Despite the rather tepid reception global audiences gave to her latest English album ‘She Wolf’, Shakira has remained unstoppable and is now ready to go back to her roots in her new Spanish language album ‘Sale El Sol’ (The Sun Comes Out). The Colombian superstar who stormed the global charts last July with the World Cup anthem ‘Waka Waka’ is ready to once more steal this summer’s spotlight right before it ends with her new tropical-flavoured track ‘Loca’.
Originally a meringue hit by Dominican artist El Cata, who also features in Shakira’s cover. The biggest surprise of ‘Loca’, though, appears in its English version, where an unexpected collaboration with original British grime rapper Dizzee Rascal is already generating headlines all across the music press. Shakira is no stranger to having hip-hop guests in her records; Will.I.Am; Lil Wayne or Wycleff Jean count among them, but it’s the first time she teams up with someone as leftfield as Rascal.
‘Sale El Sol’ will be released on October 10th featuring both singles in their English and Spanish versions.
Two years since his debut ‘Alegranza’ earned rave reviews from even the most highbrowed critics of the blogosphere, and just a few weeks after her EP ‘Piratas De Sudamerica’ – comprised of four cover versions of some of his favourite Latin artists- saw the light of day; the Canary Islands born, Barcelona based DJ and cultural agitator Pablo Diaz-Reixa is back again under his El Guincho moniker. This time with his second full length, ‘Pop Negro’.
Keeping the same winning formula alive, influenced as much by the trendy psychedelic loops of Panda Bear as it is by the most forward looking world music acts around the globe, we had already heard the summery, marimba-flavoured ‘Bombay’ and now another brand new single has leaked online. ‘FM Tan Sexy’, according to Reixa is the result of his research on hit singles from the late 70’s; 80’s and early 90’s and the common elements they share. And if we have to judge by how catchy this new track is, he may have found the secret behind bonafide hit making.
‘Pop Negro’ is released in the UK via Young Turks on September 13th. The singles ‘FM Tan Sexy’ and ‘Bombay’ are currently available as free downloads from El Guincho’s own website.
Sufjan Stevens is back!! Years since ‘(Come On Feel The) Illinois’ established him as one of the defining artists of the past decade, and many minor projects and rare material compilations afterwards, fans were starting to worry about some form of writer’s block affecting the young songwriter. His original project of releasing an album per State of the Union seems now parked, but instead the singer-songwriter has released out of the blue a new 8 track EP called ‘All Delighted People’ and a brand new full-length is expected to follow.
The record is built around two different versions of the title track, which according to his Bandcamp page was conceived during Steven’s 2009 tour as ‘a dramatic homage to the Apocalypse, existential ennui, and Paul Simon’s ‘Sound Of Silence’ and it shares the same grandiose qualities that made of ‘Illinois’ such an unique work.
‘All Delighted People EP’ is available now. You can stream it in full here.
From London, another band comes jumping on the bandwagon of C86’s dream pop revival. Still Corners’ most recognizable features are Rachel Goswell’s ethereal vocals – influenced as much by sixties girl bands as by the likes of more contemporary singers such as Hope Sandoval or Julée Cruise – next to the band’s hazy sound landscapes that wouldn’t go amiss among fans of My Bloody Valentine or The xx.
On paper, none of it should be particularly distinguishable from the hundreds of other artists currently drinking from the same musical sources; but what makes Still Corners stand out from the crowd is their fine ear for a good tune. Weeks ago their track ‘Endless Summer’ generated waves of enthusiasm in the blogosphere and now the band is promptly following that up with a limited double A-side single ‘Don’t Fall In Love/Wish’, released via The Great Pop Supplement on August 20. A video for ‘Wish’ has also been released – watch above.
You can catch them live this Friday as the band celebrates the launch of the single with a gig next to Je Suis Animal and Hong Kong In The 60’s in London’s venue The Drop. They will also be part of next Tuesday’s triple bill at the always excellent up and coming bands’ night White Heat at Madame Jo Jo’s.
As part of the Sound of 2010 – the selection of up and coming artists the BBC launches at the beginning of the year- we have already witnessed the rise of Ellie Goulding, The Drums and Marina & The Diamonds, to name a few, into the premier league of today’s popular music.Also included in the much-coveted list and one of the last ones to release his output is the Londoner remixer and electronica producer Gold Panda. He specializes in dreamy sound landscapes, crowned with chopped vocal samples and minimal beats that have earned him comparisons with Animal Collective and The Field.Since his firsts tracks ‘You’ and ‘Quitter’s Ragga’ caught the attention of the most influential bloggers around the world his profile has gone from strength to strength. After spending most of the year carefully preparing his debut full-length, ‘Lucky Shiner’is ready to be released internationally on October the 12th via Ghostly International and in the UK through his own label ‘NoTown Recordings’.
