Category: Music

Norma Jean have entered the studio with producer Ross Robinson.

The band are working on their fourth album The Anti-Mother, which is set for a summer 2008 release and will feature collaborations with Page Hamilton and Chino Moreno. Speaking on the collaborations, the band said:

“We were able to work with Page and Chino on two separate occasions, and as two of our biggest influences musically, it was definitely a moment having them here in the studio. Page came to our practice space and for the first hour he was just showing us cool guitar chords, teaching us new things technically. The song we wrote with him is heavy as crap and full of energy – you’ll notice his influence. Many bands have guest vocalists on their records, but we were inspired by the idea of collaborative songwriting with some of our favorite musicians. In a collaboration, no one is beyond reproach, and there is always something we can learn and someone to learn it from.”

www.myspace.com/normajean

Jay Z has hit back at Noel Gallagher.

The Oasis frontman recently said that Jay Z and hip hop had no place at Glastonbury but the New York rapper took the argument to the monobrowed peanut saying:

“We don’t play guitars, Noel, but hip-hop has put in its work like any other form of music. This headline show is just a natural progression. Rap music is still evolving…From Afrika Bambaataa DJ-ing in the Bronx and Run DMC going platinum, to Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince winning the first rap Grammy, I’m just next in the line. We have to respect each others’ genre of music and move forward.”

Go back to making Definitely Maybe for the 10th time in a row Noel, there’s a good boy.

www.jay-z.com

Blood Red Shoes have announced details of a fresh UK tour.

The band, who release a new single ‘This Is Not For You‘ on June 30, will hit the road in October on the following dates:

13th – Portsmouth Wedgewood Rooms
15th – Leeds Cockpit
16th – Manchester Academy
18th – Aberdeen Drummonds
19th – Glasgow King Tut’s
20th – Newcastle Academy
21st – Norwich Waterfront
23rd – Birmingham Academy
24th – London Astoria

www.bloodredshoes.co.uk

Weezer have announced that they are pushing up the US release date of their sixth studio album by three weeks.

The band will now be releasing their new self-titled album, which will also be known as the Red Album, on June 3rd instead of the planned June 24th release date. The band took the decision after their first single from the record, Pork And Beans, went to number 1 on the Billboard Modern Rock chart.

www.weezer.com

French producer Wax Tailor will release his new album in June.

Hope & Sorrow is released on Decon Records on June 2nd and has been compared to the likes of DJ Shadow and RJD2. The producer got over 60,000 sales of his previous album and his single was featured as a single of the year in Playboy. Check out the video below for a taste of what he’s about:

www.myspace.com/waxtailor

Gama Bomb are touring the UK in June.

You can check out the band playing their Citizen Brain album and more at the following dates:

June:

8th – Scala, London
9th – Underworld, London
11th – Studio 24, Edinburgh
13th – White Rabbit, Plymouth
14th – The Pitz, Milton Keynes.

www.myspace.com/gamabomb

The next Stacked night has been announced.

Kiss FM’s DJ MK and Shortee Blitz will be holding it down alongside Spin Doctor on May 24th at the Elbow Room in Angel. There will also be live PA’s from Pyrelli and Blak Twang and it’s only £3 all night. Make sure you’re not wearing caps, hoods or tracksuits though or you won’t be getting in!

www.myspace.com/stackedclub

Coldcut have announced they will be working with Switch.

The Ninja Tune duo will have Switch co-producing their new album which is set for release this year. There are no details on the group’s first album since Sound Mirrors but it looks like it will be an exciting record already!

www.myspace.com/coldcut

MIA is set to launch her own clothing line.

The colourfully dressed singer will create bomber jackets, leggings and T-shirtswhich will, unsurprisingly, feature bright designs and graphic prints. She will also be playing a headline set at Camden’s Roundhouse on July 1st after completing her US tour.

www.myspace.com/mia