoan Freire, the voice of Spanish soulman Gene García and the stunning piano of Cuban Javier "Caramelo" Masó.

Born close to the Spanish-Portuguese border, the bilingual Gecko Turner (real name Fernando Gabriel Echave Pelaez) began writing and singing in Spanish, Portuguese and English. After falling in love with the sounds of blues legends Muddy Waters and Jimmy Reed, and later Jazz hero Dizzy Gillespie a teenage Pelaez picked up a guitar and began to experiment.

Released on the Lovemonk Label, ‘Gone Down South’ starts with the soulful "Truly" leading onto the Afro-Cuban tune ‘Cuanta Suerte’ then the Velvet Underground-influenced ‘So Sweet’. ‘Tea Time’ is lazy funk lit up by the rhymes of rapper Isaya Thomas, while ‘Ámame, Mímame’, ‘You Can't Own Me’ and ‘Mbira, Mbira’ have taken more than a few sips from the old African well, the latter brilliantly mixing it up with rhythms coming from Extremadura-style flamenco. ‘Holly Hollywood’, ‘The Love Monk’ and ‘When I Woke Up’ do the funk, Gecko-style, while ‘Let's Stay Tonight’ is a ballad that sounds like a Motown excursion to Jamaica. The finishing touch comes in the form of a nice little blues ditty, title track, ‘Gone Down South’.

lovemonk.net | geckoturner.com

Nicolas Matar & Willi Graff - Cielo - Paradizo 2

2010-07-28T04:08:00.000-07:00

More than just a name on a CD, ‘Cielo – Paradizo 2’ is the ultimate NYC club compilation. Hand-picked bona-fide gems, inspirational grooves and top notch production - a superbly blended mix of subtle summer beats and languid vibes.

Cielo has become a staple of the New York music scene. It has garnered awards from New York Magazine, Clubworld, Dancestar and Urb Magazine, including the coveted Best Club award. From its state-of-the-art space in downtown's ultra-chic Meatpacking District, Cielo provides a music program specializing in deeply soulful house music as well as various genres of electronic music. Cielo is a haven for mature individuals seeking intelligent nightlife with neither the hassles of large clubs nor the elitism of upscale lounges with too many VIP rooms. Once you are in Cielo, there are no more ropes, checkpoints, or rules. Security's goal is to compliment the experience, not to hinder it. Cielo has set a new level in New York nightlife by going back to basics: the best DJs on the planet, a strong door, impeccable service, stunning decor and lighting, and a sound system which will blow the most fastidious audiophile's socks off.

It is perhaps his greatest accolade that from 1993-2001, Nicolas Matar was the resident DJ of the world-renowned Pacha in Ibiza. Nicolas credits those years during the golden era of House Music at Pacha as the inspiration for his eventual return to New York to build Cielo. In addition to being the co-owner/resident DJ, Nicolas handles all music programming and marketing at Cielo. Roger Sanchez, Francois K., Louie Vega, Tedd Patterson, Richie Hawtin, Deepdish, Danny Tenaglia, and Frankie Knuckles are just a few of the DJs who play alongside Nicolas at Cielo on a regular basis. With a musical family heritage dating back to Studio 54, Nicolas brings that musical DNA to the heart of this mix.

Willie Graff, a Pacha resident himself, has also come of age as a producer. Born to American parents on the island of Ibiza, he started developing a taste for music at a very early age. Willie was fortunate to experience the white island’s magic at the tender age of 13, when he began frequenting local nightclubs and listening to house music. A few months later, he became Pacha’s youngest resident DJ before relocating to New York a few years later to accept an invitation to be resident DJ of Cielo.

Collaborating together, the two shine in the mix on ‘Cielo – Paradizo 2’.

nervousnyc.com

Truth - Puppets

2010-07-28T04:02:00.000-07:00

‘Plastic People’ is the latest release by Anane from her album ‘Ananesworld’ on Nervous, co produced with Louie Vega.

The classic early 1980s sound fuses guitars, base lines and a touch of harmonica with a halting vocal style and twisted beats. The single is taken from her new album ‘Ananesworld’ which sees a mixture of dance, reggae, rock, R&B soul, world and Caribbean influences.

The singer, songwriter, producer and DJ from Santiago, West Africa moved to New York where she met DJ/Producer Louie Vega and made a name for herself with her edgy remake of the 1970s classic ‘Let Me Love You’ by Bunny Mack. An integral member of the Elements of Life Collective she then went on to forge an international career that has included appearances at Japan’s infamous Blue Note Festival, Europe’s giant Montreux Jazz Festival, Finland’s Pori Jazz, and Britain’s Womad Festival.

‘Combining earthiness with glamour and roots-deep house music knowledge with pop wise diversity.’ Billboard Magazine

This soulful songstress tours Europe and USA later on this year where she will no doubt bring the dance floor to life with a theatrical performance and unmistakable presence. Dates include 15th May in Miami and 24th August in Mykonos, Greece.

myspace.com/ananevega

Neon Circus - Don’t Get Panicked

2010-07-28T02:21:00.000-07:00

‘Don’t Get Panicked’ is the debut album by Neon Circus, released through Jacket Pocket Records. The album follows the band’s singles ‘Future Disco’ and ‘Digit-Izm’, which have been supported by BBC Introducing and XFM.

Taking inspiration from classic albums by LCD Soundsystem, Leftfield, Death in Vegas, The Stone Roses and DJ Shadow, the 14 tracks on ‘Don’t Get Panicked’ see the band pack together punk-funk basslines, future-disco drums, washes of ambient synthesisers, tight riffs and drawled rock ‘n’ roll vocals. Their style has evolved from an ethos of striving to create music that is powerful and original.

Mackinlay Smith and Dan Gooch formed Neon Circus in Leicester in 2008 after having played in many local bands. Striking off together, the duo bought what recording equipment they could afford and moved into a garage attic. Here they set up what would become their studio and music refuge, filled with the albums they loved. Able to write and record on their own terms, tracks began to emerge from long nights of creative excess; eventually growing to form ‘Don’t Get Panicked’. After meeting at a warehouse party in the back streets of Leicester, Dominic Kealey became the third member of the band, eager to add more passion to band’s ethos.

Live, they incorporate samplers, laptops, vocals and percussion resulting in a fluid show which has more in common with a DJ set than a traditional band gig. Having played several gigs in their home town alongside such DJs as BBC Radio 1’s Zane Lowe, Neon Circus play their debut London gig on 25th June at Slipped Disco’s UFO @ Big Chill House, London. A UK tour follows later this year.

myspace.com/neoncircusmusic

Gaudi - No Prisoners & launch party

2010-07-22T02:44:00.000-07:00

Gaudi’s latest album ‘No Prisoners’ arrives during a very successful time for the London based producer and artist. He’s been nominated for a BBC World Music Award for his last album ‘Dub Qawwali’ (with legendary Sufi singer Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan), collaborated with French musical inventor Michel Moglia and his unique Fire Organ - performing to a crowd of 350,000 at The Coliseum, Rome - while still finding time for official collaborations with Horace Andy, Grandmaster Flash, Simple Minds and an official Bob Marley project.

In all his albums Gaudi has worked to create his own down-tempo style using elements of dub, electronica and world music. ‘No Prisoners’ takes a step in an upbeat direction with raw production, live bass, guitars, percussion, drums, keys and more meeting Gaudi’s signature analogue mastery of vintage synthesizers, tape echoes and spring reverb. The result gives ‘No Prisoners’ the warmth and authenticity that has become synonymous with Gaudi’s music, while being his most energetic release yet.

A highly respected line-up of guests adds international appeal to the album. Amongst them, California’s conscious political lyricist and founder of Spearhead Michael Franti lends his emotive tones to ‘There’s Enough’, Brooklyn based reggae artist Dr Israel (of Easy Star All Stars ‘Dub Side Of The Moon’ fame) features on ‘No Time’, multi-million selling Italian singer-songwriter Elisa gives a feminine edge to ‘Brainwashed Again’ and Jamaican Reggae vocalist Kenny Knots goes deep with ‘Strictly Goodness’. Other notable guests include pioneering down-tempo dub producer Dub Gabriel on ‘Barracudub’ and UK electro-breaks producers Dom Smart (aka Neurodriver) and Tom Real who feature on ‘No More Blood’ and ‘Bad Boy Bass’ respectively.

‘No Prisoners’, as the title suggests, is an album made without concessions, each track uncompromising in the delivery of its sonic payload.

Gaudi is throwing a launch party for the album at The Truman Brewery on Wednesday 28th July - Doors open 7.30pm.

gaudimusic.com | sixdegreesrecords.com | myspace.com/gaudimusic

Pigbag - Papa’s Got A Brand New Pigbag

2010-06-30T04:01:00.000-07:00

It's true - I was in the pub last night with my mates and they started calling me a really annoying so and so.

...I nearly choked on my vuvuzela.

Charging on to the pitch, just in time for the World Cup, is the reissue of Pigbag’s classic ‘Papa's Got A Brand New Pigbag’, a song that shot to #3 on the UK charts in 1981 and has since become a signature at football matches and television shows alike. This classic mix of punk-funk-jazzy-worldbeat-stomp has been updated with two new dancefloor friendly mixes.

Pigbag were formed in Cheltenham in late 1980s by fashion student Chris Hamlin. Born from creative jam sessions in punk's aftermath, the young group gathered steam after convincing Simon Underwood to join the fun following his departure from The Pop Group. He recruited the guitar playing of James Johnstone, Chris Lee on trumpet and multi-instrumentalist Roger Freeman, an old friend from his home town of Birmingham. After a few initial jam sessions they decided to expand the line-up and rehearse more frequently. Dick O’Dell and the Y Records team gave Pigbag their first gig, supporting The Slits in Bristol where they played their famous 20 minute set of the now legendary ‘Papa’s Got a Brand New Pig Bag’. So the journey began for Pigbag, notching up a top 20 album and two top 40 singles.

‘Papa’s Got a Brand New Bag’ is considered a classic pop hit of the era. It has been used extensively as soundtrack music and at sporting events, particularly by Middlesbrough Football Club and Queens Park Rangers, and is still a popular dance record in clubs. On top of all that Madness has occasionally performed a cover in their live sets and it was included in the soundtrack to Alan Bennet’s 2006 film ‘The History Boys’.

London's iconic Fire Records has been making quite a habit of re- introducing some of the most vital music from the past of late and this is no exception. Pigbag return with the definitive collection of their output: ‘Pigbag Volume One’ and ‘Pigbag Volume Two’, encompassing both of their full length releases ‘Dr. Heckle & Mr. Jive’ and ‘Lend An Ear’ along with a collection of their pulsing singles and b-sides and a clutch of amazing live performances. This isn't the only bit of excitement as the band is currently rehearsing for live dates in the near future.

firerecords.com | pigbag.co.uk

WTF?! & DEAD PREZ - IT'S BIGGER THAN HIP HOP UK

2010-06-30T03:31:00.000-07:00

“Arguably a cornerstone in the dubstep movement, hold tight!” - Zane Lowe

WTF!? - It's Bigger Than Hip Hop by Outpost Music PR

WTF!? is the new project from Adam F and DJ Fresh, encompassing dubstep, house, hip hop, reggae, electronic and sampled music. They’ve teamed up with Dead Prez for their first single, with a new take of the classic track ‘It’s Bigger Than Hip Hop’, released through Breakbeat Kaos.

What started as a re-edit for a select few found its feet organically when a bootleg was sent to Zane Lowe who immediately made it “Hottest Record in the World” on Radio 1. A clip of the tune quickly made its way onto YouTube and was gaining momentum when Dead Prez saw it and contacted WTF!? to request making it a fixture of their live show.

It’s immediate popularity lead to an official collaboration and a brand new recording of the classic complete with revamped production and new vocals from Dead Prez, with Zane Lowe giving the new version the same accolade.

Dead Prez said "When we first heard the massive sound WTF!? are producing it gave us a whole new way to look at the track! The new version has given life and breath to the record and working in the studio with these guys has been an immense experience... that’s definitely bigger than hip hop".

The track is back by a ‘140bpm Dubbed Out Mix’ and an electro-house version by Dutch producer/DJ Sidney Samson.

Adam F and Fresh are no strangers to the scene- the pair founded Breakbeat Kaos, whose successes include acts such as Pendulum.

WTF!? is also a live act that includes both Adam F and Fresh, look out for upcoming shows.

Adam F performed at Glastonbury this June.

breakbeatkaos.com | twitter.com/officialwtf

FESTIBELLY’S 'FOLK OFF' IS BACK!

2010-06-30T03:28:00.000-07:00

After last year’s resounding success, Festibelly bring 'Folk Off' back with a bang for 2010. Last year saw five acoustic artists battling it out for the Festibelly crown, with Toy winning the gig and playing an exclusive set to 2009’s revellers and now opening Festibelly 2010. They’re kicking it all off again with five of 2010’s best artists performing at this year’s event on 28th August. The winner will be judged by the crowd and awarded a full slot at Festibelly 2011.To be in with your shot to play at this and next year’s festival send your best acoustic demo as an MP3 with info and pics to folkoff[at]festibelly.com. All ages may enter, however any person under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a responsible adult. The deadline for all entrants is 5pm August 16th. The five finalists will be announced on 19th August.

Festibelly 2010 returns, bigger and better with musical performances packing talent from across the board. Electro-rock duo The Big Pink are headlining alongside the likes of pysch-folk-rockers King Charles, grime pop pin-ups Man Like Me, indie rockers My Tiger My Timing and quirky folkers Lulu and the Lampshades. They’ll be joined by Tek-One with his live dubstep act, DJs Enchanted Hunters and dancehall/dubstep group Reggae Roast.

Other festival antics this year include additional areas hosting comedy, late night silent disco and campfire. Secret Wars are joining the antics once again with live art battles and installations in their own arena. Festibelly supports local industry and will be featuring the best haute cuisine the New Forest has to offer, from hog roasts to falafel.

