One of the latest voices to come out in support of the seemingly doomed digital radio station 6Music is that of Domino Recording Co. The label has one of the widest ranging and varied rosters of any independent label and its values are clearly in line with the mindset of the station. While Domino is home to such major artists as Arctic Monkeys, Franz Ferdinand and Animal Collective; the label also devotes as much attention to nurturing smaller acts such as Eugene McGuiness, Wild Beasts and Four Tet. The label’s ethos has always been to develop artists they love, rather ones that are sure to sell millions of records. It’s a view that is shared by 6Music, whose DJ’s promote and play music they have a genuine affection for, not just records that have been included on a playlist.
Considering the station and the label embody several of the same values, it’s no surprise Domino has shown its support for the station. Many of the label’s acts have also issued statements showing their support, including this from Lightspeed Champion:
“The end of 6Music is such a disgrace and catastrophe, I learnt so much from it, and imagine that if I was younger I would have learnt more. A lot of people are going to remember this. This is so upsetting for music fans across the country.”
6 Music’s roots are laid in the tradition of such tastemakers as John Peel, and it would certainly be missed here at Shazam HQ. For more information regarding the bid, head to the Save BBC 6Music Facebook page here. The BBC are also welcoming feedback for the proposals. To get your feelings across regarding the matter please send your thoughts to SRconsultation@bbc.co.uk.
A good week for Taio Cruz as he takes the top spot in the US iTunes chart and holds on to the number one position in the Shazam New Release Chart USA with his track, ‘Break Your Heart’.
To check the full chart click read more (You may have to turn ‘Mobile Theme’ off to view this chart correctly in Shazam’s apps). Read more…
One of the most eagerly awaited releases of 2010, the follow-up to Brooklyn duo’s MGMT groundbreaking debut ‘Oracular Spectacular’, is beginning to take shape. Hardcore fans will already be familiar with the album’s title, ’Congratulations’, and the colourful, cartoon-inspired cover. Added to that, there will also be a limited edition package that’s set to feature a special coin, a 32-page booklet and a scratch-off front cover.
Now the time has come for the first taster, which the band is giving away through their website. ‘Flash Delirium’ continues the duo’s taste for mixing diverse musical influences into the same track. This time paying tribute to both Phil Spector’s epic wall of sound and the current batch of new lo-fi and DIY artists. The results, if not as immediately catchy as ‘Kids’ or ‘Time To Pretend’, may be as rewarding after a just few listens.
Big name collaborations in the world of hip-hop can often be a huge anti- climax. Just take Jay-Z and R. Kelly’s 2004 joint album ‘Unfinished Business’ as an example: two of the most prominent artists of their time coming together to produce a commercial and critical flop. However, if early indications are anything to go by it would seem that the new album from Nas and Damian Marley, ‘Distant Cousins’, should have none of these problems.
Nas remains one of the most highly rated rappers of his generation while Damian Marley’s mix of ragga, hip hop and more traditional reggae forms saw him pick up three Grammys and a gold disc for his last album, ‘Welcome To Jamrock’. The first cut from the album, ‘As We Enter’, sees the New York and Kingston pair trade flows over a rolling old-school break. Lines such as “I’ve got The Guns” (from Nas) and “I’ve got the Ganja” (from Marley) show the pair aren’t trying to reinvent the wheel on this track – but when it sounds as urgent and as joyously retro as this there is no need to.
‘Distant Relatives’ is due for release on May 25th and also features collaborations with Stevie Wonder, Erykah Badu, Snoop Dogg, K’naan, Stephen Marley and – oddly enough – Joss Stone.
Fresh from winning the Best Male category at this year’s NME Awards, Jamie T is set to release the latest single from his second album ‘Kings & Queens’. ‘Emily’s Heart’ is one of the album’s more solemn moments, with the singer reflecting on a love gone wrong. The accompanying video is sure to win over many fans. It follows a young man’s fruitless attempt in trying to get the affections of a girl, one that unfortunately seems slightly out of his league.
The full single is released on March 15th through Virgin and is currently available to download through iTunes.
Consisting of Swedish sisters Johanna and Klara Söderberg, First Aid Kit first sprung to our attention after their cover of Fleet Foxes’ ‘Tiger Mountain Peasant Song’ gained a over a million views on YouTube. Last time we saw the band it was in a small crammed pub in Camden. It’s a testament to their growing success that they’re now able to full the considerably larger Union Chapel. The gothic architecture of the venue proved to be the perfect backdrop for the girls’ harmony infused folk. The chapel’s faultless acoustics were also utilised perfectly by the band, performing one song totally unaccompanied by microphones. With their stage set up now bolstered with the inclusion of a live drummer, First Aid Kit gave an assured performance that belies the fact they’re still teenagers.
