Klaxons are back working on their new album.
The follow up to Myths Of The Near Future is now underway and has been described by Simon Taylor-Davis of the band as “heavy and delirious”. In an interview with BBC 6Music, he went on to say:
“After last year, we were just dead and we needed to stop and breathe and leave each other’s side for a little bit so everything’s been shuffled a bit further forward – or backwards – but hopefully the record will be out this year still.”
OK, let’s start by saying that you cannot avoid the hype on this record. Sometimes that can put people off before they have even heard the bloody thing but proof is always in the pudding and before we go any further with this review, it’s best to mention that this is in fact already my fave album of the year.
MGMT is a duo from NYC and the concoction that is unleashed when singer/guitarist Andrew Vanwyngarden and keyboardist Ben Goldwasser get together is somewhat electric. Between them, the boys have taken basic songwriting skills from heroes such as Neil Young and doused them in their own infectious psychedelic sauce that bites like chili and stings like a bee throughout. This is accompanied by the fact that producer Dave Fridman, (Flaming Lips, Mercury Rev etc) has stepped in to make their dreamy sounds come to life which adds mystique and beauty in droves.
Tracks such as the anthemic ‘Time To Pretend‘, ‘Kids‘, and ‘Electric Feel‘ are the so called flagship tracks but the deeper you get into this record, you realise that your favourite choon changes weekly. Take ‘Of Moons, Birds and Monsters‘ as an example. It oozes 70’s cool and then melts into one of the best musical breakdowns ever written. If you like your indie with a twist then you will not find anything this fresh anywhere else. Get it whilst it’s hot when it’s released on March 10th and look out for the single ‘Time to Pretend‘ out on March 3rd. Watch the video here and read a Crossfire interview with the duo here.
Zac Slack
Pioneer Skatepark in St. Albans have decided to throw a skate jam to raise money to keep the skatepark open.Lids are compulsory but your £7 entry means that this legendary spot that Creme rider Rodney Clark puts a lot of time into will stay open. Get down there on 15th March from 12pm-6pm.
Epitaph Records act The Matches are coming back to the UK this March to support their ‘A Band In Hope’ album released on April 28th. Check the video to Salty Eyes below.
Dates:
04.03.08 SOUTHAMPTON, JOINERS
06.03.08 CARDIFF, BARFLY
07.03.08 BIRMINGHAM, BARFLY
09.03.08 GLASGOW, KING TUTS
10.03.08 MANCHESTER, ACADEMY 3
1.03.08 NOTTINGHAM, ROCK CITY
12.03.08 LONDON, THE UNDERWORLD
Skegness may have a lovely seashore but it’s likely to be blown up on April 12th and 13th when the new Plaza opens.
A visit from Vans UK team riders and a pro jam with £1000 up for grabs should fuel the fire on the day for this Seaside Showdown, and rumours of a concrete park opening 10 miles down the road the same weekend could well make this trip an absolute must.
Expect fat birds, superb skating, chips and bald men. Check www.xsiteskatepark.co.uk for all info.
Madam Jojo’s – London
21st February 2008
After all these years I really should know better: there’s no such thing as a quiet drink with Harrison. So when I got a phone call from him at one minute to five, telling me that Son of Dave was playing tonight and our names where on the door I really should have said no and hung up, But I didn’t.
Surrounded by the seediness of Brewer and Old Compton Street, Madame JoJo’s in Soho is a great little venue to watch live music. Sliding up to the bar as the support entertained, a mixed crowd soon filled the place as the street above filtered in around us, along with a fine array of hats and facial hair.
Ben Darvill (aka Son of Dave) of course, was the best dressed of them all, with his handmade brogues and 50’s hats, cotton trousers and a wizard’s coat. Harmonica in his left hand and shaker in his right, he belted out songs such as ‘Goddamm‘ and ‘Devil Take My Soul‘. Stamping his feat to loop beats and screaming through his harp mike, he distorted out of his old Vox amp to create a hip hop, bluegrass sound that you couldn’t help but move to.
Mixing it all up with his dark wit and even bringing the audience on stage to drink with him – the whole performance was mesmerising. With husky backing singers adding yet another dimension the show didn’t fail to entertain yet again. I’ve heard his sound recorded in the past and, though it sounds great, it doesn’t do him justice: you simply have to see him live. And you can – he’s on tour round the UK for the next few months.
Needless to say we left the club in high spirits, that rolled on until the early hours … and ended with bad hangovers and no work done the next day – but better for it. As I say, it’s never a quiet drink with Harrison.
Review by Colesy
Pic by Harrison
Jay Z could be teaming up with Nas for an album.
Word on the always informed but ridiculously vague street is that the former President of Def Jam is planning on forming his own record label, Carter Music Group, which will see Jay team up with Warner Music Group’s head. The album to come from his label is rumoured to be an album full of duets with Nas called The Kings Of Hip Hop.
Nice.
Glassjaw have revealed some details on their new album.
The follow up to 2002’s Worship And Tribute will reportedly be written, produced and engineered by guitarist Justin Beck with the band stating they have 7 songs finished and 4 to 6 “half-baked ideas”.
Leo Romero and Figgy have some new footage from Stay Gold up on the Emerica site right now.
With the video hopefully dropping this year, although no date set yet, these throwaway lines should hype you up for a video also containing Jerry Hsu, Heath Kirchart, Ed Templeton and Andrew Reynolds. Blimey, it is gonna be good!
Powley’s first Lucky Dip edit from this years Manchester Jam will make you spin on your head….or cack yourself.