Details:
Date: 9am Saturday 28th August - 1pm Sunday 29th August 2010
Address: Undershore, Lymington, Hampshire, SO41 5QA
Tickets: Earlybird £26.00 / Standard: £30.00 via festibelly.com from 3rd May 2010. Saturday night camping included with ticket
Capacity: 2000

festibelly.com | myspace.com/festibelly | twitter.com/festibelly

Hilltop Hoods announce new album & live dates

2010-06-30T03:27:00.000-07:00

Australia's premier hip hop crew Hilltop Hoods release ‘State Of The Art', their fifth studio album, through their label Golden Era Records. ‘State Of The Art' follows their 2006 award-winning album ‘The Hard Road'. Alongside the album release they're performing at T In The Park, Oxegen and London's Koko.

It's been a long time coming for Hilltop Hoods - MC Suffa (Matt Lambert), MC Pressure (Daniel Smith) and DJ Debris (Barry Francis) - but ‘State Of The Art' is everything fans could have wished for. It's dark, heavy, challenging, raw and occasionally funny. It's unmistakably the Hoods but quite unlike anything they've ever done before; guitars, strings and unidentifiable sounds interweave in a cutting-edge cacophony of words, rhymes and samples.

"The songs are set to blow the local music scene wide open, cementing Hilltop Hoods not just as the country's premiere hip-hop act, but one of the most defining and influential Australian bands of this decade and the next". Rolling Stone

Prepare to be surprised from the explosive opening track, the aptly-titled ‘The Return', right through to the closing cut ‘Fifty In Five', which sees the last fifty years deconstructed and reconstructed in a flash, right in front of your very ears. Lead single, ‘Chase That Feeling', features a return guest appearance from members from the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra while another key track, ‘Classic Example' is in collaboration with legendary New York rapper, Pharoahe Monch.

In 2006 their fourth album, ‘The Hard Road' debuted on top of the Australian national mainstream charts, an achievement completely unprecedented in the history of Australian hip hop. It was awarded the ARIA Awards for Best Urban and Best Independent Release, as well as taking the 2006 J Award for Album of the Year.

A year later came the groundbreaking remix project, ‘The Hard Road Restrung', which saw the Hoods collaborate with the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, going on to attain another ARIA Award for Best Urban Release. 2007 also saw the release of the live DVD, ‘City Of Light'. Ever since, the Hoods have worked virtually non-stop on ‘State Of The Art' in their home studios in Adelaide.

‘This is probably the heaviest album we've done,' is Suffa's summation of ‘State Of The Art'. ‘And probably by a fair bit as well'. Pressure concurs: ‘There are definitely some tougher tracks on it' and assertively declares ‘I'm personally more proud of this record than any other album we've done. I think it's definitely our most consistent piece from start to finish.'

hilltophoods.com | myspace.com/hilltophoods

We're hiring!

2010-06-07T04:12:00.001-07:00

Outpost Media are looking for an ambitious Account Manager / Senior Account Executive to work across key music, brand and events campaigns at our Shoreditch offices. With a minimum of 2 years PR experience, you will have worked on a broad range of projects including brands, consumer PR and/or possibly other creative disciplines. You will have an excellent knowledge and passion for music, and know your Toddla T from your MGMT. A bulging black book of press contacts is a must for this role. Experience of managing, producing and promoting events would be a distinct advantage, as is a keen eye for new business.

Candidates must be ambitious and creative, with strong communication skills and be able to demonstrate excellent client and media relations. We are seeking candidates with a proven track record who can demonstrate these skills through successful examples and be able to show an impressive portfolio of coverage for innovative and successful PR campaigns .

APPLY here

Official Anane "Plastic People" Video

2010-06-02T06:42:00.000-07:00

Dusk & Blackdown tour video

2010-06-02T06:32:00.000-07:00

Check out the tour video for the Dusk & Blackdown live show here http://vimeo.com/1467214?pg=embed&sec=1467214

Beyond the corporate finance of the City, the anodyne bars of the West End and the affluent riches out west, there is another London. Head out at sunset to the edges and just watch. Listen. As the sun drops, soon a different city emerges, a mesh of disparate groups and communities, visible but unseen, vocal - in countless vibrant accents, languages and dialects - but unheard, vital but unrecognised by the centre.

By night, the city comes alive with sound: raw slang, dialects, clanking trains, sub bass waves and rebel radio frequencies. This album is a reflection of these places, people, voices and cultures, a snapshot of the forgotten edges of a city at dusk: intense, in technicolour, in transition but forever an inspiration.

Welcome to “Margins Music.”

Keysound Video presents Margins Music is the debut visual feature from Blackdown and director Jonathan Howells.

It documents an audio visual journey through the margins of urban London, soundtracked by dubstep and grime from the forthcoming Dusk + Blackdown CD, "Margins Music" out August 18th 2008 on Keysound Recordings.

It features grime MC Durrty Goodz, singer Farrah and a cameo from Blackdown himself and was shot on location on the edges of London, including Southall, Green Lanes, the Isle of Dogs and Edmonton.

London: it's just a mundane city...

Dates:
5th June @ The Albany, Douglas Way, Deptford, London SE8 4AG
thealbany.org.uk / 020 8692 4446 / £12 advance from ticketweb.co.uk / Doors 8pm
8th June @ Brighton Dome, 12a Pavilion Buildings, Castle Square, Brighton, BN1 1EE
brightondome.org / 01273 709 709 / £TBA / Doors 8pm
11th June @ Band on the Wall, 25 Swan Street, The Northern Quarter, Manchester, M4 5JZ
bandonthewall.org / 08452 500 500 / £10 / Doors 9pm
16th June @ South Street, 21 South Street, Reading RG1 4QU
readingarts.com / 0118 960 6060 / £TBA / Doors 8pm
11th Sept @ Kendal Brewery, Highgate, Kendal, Cumbria, LA9 4HE
breweryarts.co.uk / 01539 725133/ £TBA / Doors 8pm

For more information on Margins Music, check Blackdown’s blog here - http://blackdownsoundboy.blogspot.com/2008/05/keysound-news-ldn005-and-ldn006.html

‘Papa's Got A Brand New Pigbag’

2010-06-02T06:29:00.000-07:00

Charging on to the pitch, just in time for the World Cup, is the reissue of Pigbag’s classic ‘Papa's Got A Brand New Pigbag’, a song that shot to #3 on the UK charts in 1981 and has since become a signature at football matches and television shows alike. This classic mix of punk-funk-jazzy-worldbeat-stomp has been updated with two new dancefloor friendly mixes.

Pigbag were formed in Cheltenham in late 1980s by fashion student Chris Hamlin. Born from creative jam sessions in punk's aftermath, the young group gathered steam after convincing Simon Underwood to join the fun following his departure from The Pop Group. He recruited the guitar playing of James Johnstone, Chris Lee on trumpet and multi-instrumentalist Roger Freeman, an old friend from his home town of Birmingham. After a few initial jam sessions they decided to expand the line-up and rehearse more frequently. Dick O’Dell and the Y Records team gave Pigbag their first gig, supporting The Slits in Bristol where they played their famous 20 minute set of the now legendary ‘Papa’s Got a Brand New Pig Bag’. So the journey began for Pigbag, notching up a top 20 album and two top 40 singles.

‘Papa’s Got a Brand New Bag’ is considered a classic pop hit of the era. It has been used extensively as soundtrack music and at sporting events, particularly by Middlesbrough Football Club and Queens Park Rangers, and is still a popular dance record in clubs. On top of all that Madness has occasionally performed a cover in their live sets and it was included in the soundtrack to Alan Bennet’s 2006 film ‘The History Boys’.

London's iconic Fire Records has been making quite a habit of re- introducing some of the most vital music from the past of late and this is no exception. Pigbag return with the definitive collection of their output: ‘Pigbag Volume One’ and ‘Pigbag Volume Two’, encompassing both of their full length releases ‘Dr. Heckle & Mr. Jive’ and ‘Lend An Ear’ along with a collection of their pulsing singles and b-sides and a clutch of amazing live performances. This isn't the only bit of excitement as the band is currently rehearsing for live dates in the near future.

You can listen to one of the remixes on our Soundcloud player.

2010-05-27T02:53:00.000-07:00

FRIDAY 28th MAY 2010
weekly limited events #11/15
10PM – 5AM

Will.I.Am (Dj Set)
The Glimmers
Disco Bloodbath
Matt Waites | Niyi | Tronik Youth | Men In Masks

All this for only £10 + Booking Fee (early bird) or £15 on the door!
together-club.co.uk

For the 11th event of Season One, Together is, quite simply, smoking; as this week’s special guest is Black Eyed Peas front man and super producer Will.I.Am who will be spinning an exclusive DJ set for us. Joining him will be electro-tech dons The Glimmers and east London party favourites Disco Bloodbath who’ll be joined by Matt Waites, Niyi, Tronik Youth and Men In Masks. The date for your diary is Friday 28th May and venue is of course, The Coronet.

Will.I.Am and his phenomenally successfully band The Black Eyed Peas has racked up global sales of over 35 million albums and 41 million singles. Responsible for massive hits such as ‘Where Is The Love’, ‘Shut Up’ and ‘My Humps’ to name a few, as a producer Will.I.Am has also worked with hip-hop soul legend Mary J Blige, Akon, Flo-Rida, Rihanna, Kelis, Cheryl Cole and produced the Michael Jackson ‘Thriller’ re-release. Spinning a rare DJ set, we’re delighted to have the talent that is Will.I.Am crate digging and rocking the Together crowd for us this week.

The Glimmers (Mo and Benoelie) have had releases on Eskimo, Blue Note, !K7 and Fabric in addition to their own label Diskimo. Their amalgamation of new-beat-funk-dub-house-techno-party-hip-hop-electro-new-wave-edgy-post-punk-disco-rock and a bit of pop was a revelation to those bored of linear mix albums and DJ sets. It became their trademark and according to DJ Magazine “The Glimmers are the most adventurous DJ duo in the world!”

Disco Bloodbath host legendary parties spanning disco, italo disco and techno in and around Dalston. Over the years they have managed to amass a loyal discerning fanbase and have lured some impressive DJs to their bloodbath. More recently they have turned their hand at remixing with production credits notching up a portfolio of remix duties for Franz Ferdinand, The White Lies and The Aliens. In the past few months Disco Bloodbath have hosted rooms at Fabric, Bugged Out, Matter and The Big Chill Festival amongst others.

In a world where super saturated music and new scenes form every few seconds, DJs such as Matt Waites and Niyi are precious diamonds simply because of the diverse yet crowd satisfying sounds and skills they have to the dance floor thumping late in to the night. Expect the unexpected with these two.

Recent remix work with Simian Mobile Disco and Filthy Dukes has cemented Tronik Youth as one of the hottest acts of 2010. With a new EP on the way we’re sure his performance will be anything but run of the mill as he never fails to astonish an ever enlarging fan base of world distinguished DJs. Last but nowhere not least is Men In Masks who has perfected an energetic and intense performance behind (and often on top) of the decks which has propelled him to host treasured live shows and gain respect amongst the likes of DJ Yoda, Kissy Sell Out, Fake Blood, Joe Ransom and Krafty Kuts. Men In Masks is now considered to be one of London’s young most respected and talented club DJs.

Together keeps pulling out the stops by representing music that matters right now, mixed with legendary live artists capable of headlining any festival stage. And the best bit is that you can get your weekly music fix for great value for money as Together will cost you no more than £15.

As if this magnificent line-up wasn’t enough; expect a weekly dose of fun and frolics. Over two thousand like-minded people brought Together, under one roof! That’s what we’re talking about.

Early-Bird priced £10 (£15 on the door).
Check www.together-club.co.uk for regular updates.

together-club.co.uk
coronettheatre.co.uk

Festibelly Returns To The New Forest Bigger And Better For 2010

2010-05-12T03:41:00.000-07:00

"One of the summer's more intimate festivals and also one of the more luxurious" Guardian
"Cheery, chilled and you should rarely lose your mates/tent/marbles - unless you want to" Clash
"Chilled day, party night time - another wonderful weekend" Independent
"Excellent one-night-only shindig" Vice

*LINE UP SO FAR*
HEADLINE ACT TBA
THE INVISIBLE
MAN LIKE ME
KING CHARLES
MY TIGER MY TIMING
TEK-ONE

SECRET WARS ARENA
FOLK OFF! COMPETITION

+ MANY MORE LIVE ACTS & DJS TO BE ANNOUNCED SOON

Festibelly returns, bigger and better, to the lush surroundings of the New Forest, Hampshire for its third year of music and fun. With two sell-out years under its belt, Festibelly has grown from 500 capacity beginnings in 2008 to a 2,000 capacity festival in 2010. The original intimate Festibelly vibe remains however, offering an up-close and personal experience of top live music, DJs, art and food in the surroundings of the wonderful New Forest countryside.

Additional areas to the main stage this year include: an acoustic stage hosting music, comedy and the return of the Folk Off! competition, a late night disco and campfire, and Secret Wars also return with live art battles and installations in their own arena. Supporting local industry, Festibelly features the best haute cuisine the New Forest has to offer - from hog roasts to falafel.

The Invisible. Towards the end of 2006, three friends - Dave Okumu, Tom Herbert and Leo Taylor - started work on what was initially intended as Dave's solo project. An exciting, beautiful album gradually emerged and during the process of its creation the three Londoners fused into a fully-fledged trio. The Invisible's self titled debut album went on to be nominated for the 2009 Mercury Music Prize.

Man Like Me. Led by mild-mannered Camden pin-up Johnny Langer, Man Like Me combine indie, rave, grime, ska and hip hop with matter-of-fact lyrics to create an unquestionably youthful British sound. They follow a lineage of artists such as Ian Dury, The Specials, Hot Chip and The Streets in making the everyday sound extraordinary.

King Charles. 2009 was a busy year for West London's King Charles. His debut single, 'Time of Eternity' was played by Radio 1 DJs Huw Stephens, Rob Da Bank and Zane Lowe, he's spent the past year gigging everywhere from Glastonbury to tiny venues in the middle of nowhere to a support slot with Mumford & Sons and has recorded his debut album due for release this year.