Their set consisted of tracks from their debut album ‘The Big Black And The Blue’ and was rapturously received by the sold out London crowd. Tracks such as ‘I Met Up With The King’ convey a staggering level of lyrical maturity and hint that this pair will only continue to get better. The performance was concluded with a cover of Gram Parsons ‘Still Feelin’ Blue’. The lush acoustic sounds of the late troubadour have clearly been an influence on the girl’s sound, so it proves a fitting end to a fine set.
Fernando Miranda Rios, A.K.A. Michoacan, is an unclassifiable producer from the Bay Area of San Francisco. His work has previously found favour with all manner of dance music taste makers. Noted fans include Belgian Electro-clash pioneer Dr. Lektroluv, who signed Michoacan to his label in the mid noughties, and deep house maven James Priestly from Secretsundaze – who has made Michoacan’s track ‘2 Bullets’ a bona fide anthem at his über cool London parties.
‘In The Dark Of The Night’ represents Michoacan’s first releases on DFA; a seemingly natural home for his off kilter dance stylings. The record starts off with some tripped out phased drums, that could have been ripped straight from a late 80’s dub mix by Francois K or Paul Simpson, then deliciously warps into a solid punk-funk bassline. With clear influences from the underground music of early 1980’s New York, ‘In The Dark Of The Night’ is a quintessentially DFA-esque track. Which is high praise when you consider how well regarded the label’s output has been in recent years.
The video for ‘In The Dark Of The Night’ isn’t too shabby either. Featuring a visual montage of club scenes, disco balls and flashy lighting; the video looks as though the cameraman has been thrown into a disco snow globe and shaken vigorously.
To listen and buy ‘In The Dark Of The NIght’ from iTunes click this link
Steve Aoki’s ‘I’m In The House’ has been an almost permanent fixture in our tag charts for the best part of ten weeks. The raucous combination of Steve Aoki’s speaker busting house beats and jump-up rap from [[[Zuper Blahq]]] – the not so secret alias of Black Eyed Peas front man Will.i.am – has made the track a mainstay of dancefloors worldwide.
The video for ‘I’m In The House’ gives viewers the sensation of being hurled into an electro themed Manga comic. It also features a pair of sunglasses so impractical KanYe West and Calvin Harris would be scared to wear them.
To celebrate the release of ‘I’m In The House’ were giving you an exclusive chance to win a pair of the aforementioned shades (pictured below).
All you have to do to stand a chance of winning is email competition@shazamteam.com with your answer to this simple question.
Which of the following is not a style of sunglasses?
A) Wayfarer
B) Trawlerman
C) Aviator
Steve Aoki feat. [[[Zuper Blahq]]] ‘I’m In The House’ is out now. To purchase through iTunes click here
Terms and conditions of competition: 1.Closing date for the competition is 14/03/2010. All entries after this point will be void. 2. All winners will be notified by email on 14/03/2010. 3. All correct answers will enter a prize draw and the winners selected at random. 4. There will be there winners who will each win a pair of Steve Aoki Sunglasses 6. The decision of Shazam Entertainment is final. 7. Employees of Shazam Entertainment are not eligible to enter this competition
Exciting up and coming rockers The Smoking Hearts release their debut album ‘Pride Of Nowhere’ on Monday 8th March, the album launch will take place at London’s South Of The Border on Old Street. We caught up with lead singer Lethal to chat a bit about the band, the live show and life in general.
So where are you guys from originally?
Bedfordshire, it’s that place that smells of city and looks like country. About an inch North of London on a map.
How long have you guys been together?
As a band, The Smoking Hearts haven’t existed for very long at all, only 2 or 3 years, but the members of the band have known each other for years – Nobba and Calvin go back years.
What inspired you to start a band?
Doing what we wanted, and choosing to do something other than be stuck in another nowhere place, doing nothing of any significance. The band actually came about in a kind of mish-mash way; we’d all been in bands before all of which were sort of being put on hiatus. Born from the ashes if you like, like a phoenix. I do happen to know however that Barker learnt to play guitar to stop the Devil making work for his idle hands. That boy has Lucifer in his fingers. Read more…
