Friday 28 January 2011, 11:22 | By CMU Editorial

Chase & Status spurn Rihanna to work with UK artists (and Cee-Lo)

Artist News

Chase & Status have revealed that they knocked back the chance to have guest vocals from Rihanna on their new album, ‘No More Idols’, choosing instead to work exclusively with UK vocalists. And Cee-Lo. But Cee-Lo’s a nice guy, so it’s OK to make one exception.

Saul ‘Chase’ Milton told The Sun: “There was talk about working with Rihanna and other names linked to Roc Nation but we weren’t tempted. We wanted the album to showcase fresh and cutting edge UK talent. We’re known for working with new artists such as Plan B and that’s what really excites us. On the album we’ve worked with Clare Maguire – who just has this amazing voice and will appeal to everyone – Mali, Delilah and Tempa T, all of whom are wicked. We’ve also got tunes on there with White Lies and Tinie Tempah. Tinie is like your archetypal English gent but the track we’ve got him on is quite raw”.

He added: “Admittedly Cee-Lo isn’t British but he sings on a track called ‘Brixton Briefcase’, which is about London in the 80s when guys used to walk around with ghetto blasters on their shoulders. That’s what a Brixton briefcase is and Cee-Lo loved it. There was no ego at all. He was just like: ‘I’ll do whatever you want me to do’. Working with him was cool”.

‘No More Idols’ is out on Monday.

Datarock to release “most extravagant single in history”

Releases

Norwegian electro duo Datarock have announced plans to release ‘Catcher In The Rye’ in March, which they claim is the “most extravagant single in history”. What’s more, it’ll come on that always popular format for record releases, the USB stick.

Still, squished inside the 4GB portable data storage unit, as well as the single’s lead song, will be over 100 bonus tracks, 1500 photos, 20 music videos and an hour long concert film. Among the bonus track will be a new album called ‘Music For Synchronization’. Which does seem quite extravagant. Or stupid, depending on how you want to look at it.

More information on the release can be found at www.datarockmusic.com

Mirrors announce debut album

Releases

Mirrors have announced that they will release their debut album, ‘Lights And Offerings’, through Skint on 28 Feb. I’m listening to it now, it’s very good.

For a little taste, take a look at the video for the next single, ‘Into The Heart’, which will be released on 14 Feb.

The band create their music using, amongst other equipment, a large collection of vintage synths, lending a warmth and unpredictability to the songs. Says frontman James New: “We like that whole idea that your art is your life, you are what you make. We love old synths – they only play one note at a time. They go out of tune. They’re a nightmare to program. But that’s why we like them. We don’t want everything completely polished and produced”.

On the subject of the album’s inspiration, he said: “We are disappointed in the society around us. Everything has become boring, socially and politically. We were bored of our Blackberrys and bored of our laptops and bored of groups making absolutely no effort to do anything creative. With Mirrors we wanted to build something from the ground up and create something completely different”.

The band will head out on a headline tour next month, followed by a March tour with fellow Brightonians Fujiya & Miyagi.

Here’s the tracklist for the album:

Fear Of Drowning
Look At Me
Into The Heart
Write Through The Night
Ways To An End
Hide And Seek
Somewhere Strange
Something On Your Mind
Searching In The Wilderness
Secrets

Patti Smith to write detective novel

Artist News

Having published various volumes of her poetry, art, lyrics and an autobiography, Patti Smith has revealed that her next book will be a detective novel set in London and inspired by Sherlock Holmes and American crime writer Mickey Spillane. Speaking to the NME, Smith said that the book was 68% complete, explaining: “For the last two years … I’ve been working on a detective story that starts at St Giles-in-the-Fields in London”.

Patrick Wolf announces tour dates

Gigs & Festivals Releases

Patrick Wolf has announced that he will tour the UK in March, ahead of the release of his new album, ‘Lupercalia’, in May. On 14 Mar, he’ll also release the second single from the album, ‘The City’.

