Black Honey have announced their brand-new album – ‘Written & Directed’. ‘Written & Directed’ will be released on the 29th of January 2021 on Foxfive Records.
‘Written & Directed’ is Black Honey’s second album. It follows their outstanding self-titled debut released back in 2018 when the world that surrounded the Brighton fourpiece looked and felt like a very different place. Black Honey however are still the bad-ass, truly original band they have always been, they’ve just graduated from the intriguingly anomalous newcomers to becoming one of UK indie’s most singular outfits. They've travelled the world and released a Top 40 album; graced the cover of the NME and become the faces and soundtrack of Roberto Cavalli's Milan Fashion Week show; smashed Glastonbury and supported Queens of the Stone Age, all without compromising a shred of the wild, wicked vision they first set out with.
It's now time for the next instalment of their story – ‘Written & Directed” – which see’s Black Honey deliver one, very singular, message – a 10 track mission statement that aims to unashamedly plant a flag in the ground for strong, world-conquering women. For fierce frontwoman and album protagonist Izzy B. Phillips – it’s the most important message she could send to inspire her cult-like fanbase and fill the female-shaped gap that she felt so acutely when she was growing up and discovering rock music for the first time.
Written throughout 2019 and recorded in fits and spurts between touring, ‘Written & Directed’ is drenched with a hedonistic, anything-goes attitude. It’s also the most full-throttle collection of music that Black Honey have ever-written – egged-on by their run of shows supporting long-term friends and collaborators Royal Blood. Exploring everything from womanhood, to identity and power, it’s an album that revels in the rich history of pop culture, throws a wink to its rock-and-roll heroes, but ultimately (and in true Black Honey fashion) it stands on its own two feet.
With a typically hyper-visual world referencing grindhouse cinema, kitschy pulp films and a flip-reverse of female cinematic representation all primed to unfurl and explode around them, 'Written & Directed' is the sound of Black Honey strapping in and saddling up, of harnessing their quirks, and, as the Phillips has always hoped, riding them joyously into the sunset.
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Announcing a brand new festival for 2021…. CREATION DAY.
A celebration of the legendary Creation Records label and the legacy of its visionary founder: Alan McGee, Creation Day will bring two days of exceptional live music to Wolverhampton West Park next year (29-30 May 2021).
Presented in a joint collaboration between The City of Wolverhampton Council, Creation Management and Toura Toura Festivals, the first Creation Day festival will be exclusively curated by Alan McGee himself. A bonafide music mogul who has been at the epicentre of the music industry for the last four decades, McGee is opening up his enviable address book to conjure a formidable line-up for the first Creation Day Festival.
Who better to headline the first night than proven party-starters: HAPPY MONDAYS. Since 1980, the Mondays have been corrupting audiences with the baggified brilliance of alternative dancefloor anthems like ‘Step On’, ‘Kinky Afro’, and ‘Hallelujah’. Now signed to McGee’s Creation Management, the band will be stepping up to the mainstage as the certified ‘24 Hour Party People’ they are. Something that’s especially true for their infamous frontman, Shaun Ryder, who will be also performing over the weekend with his other band: BLACK GRAPE. A Creation Day Festival Exclusive, this will be the first time Ryder will have fronted both acts at one festival.
It’s no understatement to say that Sunday night will be headlined by one of the Midlands’ greatest musical exports this century: EDITORS. Formed in Birmingham, the band launched into the consciousness of the mainstream with their stunning 2005 debut ‘The Back Room’. Fifteen years on they have released six studio albums (with two of them going platinum), consistently sold out the enormadomes of the UK, and headlined major festivals world-wide.
The band released their best-of ‘Black Gold’ in 2019, a record packed with hits including ‘Bullets’, ‘Munich’, ‘Smokers Outside The Hospital Doors’, ‘Papillon’, ‘An End Has A Start’; and a testament to their enduring career so far. Dark, dramatic and powerful, Editors’ intoxicating brand of alternative rock has put the Midlands firmly on the musical map and this Wolverhampton appearance will feel like an epic homecoming.
Arguably heirs to the Mondays’ indie-dance crossover crown, FRIENDLY FIRES will bring their dancefloor igniting creations to party on Saturday night. With technicolour pop wonders like ‘Skeleton Boy’, ‘Paris’, ‘Jump In The Pool’, ‘Hawaiian Air’ and many more, the band’s self-titled debut and its follow-up ‘Pala’ saw them take over charts all over the world and earn a Mercury Music Prize nomination in the process. Returning to the spotlight in 2019 with their acclaimed Top 20 charting LP ‘Inflorescent’ and some huge shows, Friendly Fires proved they are still one of the UK’s hottest prospects.
Venerated all-time-greats: ECHO & THE BUNNYMEN, will take to the mainstage for an unforgettable festival performance. A band who hark back to Alan McGee’s earliest days in music and have crossed paths with him ever since, expect Ian McCulloch & crew to deliver a hits-packed set to rival the best, laden with timeless treasures like ‘The Cutter’, ‘The Back Of Love’, ‘The Killing Moon’ and many more.
And marking the 25th anniversary of their magnificent ‘All Change’ album this year, seminal Creation Management signees CAST will be serving up some of its high-octane thrills and much more, with frontman and founder John Power guaranteed to be on typically electrifying form.
Elsewhere on the bill, more acquaintances from McGee’s colourful past will be providing plenty of amplified blasts throughout the weekend. The recently revived SLEEPER will see Louise Wener and co. airing highlights from their critically acclaimed comeback album ‘The Modern Age’ plus countless classics cuts from the back catalogue; whereas a performance from ECHOBELLY will see Britpop-sister Sonya Madan dusting off era-defining gems like ‘King Of The Kerb’ and ‘Great Things’.
ASH, who are currently celebrating 25 years of pristine power-pop with their ‘Teenage Wildlife’ compilation, will be cruising through smashes like ‘Girl From Mars’ to ‘Burn Baby Burn’. A set from GLASVEGAS - a band discovered by McGee in Glasgow in 2006 - will be back to remind us of the blistering shoegaze of their Mercury Music Prize nominated s/t debut, plus will be revealing tracks from their much anticipated 2021 record: ‘Godspeed’. And, longstanding Leeds legends THE WEDDING PRESENT will see the ebullient David Gedge digging up gold from their hallowed back-catalogue of cult indie-rock reverence.
As a man with something of a reputation for spotting future talent, Creation Day will also showcase an array of new talent Alan McGee has earmarked as next-big-things in waiting. Selecting a cross section of bands from his current Creation 23 label, live sets by MARQUIS DRIVE, THE ILLICITS, CAT SFX, THE CLOCKWORKS, and SHAMBOLICS, plus HEAVY LUNGS (signed to Balley Records - the label of IDLES’ Joe Talbot & Mark Bent) will all promise a tantalising glimpse of the potential stars of tomorrow.
With a line up already bustling with some of the most influential acts and rising stars, standby for further announcements in due course too…
Speaking about the inaugural Creation Day festival, Alan McGee says:
"I’m looking forward to this one, some of the best old bands with some of the best new bands. I can’t wait to come and bring it all to Wolverhampton. Creation Day is the first time we have done anything like this since doing it for the kids. Hopefully we can do this every year.”
A festival that testifies to a trailblazing history and a vibrant future, Creation Day promises to be the ultimate celebration of all things Creation, as orchestrated by the man, the myth and the legend behind it all…
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TICKETS & DETAILS
Creation Day is a two day festival taking place at West Park in Wolverhampton on the 29th & 30th May 2021.
Limited first release tickets for the Creation Day festival will go on presale on 21st October at 10AM, and on general sale on 23rd October at 10AM.
