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Moonrise Kingdom

More left-field genius from Wes Anderson: now with added Bruce Willis... Wes Anderson’s movies take place in their own weird, dysfunctional environments, slightly distanced from the modern world. A prep school, for instance, or a New York brownstone mansion, a submarine a luxury train car rattling across India or an entire landscape conjured up from felt and fabric. For Moonrise Kingdom, Anderson creates an entire island – New Penzance – a semi-rural habitat with no paved roads, connected to mainland America only by a ferry that runs “twice a day from Stone Cove”. The events in Moonrise Kingdom take place on New Penzance in September, 1965 – but apart from a handful of references to Francois Hardy, there’s little acknowledgment that the modern world exists beyond its shores. It may as well be 1955, or even 1945; the Sixties have clearly swung by elsewhere. This is the kind of distinct, secret universe featured in the fantasy novels cherished by one of the film’s main characters. At first, Anderson’s New Penzance seems an entirely wholesome, apple pie version of America. The island’s spacious and elegant houses have names like Summer’s End. Law and order is maintained by a kindly sheriff, a scout master fastidiously drills his troops at camp. Families gather at the local church to enjoy an amateur production of Benjamin Britten’s opera Noye’s Fludde. Then – “Jiminy Cricket! He flew the coop!” – Scout Master Ward discovers one of his Khaki Scouts of North America is missing. It seems, too, that there has been another disappearance – that of a 12 year-old girl. Child actors are of a particularly high standard these days – anyone who’s been watching Game Of Thrones will have spotted that the excellent work done by Maisie Williams and Isaac Hempstead-Wright as Arya and Bran Stark, is every bit the equal of their professional elders. Certainly, some of the best scenes in Moonrise Kingdom are those that focus on the two missing children – Sam (Jared Gillman) and Suzy (Kara Hayward). Sam has “exceptional wilderness skills” and he leads Suzy across New Penzance’s ‘old Chickchaw harvest migration trail’ towards map reference Mile 3.25 Tidal Inlet, a cove that becomes their own secret, magical Moonrise Kingdom. Here is another recurring Anderson theme – dysfunctional families. We learn that Sam and Suzy have their own set of domestic dramas. He is an orphan, while her parents read books with titles like Coping With A Very Troubled Child. Together, Sam and Suzy dance together to Francois Hardy on the beach at sunset and declare their love for one another. Despite Anderson’s usual arch manner, this childhood reverie is persuasive and heartfelt. Meanwhile, the grown-ups fall apart as the crisis surrounding the missing children grows – cracks in the marriage of Suzy’s parents, played by Bill Murray and Frances McDormand, become more pronounced. Ed Norton’s Scout Master Ward is stripped of his rank. Intending to take Sam into care, Social Services’ Tilda Swinton arrives from the mainland – a mutual foe the adults rally against. With such a high profile adult cast – throw in extended cameos from Harvey Keitel and Jason Schwartzman and Bob Balaban as the film’s narrator – it’s perhaps inevitable some of them feel underused. McDormand, particularly, doesn’t really get to do much apart from shout into a megaphone. Norton is great as the well-intentioned but slightly pompous scout master, just about retaining his dignity as he purposefully strides round New Penzance with his socks yanked up to his knees. Bill Murray is predictably brilliant playing Bill Murray. Bruce Willis, as Captain Sharp, the island’s police officer, might just be the best thing in the film – with his horn-rimmed glasses and bald patch, he’s a lonely, disheartened figure in late middle age living alone in a caravan. It’s a great piece of against-type casting, though come the film’s climax it’s Willis who gets the action hero moment. As you’d expect, Moonrise Kingdom looks fantastic: the colour palette and composition of every shot is exquisite. The opening sequence, inside Suzy’s home, is one of Anderson’s best, the camera tracking round the rooms, pulling back through doorways, swooping down through windows. It’s another sealed-off world-within-a-world for Anderson to play around in. MICHAEL BONNER

More left-field genius from Wes Anderson: now with added Bruce Willis…

Wes Anderson’s movies take place in their own weird, dysfunctional environments, slightly distanced from the modern world. A prep school, for instance, or a New York brownstone mansion, a submarine a luxury train car rattling across India or an entire landscape conjured up from felt and fabric. For Moonrise Kingdom, Anderson creates an entire island – New Penzance – a semi-rural habitat with no paved roads, connected to mainland America only by a ferry that runs “twice a day from Stone Cove”.

The events in Moonrise Kingdom take place on New Penzance in September, 1965 – but apart from a handful of references to Francois Hardy, there’s little acknowledgment that the modern world exists beyond its shores. It may as well be 1955, or even 1945; the Sixties have clearly swung by elsewhere. This is the kind of distinct, secret universe featured in the fantasy novels cherished by one of the film’s main characters.

At first, Anderson’s New Penzance seems an entirely wholesome, apple pie version of America. The island’s spacious and elegant houses have names like Summer’s End. Law and order is maintained by a kindly sheriff, a scout master fastidiously drills his troops at camp. Families gather at the local church to enjoy an amateur production of Benjamin Britten’s opera Noye’s Fludde. Then – “Jiminy Cricket! He flew the coop!” – Scout Master Ward discovers one of his Khaki Scouts of North America is missing. It seems, too, that there has been another disappearance – that of a 12 year-old girl.

Child actors are of a particularly high standard these days – anyone who’s been watching Game Of Thrones will have spotted that the excellent work done by Maisie Williams and Isaac Hempstead-Wright as Arya and Bran Stark, is every bit the equal of their professional elders. Certainly, some of the best scenes in Moonrise Kingdom are those that focus on the two missing children – Sam (Jared Gillman) and Suzy (Kara Hayward). Sam has “exceptional wilderness skills” and he leads Suzy across New Penzance’s ‘old Chickchaw harvest migration trail’ towards map reference Mile 3.25 Tidal Inlet, a cove that becomes their own secret, magical Moonrise Kingdom.

Here is another recurring Anderson theme – dysfunctional families. We learn that Sam and Suzy have their own set of domestic dramas. He is an orphan, while her parents read books with titles like Coping With A Very Troubled Child. Together, Sam and Suzy dance together to Francois Hardy on the beach at sunset and declare their love for one another.

Despite Anderson’s usual arch manner, this childhood reverie is persuasive and heartfelt. Meanwhile, the grown-ups fall apart as the crisis surrounding the missing children grows – cracks in the marriage of Suzy’s parents, played by Bill Murray and Frances McDormand, become more pronounced. Ed Norton’s Scout Master Ward is stripped of his rank. Intending to take Sam into care, Social Services’ Tilda Swinton arrives from the mainland – a mutual foe the adults rally against.

With such a high profile adult cast – throw in extended cameos from Harvey Keitel and Jason Schwartzman and Bob Balaban as the film’s narrator – it’s perhaps inevitable some of them feel underused. McDormand, particularly, doesn’t really get to do much apart from shout into a megaphone. Norton is great as the well-intentioned but slightly pompous scout master, just about retaining his dignity as he purposefully strides round New Penzance with his socks yanked up to his knees. Bill Murray is predictably brilliant playing Bill Murray.