The album’s ethereal new single ‘Snow & Taxis’ is now being offered for free download –see the widget below.
Nick Cave is back with the second volume of his side project Grinderman, formed in the company of a selected few of his Bad Seeds – Jim Sclavunos, Warren Ellis and Martyn Casey.
Their debut earned rave reviews for its rawer, more powerful songs and now the notorious four piece act got ready the follow-up, ‘Grinderman 2’, to be released on September 13th via Mute. It has been described as far more serious in sound, mixing such diverse influences as stoner rock, psychedelia and prog. But when the sound is arguably evolving towards the serious; the band’s visual side is portraying a more humorous side, until now rather unusual throughout the career of these veteran musicians.
The video for first single ‘Heathen Child’, directed by Australian director John Hillcoat –the man behind the big screen adaptation of Cormac McCarthy’s ‘The Road’- sees Grinderman dressed as ancient warriors in full B-movie display of superpowers, gun tooting gangsters, monsters and other bizarre creatures. All of it in clear contrast with the darker sounds and lyrics they accompany.
With their third album ‘The Suburbs’ collecting rave reviews and tipped to top both the US and UK charts next week, Arcade Fire have cemented their position as one of the most important bands in the world today.
‘The Suburbs’ is packed with reflections on the effects that passing time has on our lives and is another impressive collection of songs. Different singles have been chosen for different territories. The comforting and mellow title track –also the record’s centrepiece- was released as a limited edition 7’ weeks ago and has been heavily played in Europe since; whereas ‘Ready To Start’ - one of the album’s most epic moments – is ready to hit the airwaves in the States.
The Canadians have been taking the media by storm, embarking on a huge promotional effort that included a live show at New York’s Madison Square Garden that was broadcast in full last Thursday via youtube with Terry Gilliam on direction duties. The videos shown are taken from that gig.
One of the most distinguished events out of the European festival circuit is taking place this year from August the 10th-14th in Norway’s capital city Oslo.
The Øya Festival stands out from the avalanche of similar events thanks to its historical location on a medieval park, right where Oslo was originally found. Its impeccable green credentials – having won several awards and mentions for its full compromise with the environment – and with a line-up that focuses on new music, it easily stands comparisons against any other rock events held around the globe.
Headliners this year include Pavement, who continue their acclaimed reunion tour, LCD Soundsystem’s rumoured final tour, M.I.A, Big Boi, The Flaming Lips and The xx next to up to 200 other acts scheduled to perform. The event also offers a comprehensive program of multidisciplinary art activities and club nights. More details of which can be found at the festival website.
While giving the finishing touches, the organisers have compiled a triple-sided mixtape with some of the most interesting up and coming talent featured in this year’s edition. Recent favourites from the likes of Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffitti, Yeasayer or Marina & The Diamonds go back to back with a good selection of local talent- and it’s available to download for free! For links and full tracklist info read on.
The ITunes Festival 2010 edition came to an end last weekend, after a full month of showcasing an impressively eclectic line up of first class talent coming from all corners of the popular music spectrum.
Held at the iconic Roundhouse in Camden, this year’s event has seen top-notch performances from the likes of Scissor Sisters, Tony Bennett, Florence & The Machine and The National to name a few. Last Friday, was the turn of uberhip French combo Phoenix, supported by homegrown indie electronica maverick James Yuill.
The laptop wizard opened the evening with an assured set of his playful tunes. One of the artists originally thrown into the bag of the infamous ‘folktronica’ genre – which years ago was allocated to anyone who managed to produce any combination between electronic and acoustic elements – James Yuill keeps his consolidation as a fine example of British indie electropop. Plugging his second album ‘Movement In A Storm’, his set was backed by an as excellent as colourful visual work and it finished on an improvised note, when the software on his laptop crashed, needing to resort just to his acoustic guitar for the last song. It all worked for the best, giving further proof of what a confident performer he is.
While the first of the three mini albums she plans to release through the year is still fresh, Robyn has unveiled her new single, previewing the second offering of ‘Body Parts’.
‘Hang With Me’ has just leaked online, right after the Swedish pop star appeared on the popular David Letterman show in the States and it’s just another brilliant example of the diminutive singer’s remarkable talent for writing perfect pop tunes. We were already familiar with it thanks to a stripped-down, acoustic version that was included in the first part of the trilogy, but it greatly benefits from its new electropop makeover.
The track will be released on September 6th and looks set to join ‘Dancing On My Own’ and ‘With Every Heartbeat’ as another of Robyn’s career peaks.
