Just over a year after his debut album, The Voluntary Butler Scheme – aka Dudley-based bedroom pop architect Rob Jones – is back with a new sound and a new four-track EP comprising two vocal songs, two instrumentals and around about a million ideas.
Here is a first little taster, brand new track "To The Height of a Frisbee"
And here's, a video to go with it created by Amercian fan Sam Fathallah:
Since making the first album, The Voluntary Butler Scheme have toured the UK with Adam Green and signed a US deal with influential indie Park The Van. Jones has seen his tracks pop up in such varied places as Grey's Anatomy, a Dell ad, Eastenders and, er, Countryfile.
The EP is a taster of the next Voluntary Butler Scheme album, which will be a mix of instrumental and vocal tracks. For someone with such wildly far-ranging influences and outputs, Jones bravely says his aim for the album is “to blend all the different types of music I've been making together.”
On April 11th Joan As Police Woman releases a new single from her rapturously received third album The Deep Field (Play It Again Sam).
New single, Nervous concerns what Joan calls "the freedom to admit you're vulnerable and anxious," in a new-found relationship, rather than just projecting bravado.
Some artists play a part, act stuff out, and like to hide behind imagery. That's fine, but it's not for everyone. Some, like Joan, want to communicate direct, to tell the truth, and share the honesty. To honour themselves and their audience. It may be cliché to read about it but wonderful to experience.
Nervous begins with a taut drum intro, Moog bass, surging female back-ups and flaming guitar coda. Joan says she was smitten by Marvin Gaye, Sly and the Family Stone, Bowie, Curtis Mayfield and Stevie Wonder too, influences all apparent on her new single.
Q 4 stars - Joan Wasser has never sounded so winning as on Nervous, a celebration of the joys of new love
The Pigeon Detectives are pleased to announce details of a new single, a new album and their first UK headline shows since selling out London's Alexandra Palace at end of 2008. In the interim, the band took leave before recharging and have spent the past year writing and demoing in New York before recording in earnest in the Autumn of 2010. The entire experience has been a new one for the quintet from Leeds whose two previous albums - which have now sold in excess of half a million copies in the UK , were written and recorded on home turf and the first fruits of which will be the brand new single 'Done In Secret' . Recorded at Brooklyn Recording Company with Justin Gerrish taking on production and mixing duties, the album 'UP,GUARDS AND AT 'EM!'' will be released on 4th April through Dance To The Radio and will be available on vinyl, CD and digitally via all usual outlets. The full tracklisting:
1. 'She Wants Me' 2. 'Lost' 3. 'What Can I Say?' 4. 'Need To Know This' 5. 'Done In Secret' 6. 'What You Gonna Do ?' 7. 'Turn Out The Lights' 8. 'Through The Door' 9. 'Go At It Completely' 10. 'I Don't Know You'
For a sneak preview of the new album, watch footage of the band recording the album in NYC and listen to album track "She Wants Me" here:
Meanwhile the band have also announced details of their first headlining UK shows of 2011 and will be airing tracks off the new album when they appear as follows: March 28th - MIDDLESBOROUGH - Empire March 29th - GLASGOW - ABC March 30th - MANCHESTER - Ritz March 31st - LIVERPOOL - Academy April 2nd - BIRMINGHAM - Institute April 3rd - OXFORD - Academy April 4th - NORWICH - UEA April 6th - LONDON - Shepherds Bush Empire April 8th - BOURNEMOUTH - Old Fire Station April 9th - PORTSMOUTH - Wedgewood Rooms April 10th - BRISTOL - Trinity April 11th - COVENTRY - Kasbah April 12th - LEEDS - Metro University
From the coast of North Wales Holy Coves unleash The Droner EP on February 14th, 2011; a gut busting, snarling blues influenced rock outing. Belying their Holyhead heritage, it's a debut fit to fill city stadiums. Is it early Smashing Pumpkins, and Black Rebel Motorcycle Club's oil-slick grooves? Perhaps, but then it's also wholly new.
Atmospherics akin to Black Angels are as audible on the record as when the Coves take to the stage. Which is no surprise really, considering the EP was recorded at Bryn Derwen Studios, with the foothills of Snowdonia looming large over the epic landscape. This is country as big as the band's sound, so there's no more fitting a setting for these mountainous tracks to have been made in.
It was here the band developed a strong bond with producer David Wrench (Bat For Lashes, British Sea Power, Race Horses), himself a member of Julian Cope's The Black Sheep. After being involved with the band since their early demos, it made sense that the musician-cum-studio wizard had his deft hand in the creation of Holy Coves' first official release; the next chapter of a story gaining rapid momentum.
Tom Tom Club will release 'Genius Of Live' through Because Music on 7th February. The two-disc package will feature select tracks from their 'Live at The Clubhouse' album and new remixes of their timeless single, 'Genius Of Love'.
'Live at The Clubhouse' documented the iconic group performing in front of close friends at their home studio. The band can be heard playing their hit singles 'Genius Of Love' and 'Wordy Rappinghood' as well as signature covers of Al Green's 'Take Me To The River' And Hot Chocolate's 'You Sexy Thing'. The performance was recorded shortly after the September 11th tragedy, converting the stress and paranoia of the times into positive energy.