Bruce Willis, as Captain Sharp, the island’s police officer, might just be the best thing in the film – with his horn-rimmed glasses and bald patch, he’s a lonely, disheartened figure in late middle age living alone in a caravan. It’s a great piece of against-type casting, though come the film’s climax it’s Willis who gets the action hero moment.

As you’d expect, Moonrise Kingdom looks fantastic: the colour palette and composition of every shot is exquisite. The opening sequence, inside Suzy’s home, is one of Anderson’s best, the camera tracking round the rooms, pulling back through doorways, swooping down through windows. It’s another sealed-off world-within-a-world for Anderson to play around in.

MICHAEL BONNER

Damon Albarn to perform at poetry festival

Tom Goodwyn
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0
Damon Albarn to perform at poetry festival

Damon Albarn is set to perform at a poetry festival in London next month. It is not yet clear what Albarn will perform at the event, which is organised by poet Michael Horovitz and will take place at the Queen Elzabeth Hall next month. "Damon's lyrics represent decent poetry, and he’s becoming more poetic all the time," Horowitz tells The Telegraph. "He is very well read and likes poetry, including mine." Blur worked with Horovitz on a spoken word track calling for the reinstatement of the Notting Hill Carnival last year, which was ultimately scrapped when the annual street party was given the green light. Poetry is the latest change in direction from Albarn, who earlier this month (May 7) released a studio album of material composed for his opera Dr Dee. This week NME revealed that Albarn had halted work on new Blur material. Producer William Orbit, who worked on the reunited Britpop band's 1999 album '13', told NME that the four-piece had been recording new material, but that the sessions were stopped "suddenly" three weeks ago. "The new stuff sounded amazing," he says in this week's NME. "Then it all stopped suddenly. It was all over with Damon, and the rest of the band were like, 'Is this it?'". Orbit had previously hinted that he was recording with the band in a series of tweets. Back in January, he wrote: "I just found out that she [Diawara] has done tracks with Damon A, who I’m in the studio with from Wednesday!" He later added to the band's guitarist Graham Coxon: ‘Loving the guitars you laid down! Vocal session March 3!’, suggesting that the sessions were with Blur and not one of Albarn's many side-projects. However, another tweet later suggested the work may have stalled. Replying to a tweet from one fan who asked for Blur news in March, Orbit replied: "Blur could have been good. But Damon, brilliant and talented tho he is, is kinda a shit to the rest of Blur." Last month, Albarn denied he was finished with Blur after earlier suggesting that their huge Hyde Park reunion gig to coincide with the close of this summer's Olympics in August would be their final show. The band are due to warm up for the show with a short tour taking in dates in Margate, Wolverhampton and Plymouth, along with headlining Sweden's Way Out West in the same month.

Damon Albarn is set to perform at a poetry festival in London next month.

It is not yet clear what Albarn will perform at the event, which is organised by poet Michael Horovitz and will take place at the Queen Elzabeth Hall next month.

“Damon’s lyrics represent decent poetry, and he’s becoming more poetic all the time,” Horowitz tells The Telegraph. “He is very well read and likes poetry, including mine.”

Blur worked with Horovitz on a spoken word track calling for the reinstatement of the Notting Hill Carnival last year, which was ultimately scrapped when the annual street party was given the green light. Poetry is the latest change in direction from Albarn, who earlier this month (May 7) released a studio album of material composed for his opera Dr Dee.

This week NME revealed that Albarn had halted work on new Blur material. Producer William Orbit, who worked on the reunited Britpop band’s 1999 album ’13’, told NME that the four-piece had been recording new material, but that the sessions were stopped “suddenly” three weeks ago.

“The new stuff sounded amazing,” he says in this week’s NME. “Then it all stopped suddenly. It was all over with Damon, and the rest of the band were like, ‘Is this it?'”.

Orbit had previously hinted that he was recording with the band in a series of tweets. Back in January, he wrote: “I just found out that she [Diawara] has done tracks with Damon A, who I’m in the studio with from Wednesday!” He later added to the band’s guitarist Graham Coxon: ‘Loving the guitars you laid down! Vocal session March 3!’, suggesting that the sessions were with Blur and not one of Albarn’s many side-projects.

However, another tweet later suggested the work may have stalled. Replying to a tweet from one fan who asked for Blur news in March, Orbit replied: “Blur could have been good. But Damon, brilliant and talented tho he is, is kinda a shit to the rest of Blur.”

Last month, Albarn denied he was finished with Blur after earlier suggesting that their huge Hyde Park reunion gig to coincide with the close of this summer’s Olympics in August would be their final show.

The band are due to warm up for the show with a short tour taking in dates in Margate, Wolverhampton and Plymouth, along with headlining Sweden’s Way Out West in the same month.

Private funeral held for Donna Summer in Nashville

Tom Goodwyn
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0
Private funeral held for Donna Summer in Nashville

A private funeral for singer Donna Summer was held yesterday (May 23) in Nashville, Tennessee. The disco singer, who died on May 17 at the age of 63, was laid to rest at Christ Presbyterian Church, in the city where she had lived since 1995. Among the hundreds of mourners were producer and close friend David Foster, who also performed a rendition of 'The Prayer' with singer Natalie Grant. Summer's sisters also took part in a special tribute, with Linda Gaines Lotman, Mary Ellen Bernard, Dara Bernard and Jenette Yancey also performing the gospel song 'We've Come This Far By Faith'. Producer Giorgio Moroder also attended, as did the singer's brother Ricky Gaines, who spoke at the service along with several of Summer's girlfriends. The singer is survived by her husband, singer and producer Bruce Sudano, their daughters, Brooklyn and Amanda, and Summer’s daughter, Mimi, from a previous marriage. Summer released 17 studio albums in total during her career, most recently 2008's 'Crayons'. She won five Grammys, as well as a string of other awards and is best remembered for her hit singles 'I Feel Love', 'Love To Love You Baby' and 'Hot Stuff'.

A private funeral for singer Donna Summer was held yesterday (May 23) in Nashville, Tennessee.

The disco singer, who died on May 17 at the age of 63, was laid to rest at Christ Presbyterian Church, in the city where she had lived since 1995.

Among the hundreds of mourners were producer and close friend David Foster, who also performed a rendition of ‘The Prayer’ with singer Natalie Grant. Summer’s sisters also took part in a special tribute, with Linda Gaines Lotman, Mary Ellen Bernard, Dara Bernard and Jenette Yancey also performing the gospel song ‘We’ve Come This Far By Faith’.

Producer Giorgio Moroder also attended, as did the singer’s brother Ricky Gaines, who spoke at the service along with several of Summer’s girlfriends. The singer is survived by her husband, singer and producer Bruce Sudano, their daughters, Brooklyn and Amanda, and Summer’s daughter, Mimi, from a previous marriage.

Summer released 17 studio albums in total during her career, most recently 2008’s ‘Crayons’. She won five Grammys, as well as a string of other awards and is best remembered for her hit singles ‘I Feel Love’, ‘Love To Love You Baby’ and ‘Hot Stuff’.

