In the 1960s, after the Beatles and the Rolling Stones began to take the world by storm, there was a term in Denmark used to describe this new loud and ragged brand of rock and roll: pigtraad. Loosely translated, it means barbed wire, barbed wire music. Some four decades later, the term works as good as any to describe the avalanche of electrified R&B delivered by Danish quartet The Blue Van, who derive their name, appropriately, from the vehicle known in Denmark for collecting the mentally ill, the loonies. Steeped in the rough riffing bested by The Kinks, and schooled on such blues luminaries as Howlin’ Wolf, the band harks back to a time when the guitars were best raw and the drums went Biff-Bang-Pow like firecrackers. In...
More proof of Blur's infinite horizons is provided by Think Tank, their seventh album and their first recorded as a three-piece. While defying the rumors that it would be either 1) their "dance" album or 2) their "world music" album, it is their grooviest so far, with an eclectic variety of rhythms and textures underpinning melodies to melt the heart and wobble the lower lip. The spirits of Can, Joe Strummer, Eno and Orchestra Baobab hover, but the result - though unexpectedly languid and sunny - is pure Blur. It is their first - hopefully not their last - cabriolet record. Blur Its story begins in November 2001 when, with Damon Albarn's Gorillaz commitments on hold, the band convene...
Breakbeat Era, a.k.a Bristol based singer/songwriter Lennie Laws, DJ Die and Roni Size, finally release their debut album, a record which has been eagerly anticipated by those in the know ever since the classic and ground breaking "Breakbeat Era" track, first laid down as a template a couple of years ago. Breakbeat EraAt a time when Drum and Bass seems to have driven itself down a dark and dead end alley,Breakbeat Era Breakbeat Era take hold of the reins and prove that they can push the genre further than anyone ever believed it could go. As Melody Maker recently wrote, "Breakbeat Era are a welcome antidote to pre-millenial darkcore, injecting some humanity back into the equation. Best of all though, it ain't coffee table." Even the muta...
Since the release of By The Way, Brundlefly's sophomore album, the band has been seen on screens across the country with their video and live performances. MuchMusic launched Revolution in their Indie Spot light program and the video is being spun on MTV Canada. MM's Going Coastal featured the band for their album release with an interview in May and the band appeared in studio on MTV Canada, CTV's national morning show Canada A.M., and The A Channel in pretty much every city in Canada that has one (Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Regina). BrundleflyTheir current single, Revolution can be heard across Canada on commercial radio stations and their video for the single can be seen on MuchMusic and MTV Canada. Plans are in the works for a seco...
"I'm sick of everything feeling like a Gap ad. Where's the danger? I want to be scared and moved and turned the fuck on!" Dimitri Coats on "Fall of the Plastic Empire" With their raw power, gargantuan guitar riffs, and balls-to-the-wall live performances, Philadelphia's Burning Brides most often evoke comparisons to hard rock forefathers the MC5, the Stooges, and Black Sabbath. Yet, with their innate melodic sense, complex dynamics, and broad musical references, it's the latter-day rock royalty- Nirvana, the Pixies, and Sonic Youth- the band is most often likened to. But the Brides themselves come from an entirely different school of music one that few bands - if any- will know a thing about. Burning BridesLong before being saved b...
Vince DiFiore - trumpet and keyboards John McCrea - vocals, acoustic guitar Xan McCurdy - electric guitar Pete McNeal - drums and percussion Gabriel Nelson - bass guitar Ten centuries ago, Vikings set sail from Greenland and became the first Europeans to set foot in North America. Not finding much here to pillage, they soon left. Hundreds of years later the explorer Christopher Columbus--who had a keen eye for real estate--claimed the rich land that he found. Had the Vikings possessed Columbus' foresight, CAKE might have come from a town with a Nordic name instead of the Latin-derived "Sacramento." San Francisco and Los Angeles might have been named after Nordic gods, and fast-food restaurants would be serving lutefisk. While the...
