Homeland is the first studio album in nine years, from New York based performance artist, Laurie Anderson. The album combines personal acoustic songs with the synth-powered social commentary of her 1980s heyday.
Things that really fire Anderson up are the developments in world politics, with an emphasis on American misadventures at home and abroad, the substance of ‘Homeland’ is explicitly political.
Stunning opener, Transitory Life is a Zen-like overview of 21st century human greed set to North African wind instruments. Anderson summons chamber music on, Thinking of You, and echoes classic Motown on the lyrics to Strange Perfumes.
The album’s show stopping track is the most forceful piece, Only an Expert, a chunk of pounding electro which raises a quizzical eyebrow at our trust in so-called experts: Anderson takes aim at bank bailouts, the Iraq war and climate change denial and the roaring guitar feedback from Anderson's hubby, Lou Reed.
For every blatant political turn on the album, Anderson includes an atmospheric meditation on modern existence. It's the quieter moments such as Transitory Life, backed by Tuvan throat singers and igil players that have the greatest impact.
It is not all political, though: several of the compositions are personal in tone.
Homeland, in its entirety is not so much an album as it is a poetic capturing of the still moments of a restless mind, and is true to the popular-classical crossover spirit of Laurie Anderson's best work.
Tracklisting:
1. Transitory Life
2. My Right Eye
3. Thinking of You
4. Strange Perfumes
5. Only an Expert
6. Falling
7. Another Day in America
8. Bodies in Motion
9. Dark Time in the Revolution
10. The Lake
11. The Beginning of Memory
12. Flow
Thursday, 1 July 2010
Wednesday, 30 June 2010
Break Into Music Competition
Break Into Music is a competition all about turning the “What If” into “Why Not” backed by Peter Dixon and Steve Foster who are currently producing for a number of X Factor artists, the competition is open to all budding musicians.
Teaming up with online recruitment specialists Monster.co.uk and student website Kaboosh.net the competition gives you the chance to break into the music business and win the opportunity to be managed and developed into a music sensation.
Anyone who is interested can upload their auditions online which are then voted for by the public and also guest judges from within the music industry.
Steve Foster and Peter Dixon of X Factor fame judge each act alongside Radio 1’s Drivetime DJ Scott Mills, picking an act each week who will go on to compete against each other to win the ultimate prize of a full artist development deal.
The deal includes: recording a track with hit producers, discovering and developing your unique genre/style, management and promotion, an official artist website, high quality music video along with the priceless prize of using the team’s industry contacts to ensure a record deal.
If you think you have what it takes or you want to check out the talent then head over to www.breakinto.co.uk
Teaming up with online recruitment specialists Monster.co.uk and student website Kaboosh.net the competition gives you the chance to break into the music business and win the opportunity to be managed and developed into a music sensation.
Anyone who is interested can upload their auditions online which are then voted for by the public and also guest judges from within the music industry.
Steve Foster and Peter Dixon of X Factor fame judge each act alongside Radio 1’s Drivetime DJ Scott Mills, picking an act each week who will go on to compete against each other to win the ultimate prize of a full artist development deal.
The deal includes: recording a track with hit producers, discovering and developing your unique genre/style, management and promotion, an official artist website, high quality music video along with the priceless prize of using the team’s industry contacts to ensure a record deal.
If you think you have what it takes or you want to check out the talent then head over to www.breakinto.co.uk
ALBUM REVIEW: Kele, The Boxer
With his recent guest turns on tracks by The Chemical Brothers and DJ Tiesto, It may be safe to assume that this is the album Okereke’s always wanted to make; the electronic influence is evident on The Boxer from the outset.
The opening track, Walk Tall, is a military cadence-style vocal given a hardcore throbbing synth and hand-clap drums to hide behind. On the Lam, nudges the boundaries a little more with garage beats, pulsating synths and dirty bass accompanying the high pitched vocals of Okereke.
Lead single, Tenderoni, is a slamming, melodic electronica track driven by aggressive beats and brooding body-rocking synths. Everything You Wanted marks a notable change of sound; the bleeps are a little more restrained resulting in one of the least intense electronica tracks on the album.