‘Spinal Tap’ star Michael McKean in a critical condition after being hit by a car

Tom Goodwyn
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0
‘Spinal Tap’ star Michael McKean in a critical condition after being hit by a car
Spinal Tap star Michael McKean is in a critical condition in hospital after being hit by a car yesterday (May 23). The actor, who is 64, suffered multiple injuries including a broken leg and facial lacerations when he was hit by a car while walking to a theatre in New York. McKean is currently s...

Spinal Tap star Michael McKean is in a critical condition in hospital after being hit by a car yesterday (May 23).

The actor, who is 64, suffered multiple injuries including a broken leg and facial lacerations when he was hit by a car while walking to a theatre in New York.

McKean is currently starring in Broadway play The Best Man and was en route to perform when he was hit. Two other people were also hurt in the accident, reports the New York Post.

The actor, who played rock singer David St Hubbins in the classic 1984 spoof This is Spinal Tap, is now being treated for his injuries in hospital, but is expected to recover.

McKean’s condition does seem to be improving as he found time to tweet a thank you for all the messages of support he’s been receiving from his hospital bed, writing: “Lucky man: best wife, great kids, awesome docs and nurses, priceless friends; a little overwhelmed by the sweet tweets.”

A close friend producer Jeffrey Richards also revealed that McKean had joked to him when he went to visit: “We always tell each other to break a leg in this business. I never thought it would happen to me this way!”

Richards also revealed that it was the first time McKean had failed to attend a performance, adding: “I have worked with Michael on three previous productions and he has never missed a performance, and I understand from his team that he has never missed a performance in his career. This is the kind of first we are reluctant to announce.”

Chuck D calls the two forthcoming Public Enemy albums ‘fraternal twins’

Tom Goodwyn
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Chuck D calls the two forthcoming Public Enemy albums ‘fraternal twins’
Public Enemy's Chuck D has spoken out about the two new studio albums that the hip-hop group will release later this year. 'Most Of My Heroes Still Don't Appear On No Stamp', produced by long-time collaborator Gary G-Wiz, will be released this summer, while 'The Evil Empire Of Everything' will fo...

Public Enemy‘s Chuck D has spoken out about the two new studio albums that the hip-hop group will release later this year.

‘Most Of My Heroes Still Don’t Appear On No Stamp’, produced by long-time collaborator Gary G-Wiz, will be released this summer, while ‘The Evil Empire Of Everything’ will follow in the autumn.

Speaking to Billboard about the records, Chuck D said the albums were “twins, fraternal twins – not identical, but they will talk to each other”.

He added that much of the concept of the albums rests in the fact that they are simply releasing two records. He explained that: “The statement with these albums isn’t so much just within the content but in the audacity of the release, just like, ‘What the hell? Two albums that bookend the summer? What the hell?!’ But we know we’ve got a fanbase that’s kind of used to albums because we were the first to come along and kind of bring a concept album to the hip-hop marketplace. So we oblige this year by doing not one, but two.”

The albums will feature guest appearances from the likes of Henry Rollins, Rage Against The Machine‘s Tom Morello and DMC.

Last week it was announced that Public Enemy would be joining the bill for this summer’s South West Four Weekender.

The festival, which is in its third year, will take place on August 25–26 on Clapham Common in London, with Chase & Status headlining the opening day (August 25) and Skrillex closing the show on the final day (August 26).

Photo: John Nikolai

James Blake, Mr Scruff added to Green Man Festival 2012

Tom Goodwyn
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James Blake, Mr Scruff added to Green Man Festival 2012
James Blake and Mr Scruff are among the new additions to this year's Green Man festival. The event takes place in Wales' Brecon Beacons from August 17-19 and will be headlined by Feist and Van Morrison, with one bill topper still to be confirmed. Also newly added to the line-up are Vondelpark, ...

James Blake and Mr Scruff are among the new additions to this year’s Green Man festival.

The event takes place in Wales’ Brecon Beacons from August 17-19 and will be headlined by Feist and Van Morrison, with one bill topper still to be confirmed.

Also newly added to the line-up are Vondelpark, Lone, Airhead and The Chain. They join a bill that already includes Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks, The Walkmen, Jonathan Richman, The Felice Brothers, Tune-Yards, Of Montreal, King Creosote & Jon Hopkins, Michael Kiwanuka and over 30 other acts.

See Greenman.net for more information about the festival.

The line-up for Green Man festival so far is as follows:

Van Morrison

Feist

Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks

The Walkmen

Jonathan Richman

The Felice Brothers

Tune-Yards

Of Montreal

King Creosote & Jon Hopkins

Michael Kiwanuka

Yann Tiersen

Scritti Politti

Junior Boys

The Time & Space Machine (live)

Damien Jurado

Bowerbirds

Field Music

James Blake

Mr Scruff

Vondelpark

Lone

Airhead

The Chain

Friends

Cass McCombs

CW Stoneking

Slow Club

Ghostpoet

Beth Jeans Houghton & The Hooves Of Destiny

Willy Mason

Dark Dark Dark

Daughter

Peaking Lights

Three Trapped Tigers

Megafaun

Islet

Joe Pug

Lucy Rose

Trembling Bells

Cashier No 9

The Wave Pictures

TOY

Pictish Trail

Teeth of the Sea

Laura J Martin

Sweet Baboo

Alt-J

KWES

Gang Colours

Rocketnumbernine

Steve Smyth

Jamie N Commons

Stealing Sheep

Vadoinmessico

Treetop Flyers

Tiny Ruins

Seamus Fogarty

Chailo Sim

RM Hubbert

Mowbird

Goodnight Lenin

Pete Paphides – Vinyl Revival

The Perch Creek Family Jug Band

Cold Specks

Richard Warren

Beck to release single on Jack White’s Third Man Records label

Tom Goodwyn
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0
Beck to release single on Jack White’s Third Man Records label
Beck is set to release a special, limited-edition single on Jack White's Third Man Records label. The single, 'I Just Started Hating Some People Today'/'Blue Randy', will be released on May 28 as a limited run of coloured seven-inch vinyl records, with 100 tri-colour versions of the track going o...

Beck is set to release a special, limited-edition single on Jack White‘s Third Man Records label.

The single, ‘I Just Started Hating Some People Today’/’Blue Randy’, will be released on May 28 as a limited run of coloured seven-inch vinyl records, with 100 tri-colour versions of the track going on sale exclusively at Randy’s Records, a store in Salt Lake City, Utah on June 2. A digital version of the two songs will also be on sale via iTunes.

The two tracks were recorded last year at the Third Man studio in Nashville, when Beck was in the Tennessee city recording the follow-up to 2008’s ‘Modern Guilt’, reports Rolling Stone.

Other established artists to release one-off singles on the Third Man label include Tom Jones, Laura Marling and Insane Clown Posse.

Earlier this year, a previously unreleased track by Beck, a cover of the traditional song ‘Corrina, Corrina’, featured on a charity album put out by model Christy Turlington Burns, who teamed up with coffee giants Starbucks to release ‘Every Mother Counts Volume 2’.

The Stone Roses play first gig in 16 years

Tom Goodwyn
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0
The Stone Roses play first gig in 16 years
The Stone Roses played a rapturously received comeback show at Warrington Parr Hall tonight (May 23) - their first gig in 16 years. It was also the group's first show with drummer Alan 'Reni' Wren since their performance in a big top at Glasgow Green in June 1990. The Manchester legends, who ann...