My Tiger My Timing. My Tiger My Timing (brother and sister Anna Vincent and James Vincent, Jamie Harrison, Gary Drain and Seb Underhill) are named after a track by New York artist Arthur Russell and have recently recorded a version of his song Arm Around You for a covers album on the Electric Minds label. They have also contributed songs to Modular's Leave Them All Behind Vol 3 compilation, French label Sisterphunk's Sisters EP and the recent Kitsuné Maison 8 sampler, alongside artists like Delphic, Chew Lips and Crystal Fighters.

Tek-One. Tek-One are a duo who create the heaviest dubstep out of circuit bent children's toys, broken keyboards, short-circuited toy amps, anything with AA batteries and a low bit-rate that was built in Taiwan and designed to amuse a young child for 30 seconds. The live show also incorporates DJing, live drums, synths, FX and needs to be seen to be believed.

More details to be announced soon.

Details:
Date: 9am Saturday 28th August - 1pm Sunday 29th August 2010
Address: Undershore, Lymington, Hampshire, SO41 5QA
Tickets: Earlybird £26.00 / Standard: £30.00 via festibelly.com from 3rd May 2010.
Saturday night camping included with ticket
Capacity: 2000

festibelly.com
myspace.com/festibelly
twitter.com/festibelly

‘DARK MATTER: MULTIVERSE 2004–2009’

2010-05-12T03:38:00.000-07:00

Since its formation in 2004 Bristol based Multiverse has been one of the key creative studios for developing the city's flourishing culture of forward thinking electronic music. Based around their recording studio in the heart of the city the collective has consistently nurtured and supported electronic artists, both nationally and internationally, in the process creating a series of seminal releases that have helped shape today's current musical landscape. Through their network of labels which includes Tectonic, Kapsize, Earwax, Caravan and Build, the work of the studio has focussed on exploring the uncharted spaces between genres, bridging together today's cutting edge sonic possibilities with electronic music's rich and diverse musical history. This intention has been accomplished with a strictly artist led approach and a commitment to supporting the work of new and innovative musicians and composers. The fruits of this creative labour are reflected here in this celebratory compilation.

This double CD release offers a selection of highlights from the studios recent history. Leading the charge are both ‘Lion’ and ‘Pop Pop’ by Vex’d, records that formed the first bridge between classic British industrial music and dubstep, a fusion now championed by the likes of Surgeon, Distance and Milanese. This appears alongside Joker and Ginz’s ‘Purple City’ the track that spearheaded the emergence of the Purple Wow phenomenon. Also present is Pinch’s ‘Qawwali’ one of the key tracks that broke dubstep to a global audience via Mary Anne Hobb’s Dubstep Warz compilation. Pinch’s influence within Multiverse extends across the compilation through his collaboration with P Dutty on ‘War Dub’, featured in the movie Children of Men, and ‘Get Up’ with Massive Attack vocalist Yolanda Quartey and Bristol legend Rob Smith (RSD). Equally the more avant-garde work of the studio is represented through Moving Ninja, an artist who pioneered the blurring of boundaries between dubstep and sound design, and emptyset, whose eponymous debut album fused the streamlined European minimalism of Mika Vainio and Raster Noton with Bristol’s unique bass heavy production style. This ground breaking selection of tracks sit alongside contributions by techno/dubstep pioneer 2562, half-step progenitor Loefah, Skream and Caravan label boss October. In the process ‘Dark Matter’ creates a landmark archive of the work of one of the world’s most innovative creative networks of electronic producers.

At the centre of this community is Bristol’s thriving music scene in which Multiverse forms a key social hub, and the studio has operated with a family ethos that has placed creativity and artistic co-operation at the heart of their activity. Their collective approach places dialogue and collaboration as a vital and indispensable element within the musical process, an ethos that is entrenched within the city's creative history, and their focus as ever remains in working with a diverse range of artists to craft a unique an inimitable sound that speaks to a global audience. As a result Dark Matter emerges both as a celebration of all that has been achieved and forms a decisive manifesto for an unwritten future. An elemental space where electronic music collides with new digital processes and avant-garde composition, a place where sound becomes the raw sculptural mass of the sonic languages of tomorrow.

Kelis + Tinchy Stryder + Afrika Bambaataa - Together @ The Coronet This Friday

2010-05-05T08:04:00.000-07:00

Friday 7th May 2010
10pm - 5am

Room 1
Kelis (LIVE) | Tinchy Stryder (LIVE) | Afrika Bambaataa (LIVE)
Roska | YoYo DJs (Seb Chew & Leo Greenslade) | Work It DJs
Livin' Proof DJs

Room 2: Hosted by Apocalypso
Lee Mortimer | Hot City | Dekker (Apocalypso/Sankey's)
Shir Khan (Exploited, Berlin) | John & On (Apocalypso/Always Fridays)

The R'n'B singer/songwriter, Kelis, will be kick starting this week's Together with her well known hits including 'Milkshake' and 'Acapella', which is currently at #5 in the charts. Kelis has worked with some of the biggest names in the industry including Willl.i.am, Bjork, Outkast, Raphael Saadiq, Moby, The Neptunes, Enrique Iglesias and Basement Jaxx. Kelis has been busy working on her next album 'Flesh Tone' with producers David Guetta, Burnz, DJ Ammo, Boys Noize, Diplo/Switch and Free School.

Twenty-three year-old Tinchy Stryder racked up three consecutive top three hits in six months last year: 'Take Me Back' featuring Taio Cruz, 'Number 1' with N-Dubz and his second #1 single 'Never Leave You' featuring Amelle from the Sugababes. Tinchy's last arena tour sold out, his debut album 'Catch 22' went Gold within two weeks of release and he has also set up his own clothing label 'Star in the Hood'.

The New York legend Afrika Bambaataa is known as the 'Godfather' of hip-hop culture and 'The Father' of the electro funk sound. His creation of electro funk, beginning with his piece 'Planet Rock', helped fuel the development of other musical genres such as Miami bass, electronica, house, hip house and early techno. Bambaataa was the pioneer of Zulu Nation, an international hip-hop awareness group which arose with New York City gang members organizing cultural events for youths, combining local dance and music movements into what later became known as the various elements of hip hop culture. On September 27, 2007, Bambaataa was nominated for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Season 1 dates:
12th March / 19th March / 26th March / 2nd April / 9th April / 16th
April / 23rd April / 30th April / 7th May / 14th May / 21st May / 28th
May / 4th June / 11th June / 18th June / 25th June.

Together @ The Coronet Theatre
28 New Kent Road, London, SE1 6TJ
10pm-5am
£10 + booking fee in advance / £15 on the door
Tube / Train: Elephant & Castle / First Capital Connect / South
Eastern service
Buses: 1, 12, 40, 45, 53, 68, 133, 171, 176, 1
Information: 020 7701 1500

together-club.co.uk
twitter.com/togetherclub
facebook.com/togetherclub
myspace.com/togetherclub
coronettheatre.co.uk

Dusk + Blackdown Present Margins Music

2010-05-05T07:46:00.000-07:00

A seismic experience for dubstep fans everywhere as Dusk + Blackdown (aka Dan Frampton and Martin Clark) bring their acclaimed 2008 'Margin's Music' album to the live arena. Taking unseen London as its inspiration, the album moves around the capital's edges by night, reflecting the city as it comes alive with sound: raw slang, dialects, clanking trains, sub base waves and rebel radio frequencies. Mixing bass-heavy dubstep, grime and electronica with Punjabi, Hindi and Urdu voices the album creates a unique snapshot of London's cultural landscape, using sampled sounds and studio production alongside live vocals.

Intensively work-shopped at the Albany in Deptford, the live show will consist of Dusk + Blackdown controlling samples and sequences with Ableton, a specially created band featuring vocals from MC Durrty Goodz and singer Farrah, and musicians covering Indian percussion, and synths. Live versions of the album's standout tracks will flow with completely new tracks written for the live ensemble and; although this will be an at times intense listening experience; the set will build to club-ready music that's deep, dark and dancefloor friendly. The show will include a strong visual aspect, referencing old Bollywood films (the sources of Blackdown's samples), mixed with footage from contemporary London. Guest DJs from the Keysound roster will be in support.

The Margins Music Live tour is supported by Arts Council England.

Dates:
5th June @ The Albany, Douglas Way, Deptford, London SE8 4AG

thealbany.org.uk / 020 8692 4446 / £12 advance from ticketweb.co.uk / Doors 8pm
8th June @ Brighton Dome, 12a Pavilion Buildings, Castle Square, Brighton, BN1 1EE
brightondome.org / 01273 709 709 / £TBA / Doors 8pm
11th June @ Band on the Wall, 25 Swan Street, The Northern Quarter, Manchester, M4 5JZ
bandonthewall.org / 08452 500 500 / £10 / Doors 9pm
16th June @ South Street, 21 South Street, Reading RG1 4QU

readingarts.com / 0118 960 6060 / £TBA / Doors 8pm
11th Sept @ Kendal Brewery, Highgate, Kendal, Cumbria, LA9 4HE

breweryarts.co.uk / 01539 725133/ £TBA / Doors 8pm

Press reaction to 'Margins Music':
"Converges grime, dubstep, electronica and the Asian 'desi' sounds of the city in eye-poppingly open-minded style." The Guardian
"One of the most intoxicating exquisite soundworlds you will hear this year." The Quietus
"Absolutely alive and fluid...dubstep's most successful long-player to date." Dusted

myspace.com/keysoundrecordings
blackdownsoundboy.blogspot.com

Now's The Time @ Black Rat Projects

2010-04-27T03:18:00.000-07:00

22nd April – 20th May 2010

An exhibition of street art featuring Jean-Michel Basquiat | Keith Haring | Shepard Fairey | Swoon | Banksy | Barry McGee | Faile | Os Gemeos

East London’s Black Rat Projects will be hosting an exhibition featuring works by artists including Jean-Michel Basquiat, Keith Haring, Shepard Fairey, Swoon, Banksy, Barry McGee, Faile and Os Gemeos. 'Now’s the Time' - named after a Basquiat painting of the same title - will run from 22nd April – 20th May and brings together the most important and influential street artists of the past four decades.

The last five years or so has seen an explosion of artists working outdoors, often in an urban environment utilising stencils, woodcuts, sculptures, stickers, freehand paintings, pasted posters, ceramic tiles and photographs. Media interest has been fuelled by the public’s increasing appetite for street art.

Street art is not a new phenomenon - for at least four decades artists have chosen the streets as a primary place to exhibit works. Most of these artists were initially shunned by the establishment but a select few gradually gained acceptance from a slow moving and conservative art world. Artists such as Jean-Michel Basquiat and Keith Haring were amongst the early practitioners of what has become known as ‘street art’ and it is the descendants of their work and ethos who are among the best known artists working on the streets today.

Amongst the wide group of people who have chosen to express themselves in the street are some of the most creative and interesting artists working today. What unites these artists is a refusal to play by the rules, to conform to the establishment, to follow the traditional paths set out by the art world.

This refusal to be constrained or dictated to has led to some of the most exciting artworks and projects to be seen in any area of the arts. The freedom to communicate directly with the viewer outside of a traditional gallery environment has not only allowed art to be seen much more as an integrated part of everyday life, but has also introduced the dialogue between artist and audience to a far greater extent than ever before.

blackratgallery.com

Bustin Out 1982: New Wave To New Beat Vol 2

2010-04-27T03:15:00.000-07:00

RELEASE DATE: 24TH MAY 2010

‘Bustin’ Out 1982: New Wave To New Beat #2’ is the second installment in veteran DJ Mike Maguire’s fascinating new mission aimed at charting the groundbreaking developments in electronic-based music through the 80s. Bustin’ Out: New Wave To New Beat: The Post Punk Era 1979-1981 was both declaration of intent and launch-pad, brilliantly capturing the early stirrings, breadth and excitement of the post-punk aftershock. The latest haul is similarly panoramic in style and country of origin while uncannily portraying the rampant barrier-crumbling going on as new technological developments seemed to emerge every week.

The set kicks off in Germany with Dusseldorf’s proto-industrial Electronic Body Music exponents Die Krupps and the 12-inch version of ‘Goldfinger’, before ‘Moody’ by the Bronx sisters E.S.G. whose stripped-down ultra cool street-funk influenced anything from hip hop to house. Klein & M.B.O.’s unadulterated dancefloor classic ‘Dirty Talk’ is followed by ‘Hip Hop Be Bop’ by Man Parrish, whose ingenious welding of Kraftwerk robo-sonics and European synth-pop sounds were a crossover club sensation. Gary Numan’s ‘Music For Chameleons’ displays a mature, haunted city style from post-punk’s first teen idol while Belgium new-beat pioneers Front 242 have possibly the rarest item here, with ‘U-Men’ currently fetching around £300.

Mark Stewart originally of Bristol’s avant-funk social agitators The Pop Group later found a home with Adrian Sherwood’s On-U Sound, and his ‘Jerusalem’ EP closed with the bleak alien dub-funk of ‘Welcome To Liberty City’. This is neatly followed by Dub Syndicate’s ‘Pounding System’, which evolved after Sherwood hit it off with Jamaican super-drummer Style Scott. A more avant-jazz flavoured other-worldliness, foreshadowing dubstep, continues with Benjamin Lew and Tuxedomoon’s Steve Brown teaming up on ‘Dans Le Jardin’.

Shriekback were formed in 1981 by former XTC keyboards-player Barry Andrews and Gang Of Four bassist Dave Allen, represented here with the rousing funk chant of ‘My Spine Is My Bassline’. ‘Breakdown’ marked the 4AD debut of Colourbox - their biggest success came in 1987 when they hooked up with indie band A.R. Kane for a one-off single under the name M.A.R.R.S. called ‘Pump Up The Volume’. ‘Planet Rock’ by Afrika Bambaataa and Soulsonic Force, created by the legendary South Bronx DJ figurehead with a team headed by up-and-coming producer Arthur Baker, was the first hip hop record to use a drum machine, setting the electronic rhythm beast loose and providing the blueprint for electro.