The Boxer is not wall-to-wall mechanical beats oscillating sequencers and Auto-Tune voices. The New Rules with its tight strings is a surprisingly dainty duet with songstress Jodie Scantlebury, which provides a delicate audio intermission between the heavy synths of the rest of the album.
All things considered, this is a persuasive solo debut, confident and innovative, a record that is ultimately an emotional mass of synth hooks that’ll go down in the world of electronic dance with ease.
Tracklisting:
1. Walk Tall
2. On The Lam
3. Tenderoni
4. The Other Side
5. Everything You Wanted
6. New Rules
7. Unholy Thoughts
8. Rise
9. All The Things I Could Never Say
10. Yesterday's Gone
Tuesday, 29 June 2010
Roundhouse launch 30/30 unsigned band search
Every day this September, 30/30 will offer 30 unsigned artists - between the ages of 16-25 - one free day of recording time in the Roundhouse’s EMI Live Music Studio, along with top guest producers to professionally record and mix their track for free.
On 13 October, the 30 lucky acts chosen by the Roundhouse team will have the opportunity to put their questions to a panel of experts from all areas of the industry - from artist management and marketing, through to publishing and A&R. 30/30 is non-genre specific and aims to attract an eclectic variety of artists.
Last year’s project was a huge success, attracting submissions from hundreds of aspiring artists, which culminated in the 30/30 Compilation Album 2009, a collection of 30 tracks featuring artists such as Ghosts You Echo, Hella Better Dancer and Ken Kobayashi, all of which have since signed recording deals.
Artists interested in 30/30 should visit www.roundhouse.org.uk/3030 to download an application form. The deadline is 16 July.
Friday, 25 June 2010
Cash Free Festivals Set To Become Reality in the UK
Music festivals that do not accept cash are set to come to the UK from next summer, reports the BBC.
Festival goers will no longer have to carry money on them, instead they will have to pay electronically for everything from food and drink to t-shirts and fairground rides.
Payments will likely be made via a wristband, which also acts as both a ticket for entry and an electronic money storage unit. Festival goers will have to pre-load the devices with money.
In the UK there have been small scale trials of the technology in the past two years.
Barclaycard, sponsors of the Wireless Festival in London, is showcasing the technology at this year's event and are said to be very hopeful that it would be entirely cash-free next year.
Festival Republic, organisers of some of the UK's largest events including Reading and Leeds festivals, trialled a cash-free event at Hove festival in Norway last year.
Managing Director, Melvin Benn said, "It was very straight forward, there was no opposition at all" he added "The reality is that we are all looking at cashless activity in the UK. It will definitely happen. It's just a matter of time."
The concept uses radio frequency identification (RFID) systems - which involve a microchip being embedded into the wristband or ticket. Festival organisers hope this will also help them avoid counterfeit tickets.
They say other benefits would include:
• Avoiding having millions of pounds of cash on festival sites, which is seen as a security risk and is expensive to transport and guard
• Improving security for festival goers - who would no longer have to carry cash around and who could freeze their account if the payment device was lost
• Cutting theft and fraud by staff working at festivals
• Making service quicker at bars, and allowing management to monitor stock levels in real-time
• Controlling entry to different parts of the festival such as backstage or VIP areas
Under the plans, money left on the card at the end of an event could be transferred back to the ticket holder's bank account.
Other options may involve allowing it to be used after the festival, for example towards buying a CD, or using at another event run by the same promoter.
Festival goers will no longer have to carry money on them, instead they will have to pay electronically for everything from food and drink to t-shirts and fairground rides.
Payments will likely be made via a wristband, which also acts as both a ticket for entry and an electronic money storage unit. Festival goers will have to pre-load the devices with money.
In the UK there have been small scale trials of the technology in the past two years.
Barclaycard, sponsors of the Wireless Festival in London, is showcasing the technology at this year's event and are said to be very hopeful that it would be entirely cash-free next year.
Festival Republic, organisers of some of the UK's largest events including Reading and Leeds festivals, trialled a cash-free event at Hove festival in Norway last year.
