LIVE: EGYPTIAN HIP HOP – 09/10/2012
– SOUP KITCHEN, MANCHESTER – Looks can be deceiving. I remember seeing a picture of Manchester based outfit Egyptian Hip Hop before hearing them and with their angular haircuts and flamboyant vintage outfits I was expecting to hear something loud, noisy and full of youthful exuberance. Instead, I heard perfect pop songs with electro tinges, strong grooves and even stronger hooks that have refused to leave my head since I heard them back in 2010. Since the release of... Read More
NEWS: THE VOLUNTARY BUTLER SCHEME – ‘BRAIN FREEZE’ VIDEO + APP SINGLE
Since making 2011’s largely electronic album The Grandad Galaxy – The Voluntary Butler Scheme’s Rob Jones has been learning some new non-electronic skills in the shape of the Trumpet and the Saxophone. Having learnt them largely from Youtube clips and iPhone apps – it inspired The Voluntary Butler Scheme to release his next single as an App single. There will be no 7″, no CD, no I-tunes download … just a very cool VBS app containing all VBS... Read More
NEWS: PURITY RING – DOWNLOAD ‘BELISPEAK II’ + UK LIVE DATES
Purity Ring’s Corin Roddick has reworked their song ‘Belispeak’ to feature a ferocious new verse by Danny Brown. Brown, who first saw Purity Ring on their summer tour, expressed interest in wanting to work with them via Twitter. The two then exchanged ideas through email and Brown re-imagined ‘Belispeak’s fairy-tale creepiness as an evocative snapshot of his childhood in Detroit, while Roddick reworked the production into a maximalist banger. Purity... Read More
LIVE: SBTRKT / FOUR TET / TNGHT – 06/10/2012
– THE WAREHOUSE PROJECT, MANCHESTER – This is the second weekend of Manchester’s pop-up club nights which span September to New Year’s Day. Having outgrown the cavernous car park under Piccadilly station, The Warehouse Project has now relocated to an actual warehouse in Trafford Park. Its growing popularity since its opening in 2006 is no surprise. The organisers have consistently lined up an impressive array of international vintage DJs and musicians including... Read More
NEWS: HOT CHIP VINYL EMPORIUM TO PLAY MANCHESTER OXFAM SHOP
Oxfam and Domino have announced that Hot Chip will be continuing their DJ ‘takeover’ of Oxfam shops with a gig in the Oxfam Emporium shop, Oldham Street, Manchester on Saturday 13th October. The Oxfam shop will give up its floor space to become an exclusive Oxjam shop for a one-off gigs, whilst simultaneously selling great second-hand music and clothing. The shop will be converted into a mini-music venue, where Hot Chip will be playing exclusive DJ sets from 1.00pm – 3.00pm,... Read More
NEWS: JAMES BLAKE – ‘CONFIDENCE BOOST’ VIDEO + LIVE DATES
It’s been almost a year since The Kentish Town Forum hosted James Blake’s last live performance on UK shores, but his unique brand of introspective electronica will return to the British stage once again for a series of performances this winter.Having released one of 2011’s most talked about and critically praised records in the form of his eponymous debut album, James has performed to heaving crowds at gigs and festivals across the planet, whilst album sales are getting... Read More
LISTEN: NIGHT ENGINE – ‘I’LL MAKE IT WORTH YOUR WHILE’
The music of the city, of the dark, of the underground basements and behind locked doors clubs is back. Night Engine, four young men with a belief in the power of music to move feet as well as minds, have been in rehearsals since their formation in January 2012 with the express intent of rekindling the idea of the groove and are now ready to step forth into the (artificial) light. At odds with the prevailing trend for soundscape and wafting ambience, Night Engine are, as the names... Read More
VIDEO: EMBERS – TUNNEL VISION
Limited edition double A side 7″ Vinyl. Tunnel Vision/Sins Unknown.Recorded at Sandhills Studios, Liverpool. Engineered by Kyle Western. Mixed and produced by Embers. Directed by Sam Alder & Toby Potter (Plastic Zoo/MCR Scenewipe) Shot by Luke Bather & Nathan Bather Purchase here – http://embersembers.bigcartel.com/ www.embersembers.com Read More
NEWS: SCOTT AND CHARLENE’S WEDDING – DOWNLOAD A TRACK FROM THE FORTHCOMING ALBUM
Heartbreak, working shitty jobs to survive and the loneliness of public transport in a city, Craig Dermody knows no other way than heart-on-sleeve. Hailing from Australia but now living in New York, Dermody’s debut album under the moniker Scott and Charlene’s Wedding is due for release on Critical Heights in November. ‘Para Vista Social Club’ (named for the Adelaide suburb in which Dermody grew up) is an off-the-cuff collection of real-life woes, each song... Read More
LIVE: RADIOHEAD – 06/10/2012
– MANCHESTER ARENA, MANCHESTER – The Manchester Arena is packed out to resemble a gladiatorial stadium, which is rather appropriate as being just a little above five feet tall I am preparing to fight like a ninja to catch a glimpse of the band I have paid a small fortune to see. But despite the fact that all UK dates sold out within a few internet-crashing moments of suspense, the crowd are surprisingly placid and we manage to find a good spot. Radiohead are already... Read More