Weekend Tickets are priced at: £110 (+bf) or £160 VIP (+bf)
Day Tickets are priced at: £55 (+bf) or £80 VIP (+bf)
Available Here:
Creationdayfestival.com/tickets
[ Due to the ongoing coronavirus (Covid-19) situation, the festival may be subject to change. Tickets will be on sale in a limited capacity, this will be reviewed over time and more tickets may be released depending on national guidance. ]
Other attractions at the two-day event will include a fairground and a wide variety of food and drink stalls.
Support for festival goers with access requirements will be available.
Site Opening Times: 12.30pm - 10.45pm
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LINE UP
City of Wolverhampton Council, Alan McGee & Creation Management and Toura Toura Festivals present...
CREATION DAY 2021
Featuring….
Sat 29th May:
Happy Mondays
Echo & The Bunnymen
CAST
Black Grape
Echobelly
Shambolics
The Clockworks
The iLLicits
Sun 30th May:
Editors
Friendly Fires
ASH
Glasvegas
Sleeper
The Wedding Present
Heavy Lungs
Cat SFX
Marquis Drive
+ more TBA
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FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
w/ Creationdayfestival.com
GENRE-BENDING NEW ALBUM 'TASJAN! TASJAN! TASJAN!' OUT ON 5TH FEB ON NEW WEST RECORDS DEBUTS ANTHEMIC NEW SONG 'UP ALL NIGHT', REFLECTING ON LOST HEDONISTIC EVENINGS, SEXUALITY AND MENTAL HEALTH - STREAM IT HERE
WATCH INTERGALACTIC VIDEO FOR 'UP ALL NIGHT' HERE
“Worrying is part of life just like having a good time or even too good of a time.” AARON LEE TASJAN
Today, Aaron Lee Tasjan announced his genre-bending new album Tasjan! Tasjan! Tasjan!, will be released on Feb 5 2021 on New West Records. His self-titled fourth album is a masterclass in interstellar pop, vintage glam, 90s Anglophilia and psychedelic rock & roll. With a bold reimagination of classic sounds and songwriting, rising star Tasjan is set to establish himself as one of the most idiosyncratic artists of his generation.
His debut song “Up All Night”, also released today, is equal parts alternative pop and glam rock stomp. Epic synths and four to the floor beats soundtrack Tasjan’s irreverent lyrics that reflect on lost hedonistic evenings, sexuality and mental health. Discussing the song, Tasjan stated, “Up All Night' is half party anthem, half cautionary tale. It’s inspired by the times I’ve wondered if I need to get help with my drinking and what it meant that I was worrying about things in the first place?
STREAM 'UP ALL NIGHT' HERE
Tasjan added, “The three things that worry me most in my life are probably my health, being alone and money. Each of those three daily battles became a verse in this song. The first verse explores my financial plan for the foreseeable future, my real-life love life plays out a bit in the second, while the third verse is an homage to the years-long stomach problems I’ve tried to get diagnosed that everyone says is anxiety. I lost track of a handsome gentleman/brilliant drag performer from South Carolina not long after our first date at The Lipstick Lounge. Shortly after, I moved into a new house occupied by my current partner. We lived as roommates for a few months, but ultimately it became romantic and she’s become my hero and best friend in the world. For me, this song says that there’s no escaping being alive. Worrying is part of life just like having a good time or even too good of a time.”
The accompanying video, directed by Curtis Wayne Millard, features Tasjan on an intergalactic nocturnal space car adventure. The video premiered today with Rolling Stone, who stated, “Aaron Lee Tasjan offers a personal glimpse behind the glitter on his new song “Up All Night,” a succinct slice of ELO glam-pop that finds the enigmatic Nashville songwriter opening up about his anxieties and sexuality.” Rolling Stone added, Tasjan “sings over ringing guitar chords and distorted synth that call to mind the best of Jeff Lynne. The song is an immersive listening experience, with Tasjan giddily guiding you on a journey through musical genres and his own vices.”
WATCH 'UP ALL NIGHT' VIDEO HERE
Tasjan may sing with his tongue in his cheek, but 'Tasjan! Tasjan! Tasjan!' is an album with something to say. His autobiographical lyrics reflect on self-acceptance and offer a unique self-deprecating critique on the millennial generation’s simultaneous capacity for great empathy, judgement and narcissism. The album is dedicated to the alternative kids who also felt “other” growing up. Discussing his experiences, Tasjan shared, “No one likes to feel singled out. I've encountered this feeling many times in my life, including being in line at a drive-thru window in a small town in Ohio and experienced homophobic verbal abuse and harassment after I parked to eat. Be kind to each other, friends, and when our world is back to normal, come meet me at my favourite bar."
Tasjan has been on a shapeshifting musical journey his whole life. From his glam rock roots, when Jimmy Iovine told him “guys in make-up don’t sell records” and when Lady Gaga would open for his band in NYC, to his legend-hopping guitar sideman days, Tasjan has traveled the globe, collecting road war tales from doing mushrooms with Bono in Ireland to bowling with Yoko Ono.
His search for a musical locus and geographic wanderings began in his early teens. His travels took him from Delaware to California to New York and to his current home in Nashville. He moved there in 2015 to play guitar in a band that imploded on his arrival. Through dumb luck he quickly landed a record deal with New West Records and became an established musical entity, releasing a diverse succession of critically acclaimed albums that drew the attention of everyone from NPR Music to Rolling Stone.
Despite this success, seeds of doubt started to bloom. After multiple musical incarnations, Tasjan questioned his direction and where he should go next. He toured through 2019 and then, sparked by the fond memory of an LSD-laced songwriting session when he felt at his most accomplished and free, he hid from his label and covertly crafted 'Tasjan! Tasjan! Tasjan!' With co-producer Gregory Lattimer, he recorded the album in secret at Make Sound Good Studios.
There was no need for doubt. With humour, wit and irony, 'Tasjan! Tasjan! Tasjan!’s personal and hopeful vision was a coded message to himself and showed him self-belief was all he needed. Tasjan’s determined pursuit of a singular sound has led him to a sense of musical realisation and his most compelling album to date.
Tasjan will broadcast the final performance of his “Live And Well from East Nashville” with Noon Chorus tonight at 7pm local time from Siren Song Studio, details available here:https://noonchorus.com/aaron-lee-tasjan/
'Tasjan! Tasjan! Tasjan!' will be available across all digital platforms as well as on CD and standard black vinyl. A limited, 300 three-colour "twister" vinyl edition will be available exclusively via 'Vinyl Me, Please' while a limited, four-colour-splatter vinyl edition will be available at independent retailers and for pre-order NOW via New West Records.
TRACKS
1. Sunday Women
2. Computer of Love
3. Up All Night
4. Another Lonely Day
5. Don't Overthink It
6. Cartoon Music
7. Feminine Walk
8. Dada Bois
9. Now You Know
10. Not That Bad
11. Got What I Wanted
Produced by Aaron Lee Tasjan and Gregory Lattimer
Recorded by Gregory Lattimer (Nashville, TN)
Mixed by Jon Congelton (Los Angeles, CA)
Mastered by Greg Calbi at Sterling Sound, NYC
www.facebook.com/therealaaronleetasjan
www.twitter.com/aaronleetasjan1
www.instagram.com/aaronleetasjan
ERASURE (Andy Bell and Vince Clarke) have launched a brand new video, evoking the spirit of Hallowe’en with a spooky short for ‘Fallen Angel’:https://youtu.be/tAgkT1yEhT8
Starring Heidi N Closet (star of season 12 of RuPaul’s Drag where she was crowned Miss Congeniality) and model Alexa Abraxas, the video was directed by Brad Hammer, responsible for the fabulous video for ‘Nerves of Steel’.