Managing Director, Melvin Benn said, "It was very straight forward, there was no opposition at all" he added "The reality is that we are all looking at cashless activity in the UK. It will definitely happen. It's just a matter of time."
The concept uses radio frequency identification (RFID) systems - which involve a microchip being embedded into the wristband or ticket. Festival organisers hope this will also help them avoid counterfeit tickets.
They say other benefits would include:
• Avoiding having millions of pounds of cash on festival sites, which is seen as a security risk and is expensive to transport and guard
• Improving security for festival goers - who would no longer have to carry cash around and who could freeze their account if the payment device was lost
• Cutting theft and fraud by staff working at festivals
• Making service quicker at bars, and allowing management to monitor stock levels in real-time
• Controlling entry to different parts of the festival such as backstage or VIP areas
Under the plans, money left on the card at the end of an event could be transferred back to the ticket holder's bank account.
Other options may involve allowing it to be used after the festival, for example towards buying a CD, or using at another event run by the same promoter.
Thursday, 24 June 2010
BBC Introducing Stage Line Up Announced for T in the Park
Having made its debut last year, the stage returns to the festival on Saturday 10 and Sunday 11 July, showcasing 22 up and coming artists from around the UK including four from Scotland, at the Balado, Kinross-shire
Jason Carter, Editor, BBC Introducing, says: "We are delighted to be hosting a BBC Introducing stage for a second year at T in the Park. Not only does it provide new musicians with the fantastic opportunity to play at one of the UK's major festivals, it also offers them wider exposure across multiple BBC platforms."
The BBC Introducing Stage line-up for T in the Park is:
Saturday 10 July:
Lou Hickey
JKLMNO
Gold Sounds
Cattle and Cane
Admiral Fallow
Lily McKenzie
Hip Parade
Real Dolls
Airship
Young Fathers
Sunday 11 July:
North Atlantic Oscillation
Fixers
Jake Flowers
The Arcadian Kicks
Liam Bailey
Profisee
Smiler
Silver Columns
Blitz Kidz
Arp Attack
Ariel
For further information on the artists, please go to: www.bbc.co.uk/introducing
Wednesday, 23 June 2010
BPI targets Google for linking to illegal downloads
Britain's biggest recording industry association, the British Phonographic Industry (BPI), has sent a cease-and-desist order to internet search giant Google asking them to remove links of illegal downloads that can be accessed through its search engine.
The letter focused on nine "one-click hosting" websites that contain copyrighted music. While Google does not operate any of the infringing websites, search queries lead users to illegal downloads at sites such as SendSpace and UserShare.
The BPI's complaint cites as many as 38 links "that are available via Google's search engine, and [requests these] links be removed as soon a possible as they directly link to sound recordings owned by [BPI] members".
The BPI noted 18 examples of such infringements, including tracks by Dizzee Rascal, Lady Gaga, Justin Bieber and Eminem. That is then followed by a list of search queries, URLs and websites where the material is hosted.
BPI said Google is usually willingly to remove links to copyrighted content. Speaking on the topic, a spokesperson for BPI said, "In most cases, Google takes down the links in question, following its own internal procedures."
Although this is true of services like Blogger, where Google has deleted several music blogs, it’s unclear whether it has the same policies with its search index.
The letter focused on nine "one-click hosting" websites that contain copyrighted music. While Google does not operate any of the infringing websites, search queries lead users to illegal downloads at sites such as SendSpace and UserShare.
The BPI's complaint cites as many as 38 links "that are available via Google's search engine, and [requests these] links be removed as soon a possible as they directly link to sound recordings owned by [BPI] members".
The BPI noted 18 examples of such infringements, including tracks by Dizzee Rascal, Lady Gaga, Justin Bieber and Eminem. That is then followed by a list of search queries, URLs and websites where the material is hosted.
BPI said Google is usually willingly to remove links to copyrighted content. Speaking on the topic, a spokesperson for BPI said, "In most cases, Google takes down the links in question, following its own internal procedures."
Although this is true of services like Blogger, where Google has deleted several music blogs, it’s unclear whether it has the same policies with its search index.
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