Chris and Cosey had already embarked on their own advanced electronic mission when their first recordings started appearing in the early 80s after they splintered from industrial antagonists Throbbing Gristle. The duo’s 1981 debut album, ‘Heartbeat’, was followed by ‘Trance’, from which comes the simmering, popping proto-electro of ’Impulse.’ Another serious master-stroke is the inclusion of South London’s Portion Control, whose fearsome brand of [what they called] ‘electro punk’ or ‘hard rhythmic electronics‘ is represented by ’Fiends’ from their 1982 debut album, ‘I Staggered Mentally’. The set ends with Pylon, from Athens, Georgia, much championed by R.E.M. and the B-52’s. ‘Four Minutes’ was the b-side of the 12-inch version of their ‘Beep’ single, its crashing, alien dronescape making a suitably unorthodox finale for this fine summation of a year when blips on the musical radar often assumed depth charge proportions.

futurenoisemusic.com

Outpost Research Finds Cost Of Clubbing Has Fallen

2010-03-26T09:17:00.000-07:00

As seen on Mixmag.net.

A report released today has shown the price of clubbing has fallen by 9% in twenty years.

The average price if a night out in 1990 was £32.64. With inflation since 1990 being 82% this means a night out should now cost £59.40 - but the actual average night out in 2010 is £53.89 - a drop of 9%.

Outpost, a London based PR company who put together the report say "Possible reasons for this could include increased competition from nightclubs giving rise to lower door fees, cheaper drinks and more happy hour promotions."

The research also found that alcohol consumption amongst clubbers has risen by 15% in the last 20 years and the price of a pint of beer could hit £5.00 by 2012.

Office Space

2010-03-24T07:42:00.000-07:00

We’ve got some lovely open plan office space available in The Shoreditch Arch, Rivington St. Check out theshoreditcharch.co.uk and gumtree.com

Antoni Maiovvi - The Thorns Of Love

2010-03-22T08:43:00.000-07:00

Following the release of the highly acclaimed eponymously titled album from emptyset, Caravan Recordings steps into the ravine of heartache to shine a light on Bristol’s underground disco hero Antoni Maiovvi.

‘The Thorns Of Love’ is a Liebes-Arie to a broken heart. An embrace of Italian drama and euphoric fear. His music exists somewhere between Patrick Cowley's Hi-NRG epics, Arthur Russell's melancholic beauty and John Carpenter's traumatising soundtracks. With ‘The Thorns of Love’ he has produced a deeply personal symphony to a lover lost and the sanctifying power of the dancefloor.

This, Antoni’s third, album takes a unique muscular and cerebral approach to electronic dance music bringing together the Italo love explosion, spine-tingling Euro-horror and the melancholic proto-techno musings of early Model 500 and Shari Vari. Maiovvi takes the helm of this noir-tinged Trojan horse carving out a dancefloor machine with commanding synth-work, operatic drums and mind-bending atmospherics. As the album climaxes and the smoke pours across a crowded room he steps out from the shadows and delivers his final eulogy to 20th Century hedonism, preaching with the unhinged vocals of a coked up Brian Ferry. Love may be the drug but for Maiovvi death can be the only future.

Antoni Maiovvi is a nefarious creature of the night, a figure of twilight opulence and the love child of Evelyn Thomas and Lucio Fulci conceived in the lurid backrooms of the Boccaccio Club. The sweatbox is in his DNA, throbbing analogue circuitry courses through his flesh like rivers of blood and where his heart once lived there is now only yearning for the alchemical marriage of sex, death and technology. From Naples to Frankfurt he has stalked the dancefloors of Europe planning this moment and at last in this compendium of unbridled fist-clenchers his time has come. Now he will stop at nothing to bring his arpeggiated talisman down onto the souls of men, squeezing out that last breath of humanity in a pulsing Dantean dance-macabre.

mobilehomeenthusiast.blogspot.com

Asaf Avidan And The Mojos - The Reckoning

2010-03-22T08:38:00.000-07:00

‘The Reckoning’ is the debut international release by Asaf Avidan & The Mojos, a group that have turned into a national phenomenon in their home country of Israel – all without a record label, without the media and without a booking agent. It was only when the large venues of the country began to sell out that the industry realized their omission and unrolled the red carpet. The group received The Israelis Best New Artist award, gushing praise from music critics and a prestigious support slot handpicked by Morrissey.

Now it's finally time for the international release of ‘The Reckoning’ – the album that triggered the euphoria at home. On it, you'll find a unique blend of 60s-songwriter-folk, blues and indie rock evoking the spirit of John Lee Hooker, early Led Zeppelin and Janis Joplin with a fresh energy. The latter reference has to do with Asaf's unusually high voice that screams and rages, pleads and whispers and reaches incredible heights.

Despite its reverences to a glorious past, ‘The Reckoning’ is an entirely modern record that brings together whatever you wish indie rock should be about – intensity, self-will, steadfastness, creative force. "In Israel, it's still a no-no to sing in English," says Asaf, "of course, people listen to Britney Spears and Bruce Springsteen around here, but the local folks are supposed to sing in Hebrew. That was another reason why at first the media didn´t want to know about us. But the people understood so much faster what we were about”.

The fact that Asaf and the Mojos come from Israel has never been an issue for them. "I´m neither proud nor ashamed of that," says Asaf. "I happen to be an Israeli just like my eyes happen to be blue. We drink from the cultural well of our history, but our music is universal – equally meaningful to someone in Dubai or New York or Tel Aviv. I write about relationships, about love, death and beyond, how strange our short stay here on this world is. You don't need any particular passport to understand that."

That cosmopolitan self-conception has to do with Asaf's personal history. Both parents were diplomats and spent the 70s in New York City. Asaf was born in Jerusalem in 1980 and grew up partly in Jamaica until 1991. The parents were used to Western life and owned a record collection that laid the ground for their son's music. "In the early 90s, I loved Nirvana, Soundgarden and Pearl Jam – and found the origins of that music in my parents' closet. You listen to Zeppelin, Hendrix, Joplin, and then you go further back and find Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker and Billie Holiday. It's all connected."

Asaf Avidan & The Mojos are a close-knit community, that world comes alive on ‘The Reckoning’. There are five musicians in a room who fight and believe to create something that is beautiful and true. "A good record grows from life, maybe there's just one man who's clapping his hands – but if it comes from the heart and he believes it himself, it's enough."

Live:
21.05. 02 Academy Islington, London
24.05. Academy 3, Birmingham
25.05. Night & Day, Manchester

mymojolove.com

Now's The Time @ Black Rat Projects

2010-03-22T08:33:00.000-07:00

East London’s Black Rat Projects will be hosting an exhibition featuring works by artists including Jean-Michel Basquiat, Keith Haring, Shepard Fairey, Swoon, Banksy, Barry McGee, Faile and Os Gemeos. 'Now’s the Time' - named after a Basquiat painting of the same title - will run from 22nd April – 20th May and brings together the most important and influential street artists of the past four decades.

The last five years or so has seen an explosion of artists working outdoors, often in an urban environment utilising stencils, woodcuts, sculptures, stickers, freehand paintings, pasted posters, ceramic tiles and photographs. Media interest has been fuelled by the public’s increasing appetite for street art.

Street art is not a new phenomenon - for at least four decades artists have chosen the streets as a primary place to exhibit works. Most of these artists were initially shunned by the establishment but a select few gradually gained acceptance from a slow moving and conservative art world. Artists such as Jean-Michel Basquiat and Keith Haring were amongst the early practitioners of what has become known as ‘street art’ and it is the descendants of their work and ethos who are among the best known artists working on the streets today.

Amongst the wide group of people who have chosen to express themselves in the street are some of the most creative and interesting artists working today. What unites these artists is a refusal to play by the rules, to conform to the establishment, to follow the traditional paths set out by the art world.

This refusal to be constrained or dictated to has led to some of the most exciting artworks and projects to be seen in any area of the arts. The freedom to communicate directly with the viewer outside of a traditional gallery environment has not only allowed art to be seen much more as an integrated part of everyday life, but has also introduced the dialogue between artist and audience to a far greater extent than ever before.

Individual biographies are available on request.

Press launch details to follow soon.

About Black Rat Projects

Black Rat is housed in a beautiful 2,000sq foot brick railway arch in London’s thriving East End. The gallery focuses on representing both established and emerging artists and also deals in secondary market works by a small number of international artists.

In addition to this Black Rat publishes original prints by artists they represent. Their editions can be found in important collections in the UK such as Victoria and Albert Museum, Tate and also worldwide.

In the last two years Black Rat Projects have put on over 20 projects which have gained widespread media attention including features in The Guardian, CNN news, CBS news, BBC London, The Sunday Times and The Telegraph amongst others.

Editors Notes:

Web: blackratgallery.com
Address: Thru Cargo Garden, Arch 461, Kingsland Viaduct, 83 Rivington Street, London. EC2A 3AY.
Nearest tube – Liverpool St / Old St
Dates – 22nd April – 20th May 2010
Hours: Tuesday – Friday, 10am – 6pm. Saturday 11am – 4pm
Entry: Free
Information: 020 7613 7200

Glade Announces Second Wave Of Artists

2010-03-22T08:15:00.000-07:00

Jeff Mills | Magnetic Man | Green Velvet | Autechre | Krafty Kuts vs. A Skillz | Holy Ghost! | Boy Better Know | Skream b2b Benga | DJ Zinc | Seth Troxler | Craig Richards | Clark | Plastician | Fuck Buttons | The Field | Wolf + Lamb | X-Press 2 | Avalon | DJ Friction | London Elektricity 65daysofstatic + more!

Check gladefestival.com for complete line-up

When Glade Festival announced Orbital, Tricky and Simian Mobile Disco as their first wave of headliners Creative Director Nick Ladd said they’ll be a lot more to come out of the bag - he wasn’t wrong. Joining the three previously announced acts at Matterley Bowl from Thursday 15th – Sunday 18th July will be techno legend Jeff Mills, DFA’s Holy Ghost!, Seth Troxler, Fuck Buttons, Green Velvet, Plastician, Magnetic Man, Autechre, Boy Better Know and loads more!

The legendary Detroit techno DJ Jeff Mills played a major part in laying the foundations for respected music collective Underground Resistance. Under the pseudonym "The Wizard", Mills was famed for his beat juggling and scratching over new wave, Detroit techno, Miami bass and Chicago house on Detroit radio station WJLB in the 1980s. Mills often produces bespoke tracks for his DJ sets and is known for his technical prowess with three decks, playing up to 70 tracks in one hour through series of rapid edits. His last album ‘Sleeper Wakes’ was released last year. Check out his ‘Purpose Maker’ label mixes here.

Joining Jeff Mills will be unconventional house hero Green Velvet who makes his Glade debut. The casual clubber will know him as the neon-haired techno-punk who warned us of the dangers of out of control teenage parties (‘Flash’), taking too many pills (‘La La Land’) and choosing a bad day to check your voicemail (‘Answer Machine’), but his contribution to dance music goes much deeper than a few comically off-kilter rants. As Cajmere, he re-wrote the house music rulebook with ‘Brighter Days’ and ‘U Got Me Up’, whilst his labels Cajual and Relief were arguably the most prominent and prolific outposts for new wave Chicago beats throughout the 1990s.

Magnetic Man is a joint collaboration between dubstep DJ and producers Benga, Skream and Artwork. Their sets consist of a mix of original tracks produced together and live remixes of Benga and Skream's tracks, accompanied by synchronized projected visuals by Novak Collective. On that vibe, Skream and Benga will also be doing a special back to back DJ set so expect tons of wicked dubstep tunes.

The dubstep boys will be sharing the bill with grime collective Boy Better Know - arguably one of the most well known crews on the scene. They are closely associated with Wiley's Roll Deep Crew, with some members featuring in both. Another grime DJ is Plastician who’ll be added to the mix – as well as being resident at London’s club night FWD he’s also a key producer and DJ on the scene. Joining them will be DJ Zinc - responsible for the awesome track with Ms Dynamite ‘Wile Out’.

Moving onto the music of a more wonky nature, we have groundbreaking electronic duo Autechre who have just released their new album 'Oversteps' on Warp Records. For almost 20 years their releases have consistently raised the bar of experimental electronic music and always receive critical praise from press and public alike. From his 2001 debut on Warp, Clark’s mismatch of glitchy drum patterns, warm pads and a unique harmonic sense have earned him favourable comparisons to Aphex Twin and Autechre. In the 9 years since he was invited into the stable he has delivered a handful of albums as his style developed and grown in all the right directions.

US disco and electro-funk duo Holy Ghost! have remixed Moby, Phoenix, MGMT and Cut Copy and will be unleashing their own brand of superb synthed-up dance. Their style reflects a love of cool, clean dance music alongside the warmer, more organic variety beloved of late-70s New York. Think Studio 54-style nirvana, handclaps, strings, a sprinkling of cosmic keyboards that's pure Italo disco and a processed bassline that sounds as though it's on loan from early New Order. According to The Guardian they are: "the freshest, best-kept secret of DFA and the Big Apple. Mating house, disco and tight indie jeans for a mesmerising dance outfit ..."

You can’t open a magazine of late without seeing coverage on Seth Troxler who recently compiled the latest in the ‘Boogybytes 5’ series for BPitch. Voted 2009’s 8th best DJ in the world by Resident Advisor, Troxler’s influences include “...the chirping of crickets, the whirring of spaceships, and the sweet sound of whistling voodoo magic”. Sounds like a perfect addition to the Glade line-up to us.

ATP Recordings’ Fuck Buttons will be performing live at this year’s Glade. Their album ‘Tarot Sport’ was included in NME’s Best Album list of last year and earned praise from Pitchfork. The pioneering duo take the next step in their continuing mission to expand the sonic landscape with the release of a new single, ‘Olympians’, on 12th April 2010.

Always reinventing the party and sliding between genres and sounds, Wolf & Lamb are a brightly equipped two-man army taking over Brooklyn and beyond. The more you read about the duo, the more you find yourself picturing what it's like to get down with the DIY party-starters/label managers/hotel owners/DJs/immensely talented musical souls.

Representing drum & bass so far Glade are bringing in Shogun Audio boss DJ Friction and Hospital Records boss London Elektricity. Both labels are putting out the cream of the crop in drum & bass today as well as holding sell out events all over the country.

Kompakt’s wonderboys The Field are gracing the fields of Glade and Sheffield’s instrumental post-rockers 65daysofstatic are also bringing their intense live show to the mix. 65days have supported Metallica, Lostprophets, Linkin Park and Deftones.