The new video appears ahead of the release of a brand new 12”, and a CD box set, due out on 4 December 2020. The 12” features a brand new remix of the single from Mercury Music Prize nominated Georgia, whilst the CD single boxset collects remixes from each of the album’s singles - ‘Hey Now (Think I Got A Feeling)’, ‘Nerves of Steel’ and ‘Fallen Angel’ - including previously unreleased versions and forthcoming remixes from Confidence Man and Ben Rainey. The 12” vinyl is housed in a glamorous mirror board sleeve on orange neon vinyl while the CD set is similarly glammed up and comes in a mirrored box with three art cards and a booklet.
The band, currently celebrating the release of their new album, The Neon, which went into the UK Official Albums Chart at #4, their highest chart position since 1994, and went straight to #1 in the UK Official Independent, Vinyl and Cassette Albums Charts, also recently announced the first leg of their eagerly anticipated dates.
October 2021 will see Erasure bring The Neon to venues across the UK, Ireland, Germany and Denmark, kicking off at the Glasgow Armadillo auditorium on 1 October, with a London date at the O2 Arena on 17 October.
ERASURE - THE NEON TOUR - 2021 DATES
1 Oct 21 - Glasgow, Armadillo - SOLD OUT
2 Oct 21 - Glasgow, Armadillo - SOLD OUT
4 Oct 21 - Dublin, 3Arena
6 Oct 21 - Edinburgh, Usher Hall
7 Oct 21 - Edinburgh, Usher Hall EXTRA DATE ADDED
9 Oct 21 - Manchester, O2 Apollo - SOLD OUT
10 Oct 21 - Manchester, O2 Apollo - SOLD OUT
12 Oct 21 - Cardiff, Motorpoint Arena
14 Oct 21 - Bournemouth, International Centre
16 Oct 21 - Birmingham, Utilita Arena
17 Oct 21 - London, The O2
18 Oct 21 - Brighton, Centre
21 Oct 21 - Frankfurt, Jahrhunderthalle
22 Oct 21 - Berlin, Max-Schmeling-Halle
24 Oct 21 - Cologne, Palladium
26 Oct 21 - Copenhagen, Royal Arena
27 Oct 21 - Hamburg, Barclaycard Arena
28 Oct 21 - Leipzig, Immobilien Arena
Tickets for these unmissable dates are on sale now
Buy the album: https://mute.ffm.to/TheNeon
Pre-order The Neon Singles: https://mute.ffm.to/cdbx-fa
Fallen Angel on YouTube: https://youtu.be/tAgkT1yEhT8
* * * *
THE NEON SINGLES 12” TRACKLISTING
Side A
Fallen Angel - Georgia Remix
Hey Now (Think I Got A Feeling) - Nimmo Remix Extended Dub
Nerves of Steel - Bright Light Bright Light Remix
Side B
Shot A Satellite - Initial Talk Extended Dub
Hey Now (Think I Got A Feeling) - Daybreakers Dub
Nerves of Steel - Extended 12”
THE NEON SINGLES 3 CD BOX SET - TRACKLISTING - 3 CD Set
CD 1
Hey Now (Think I Got A Feeling) - Daybreakers Remix
Hey Now (Think I Got A Feeling) - Daybreakers Dub**
Hey Now (Think I Got A Feeling) - Daybreakers Instrumental**
Hey Now (Think I Got A Feeling) - Philip George Remix
Hey Now (Think I Got A Feeling) - Philip George Dub Remix**
Hey Now (Think I Got A Feeling) - Philip George Remix Instrumental**
Hey Now (Think I Got A Feeling) - Nimmo Remix
Hey Now (Think I Got A Feeling) - Nimmo Remix Extended Dub**
Hey Now (Think I Got A Feeling) - Nimmo Remix Instrumental**
Shot A Satellite - Initial Talk Remix
CD2
Nerves of Steel - Extended Mix
Nerves of Steel - Bright Light Bright Light Remix
Nerves of Steel - Bright Light Bright Light Remix Dub**
Nerves of Steel - Bright Light Bright Light Remix Instrumental**
Nerves of Steel - 7th Heaven Radio Edit
Nerves of Steel - 7th Heaven Club Mix
Nerves of Steel - 7th Heaven Dub Mix**
Nerves of Steel - 7th Heaven Remix Instrumental**
Shot A Satellite - Initial Talk Extended Dub**
CD3
Fallen Angel - Georgia Remix
Fallen Angel - Georgia Dub**
Fallen Angel - Georgia Remix Instrumental**
Fallen Angel - Confidence Man Remix
Fallen Angel - Confidence Man Dub**
Fallen Angel - Confidence Man Remix Instrumental**
Fallen Angel - Ben Rainey Remix
Fallen Angel - Ben Rainey Dub**
Fallen Angel - Ben Rainey Remix Instrumental**
Shot A Satellite - Initial Talk Remix Instrumental**
** - previously unreleased
For more information:
KAWALA PLAY DODGEBALL AGAINST THE FORCES OF DARKNESS IN NEW VIDEO FOR ‘PURE DESIRE’
THE VIDEO COMES HOT ON THE HEELS OF THE BAND’S FIRST 7” SINGLE AND THEIR HUGELY SUCCESSFUL LIVE STREAMED GIG FROM HOXTON HALL IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE MUSIC VENUE TRUST
WATCH HERE
KAWALA are back and they’re ready to take on the dark, supernatural forces of the underworld at a game of dodgeball in the new video for ‘Pure Desire’, out now.
“The idea to shoot a music video featuring us playing an intense game of dodgeball against five monsters first came about in the only place such an idea could come about = after many pints in the pub” Dan Explains. “We wanted to show off the songs meaning of wanting to overcome & achieve something and at the time it seemed the most obvious way to showcase that. Having an incredible team on board to make it a reality including the unreal prosthetic artist Charity Kase (https://www.instagram.com/charitykase) really made this video an absolute pleasure to make.”
The video is for the A-Side of the band’s first vinyl 7” single, ‘Pure Desire’/‘Loosen Up’, which is a beautiful distillation of the two sides of KAWALA’s song writing. ‘Pure Desire’ is a driving, upbeat piece of soulful pop, showcasing the band’s intricate guitar lines and trademark harmonies. ‘Loosen Up’ on the other hand finds the band slowing things down to create a languid mix of acoustic guitars and delicate percussion, before building to a euphoric crescendo.
“This is the first time we’ve released a 7” single with an A and B side so we were keen for the songs to have a strong link while offering different things sonically.” Daniel Explains “‘Pure Desire’ is essentially about exactly that; the desperation to reach that goal you set out to achieve or a better place you wish to find yourself. We tried to represent that hunger and drive in the constant upbeat pace of the song. Alternatively, ‘Loosen Up’ is meant to represent the tranquil place we see as our end goal.”
The band were also recently been made patrons of the Music Venue Trust. The charities support for grassroots venues is something very close to their heart, with all of them having earned their stripes in the many varied and wonderful small rooms around the UK. In partnership with MVT the band played a 100% live show from London’s Hoxton Hall which was streamed to 2,500 viewers (the equivalent of a sold-out Kentish Town Forum).
The band were joined on the stream by Arlo Parks who spoke with the band about performing in small venues and recited a poem especially written for the occasion. There were also other contributors who joined via VT to express their support for MVT and tell stories of their favourite small venues. They included Everything Everything, The Amazons, Vistas, Dodie, Zak Abel, Rhys Lewis, Bad Sounds, New Hope Club and more…
You can watch here
‘Pure Desire’/‘Loosen Up’ follows ‘Ticket to Ride’, released earlier this year, which was championed by the likes of Annie Mac and Jack Saunders at Radio 1 and has recently been included on the soundtrack to EA’s blockbuster FIFA 21 game.