Of the single, Wolf says: “‘The City’ saved my life. Living in central London, I woke up one broody morning having booked some studio time. It was a hot summer’s day and in the midst of the protests against the banks and BBC 6music closing down. Seeing how the recession had worked its way into people’s relationships and ambitions, I went to my piano and started to fight against the negative by writing in the positive”.

Watch the video for the single here.

Now, how about these tour dates…

23 Mar: Glasgow, Oran Mor
24 Mar: Nottingham, Rescue Rooms
25 Mar: Birmingham, Academy
26 Mar: Manchester, Club Academy
28 Mar: Bristol, Thekla
29 Mar: London, Koko

Demdike Stare announce Brighton sermon

Gigs & Festivals Releases

Experimental techno duo Demdike Stare have announced that they will appear at The Outer Church, a monthly audio/visual event at Komedia in Brighton, on 10 Feb. The duo will play tracks from their 2010 trilogy of albums – ‘Forest Of Evil’, ‘Liberation Through Hearing’ and ‘Voiced Of Dust’ – with live visuals.

Speaking of that album trilogy, having previously only been available on vinyl, the records have now been compiled into a three CD set with 40 minutes of bonus material by the Modern Love label.

Here’s the video for ‘Hashshashin Chant’ from ‘Voiced Of Dust’ to give you an idea of the sort of spooky brilliance to expect.

Festival line-up update – 28 Jan 2011

Artist News Festival Line-Up Update Gigs & Festivals

LIVERPOOL SOUND CITY, various venues, Liverpool, 19-21 May: Cast, Black Lips, Jamie xx, The Whip, Spank Rock and Willy Mason are to head up this year’s Sound City bill. Local heroes Wave Machines will also perform. The three day event will feature showcases by some of the most exciting indie labels around at the moment, with Bella Union, Young Turks and Moshi Moshi slated to present their choicest artists. www.liverpoolsoundcity.co.uk

REWIND, Temple Island Meadows, Henley-on-Thames, 19-21 Aug: 80s synth-popsters The Human League will headline the English leg of the 80s nostalgia fest, which will also feature Kim Wilde, Bananarama, Ali Campbell’s UB40, Toyah, Haircut 100, The Original Bucks Fizz and a further list of just about every artist and band who ever made music in the 80s. Most exciting of all, The Village People will be out-camping the campsite with a set of singalong faves. www.rewindfestival.com

WAKESTOCK, Abersoch Bay, Wales, 8-10 Jul: Matt Cardle’s best pals Biffy Clyro will be bringing their brand of Scots rock to this year’s watery Welsh wakeboarding event. The Wombats are set to co-headline, with lovely department store poster girl Ellie Goulding also confirmed to play. Taking care of the dancier side of things will be Example, Jaguar Skills, DJ Fresh, Jaymo & Andy George and Danny Byrd. www.wakestock.co.uk/abersoch

Album review: Frankie Goes To Hollywood – Liverpool (Deluxe) (ZTT/Salvo)

Album Reviews

Originally released in 1986, ‘Liverpool’ was often dismissed as an expensive flop, given its high recording costs and poor sales when compared to 1984’s ‘Welcome To The Pleasure Dome’.

In truth, the music world – and the tastes of the public – had simply changed in those two years, with Live Aid being the pivotal moment when all the adventurous new pop of the previous five years gave way to conservatism, with the new romantics and futurists struggling artistically and commercially (see: The Human League, Heaven 17, OMD, Duran etc).

So ‘Liverpool’ is no dud, even if it lacks the sense of fun and playfulness of its predecessor, in part reflected by the music, which is far rockier here, and shows the group weren’t just puppets of Trevor Horn and Paul Morley (with the fingerprints of both placed only sparingly here), although with only eight tracks, you suspect there wasn’t an abundance of great ideas. But what we have is at worst competent, and at best, brilliant (see the three singles, the electronic proto-Balearica of ‘Maximum Joy’, or ‘Is Anybody Out There?’, which revisits similar territory to ‘The Power Of Love’ and, whilst not quite that memorable, is still a decent piece of epic stadium balladry in its own right).