“Running with the legends of conspicuous men…� (Magritte) Bestriding the history of cerebral rock like a mighty Welsh colossus, John Cale remains an indefatigable presence on the musical landscape, a fearless exemplar of all that is righteous, transcendent and uncompromising about the true avant-garde. He is, let’s not be coy, a living legend. Famed for everything from ‘60s internships with classical revolutionaries John Cage and La Monte Young, to epochal contributions to the Velvet Underground, landmark production duties for The Stooges, Nico and Patti Smith, feted collaborations with Brian Eno and Lou Reed and abundant soundtrack and orchestral detours; to trace John Cale’s uniquely influential ...
American VI: Ain't No Grave, the sixth and final installment of Johnny Cash's critically-acclaimed American Recordings album series, will be officially released on February 23 (American Recordings/Lost Highway/Universal Music Canada), a few days prior to what would have been The Man in Black's 78th birthday on February 26. As with the previous five albums in the American Recordings series, American VI was produced by Rick Rubin.American VI is deeply elegiac and spiritual, with each song its own piece of the puzzle of life's mysteries and challenges - the pursuit of salvation, the importance of friendships, the dream of peace, the power of faith, and the joys and adversities that entail simple survival. ...
Stephen Brodsky: guitar, vocals John-Robert Conners: drums Adam McGrath: guitar Caleb Scofield: bass "Believe it or not, it's actually harder to write shorter and more concise songs than it is to slop together a nine-minute-long space-rock opera. Look at The Beatles’ Rubber Soul: almost every song is under three minutes long and the listening experience is completely satisfying."—Cave In guitarist/vocalist Stephen Brodsky ? Which is not to say that Cave In’s RCA debut Antenna doesn’t have one or two full-on stellar excursions: One need only wade halfway into Antenna to be immersed in the eight-minute-plus odyssey of "Seafrost." To make that journey, however, is to witness a rapid succession of the Boston...
Jimmy Chamberlin has seen it all. As drummer for both Smashing Pumpkins and Zwan, there were few places he hadn’t traveled, magazines he hadn’t been in, and stadiums he hadn’t filled. After being part of not one, but two great bands, Jimmy Chamberlin was ready to do something all for himself. Throughout his decade with the Pumpkins, thoughts of a solo career drifted in and out of Jimmy’s daydreams. Although he may have occasionally mentioned the idea to his band mates, part of him never actually believed that those dreams would turn to reality—at least not as quickly as his solo bow has evolved from casual conversation to finished product. Through 10 long days in the summer of 2004, he morphed his dre...
Jason Homey – Banjo, Mandolin Chris Jonat – Bass, Vocals Andrea Lewis – Fiddle, Vocals Gord Robert – Drums Trevor Rogers – vocals, guitar, harmonica, percussion The story of The Clumsy Lovers’ career development is often a story of happy accidents. From the evolution of the band’s lineup, to the expansion of its touring fan base, right up to its eventual connection with Nettwerk, things have sort of just happened more then they have been planned. “Not to say that we’ve been just sort of blindly along for the ride,� says bass player and de facto bandleader Chris Jonat. “We’ve worked really hard and tried to be pro-active. But we never sat down with a bu...
Think Rhys Fulber and you flash back to his beat-breaking tenures with both Front Line Assembly and Delerium. At the decade's end, when the industrial genre started to run on fumes, Fulber broke from the pack once again with Delerium, an ambient dance project created with former Assembly collaborator Bill Leeb. In 1997, after years of playing to an insulated audience of digital diehards, Fulber and Delerium went worldwide with Karma and lead track "Silence," a blockbuster single featuring the Grammy award-winning vocals of multi-platinum artist Sarah McLachlan. A global smash, "Silence" rocketed to No. 3 in the U.K., No. 1 in Ireland, No. 4 in Belgium, hit the top five in Australia and the responsible album (Karma) sold a quarter of a milli...