"We had a really exciting band and wanted to record the band for posterity while we were all together," band co-founder/drummer Chris Frantz says.
"Who knew if we would all still be together in the future? This was in October immediately following the harrowing events of September 11 and we wanted to do something positive and fun to counteract the sad and confused feeling people were experiencing at the time."
Tom Tom Club was formed by Chris Frantz and Tina Weymouth in 1981. Graduates from the Rhode Island School of Design, they moved to New York City where they founded the Talking Heads as a trio with David Byrne in 1975. In early 1981, the Talking Heads took a hiatus after five years of touring internationally and four studio albums. Chris and Tina began the Tom Tom Club and signed with Chris Blackwell and Island Records.
"Genius Of Love" has been sampled since the early days of Hip Hop by a wide variety of artists including, Grandmaster Flash, Mariah Carey, Tupac Shakur and T.I. The second disc on this release features prominent Latin alternative artists like Ozomatli, Money Mark, Senor Coconut and The Pinker Tonestackling the track.
Here they are performing Genius of Love at Summer Sonic festival in Japan:
'Compelling… a band with a lot of charm' MAIL ON SUNDAY
'The Jolly Boys are enjoying a remarkable 'Buena Vista Social Club' revival' OBSERVER
'Utterly engaging' THE TELEGRAPH
The Jolly Boys are undoubtedly the most recognisable mento band in the world. Being given their name by the legendary Errol Flynn the band are steeped in history, defining the genre of mento before Jamaica was known for it's ska or reggae.
Even though the Jolly Boys have been around since the early 1940s, they released their latest offering only this summer - an album packed with stunning interpretations of contemporary songs given a mento makeover. The album was received to critical success, with the first release being a version of Amy Winehouse's 'Rehab'. Their next single from this album will be the Lou Reed classic 'A Perfect Day', and it will be released on December 20th.
After hitting the festivals this summer, including appearances mainstage at Bestival and at the Electric Picnic, the Jolly Boys return to UK shores this December to embark on a nation wide headline tour, concluding with a supporting slot with ska veterans Madness at London's Earls Court.
Album 'Great Expectation' is Out Now on Wall Of Sound.
From new album, 'The Deep Field' released Jan 24th
UK Tour - February 2011
The Magic is the first single to be taken from the new JOAN AS POLICE WOMAN album, The Deep Field.
Joan Wasser "The Magic is about how crazy your head can get when you begin worrying about the future, about the past, about not getting what you want or not getting enough of it.. and once that worry starts it can turn into some serious psychic bad trip! "
The new JOAN AS POLICE WOMAN album, The Deep Field begins with the words "I want you to fall in love with me," and continues to unfurl an unashamed lust for life. It's unquestionably her best, most significant album yet - in Joan's own words, "my most open, joyous record." A rocking, soulful journey, The Deep Field is Joan's most personal, and her most universal album to date.
Watch Joan Wasser talk about the recording of her new album:
The Deep Field - the title refers to a tiny and far distant part of space - follows the critical and commercial success of her previous albums, Real Life and To Survive and it confirms, if confirmation were needed, that Joan Wasser is a truly original talent; utterly captivating both on record and on stage, Joan returns to the UK in February for an eleven-date tour:
BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN'S 'THE PROMISE: THE DARKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN STORY' 15th NOVEMBER
BOX SET INCLUDES 3CD/3DVD PACKAGE OF REMASTERED ALBUM, NEVER-BEFORE-SEEN STUDIO & LIVE FOOTAGE, 80-PAGE NOTEBOOK, 21 PREVIOUSLY-UNRELEASED SONGS AND AN EXTRAORDINARY DOCUMENTARY FILM THAT WILL DEBUT AT THE TORONTO FILM FESTIVAL ON 14th SEPT
PACKAGE FEATURES NEARLY SIX HOURS OF FOOTAGE, INCLUDING CLASSIC 1978 HOUSTON PERFORMANCE AND MORE THAN TWO HOURS OF AUDIO
COLUMBIA TO SIMULTANEOUSLY RELEASE 'THE PROMISE' DOUBLE CD COMPLETE SONGS FROM DARKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN'S LOST SESSIONS
Columbia Records will release Bruce Springsteen's 'The Promise: The Darkness on the Edge of Town Story' on 15th November. The Deluxe Package comprises over six hours of film and more than two hours of audio across 3 CDs and 3 DVDs. The media contents are packaged within an 80-page notebook containing facsimiles from Springsteen's original notebooks from the recording sessions, which include alternate lyrics, song ideas, recording details, and personal notes in addition to a new essay by Springsteen and never-before-seen photographs.
An excerpt from the documentary can be watched here:
Containing a wealth of previously unreleased material, 'The Promise: The Darkness on the Edge of Town Story' offers an unprecedented look into Springsteen's creative process during a defining moment in his career. 'The Promise: The Darkness on the Edge of Town Story' will additionally be released as a 3CD/3 Blu Ray disc set.