Centered around the core duo of singer Jim Higson and guitarist/singer Daniel McCarthy, KAWALA aren’t your typical band. Their lush sound is cushioned with the pair’s gorgeous harmonies, driven by Daniel’s unique finger-style acoustic guitar playing, and inflected with sounds from genres far beyond the one they inhabit. As their sound developed the pair decided to invite some friends to join them and eventually added Ben Batten on drums, Dan Lee on guitar and Reeve Coulson on Bass.
Though the band’s 2020 tour plans had to be postponed due to the Covid-19 lockdown, that didn’t stop the band from spreading a tiny bit of live music joy this year. In July they went on the road for a special, socially distanced outdoor tour (the first band to do so), playing free acoustic sets in parks around the country to a controlled number of their fans, organised via Whatsapp. In 2021 the band will be taking their full, high energy live show on the road proper as they play the rescheduled shows of their 2020 tour, concluding with their biggest London shows to date at the Kentish Town Forum.
Rescheduled 2021 tour dates
12 May - Cyprus Ave - Cork
13 May - The Academy - Dublin
15 May - Arts Club - Liverpool
16 May - The Globe - Cardiff
18 May - The Bullingdon - Oxford
19 May - Gorilla - Manchester
20 May - O2 Institute 2 - Birmingham
23 May - King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut - Glasgow
25 May - St Doms Social Club - Newcastle
26 May – Thekla - Bristol
27 May - Kentish Town Forum - London
Django Django announce new album 'Glowing In The Dark' scheduled for release February 12th 2021 on Because Music PRE ORDER HERE
Hot on the heels of announcing their fourth album, “Glowing in the Dark”, Django Django now unveil two exciting events which are only set to stoke the flames of anticipation even further.
First up, Hot Chip give the title track their own distinctive twist, refracting the original through a gloriously warped hall of mirrors to deliver something odder, more off-kilter but no less deliriously infectious. Listen here: DjangoDjango.lnk.to/GITDHotChipRmx
In Hot Chip’s words:
“We were stoked out of our minds to get our hands on this track from Django Django; so strong and fun and addictive! We hope folks like what we’ve done with it and enjoy the sounds as much as we enjoyed working on them!”
In the band’s own words:
“We’ve been huge fans of Hot Chip from the beginning and had the pleasure of supporting them live a few times now so we’re really chuffed to have a remix from them. Hope you enjoy it.”
The remix will be accompanied by an animated video by Multiple Man, which will premiere on YouTube tonight at 8pm GMT. Watch here: DjangoDjango.lnk.to/GITDHotChipRmx/youtube
Prior to this, the band cordially invite fans to a B2B2B LIVE 2 hour house & disco DJ set TONIGHT, which sees Dave Maclean, Joe Goddard and Dance System facing off over a live stream on YouTube. All three will be present and interacting with fans in the YouTube comments throughout also, making this one battle royale you would not want to miss.
“Glowing in the Dark” tracklist:
1)Spirals
2)Right The Wrongs
3)Got Me Worried
4)Waking Up (feat. Charlotte Gainsbourg)
5)Free From Gravity
6)Headrush
7)The Ark
8)Night Of The Buffalo
9)The World Will Turn
10)Kick The Devil Out
11)Glowing In The Dark
12)Hold Fast
13)Asking For More
Links:
JESS GLYNNE - will be performing a huge show at Doncaster Racecourse next Summer.
Taking place on Saturday 14 August 2021, this special ‘Live After Racing’ event will provide a full day at the races, followed by a showstopping headline set by the pop superstar.
Tickets will go on sale from 9am Friday 27th November, or Wednesday 25th for O2 presale Customers.
Jess Glynne is a Grammy award-winning singer/songwriter from North London who has established herself across the globe as the voice of a generation.
Signing with Atlantic records in 2013, Glynne broke into the mainstream with her mesmeric vocals on the chart-topping hits "My Love" by Route 94 and "Rather Be" with Clean Bandit. Paving the way for an unstoppable chart run to come, Jess notched up further hits in "Right Here" (with Gorgon City), "Real Love" (with Clean Bandit) and "Not Letting Go"(with Tinie Tempah), making her mark as one of the most potent new vocalists in pop.
Jess released her smash debut album I Cry When I Laugh in 2015, a record that went straight in at #1 in the UK albums chart, became the second fastest selling album of the year and has since certified as a 4× Platinum record with over 1,200,000 copies sold to date.
Releasing its much anticipated follow-up Always in Between in 2018, the record swiftly followed-suit went straight in at the top of the UK charts. Making history as the first ‘British female solo artist to have seven number one singles in the UK Singles Chart’ with its lead track "I'll Be There"; Glynne went on invade the charts with a string of killer singles from the record including "These Days" (with Rudimental, Macklemore & Dan Caplen), "All I Am", "Thursday" and "One Touch" (with Jax Jones).
Taking her pop to the people, Jess embarked on her mammoth Always in Between Tour throughout 2018-19, playing huge shows across Europe, the UK and the United States. Going from strength to strength, Jess received five Brit Award nominations, including Best British Female and Best British Single, in 2019. That same year, she also joined the Spice Girls as a special guest on their Spice World tour; further cementing herself as a household name and a force of nature on the live stage.
More recently, Jess unwrapped news of a surprise festive cover of Donny Hathaway's ‘This Christmas’, A testament to her enduring popularity, Jess is now sizing up what is expected to be her record-breaking eighth UK number one this Winter.
Renowned for her euphoric live shows, Jess Glynne’s set at ‘Live After Racing’ promises to be a chart-busting celebration to remember. The perfect Christmas present, tickets go on general sale this Friday 27th November.
JESS GLYNNE @ DONCASTER RACECOURSE - SATURDAY 14 AUGUST 2021
GATES: 11:001st Race: 13:10 Last Race: 16:35 Curfew: TBC
TICKETS GENERAL SALE THIS FRIDAY, 27 NOVEMBER https://www.ticketweb.uk/event/jess-glynne-live-doncaster-racecourse-tickets/10785055
O2 PRESALE - THIS WEDNESDAY 25 NOVEMBER https://www.ticketweb.uk/event/jess-glynne-live-doncaster-racecourse-tickets/10785055?dlac=o2pre
FOR MORE INFORMATION http://jessglynne.co.uk/
Released earlier this year, Cassia’s ‘Do Right’ encapsulates the serene atmosphere, irresistible hooks and uplifting lyricism that have enabled the band’s word-of-mouth following to flourish throughout 2020 and has become one of their most popular tracks. Now Cassia present a superlative spin on the song with an accomplished new acoustic performance.
Filmed in a steam room at the band’s Casa de Cassia studio in Berlin, the performance is as intimate as they come with the three band members packed into the tiny space. Their set-up is back-to-basics (acoustic guitar, bass and a two-piece drum kit) allowing the song’s quality to shine through, with the trio’s warm vocal harmonies demonstrating just how strong their musical connection is. It provides the ideal vehicle to deliver the song’s message. It’s a timely reminder that making small changes to your life can be an important first step towards personal fulfilment.
Vocalist / guitarist Rob Ellis commented, “We filmed this one in a steam room! We wanted to throw it back to the original ‘Do Right’ vid. If you've seen the semi-naked kimono Leff scene, it's right there. We didn't quite think this one through though, as it was absolutely boiling. We also did one in a sauna, which is coming soon!"
‘Do Right (Live From The Steam Room)’ is Cassia’s second acoustic video to be filmed in Casa de Cassia after fans were won over by their unplugged version of ‘Don’t Make A Scene’.
Cassia are currently hard at work on more new music, which will follow in 2021 under a new deal with BMG. Their acclaimed debut album, ‘Replica’, was released in 2019.
Cassia have toured relentlessly across the UK, US, Europe and South Africa. In fact, until all gigs were halted earlier this year, they had spent much of the last three years on the road. You’d routinely find them crammed in the van, touring from city-to-city and often spending 17 hours crossing the continent en route to the next gig. The reward was that they earned a following that ignited their streaming stats and wider media profile.
