DAN BLACK/Un: Available NOW!

DAN BLACK

UN

Available NOW!

U.S. pressing includes three bonus tracks! Debut release from the Paris-based Englishman. Un melds the musical attributes of Paul's Boutique, Hatful Of Hollow and Supa Dupa Fly with a lost 80's sci-fi soundtrack and is nothing short of brilliant. Tantalizing and stimulating eardrums, Dan Black has been hailed as Pop's bright new hope by everyone from Zane Lowe to Perez Hilton and was a regular feature in the 2009 One To Watch polls. Now Black has updated and fleshed out his blogospherically massive Notorious BIG tribute 'Hypntz' into the fully fledged Space Pop anthem 'Symphonies'. Fusing the ubiquitous beat from Rihanna's 'Umbrella' with heavily chopped-up samples from the film soundtrack of John Carpenter's Starman, this is a perfect, effortlessly joyous marriage of laptop hip hop with tip top Hip Pop.

“Symphonies” is breaking at Alternative #28 on KROQ Los Angeles, CA, XTRA San Diego,CA, KITS San Francisco, CA, WEQX Albany, NY, WZBD Spokane, WA 

NEW ADDS: WWCD Columbus, OH, WARQ Columbia, SC 

“Symphonies” remix featuring Kid Cudi 

LA and SF tour this month, Playing Day 1 of Ultra Music Festival In Miami, FL on March 26th

ROBIN GUTHRIE/Sunflower Stories EP: Available March 15th, 2010!

Robin Guthrie

Sunflower Stories

CD EP

3.15.10

Sunflower Stories is third in a series of recent EPs from master soundscaper Robin Guthrie following Songs To Help My Children Sleep, released October '09 and Angel Falls, released August '09.

We have a few words to describe these songs – uplifting, summery, opulent, dreamlike, exquisite, moving – with Guthrie quietly coaxing beauty out of layers of echoes and always inventive soundscaping.

Given the quality of the recent album and two EPs, it's not surprising that as a guitarist and producer, Guthrie has been a massive influence on everyone from My Bloody Valentine through to Antony and the Johnsons, new 4 A.D. Act The Big Pink and M83.

In recent years he's worked with School Of Seven Bells, John Foxx (Ulrich Schnauss, Harold Budd and shared a stage with Kevin Shields (My Bloody Valentine). Most people know about his work in the Cocteau Twins, but he's also produced Ian McCulloch, Edwyn Collins and Felt, as well as defining the now vogue-ishly fashionable early '90s shoegazing scene with his productions for the likes of Lush and Chapterhouse.

"…almost defies gravity with totally compelling arrangement and more hooks than a fisherman’s tackle box." – Record Collector.

Tracks:

1. Horse Heaven

2. Petals

3. Slightly Out Of Focus

4. Sunflower Stories 

PETER GABRIEL: The legend returns with Scratch My Back on March 2nd, 2010.

Peter Gabriel

Releases Scratch My Back Album Project

on March 2,  2010 via EMI Label Services in the US

* Album features interpretations of songs originally recorded by Radiohead, David Bowie, Neil Young, Arcade Fire, Lou Reed, Talking Heads, Bon Iver and more.

* Exclusive 7” AA Vinyl Release To Be Available at Indie Retail as Part of Record Store Day on April 17^th

* 3 more Digital Double A side singles announced from Peter Gabriel and respectively Paul Simon, Bon Iver and  Lou Reed to be released every Full Moon through iTunes

* Real World announces Scratch my Back Remix contest for four Peter Gabriel tracks in 2010. The four winning entries will be honoured by being released commercially

New York, NY: 17^th February 2010:  Peter Gabriel will release his Scratch My Back album project on March 2, 2010 via EMI Label Services in the US.  The album is the first part of a series of song exchanges in which Gabriel and other leading artists reinterpret each other’s songs.  

“We’ve had a long association with Peter Gabriel throughout his career at EMI and we are very excited to be releasing this amazing album in the US market,” Dominic Pandiscia, SVP and GM of EMI Label Services and Caroline Distribution.  “We’re honored to work with an artist who has proven time and again that he is a musical innovator and a massively creative force.”

In addition, EMI Label Services will make an exclusive 7” AA vinyl release available at independent retailers to celebrate Record Store Day in the US on April 17^th.  The 7” features Peter Gabriel’s “The Book of Love” and “Not One of Us”; a track written by Gabriel and performed by Stephin Merritt of The Magnetic Fields.