Ben Gautrey (lead vocals) Dan Fisher (guitars/bass/lyrics/vocals) Tom Bellamy (guitars/synths/programming/trumpets/lyrics/vocals) Didz Hammond (bass/vocals) Kieran Mahon (keyboards/piano/synths/guitar/backing vocals) Jon Harper (drums/percussion/backing vocals) The Cooper Temple ClauseTurn off the headlights. Throw away the roadmap. Take your hands off the wheel and just coast, heading everywhere and nowhere. There’s a crash coming soon, oh yes, a spectacular crash, but just savor the weightlessness, the anticipation, the thrill of surrendering control. That’s what it feels like being in The Cooper Temple Clause. Every fucking day. “We discovered, doing this record,� says Ben Gautrey of Kick Up The F...
Carl Cox' story begins in Manchester, England where his family came from their native Barbados and where Carl was born. Like many born as the first generation outside their familial roots, Carl adheres not to his parents' birthplace, but more to the environment in which he was raised. The South of London was where Carl and his family settled. He spent most of his formative years surrounded by a warm environment in which his parents enjoyed throwing parties in their home for friends and family on a regular basis. It was in this social circle that Carl Cox learned to please the crowds of people and sired an intimacy with guests through the medium of sound. As Carl grew older he became a 'mobile DJ', hired to play at weddings and other events....
Heralded by the Village Voice as “one of the best live dance acts on Earth,” THE CRYSTAL METHOD—who is Ken Jordan and Scott Kirkland—have been known for over a decade for their enduring dance floor anthems (“Now Is The Time,” “Keep Hope Alive”), airwave smashes (“Trip Like I Do”) and a willingness to collaborate with an array of talent–including rock’s elite like Scott Weiland, Matisyahu, New Order’s Peter Hook, Emily Haines of Metric and Filter’s Richard Patrick. The duo has dominated the remix, film soundtrack, television, gaming and advertising worlds, most recently helping Victoria’s Secret drop jaws with music...
"Cyclefly is one of my favorite bands and their new record is one of the best I've heard in a long time. And if you don't like it, YOU SUCK!� -- Linkin Park’s Chester Bennington Cork, Ireland's Cyclefly - which made the best new artist lists of NME, Kerrang!, and Rock Sound in 1999 and whose lead singer has been dubbed a cross between Iggy Pop and Perry Farrell, is back with their sophomore album, Crave, that is even more infectious than their critically acclaimed Radioactive Records debut, Generation Sap. Crave, which features Linkin Park singer Chester Bennington on the instantly hummable "Karma Killer," expands upon the band's trademark unique blend of dark and enchanting pop-tinged rock with dynamic guitars powered by ...
Here at Jetset Records we strive to bring you only the finest and freshest pop sensations imaginable. Death By Chocolate, led by teen singer, Angela Faye Tillett, is such a group. Angela, a chambermaid from Clacton-on-Sea gives a beguiling performance that sets this record apart from anything else you will hear this year. 'The Land of Chocolate', 'A, B & C' and 'The Salvidor Dali Murder Mystery' are stunningly original - the very essence of Death By Chocolate. Like the soundtrack to a children's program directed by Salvador Dali on LSD with the Monkees making a guest appearance. Also included are 'My Friend Jack', a highlight on "Songs for the Jet Set Vol. 3" (Jetset Records April 2000), along with interpretations of Dudley Moore's psych...
The fifth full-length Nettwerk release from Vancouver-based duo Bill Leeb and Rhys Fulber, Nuages Du Monde (Clouds of the World) continues the evolution of Delerium from creators of predominantly instrumental filmic sounds capes to a fully-fledged vocal group. Featuring an array of renowned singers, Nuages Du Monde neatly combines the more overtly commercial pop of previous album Chimera (2003) with the lush sensual ambience and cloistered harmonies of 1197s Karma, a meld that bridges the gap between world music, new age electronics and modern classical. The album features a number of collaborators new to Delerium, including the accomplished Juno award-winning Punjabi singer Koran Ahluwalia, who dominates one of the more dancefloor frie...