The Stone Roses played a rapturously received comeback show at Warrington Parr Hall tonight (May 23) – their first gig in 16 years.

It was also the group’s first show with drummer Alan ‘Reni’ Wren since their performance in a big top at Glasgow Green in June 1990.

The Manchester legends, who announced last year that they had reunited, played an 11-song set, no encore, opening with ‘I Wanna Be Adored’, the opening track from their 1989 debut album, and closing with ‘Love Spreads’, the lead single from ‘Second Coming’. Like almost all of their gigs together in the past there was no encore, although their traditional set closer ‘I Am The Resurrection’ was not featured in the setlist.

In attendance was former Oasis frontman Liam Gallagher, who took his seat on the balcony to a crowd chant of “Liam!”, and found time to tweet excitably during the gig: “The Stone Roses are back!” Also in the crowd was Cressa, the unofficial “fifth Stone Rose”, who told us he was delighted the band had decided to reform: “It’s just good everyone’s friends again.”

Frontman Ian Brown’s vocals were strong throughout and the band seemed well rehearsed and relaxed in each other’s company. During ‘Waterfall’, Brown said something in guitarist John Squire’s ear, and the pair exchanged a smile.

Bassist Mani in particular seemed in high spirits, sticking his tongue out at the audience. Drummer Reni, meanwhile, wore a headset microphone and played a double bass drum emblazoned with the lemon logo familiar from ‘The Stone Roses’ artwork.

Brown had harsh words for those in the crowd who insisted on filming/tweeting through the gig, rather than “living in the moment”. Aside from that, though, he bantered cheerfully with the intimate, 1,500-strong crowd. Before ‘She Bangs The Drums’ he quipped: “Are we in tune yet? There’s loads of girls in here.”

Stone Roses biographer John Robb commented to NME: “They sounded great. But how could they not with the world’s best drummer?”

There were no new songs, but there were a few surprises. At the end of ‘Love Spreads’, Brown broke into a rap, which appeared to feature the phrase, “Stone Roses up on the stage”. The band then left the stage, sharing hugs and taking a bow, with Brown telling the audience: “Thank you, we’ll be back.”

The lights went up, and Bob Marley’s ‘Redemption Song’ started playing over the PA. Film-maker Shane Meadows then went onstage to film the crowd. Not much in the way of fan footage has emerged on YouTube, but scroll down to watch a brief snippet of ‘Made Of Stone’ courtesy of Fionn Mac.

The gig had been announced last minute, just hours before show time, via the band’s official site. Fans were able to collect one wristband per person from the Warrington Pyramid box office (next to Warrington Parr Hall) from 4pm today. To qualify, fans needed to take a Stone Roses CD inlay cover, record sleeve, official band T-shirt or Heaton Park ticket with them. From talking to fans in the crowd, however, it was clear that many locals had known about the gig for some time, but had been sworn to secrecy.

The show will act as warm-up for the band’s summer European tour, which kicks off in Barcelona next month. The band will then play their first scheduled UK shows in Manchester’s Heaton Park on June 29, 30 and July 1.

The Stone Roses announced their reformation in October 2011. The foursome have since written “at least three or four new tracks” for a potential third album release, it was reported yesterday.

The Stone Roses played:

‘I Wanna Be Adored’

‘Mersey Paradise’

‘Sally Cinnamon’

‘Made Of Stone’

‘(Song For My) Sugar Spun Sister’

‘Where Angels Play’

‘Shoot You Down’

‘Tightrope’

‘Waterfall’

‘She Bangs The Drums’

‘Love Spreads’

Footage has also emerged on YouTube, purporting to be a “new song”, recorded at the soundcheck ahead of the Parr Hall gig. It actually appears to be a new version of ‘Sally Cinnamon’. It’s very poor quality, but you can watch it below.

Picture credit: Pennie Smith

Hot Chip, “In Our Heads”

John Mulvey
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0
Hot Chip, “In Our Heads”

Things may be different now but, when I was an NME staffer in the 1990s, we were forever being accused of building bands up, only to take delight in knocking them down soon after. With hindsight, we probably should have been flattered to be credited with such Machiavellian scheming and clarity of purpose. The truth, more often than not, was a lot more prosaic: the fans of the band at the paper had simply been exhausted, or had run out of things to say. Backlashes were nothing of the sort – it was just a detractor’s turn to voice their opinion. Reading Twitter and the like over the past few days, it seems as if it might be the detractors’ turn to write about Hot Chip this time. If the band have received a critical free pass for much of the past eight years, the loudest opinions around “In Our Heads” look as if they might be negative, from the writers uncharmed by Hot Chip’s unsteady fusion of club music, English pop and a somewhat winsome brand of indie. Their greatest crime, one deduces, is to allow Alexis Taylor near a microphone, possessing as he does a voice of notable frailness and vulnerability: “wimpy indie wank” might well have been the verdict of at least one of my old NME colleagues. It would be disingenuous of me to pretend that Taylor’s voice on “In Our Heads” is entirely to my taste. As alluded to in this blog about “One Night Stand”, it can be cloying, especially on some of Hot Chip’s slow jams. Nevertheless, “In Our Heads” feels like the work of a band who are maturing in a mostly elegant, occasionally daft, highly satisfying fashion. The daftness you’ve possibly detected on the camp Euro-electro flashback of “Night And Day”, a song that unexpectedly sounds ripe for a Ya Kid K cameo. That would be preferable, perhaps, to Taylor’s own self-deprecating rap, which betrays a similar sense of humour – not really mine – that came to the fore on Joe Goddard’s otherwise lovely Two Bears album, and which I could possibly describe as Bestivallish. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fxg2JbWA7Nk As ever, though, Taylor’s vocal melodies are terrific: rich, addictive, possessing a certain melancholic bent even when they’re superficially euphoric. They work best here when the music is at its most subtle, supple and repetitive – when the rest of Hot Chip lock into a sort of gently pounding techno. You can hear it in the opening track, “Motion Sickness”, and the way Hot Chip calmly layer some pretty tacky sounds – those horn stabs! – into such a sophisticated whole. In common with many of Hot Chip’s best songs – “Boy From School”, “Don’t Dance”, “One Life Stand” – there’s something intangibly emotional about it all, even before Taylor arrives with a killer, weirdly elegaic first line, “Remember when the people thought the world was round…” If there’s an obvious parallel to be drawn, the New Order of “Technique” seems apposite, albeit filtered through another 20+ years of house and techno scholarship. “Let Me Be Him” is an even softer take on the formula, with rare prominence initially given to Goddard’s lulling voice. Best of all, there’s “Flutes”: mantric, intense in a covert way and, though this may be the product of the video, impressively disorienting. At times, during the seven minutes of “Flutes”, it feels as if Hot Chip are at their best when they stray closest to dance music. But of course their strength – or, to some, their weakness – is that they are never quite so straightforward. For dance fans, one suspects Hot Chip will never be enough of a dance band, just as indie fans and pop fans will continue to be irritated by their reluctance to be an uncomplicated indie band or pop group. For some of us, though, their vagaries are crystallising into something quite precious: a fine and eccentric English musical phenomenon. Here’s “Flutes”… http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=99z1_IMJNl8 Follow me on Twitter: www.twitter.com/JohnRMulvey

Things may be different now but, when I was an NME staffer in the 1990s, we were forever being accused of building bands up, only to take delight in knocking them down soon after.

