Category music

Pixie Lott on MSN Xclusives

August saw the fantastic Pixie Lott guest editing MSN Music for the second Xclusives month. Before we head into September (which features an even bigger act) I thought I’d take some screen grabs. A pleasure to interview, looking forward to the release of her album very soon.

image thumb Pixie Lott on MSN Xclusives

image thumb1 Pixie Lott on MSN Xclusives

David Bowie: Station to Station equals Nirvana

Just got word that EMI are releasing Special and Deluxe editions of Bowie’s Station to Station album. Once these have been purchased my life will be complete…

 

clip image001 thumb David Bowie: Station to Station equals Nirvana

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Kylie Minogue on MSN Xclusives

Yesterday, we relaunched our MSN Xclusives brand in the MSN Music channel. Building on the success of our previous shows with The Pussycat Dolls and Sugababes and our great guest editorial work with the likes of Cheryl Cole and Rihanna – we’ve now launched a new monthly format that combines the power of both ideas.

http://music.uk.msn.com/xclusives/

Each month we’ll be publishing an extensive editorial package around a major artist.  That means something new for chart fans that they can’t get anywhere else. More artists to be announced very soon.

First up – Kylie Minogue! 
Right now you can check out:

· Exclusive Kylie Minogue interview – one of the very few granted to online in the UK

· Kylie Answers MSN User Questions

· Kylie talks about Fashion

· And not forgetting our incredible KYLIE MINOGUE DEEP ZOOM!

Hope you enjoy this and let me know what you think.

clip image002 Kylie Minogue on MSN Xclusives

clip image003 Kylie Minogue on MSN Xclusives

Let me take you on a trip

Just seen/heard the Cicada edit of Depeche Mode’s ‘World In My Eyes’. Love it.

Rex The Dog – Synthpop set recorded live at Musicalia May 2010

I love Rex the Dog and here he is again. Nutter.

Rex The Dog – Synthpop set recorded live at Musicalia May 2010 by rexthedog1980

CJ Bolland – Sugar is Sweeter

A complete rip-off or respectful nod to ‘The Prodge?’ Thanks to 6 Music for unearthing this one.

Jamie Lidell: Compass Interview

Since his early days with Supercollider, Jamie Lidell has always tried to push the boundaries of electronic music, marrying the old with the new through his experimental sound and rich, soulful vocals. Going to a Lidell gig is to expect the unexpected as Jamie is equally happy beat-boxing or fiddling with an array of audio effects as he is actually singing. With support from Beck, Lidell is now set to release his third solo album ‘Compass’. I spoke to him about Beck’s involvement and what we can expect this festival season…

Hi Jamie, what are you doing right now?
I’m in Hoxton at the moment, nursing a particularly bad hangover. I’ve just come back from a tour of Australia which was pretty mental. That combined with my move to New York has left me more than a little knackered. So I’m recharging before it all kicks off again.

What’s the story of Compass?
Well, when I moved to New York last year I got a call from Beck, who I’d toured with in 2006, asking if I wanted to work with him. It was insanely good timing because I didn’t have a clue what I was going to do. So he just called to get the ball rolling.

Jamie Lidell We then spent two days at his studio in LA bashing out material I’d written. But whilst we were doing that we all got sucked into the Record Club project – which is Beck’s way of gathering loads of musicians together to record a cover of an album in a single day. He’s already done INXS and Velvet Underground like this but I got thrown into the deep end with Skip Spence’s ‘Oar’ which I’d never heard before. So that was a challenge!

Through that I’d met the legendary drummer James Gadston who’s played with everyone including Bill Withers and Marvin Gaye. We really connected as musicians so Beck said we should schedule a session together. So before I knew it I was rehearsing my little sketches with Beck and James and then all these other characters who joined us in the studio. It was an incredible couple of days.

Is that how the collaborations happened on the album?
Well, not all of them. When I went back to New York with all the outtakes, everything was a complete mess even though it sounded brilliant. So I reached out to artists like Wilco and Chilly Gonzales to complete certain tracks. All in all this album was a pretty fast process like rustic cookery. Like throwing coarsley chopped basil into a pan – it should still taste fresh and delicious when you come to eat it.

How would you describe your approach to making music?
I usually just have sketches when I write songs. Very Tony Hart, lots of brush strokes and then I try to find ways to fill it all in. If I can’t sort it out myself I reach out to other people. Part of that is also being completely open to any idea, any genre.

How are you going to perform the album live this Summer?
Well, it’s going to be four people onstage including me, it’s going to be really varied. Anything goes. I’m really looking forward to Coachella and Glastonbury although Holland and Belgium also have some great events. I don’t know why but I have a huge following in Belgium!

And do you have an idea for future collaborations?
Well, I’d like to work with Squarepusher. Then again there’s always Christian Vogel. We started work on a third Supercollider album some time ago but I just side-tracked by all this solo work. So, you never know, watch this space…

http://www.jamielidell.com/
http://www.beck.com/recordclub/

Jamie Lidell Band Rehearsal NYC from Jamie Lidell on Vimeo.

An edited version of this interview will appear on MSN Music here

Drum and Bass Church Viral

Without wanting to offend anyone I just want to say this is one of the funniest things I’ve ever seen on the internet.

 

Looks like there are a number of similar drum and bass church clips on Youtube. Reminds me of my early rave days, which I detested because all my mates kept on taking me to Jungle clubs. It took me ages to realise I didn’t actually like this kind of music. Hardcore, you know the score. Easy.

Blur – No distance left to run review

Fans of Blur will love this film . Others, like myself, will consider it more than a little self-indulgent and crass. So I’m going to post my copy to a good mate and have done with it.

Actually that’s not really fair. Some of Blur’s music has been brilliant and I think the band try to be honest as possible about how they got to where they are. All stories about bands, and not even famous bands (see Anvil), are inherently fascinating – but in this film the director ends up  mythologizing instead of documenting. That’s why I think fans will love the film as a well-shot addition to their collection but as an outsider, I’m sorry to say, it’s all a little too rich for me..

Hawkwind are Mojo Mavericks

Can’t believe Hawkwind have finally got an award. Mojo Editor Phil Alexander does them justice in the interview below – very good description of a band that has otherwise been ignored by the industry. Top festival act.

image Hawkwind are Mojo Mavericks

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