The set will be available as 'The Promise,' an edition, which consists of only the unheard complete songs on two CDs or four LPs, along with lyrics and the new essay by Springsteen.
A preview of previously unheard song "Save My Love" is here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?gl=GB&v=Dr6WG67ZWfM
The Deluxe Package includes 'Darkness on the Edge of Town,' digitally remastered for the first time.
CD 1: REMASTERED 'DARKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN'
1. Badlands
2. Adam Raised A Cain
3. Something In The Night
4. Candy's Room
5. Racing In The Street
6. The Promised Land
7. Factory
8. Streets Of Fire
9. Prove It All Night
10. Darkness On The Edge Of Town
"'Darkness' was my 'samurai' record," Springsteen writes, "stripped to the frame and ready to rumble. But the music that got left behind was substantial." For the first time, fans will have access to two discs containing a total of 21 previously-unreleased songs from the 'Darkness' recording sessions, songs that, as Springsteen writes, "perhaps could have/should have been released after 'Born To Run' and before the collection of songs that 'Darkness on the Edge of Town' became."
Highlights include the extraordinary rock version of "Racing in the Street," the never-before-released original recordings of "Because the Night," "Fire," and "Rendezvous," the supreme pop opus "Someday (We'll Be Together)," the hilarious "Ain't Good Enough for You," the superb soul-based vocal performance on "The Brokenhearted," the utterly haunting "Breakaway," and the fully orchestrated masterpiece and title song "The Promise." All 21 songs have been mixed by Springsteen's long-time collaborator Bob Clearmountain. According to long-time manager/producer Jon Landau, "There isn't a weak card in this deck. 'The Promise' is simply a great listening experience."
CD 2: THE PROMISE (DISC 1)
1. Racing In The Street ('78)
2. Gotta Get That Feeling
3. Outside Looking In
4. Someday (We'll Be Together)
5. One Way Street
6. Because The Night
7. Wrong Side Of The Street
8. The Brokenhearted
9. Rendezvous
10. Candy's Boy
CD 3: THE PROMISE (DISC 2)
1. Save My Love
2. Ain't Good Enough For You
3. Fire
4. Spanish Eyes
5. It's A Shame
6. Come On (Let's Go Tonight)
7. Talk To Me
8. The Little Things (My Baby Does)
9. Breakaway
10. The Promise
11. City Of Night
The Deluxe Package also features "The Promise: The Making of 'Darkness on the Edge of Town,'" a documentary directed by Grammy- and Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Thom Zimny. The ninety-minute film combines never-before-seen footage of Springsteen and the E Street Band shot between 1976 and 1978'including home rehearsals and studio sessions'with new interviews with Springsteen, E Street Band members, manager Jon Landau, former-manager Mike Appel, and others closely involved in the making of the record. Advanced word on the documentary is so strong that it was invited to debut at the prestigious Toronto Film Festival on September 14 and will make its television debut on HBO on 7th October.
DVD 1: "THE PROMISE: THE MAKING OF 'DARKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN'"
In addition, the set features more than four hours of live concert film from the Thrill Hill Vault, including the bootleg house cut (the footage that appeared on-screen at the concert) from a 1978 Houston show, and a 2009 performance of 'Darkness on the Edge of Town' in its entirety from Asbury Park. The special performance in Asbury Park was shot in HD without an audience and successfully recreates the stark atmosphere of the original album.
DVD 2: DARKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN (PARAMOUNT THEATER, ASBURY PARK, NJ, 2009)
Music Digital Marketing and Online PR
Contact Giovanna Ferin on info@sureshotpr.co.uk or call us on 020 7729 5256
Our ever-expanding and evolving roster includes and has included: A Camp, Adam Freeland, Akira The Don, Amadou and Mariam, Autokratz, Bellowhead, Billy Bragg, The Black Box Revelation, The Bishops, Camden Crawl 2008, Cazals, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Charlotte Hatherley, Concrete and Glass Festival, Crystal Castles, Dinosaur Jr, DJ Hell, Eight Legs, Elektrons, El-P, Evil Nine, Felix Da Housecat, Field Day Festival, Five O'Clock Heroes, Funeral For A Friend, Future of The Left, The Go! Team, Grammatics, Heaven and Hell, Howling Bells, Joan As Police Woman, Kelly Rowland, Kiko, Is Tropical, Laurent Garnier, Lethal Bizzle, Little Barrie, Manu Chao, Mekon, mewithoutYou, Mogwai, Motion Picture Soundtrack, Neon Neon, Officer Kicks, The Pigeon Detectives, The Pipettes, Rough Trade Shops Counter Culture 07, Royksopp, The Shortwave Set, Shy Child, Soulwax, Sound and Fury, South Central, Swanton Bombs, Sway, Tiga, Tokyo Police Club, Turbowolf, Underage Festival, Underworld, Video Nasties, The Von Bondies, Wave Machines, Yeasayer, You Me At Six, The Young Gods, Zico Chain...