  

Full Moon Club Double A Singles announced for February, March & April.

To coincide with the arrival of every full moon in 2010, each month a digital double A-side single will be unleashed, neatly pairing one of the songs from Scratch My Back with the reciprocal Gabriel track recorded by that particular songwriter.

“I have always been fascinated with the craft and the process of putting together a good song.  I always wanted to do an album of other people’s songs, but rather than do a traditional cover record I though it would be much more interesting to have a song exchange project in which I would ask some of my favourite writers if they would swap songs ‘ Peter Gabriel

The Boy In The Bubble / Biko – February 28

While Peter empties Paul Simon’s original of all its elasticity and bounce, exposing its heart-melting lyrics, the New Yorker returns the favour by refreshing Peter’s tribute to the late anti-apartheid activist, opting to be backed by the rolling sound of a 12-string guitar. While Biko might be an obvious choice for the Graceland guy, his distinctive voice – simultaneously commanding yet youthful – is the perfect messenger for a song calling for empathy and justice.

Flume / Come Talk To Me – March 30

A double A-side to savour, as Peter’s epic take on Bon Iver’s Flume is paired with the enigmatically monikered Wisconsin singer-songwriter’s interpretation of Come Talk To Me from 1992’s Us. They’re both astonishing, the latter initially wearing the light shades of bluegrass and calypso before building into something akin to gospel as it supplies seven minutes of deep spirituality.

The Power Of The Heart / Solsbury Hill – April 28

On which both interpreters stay true to the open-eared principles of Scratch My Back. Peter’s take on Lou Reed’s The Power Of The Heart offers up a characteristically open vocal performance, while Lou defiantly applies the snarling, street-savvy sound of New York City to that iconic West Country protuberance. “It’s crazy,” explains Peter’s engineer Richard Chappell, “as bold a cover as I've ever heard.”

The first full moon of 2010 has already released the project’s first double A-side – the pairing of Peter’s euphoric take on The Magnetic Fields’ The Book Of Love and the reciprocal retread given by Stephin Merritt’s indie-pop collective to Not One Of Us.

Real World takes the theme of artist collaboration to next level with the Real World Remixed Contest

Peter Gabriel’s “Not One Of Us” is the first release available through Real World Remixed, an initiative that chimes perfectly with Scratch My Back’s themes of exchange and collaboration. This allows remixers to  reassemble and re-interpret some of Peter Gabriel’s core repertoire in whatever shape or form their imaginations allow. Having downloaded sample packs, remixers employ the technology and techniques of their choice and are then invited to upload their creations on the Real World Remixed site to be evaluated by fellow members.

“Peter is always up for hearing other peoples’ ways of doing music,” explains Richard Chappell, “it’s what keeps him going. He’s never precious about keeping it going in one way. He enjoys chaos and gets off on how one person’s idea can trigger another’s – a kind of musical pass-the-parcel.”

Over the course of 2010, four of Peter’s songs will be made available through Real World Remixed. The best remix of each track, as judged by Peter, will have the honour of then being commercially released – and to the remixer, a share of the royalties.

Full details at www.realworldremixed.com

About Peter Gabriel:

Peter Gabriel first came to international prominence with the success of Genesis, a band that he co-founded while still at school. Since leaving Genesis in 1975, his recording career has included seven studio albums, film soundtracks for ‘Birdy’, ‘The Last Temptation of Christ’ and ‘Rabbit Proof Fence’ as well as live and compilation albums. His wider musical career has included multiple Grammy Awards and the creation of the now global WOMAD festival.

Peter Gabriel co-founded the human rights organization Witness.org in 1989 and in 2007 the Elders.org was launched by Nelson Mandela, which was founded by Peter Gabriel and Sir Richard Branson.  In 2006, Peter Gabriel was awarded the prestigious Man of Peace title by The Nobel Peace Laureates. He has also engaged in a wide variety of tech-based businesses throughout a variety of creative industries.

For more information please visit www.petergabriel.com.

Scratch My Back Album Track Listing:

1.      Heroes

2.      The Boy In The Bubble

3.      Mirrorball

4.      Flume

5.      Listening Wind

6.      The Power Of The Heart

7.      My Body Is A Cage

8.      The Book Of Love

9.      I Think It’s Going To Rain Today

10. Apres Moi

11. Philadelphia

12. Street Spirit (Fade Out)

WHITESNAKE sign with FRONTIERS RECORDS!!