Completists will welcome the bonus material on the two CDs here, including all the b-sides (mostly just respectable cover versions), alternate versions and two twenty minute cassette mixes, which allow Horn and co to satiate their remix hunger. Sadly, the astonishing twelve-inch mix of ‘Rage Hard’ is absent and, whilst it does appear on ZTT’s new ‘Art Of The Twelve-Inch’ compilation’ (which perhaps explains, if not excuses, its absence), it really should have been a bonus track here too, especially given some of the jams and demos were probably best left on the cutting room floor really.

Aside from that small gripe though, this is a welcome re-issue. MS

Physical release: 7 Feb

Proud takes over Matter space

Business News Live Business

Well, any of you who read the CMU job ads section could have worked this one out for yourselves earlier this month. The Proud Group, best known for operating Camden’s Proud Gallery, is taking over the running of the club under London’s Dome, previously the Fabric-managed Matter.

The club venue in AEG Live’s The O2 complex will become Proud2, hosting weekend club nights and circus-themed productions – something between Manumission and a Vegas cabaret, I think. Maybe with some La Clique-style nonsense thrown in for good measure. The space has been dramatically revamped for its new remit.

Of course, Fabric’s efforts to operate a more conventional superclub under the Dome failed, almost pushing the wider company out of business altogether last year, despite the new venue being well received by artists and clubbers alike.

The recession hit plans to host corporate parties early in the week, while never ending engineering works on the Jubilee line at the weekends hindered the core club programme. Plus, of course, the whole O2 complex still has the issue that many Londoners perceive North Greenwich as being just this side of Amsterdam, and not as much fun.

It was rumoured last month that AEG would be more directly involved in the relaunch of the club space, and it’s not entirely clear if that is the case; if so, Proud will enjoy more secure funding than Fabric did. Either way, presumably both parties are hoping a more cabaret approach will get the audiences in. It might just work. And on the travel side, the new venue will operate its own Routemaster buses between the Dome and central London.

Confirming his new venture, Alex Proud told CMU: “I am thrilled to extend the Proud brand to a venue that offers clubbers something completely different. Proud2 will bring Vegas-style clubbing to London with a combination of theatrical shows, live music and big name DJs in a club that not only aims to serve but take care of our customers. There won’t be any experience like this in the city”.

AEG Live to programme ULU venue

Business News Live Business

Elsewhere in London venue news, and more from the world of AEG Live. The company has just announced it will take over the running of the 800-capacity venue at the heart of the University Of London Union’s central London building.

Jan Chadwick, formerly General Manager of the Hammersmith Apollo and most recently at AEG’s Indigo2 venue, will take over bookings at the students’ union space. Jan told CMU: “I am extremely excited to be booking the next wave of up and coming artists, the venue has such a enormous history where all bands want to play on their way up before taking the next step on their journey to huge success”.

It’s increasingly common for the larger students’ unions to hire the services of established venue owners and promoters to manage and/or book their gig spaces. As previously reported, the Academy Music Group are most active in this space, though MAMA Group’s Barfly did formerly programme gigs at ULU.

Wilco launch own record label

Business News Labels & Publishers

Wilco have launched their own label, dBpm Records, to put out the band’s future releases. Run by the band’s manager, Tony Margherita, distribution and label services will be provided by Epitaph’s Anti- division.

Margherita told CMU: “Wilco’s independent streak is well documented and nothing new, and this is the culmination of what we’ve been working towards for the last fifteen years. As we reached the end of our last deal, it felt like it was time for a change and the one thing we were certain we did NOT want to do was to sign another traditional recording agreement. Our discussions with Anti-, coming on the back of a great experience working with them on the Mavis Staples record, led us to thinking we might be able to come up with something quite different from the norm that could potentially be better for us and, frankly, a lot more interesting. And that’s exactly what happened….”

Frontman Jeff Tweedy added: “This is an idea we’ve discussed for years. We really like doing things ourselves, so having our own label feels pretty natural to me. And, to be working with Anti- – a label that has its roots in a label that was started by a punk rock guy to sell his own records – seems like a perfect fit for us”.

