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How is it that my desk has got so untidy? That's what I want to know. I don't make a conscious effort to make it this way and yet somehow it seems to be covered in bits of paper, CDs that I may or may not have listened to, dirty coffee cups, magazines and a whole load of pens.

Somewhere I seem to remember there being a couple of computers and a phone, but I couldn't guarantee they're still there. Right now I'm just punching at a keyboard and hoping the wire is connected to something at the other end.

If it is indeed connected to something, then you're in for a treat, because I will have managed to put together (against all the odds) another edition of CMU Weekly. It will be full of news, reviews, quotes, interviews and tips to help you ease into the weekend.

As usual, we also have a competition. This week we've got three copies of the new album by breakbeat production duo Deekline & Wizard, which, if you manage to win it, will be another thing that will get your Friday moving in fine form. Or any other day, for that matter.

It's all, as we say in the business, bloody brilliant. Just a little technical term for you there. Try it out on your friends later on. While you're doing that, I'm going to start getting ready for next Friday's Weekly. I will see you there.

Team CMU

		JURY TIME: SPECTOR TRIAL UPDATE So, the Phil Spector murder trial v.2 is now in the hands of the jury. Summing up took a little longer than expected, but the prosecution delivered their rebuttal to the defence's closing arguments yesterday, and then Judge Larry Fidler sent the jurors into their room to consider the arguments and, hopefully, reach a conclusion as to whether or not it can be said, beyond reasonable doubt, that the legendary producer shot dead actress Lana Clarkson at his Beverly Hills home back in February 2003. After a change made by the judge earlier this week, if the jury are not convinced Spector behaved with sufficient recklessness to be guilty of murder, but they do believe he was holding the gun when Clarkson was killed, they, unlike the jurors in the original trial against the producer, will be able to convict him of involuntary manslaughter. Spector, of course, maintains that Clarkson shot herself.

		SPANDAU BALLET REFORM So, Spandau Ballet officially announced their reunion tour this week on board the HMS Belfast in the Thames, a nod to their infamous gig on the boat in 1980 which saw thousands of fans show up - some in rowing boats - to be part of the party, leading to a bit of unplanned debauchery on the historic naval vessel. Things were more civilised yesterday as Tony Hadley, John Keeble, Gary Kemp, Martin Kemp and Steve Norman confirmed they were back on speaking terms and ready to tour the world, with eight UK and Ireland dates announced for October. Earlier in the week, Hadley said: "The boys are back in town and we can't wait. It's going to be brilliant. We're very excited, but it will be very different. There will be all the hits, the nostalgia, but there will also be a new take on what Spandau Ballet are about".

		CHAMBERLIN LEAVES PUMPKINS Billy Corgan has announced that drummer Jimmy Chamberlin has left The Smashing Pumpkins, which means that Corgan is the only member left. In a statement, Corgan said that he would continue to write and record under the Smashing Pumpkins name and plans to begin work on a new album in the coming months. Chamberlin, meanwhile, was quick to report that there was no bad feeling between him and Corgan (possibly because most people automatically assumed there was), saying: "I can no longer commit all of my energy into something that I don't fully possess. I won't pretend I'm into something I'm not. I won't do it to myself, you the fan, or my former partner. I can't just 'cash the check', so to speak. Music is my life. It is sacred. It deserves the highest commitment at every level and the Pumpkins are certainly no different. I'm sorry but it really IS that simple. There is no drama, bad blood, or anything else but a full commitment to music".

		NEW HENDRIX FOOTAGE TO BE RELEASED A new DVD of candid footage of Jimi Hendrix, shot back in 1969, is to be released by the Hendrix estate. The film will be co-released with the Universal Music Group, and sees the musician relaxing off stage and in between gigs. Elsewhere in unreleased Hendrix news, a tape of 14 previously unheard acoustic tracks is expected to raise between £50k and £100k when it goes up for auction next month. The tape, which the guitarist gave to his neighbour Carl Niekirk as a thank you after he lent him milk and sugar, features rehearsals of songs which would later appear on 1968 album 'Electric Ladyland'.