Frontiers Records & WHITESNAKE Join Forces

FRONTIERS RECORDS SIGNS THE LEGENDARY BAND FOR NEW ALBUM WORLD-WIDE

NAPOLI, ITALY (February 19, 2010) - Frontiers Records is very proud to announce the signing of legendary rock band WHITESNAKE.

David Coverdale and band are gearing up for their latest endeavour. WHITESNAKE has already started composing new material that promises to deliver one of the finest chapters in WHITESNAKE'S career. “We are off to a very good start, with the new songs taking positive shape. It feels good, fresh & exciting,” explains Coverdale.

The next release already feels like a solid, natural progression to their last opus, the successful, critically acclaimed ‘Good To Be Bad’ album, awarded by the influential Classic Rock magazine as “Best Album of the Year” in 2008. “As always, we want to take it to the next level,” states’ Coverdale. “I feel that with the last album we achieved a strong WHITESNAKE ‘cocktail’ that comfortably embraced & mixed all the previous musical aspects & styles of the band’s history, while taking our identity a little further... all on one album..."

Born in 1977, WHITESNAKE have been among the most influential representatives of the their genre, having produced numerous rock music classics such as ‘Here I Go Again’, ‘Is This Love’, ‘Still Of The Night’, ‘Fool For Your Loving’, ‘Ain’t No Love In The Heart Of The City’ or ‘Walking In The Shadows Of The Blues’.

Coverdale said the production team for the new album will most likely be the infamous Brutal Brothers, or Los Bros Brutalos, who handled the recording of "Good To Be Bad”. “The new songs are in the very familiar and recognizable WHITESNAKE territory of soulful, bluesy, melodic power rock, with a couple of ballads thrown in for good measure... It can’t be a WHITESNAKE album without ballads, mate!”

WHITESNAKE have conquered the love and respect of the audiences all over the world with their driving shows and music. The new album promises to follow in the steps of a great heritage of solid and timeless songs.

For more information, please visit http://www.whitesnake.com/ and www.frontiers.it

JOHN FOXX/My Lost City available March 1st, 2010

John Foxx 

My Lost City

3/1/2010

Most of the material on the album was recorded at Foxx's Shoreditch studio, The Garden, between 1981 – 1985. "I hadn’t listened to the recordings that are being released as the My Lost City album since they were made, over twenty years ago,' says Foxx. 'When I played them I was struck by the way they evoke a time and a place - and how I’d been unaware of this when they were made. Then they seemed like fragments, unfinished and unsatisfying. A stop on the way to somewhere else."

"Now they seem like a time capsule discovered from under the streets. Made by someone else. Like an old radio tuned into a long gone station. Curious psychic electricals, crackling distantly from the speakers."

"They were recorded in East London. Back then, Shoreditch and Spitalfields were abandoned, dark and forgotten, yet only a step away from the City of London, the country’s financial dynamo. I built a studio in the basement of an old Edwardian department store – trees growing from the upper storeys when we moved in. I remember trying to make connections in this little laboratory between synthesizers and hymns and cities, churches, electricity and memory."

For two decades the material remained untouched; just some old, forgotten tapes buried away in storage until they were rescued in late 2008. Apart from some minor remixing, they're essentially the sound of analogue synthesizers and a lost era when the area around the now bustling, brutally hip and ultra-expensive Hoxton Square was still an abandoned, deserted area of London. A kind of industrial ghost-town.

In recent years, John Foxx has been experimenting as a film-maker (including a pioneering video for L.F.O. and recent performances of his Super 8 project Tiny Colour Movies in Melbourne, London and Barcelona), artist (exhibitions in London and New York and his images have been used on the covers of books by Anthony Burgess and Salman Rushdie) and musician and he's now developing a growing international reputation as a writer – last year he headlined a major literature festival where he reads extracts from his as yet unfinished novel The Quiet Man. He is currently working on new material with Paul Daley (Leftfield) and Benge.

Tracklisting:

 

1 Imperfect Hymn

2 Holywell Lane

3 Magnetic Fields

4 Just Passing Through

5 Barbican Brakhage

6 Hidden Assembly

7 Hawksmoor Orbital

8 Piranesi Motorcade

9 City Of Disappearances

10 Umbra Sumus

11 Scene 27 - Intro To The Voice Behind The Wallpaper, Trellick Tower 3am

RIGHT SAID FRED/Hits CD review

RIGHT SAID FRED/Hits

It is no secret that I absolutely LOVE Right Said Fred.  In fact, when the brotherly duo of Richard and Fred Fairbrass released their last studio album, I'm A Celebrity, I did an in-depth interview with them that remains my proudest moment here on the blog. (You can read Part One HERE. Part Two is HERE. Part Three can be found HERE). Top blokes, those two!