Glade Festival 2009 was a resounding success, cementing its reputation as the UK’s premium electronic music festival. The atmosphere was fantastic with Glade again showing it has the friendliest, most peaceful dance crowd in the UK which enjoyed one of the most spectacular shows seen on these shores. The feedback indicated that this was a ‘next level’ music festival, and the best Glade yet. “We were really chuffed with the new venue. The late night sound levels were excellent and Matterley Bowl really lends itself well to all the site art installations we are now bringing over from Burning Man. We were dancing outdoors till sunrise... it was epic!” said Nick Ladd.

Glade now enters its seventh year – described as ‘Like Glastonbury for electronic music lovers’ it continues to evolve as a unique hybrid between a rave and a fully fledged English festival. Glade recently launched their new redesigned website where tickets are on sale for £135 and a handful of discounted student tickets for £110. Glade is also running a £50 deposit scheme. More details from gladefestival.com.

Editor’s notes
Date: Thursday 15th – Sunday 18th July 2010
Tickets: £110 limited student ticket offer / £135 normal price
Camper Vans, Boutique Camping and Lazy Camping all available
Children / Teenagers: Under 12’s free if accompanied with an adult. 13 – 15year olds are allowed but must be accompanied by an adult.
Location: Matterley Bowl, Winchester, Hampshire
Capacity: 15,000
Entrance: gates open 4pm Thursday 15th July
Hours: Thursday midday – late | Friday midday – 4am | Saturday midday – 6am | Sunday midday – midnight [subject to licensing]

gladefestival.com

Together Kicks Off At The Coronet

2010-03-22T08:06:00.001-07:00

Dadahack TAP3 Instructional Video

2010-03-09T09:19:00.001-08:00

dadahack.com

Pretty Lights Hits Hype Machine Top 10

2010-03-08T06:45:00.000-08:00

From The Independent...

Pretty Lights is the digital sampling project of Colorado musician Derek Vincent Smith, who has so far released four albums, all available from his website free of charge. The most recent, Making Up a Changing Mind, consists of six tracks Smith produced in January and February 2010. Downbeatscape (downbeatscape.blogspot.com) shares "I Can See It In Your Face" from that album, calling it an "electro hip hop jam" that "mashes a few genres together - hip hop, downtempo electronic, funk and even blues... ."

prettylightsmusic.com

Tinie Tempah Added For Together Launch Party

2010-03-08T06:37:00.000-08:00

With just five days until the eagerly anticipated launch of Together Season One, we are delighted to announce Tinie Tempah has joined the stellar cast of talent at The Coronet on Friday 12th March.

Having hit #1 in the UK charts with his outstanding debut single 'Pass Out', Tinie is the hottest new talent to burst onto the music scene this year. Tipped to become a mega star by the likes of Mista Jam, Zane Lowe, Annie Mac, Nick Grimshaw and Tim Westwood, Tinie will be joining Together at The Coronet for his first London show since riding high at the top of the charts.

London's club scene will be turned on its head as The Coronet Theatre welcomes Together for its long anticipated return. Each event will feature the biggest and best DJs and bands in the alternative/electronic music scene including (deep breath...) Tinie Tempah, The Bloody Beetroots, Does It Offend You Yeah?, Hervé, Kissy Sell Out, Mowgli, Man Like Me, Reverend and the Makers, Daisy Dares You, Nick Grimshaw, The Maccabees, Gaggle, Mumford & Sons, Golden Silvers, The Invisible, Ms Dynamite, Macka B, Hatcha, Plastician, Joker, Rob Da Bank, Kano, South Rakkas Crew, Mala, Loefah, 2562, Boy 8 Bit, Toddla T & MC Serocee, L-Vis 1990, Primary 1, In Flagranti, Ou Est Le Swimming Pool, Fenech Soler, Holy Ghost, Cassius, Uffie, Greg Wilson and Felix Da Housecat all appearing during Season One, which runs every Friday for sixteen weeks from 12th March - 25th June.

Friday 12th March

Room 1
Mylo | Sub Focus | Zombie Nation (live) | Crystal Fighters (live)
Doorly | Rory Phillips (Durr) | Men In Masks

Room 2: Fact Magazine
Kode 9 | Mosca | R1 Ryders | Deep Teknologi | Fact DJs

Room 3
O. Children (live) | My Tiger, My Timing (live) | Lunar Youth (live)
Union DJs | Ben Gomori

Together @ The Coronet Theatre
28 New Kent Road, London, SE1 6TJ
10pm-5am
£10 + booking fee in advance.
Tube / Train: Elephant & Castle / First Capital Connect / South Eastern service
Buses: 1, 12, 40, 45, 53, 68, 133, 171, 176, 1
Information: 020 7701 1500

together-club.co.uk
twitter.com/togetherclub
facebook.com/togetherclub
myspace.com/togetherclub

Pursuit Grooves - Foxtrot Mannerisms

2010-02-24T09:06:00.000-08:00

Pursuit Grooves - Start Somethin

Vanese Smith aka Pursuit Grooves is an electronic music producer, vocalist and live performance artist living in Brooklyn, New York. ‘Foxtrot Mannerisms’ is her first release on Tectonic, seeing the Bristol label stepping sideways to explore genres different, yet related, to the dubstep it’s famous for.

‘Foxtrot Mannerisms’ is a mix of hip hop, house and dubstep rhythms, and the title comes from Vanese’s obsession with dance competition TV shows. The focus is on production but as usual she’s delivered a few rhymes and vocals when inspired to do so. The older Pursuit Grooves productions are slower, more downtempo, but as a result of doing more live performances this past year recent productions have sped up - most of this album was recorded within the last 6-8 months. Vanese likes to dance which shines through in the trippy drum patterns and deep bass lines. The album reflects her personality of having fun, making the most of life and following your passions.

Raised in the Washington, DC area Vanese attended a performing arts school where she excelled in film and theatre all the while taking an extreme interest in music production. Armed with an analogue four-track cassette recorder, drum machine and years of studying her grandmother and aunt on the piano, she began her first productions at the age of sixteen and never looked back. Though she majored in film at Vassar College, after earning her degree she moved to New York City to work at a number of recording studios and record labels. A demo in the right hands landed her track ‘Push Up’ on the ‘Beat Dimensions’ compilation on Dutch label Rush Hour alongside some of the brightest up and coming electronic artists around the world. That was later followed by three mostly instrumental albums on her own What Rules label; ‘Fun Like Passion’, ‘Wild Art Forestry’, ‘And Sustainable Movements For A New Age’, the later available as a free download with titles focused on responsible consumer, health and agricultural practices.

Vanese was accepted into the 2008 class of the highly selective and all expenses paid Redbull Music Academy in Barcelona, Spain which resulted in her track ‘Renew’ featuring the legendary Motown guitarist Dennis Coffey being featured on the RBMA compilation.

The future looks extremely bright as 2010 brings an audiobook/podcast series about young creative professionals, a new group theatrical music installation based on myths and fables and the continuing success of monthly music podcast Nodding Grand, which reaches a subscriber base of over 34,000 listeners. Vanese aims to push herself with each new project, exploring the depths and moods of sound.

myspace.com/vjsmith

Dadahack - TAP3

2010-02-24T09:01:00.000-08:00

Dadahack - Fuzzy Dunlop

The two musicians who sit, sequence, dream and programme at the centre of /dadahack/, are James Banbury and Pete Davis. They have existed, professionally, as technicians, programmers, producers, consultants, mixers, arrangers, players, theorists in a number of polyglamorous popmusic contexts – The Auteurs, Gwen Stefani, U2, Art of Noise, New Order, Human League, Infantjoy. As /dadahack/ they sent each other musical ideas that they played on traditional musical instruments, on computers, samplers, on rewired electronic toys, and via various contemporary forms of communication, file sharing, time dilation and system exploitation.

Plugged into their personal systems and lifestyles, /dadahack/ blended, bled and blasted together various elements of musical form and content to produce their compositions. Occasionally their writing process involved travel, and the pair would actually meet, somewhere, in one mysterious place or another, that was for a moment the home of /dadahack/. The routes to completing a piece of music therefore combine the mental, the physical, the metaphysical, the airport, the train, the car, random architectural spaces and the studio. Their music is very much a soundtrack to such a combination, the idea of a music that solidly exists in everyday reality and also tentatively vibrates around the edges, a music that is made up using bits and pieces, parts and remants of the past, present and future which are pieced together.

‘TAP3’ is both an album and not an album, and will therefore be available as both a thing and a thing that is not a thing. You will be able to download the finished sounds to add to your play lists and you will be able to buy it as an innovative piece of product that looks as though it is a cassette - to celebrate the mysterious, practical type of physical formats that electronic music was once released on. ‘TAP3’ the physical thing you can hold in your hands and explore is a combination of romantic found object and specialised industrial product that took many months to conceive, design and manufacture. It appears to be something that might appear in a 23rd century museum of Earth’s pop culture history that got it slightly wrong – /dadahack/ have created a personal history as though the cassette was invented after the iPod.

Indeed the physical piece of /dadahack/ can be played as a cassette, although, as if it is a cousin once or twice removed of Dr.Who, and something he would have as part of his collection inside the Tardis, it also plays itself. It needs no machine for the ‘TAP3’ sounds to be heard – by pluging in headphones and utilizing it as a digital music player. ‘TAP3’ is a souvenir of a fading time when music was only finished when it appeared on an actual object, and an acceptance of a future where music is finished as soon as it is let go into the cloud above/below/all around us.

***Edited version of full biography by Paul Morley snipurl.com/dadhackpm***

LIVE: 20th March @ The Luminaire, 311 High Road, Kilburn, NW6 7JR with Bass Clef, Robert Logan, P45.

dadahack.com

Glade Festival 2010

2010-02-18T08:34:00.000-08:00

Glade Festival announced its initial headliners with Orbital, Simian Mobile Disco and Tricky being the first out of the bag. Nick Ladd, Glade Festival Creative Director says “there are lots more big guns to come especially as the Glade Festival line-up has been evolving in the past couple of years to embrace more crossover styles and different flavours. This year, we will definitely taking that a step further with lots of surprises in store.”

Following their dramatic reunion shows at various festivals last year, Orbital have been re-conquering the dance world with triumphant performances in Manchester, London and Ireland. Twenty years after they first recorded their anthemic hit ‘Chime’, the Hartnoll brothers will be bringing their signature head-mounted torches to Glade Festival for a headline set of floor-filling classics, from the euphoric ‘Halcyon’ to the irresistible ‘Doctor Who Theme’. Named Best Live Act of 2009 by IDJ Magazine, they’ve proved that a five-year hiatus hasn’t left a scratch on their ability to get a crowd moving - they’re sure to be one of the highlights of Glade Festival 2010.

Simian Mobile Disco should need no introduction. They jumped into to the popular consciousness with their hugely infectious 2006 crossover club banger ‘We Are Your Friends’, a collaboration with French electro-house pioneers Justice. SMD began life as the name under which James Ford and Jas Shaw would DJ before and after electro-folk 4-piece Simian’s shows. When Simian dissolved in 2003, Ford and Shaw rose from the ashes and transformed magnificently into a techno-edged phenomenon.

‘Temporary Pleasure’ is their second album and features their latest single ‘Cruel Intentions’ which has been remixed by Joker and features The Gossip’s Beth Ditto on vocals.

Also on the bill is Bristol legend Tricky, who made two of the best albums of the 1990s (‘Maxinquaye’ and its sequel, ‘Pre-Millenium Tension’) and still remains one of the UK's most fascinating musical legends.

Glade Festival 2009 was a resounding success, cementing its reputation as the UK’s premium electronic music festival. The atmosphere was fantastic with Glade again showing it has the friendliest, most peaceful dance crowd in the UK which enjoyed one of the most spectacular shows seen on these shores. The feedback indicated that this was a ‘next level’ music festival, and the best Glade yet. “We were really chuffed with the new venue. The late night sound levels were excellent and Matterley Bowl really lends itself well to all the site art installations we are now bringing over from Burning Man. We were dancing outdoors till sunrise... it was epic!” said Nick Ladd.

Glade now enters its seventh year – described as ‘Like Glastonbury for Electronic music lovers’ it continues to evolve as a unique hybrid between a rave and a fully fledged English festival. With ALL 500 early-bird tickets having already sold out they are kicking things off in style with the launch of a redesigned, revamped new website and the release of a limited number of discount student tickets at £110 – instead of the usual £135 will are available from gladefestival.com.

Nneka Live On David Letterman

2010-02-10T07:33:00.000-08:00

The Cinematic Orchestra : Late Night Tales Trailer

2010-02-08T08:01:00.000-08:00

latenighttales.co.uk

Bukola : Make Your Move Launch Party @ The Luminaire

2010-02-08T07:40:00.000-08:00

Saturday, 27 Feb 2010
The Luminaire, 311 Kilburn High Road, NW6 7JR (map)
8pm - 2am
FREE entry

Basically, we have people coming from up and down the country, even overseas. There is no form of guest list what so ever, regardless. Please be early to avoid disappointment and most importantly, enjoy the quality 'free' entertainment that starts early!

The headline of the night will be Bukola, preforming a live set encompassing her new forthcoming single 'Make your Move'. The performance will be supported by Dilson Laguna and Eddie Hoffmann.

Throughout the night there will be live mp4 video mixing by the supernatural DMC and International Turntable Federation Champion DJ Ritchie Ruftone. If that is not enough to wet appetites - we are graced with the addition of UK underground pioneer and producer Marc Mac with a DJ set packed with heavenly soul claps no doubt.

It doesn't end there - please gather around, form a circle, as the almighty B-Boy crew Imperial Steps will be 'making some serious moves' - with reinforcements from Plan Zero. Hey, why not watch a move!

Oh...plus there's more! sssh!

One whole lotta jam. Family vibes. Simples.

bukola.biz

Ananésworld Launch Party @ Ministry Of Sound

2010-02-08T07:35:00.000-08:00

The singer, songwriter, producer and DJ Anané follows up the 2006 release of her debut album ‘Ananéselections’ with ‘Ananésworld’, a mixture of dance, reggae, rock, R&B soul, world and Caribbean influences. She is a producer and songwriter who made a name for herself with her edgy remake of the 1970s classic ‘Let Me Love You’ by Bunny Mack, as well as her emotional version of Yoko Ono’s ‘Walking On Thin Ice’.

