Shazamers' Blog

‘Waves/Death Suite’ is the much anticipated collaboration between Erol Alkan and Boys Noize. For two artists firmly in their scene’s elite it seems only natural a collaboration would work so well. ‘Waves’ opens with a dark disco loop that gives way to a sinister melody. The tracks key is that it keeps building whilst never becoming stale, switching between melodies with a rhythmic breakdown of almost tribal proportions. While the flip side, ‘Death Suite’, is far more frantic affair. A heavy acid drenched track that will either frighten the life out of you or inspire deranged movements.  

As their output shows, this pair’s production skills cannot be questioned. While we have seen an artist album already from Boys Noize, 2007’s ‘Oi Oi Oi’, does this track mean that we may yet see an album from Erol Alkan? Let’s hope so.

‘Waves/Death Suite’ is out now on Boys Noize records and is available on Beatport.

Jon Davies News, Tag Of The Day Boys Noize, Erol Alkan

This week Jay Sean’s ‘Down’ holds onto the top spot for the third week in row in the Shazam USA Tag Chart; highlighting the fact he’s set for big things this year across the world. Meanwhile, a new entry comes from Disney star Miley Cyrus with ‘Party In The USA’ .

Check the full chart here

Stephen Titmus News, Shazam Chart (USA) Jay Sean, Miley Cyrus

This week London promoters Upset the Rhythm delivered possibly one of the finest line-ups of bands to grace any stage this year. Brad Cox’s Deerhunter headlined and while the Atlanta band had the crowd enraptured throughout their set, this was a gig where the support bands weren’t to be ignored whilst shuffling by the bar. Opening the show were Crystal Antlers, whose mixture of pysch and punk translated far better live than it does on their debut album ‘Tentacles’.  Next up were fellow LA residents HEALTH, who are slowly building a reputation for being one of the most ferocious acts around. Built around relentless drums beats, HEALTH craft a sonic assault that should see them more than hold their own when they tour with Nine Inch Nails later this year.

While Deerhunter’s set was hit by sound problems – bassist Lockett Pundt’s guitar seemed to cause him no end of issues – this clearly didn’t affect them. While they have been known for their outlandish outfits on stage, this time Deerhunter let the music take centre stage. Highlights included tracks from last year’s masterful double album Microcastle/Weird Era Cont.

For more pictures scroll down (Photos c/o David Sutheran) Read more…

Jon Davies News

Fever Ray is re-releasing her critically acclaimed debut on a special edition that will include two live favourite covers – Vashti Bunyan’s “Been Here Before” and Nick Cave and Anita Lane’s “Stranger Than Kindness”- as bonus tracks, plus a DVD containing the promo videos for all four singles; a few of which can be seen in the player below.

The deluxe edition for the side project of The Knife’s vocalist Karin Dreijer Andersson will be preceded by a new singe, ‘Seven’, on October the 5th, one week before the album’s hit the shops. Available on 12″ and download formats, ‘Seven’ will feature remixes by CSS, Crookers and Martyn, among others.

It will serve as a good appetizer for Karin’s fandom, while they’re eagerly awaiting The Knife’s next project, the music and libretto for the theatre group Hotel Pro Forma’s forthcoming opera ‘Tomorrow, In A Year”, which will premiere in Copenhagen this November and is said to be inspired by Darwin’s concepts of evolution, life, etc., commemorating the 150th Anniversary of the author’s revolutionary opus “The Origin of the Species”.

Roberto Gonzalez News Crookers, CSS, fever ray, Martyn, seven

At the end of last year Andrew Hung and Benjamin John Power finished the promotion of their debut album ‘Street Horrrsing’ on a high note by releasing a double A-side single that included a superb Andrew Wetherall remix of ‘Sweet Love For Planet Earth’. The results of that collaboration were so astonishing that F**k Buttons offered production duties of their follow-up to  the legendary DJ, whose CV includes such era-defining moments as Primal Scream’s ‘Screamadelica’.
The moment of that difficult second album has arrived. ‘Tarot Sport’ will see the light of day in October, preceded by the hypnotic single ‘Surf Solar’. And as far as first impressions go, if the rest of the album shares that lead track’s levels of quality, we will be talking about one of 2009’s creative highlights and it should confirm F**k Buttons as one of today’s most acclaimed acts in leftfield electronica.

