Brooklyn’s Mos Def has announced further UK dates in support of his 2009 record The Ecstatic.
In addition to the previously announced London date (moved from Koko to Shepherd’s Bush Empire), the rapper will now play shows in Glasgow and Bristol.
Mos Def will play the following dates in April:
13th – Glasgow Academy
14th – Bristol Academy
15th – London Shepherds Bush Empire
As promised, Christmas number one winners Rage Against the Machine have announced a free UK show this summer. The gig will take place at Finsbury Park on 6th June.
To be in with a chance of securing a ticket, fans must register at this website with a passport sized photograph by Sunday 14th February. Those registered can then use their registration number to buy a maximum of two tickets per person. Those seeking to buy two tickets, however, must have two registration numbers and tickets cannot be sold or transferred in any way.
Borderland
Momentum Pictures
There have been numerous collage road trip films, but Borderland is one with a difference. When three Texas University students travel to Mexico on the eve of their graduation for a weekend of naughtiness, they do not expect to be thrown into a world of paranoia, death and dread when they run into a drug dealing Mexican cult who practice human sacrifice…and this is based on actual events!
Borderland is for fans of films such as Saw and Hostel, where people are tortured for fun. The opening ten minutes are in Spanish with English subtitles which is a little tedious, but well worth staying tuned for the upcoming terror. A night of drink and drugs lead the students into a gangster world where the leader is treated like the Godfather. His actions and those associated with him are horrendous with individuals being brutally murdered with machetes, left screaming as eye balls are cut out and their limbs slashed off in some sort of sadistic ritual to keep their drug dealings hidden and safe from the outside world. At times your stomach is left wrenching, as their actions get so vicious.
The actors involved with this film are brave to take on such roles. Rider Strong is the main man brutalised and there is sheer terror on his face throughout his ordeal, making his experience more realistic. Alongside him are Jake Muxwothy and Brian Presley as his friends also terrorised by the experience but it is Sean Astin who is the biggest of shocks. Forget his previous roles such as Mikey in the Goonies and Samwise Gamgee in Lord of the Rings, here he takes on a nasty and very nauseating persona; he has seen MUCH better days.
Borderland is not for individuals with a nervous disposition but a must see for anyone with a fondness for fear and is available on DVD 15th February 2010.
Michelle Moore
Devine Calloway celebrates his brand new shoe and clothing range out on Etnies this week. Check this video of Bakersfield’s coolest customer here.
etnies introduces the Devine Calloway from etnies europe on Vimeo.
Death Skateboards pro Rob Smith boings out 10 Tricks in Manchester for alongside Olly Tyreman who should have his own TV show lined up from this performance! Raemers apparently shot this, don’t give up the day job Ben!
For all the elitist shits who view the latter day musical direction of these Toronto natives as pretty Fucked Up in itself, this monster 25 track double CD (also available on vinyl) compilation should give you a jolt and sharp reminder of the killer potential this band has when it hits its stride.
Disc One opens with the raging “No Pasarán” their debut single (on Deranged Records) from way back in 2002 and forges ahead to include numerous A and B sides culled from their numerous (limited run) seven inches. There’s some real treats, including “Neat Parts”, “Dangerous Fumes”, “Triumph Of Life”, “Fixed Race” and the pièce de résistance of their early material for me; the 7” version of “Generation” here in all its glory with the smoking spoken word intro care of an Hamas recruitment recording… awesome. Winding down Disc One are a couple of outtakes of songs that featured on their last album “Chemistry of Common Life”, which I was quite disappointed by, but these two versions are pretty rocking, so I may yet reach back to “Chemistry…” for some revision.
Disc Two starts with a 2008 B-side “I Hate Summer”, decent song, but as a sun worshipper I cannot accept the sentiment. Next, the hoary and damn catchy “Teenage Problems” from 2005, then straight in to a “Hidden World” outtake “Carried Out to Sea” – thumping! For me Fucked Up was on a roll at this point, unbeatable. Disc Two also collates some Fucked Up cover versions, by The Shop Assistants, Dolly Mixture and I’m not familiar with the original of “Anorak City” by Another Sunny Day, but this 2008 reprise is great. “Magic Kingdom” (the B-side of “Generation”) gets a welcome dusting down and blows everything to pieces.
For the most part this is an excellent compilation that sits well along side “Epics in Minutes” – the definitive F.U. collection of early material from 2004 (on Deranged).
Pete Craven
North Atlantic Oscillation have just confirmed a UK headline tour to accompany their album release in March and have also unleashed a beautiful (and slightly twisted) new video for the single.
Their much anticipated debut album ‘Grappling Hooks’ will be released on March 22nd through Kscope and is to be preceded by single ‘Drawing Maps from Memory’ on March 8th.
The dates for their headline tour are:
February
13th London Carnivalle (2 White Church Lane, E1 7QR)
21st Glasgow Nice’n’Sleazys (supporting Xiu Xiu)
March
3rd London Barfly (The Fly Presents…)
22nd London Lexington (album launch presented by Sonic Cathedral)
23rd Bristol Louisiana
24th Manchester Ruby Lounge
25th Leeds Cockpit
26th Edinburgh Sneaky Petes
27th Glasgow Captains Rest
Here’s the video for ‘Drawing Maps from Memory’:
Warner Music has revealed its plan to stop licensing its artists on free music streaming services such as Spotify, We7 and Last FM. Larger bands that this will effect include REM, Muse and Green Day but the effects are likely to be more widespread.
The label’s chief executive, Edgar Bronfman Jr, reasoned that the services offered by streaming services are “clearly not positive” for the music industry.
The full implications of this move are unclear as of yet, but it is quite possible this move could spark a chain reaction among over major labels.
The forthcoming re-issue of Bright Eyes’ 2004 EP One Jug of Wine, Two Vessels, will come backed with new material
Collaborating with Saddle Creek label mate Neva Dinova on four new songs, the package will be released on March 23rd.
The full tracklist reads;
Rollerskating
Happy Accident
Someone’s Love
I Know You
Tripped
Black Comedy
Poison
I’ll Be Your Friend
Get Back
Spring Cleaning
Strokes drummer Fab Moretti has revealed that the band is aiming for a September release for their new album.
The New York band have been working on the album with producer Joe Chiccarelli (Bjork, U2, Beck), and Moretti went on to explain the “basic tracks are done”, as the band add their own finishing touches.
Unlike earlier records, their latest project is more of a creative free-for-all, as every member of the band has contributed ideas.