The band are currently working on the follow-up to their 2009 LP, ‘Wilco (The Album)’.

Twenty First Artists appoints new manager

Business News Industry People Management & Funding

Twenty First Artists, the Universal Music-owned artist management firm, has announced the recruitment of Alex Katter to its London team, who will bring his existing management clients, including Leah Weller, Paul Lewis and Mr Wayne, with him. He previously spent four years at Safe Management before going it alone last year.

Twenty First Artists boss Colin Lester told CMU: “Alex is an excellent artist manager who will bring energy, enthusiasm and an exceptional track record of spotting exciting new talent to our company. He comes to us with several great artists and we are looking forward to helping him develop those while providing him with the support and infrastructure to expand his current roster”.

Katter, meanwhile added: “I’m delighted to be joining Twenty First Artists at such an exciting time for the company. Colin Lester is very ambitious and has a clear vision for taking the company forward and that’s something that really appeals to me. This move will allow me to continue developing my current roster while working with the team here to discover new artists who can have long-term careers and global, crossover appeal”.

As previously reported, Twenty First Artists recently announced an expansion into the Nordic market with the appointment of Sandji Tandan. At MIDEM earlier this week Lester said he had ambitions to make Twenty First Artists a truly global management agency.

Google starts to introduce promised new anti-piracy measures

Digital

Some of the anti-piracy measures announced by Google last year have gone into action. As previously reported, the web giant last month made various pledges to ensure Google services don’t actively support websites that exist solely to enable piracy. Some of those pledges were about making existing anti-piracy efforts more effective, others dealt with little bug bears that have frustrated content companies for some time.

One of those bug bears was that when you typed an artist’s name into the Google search engine it would automatically recommend additional search terms that would likely lead to illegal content – terms like “torrent”. And that’s one of the things Google is addressing this week, stopping those terms from being recommended. Of course, that’s not to stop users typing in “torrent” themselves, and torrent sources of content will still then come up in such search results.

Some argue Google’s new anti-piracy measures are token gestures to smooth the way for licensing talks with the big record companies regarding the web firm’s planned new music service and won’t have a huge tangible impact. While on the other side of the equation some say the new measures go too far, for example, what if there is a legitimate torrent source of some content?

Artrocker to give away flexi-disc – woo

Media

Indie music mag Artrocker is giving away the first free limited edition seven-inch flexi disc since the 1980s. Or at least that’s what the press release claims. That’s the sort of statement that usually results in 37 overly-informed CMU readers emailing in evidence that actually Slob Mag in Croydon has been giving away flexi-disks every week for two years now. And I know for a fact American metal mag Decibel starting give away the flexible records late last year.

But still, I love flexi discs, so hurrah for Artrocker. This is what someone at the magazine said (I don’t know who, they were speaking from the shadows): “People are accessing music for free on the net, so we thought we may as well give them a flexi disc so they can discover something different… it’s exciting, like you just found something. And it’s something that you need a two pence piece to play properly”.

The flexi-disc will be stuck to the front of the next Artrocker, which is out next week. Though take note, this only applies to copies of the mag bought in WH Smith, which will be stocking the mag with a different cover to everyone else. If you actually listen to the disc you’ll find music from new band Hold Kiss Kill.

New launch date for The Daily

Media

The Daily, the new iPad-only newspaper from Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp, originally due to go live earlier this month, will now arrive on 2 Feb. The launch was originally going to be in San Francisco, presumably because Apple boss Steve Jobs was meant to there. But with him on sick leave and unable to attend, the launch party has been moved to New York’s Guggenheim. iTunes man Eddy Cue will represent Apple at the bash. As a Murdoch-owned media, I am looking forward to reading some quality chauvinism illegally sourced from the voicemails of football commentators.

US store “protects” shoppers from Elton John

And Finally

US readers may have noticed that Elton John and David Furnish are on the cover of the new edition of Us Weekly with their new baby son. Except those who shop in the Harps grocery store in Arkansas, where the cover has been wrapped in the same kind of wrapper that obscures the front of porn magazines in order to “protect” customers.