Their sold-out tours have included The Scala in London and a homecoming show at Manchester’s Ritz. Last year, the band played 35 packed festival dates including the Radio 1 Stage at the Reading and Leeds Festivals, All Points East, Truck Festival, Y Not, TRNSMT, Kendal Calling, Electric Picnic and SXSW. Those life-affirming shows resulted in them earning a nomination for Best Live Act at the AIM Awards alongside IDLES and DMA’S.
Cassia promise to start “the biggest party ever” when they’re able to make a long-awaited return to touring. They’re scheduled to play the following dates in April, and plan to embark upon a more comprehensive tour later in 2021. Tickets for the shows listed below are available from their official website.
APRIL
13th - Hamburg, Molotow
14th - Berlin, Lido
16th - Amsterdam, Paradiso (upstairs)
20th - Dublin, Academy 2
22nd - London, Lafayette
24th - Edinburgh, The Mash House
Links:
The music community has shown a huge amount of ingenuity in trying to connect with fans while conventional shows can’t happen. But no-one has done anything quite like what Flawes did to bring their recent single ‘Holding Out For The Win’ to attention.
They aimed to break the world record for the most individual live streamed performances of a single song in a twelve-hour session. And that’s exactly what they achieved, completing a staggering 60 performances of the track - and all without frontman JC Carruthers losing his voice.
Flawes’ return was further highlighted with fresh praise from tastemakers including Clash and Wonderland, which has set them up perfectly as they today share their new single ‘What’s A Boy To Do’. Both songs feature on their upcoming ‘Reverie’ EP, which follows on February 26th and is available to pre-save / pre-add here.
From its acoustic guitar introduction, ‘What’s A Boy To Do’ spontaneously erupts into the kind of gloriously uplifting hook that’s quickly becoming a hallmark of Flawes’ new music. It’s a song that balances the extremes of their sound, finding the common ground between intricately produced alt-pop and the dynamic energy of a live band.
The result is representative of the trio’s ability to find positivity in tough situations. That feeling is also emphasised throughout the song’s lyrics as drummer Josh ‘Huss’ Hussey explains, “It’s about believing in yourself, going for a goal and knowing that even if you fail, you’re still proud of yourself for seeing it through.”
The accompanying video for the track is linked to the previous visual for ‘Holding Out For The Win’. The boys return to perform in the same room as before and JC again undergoes a surprise transformation. As the song explodes into life, he hits a big red button which transports the boyhood version of himself to the present day. It’s a trick which keeps on giving, fast-forwarding Huss to middle-age and switching guitarist Freddie Edwards’ gender. And that’s all before things get really weird.
After a steady rise in which they earned a Record of the Week at Radio 1 and worked with leading producers such as Finneas (Billie Eilish) and Lostboy (Dua Lipa), 2020 looked set to be the year that Flawes made their major breakthrough. But as every artist has experienced, their plans for the year were soon dashed.
Undeterred, the ever optimistic trio pushed on, and took the opportunity to record some new songs separately during the initial lockdown, with the remote assistance of producers such as Toby Scott (The Gossip, Pet Shop Boys).
The new material was bursting with personality, the energy of their live shows and an escapist spirit that is proving to be empowering for the band and their fans. It means that the ‘Reverie’ EP positions them to achieve the things they were denied in 2020 just a little behind schedule.
“Songwriting that feels open, melodic, and addictive.”- Clash
“Flawes dare us to dream of someplace better, and even offer to soundtrack it too.” - Wonderland
Links:
On 15 May 2021, York’s Shed Seven will be headlining a very special show at Doncaster Racecourse.
This unique show will invite audiences to enjoy an entire day of racing at one of the UK’s most prestigious arenas, with the added bonus of a full Shed Seven set late into the evening.
Rising to fame as one of the leading lights of the Britpop scene, some 30 years since their formation in York in 1990, Shed Seven have established themselves as one of the nation’s favourite alternative rock bands. Turning heads with the release of their classic debut album ‘Change Giver’ in 1994, the Rick Witter five-piece unfurled a flurry of smash hits that would come to define the period and amassed an impressive fifteen Top 40 singles and four Top 20 albums over the next 5 years.
After an extended hiatus in 2003, the Sheds surprised and delighted fans and critics alike as they returned with their first new studio album for 16 years: ‘Instant Pleasures’. Demonstrative of a band back at the top of their game and rippling with ideas once more, ‘Instant Pleasures’ delivered exactly what it said on the tin. Rightfully rewarded with a Top 10 UK chart position, rave reviews and national radio playlistings, the band are more in-demand than ever.
A hectic 2019 schedule saw them release their ‘Going For Gold’ greatest hits on gold-coloured vinyl for the first time, plus thrill audiences nationwide on their packed-out ‘Shedcember’ tour (an extensive tour of capacious venues that also included their first ever headline arena show at the Leeds First Direct Arena). Showing no signs of slowing the pace any time soon, the Sheds now look on to their huge Doncaster Racecourse performance in Summer 2021
With anthemic hits spanning three decades and energy in spades, few bands could be better suited to long summer evening show to a Yorkshire county crowd than Shed Seven. Currently celebrating the 25th anniversary of their first album release, expect a mix of Sheds classics including ‘She Left Me On Friday’, ‘Dolphin’, ‘Disco Down’, ‘High Hopes’, ‘Where Have You Been Tonight?’ and more, plus choice cuts from recent album ‘Instant Pleasures’, including fan favourites ‘Room In My House’ and ‘Better Days’.
Shed Seven - ‘Live After Racing’ @ Doncaster Racecourse, Yorkshire
15th May 2021*(*Rescheduled from 15 August 2020)
Tickets Available from:
https://www.ticketmaster.co.uk/event/35005792D716937F
Tickets are priced at:£35 Advance STBF £25 Children under 18’s (Under 5’s free admission)
Links:
Teenage Fanclub have announced news of their tenth studio album, Endless Arcade, released 5th March via their own label PeMa in the UK/Europe and Merge in the US. To mark the occasion the band have shared a video for “Home”, the album’s 7-minute opening track. Shot by Donald Milne in Edinburgh’s Leith Theatre, the video can be viewed HERE.
Even if we weren’t living through extraordinarily troubling times, there is nothing quite like a Teenage Fanclub album to assuage the mind, body and soul, and to reaffirm that all is not lost in this world.
Endless Arcade follows the band’s ninth album “Here”, released in 2016 to universal acclaim and notably their first Top 10 album since 1997; a mark of how much they’re treasured. The new record is quintessential TFC: melodies are equal parts heartwarming and heart-aching; guitars chime and distort; keyboard lines mesh and spiral; harmony-coated choruses burst out like sun on a stormy day.
In the 1990s, the band crafted a magnetically heavy yet harmony-rich sound on classic albums such as “Bandwagonesque” and “Grand Prix”. This century, albums such as “Shadows” and “Here” have documented a more relaxed, less ‘teenage’ Fanclub, reflecting the band’s stage in life and state of mind, which Endless Arcade slots perfectly alongside.
The album walks a beautifully poised line between melancholic and uplifting, infused with simple truths. The importance of home, community and hope is entwined with more bittersweet, sometimes darker thoughts - insecurity, anxiety, loss.
Such is life. But the title track suggests, “Don’t be afraid of this endless arcade that is life.”
“I think of an endless arcade as a city that you can wander through, with a sense of mystery, an imaginary one that goes on forever…” says Raymond McGinley, one half of the band’s songwriters for this album alongside Norman Blake. “When it came to choosing an album title, it seemed to have something for this collection of songs.”
