News
It's been over five years since the release of his last album, and now June 23rd sees the return of the Bristol maverick, this time on Domino Records, with his latest LP Knowle West Boy. Referencing the deprived area of his home town, Tricky has decided to re-discover his roots after spending the last few years living rather anonymously in The Bronx and LA. The auto-biographical tribute also features production from the ubiquitous Switch and an assortment of guest vocalists.
After a string of low-key but excellent singles, the highly anticipated debut album from Royal Artist Club bloggers Dan Le Sac VS Scroobius Pip is finally upon us. This Monday sees the release (via Sunday Best) of Angles, which is already whipping up the critics into an enthusiastic fervour – including the NME who are streaming the album here if you fancy a listen.
It's been quite a task keeping up with Trent Reznor and the Nine Inch Nails behemoth of late. Just two months after the surprise release of 36 track album Ghosts I-IV, he's gone and done it again. Brand new NIN album The Slip is available for free download from the band's website and contains the new single 'Discipline'. Physical copies will be available from July which will coincide with their US tour and – perhaps in an effort to transcend their rock monster status, or just to lend a helping hand – features support from ultra-credible indie darlings Crystal Castles, Deerhunter, A Place To Bury Strangers and Does It Offend You, Yeah?
Parisian electronic duo (and Ed Banger signees) Justice have collaborated with hot new promo director Romain Gavras for a very unsettling VIDEO soundtracked by latest single 'Stress'. With more than a passing resemblance to the Aphex Twin/Chris Cunningham video for 'Come to Daddy' (always a good thing), Justice and Romain have been awarded the highly coveted Royal Artist Club 'Video of the Year' accolade. Thanks to Kanye for the tip-off.
Radiohead have joined forces with MTV to raise awareness of the serious issue of human trafficking in relation to forced labour and sex slavery. MTV EXIT (End Exploitation and Trafficking) and the band have produced a music video for the track 'All I Need' from their latest LP In Rainbows which, in split-screen format, documents a day-in-the-life of both a young middle class child from an affluent suburb and a young boy from a developing country being forced to work in a sweatshop. In other Radiohead related news, Thom Yorke – speaking to the Hollywood Reporter – has announced that they will not be applying the same sales strategy that they employed for In Rainbows (letting fans pay what they want) for future releases. "I think it was a one-off response to a particular situation... I don't think it would have the same significance now anyway, if we chose to give something away again. It was a moment in time."
Royal Artist Club favourites Nightwish and Gallows have each been nominated for the Metal Hammer Golden Gods 2008
Nightwish are up for Best International Band and Gallows are up for Best Live Band
Show some love and get your votes in here
After 18 years of loyal service to serious music connoisseurs all over London, legendary record shop Pure Groove – based in Archway, London – has closed its doors on Saturday (with a performance from fellow Royal Artist Club blogger Jeremy Warmsley to mark the occasion). But fear ye not as a BIGGER and even BETTER Pure Groove is planned to open at a more central location (Farringdon) in June. Keep an eye on their blog for further updates.
Amy Winehouse – Britain's favourite walking car crash – is being investigated by police after a 38 year-old man from north London accused the soulstress of assaulting him in a Camden street early Wednesday morning. This follows shortly after a separate report of the singer head-butting a drinker at a bar in the same area. Winehouse faces up to six months in prison if convicted of assault. Don't take drugs people.
East coast rap legends A Tribe Called Quest – aka Q-Tip, Phife Dawg and Ali Shaheed Muhammad – are to reunite this summer for appearances at touring hip-hop festival Rock the Bells. Along with Nas, Mos Def, Ghostface, Raekwon, Spank Rock, De La Soul, The Pharcyde (another reunion) and many others, the trio will play eight major US cities as well as Toronto and Vancouver before crossing the pond to play a series of European dates, kicking off in London on September 20th, before continuing on to Japan.
Well, it looks like the release of 'Chinese Democracy' might now finally see the light of day (deja-vu anyone?). According to the Guns N' Roses website, the band – with a new management team in place – are in final negotiations for the release of the LP which is now fourteen years in the making. Meanwhile, guitarist Robin Finke has parted ways with the band (throwing another spanner in the works) to rejoin his old pals Nine Inch Nails and tour with them this summer. As Axl Rose explained on his blog "Robin's plans caught everyone in Guns, as well as our fans, a bit off-guard. Neither we nor management know any more in this regard and we prefer not to speculate or offer opinions at this time. When we begin to put tour plans together, we'll see where things are. Until then, Robin's touring with NIN and we're working with management on our game plans."