With hindsight, we probably should have been flattered to be credited with such Machiavellian scheming and clarity of purpose. The truth, more often than not, was a lot more prosaic: the fans of the band at the paper had simply been exhausted, or had run out of things to say. Backlashes were nothing of the sort – it was just a detractor’s turn to voice their opinion.

Reading Twitter and the like over the past few days, it seems as if it might be the detractors’ turn to write about Hot Chip this time. If the band have received a critical free pass for much of the past eight years, the loudest opinions around “In Our Heads” look as if they might be negative, from the writers uncharmed by Hot Chip’s unsteady fusion of club music, English pop and a somewhat winsome brand of indie. Their greatest crime, one deduces, is to allow Alexis Taylor near a microphone, possessing as he does a voice of notable frailness and vulnerability: “wimpy indie wank” might well have been the verdict of at least one of my old NME colleagues.

It would be disingenuous of me to pretend that Taylor’s voice on “In Our Heads” is entirely to my taste. As alluded to in this blog about “One Night Stand”, it can be cloying, especially on some of Hot Chip’s slow jams.

Nevertheless, “In Our Heads” feels like the work of a band who are maturing in a mostly elegant, occasionally daft, highly satisfying fashion. The daftness you’ve possibly detected on the camp Euro-electro flashback of “Night And Day”, a song that unexpectedly sounds ripe for a Ya Kid K cameo. That would be preferable, perhaps, to Taylor’s own self-deprecating rap, which betrays a similar sense of humour – not really mine – that came to the fore on Joe Goddard’s otherwise lovely Two Bears album, and which I could possibly describe as Bestivallish.

As ever, though, Taylor’s vocal melodies are terrific: rich, addictive, possessing a certain melancholic bent even when they’re superficially euphoric. They work best here when the music is at its most subtle, supple and repetitive – when the rest of Hot Chip lock into a sort of gently pounding techno.

You can hear it in the opening track, “Motion Sickness”, and the way Hot Chip calmly layer some pretty tacky sounds – those horn stabs! – into such a sophisticated whole. In common with many of Hot Chip’s best songs – “Boy From School”, “Don’t Dance”, “One Life Stand” – there’s something intangibly emotional about it all, even before Taylor arrives with a killer, weirdly elegaic first line, “Remember when the people thought the world was round…”

If there’s an obvious parallel to be drawn, the New Order of “Technique” seems apposite, albeit filtered through another 20+ years of house and techno scholarship. “Let Me Be Him” is an even softer take on the formula, with rare prominence initially given to Goddard’s lulling voice.

Best of all, there’s “Flutes”: mantric, intense in a covert way and, though this may be the product of the video, impressively disorienting. At times, during the seven minutes of “Flutes”, it feels as if Hot Chip are at their best when they stray closest to dance music. But of course their strength – or, to some, their weakness – is that they are never quite so straightforward. For dance fans, one suspects Hot Chip will never be enough of a dance band, just as indie fans and pop fans will continue to be irritated by their reluctance to be an uncomplicated indie band or pop group.

For some of us, though, their vagaries are crystallising into something quite precious: a fine and eccentric English musical phenomenon. Here’s “Flutes”…

Follow me on Twitter: www.twitter.com/JohnRMulvey

Afghan Whigs perform for first time since reuniting – video

Tom Pinnock
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Afghan Whigs perform for first time since reuniting – video
The Afghan Whigs have performed in public for the first time since they split in 2001. The Ohio group played two songs on last night's Late Night With Jimmy Fallon – a cover of "See And Don't See" originally by Marie Queenie Lyons, and their own "I'm Her Slave", originally released on the band'...

The Afghan Whigs have performed in public for the first time since they split in 2001.

The Ohio group played two songs on last night’s Late Night With Jimmy Fallon – a cover of “See And Don’t See” originally by Marie Queenie Lyons, and their own “I’m Her Slave”, originally released on the band’s 1992 album Congregation.

Afghan Whigs last performed in public in New York on September 29, 1999, and announced their reunion in December 2011.

Watch the band’s performance of “I’m Her Slave” below.

Picture credit: Danny Clinch

William Orbit: ‘Damon Albarn halted new Blur recording sessions’

Tom Goodwyn
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William Orbit: ‘Damon Albarn halted new Blur recording sessions’

Damon Albarn has halted work on new Blur material, producer William Orbit has told NME. The producer, who worked on the reunited Britpop band's 1999 album '13', confirmed that the four-piece had been recording new material, but that the sessions were stopped "suddenly" three weeks ago. "The new stuff sounded amazing," he says in this week's NME, which is on newsstands from today or available digitally now, "Then it all stopped suddenly. It was all over with Damon, and the rest of the band were like, 'Is this it?'". Orbit had previously hinted that he was recording with the band in a series of tweets. Back in January, he wrote: "I just found out that she [Diawara] has done tracks with Damon A, who I’m in the studio with from Wednesday!" He later added to the band's guitarist Graham Coxon: ‘Loving the guitars you laid down! Vocal session March 3!’, suggesting that the sessions were with Blur and not one of Albarn's many side-projects. However, another tweet later suggested the work may have stalled. Replying to a tweet from one fan who asked for Blur news in March, Orbit replied: "Blur could have been good. But Damon, brilliant and talented tho he is, is kinda a shit to the rest of Blur." Last month, Albarn denied he was finished with Blur after earlier suggesting that their huge Hyde Park reunion gig to coincide with the close of this summer's Olympics in August would be their final show. Click below to watch an NME video interview with Graham Coxon talking about the band's preparations for the show. The band are due to warm up for the show with a short tour taking in dates in Margate, Wolverhampton and Plymouth, along with headlining Sweden's Way Out West in the same month.

Damon Albarn has halted work on new Blur material, producer William Orbit has told NME.

The producer, who worked on the reunited Britpop band’s 1999 album ’13’, confirmed that the four-piece had been recording new material, but that the sessions were stopped “suddenly” three weeks ago.

“The new stuff sounded amazing,” he says in this week’s NME, which is on newsstands from today or available digitally now, “Then it all stopped suddenly. It was all over with Damon, and the rest of the band were like, ‘Is this it?'”.

Orbit had previously hinted that he was recording with the band in a series of tweets. Back in January, he wrote: “I just found out that she [Diawara] has done tracks with Damon A, who I’m in the studio with from Wednesday!” He later added to the band’s guitarist Graham Coxon: ‘Loving the guitars you laid down! Vocal session March 3!’, suggesting that the sessions were with Blur and not one of Albarn’s many side-projects.

However, another tweet later suggested the work may have stalled. Replying to a tweet from one fan who asked for Blur news in March, Orbit replied: “Blur could have been good. But Damon, brilliant and talented tho he is, is kinda a shit to the rest of Blur.”