So how did the band set out to explore this Endless Arcade? Raymond: “The process is much the same as it always has been. In 1989 we went into a studio in Glasgow to make our first LP. Francis starts setting up his drums, the rest of us find our spots around him and off we go. Thirty years later Francis is setting up his drums in Clouds Hill Recordings in Hamburg. A few hours later we’re recording the first song. We don’t conceptualise, we don’t talk about it, we just do it. Each of us are thinking our own thoughts, but we don’t do much externalising. We just feel our way into it.”
Dave McGowan has been feeling his way into the band’s sound since 2004, mainly on keyboards and guitar, but the past two years have seen him take over on bass, his primary instrument. Francis Macdonald on drums was there at the outset. Although he has played and sung on record with the band previously, this is the first time Euros Childs has featured on keyboards across a whole Teenage Fanclub album.
“We were very comfortable with each other in the studio,” says Norman. “I think some of the playing is a bit freer and looser than on recent albums. Dave and Euros’ playing is amazing, and Francis on drums is really swinging. The whole process of making this album was very invigorating. Everyone in the band contributed a lot and the song arrangements came together really quickly. Everything felt fresh.”
Something else they all feel good about is the artwork. Euros suggested they use his friend Huw Evans, aka musician H. Hawkline, to design the sleeve. “It’s amazing,” Raymond says, “we absolutely love it!”
A preview from the album came in February 2019 with Raymond’s ‘Everything Is Falling Apart’, an online single released at the outset of a six-month tour and a highlight of Endless Arcade.
Everything is falling apart? Well, yes, but the song was written long before COVID-19 arrived. Neither was Raymond’s inspiration political or social, but more, “the entropy in the universe, the knowledge that everything eventually decays,” he explains. But Raymond says relax. Or rather, “Relax, find love, hold on to the hand of a friend”.
Fortunately, Endless Arcade was virtually finished by the time lockdown was announced, bar the odd tinker under the engine hood. It seems timely, given how everyone had to initially stay home under lockdown, that the album starts with Norman’s ‘Home’, though it was chosen in part because of its opening line: “Every morning, I open my eyes...” The album’s longest track (at seven minutes) typifies TFC’s relaxed groove, culminating in Raymond’s peach of a guitar solo.
Norman’s search for ‘home’ could be literal: after all, he’s been living in Canada for the last 10 years. But it’s also figurative. Like Norman’s other Endless Arcade songs – The Sun Won’t Shine On Me’, ‘Warm Embrace’, ‘I’m More Inclined’, ‘Back In The Day’ and ‘Living With You’ – his words on ‘Home’ are etched by loss and yearning. “Without going into too much detail, the last eighteen months have been challenging for me on an emotional level,” he admits. “But it’s been cathartic channeling some of these feelings and emotions into song.”
In contrast, Raymond’s songs – he’s also responsible for ‘Come With Me’, ‘In Our Dreams’, ‘The Future’ and ‘Silent Song’ – are philosophical and questing. As he sings in ‘The Future’: “It’s hard to walk into the future when your shoes are made of lead”, but he’s still going to try, “and see sights we’ve never seen.”
In the band’s own near-future, they’re already planning another new album given they can’t yet tour the one they’re releasing now. Welcome back, Teenage Fanclub, unafraid of this endless arcade that is life.
New album track list:
1. Home
2. Endless Arcade
3. Warm Embrace
4. Everything Is Falling Apart
5. The Sun Won’t Shine On Me
6. Come With Me
7. In Our Dreams
8. I’m More Inclined
9. Back In The Day
10. The Future
11. Living With You
12. Silent Song
Links:
GEORGIE ushers in 2021 with her latest single: ‘Simple Things’.
LISTEN ON: SPOTIFY HERE || APPLE MUSIC HERE
The track is taken from her acclaimed debut album ‘At Home’, which received its official on the 8th January 2021.
Like much of the new album, “Simple Things” was written at the beginning of the first UK nationwide lockdown. Finding a new resonance as the country braces in lockdown once again, the track sees Georgie searching for silver linings in the darkest of times and learning to love life’s less-complicated aspects.
“It’s about how important those simple things are” says Georgie, “I felt through lockdown it was only the simple things that we could enjoy like watching TV or playing Fifa.”
Centred around an emotive piano motif and sparse arrangements, “Simple Things” places the spotlight on the song’s honest and unvarnished lyrical observations, as delivered in Georgie’s characteristically dusky vocal.
“Simple Things” was initially released as part of Georgie’s debut solo album ‘At Home’; a surprise digital album that was perhaps one of 2020’s more uplifting moments. Proving to be an instant summer hit with fans and press alike, the album is now receiving its official release in 2021 on Soul Kitchen Records to meet popular demand.
Available now on CD and digitally, ‘At Home’ can also be purchased as a special bonus bundle, which includes a signed copy of Georgie’s previous release ‘Georgie: Live!’.
Unleashing a positive burst of energy before 2020 is out - SKINNY LISTER - release their latest single: “Shout It Out”.
WATCH VIDEO HERE || STREAM SINGLE HERE
Like “We Will Rock You” if it were written by The Pogues, “Shout It Out” is a big, anthemic, universal and uplifting new song from the folk/punk sextet.
A celebration of the communal and fighting spirit humanity can channel when together, Skinny Lister’s Dan Heptinstall says of the track:
“Shout it Out is about being optimistic in the face of adversity. It’s a release - a reminder to let go of that unhealthy habit to keep things bottled up inside. A kind of primal scream therapy where we can let go of anxieties, stresses, anger, frustration etc..”
Hallmarked with a celtic twist that harks back to their very earliest days, but with a confidence that only comes from a band in their prime, “Shout It Out” is a track that finds itself instantly at home in the Skinny Lister canon.
In something of a first for the band, “Shout It Out” was recorded and produced completely in-house, “a liberating experience” Heptinstall says. While the majority of the song’s parts were recorded by members remotely in light of the current circumstances, every care was taken to try to capture the resounding live energy of a Skinny Lister live show in full flight.
The talented Tristan Ivemy (who produced the band’s third album ‘The Devil, The Heart & The Fight’) was also drafted in to work his magic on the final mix of the track.
With a chorus destined to be roared back at the band at venues across the land, the track is accompanied with an official video that dares to dream of those scenes next year. Creating a montage of some of the stand-out moments from their headline shows last year, this video is a humbling reminder of just how much we have missed live music this year.
Check it out here: https://youtu.be/Q8EUqGSwUtQ
Reflecting on video Dan Heptinstall says:
“It was great to be able to pull together some previously unseen live footage from last year’s headline Skinny shows. The crowd hollering along with us with such communal spirit really captures the essence of the track and is a great reminder of what we’ve been missing over this past year. It’s also a celebration and an optimistic look forward to when those times return and we can shout our hearts out together again.”
“Shout It Out” follows the band’s recent fifth anniversary re-issue of their breakthrough album: ‘Down On Deptford Broadway’. Released on a special deluxe edition vinyl with exclusive new artwork, you can order your copy here: HERE.
As folk rock’s rowdiest rabble since 2009, Skinny Lister have reeled and partied into the hearts of America, the UK, Germany and Japan. Passing the growing flagon of their experiences with every album and tour, they’ve led an endless parade gathering fans old and new, from the respected folk circuit to the riotous Download Festival, igniting pogoing mosh-pits at each.
Over the past ten years they’ve travelled from rain-soaked London to the vast arteries of the USA, upgrading from narrow boat to Salty Dog Cruise, played huge tours across Europe and North America with Frank Turner, Dropkick Murphys and Flogging Molly as well as headlining themselves across festivals, sweatboxes and ever-larger venues.
With four albums under their belt, ‘Forge & Flagon’, ‘Down on Deptford Broadway’, ‘The Devil, the Heart & the Fight’ and ‘The Story Is…’ the band have explored a lexicon of tastes through a whirlwind of adventures across the globe.