Roberto Gonzalez New Music, News andrew weatherall, surf solar, tarot sport

They say never to judge something by it’s cover. But when you chance upon a sleeve such as this, it’s hard to resist and think you have struck gold. This striking green “unripened” version of what would become the seminal “The Velvet Underground & Nico” LP, also has a very interesting back story. Found as a test pressing in a New York yard sale and purchased for 75 cents, the new owner discovered he’d bought a “lost” early version of the album (allegedly sent back by Columbia Records with a note saying “You have got to be kidding”) and then he sold it on eBay for $25k.
The version I discovered in a London record shop is a cleaned up CD pressing of this. And to be honest, you can perhaps see where Columbia could have been coming from. Stand outs from the studio version (“Venus In Furs” and “The Black Angel’s Death Song”) suffer, as it’s seemingly before John Cale mastered the use of jarring electric viola and the mixes lack the clarity of the famous version. “I’ll Be Your Mirror” and “Femme Fatal” are pleasing slightly altered from the original, with Nico’s trademark drone going different places to what you’d expect. But all in all, never judging something by it’s cover is sound advice (!)

Roberto Gonzalez Bits and Pieces

This week Jay-Z claims the number one spot in the UK Pre-release Tag Chart for the first time this year with his latest single, ‘Run This Town’. New releases come from Example and Shakira – whose track ‘She Wolf’ pre-empts the release of her new album that’s set to include contributions from Pharell, Wyclef and Lady Gaga’s ‘so hot right now’ producer, RedOne.

Check out the fullm chart here

Stephen Titmus Shazam Pre Release Chart UK Example, Jay-Z, Pharell, RedOne, shakira, Wyclef

Tim at Green Man

This weekend saw the amazingly chilled Green Man Festival take place in leafy Wales and Shazam was lucky enough to catch up with Tim, lead singer from the fabulous Wave Machines for a little chat about festival life and punk.

I see you’re doing a lot of festivals this summer, are there any you’re particularly looking forward to?

Green Man has been getting talked about by loads of people, loads of friends and friends of friends (that’s how I measure a good festival). We have a big bunch of mates going and there are several birthdays and an engagement to celebrate – it promises to be a load of bawdy fun. Bestival is getting a lot of talk time too.

What can we expect from the set at green man?

A full-speed-ahead rendition of the album, well most of it, whatever our stage time will permit. I’ve been on holiday so am recharged and quite ridiculously eager to play again.

What’s the tent set up for you guys – or is it rock and roll hotels all the way?

Tents, tents and more tents. And a gazebo. You have to have a gazebo. We’re staying for the whole weekend so we’ll be making ourselves comfortable. We just got one of those grill things for making toast on your camping stove. Tasty.

If you could share a tent with anyone who would it be and why?

Is Lauren Laverne going? She’s an intelligent young lady.

What inspired the new single Punk Spirit?

Failure to come through with the threats issued in your internal monologue.

Who these days signifies the punk spirit ethos?

a.P.A.t.T. – a band from Liverpool. Check them out on myspace, but better than that, see them live. They are spectacular; they have little regard for their commercial well being. They are the real deal. Really.

Thanks for your time!

Ta

Hazel Savage Interviews Festivals, Interviews, Wave Machines

Driving to the middle of no-where, getting caked in mud and then having to face a soul destroying trip back to the City is for many part and parcel of what makes a festival. However, for some the effort and cost of traipsing across the country is too much, thus the rise of the ‘City Festival’ – all the fun of a full day in a field but with the prospect of a shower and warm bed only a bus ride away. One of the more established of these events is South West Four, which is now giving larger weekend festivals such as Global Gathering and Creamfields a run for their money.
Mixing mainstream acts such as David Guetta and Armand Van Burren with cutting edge electronic artists such as Richie Hawtin and Timo Mass; SW4 has put together an enticing bill that includes some of the top names in dance music. This year the event sold out and record time and with tickets selling at around £100 on the black-market demand would still seem to be remarkably strong for the event.
Fortunately, the organisers of SW4 are putting on a mega after show party that should allow those without a ticket to get their fill of rave madness. Featuring the talents of international chart topper Eric Prydz and taking place in London’s Coronet, the party is likely to be just as raucous as the day time event with four rooms of music from around 20 acts.
For a taste of what to expect check out this exclusive Eric Prydz interview.

Tickets for SW4’s Afterparty are priced £20.
More info: http://www.southwestfour.com/afterparty.aspx

Stephen Titmus Gigs/ Events, News Armand Van Burren, David Guetta, Eric Prydz, Richie Hawtin, Timo Mass

Hot on the heels of fellow countrymen Mylo and Calvin Harris, Grum is the latest dance prodigy from Scotland. After his blistering ‘Sound Reaction’ EP set many pulses racing and Mixmag declared him their “hottest tip since Aeroplane first took off” – our eyes have been firmly set on what the young producer will release next.

‘Heartbeats’ is an all out hands in the air stomper which has already received plaudits from Annie Mac, Rob Da Bank and the aforementioned Aeroplane. Treading the line between blog friendly and crowd pleasing dance is always a tricky one, but it’s something Grum seems to have no problem in doing. With a DJ set lined up at Bestival and a string of UK dates confirmed until the end of the year, Grum seems certain to be one of the names in dance to keep an eye on through this year and next. To hear ‘Heartbeats’ head to his MySpace.

Jon Davies New Music Grum