So, a year later, Right Said Fred release Hits, an album so chock full of goodness that it makes the perfect introduction to those who may have missed these tracks the first time around but also serves as a reminder to fans on how just great RSF are.  Fans will also dig the opportunity to find two brand new songs that are unavailable elsewhere (more on those later). 

So, unless you are European, you may only know the duo from their massive hit "I'm Too Sexy".  Yes, it's extremely infectious and is adored by millions of earthlings of all ages, from kids to grandparents. But most folks think of it as a novelty tune, and it kind of is (no disrespect to the Fairbrass Bros!).  Thing is, that tune sounds NOTHING like the rest of their repertoire!

There's a difference between dance music artists with a catchy Pop tune and Pop artists with a great tune that you can dance to.  Right Said Fred fall into the latter category.  Take away the dance beats and you've still got a great song. In fact, their CD singles have contained acoustic versions of the A-sides which have revealed a pair of tunesmiths that know their way around a good melody.

The easiest comparison is Pet Shop Boys, except RSF are a lot less pretentious and create music that they clearly enjoy playing. Pet Shop Boys, as good as they are, often sound bored. But not RSF! They seem to be having the time of their lives. Plus, with Fred being a guitarist, there is a lot more acoustic and electric guitar floating around on their albums than Pet Shop Boys.

While this Hits collection features practically all of their A-sides (and unfortunately includes nothing from I'm A Celebrity), non-fans are missing out on great album tracks.  But enough about that...

Hits is fantastic. Period. It's the bee's knees. It's music for the heart, soul and feet.  It's the perfect gift for Christmas, birthdays, Valentine's Day, Easter, Mother's Day, President's Day and any other damn day of the year!  If you love songs that you can sing along to, dance to and shout from the rooftops, then Hits is for you!

While there are plenty of great moments here, some do sound a bit different (ie: remix but not re-recorded). I'll have to check with the Freds on that one.  I'm a shameless fan and own all the singles, but the album versions are what I'm more familiar with.  So, that's even more reason for y'all to run out to get it!

Now, in regards to the two new tunes: I initially didn't like "Sexy Bum" and felt it was kind of a step back for the boys, but I've grown to enjoy it.  Very catchy, fun and tongue-in-cheek (er... pun intended?).  On the other hand, "Right On The Kisser" is a fab tune that hits a home-run on first listen!  It's more in the vein of their finest moments like "Stand Up (For The Champions)", "Melanie" and "We Are The Freds".  It should be a massive hit. 

So, go buy this sexy little disc and play the hell out of it!  Drop your "I'm Too Sexy"-based bias and have some fun!

You're welcome,
Stephen SPAZ Schnee

A taste of some of the best new AOR and Melodic Rock releases! PART ONE

Who woulda thunk it?  Me, the Power Pop, New Wave, Punk and Synth Pop fanatic, falling head over heals for the recent wave of AOR and Melodic Rock releases!!

I have know idea why I've fallen into this style of music that I purposely stayed away from during it's heyday some 25 years ago, but I love the new music that is being made.  I'm a sucker for a good melody, whether it's The Jam, Neil Diamond, Badfinger, Glen Campbell, Buzzcocks, Michael Jackson, Journey or whoever strikes my fancy at the moment. But lately, I've been exposed to a lot of cool stuff on the Frontiers label and beyond and I'm totally digging it!

So, here's a quick look (and listen) at some of my recommended faves: 

STEEL PANTHER/Feel The Steel

Yes, they are a parody of the hair bands from the '80s, but they are great at what they do.

SPIN GALLERY/Embrace

More Yes and Prog-influenced than other bands here, Spin Gallery have great tunes and vocal harmonies galore.

HARDLINE/Leaving The End Open

Though Neil Schon is long gone, Hardline are back with a modern melodic rock masterpiece. No posing here, just great tunes...

ON THE RISE/Dream Zone

Straight-forward melodic rock with emphasis on guitars and melodies but great use of keyboards as well.

FOREIGNER/Can't Slow Down

OK, so Lou Gramm is out and Kelly Hanson has taken over as lead vocalist, but I'll be damned if this isn't one of the band's finest albums!  Great from start to finish and plenty of top-notch material to add to their already impressive catalog!