Their first original material in over 18 months, Skinny Lister will release: “Shout It Out” out now, via Xtra Mile Recordings.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Website https://skinnylister.com
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/skinnylister
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/skinnylister
Twitter https://twitter.com/SkinnyLister
YouTube https://www.youtube.com/user/skinnylister
WATCH VIDEO HERE: https://GaryNuman.lnk.to/IntruderVideoPR
LISTEN HERE: https://GaryNuman.lnk.to/IntruderSinglePR
NEW ALBUM ‘INTRUDER’ TO BE RELEASED ON MAY 21ST
NOW AVAILABLE TO PRE-ORDER HERE
The iconic Gary Numan has today premiered the title track from his forthcoming album via BBC 6 Music and can now reveal the accompanying video Gary Numan is set to release his brand new album ‘Intruder’ on May 21st. The album is now available to pre-order here.
‘Intruder’ is Numan’s 18th solo studio album and follows 2017’s ‘Savage: Songs From A Broken World’, which became his highest charting set in almost forty years when it debuted at #2 on the Official Albums Chart. That commercial success was complemented with wide-reaching critical acclaim from Mojo, The Quietus, Pop Matters and more.
Whereas ‘Savage’ depicted earth as a barren wasteland in which humanity and culture had been largely crushed by the effects of global warming, ‘Intruder’ presents a fresh but complementary narrative. It’s a philosophical examination of a potential future apocalypse: the planet can only survive by purging its inhabitants.
Numan explains: “‘Intruder’ looks at climate change from the planet’s point of view. If Earth could speak, and feel things the way we do, what would it say? How would it feel? The songs, for the most part, attempt to be that voice, or at least try to express what I believe the earth must feel at the moment.
The planet sees us as its children now grown into callous selfishness, with a total disregard for it’s well being. It feels betrayed, hurt and ravaged. Disillusioned and heartbroken it is now fighting back. Essentially, it considers human kind to be a virus attacking the planet. Climate change is the undeniable sign of the Earth saying enough is enough, and finally doing what it needs to do to get rid of us, and explaining why it feels it has to do it.”
The title track and lead single provides a tantalising taster of what to expect. As austere synths loom like shadows and industrial beats are detonated, Numan’s beguiling hook towers like a beacon in the darkness. It’s visionary, fierce and fascinating: three traits that have become hallmarks of the musician’s influential career. The song, he says, finds “the Earth angry and hostile, and more than willing to fight back.”
Partially written and recorded during lockdown, it’s no surprise that current circumstances have been assimilated into its themes. It’s especially evident in ‘The Gift’, which evolves from a sparse introduction into a resonant Middle-Eastern sonic motif. It imagines Covid-19 as the first weapon that the planet deploys in order to eradicate mankind and once again flourish.
While anger and vengeance rage in its opening chapters, ‘Intruder’ charts a wider spectrum of emotions. ‘Is This World Not Enough’ and ‘A Black Sun’ exude regret and then despair that this fate could’ve been avoided. The finale presents a black-hearted double-bill to bring the curtain down on the tale. First ‘Now And Forever’ offers a hope of eternity in the end days during its theatrical intensity, before the sparse, sorrowful ‘The End Of Dragons’ ends on the chilling reminder that what’s broken can’t always be fixed.
Select formats feature two bonus tracks: questions of faith in ‘When You Fall’ and a plaintive, stripped back version of ‘The End of Dragons’.
‘Intruder’ was recorded between sessions at Numan’s home studio in Los Angeles and at producer Ade Fenton’s studio in Bath. It represents their fifth studio album together after ‘Jagged’ (2006), ‘Dead Sun Rising’ (2011), ‘Splinter (Songs From A Broken Mind)’ (2013) and ‘Savage (Songs From A Broken World)’(2017).
‘Intruder’ will be released on CD, deluxe CD, black heavyweight double-vinyl, picture disc double-vinyl and digital formats. There will also be three exclusive coloured double-vinyl formats: in red (at select indie stores), silver (from Amazon) and gold (from Gary Numan’s official store). The official store will also exclusively stock the cassette.
Since coming to prominence with era-defining hits such as ‘Cars’ and ‘Are ‘Friends’ Electric?’ (with Tubeway Army), Gary Numan has remained consistently creative and released a huge catalogue of work. His impact on electronic and alternative music has been hailed by pioneers such as Prince, David Bowie and Nine Inch Nails and remains impactful today, with Kanye West and Lady Gaga both crediting him as an influence.
He was rewarded with the prestigious Inspiration Award at the Ivor Novellos in 2017and shared his remarkable story with 2020’s candid autobiography ‘(R)evolution’.
‘Intruder’ tracklist:
Website
Spotify
Apple Music
YouTube
‘LIVE AT BRIXTON’ TO BE RELEASED ON MARCH 5TH
NOW AVAILABLE TO PRE-SAVE / PRE-ADD AND TO PRE-ORDER ON SPECIAL LIMITED EDITION DOUBLE 12” VINYL HERE
March 6th, 2020. A sold-out audience fills the O2 Academy Brixton’s cavernous space from wall-to-wall. The lights go down, the crowd erupts into a chant and DMA’S tear into their opening song ‘Feels Like 37’ accompanied by 5000 voices passionately singing along to its killer hook. The band are playing the biggest headline show of their career to date half a planet away from home, yet have conjured the atmosphere of an intimate homecoming celebration.
What follows is a show that will live long in the memories of the band and their fans alike. From early favourites ‘In The Air’ and ‘Lay Down’ to new material such as ‘Silver’ and ‘Life Is A Game Of Changing’ from their hugely successful third studio album ‘THE GLOW’ (which hit #4 in the UK and #2 in Australia), the band, extended from the core trio to a sextet for live performances, inspire a rapturous reception.
The show will be documented in the ‘Live at Brixton’ album, which will be released almost a year to the day later on March 5th.
‘Live at Brixton’ will be released on a striking smoke-effect pink/orange limited edition double vinyl (pre-order here) that also offers an essential souvenir of the event. Its design was inspired by a flare that was set off during the show. It will also be released digitally.
The O2 Academy Brixton show was immediately hailed as one of the highlights of the band’s career so far, and it has taken on whole new significance given the events that have followed. For many fans it was their final show before live music events were halted.
The album offers a chance to reminiscence on the life-affirming power of live shows, and also an inspiring reminder of what we’re all looking forward to returning to. The show’s reputation continued to grow when a much wider international audience watched a full one-off live stream of the set in April 2020.
DMA’S commented: “Our first ever show in the UK was the opening slot at Brixton Academy so this is just totally emblematic of the support that has grown overseas we are ever grateful for. It’s still the greatest show we have ever played and we will never forget that night. See you all soon! Stay safe.”
‘Live at Brixton’ is today launched with the new live audio and video ‘Lay Down’, which is available here. A fan favourite from the band’s debut album ‘Hills End’, the track provides a flavour of what to expect with a powerful, high energy performance boosted by a sizzling atmosphere.
‘Live at Brixton’ tracklist:
Having played select shows in Australia last year that included a televised New Year’s Eve special from Sydney Harbour, DMA’S plan to make a long awaited return to touring in the UKin 2021. Their April headline tour includes a huge 10,000 capacity gig at London’s Alexandra Palace, and they’ll return in the summer to headline a series of major outdoor shows.
Remaining tickets for the shows, listed below, are available here:
APRIL
4th - Newcastle, O2 Academy
7th - Southampton, O2 Guildhall
9th - Liverpool, Echo Arena
10th - London, Alexandra Palace
13th - Dublin, The Academy (SOLD OUT)
14th - Dublin, The Academy (SOLD OUT)
16th - Norwich, The Nick Rayns LCR, UEA
17th - Hull, Bonus Arena
JULY
10th - Leeds, Millennium Square - Sounds of the City
11th - Manchester, Castlefield Bowl - Sounds of the City (SOLD OUT)
AUGUST
4th - Newcastle, Live From Times Square
6th - Edinburgh, Summer Sessions
Website
Spotify
Apple Music
YouTube
Instagram
Facebook
Twitter
Memphis-based artist John Paul Keith has announced the release of his new record 'The Rhythm of the City', out on February 19 via Wild Honey Records.