She has co-written nine of the songs with Grammy Award Winner Lisa Fischer, Duane Harden, Lem Springsteen, Kalu Montiero and Djim Djob. Music has been in Anané’s blood since her childhood in Santiago, capital of West African Cape Verde. Anané brought her talents to New York City armed with nothing more than a bag full of clothes and a heart full of dreams. There, she immersed herself in the city’s club culture where she met Producer/DJ/Grammy Award Winner Louie Vega who tapped her as an integral member of the Elements of Life Collective.

Described by Billboard Magazine as “combining earthiness with glamour and roots-deep house music knowledge with pop wise diversity,” Anané has forged an international career that has included appearances at Japan’s Blue Note Festival, Europe’s Montreux Jazz Festival, Finland’s Pori Jazz, Holland’s North Sea Jazz Festival, Cape Town’s Jazz and Britain’s Womad Festival. Cirque Du Soleil invited Anané to perform the opening song for the Super Bowl XLII pre-game show. Her performance of ‘One Dream’ was seen by more than 140 million people worldwide.

Anané is also an entrepreneur and philanthropist. She’s been involved in NextAid, an organization for African children who have lost parents to AIDS, as well as the Anané Vega Scholarship Fund.

‘Ananésworld’ will have a global release in April 2010 on Nervous Records. “It’s the essence of who I am,” she said of the project. “These are my hopes, my aspirations and my dreams. It’s my global expression; soundtracks to moments in my life”.

A launch party precedes the release on 11th March at Ministry Of Sound with DJs Gilles Peterson, Norman Jay and Louie Vega along with a performance from Anané.

nervousnyc.com

Sound Iration : In Dub

2010-02-08T07:32:00.000-08:00

Released in 1989, Sound Iration ‘In Dub’ spearheaded a new age in homegrown British reggae, continuing a mission started by Nick Manasseh and Steve ‘Scruff’ Guilder which pioneered what became ‘UK steppers’.

For over 20 years Nick Manasseh has been at the heart of London’s roots reggae scene as DJ, producer and radio presenter, seeing the music turn into a worldwide phenomenon during that time. Based in Shepherd’s Bush, Nick had been working up to this album for most of the 80s, starting with launching the custom-built Manasseh Sound System at the 1985 Notting Hill Carnival, which he hit with a mission to play the proper roots reggae which had been neglected since dying down after its late 70s heyday. After making a booming impression there, Manasseh became in demand at blues parties, hooking up with future Young Disciple Femi and KISS FM DJ Norman Jay, who got them spinning at London’s big warehouse parties. In February 1987, Manasseh started a weekly Saturday night radio show on KISS, which continued with great success after the station became legit.

Nick began producing music for sound system dub plates in 1986, hitching up with Scruff, also from the Shepherd's Bush area and playing bass for legendary West London reggae outfit Night Doctor. The pair released their first single, ‘Seventh Seal’, on Rae Cheddie’s Mystic Red imprint in September 1988. It’s often credited with being the first new wave 'UK steppers' dub track. The album which would become Sound Iration ‘In Dub’ was recorded between 1986-88 at a small eight-track studio in Hounslow, West London and released in January, 1989, on WAU! Mr Modo, the new label started by Killing Joke bassist and producer Youth and Dr Alex Paterson, then getting under way with The Orb.

First in a series of reissues drawn from both WAU!‘s roots reggae and house archives, the original album presents eight beautiful excursions into deepest roots in embroidered skeleton dub form. Tracks like ‘New Style’ turned the London take on pure reggae rhythm into a different kind of art form with the new technology coming in, but the album is also a reminder of reggae before it lost much of its richness and spiritual current through digitalisation.
Nick and Scruff went onto release further albums on WAU! Mr Modo, while starting on a follow-up to ‘In Dub’. The second CD will be of particular interest, featuring seven tracks originally intended for the follow-up plus demos and unreleased mixes for the first album which only ever appeared as one-off dub plates to play on the Manasseh Sound System [literally mastered off the acetates].

With reggae still progressing and often in danger of ignoring its spiritual heritage, new generations still continue to discover the unique, timeless quality of roots music. The reissue of this long feted but much sought-after milestone is timely indeed. With the previously unreleased material, it stands as a vital document of a crucial time in the music’s evolution.

futurenoisemusic.com
facebook.com/ayearzero
myspace.com/ayearzero

White Mischief ‘The Great Exhibition’

2010-02-08T07:30:00.000-08:00

White Mischief
‘The Great Exhibition’

3RD BIRTHDAY EXTRAVAGANZA
Vaudeville | Electrocuting Scientist | Six Foot Balloon Man | Burlesque | Steampunk Craft Stalls | Installations | Crazy Characters | Photo Booth | Fabulous Music

SATURDAY 27th MARCH
at SCALA, KING’S CROSS
£20 ADVANCE / £25 ON THE DOOR - 9PM – 4AM
[early bird ticket offers available at www.WhiteMischief.info]
"Interactive fun that’ll blow your fishnet socks right off" – Time Out
“... a fixture on the enthusiasts’ calendar” The Independent
“...people really push the boat out.” The Observer
“...one of the more prominent British exponents of a subculture.” The Guardian
“ more fun than staying in and watching a Mighty Boosh 12-hour box set.” Urban Junkies
“...awe inspiring.” Flavorpill

White Mischief – that sumptuous feast of costume, dance, music and spectacle - is celebrating its third birthday, and to mark the occasion it will return to the well-heeled (and, frankly, highly appropriate) Scala in King’s Cross for a night of performance, pageantry and wild abandon. Opening its doors at 9pm sharp on Saturday 27th May, White Mischief is curated by “tribal pop” band Tough Love and features multiple themed, decorated rooms where performance and music explode out of every hidden corner. They will also be hosting a party at Proud Cabaret, City the day before on Friday 26th.

The night’s theme will be ‘The Great Exhibition’, a reference perhaps to the grand and evocative World’s Fairs of yesteryear. There will certainly be enough to take in, with acts as many and varied as Voltini, the outrageous mad scientist who electrocutes himself with visible bolts of lightning from a tesla coil; Bruce Airhead, a six-foot man who climbs inside a balloon; Keda Breeze, who makes sparks fly with an angle-grinding routine; and Steampunk burlesque acts from Beau Burlington and Meg La Mania.

Having earned the reputation as one of London’s key alternative nights – with revellers attending from all over the country - White Mischief draws upon a decadent fashion sense embracing the aesthetic known as Steampunk, in which revellers in neo-Victorian outfits evoke the romantic ideals of Jules Verne and the industrial age. Costume inspiration is drawn from the period’s ladies and gentlemen, scientists, explorers, exhibitionists, exhibits and discoveries from around the Empire. Think bustles, dresses, corsets, top hats, tails and waistcoats... (Dressing up is always encouraged but by no means compulsory - attendees are entitled to a 20% discount at Prangsta Costumier in London’s New Cross).
Your compère for the evening will be the inimitable chap-hop purveyor extraordinaire MC Elemental, whose recent song ‘Cup Of Brown Joy’ has been setting YouTube alight. Sticking with the chap-hop scene they’ll also be live music from Brighton based Mr B The Gentleman Rhymer, the banjolele-playing, ghetto-blasting, pipe-smoking creator of 'chap-hop'. His subject matter centres on the finer aspects of old-school Brit culture (cricket, tea on the lawn, good manners) juxtaposed with a dryly inspired commentary mixed with urban licks and vintage beats.
Tough Love will be taking the stage, along with an eclectic line-up of sounds from ‘out there’. The Steampunk corner is represented by Hornicator virtuoso Thomas Truax; and Tankus The Henge (featuring members who grew up with parents working at Carter’s Steam Fair) who will be bringing their steam-powered piano. Roaming the venue on the night will be the Oompah Brass Band, fresh from success with last year’s Edinburgh Festival smash hit ‘Blow Up: A Credit Crunch Musical’, who will be playing pop hits (from Britney Spears to Kylie to AC/DC) in an oompah style while wearing authentic Bavarian lederhosen!

White Mischief’s third birthday party doesn’t stop at the stage show. Expect to find Steampunk craft stalls, exhibits from some of the UK's best steampunk installation creators, walkabout characters, vintage photo-booths and more. Thanks to White Mischief’s team of art directors (who have worked in film, theatre and on productions including Punchdrunk) rooms will be dressed to fit the retro-futuristic alternate-history theme. There’ll also be an array of musical genres covering antique beat, classical, vintage jazz, swing and rock n roll to keep you dancing.

Previous White Mischief artists have included British Sea Power, upcoming Sunday Best records stars The Correspondents, La Clique mainstay Miss Behave and many dozens more. In 2009 White Mischief were booked to bring their magic to Bestival. They also curated an exclusive theatrical Halloween ball in a Georgian mansion; and threw a massively popular New Year's Eve party which sold out two weeks in advance. Fans wanting a more regular taste of Mischief can do so at Proud Cabaret with the new White Mischief Revue on the last Friday of each month.
Editors Notes
Event: White Mischief 3rd Birthday Extravaganza
Date: Saturday 27th March 2010
Venue: Scala, 275 Pentonville Road, King´s Cross, London N1 9NL
Information: 020 7833 2022
Doors: 9pm – 4am
Price: £20 advance, £25 on the door. (Early bird ticket offers available at www.WhiteMischief.info)
Ticket Outlets: www.ticketweb.co.uk / 08700 600 100
Transport: King’s Cross (tube), buses, 10, 17, 30, 45, 73, 46, 63, 91, 214, 205 259.

whitemischief.info

2010-01-15T04:05:00.000-08:00

NILS PETTER MOLVAER
SING SING PENELOPE
@ QUEEN ELIZABETH HALL, SOUTHBANK
MONDAY 22ND FEBRUARY 2010
7.30PM - £8.50 - £20

Norwegian trumpet player, composer and producer Nils Petter Molvaer connects multiple music styles - jazz, ambient, house, electronic and break beats, as well as elements from hip hop, rock and pop music - and effortlessly melts them into convincing soundscapes of deep intensity. His live shows are famous for blending music and lighting into a breathtaking experience for the spectators.

Sing Sing Penelope was established in Poland in 2001 by young musicians playing in key Polish and European jazz, avant-garde and chamber contemporary projects. The band, who are connected to the legendary Club ‘Brain’ from Bydgoszcz, have created a fresh, modern, electro-acoustic style and musical language. They have just released a new live album featuring one of the greatest European trumpet players, Andrzej Przybielski, who has recorded with the likes of Tomasz Stanko, Krzysztof Komeda, Czeslaw Niemen and SBB.

The Queen Elizabeth Hall is the second largest concert hall on Southbank Centre site, hosting chamber orchestras, quartets, choirs, dance performances and opera. As well as the main concert hall, the Queen Elizabeth Hall also contains two smaller venues, the Purcell Room and The Front Room at the QEH.

Date: Monday 22nd February 2010
Venue: Queen Elizabeth Hall, Southbank Centre
Address: Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, London SE1 8XX
Info: 020 7960 4200
Tickets: £8.50 - £20
Available from southbankcentre.co.uk / 0844 875 0073

nilspettermolvaer.info

Together @ The Coronet

2010-01-15T04:00:00.000-08:00

Together Is Back! On 12th March and every Friday thereafter, London’s club scene will be turned on its head. Elephant and Castle’s The Coronet Theatre welcomes Together for a long anticipated return to the world’s clubbing capital. Together will be the freshest new night to emerge this year and for 16 weeks only will twist and turn your senses in a celebration of all things electronic and alternative every Friday night!

Launched on New Year’s Eve 2001 at the legendary 10,000 capacity Chainstore in East London the first Together event was headlined by none other than The Chemical Brothers and Dave Clarke. The night’s success resulted in four consecutive New Years Eve parties at Turnmills before its popularity resulted in Together going monthly in January 2006.

An exciting pool of talent such as 2manyDJs, Crookers, David Guetta, Fischerspooner, Francois K, Green Velvet, Hot Chip, Justice, Josh Wink, Lethal Bizzle, Ladytron, Klaxons, London Elektricity, MSTRKRFT, Roni Size, Sneaky Sound System, Simian Mobile Disco, Mylo, Trenemoller and many more have all rocked the crowds at Together over the years.

Due to the high standards set by the Together team, recognition soon led to events being held in conjunction with Bestival, Headstart, labels Modular, DFA and Snowbombing. Sadly in 2008 Turnmills closed, meaning Together had one final blow out in March of that year, headlined by Fatboy Slim.

However, the outstanding line-ups weren’t all Together had to offer as the nights were also infamous for injecting creativity into clubland. This included theme nights with fancy dress, fashion shows, freak shows, magic, face painting, retro console games, Andy & Ed’s legendary ‘Swap Shop’, and even the odd free haircut, here and there. The fun element gave Together an extra edge on all other nights across London in terms of audience interaction and pure carnival atmosphere.

The Coronet is a venue to rival any club in London. With a capacity of 2,600 spread over three floors it boasts the biggest main room dancefloor in the capital, not to mention the mind-boggling state of the art sound system. The 1920’s Art-Deco building has a rich history of putting on high calibre events. In the Victorian era the venue housed crowds flocking to see the latest Melodramas, before the era of the Minors ABC show that attracted a congregation every Saturday morning. But fast forward to the present day and it’s the Together faithful that will be seen flocking to The Coronet.

The Together nights will welcome huge and diverse line-ups with every event in an outstanding, underrated venue. Each weekly club night will encompass a melting pot of sounds including the biggest and best DJs and up-and-coming live bands in the alternative electronic scene. All the fun the public have come to expect from Together will also be back as we bring a bit of sunshine to south east London starting this Spring.

Talent confirmed for the first two events include Mylo, Crystal Fighters, The Bloody Beetroots (first live show), Hervé, Kissy Sell Out, Mowgli, Man Like Me, Doorly and more! Lock N Load also curate the Get Loaded events – a London institution.

Check together-club.co.uk for regular updates.