Presumably it was feared that children might see the picture and turn all gay, rather just thinking, ‘Oh look, there’s two men and a baby’. Or, more likely, ‘Where are the comics?’ Either way, the shop said it wasn’t their fault, it was their bigoted customers. A spokesperson said that “several” people had complained about the image, adding: “[This decision] in no way [reflects] our opinion on this issue. We do not have an opinion on this issue”.

In other news, Elton John has been speaking to someone about record label bosses. According to The Sun, here’s what he had to say: “I think most heads of record companies are idiots. About 5% are any good. They’re only in it for themselves. They don’t care about artists. They’re all about the next fix, the next single. It’s like they’re having a hit of cocaine every fifteen seconds. And if someone falls by the wayside, they’re by the wayside. They’re not allowed one blip. In America, most of them are idiots. They’re sickening actually. They sicken me. They’re thick as shit”.

Q&A: Jim Perkins

Artist Interviews

Composer, arranger and all-round neo-classical powerhouse Jim Perkins trained in composition and audio production before setting up his own label, Bigo & Twigetti, developing under that banner not only his own work but that of other producers and sonic artists. In 2008 he collaborated with folk musician Ronan Burke under the Ranger3 moniker, and also has remixed everyone from Steve Reich to Foals.

Jim’s debut solo album ‘Grains’ is a sum of many intricate parts, designed to resonate both with classical and folk fans and electronically-inclined audiences. It brings together organic instrumentals with rough-cut computerised beats, a grand soundscape dispersed by whimsical melodies reminiscent of The Flaming Lips.

He releases ‘Grains’ through B&T on 31 Jan with an LP launch party at London’s Vortex venue the same night. In anticipation of this, we caught up with the maestro himself to ask the Same Six.

Q1 How did you start out making music
The first memory I have of actually making music (about aged four) is sitting at opposite ends of my grandmother’s piano with my elder brother bashing the keys at either end of the keyboard as hard as we could, whilst making motorcycle noises. We used to call ourselves The Berry Brothers, I’ve no idea why.

Q2 What inspired your latest album?
The first track on the album, the ‘Chopin Prelude’, was the inspiration for the whole album really. It’s an incredible piece which encouraged me to listen to a lot of piano music. It lends itself so well to re-arranging and offered a perfect opportunity to fuse all my experience of editing and mixing digital audio files with the sounds of the piano. Although I did this not by chopping up the existing recording but by starting with the musical arrangement and the natural rhythm of the piece; this allowed me much more flexibility in producing the final piece exactly as I wanted.

That piece triggered a whole series of events which led to endless hours of recording piano, meeting some incredible musicians and studio engineers who generously donated their time to help create it. The title of the album, ‘Grains’, is taken from the small parts which a soundwave is chopped up into as a part of the process of digitally extending the notes length without affecting the pitch. This was used a lot in the creation of the album.

Q3 What process do you go through in creating a track
I like to be fairly involved at every stage. I try to think a lot about a piece before I write anything, then when I do I like to initially sketch a lot of ideas so that when it comes to writing the final piece there is a lot of musical material to choose from. I also like to rehearse continuously with the musicians before recording (in an ideal world!). Their feedback is invaluable in discovering whether what I have written is playable and how it might be improved (I don’t always agree, but it’s great to have the discussion). I’m involved in all elements of the recording, from deciding which takes to keep, to the final edit, and the application of the various digital effects or reverbs.

Q4 Which artists influence your work
Here are some of them: Ravel, Chopin, Schumann, Wagner, Tallis, Messiaen, Morton Feldman, Arvo Part, Leif Inge. Quite a lot of my editing techniques are heavily influenced by film editors and visual artists.

Q5 What would you say to someone experiencing your music for the first time
So, what did you think?

Q6 What are your ambitions for your album, and for the future
For it to be listened to and to inspire people. As for the future, I’d like to be able to continue to write and record music and to collaborate with more artists and perhaps even take a break from the piano for a while.

