Author: Crossfire

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Music News

T(I)NC studio update

Dennis Lyxzen’s (International) Noise Conspiracy have posted an update from their studio, where they are working on new material with Rick Rubin.

Writing from Hollywood, the band said:

“The first week has been used to rehearse and rearrange the songs, mainly by ourselves at Cole street rehearsals, but significant time has also been spent together with Rick Rubin as we try to make the songs the best they could be. At this moment we’re working on 17 songs, and we’re facing the wonderful problem of having more songs we’re excited about than we will fit on an album.

“So yesterday, after a week of productive rehearsals, numerous visits to Amoeba Records, stoner rock shows and skateboarding, we entered the Sunset Sound studios together with Rick and engineer Greg Fidelman to begin recording.”

www.internationalnoise.com

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Music News

Dismemberment Plan do one off show

The Dismemberment Plan have announced they will reform to play a special benefit show.

The group, who last released a record in 2001, will be playing the show to raise money for Callum Robbins, the song of their producer J. Robbins, who was born with Spinal Muscular Atrophy.

The show will take place in Washington on April 28th, though it’s not likely this will lead to a permanent reunion.

www.dismembermentplan.com

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Music News

Tiger Army track streamed

The first song from the new Tiger Army album has been released.

The song will feature AFI’s Davey Havok on back up vocals, which will see the favour returned when Nick 13 does some vocals to Havok’s Blaqk Audo side project.

The group’s new album Music From Regions Beyond will be out in June and you can hear the track Afterworld by clicking here.

www.tigerarmy.com

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Buzz Chart

Benjy Ferree

Benjy Ferree’s debut offering with Leaving The Nest is a fine demonstration of how an LP can be filled with variety, exploration and depth, into a relatively short running time and still leave you with a simple image of the album.

It’s not complex by any means, just a mild psychedelic LP complete with ranging vocals and some really pleasant choruses. Like dozing off at a campfire. I can envisage at least 4 of the songs on here appearing in skate videos for every cord sporting, half cab wearing, pole jamming and wallride skater of ’07.

Opening track, In The Countryside sets the tone for the proceeding tunes, humble and bizarre in a fresh way. Atmospheric without being haunting and strangely compelling whilst not ever being an annoyance, this is the perfect soundtrack to a perfectly chilled spring day. Dog Killers! remains to be my favourite track on the album due to it’s insanely infective chorus, which is not by any means hit and miss on this album. Overall, a splendid debut from Washington’s hat sporting, scumtache representing finest. Niiice.

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Buzz Chart

Gym Class Heroes

Probably one of the smartest moves Gym Class Heroes will ever make is recruiting Fall Out Boy’s golden voice Patrick Stumph to sing the chorus of this irresistible summertime song.

Alone the four New York playground rappers have failed to stir much of a buzz when compared to their pin-up labelmates (Panic! At The Disco, Cute Is What We Aim For, etc), but all that is about to change.

“I mean she even cooks me pancakes/And alka seltzer when my tummy aches”; their bemusing take on new love is both lyrically heartwarming and fun. Frontman Travis McCoy is delectable, his cutthroat sardonic attitude towards the topic in hand quite intriguing and spellbinding, whilst his makeshift alternative rock band setup provide the choppy, hook-laden filler. And of course, Stumph is on hand through each chorus, lending his lush lungs to what is surely one of the catchiest singles to be released this month. Pure class.

Cathy Reay

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Music News

Diddy in a ruck?

Diddy, Puffy Daddy, P Diddy… whatever he’s called, he’s been accused of battery.

An incident apparently took place at a hotel in LA on the night of the Oscars, where it is alleged the producer attacked a real estate agent.

Apparently Gerard Rechnitzer was assaulted near the Kodak Theatre, claim the LAPD. Diddy’s camp have made no comment.

www.diddy.com

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Music News

Run DMC shoes!

The daughters of Reverend Run are to launch their own footwear.

Angela and Vanessa Simmons, daughters of Joseph Simmons of Run DMC fame, will take over the range of Pastry Footwear, which will feature athletic shoes “aimed at young women”.

Each shoe will get a colour related name – Strawberry Shortcake, Red Velvet, Chocolate Mousse etc and will come with lip gloss and a scent.