Tom Stephan : Nervous Nitelife

2010-01-11T09:51:00.000-08:00

Released: 15th February 2010

Some know this dance floor superhero Tom Stephan only by his alias Superchumbo, but really that’s only one side of this multi talented New York born/London based artist. ‘Nervous Nitelife: Tom Stephan’ offers a window into his current DJ set and also a look into Stephan’s production and remix cache that features names like Diplo, Major Lazer and Larry Tee. Combine this with Stephan’s own original productions and new single ‘Light’s Out ft. Rowetta’ and you’ve got one hell of a mix.

‘Nervous Nitelife: Tom Stephan’ picks up right in the middle of an extremely productive time for Stephan. His latest originals ‘Turn That Shit Up’ (for Southern Fried) and ‘Lights Out ft. Rowetta’ (with Pete Gleadall for Nervous) reflect his newest inspirations: the electro sound of the UK and the new Dutch sound. This inspiration comes to the forefront of the compilation with the ravey electro stabs-meets-twisted house of Nervous Disco Dolly’s ‘Get Up Everybody (Starkillers Mix)’ and the minimal squelches of Seductive ‘Underground Sound.’ North and South unite when Miami’s great Robbie Rivera and NYC’s big room electro machine Rooster & Peralta throw down on ‘Move Move (DJ Observer & Daniel Heathcliff Mix)’ This frantic wave is then met with a trough as the punishing beats of Benny Royal ‘Back to Basic’, Afrojack ‘Polkadots’, Christian Arango ‘Body Shake’ and SpiritMindster ‘Furious Night (DJ Dextro Mix)’ take over the centre point of the mix.

The final third of the mix is full of great surprises and the action picks up big time with Tom Stephan’s own dizzying remix of Major Lazer ‘Keep It Going Louder (Tom Stephan Harder Mix)’. Williamsburg favourite Larry Tee keeps it going with the assistance of Roxy Cottontail on Afrojack’s drum-atic remix of ‘Let’s Make Nasty’ while Mikix The Cat takes it all back to the days of acid house with his whistle blowing remix of Rico Tubbs ‘Born to Bounce’. Things starts bouncing thanks to bonus beats courtesy of Diplo on his remixes of Bingo Players ‘Get Up’ and Tom Stephan’s ‘Turn That Shit Up’ before Oscar G closes it out vocal house style with Tom Stephan’s reworking of his ‘What You Need’ feat Tamara Wallace.

Revved, revitalized and ready for the future, Tom Stephan is starting the drumbeat all over again.

nervousnyc.com

V/A : Bustin’ Out. New Wave To New Beat: The Post Punk Era 1979-1981

2010-01-11T09:48:00.000-08:00

Release Date: 15th February 2010

‘Bustin’ Out, The Post Punk Era 1979-1981’, the first in the New Wave To New Beat series, is an often-startling picture of the no-holds-barred musical ructions which sprang up after punk’s scorched earth revolution. Compiler Mike Maguire has made a rigid stand against being pigeon-holed throughout his 30 year DJing career, spreading the message that no sound or genre should be compartmentalised. This multi-hued set is a fine testimony to this ethos.

The music termed post punk is well represented here in many of its diverse strains by some of its prime movers; encompassing anything from Gary Numan’s austere electronic pop on ‘Replicas’ through 23 Skidoo’s atmospheric tribal boogie on ‘The Gospel Comes To New Guinea’ to the scrabbling guitar-driven pop of Josef K from Glasgow’s Postcard Records. What happens elsewhere defies blanket description as every track charts a different musical seam which, invariably, proved highly influential. Killing Joke’s radical, apocalyptic approach was often cited as a massive influence on anyone from Nirvana to industrial bands, but also incorporated dub reggae and New York dance music, as evidenced by 1979’s ‘Almost Red’.

The set also shows how later musical movements germinated in the new technology around this time, especially in the hands of electronic protagonists like former Throbbing Gristle duo Chris & Cosey, who pillaged the new sampling possibilities and predated techno with their use of proto-electro pulses, as illustrated by ‘Heartbeat’, from their 1981 debut album. Or Belgium new beat pioneers Front 242, whose ‘Body to Body’ sounds like a spooked house music prototype. New York was leading the world at this time, particularly the legendary ZE Label, which embodied the multi-genred melting pot of disco, punk, reggae and latin they called Mutant Disco. The label is represented here by Lizzy Mercier Descloux’s infernal treatment of Arthur Brown’s 1968 hit ‘Fire’ and Bill Laswell’s Material with ‘Bustin’ Out’, his first major dancefloor statement before going on to become a world-renowned producer. Another side of the city is presented by quintessential downtown NY post punk/no wave outfit the Bush Tetras and their debut single, ‘Too Many Creeps’, while visionary musician-producer Arthur Russell flies the wigged-out disco flag under his Loose Joints banner on the Larry Levan-remixed ‘Is it All Over My Face’.

The disparate post punk spirit that had captured the rest of the world is illustrated with the Kraftwerkian ‘Cracked Mirror’ from Vancouver’s Moev, Germany’s No More with deadpan electronic classic ‘Suicide Commando’ and San Francisco’s avant-punk Tuxedomoon providing one of the set’s most grippingly-complex outings with the title track from their ‘Desire’ album. Meanwhile, Melbourne duo Dead Can Dance match Lisa Gerrard’s spooky vocals with Brendan Perry’s subterranean atmospherics on their 1981 ‘Frontiers’ demo.

‘Bustin’ Out. New Wave To New Beat: The Post Punk Era 1979-1981’ is a perfect example of how far music had evolved since 1977 in an exciting, unpredictable era.

The CD includes liner notes by Kris Needs.

futurenoisemusic.com

José James : Black Magic

2010-01-11T09:46:00.000-08:00

Release Date: 22nd February 2010

José James, the jazz voice of a generation, returns with a moodier, edgier and more sensual sound, drawing inspiration from the worldwide underground. His debut LP ‘The Dreamer’ (released in 2007 on Brownswood Recordings) was crammed with smoky, low-slung jazz grooves blessed with Jose’s rich baritone vocals. Magnificent self-penned works nestled alongside uniquely crafted cover versions of John Coltrane, Rashaan Roland Kirk and even West Coast hip hop institution Freestyle Fellowship. Pursuing the same deeply soulful vocal jazz tradition exemplified by Babs Gonzales, Billie Holliday, Joe Williams and Leon Thomas, ‘The Dreamer’ quickly cemented Jose’s stature and raw talent within the worldwide jazz community.

Since ‘The Dreamer’ José has performed in maybe 30 countries, worked with some of the best, wisest and finest artists in the world such as Chico Hamilton and Junior Mance and he has built a community of friends and fellow music-lovers all over the globe. The distance from New York to Tokyo is quickly bridged by music, as the track ‘Promise In Love’ with DJ Mitsu The Beats of Jazzy Sport aptly demonstrates.

José is keen to stress the way that this global community has shaped ‘Blackmagic’: “There is community on this record and my community has grown – Minneapolis gave way to New York, while New York in turn gave way to London, Paris, Madrid, Amsterdam, Tokyo, Sao Paolo, Berlin (big up Jazzanova!), LA (yes I still need to come out I know!! I hear you too DC!), Rotterdam (North Sea Jazz Festival), Detroit (!), Barcelona, Brussels... I've been living and working in these cities – digitally, long-term, short-term, paying rent or whatever, for 2 years or so and it's all there.”

José started the process with LA’s beat conductor supreme Flying Lotus (Warp/Brainfeeder) in April 2008: “In a phone call he changed the entire scope of my musical direction and focus – thank you man.”

Tossing ideas back and forth between the East Coast and West Coast, the pair crafted a handful of delightfully dusty, slightly dishevelled hip hop soul joints. Anchoring the album in hip hop’s boom-clap foundation, José is perfectly at ease riding FlyLo’s bumpy sketches, just as he is contributing good-time vibes to DJ Mitsu’s sunshine soundtrack ‘Promise In Love’, blessing Moodyman’s retro jazz-funk groove ‘Detroit Loveletter’, or indeed morphing Benga’s dubstep anthem ‘Emotions’ into a killer live jazz workout.

José announced his comeback with a killer 12” featuring ‘Blackmagic’ remixes from the hotly-tipped Joy Orbison and dubstep innovator Untold. An EP drops in January featuring production from the aforementioned FlyLo, Moodymann, DJ Mitsu The Beats and Taylor McFerrin before the full album is released on 22nd February 2010.

myspace.com/josejamesquartet

The Cinematic Orchestra : Late Night Tales

2010-01-11T09:40:00.000-08:00

Release Date: 5th April 2010

As Late Night Tales moves into a new decade, the long awaited chapter from The Cinematic Orchestra greets us with style. Following editions from behemoths of rock Arctic Monkeys and Snow Patrol, The Cinematic Orchestra’s selection sees a return to a more typical Late Night compiler. Their association with the series reaches back to the inclusion of ‘Channel 1 Suite’ from their debut album ‘Motion’ on Zero 7’s memorable 2002 compilation. With track selection and order seeing many revisions since the inception of the project, we arrive in 2010 with one of the most defined Late Night Tales yet to come in the 23 title strong series.

Not for nothing are they called The Cinematic Orchestra. Jason Swinscoe has been living and breathing soundtracks for many a year (the last one was his epic effort for Disney, ‘The Crimson Wing’). You suspect that he’d manage to turn a trip to Sainsbury’s into a Homeric odyssey fit for string sections and harp players, such is his aptitude for the gallant, the grand and the plain groovy.

The Cinematic Orchestra are now on their fourth original album (not including live recordings, remixes and, of course, contributions to soundtracks) and third country, having relocated to New York after spending spells in the UK and France and these days can be found in Fort Greene, a vibey Brooklyn neighbourhood with a grand musical heritage. You can hear some of these influences seep out, gently washing your way. Eddie Gale, whose obscure jazz classic ‘The Rain’ is featured here, was also a native of Fort Greene.

There are also some known quantities. The delectable Björk’s ‘Joga’ is present and correct while Swinscoe’s affection for the double bass, here provided by Danny Thompson, is clearly evident on Nick Drake’s ‘Three Hours’. The marvellous Shuggie Otis also makes an appearance with the musically stunning and grammatically interesting ‘Aht Uh Mi Hed’, while Sebastien Tellier’s ‘La Ritournelle’, already regarded as a modern classic, doffs its cap in the direction of Mr. Swinscoe. The compilation would not be complete without some soundtrack content - Burt Bacharach’s ‘South American Getaway’ from Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, appears in a heavily re-edited form, while the strangely familiar ‘Electric Counterpoint’ by Steve Reich drops the temperature a tad.

This being Late Night Tales we could not depart without a venerated (and exclusive) cover version produced by the boys. The Cinematics’ offer up ‘Talking About Freedom’, originally sung by Fontella Bass with whom they have worked extensively. A little nod in deference to Fontella, there; a nice touch. Concluding the album, Will Self continues his spoken word short story ‘The Happy Detective’, now onto the third part.

Tracklisting:
1. Flying Lotus - LA-EP3 Aunties Lock Rebekkah Raff Remix
2. Nick Drake – Three Hours
3. Eddie Gale – The Rain
4. Terry Callier - You're Gonna Miss Your Candyman
5. The Freedom Sounds Feat. Wayne Henderson - Behold The Day
6. DJ Food - Living Beats
8. Shuggy Otis - Aht Uh Mi Hed
9. Thom Yorke - Black Swan
10. Cinematic Orchestra – Restaurant
11. Steve Reich - Electric Counterpoint III
12. Bjork - Joga
13. Imogen Heap – Cumulus
14. St.Germain - Rose Rouge
15. Songstress - See Line Woman
16. Sebastien Tellier - La Ritournelle
17. Burial - Dog Shelter
18. Burt Bacharach - South American Getaway
19. Cinematic Orchestra – Talking About Freedom
20. Will Self - The Happy Detective Part 3

latenighttales.co.uk

Outpost 5th Birthday Party

2010-01-08T02:59:00.000-08:00

RSVP: catherine@outpostmedia.co.uk

Outpost Campaigns Charting In 2009 Top Lists

2009-12-10T02:12:00.001-08:00

2562 'Unbalance' (Tectonic)
#11 Mixmag
#27 Fact
#30 Clash

Nneka 'No Longer At Ease' (Yo Mama's Recording Company)
#2 Sunday Times

V/A 'Future Disco Vol 2' (Need Want)
#1 iTunes Dance Albums

Vote for Outpost in the Record Of The Day Awards

2009-11-06T04:09:00.000-08:00

Outpost has been shortlisted for 3 awards at the Record Of The Day Awards
2009.
WE NEED YOUR VOTES!
Please take a minute of your time and vote
NOW.
You can vote for us in the following categories:
Best Independent PR Company
Best Independent PR Individual
Best Breakthrough Non-UK Act Campaign - Nneka
We're happy as Larry to have made the shortlist in 3 categories and delighted
that we stand a chance of winning such a great award BUT WE NEED YOUR HELP!
Bribes, favours etc on application.

2009-10-19T03:13:00.001-07:00

Virgil Howe's new single “Someday” released today on 3 Bar Fire - http://ping.fm/Hrui3

2009-10-19T02:56:00.001-07:00

RT Synthia ~ 'Positive Feedback' dj-mix

"putitinyourears"

http://bit.ly/1txxmp

Run time 47.53

1.Free Flight - Acos Coolkas (Instrumental Mix)
2.Tumbling Cubes - Q&A
3.Astro Boogie - Phreek plus one (Sportlotto Alpha Remix)
4.Thug Rock - Sandi Kerr
5.Simple things (work it out) - Shit Robot (Todd Terje Re edit)
6.Super Nature - Cerrone

2009-10-16T08:52:00.001-07:00

Twitter Power! TFL worker threatens commuter - recorded by camera phone & put on Blog, Twitter goes mad, TFL worker suspended! http://ping.fm/YkrTI

2009-10-16T03:07:00.001-07:00

Listening to @AlixPerez podcast from @d8atransmission - big bass!

2009-10-15T11:32:00.001-07:00

Gene or intern Matt?