MORE>> jimperkins.org

Approved: Paul Frick feat Emika – I Mean (Dollkraut’s Band Reinterpretation)

CMU Approved

One third of ‘acoustic techno’ trio Brandt Brauer Frick, Paul Frick has written and performed music in seemingly every conceivable style, from classical to metal to hip hop and beyond. Lately he’s been gaining notoriety on the electronic music scene with a handful of solo releases on various underground labels. The latest, a tech house track called ‘I Mean’, was released by Doppelschall/The Gym earlier this month and features the brilliant Emika on vocals.

Although the original version is very good, today we’re going to concentrate on Dutch producer Dollkraut’s reworking of it because, firstly, it’s also very good, and secondly, a video for it has just gone online. Shot on Super 8, and featuring a man with a bag on his head, the images in the video perfectly complement the John Barry-esque sound of the remix, which gently lays the already not overly energetic original back into full reclining position.

Spanish government reintroduces Sinde Law proposals after parliamentary knock back

Digital Top Stories

The Spanish government has reintroduced proposals to make it easier for content owners to target copyright infringing websites, after proposed new copyright laws were knocked back by the country’s House Of Representatives just before Christmas.

As previously reported, the so called Sinde Law is Spain’s attempt to introduce new regulations that reduce levels of illegal file-sharing. Unlike the UK and France, where three-strike style systems that target individuals who file-share have been favoured by lawmakers, in Spain the preferred approach is a fast-track system through which content owners can force websites that exist primarily to assist others in their illegal file-sharing offline. Such a system was also included in the UK’s Digital Economy Act in addition to three-strikes, but with an extra clause that basically stopped it from being introduced in the short term.

The last time we reported on the Sinde Law in late December it looked like Spain’s parliament was about to green light the Spanish government’s plans, which were included in wider legislative proposals under the banner Sustainable Economy Law. However, amid high profile campaigning by some of those websites that fear they will be targeted under the proposed shutdown system, and other consumer groups who proposed the new rules, the House Of Representatives voted against the proposals.

But ministers remain committed to their anti-piracy system, and this week, with the support of three political parties, reintroduced the Sinde Law into the SEL proposals just before they head to the upper house of the country’s parliament, the Senate. With three parties involved in the slightly tweaked Sinde Law proposals it is thought they will now pass through the Senate without any problems. I’m not clear on whether the reworked Sinde Law will then have to go back to the House Of Representatives for a second vote.

The tweaks basically involve adding a judicial stage into the shut down process. It seems that first draft anti-piracy systems proposed by politicians after being lobbied by content owners invariably lack a judicial stage where a court of law considers any sanctions against copyright infringers – whether that be suspending the internet access of individual file-sharers, or ordering internet service providers to block access to an entire website.

Opponents usually argue, probably rightly, that puts too much power in the hands of government agencies and throws doubt on the independence of any appeals process. The French government had to add in a judicial stage into their Hadopi three-strike law, and that’s basically the compromise Spanish officials have included in their second draft proposals to try and reassure those who opposed the Sinde Law first time round that the new system won’t let copyright owners to go round shutting down websites on whim.

Of course, while the tweaks may be enough to placate political opponents in the Spanish parliament, opposition to any new rules to target file-sharing remains just as strong outside the legislative chamber.

As much previously reported, with the new laws the Spanish government is, in part, responding to pressure from foreign governments who reckon Spain has done far too little to protect intellectual property rights in the digital age. Indeed, it’s not uncommon under Spain’s existing copyright system for Spanish judges to rule that non-commercial file-sharing does not actually constitute infringement at all. Torrentfreak claims that American officials have been directly involved in drafting the Sinde Law proposals.

Live Nation settles Ticketmaster delivery fees class action

Legal

Live Nation has confirmed that it has settled a long running class action lawsuit against its ticketing company Ticketmaster, and that as a result a one off pay out of $22.3 million will appear in it’s fourth quarter financial results. The case was launched way back in 2003 by two Americans called Curt Schlesinger and Peter Lo Re but was only confirmed as a class action, so that anyone negatively affected could claim damages, last September.