He has recently released album opener 'How Can You Walk Away' and has now shared a video to accompany the first single:
WATCH 'HOW CAN YOU WALK AWAY VIDEO HERE
He says: "Sometimes you sit down to write a song and you don't get very far, no matter how hard you work on it. But sometimes a song just appears, almost fully-formed, and it's very exciting when that happens. 'How Can You Walk Away' felt like it wrote itself. And I knew right away I wanted to open the album with it. Sometimes you just know."
"The background vocals were performed by Tierinii and Tikyra Jackson of Grammy-nominated group Southern Avenue and arranged entirely by them. We'd never worked together before, but I was a fan - they have that blood harmony that only siblings have. They came into the studio and just nailed it. It was my first time hearing what they'd come up with, and I didn't ask them to change a thing. They were incredible to work with."
"This is my first album to feature a horn section on every track, and for this song, we chose to use only tenor and baritone saxophone, a combination that is very powerful, especially in a minor key. There's just something really sexy about that sound."
LISTEN TO 'HOW CAN YOU WALK AWAY' HERE AND ON SOUNDCLOUD
Keith’s fifth solo album – and his first self-produced effort – 'The Rhythm of the City' finds him expanding his approach on a horn-heavy 10-song collection that’s in thrall to the classic sounds of Bluff City soul and rock and roll.
“I was at my home in Memphis one evening and heard a car pass by blasting Al Green's ‘Love and Happiness,’ which was recorded just a couple miles away,” says singer-songwriter John Paul Keith. “I was struck by how Howard Grimes' drumming just seems to embody something about the feel and the pace of life for me here. I thought to myself, ‘Howard Grimes is the rhythm of the city.’ My next thought was, ‘That sounds like a title track.’”
Conjuring up his own unique musical mélange –a sweet spot where the sound of Sun blues, Stax soul, and Hi R&B all meet – it’s a record steeped in the geography and culture of Memphis, which Keith has called home for the last 15 years. “The vibe came about organically from playing Beale Street and Graceland and working with horn sections more frequently the last few years,” says Keith.
The Rhythm of the City was recorded to tape at Electraphonic Studios, and engineered by Keith’s frequent collaborator, Scott Bomar (bandleader of the Bo-Keys, Don Bryant producer, and film composer for Dolemite Is My Name).
PRE-ORDER 'THE RHYTHM OF THE CITY' HERE AND HERE
Cinematic dream-pop duo - THE GHOST OF HELAGS - will release their debut studio album in 2021: ‘We Came From The Stars’.
Unfurling a string of mesmeric singles these past months, the Sweden-born, Berlin-based pairing of Teresa Woischiski and John Alexander Ericson confirm a 12-track album release for the 5th March this year.
WATCH VIDEO FOR FEATURED SINGLE: ‘MARY’ HERE
Coupling Woischiski’s feather-light vocal and emotive lyricism with Ericson’s natural flair for conjuring crystalline electronica with soul, the duo deliver a set of stylised, other-worldly synth-pop.
Written all over the world in the days before “Coronavirus” was even a word and in the instances of relaxed relief between lockdowns this past year, ‘We Came From The Stars’ is a record born from the bohemian virtues of freedom and exploration. Alive with a wide-eyed sense of adventure, it’s a record that transcends borders and boundaries; its songs like postcards from a daydream world of international travel, freed of its current restrictions.
Written “on a wintery road in the midst of snowstorms at night en voyage from Vienna to Prague”, album opener “Chemistry” takes the listener into the frostbitten landscape from which it was concocted; it’s nocturnal synth-tronica an irresistible invitation for a journey into the unknown. “Parallel” beats with the heat of a summer festival in Antibes, whereas the dusky tenderness of “Night Summer Waiting” radiates with the warmth of the rooftops of Perinaldo, Italy, and glistens with the photographic perfection where it was written.
The sweeping “Bye Bye Tokyo” soars with misty-eyed reflection and mixed emotion; a track created on an airplane as the duo sailed between the clouds with the unmistakeable Japanese landscape falling away beneath them. Whereas recent single “Mary”, conceived in the Giant Mountains district (between Poland and the Czech Republic) under the looming shadow of another lockdown, twitches with a ticking sense of time running out.
Widescreen in feel and cinematic in scope, the duo’s passion for art house cinema animates ‘We Came From The Stars’ with vivid colour and captivating mystery every stop of the way.
The brooding soundscapes of “Chemistry” or “Bye Bye Tokyo” could be cut straight from the pulsating Drive soundtrack, whereas the spectral presence of tracks like “Under My Skin” (a track reworked from their 2017 debut EP) or “Mary” would be right at home in the ethereal confines of the Twin Peaks’ smoky Bang Bang Bar.
Elsewhere, album centre-piece “Anthem (We Came From The Stars)” (from which the album takes its title), reaches into the realms of science-fiction with interstellar ambition. “It is where we are all from. Once there was a light. And then everything else followed.” says Woischiski.
With their dreamy cinematic pop notably cut from the same velveteen cloth as contemporaries like Chromatics or Still Corners, ‘We Came From The Stars’ often finds band expanding their sound to reveal a varied array of influences that peak from beneath the chrome-like sheen of their modus operandi.
Inspired by an unforgettable performance from the The Chemical Brothers in the south of France, the electrifying “Parallel” channels their pervasive Big Beat energy through the French Touch class of the surroundings it was written in. “Wicked Wind” pays tribute to the singular Kate Bush, its abstract lyrics and glacially-kissed melodies finding resonance with the down-tempo reflections of her ‘Sensual World’ era. Looking to the future, the serene alt.pop balladry of “In The Dark, Honey” unearths the vocal of rising Brighton-based talent Hayley Ross, who joins Woischiski in a stunning duet.
“”In The Dark, Honey” is our favourite sad song on the album.” says Woischiski. “It is hard to put in words how we feel about this song. The minute you put it on, it just catches you and leads you to an emotion inside of you, can be different for every person. The wonderful Hayley Ross collaborated on it with us. It was pure bliss to work with her.”
But like any journey, the road will always lead you home. Bringing the album to a breathtaking finale, the gospel-tinted “Autobahn Lullaby”, finds The Ghost of Helags’ compass pointing towards their newfound base in Berlin, where much of the album was finally mixed, mastered and produced by Woischiski and Ericson. While the closing track’s hymnal refrain: “And there’s a tomorrow, that I’m ready for....” may mark the end of the journey, its hushed sense of optimism sows seeds of endless possibilities and the prospect of myriad new adventures to come.
The Ghost of Helags are singer-songwriter and producer duo Teresa Woischiski and John Alexander Ericson. Hailing from Sweden and now located in Berlin, the pairing combine the dream pop sounds of their Scandinavian roots with the electronic nuances inspired by their newfound home and beyond.
"Mary" is the latest in a string of innovative and exploratory singles by the duo and swiftly follows the seductive Lynchian-inspired synth-pop of recent singles "Parallel" and "Chemistry". Other highlights of their expanding repertoire include the New Music Friday playlisted debut single "I Carry Your Heart", "Autobahn Lullaby" (a tribute to their Berlin home) and 2019’s hymnal "The Santa Rosa Song".
The band will release their debut album ‘We Came From The Stars’ on 5th March 2021.
WATCH VIDEO FOR THE GHOST OF HELAGS: ‘MARY’ HERE
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