The Devlins, brothers Colin and Peter Devlin, have always had the ability to produce compelling, understated musical gems and the release of their fourth album, Waves, looks set to cement their reputation as an Irish band with more longevity, creativity and credibility than most. With Waves, the brothers took a different approach to recording this time around. “We set up to record in a very live way�, explains bassist Peter Devlin. “Our recording studio lends itself to that, it’s a big warehouse in Dublin’s docklands.� Singer/guitarist Colin Devlin continues “We worked the arrangements out the way we would for a live show, then we hit the record button. Previously, we’ve worked the other w...
Jake Kyle: double bass, bass, acoustic, electric guitar, trumpet, vocals Tim Keegan: vocals, acoustic and electric guitar, harmonica, theremin Lindsay Jamieson: drums, percussion, piano, flute, casiotone, organ, vocals Chris Anderson: piano, hammond and pump organ, midi, CZ101, saxophone, oboe, electric guitar, electravibe, theremin, vocals Too Late To Die Young will prove to be one of the most beautiful and affecting records to be released in 2002. This third album by Departure Lounge follows on from its critically lauded predecessors, Out Of There (May 2000), and the instrumental Jetlag Dreams (Sept 2001). With French national treasure Kid Loco in the producer’s chair, Too Late... sees the itinerant English quartet moving ...
Some might suggest that it's hard to get to know Face To Face. Are they mercurial, trans-genre rock cynics? Or are they "legends," deserving of credit only for starting a Southern California punk revival steeped in fierce but eloquent songwriting, yet ultimately over-taken by the group’s more image-conscious pop progeny? All suggestions aside, the fact is that Face to Face are something more than the torch lighters, or the benevolent architects of somebody else's punk rock. The fact is that Face To Face earn their respect each sold out night on each increasingly successful tour after each unique, powerful and personal recording they release. And the fact remains that there isn't a more talented, committed or important American punk b...
Three years ago, Dan and Jon Kahuna made the decision that would decide their future - they closed the doors on the Big Kahuna Burger, the club that made their name but lost its way, and opened them on new night Headstart. The result was a new sense of direction, one that has now given birth to "Machine Says Yes," their debut album as FC Kahuna. "Machine Says Yes" is an electrifying fusion of futurist acid house and silicon soul, driven by the sense of adventure and distaste for the mainstream that have always been the pair's stock in trade. "We've been looking back at where we're from to find out where we should go," says Dan. "Headstart pointed us in the right direction. We know what we're about now, there's much more of a gut feeling abo...
There’s a double rainbow in the sky over Los Angeles. It’s a good omen. Tim and Neil Finn have flown in from New Zealand to record a new album, Everyone Is Here. The pair has enjoyed global success alone and together. Between their solo careers, Crowded House, Split Enz, and a stash of classic songs, the Finn brothers have contributed more than their fair share of the tunes we hum in our quieter moments. There are too many songs to list, but try a handful like this for size; “Don’t Dream It’s Over,� “Weather With You,� Six Months In A Leaky Boat,� “I Got You,� “Persuasion,� “She Will Have Her Way�… the list goes on and on. Still, we’re...
Millions of people are born in London, or Chicago, or Barcelona, but Neil Finn is not one of them. On May 27, 1958, he was born in Te Awamutu, a rural town in New Zealand. At that time the country was as culturally isolated as it is geographically remote from the rest of the world. "You had to walk miles to find a museum," Neil remembers, and even when you got there, it might be just an old man's collection of twigs." Musical entertainment in the Finn household was often a homemade affair. Neil and his elder brother Tim would be called upon to perform at their parents' frequent parties, their mother Mary leading the fray at the piano. The Finns were Catholics and at these parties priests would mingle with drink, to thrilling effect. The ...