The line will be out on March 23rd and the development of it is chronicled in the new season of Run’s House which is due to hit the screens in Spring.

www.mtv.com/ontv/dyn/runs_house/

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Music News

GLC to play gig for charity

Goldie Lookin’ Chain have been added to the bill for a charity gig.

The Welsh group will join Gruff Rhys from Super Furry Animals, The Automatic and The Alarm. The event is the Pop Factory’s Burberry Workers and will take place on March 24th at the Ystrad Leisure Centre.

Money raised from the event will go to the 300 workers at Burberry’s Treorchy Factory who will lose their jobs when the factory relocates. Tickets go on sale tomorrow [Friday 2nd] at £12.50.

www.thepopfactory.com

Categories
DVD Reviews

Puzzle Winter 07

Puzzle is celebrating their 10th year in the audio visual stunt market, and their new motto sums up what a few of us try and deny- Free skateboarding! Oh yeah, you can download every new issue, and a whole load more if you visit the Puzzle website- http://www.puzzlevideo.com

So, the latest seasonal offering is Winter 07 and here to warm us up is a mish-mash of contest, demo and straight up skate footage.

This issue kicks off with a Puzzle staple- the Jumble section. This Jumble isn’t your average jumble though because it’s hosted by the Underworld crew from Canada. You might be scratching your head at what a bunch of Canadians are doing on a European video? Well, Blueprint’s Paul Carter rolls with this lot, so I guess that’s the connection. In any case this is a good start to the DVD and I am very very envious of their skate plaza!

Next up, Puzzle send us on the road with the Americans of Analog Clothing, in other words Ernie Torres, Sean Malto, Ryan Smith plus a few euro stragglers. Already that line-up is stellar and representative of skateboarding’s future (minus Ryan who doesn’t really seem to put 100% into the trip like his mates), so you know that anything and everything gets stomped by the Analog crew.

Keeping it in the skateparks- which Crossfire tales this half sentence to remind you to support!- 2006 ended with the Volcom Amster-damn am and the Globe Bowlbash in Holland. These two comps are the real deal when it comes to witnessing Europe’s finest. The Damn Am takes care of modern street skating to the tune of Real’s Nick Dompierre leading the charge, whilst the Globe Bowlbash hanled anything transition related with Andy Scott flying about nonchalantly in fine form.

We’re back on another promo tour for the next section, this time with the Circa team as they skate and party with their new video It’s Time. Pete Ramondetta, Tony Tave, Sierra Fellers, Jon Allie and a few more stragglers charge hard through Europe all the way to the Russian capital, Moscow putting on the odd demo and killing the odd hot spot at their ease. I must say Sierra Feller’s 360 flip over the riverside rail in the UK is no joke.

The curtain call comes for a Mexican skater by the name of Shadi Charbel Ruiz. Again, you might be scratching your head at the inclusion of a South American in a Euro video, but that’s globalization baby! In any case Shadi, who I have never heard of, is a pretty sick skater. 99% of his tricks are landed square over the bolts, and average a height of at least a foot and a half. Shadi stamps his Mexican authority on more than one Barceona spot, so hopefully someone will notice him and pay for him to skate somewhere else in the future…

That’s it, that’s all. Another standard issue installment of Puzzle video magazine ready for you lot to download and enjoy. Happy 10 years Puzzle!

Go visit www.puzzlevideo.com and look out for the next issue that will feature the Crossfire Xmas Jam 06 for the first time.
Ralph L-D

Categories
Buzz Chart

Calvin Harris

Claiming that he has re-invented disco music, backed up with his forthcoming album’s sly title, “I Created Disco“, Calvin Harris has produced some prime examples of success on a budget. Vinyl spinner and soon to be CD release, Acceptable In The 80s, is no exception.

It contains all the synthesised beats and homegrown vocals you’d expect from a lad hailing from Dumfries in Scotland. Especially one who’s reminiscing about an era filled with skintight jeans and huge hair. Wait a minute…

This track does just that, paying homage to club bangers of the decade of cheese. While it seems self-indulgent at times, it’s a grower. I’m yet to decide whether this is a bad thing, but I must pay the man his dues for plugging a song into my head and sticking it on repeat for the past 4 days. Listen at your own peril!

I’m almost certain that the nanosecond this song comes on in a club, my head will be relieved and I will bop along relentlessly feeling like a GOD. This is eau de fromage to the extreme, and as much as it pains me to say it, I love it.