Last month, Albarn denied he was finished with Blur after earlier suggesting that their huge Hyde Park reunion gig to coincide with the close of this summer’s Olympics in August would be their final show. Click below to watch an NME video interview with Graham Coxon talking about the band’s preparations for the show.

The band are due to warm up for the show with a short tour taking in dates in Margate, Wolverhampton and Plymouth, along with headlining Sweden’s Way Out West in the same month.

The Stone Roses to play free show in Warrington tonight (May 23)

Tom Goodwyn
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0
The Stone Roses to play free show in Warrington tonight (May 23)
The Stone Roses will play a free show in Warrington tonight (May 23). The Manchester legends, who announced last year that they had reunited, will headline the town's Parr Hall for a last-minute free show. Fans are able to collect one wristband per person from the Warrington Pyramid box office ...

The Stone Roses will play a free show in Warrington tonight (May 23).

The Manchester legends, who announced last year that they had reunited, will headline the town’s Parr Hall for a last-minute free show.

Fans are able to collect one wristband per person from the Warrington Pyramid box office (next to Warrington Parr Hall) from 4pm today. To qualify fans will need to take a Stone Roses CD inlay cover, record sleeve, official band T-shirt or Heaton Park ticket with them.

The show will act as warm-up for the band’s summer European tour, which kicks off in Barcelona next month. The band will then play their first scheduled UK shows in Manchester’s Heaton Park on June 29, 30 and July 1.

Campaign calls for New York skate park to be named in honour of Adam Yauch

Tom Goodwyn
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0
Campaign calls for New York skate park to be named in honour of Adam Yauch

Residents of Brooklyn Heights, New York have started a petition, campaigning to rename the rapper's local park, Squibb Park, in honour of the Beastie Boys' Adam 'MCA' Yauch. Yauch was diagnosed with cancer in 2009 and succumbed to the disease earlier this month, aged 47. Billboard reports that Squibb Park is currently undergoing renovations to be turned into a skate park. The campaign's Facebook page, Facebook.com/adamyauchpark, writes: "Squibb Park in Brooklyn Heights, NY is currently undergoing a transformation into a skateboarding facility and gateway to Brooklyn Bridge Park. The Brooklyn Heights Blog community believes that it would be a fitting tribute to name it after Brooklyn Heights native, musician, humanitarian Adam Yauch (MCA) of the Beastie Boys." They continue: "Adam Yauch Park sits directly across the street from the Harry Chapin Playground which is also named after a great Brooklyn Heights resident, musician and humanitarian." Yauch was also recently honoured by the local government in his home state. The rapper, who grew up in New York and lived there throughout his life, was honoured by the city's state senate last week. They passed a resolution which declared that it was "mourning the death of famed rapper and activist Adam 'MCA' Yauch", writing that he "exemplified New York" and helped rejuvenate the city during the band's influential early years. The senate also praised Yauch's work outside of the band, which included his pro-Tibet Milarepa Fund and the film distribution company Oscilloscope Laboratories. In the resolution, they described him as "a man of colossal talent and charisma". Red Hot Chili Peppers, Coldplay, Jay-Z, Green Day, Eminem, Weezer, Tom Morello and Slash are among the bands and musicians who have paid tribute to Yauch, who died on May 4.

Residents of Brooklyn Heights, New York have started a petition, campaigning to rename the rapper’s local park, Squibb Park, in honour of the Beastie Boys‘ Adam ‘MCA’ Yauch.

Yauch was diagnosed with cancer in 2009 and succumbed to the disease earlier this month, aged 47.

Billboard reports that Squibb Park is currently undergoing renovations to be turned into a skate park.

The campaign’s Facebook page, Facebook.com/adamyauchpark, writes: “Squibb Park in Brooklyn Heights, NY is currently undergoing a transformation into a skateboarding facility and gateway to Brooklyn Bridge Park. The Brooklyn Heights Blog community believes that it would be a fitting tribute to name it after Brooklyn Heights native, musician, humanitarian Adam Yauch (MCA) of the Beastie Boys.”

They continue: “Adam Yauch Park sits directly across the street from the Harry Chapin Playground which is also named after a great Brooklyn Heights resident, musician and humanitarian.”

Yauch was also recently honoured by the local government in his home state. The rapper, who grew up in New York and lived there throughout his life, was honoured by the city’s state senate last week.

They passed a resolution which declared that it was “mourning the death of famed rapper and activist Adam ‘MCA’ Yauch”, writing that he “exemplified New York” and helped rejuvenate the city during the band’s influential early years.

The senate also praised Yauch’s work outside of the band, which included his pro-Tibet Milarepa Fund and the film distribution company Oscilloscope Laboratories. In the resolution, they described him as “a man of colossal talent and charisma”.

Red Hot Chili Peppers, Coldplay, Jay-Z, Green Day, Eminem, Weezer, Tom Morello and Slash are among the bands and musicians who have paid tribute to Yauch, who died on May 4.

Paul Simon: ‘I’ll never record with Art Garfunkel again’

Tom Goodwyn
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0
Paul Simon: ‘I’ll never record with Art Garfunkel again’
Paul Simon has dashed hopes he'll ever record with Art Garfunkel again. The legendary duo haven't completed an album together since 'Bridge Over Troubled Water', which was released shortly before they split in 1970. Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Simon said that a problem with Garfunk...

Paul Simon has dashed hopes he’ll ever record with Art Garfunkel again.

The legendary duo haven’t completed an album together since ‘Bridge Over Troubled Water’, which was released shortly before they split in 1970. Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Simon said that a problem with Garfunkel’s vocal chords had left suggestions the duo could reunite a “moot point”.

Asked about a possible reunion, he replied that he “would just as soon not go back and visit the past”. The pair last reunited at the 25th anniversary of the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame concerts in New York in 2009. A 13-date tour was planned for the following year, but was postponed indefinitely owing to Garfunkel’s vocal problems.

Simon was speaking ahead of the re-issue of his 1986 album ‘Graceland’. He once again insisted he had no regrets over the recording of the album in South Africa.

The folk legend was widely criticised for travelling to the country and making the 1986 with South African musicians, for effectively breaking the cultural boycott of the country due to its racist Apartheid regime.

Although the album was a smash hit and is now credited with bringing local music to the a global audience, he was also censured at the time by the African National Congress, who implied that he was supporting the regime. The controversy is documented in new film Under African Skies, which marks the 25th anniversary of the album.

Speaking at Sundance Film Festival last month, he said: “As for regrets, no I don’t have any regrets because it’s a happy ending. Would I have done things differently? Perhaps. If anybody had come to me and said, during the recording or in the 16 months between the recording and the release of the record anybody from the ANC had come and said ‘we don’t want you to do this’, or ‘we wish you would make some sort of statement supporting us’ I would have been very happy to do so.”

Madness announce UK arena tour

Tom Goodwyn
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Madness announce UK arena tour
Madness have announced plans for a winter UK tour. The string of shows, entitled The Charge of the Mad Brigade, will kick off at the band's previously announced second annual House Of Fun Weekender at Butlins Minehead from November 23-26, which will see the iconic ska-pop band playing two live se...

Madness have announced plans for a winter UK tour.

