There are not many artists out there that can say they have 18 albums out there that have changed a part of musical history but Stereolab can and this latest offering from the cooky, indie specialists is simply beautifully crafted from every angle.
All tracks recorded in their Instant Zero studio in Bordeaux have a quirky sound that i find very difficult to categorise as i write this as the entire album fitted like a glove, has left me in a trance like state that can only be described as lush.
This is a record that fits the same dreamlike stature of when people talk about the future, like the soundtrack to the film Gattica: dust free space walks, education checks and segregation yet, the style factor of such a unique sound bursts through like sunrays in an Arctic chapel, glittering and spare.
The beautifully haunting vocals of Laetitia Sadier are either going to make or break you, but with the mysterious underlay of moogs, samples, guitar licks and precision drum beats, this album may not sound live but it’s fresh out of the box and should have you hooked in two listens. Every track on this album has been available as a ltd edition single so far via 7″ but now you can have all 12 tracks on one CD for your listening pleasure and believe us when we say you will have a spring in your step after owning one of these, perfectly timed, finely tuned and simply stunning.
Look out for them live on May 11th at London’s Koko, as it is their only UK show booked this year.
Rarely the roles reverse at a gig when the supporting band draws a larger crowd than the headline act. Originating from Leeds/Sheffield Volcanoes are a less than conventional Indie band, attracting a diverse audience.
Although this is their first album in three years, usually prolific Norwegian art-rockers Motorpsycho have not been lazy in their absence. ‘Black Hole/Blank Canvas’ is a double album of sprawling moods, sounds and styles.
Damon Albarn’s Gorillaz might be “splitting up” as reported previously here at Crossfire, but there are plans to go out with a band, with dates being hoped for in Las Vegas. On top of this, a computer game of the animated group is set to be released, as well as their own film and their work on the Chinese opera “Monkey: Journey To The West“.
Styles and trends may come and go but good song writing will never go out of fashion. And good song writing is something that Chris Brokaw knows all about. Having recorded a string of acoustic records, ‘Incredible Love’ is his first full band electric release and sees him teaming up with the elite of the American indie underground (including members of Rodan, Karate, Silkworm) for an album of utterly addictive songs full of sublime melodies and quirky structures and sounds.
The Summer Sundae festival, held at Leicester’s De Montfort Hall and Gardens, has confirmed that hyped up-and-comers Guillemots have been added to the bill, alongisde Morning Runner, Gomez, The Boy Least Likely To, 
Oxford based rock trio King Furnace will release their debut single ‘Crash!’ on April 17th 2006 through Akuaba Records.
Old rockers The Who have returned to their Tommy territory by composing a short mini-opera, which is likely to be released prior to the new album this year.
Busta Rhymes, one of the most larger-than-life characters in music, is coming back with a new album entitled The Big Bang, due for release in May.
Manchester’s Jim Noir has teamed up with Adidas for an advert for the upcoming World Cup, after the company chose his Eanie Meany song, taken from the Tower Of Love album. The advert is due to be screen in the run up to the World Cup in Germany and will have loads of big name stars playing football in the street with two kids.