The plaintiffs accused Ticketmaster of misleading customers by implying in its marketing materials that “delivery fees” added to ticket purchases were a simply cost of sale, ie what it cost Ticketmaster to deliver tickets. In fact a profit margin was included so the fee was a revenue stream for the ticketing giant. Given the size of the delivery fees (up to $25) that was probably a given, but the plaintiffs reckoned the ticketing firm was at fault for not explicitly stating so.

Having become a class action lawsuit last year the case was due to go to court this month, but it seems an out of court settlement has been reached. Under the settlement, Live Nation/Ticketmaster will not accept it deliberately misled customers, but will (somehow) make efforts to compensate past ticket-buyers who were confused by their explanations of fees and ensure future communication is clearer. It will also cover all the legal fees related to this dispute. Hence the $22.3 million set aside to clear things up.

As an aside, Live Nation is already suing its insurers Illinois Union Insurance Co in relation to this case after it refused to pay the $4 million in legal fees the live music and ticketing giant has run up fighting the case.

Nas sees tax bill grow ever larger

Legal

Poor old Nas, he has no luck when it comes to money. Although his monthly support payments to ex-wife Kelis and their eighteen month old son Knight were recently halved to $25,000 a month, the IRS is on his back again about unpaid taxes.

Neatly reminding UK freelancers that their tax returns need to be in by Monday, Detroit News reports that the US tax body has this month filed three separate claims against the rapper for almost $6.5 million in unpaid taxes. What’s more, he’s apparently nearly $4000 behind on rent payments for his New York apartment, though given the size of his tax bill and alimony payments, that doesn’t actually seem that bad.

U2 drummer loses defamation case

Legal

According to reports, U2 drumming man Larry Mullen Jr has lost a defamation lawsuit pursued against him, Bono and a Rio-based newspaper by a Brazilian concert promoter called Franco Bruni.

The litigation related to an interview the U2 men did with Brazil’s O Globo in 2000 in which Mullen Jr claimed the band had not been paid for three concerts that were promoted by Bruni in 1998. But Bruni had paid the band their performance fees, what remained unpaid was publishing royalties, which, the promoter claimed, was out of his hands.

A ruling on the long running litigation was made earlier this month, and while Bono was acquitted, Mullen Jr, the journalist who wrote the interview and O Globo were all found liable. They were ordered to pay Bruni 800,000 Brazilain real, or about $480,000.

Courtney Love joins Oxford University Conservative Association

Artist News

On Sunday, Courtney Love was elected Non-Executive Officer For Rock And Roll at the Oxford University Conservative Association. I’m not sure I can think of a more embarrassing title.

According to political blogger Guido Fawkes, Love’s appointment came after a night spent drinking with OUCA members and contributing to their Port & Policy debate, in which she called “for a foreign policy based on morality and said Wikileaks was a step forward for democracy”. So, there you go.

As previously reported, Love also spoke at the Oxford Union last February, covering subjects as diverse as the state of the music industry, the British public’s part in its downfall, her relationship with her daughter, Kurt Cobain’s suicide, Greek myths and her affinity with the UK. She didn’t mention any desire to become music adviser to a bunch of young Tories, though.

Everything Everything win South Bank award

Awards

I’d forgotten that the ‘South Bank Show’ had moved to Sky Arts. I’m not sure what I thought had happened, I guess I thought it had just gone off air. There’s probably not that much difference between the two. But, hey, let’s not dwell on the disappearance of Melvin Bragg’s culture vehicle, let’s celebrate the fact that Everything Everything have won one of its awards. The Breakthrough Award, to be exact.

Amongst the other cultural types also up for the newcomer prize at the cross-genre South Bank Awards were comedian Greg Davies, artist Simon Fujiwara and actress Michelle Dockery.