The string of shows, entitled The Charge of the Mad Brigade, will kick off at the band’s previously announced second annual House Of Fun Weekender at Butlins Minehead from November 23-26, which will see the iconic ska-pop band playing two live sets over the weekend.

The band then travel to Dublin O2 for November 28, before playing across the UK, finishing up on December 14 at London’s O2 Arena.

Madness are due to release their brand new album, the follow up to ‘The Liberty Of Norton Folgate’, later this year. The band will be playing songs from the as-yet-untitled LP at the weekender and the arena shows.

Madness play:

House Of Fun Weekender (November 23-26)

Dublin O2 (28)

Cardiff Motorpoint Arena (30)

Brighton Centre (December 1)

Bournemouth B.I.C. (3)

Plymouth Pavilions (4)

Nottingham Capital FM Arena (6)

Liverpool Echo Arena (7)

Newcastle Arena (8)

Glasgow SECC (10)

Sheffield Motorpoint Arena (11)

Birmingham LG Arena (13)

London O2 Arena (14)

The Flaming Lips attempt to break Jay-Z’s Guinness World Record

Tom Goodwyn
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0
The Flaming Lips attempt to break Jay-Z’s Guinness World Record

The Flaming Lips will attempt to break the Guinness World Record for the most live shows in 24 hours in multiple cities. The record is currently held by Jay-Z, who in 2006 performed seven shows in seven cities in a day. The Lips will attempt the record on June 27 with eight concerts, which will stream live for the [url=http://www.omusicawards.com]O Music Awards[/url]. In a press release, Flaming Lips singer Wayne Coyne said: "I don't remember if I was asked or if I volunteered… But, I've accepted the job of, not DRIVING, but commandeering the Magical Mystery Merry Prankster bus." He added: "I've accepted the attempt at breaking the world record of performing eight shows in 24 hours. And I've explained to the music freaks at MTV, VH1 and CMT that I am not a host… But, I always liked the way Jerry Lewis would get all sweaty toward the end of his yearly telethon… To play and sing Flaming Lips songs at eight in the morning… Well, I'm open to new experiences…" The band aren’t the only ones bidding to break world records this week – with Jack White claiming he would attempt to "break the world record for most metaphors in a single concert''.

The Flaming Lips will attempt to break the Guinness World Record for the most live shows in 24 hours in multiple cities.

The record is currently held by Jay-Z, who in 2006 performed seven shows in seven cities in a day.

The Lips will attempt the record on June 27 with eight concerts, which will stream live for the [url=http://www.omusicawards.com]O Music Awards[/url].

In a press release, Flaming Lips singer Wayne Coyne said: “I don’t remember if I was asked or if I volunteered… But, I’ve accepted the job of, not DRIVING, but commandeering the Magical Mystery Merry Prankster bus.”

He added: “I’ve accepted the attempt at breaking the world record of performing eight shows in 24 hours. And I’ve explained to the music freaks at MTV, VH1 and CMT that I am not a host… But, I always liked the way Jerry Lewis would get all sweaty toward the end of his yearly telethon… To play and sing Flaming Lips songs at eight in the morning… Well, I’m open to new experiences…”

The band aren’t the only ones bidding to break world records this week – with Jack White claiming he would attempt to “break the world record for most metaphors in a single concert”.

The 21st Uncut Playlist Of 2012

John Mulvey
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The 21st Uncut Playlist Of 2012

A lot of good things this week, and I should quickly mention that the new Uncut is now in the shops (in the UK at least). This link here has all the details of the issue contents, plus there’s a piece/interview by me about Bill Fay’s impending comeback. A plug for the free CD, too, not least because it includes a bunch of stuff discussed here over the past few weeks: Dexys, Chris Robinson Brotherhood, Spacin’, and Ty Segall & White Fence. In other related publishing news, we’ve just finished the next Uncut Ultimate Music Guide, dedicated to Led Zeppelin - hence the appearance of “The Song Remains The Same” in this week’s rundown (also been revisiting Page & Plant’s “No Quarter” album a lot, next to more obvious selections). On sale June 6, I’m told. If you’ve been following my Twitter feed at www.twitter.com/JohnRMulvey, you probably found out about a bunch of these records as they arrived in the Uncut office (though not, perhaps, the dodgier ones on this list). Much love this week, anyway, for Entrance Band, Sir Richard Bishop, the Black Twigs, the Six Organs/Comets jam of course, and the amazing Caroline Crawford track, an obsession with which has temporarily prevented me getting much further than Disc 3 of the Philly box set. Maybe best of all, there’s the new Mark Kozelek; definitely the funniest, and possibly also one of the saddest records of his storied career. I have a lot more to say about that one, I promise… 1 Sun Kil Moon – Among The Leaves 2 Black Twig Pickers – Whompyjawed (Thrill Jockey) 3 Antony And The Johnsons – Cut The World (Rough Trade) 4 Entrance Band – Entrance Band (Latitudes) 5 Six Organs Of Admittance – Ascent (Drag City) 6 Sir Richard Bishop – Intermezzo (Ideologic Organ) 7 Led Zeppelin – The Song Remains The Same (Swan Song) 8 Julia Holter – Ekstasis (RVNG INTL) 9 Stevie Jackson – (I Can’t Get No) Stevie Jackson (Banchory) 10 Marissa Nadler – The Sister (Box Of Cedear) 11 Seaworthy – Bellows And Breath (Preservation) 12 Poliça – Give You The Ghost (Memphis Industries) 13 Man Forever – Pansophical Cataract (Thrill Jockey) 14 Plant And See – Plant And See (Paradise Of Bachelors) 15 Sun Kil Moon – Ghosts Of The Great Highway (Jet Set) 16 Caroline Crawford – If You Move, You Lose (Philadelphia International) 17 Spain – The Soul Of Spain (Glitterhouse) 18 Chris Robinson Brotherhood – Big Moon Ritual (Silver Arrow) Follow me on Twitter: www.twitter.com/JohnRMulvey

A lot of good things this week, and I should quickly mention that the new Uncut is now in the shops (in the UK at least). This link here has all the details of the issue contents, plus there’s a piece/interview by me about Bill Fay’s impending comeback.

A plug for the free CD, too, not least because it includes a bunch of stuff discussed here over the past few weeks: Dexys, Chris Robinson Brotherhood, Spacin’, and Ty Segall & White Fence.

In other related publishing news, we’ve just finished the next Uncut Ultimate Music Guide, dedicated to Led Zeppelin – hence the appearance of “The Song Remains The Same” in this week’s rundown (also been revisiting Page & Plant’s “No Quarter” album a lot, next to more obvious selections). On sale June 6, I’m told.

If you’ve been following my Twitter feed at www.twitter.com/JohnRMulvey, you probably found out about a bunch of these records as they arrived in the Uncut office (though not, perhaps, the dodgier ones on this list). Much love this week, anyway, for Entrance Band, Sir Richard Bishop, the Black Twigs, the Six Organs/Comets jam of course, and the amazing Caroline Crawford track, an obsession with which has temporarily prevented me getting much further than Disc 3 of the Philly box set.