You're welcome!
Stephen SPAZ Schnee

SYNTHcerely Yours! Great Synthpop reissues reviewed!

Sometimes, it's difficult to understand why some talented bands missed out on Pop stardom while lesser artists caught the imagination of the general public and scaled the charts.  I'm sure we all have bands from every genre that we can name who fall into this category. I've listed three bands below that really deserved far more recognition than they received but it was not to be. Thankfully, there is still interest out there and Cherry Red has listened to the requests of many music fans and are making these titles available in the digital format with plenty of bonus material!

THE MOOD/The Singles Collection

It's frustrating when a band with so much potential doesn't even get a chance to release an album during their time on a major label!  British Synthpopsters THE MOOD are one of those bands. While not as Funk-Rock oriented as Duran Duran and Spandau Ballet, the trio were classified as New Romantic alongside the aforementioned bands and others like Classix Nouveaux. In reality, they were a great Synthpop band, plain and simple.  They had a slew of top tunes that were perfect for radio play as well as the dancefloor.  

In the UK, they released a handful of singles between 1981 and 1984 that seemed to be leading up to an album.  Unfortunately, the closest they ever got was a 1983 mini-album released in the U.S. that contained key tracks from their singles plus their finest moment, "Don't Let Me Down" (never released outside of this EP). One more single after that mini-album and it was all over for the band.  What a shame, though. I would have loved to have heard so much more, especially since their final single, "I Don't Need Your Love Now", was their finest A-side.

The Singles Collection combines the A and B sides of all of their singles and EP tracks plus a few 12" mixes to boot.  If you are a fan of Japan, Ultravox, early Depeche Mode, Blancmange and other like-minded bands, don't hesitate to check them out!

RED BOX/The Circle & The Square

While not strictly a Synthpop band, Red Box fall into this category because they are adored by Synth fans and Pop fans alike. The Circle & The Square was the duo's debut album, originally released in 1986.  Mixing Synths, acoustic guitars and a distinct World Music flair, this album was worlds away from their '80s Pop contemporaries, landing firmly in Peter Gabriel/Kate Bush territory.

On the surface, it was as infectious as anything on the charts, but the album was smart without being 'clever', sweet without being saccharine and commercial without being disposable.  It was unlike anything else at the time and the music scene wouldn't catch up for at least another five years.  There's great melodies, choirs, creative arrangements and worldly percussion running through the entire album. 

Though the band did have a few hits in the UK, they really should have been embraced by far more than just chart followers and Top Of The Pops viewers.  The Gabriel/Bush comparison is apt, as this is really music that was far more advanced than the band were given credit for.  Perhaps people just didn't understand them at the time, but thankfully, Cherry Red's Cherry Pop offshoot has reissued the album on CD, adding six bonus tracks in the process.

This is an album that is as fresh and delightful 25 years later as it was back when it was first released.  It still gives me friggin' chills even though I've heard it hundreds of times over the years. If you haven't heard it, prepare yourself for a Pop adventure!

FRAZIER CHORUS/Sue

While late to the Synthpop party, Frazier Chorus' 1989 debut album was a fantastic collection of Electronic Pop that may have been too late to compete with the brilliantly coiffed early '80s Synth brigade, but they made it up with great tunes, Synths, honest to goodness real clarinets, oboes and flutes, a keen sense of humor and leader Tim Freeman's whispered vocals. While the rest of the UK were gearing up for the whole Baggy/Manchester scene, Frazier Chorus were creating Pop gems that defied categorization yet were zesty enough to be huge hits.

They did release an earlier single on the 4AD label, but by the time Sue was released, the band were a full-fledged Pop quartet with the potential to be a worldwide success.  They did achieve some success, but the fickle public were too high on Ecstasy to notice that a great band was in their midst.

Imagine The Dream Academy with a sense of mischief and keyboards instead of gently strummed acoustic guitars. Then add a bit of Morrissey's dry humor (minus the pretentiousness) and you're only half-way to understanding just how fine Frazier Chorus really were.  There are moments here that are astounding as well as outstanding.  

Cherry Red's CD reissue adds eight bonus tracks including their brilliant cover of "Anarchy In The UK", some more b-sides and three extended mixes.  Stunning.

You're welcome!
Stephen SPAZ Schnee

SONG OF THE DAY: THE MOOD/"Don't Let Me Down"

THE MOOD/"Don't Let Me Down"

From

The Singles Collection