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).
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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’, has 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.
This week Inna makes it two weeks at the top of the Shazam Pre-release tag chart UK with her huge Electro House hit, ‘Hot’.
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).
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Michoacan – In The Dark Of The Night from DFA Records on Vimeo.
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’ we’re 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
Despite launching their career via their cult BBC radio series, New Zealand comedy-folk-rap-acapella duo Flight Of The Conchords have not performed in the UK since they gained their big break in the USA. Thankfully that’s all about to change with the announcement that Jermaine Clement and Bret McKenzie will finally be bringing their much acclaimed act to British shores this May.
If you’re not familiar with Flight Of The Conchords, their dry and subtly written HBO comedy show follows the exploits of a hapless New Zealand folk band trying to make it in New York with the help of their inept and hilariously naïve manager, Murray Hewitt. What makes the show shine, however, is Flight Of The Conchords’ wry, quirky but always amazingly inventive pastiches of pop music staples. Taking on everything from gangsta rap to Pet Shop boys style electro pop; Flight Of The Conchords’ songs are both funny and hugely listenable. Just check out their epic tribute to Barry White (above) for proof.
Flight Of The Conchords’ gigs will be supported by Kristen Schaal, who plays superfan Mel in the HBO series, and Arj Barker who plays the band’s friend Dave – both great comic actors in their own right. Tickets go on sale tomorrow and considering Flight Of The Conchords’ fanatic fan base you best get in there quickly if you’re interested in securing any.
Tour Dates
Dublin Olympia (May 5,6)
Birmingham NIA (10)
Manchester Apollo (11, 12)
Glasgow SECC (14, 15)
London HMV Hammersmith Apollo (May 16, 17)
Red Bull’s recent embrace of dance music through the Red Bull Music Academy is a probably one of the best examples of a brand getting involved with music in a positive way. Taking place in a different city each year, RBMA comprises of a series of educational events and unique live club experiences that aim to enrich the scene of each metropolis the project visits.
This week the second term of RBMA takes place in London and features a mind bending array of inspired club experiences. Highlights include a 70’s inspired Roller Boogie that showcases performances from authentic American roller boogie pros and a rare set from Moodymann A.K.A. Detroit’s Kenny Dixon Junior – one of the world’s most elusive and revered purveyors of disco and deep house. If the night is even 50% as amazing as the trailer for the Saturday Night Fever spin-off, Roller Boogie (above), then this will be something truly special.
Other musical picks include a special night celebrating 12 inch vinyl culture that sees an array of top DJ’s play for 12 minutes; with X-Press 2, Ronnie Size and A Guy Called Gerald just some of the famous names taking part. All proceeds for the event go to War Child, a small international charity that protects children from the brutal effects of war.
Also as part of the RBMA program there will be a preview of Sonar Festival at The Roundhouse featuring hip hop maven DOOM, and a night curated by the emphatic Flying Lotus at Fabric. The series of events is climaxed with the folks from the legendary Secretsundaze party taking over Paramount – a venue on the top floor of an Oxford Street office block that offers spectacular 360˚ views of the capital. Who needs the London Eye?!
Legendary American alternative rockers The Smashing Pumpkins have readied another taster from their latest project. The song, ‘A Stitch In Time’, is the third offering from ‘Teargarden by Kaleidyscope’, The Smashing Pumpkins’ eighth full studio album. Despite the departure of original drummer Jimmy Chamberlin – leaving lead singer Billy Corgan as the group’s only original member – the album promises to be another interesting chapter in one of modern rock’s most enigmatic groups. According to Corgan, ‘Teargarden by Kaleidyscope’ is supposedly made up of a mammoth 44 individual tracks. So far the singles have been delivered in the form of free downloads but there will also be a physical EP released April 20th 2010 entitled, ‘Teargarden By Kaleidyscope Vol.1, Songs For A Sailor’. The latest single ‘A Stitch In Time’ recalls the lighter acoustic moments from ‘Siamese Dream’ and hints at a far different sound to their 2007 comeback album, ‘Zeitgeist’. However, one thing that we’ve learned from Corgan over the years is to expect the unexpected. If ‘Teargarden…’ is anything like their previous double album – 1995’s’ ‘Melon Collie’ and ‘The Infinite Sadness’ – then it’s likely to embrace a plethora of sounds and influences.
Those who wish to check out the new track should head to http://www.smashingpumpkins.com/
A new number one in the Shazam Pre-release Tag Chart UK as Inna’s ‘Hot’ finally wrestles the top spot away from Tinie Tempah.
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).
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Taio Cruz makes it three weeks at number one in the Shazam New Release Chart USA with ‘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).
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