New Earwax Promo

2009-10-15T09:50:00.001-07:00

It's been a while now since Clue Kid released his debut
single here on 'Earwax - 'Halogen' and 'Down & Dirty' (2006). We are very
pleased to have him back on wax, demonstrating his progressions as he's has
mastered his art.

The lead track 'Chicken Foot' is a one for the clever stepper who likes his
wobble to be little more deadly and refined in delivery. It's a banger
alright but one with plenty of restraint and fine style. Opening pads chime
a deadly warning before the wonky bassline thumps in, heavily grooved and
heavily weighted. Sporadic conga riffs cut through on point, adding to the
momentum generated by the no-compromise bassline. Hold out for the 2nd drop
as it twists a new way round!

Flip then for the equally deadly but more stripped down 'Shifty'. Perhaps
not the most appropriate title ever conceived but a fine piece of heavy
artillery nonetheless. Taking a 2005 Loefah sound (and supported by him for
this very reason) and redefining it in a Clue Kid style. Excellent quality
rhythm and bass music with a dark and unforgiving edge.

myspace.com/cluekid

Feedback very welcome! Please send comments/playlists to
ben@outpostmedia.co.uk.

Nneka Wins MOBO For Best African Act

2009-10-01T09:15:00.000-07:00

Nigerian artist Nneka was presented with the MOBO for Best African Act last night, rising above stiff competition that included Amadou & Mariam, Baaba Maal, Femi Kuti and DJ Mujava.

The award comes at the end of an amazing year for Nneka, which saw the UK release of her second album 'No Longer At Ease'. Well supported by music critics it also saw lead single 'Heartbeat' added to the BBC Radio 1 A List.

Nneka returns to the UK for a tour in November.

04/11 : London, ULU
25/11 : Manchester, Ruby Lounge
26/11 : Bristol, Thekla
27/11 : Liverpool, The Picket
28/11 : Brighton, Coalition

Outpost At Glade Festival 2009

2009-07-29T07:04:00.000-07:00

Festibelly Presents 'Folk Off'

2009-07-21T08:40:00.000-07:00

This year Festibelly presents 'Folk Off', a late night showdown of 5 of the best acoustic artists they can get their mitts on; all battling it out for the top spot of master of unplugged wizardry. Festibelly will pick 5 of the best artists to perform at the event on 29th August and the best will be voted by the fans plus 2 performers from this years line up.

So what's in it for you? The champ will receive £300 worth of music equipment vouchers courtesy of Festibelly buddies SUSO drinks and guaranteed a slot for Festibelly 2010!

To enter, just send a recording of your best acoustic performance (1 song as MP3) with relevant info and pics to: folkoff@festibelly.com

Deadline for all entrants is 3pm Sunday 16th August. The 5 finalists will be announced the following day, Monday 17th August.

Festibelly 2009 features musical performances from some of the most exciting talent to emerge from the indie, rock, pop, acoustic, and reggae scenes. After his astonishing 2008 performance, Festibelly welcome back 'folktronica' wizard James Yuill as headliner, as well as Rough Trade signings Micachu & The Shapes, grime pop upstarts Man Like Me, critically acclaimed ensemble Laurel Collective and future-romantic pop group ColouringIN. They are joined by London's favourite reggae partyReggae Roast who will be 'dubbing' it alongside live performances by Brother Culture and the heavyweight 9-piece brass band, Brass Roots.

More festival antics will be provided by local heroes The Operators, East London indie-outfit The Pepys, Tarrbaby, Jazica, RWD, Rob Cowen & The Dissidents and a fierce selection of DJs including Sombrero Sound System and Sunday Best's Fear of Theydon.

http://www.festibelly.com

Snow Patrol - Late Night Tales

2009-07-20T05:27:00.000-07:00

For the 22nd edition of the "excellent series of bespoke artist compilations - Uncut", Snow Patrol present the world with an impeccably selected and mixed Late Night Tales.

If you think you know Snow Patrol, think again. Of course, there's the band who are capable of outselling the Arctic Monkeys, getting numerous nominations for Brits, and monopolising the upper reaches the charts with alarming regularity with their superior song theory and balladeering.

This Snow Patrol have enjoyed platinum sales of their 'Eyes Open' album (in both UK and USA) and musical appearances on everything from Spiderman 3 to Grey's Anatomy. This Snow Patrol has toured with U2, performed at Live Earth and appeared on Saturday Night Live. It doesn't get much bigger than that.

There's also another Snow Patrol about which you may know little. The Snow Patrol that concerns us here are the musical aesthetes with fathom-deep record collections, the broad knowledge of the record obsessive and the deft selection skills of seasoned DJs. They are, of course, all of these things and a few more besides.

The Snow Patrol pair assigned with the task here, Tom Simpson and Gary Lightbody, know their way round their collections and are old hands at that grubby DJing caper. And it shows. The mix is bookended by a pair of beauties, beginning with the unusually ethereal 'Obseravtory Crest' by Captain Beefheart with its chiming guitars and Rhodes-drenched backing track. The end is signalled by John Martyn's 'Sweet Little Mystery' from the big man's 1980 LP 'Grace & Danger'. A fitting tribute for a fallen comrade.

But this is not a mix about DJ trickery. There are naturally some grooves in there (A Tribe Called Quest, DJ Food and Holy Ghost! all make appearances along the way), but really this is about song appreciation. The songs are groovy, natch, but it's the feeling that's important here whether we're falling in love with Jim Noir's daffy lyrics or wondering from which planet Arthur Russell may have landed.

And, as this is Late Night Tales, they always but always have something special for you in the comely form of a newly recorded cover version, this time their own homage to Antiopdean heroes INXS with 'New Sensation'. As Gary himself queries of their remake: "Why bother if you're just palely imitating the true form?"

Tracklisting:
1. Captain Beefheart - Observatory Crest
2. A Tribe Called Quest - Midnight
3. DJ Food - Dark Lady
4. King Biscuit Time - I Walk the Earth
5. Iain Archer - Canal Song
6. Terry Callier - Ordinary Joe
7. The Week That Was and Field Music - It's All Gone Quiet
8. Allen Toussaint - Last Train
9. Bobby Gentry - Fancy
10. Arthur Russell - That's Us/Wild Combination
11. Jim Noir - Eanie Meany
12. School of Seven Bells - Half Asleep
13. TV On the Radio - Family Tree
14. Holy Ghost! - Hold On
15. Super Furry Animals - Download
16. Snow Patrol - New Sensation (Exclusive Cover Version)
17. Miracle Fortress - Next Train
18. John Martyn - Sweet Little Mystery

http://www.latenighttales.co.uk

Seventy Entertainment Presents The Game @ Hammersmith Apollo 17:07:09

2009-07-20T05:21:00.000-07:00

http://www.seventyentertainment.com

Nneka at Cargo

2009-07-15T07:44:00.001-07:00

Illa J In London

2009-07-15T07:14:00.000-07:00

More News From The Big Chill

2009-07-02T08:25:00.000-07:00

Festival update from the Big Chill...

Big Chill hero to open this year's festival

If there's one festival we feel inspired by, it's Woodstock. Forty years on, we are honoured that the creator of Woodstock Fest. 69, Michael Lang, is coming to The Big Chill. We'll be opening the Words In Motion tent on the Thursday evening and you'll be able to meet the man himself in a special Q&A session there. There will also be a chance for you to watch a 40th anniversary screening of the film, Woodstock: 3 Days of Peace & Music.

Woodstock is seen as the perfect celebration of the 60's peace and love movement, an ideal which we hold dear and which has helped define the ethos of The Big Chill these past 15 years.

More line-up news

Yes indeed, this year's line-up just keeps on growing! We've still got a trick or two up our sleeves to come soon, but until then we're very proud to announce these additions to 2009's line-up;

Open Air Stage:
Tom Brousseau

The Castle Stage:
John Cooper Clarke
Shackleton exclusive UK festival live set
Suns of Arqa
The Field

The Coop:
Breakage

Big Chill Nights:
Last Mango In Paris
MC Barney
Ollie Mealing Close-up conjuror

The Sailor Jerry Rum Bar:
Adrian Sherwood & Moody Boyz (Tony Thorpe)
Bam Bam Sound
Biggabush
Cal Jader
Gaz's Rockin Blues
Keb Darge
Sofrito
Steve Barker

The Cocktail Bar:
Arthur Baker
Dan Marshall
DJ Format (DJ Set)
Dom Servini
Pete Fowler's Cosmic Jamboree feat. The Simonsound & Laura J Martin

Kid's Zone:
Mark Townsend

Sadly, we also have bad news. Unfortunately, both The Juan Maclean and Zombie Zombie are no longer able to perform at this year's festival. We're already hard at work on finding their replacements and we'll let you know who'll be filling their shoes as soon as possible.

You can view the full line-up to date here - www.bigchill.net/festival/info/line-up.

If you don't recognise a name or two, don't despair, just visit our Big Chill 2009 YouTube playlist and swot up - http://www.bigchill.net/news/2009/06/the-big-chill-2009-video-previews/

Questions, questions, questions...

Wondering how you're going to get to this year's Big Chill? Then wonder no more, as you can find lots of handy travel info - just click on the link below. The Lift-Share Forum is also back in business, so why not pick up a passenger (or hitch a lift) and you could save money, as well as make some new friends!

http://www.bigchill.net/festival/info/travel
http://forum.bigchill.net/index.php?showforum=20

Whether you're a seasoned Chiller, or a fresh faced newbie, there's nothing worse than finding yourself in a field miles from home, without your favourite teddy bear, or some other essential bit of camping kit. Believe us, we've learnt the hardway. To help you avoid any such disasters, please take a look at our Camping Checklist for advice on what to bring.

http://www.bigchill.net/news/2009/06/camping-checklist-2/

Got another festival question? Take a look through our Frequently Asked Questions to see if you can find the answer to what's troubling you... if you can't, get in touch.

http://www.bigchill.net/festival/info/faqs-0

I Spit On Your Rave - the undead website goes live

Our ghastly plan with Film4 and Warp Films continues to unfold with the launch of the official website. Get a feel for your inner zombie by watching Roadtrip, a short teaser to help get you thinking outside the grave.

http://www.ispitonyourrave.com/

As well as the mass zombie event on Thursday evening, there'll be loads of other ghoulish activities taking place, including an undead fashion show, a zombie battle of the bands, a zombie pet show and of course, a zombie rave, where you can get down with your dead-self. Entertaining fellow Big Chill zombies on the Thursday evening will be Toddla T, who has been confirmed as our first guest zombie... and there are more special guest zombies to be announced very soon!

We'll be sending out more detailed instructions for the undead hoards shortly, telling you everything you need to know, such as:

* Where to gather with your zombie brethren
* Inside info on which bits will be shooting where and when
* What the audio and visual cues will be
* How to move when you are dead
* And in which direction you should be shuffling

So, get your hideous make-up and get-up ready, reveal your inner zombie and arrive in costume. Surprise us and catch the eye of our undead cameras, as we'll be looking for zombies as they arrive at the box offices and will carry on throughout the weekend. Or until everyone's dead.

Calling all bands and budding musicians!

Fancy performing on the same bill as David Byrne, Orbital and Spiritualized? Want to get your band's photo taken by one of the world's most celebrated photographers? Then don't miss out on this great opportunity to win a photo-shoot with legendary photographer Rankin, festival tickets and a set in The Coop at this year's Big Chill. Simply visit www.myspace.com/rankinlive, add Rankin and The Big Chill Festival to your top 8 MySpace friends, then post a comment to RankinLive stating why you'd like to be photographed by Rankin and win a slot at The Big Chill festival (tip - make sure that you have your best tracks on your MySpace page as this is how you'll be judged). The winners will be announced shortly after 15th July on the RankinLive MySpace page.

Lock your radios in to 87.7fm for the festival

Knobs are frantically being tweaked and dials tuned as The Big Chill Radio crew prepare to straddle the airwaves for another 100+ hours of non-stop festival transmission. They'll be broadcasting on 87.7fm from the morning of Thursday 6th August, right through the weekend, so whatever you do, don't forget your radio! Tune in as you approach the festival site and let them guide you in with sweet, sweet music.

The Big Chill's Brum warm-up party

The Big Chill lands in the UK's second city on Friday 3rd July, for a warm-up party at the Hare & Hounds, featuring those AV Ninjas extraordinaire, Hexstatic. Book your tickets here - https://www.theticketsellers.co.uk/buy_tickets/events/?id=10007578

Go ape at Eastnor!

Swing by the Monkey Shoulder Tree House Bar and laze around in the tree top surroundings of this chilled-out hideaway. Made from reclaimed whisky barrel timbers, the Monkey Shoulder Tree House is the perfect place to unwind, relax and enjoy an ice-cold Monkey Shoulder Triple Malt Scotch Whisky cocktail at this year's festival.

If you're the sporting type you can indulge in a little healthy competition, Monkey Shoulder style, playing original board games, like backgammon and snakes and ladders, which are carved into reconditioned whisky barrel table tops.

Contemporary whisky cocktails available will include Show Me The Monkey, the perfect summer cooler, combining Monkey Shoulder Whisky, Drambuie, apple juice and fresh mint, and the Monkey Mule, mixing Monkey Shoulder with fresh lime, sugar, syrup and ginger beer.

Tickets for The Big Chill 2009 are available now from Ticketline.

https://bigchill-secure.ticketline.co.uk/tickets/13230951/big-chill-2009/herefordshire-eastnor-castle/2009-08-07

Adult: £145

Student: £110

For full-time students only. Valid NUS or ISIC ID required at the box office - no other student ID accepted.

JSA: £110

Official documentation proving JSA entitlement must be produced at the box office.

Teen* (13 to 17 years old): £60

Kid* (12 and under - this includes babies and toddlers): £4

* Please note that all under 18 year olds must be accompanied to the festival by an adult. An adult cannot be responsible for more than 4 under 18 year olds each.

Sunday: £70

National Express are now selling a combined festival & travel ticket: £165

All of the above include camping and are subject to a booking fee

If you're feeling the pinch and would like to purchase tickets without paying a booking fee, then you can pay by sending a cheque to the address below:

The Big Chill Shop,
PO Box 58279,
London,
N1P 1EU

Please click below for further info on how to pay by cheque;

http://www.bigchill.net/festival/info