Maybe best of all, there’s the new Mark Kozelek; definitely the funniest, and possibly also one of the saddest records of his storied career. I have a lot more to say about that one, I promise…

1 Sun Kil Moon – Among The Leaves

2 Black Twig Pickers – Whompyjawed (Thrill Jockey)

3 Antony And The Johnsons – Cut The World (Rough Trade)

4 Entrance Band – Entrance Band (Latitudes)

5 Six Organs Of Admittance – Ascent (Drag City)

6 Sir Richard Bishop – Intermezzo (Ideologic Organ)

7 Led Zeppelin – The Song Remains The Same (Swan Song)

8 Julia Holter – Ekstasis (RVNG INTL)

9 Stevie Jackson – (I Can’t Get No) Stevie Jackson (Banchory)

10 Marissa Nadler – The Sister (Box Of Cedear)

11 Seaworthy – Bellows And Breath (Preservation)

12 Poliça – Give You The Ghost (Memphis Industries)

13 Man Forever – Pansophical Cataract (Thrill Jockey)

14 Plant And See – Plant And See (Paradise Of Bachelors)

15 Sun Kil Moon – Ghosts Of The Great Highway (Jet Set)

16 Caroline Crawford – If You Move, You Lose (Philadelphia International)

17 Spain – The Soul Of Spain (Glitterhouse)

18 Chris Robinson Brotherhood – Big Moon Ritual (Silver Arrow)

Follow me on Twitter: www.twitter.com/JohnRMulvey

George Harrison – Early Takes Vol 1

Uncut
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George Harrison – Early Takes Vol 1

Quiet ones from the quiet one... Now, it seems, the slow unpeeling of the George Harrison archive is beginning. Designed to accompany the Martin Scorsese documentary boxed set, Early Takes Vol. 1 – even the title sounds like a bootleg – is a collection of ten demos, six of which ended up on All Things Must Pass, two glorious covers (Dylan’s “Mama You’ve Been On My Mind”, which Harrison had played during the Let It Be sessions, and the Everlys’ “Let It Be Me”) and two songs saved for later albums, “The Light That has Lighted The World” and “Woman Don’t You Cry For Me”. All of them – except, arguably, “My Sweet Lord” – benefit from these spartan, bandless versions, as Harrison brings a delicacy to the material that Phil Spector, for one, chose not to. This is a delightful and charming addition to the original body of George’s work, which highlights the quality of his songwriting and presents the material in a fresh light. Sadly, it’s unclear why quality has not been matched by quantity; those of us growing up in the 1970s who thought George’s Beatle/solo greatest hits was short weight will be nostalgically jolted back in time when they realise that this collection barely makes it past the 30 minute mark. DAVID QUANTICK

Quiet ones from the quiet one…

Now, it seems, the slow unpeeling of the George Harrison archive is beginning.

Designed to accompany the Martin Scorsese documentary boxed set, Early Takes Vol. 1 – even the title sounds like a bootleg – is a collection of ten demos, six of which ended up on All Things Must Pass, two glorious covers (Dylan’s “Mama You’ve Been On My Mind”, which Harrison had played during the Let It Be sessions, and the Everlys’ “Let It Be Me”) and two songs saved for later albums, “The Light That has Lighted The World” and “Woman Don’t You Cry For Me”.

All of them – except, arguably, “My Sweet Lord” – benefit from these spartan, bandless versions, as Harrison brings a delicacy to the material that Phil Spector, for one, chose not to. This is a delightful and charming addition to the original body of George’s work, which highlights the quality of his songwriting and presents the material in a fresh light.

Sadly, it’s unclear why quality has not been matched by quantity; those of us growing up in the 1970s who thought George’s Beatle/solo greatest hits was short weight will be nostalgically jolted back in time when they realise that this collection barely makes it past the 30 minute mark.

DAVID QUANTICK

Yeasayer announce new album ‘Fragrant World’

Tom Goodwyn
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0
Yeasayer announce new album ‘Fragrant World’
Yeasayer have announced full details of their third studio album, which is to be titled 'Fragrant World'. The album is the follow-up to their 2010 second album 'Odd Blood' and is due for release on August 20. The album will contain a total of 11 tracks, including 'Henrietta', which the band rec...

Yeasayer have announced full details of their third studio album, which is to be titled ‘Fragrant World’.

The album is the follow-up to their 2010 second album ‘Odd Blood’ and is due for release on August 20.

The album will contain a total of 11 tracks, including ‘Henrietta’, which the band recently released.

That track was sent out to members of the band’s mailing list, with a physical CD containing the song sent to every person who had signed up to updates from Yeasayer. You can hear the track by scrolling down to the bottom of the page and clicking.

Late last year, the band spoke about ‘Fragrant World’ and said that it is shaping up to be “like a demented R&B record”. Multi-instrumentalist Chris Keating said of it: “It’s like an Aaliyah album if you played it backwards and slowed it down. Or David Bowie’s ‘Lodger’. Those two are major influences.”

Yeasayer will return to the UK in July to play Latitude Festival.

The tracklisting for ‘Fragrant World’ is as follows:

‘Fingers Never Bleed’

‘Longevity’

‘Blue Paper’

‘Henrietta’

‘Devil And The Deed’

‘No Bones’

‘Reagan’s Skeleton’

‘Demon Road’

‘Damaged Goods’

‘Folk Hero Shtick’

‘Glass of the Microscope’

Rare photo of The Beatles walking ‘backwards’ across Abbey Road sold for £16,000

Tom Goodwyn
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0
Rare photo of The Beatles walking ‘backwards’ across Abbey Road sold for £16,000

A rare photograph showing The Beatles walking 'backwards' across Abbey Road has sold for £16,000 at auction this afternoon (May 22). The snap, taken by late photographer Iain Macmillan, shows the band walking right to left across the zebra crossing outside the London studio where they made their 1969 album - the opposite direction to the photograph which appears on the album cover. There are other notable differences, including the fact Paul McCartney is wearing sandals rather than walking with bare feet. The cigarette he's holding on the album version is also missing. The photograph was expected to sell for around £9,000, but ended up going for £7,000 more than that after frenzied bidding took place at the Bloomsbury auction house in Central London this afternoon. Initially bidding began at £6,000, but quickly escalated and ended up with a figure of £16,000 in less than one minute. Beatles artefacts regularly fetch big prices at auctions - last year a document showing how the Fab Four refused to play to segregated crowds was sold for $23,000 (£14,407).

A rare photograph showing The Beatles walking ‘backwards’ across Abbey Road has sold for £16,000 at auction this afternoon (May 22).

The snap, taken by late photographer Iain Macmillan, shows the band walking right to left across the zebra crossing outside the London studio where they made their 1969 album – the opposite direction to the photograph which appears on the album cover.

There are other notable differences, including the fact Paul McCartney is wearing sandals rather than walking with bare feet. The cigarette he’s holding on the album version is also missing.

The photograph was expected to sell for around £9,000, but ended up going for £7,000 more than that after frenzied bidding took place at the Bloomsbury auction house in Central London this afternoon. Initially bidding began at £6,000, but quickly escalated and ended up with a figure of £16,000 in less than one minute.

Beatles artefacts regularly fetch big prices at auctions – last year a document showing how the Fab Four refused to play to segregated crowds was sold for $23,000 (£14,407).

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