New York art-pop duo Fischerspooner’s debut album, #1, was an end-of-the-millennium musical statement of pure digital and visual style. Written in part to accompany an ‘outsider’ pop show bursting with dancers, stage effects and elaborate wardrobe, its songs were infused with raw punk energy, modern sounds and conceptual lyrics. Rolling Stone called #1 “an alternate-galaxy hit,� and NME called it “the best thing to happen to music since electricity.� A daunting act to follow, but Warren Fischer and Casey Spooner had something even bigger up their sleeves. Odyssey would be a vast musical leap forward, and its realization would take over two years and stretch the duo to their physical ...
In the spring of 2000 we were on tour (somewhere on the west coast U.S. of A.) when we began to receive some strange e-mails concerning a friend of ours (a Japanese woman who worked for a magazine and ran a record store in Osaka). The e-mails were poorly translated to English from Japanese - so the message, unfortunately, was not easily understood. But as the days went by we were able to, little by little, decipher the horrible news being transmitted - our friend (the Japanese girl) had become ill - a heart ailment of some kind - and suddenly and sadly had died. Though she (our friend) had spoke and wrote English very well, her sisters who were sending the e-mails, did not - so the seriousness of the situation was hard to confirm. You see, ...
CHRIS VOLZ-Vocals RYAN JURHS-Bass, vocals LANCE ARNY-Guitars MICAH HAVERTAPE-Drums Just like a bottle of the bourbon that shares their Lousville, KY, hometown, there's more to Flaw than meets the eye. And for a band that sold more than 300,000 copies of their Universal Records debut while touring with many of the biggest names in the business, that speaks volumes. Building on the success attained with the release of THROUGH THE EYES in 2001, follow-up ENDANGERED SPEICIES is the byproduct of a band who aren't afraid to take risks, the spirit of their hard rock and heavy metal fundamentals becoming all the more potent when blended with the sense of musical adventure that too many of their peers lack. In fact, if there was any one thing...
Canadian born musician Sue Foley is a musical force to be reckoned with. The thirty-something year olds' music suggests that she has an old soul. The Los Angeles Times says, "Echoes of Earl Hooker, Bessie Smith, T-Bone Walker, Muddy Waters and other forebears of the blues filter through the cannon of singer, songwriter and guitarist Sue Foley." Critics, fans and musicians alike agree that she may well be the most respected female blues guitarist on the scene today. Foley's musical juju has allowed her to share the stage with such legendary blues icons as B.B. King, Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown and the late John Lee Hooker. Sue Foley's new CD, appropriately titled Where The Action Is, further asserts Foley as a voice warranting widespread a...
Hailing from the once quiet town of Peoria, Illinois, The Forecast exploded onto the indie rock circuit in 2001. With their must-see live performances alongside bands like Planes Mistaken For Stars, Hey Mercedes, The Jealous Sound, Motion City Soundtrack and The Velvet Teen, they earned a rabid following in not only Peoria, but also the Midwest in general. Taking cues from indie staples such as Rainer Maria, Braid, and The Anniversary, The Forecast give the genre a well-deserved kick in the ass, ratcheting up the intensity and throwing down balls to the wall, in-your-face rock and roll. Dual vocals from guitarist Dustin Addis and bassist Shannon Burns are sometimes sweet - but do not be lulled - they can transition into gang vocals at the d...
Sunderland, UK natives, The Futureheads will be hitting our shores early this summer to play a set of highly anticipated shows in support of their upcoming release, The Chaos, set to drop June 1 on NYC based Dovecote Records. The tour, which is the band's first US tour in more than four years, will kick off with a special record release show on June 1st in Brooklyn at The Music Hall of Williamsburg and take the band through major markets on the East Coast before it wraps in Chicago on June 12 at Lincoln Hall. Stay tuned for West Coast tour dates to be announced in the coming weeks.Seven years since the release of their first record, The Futureheads have long since outgrown scenes, shed immediate ties with...