Julie’s Bicycle adds eco-prize to Music Week Awards

Awards Business News

Julie’s Bicycle, the body that promotes more eco-friendly practices in the music business, has announced it has teamed up with Music Week to launch a new award recognising environmental achievements made by music companies.

The Julie’s Bicycle Green Business Award will be presented as part of the Music Week Awards, which this year take place at The Roundhouse in London on 24 May.

For more information go check the Julie’s Bicycle website here.

Razorlight confirm new line up

Artist News

So, a spokesman for Razorlight has responded to a new photo of the band which “leaked” (aka was emailed out by another PR company) onto the internet yesterday. The new shot of Johnny Borrell et al caused quite a stir on Twitter, partly because the band look like the cast of a Tim Burton remake of the ‘Grim Tales’, and partly because two of the band members didn’t look very familiar.

The spokesman last night confirmed that Razorlight recently parted company with two of its founding members, guitarist Bjorn Agren and bassist Carl Dalemo. They have been replaced by Gus Robertson and Freddie Stitz respectively. Skully, who replaced original Razorlight drummer Andy Burrows back in 2008, is still with the band.

The departure of two band members was, the spokesman says, amicable. Agren is producing and playing guitar with Lucy Rose, while Dalemo has a new band in development. Razorlight, meanwhile, will play various gigs this summer, including Guilfest on 16 Jul. No word on when the ‘Grim Tales’ movie will be released.

Katy B announces debut album

Releases

Katy B has announced details of her forthcoming debut album, ‘On A Mission’, which will be released by Rinse on 28 Mar. In terms of promising new pop/dance straddlers, I’m pinning all my hopes on this album now. I don’t think I could take another let down after the crushing disappointment of the James Blake record.

Of the album, Katy says: “It’s me, just as a young woman, partying, relationships… the album’s definitely where I’m coming from. Tracks like ‘Disappear’ and ‘Easy Please Me’ are all experiences in my life and emotions that I’ve felt”.

As previously reported, ahead of the album release, B will head out her first UK headline tour. The tracklist for the album is as follows:

Power On Me
Katy On A Mission
Why You Always Here
Witches Brew
Movement
Go Away
Disappear
Broken Record
Lights On (feat Ms Dynamite)
Easy Please Me
Perfect Stranger
Hard To Get

Micachu & The Shapes record with London Sinfonietta

Gigs & Festivals Releases

Micachu & The Shapes and the London Sinfonietta will release a collaborative album, entitled ‘Chopped & Screwed’, on 28 Mar via Rough Trade, it has been announced. Written by the band and then developed with the Sinfonietta, the record was recorded live at Kings Place in London last May.

Discussing the project, Micachu, aka Mica Levi, said: “Our own instruments sound a bit percussive, a bit like samples, a bit different. When I write songs on a guitar I find my hands falling into the same bar chords all the time, but if you have something new in front of you there are no rules. No one else has ever played one before so you can approach music differently just make it up as you go along. Doing a project with the London Sinfonietta is an amazing opportunity for us”.

There will be another chance to see the album performed live at Queen Elizabeth Hall in London as part of this year’s Ether Festival on 5 Apr. Micachu & The Shapes are also due to release their second studio album later this year.

Tori Amos musical in production

Artist News

A new musical written by Tori Amos will open at the National Theatre in London in April 2012, it has been announced. The as-yet-untitled show will be an adaptation of George MacDonald’s 1864 fairy tale ‘The Light Princess’, the story of a princess who floats into the air unless she is swimming.

To be directed by Marianne Elliott, it will feature music and lyrics by Amos, with additional words by Samuel Adamson.

Robbie Williams musical in production

Artist News

Not nearly as exciting as the prospect of a new musical play written by Tori Amos, Robbie Williams is apparently going to be the subject of the next one of those tedious greatest hits musicals in the West End. Oh joy.

According to one of The Sun’s many sources: “Robbie is bang up for the musical and thinks it will be a fun production. He loves West End shows and is honoured they will be doing one about his life”.

Meanwhile, that bloody Spice Girls musical is due to open next year.

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