		POLICE INVESTIGATE FLO RIDA ANIMAL CRUELTY CLAIMS Two members of Flo Rida's entourage are wanted for questioning after witnesses claimed they killed a rabbit in Lexington, Kentucky following an in-store performance by the rapper in the town on Wednesday. According to witnesses, the two men got off the tour bus, "brutally" killed a rabbit for no obvious reason, and then got back on the bus again. Lexington Police, Kentucky Police and Lexington Animal Control officials have launched a joint investigation into the claims and are seeking to question the two men. However, it is thought that the tour bus had already left the area before police became involved. As news of the bunny killing spread, Flo Rida denied involvement in the incident, telling AllHipHop.com: "While no one in my party was in any way involved in any incident, the media report that I saw was sickening," he said. "As an animal lover, I would never want to see cruelty inflicted upon them".

		THIS WEEK'S REVIEWS Well, what musical treats are on offer this week? Or next week, rather, as we've been listening to new releases coming out on Monday. This week has been a little less frantic than some have been recently, but the quality and caliber are still as high as ever. We've been checking out new stuff from Freerange Records, Frightened Rabbit, Mr Scruff & Roots Manuva, Official Secrets Act, and The Whitest Boy Alive. Find out what we thought of it all here.

Want more? Want daily in-depth music news? Want all this for free? Well, ha, you're in luck. Click here to subscribe to the CMU Daily. back to top

WIN DEEKLINE & WIZARD ALBUMS
Breakbeat duo Deekline & Wizard - Nick Annand and Greg Fleming respectively - have been building up a reputation for themsleves as being among the very finest of producers of electronic music for five years now.

DJ Deekline emerged into the light following top ten single 'Don't Smoke The Reefer' while Wizard was busy being a studio king, working with the likes of The Chemical Brothers and X-Press 2. Once they'd teamed up as a duo, the release of 'Breaks, Beats And Blondes' set the ball rolling and it became apparent they were true maestros.

Now they're preparing for the release of their latest album, 'Back Up, Coming Through', their first for Against The Grain, on 13 Apr. It's a mighty fine long player that should be on every beats fan's Amazon wish-list right now (or a wish-list on some cooler music selling website, if you prefer).

We have three copies of 'Back Up, Coming Through' to give away to you lucky people. All you need to do is email [email protected] by 3 Apr with your address and then sit back and hope.

You can pre-order 'Back Up, Coming Through' from Amazon here.

Look what they won...
Well done to Torsten Brose for winning last week's Remix All-nighter competition in CMU Weekly!

Pearl Jam's Eddie Vedder says he thinks Kurt Cobain would have turned out to like his band's music had he lived: "I don't think Kurt understood us at the time, but we became friends and I'm glad we had some of the great conversations we had. If Kurt were around today, I know he'd say to me, 'Well, you turned out OK'"

Steve Brookstein criticises Simon Cowell's treatment of fellow X flopster Leon Jackson, who was dropped by Sony Music last week: "If they cared about Leon they would have announced his departure after his tour and not before it, and not put comments from Simon into the press saying 'Rhydian should have won'. I'm surprised he allows the public to vote when they've only got it right once in four years"

Chris Cornell defends his new solo album, after it was criticised by fans and critics: "Older American fans don't like it because they are typically my core fans that really supported me in Soundgarden and really loved that band. To them that's kind of who I am. I'm thrilled with the album that I made. I think it's really exciting. As a songwriter and creative person, I have to do what makes me happy"

All four members of Jane's Addiction may be back together again, but Perry Farrell says old grudges are still causing tension: "It's very awkward. I have seen [bassist] Eric [Avery] maybe two times in 18 years very briefly, one time we almost got into a fist fight. We're all getting to know each other now to see if we've all changed for the better, if we can like each other"

A lot of people have tickets to see Michael Jackson at the O2 Dome. Coldplay's Chris Martin isn't one of them: "I was looking at it on the internet and thought, 'I'd better buy some for myself' and I couldn't. They were totally sold out. To sell out like that is a testament to talent. It is just amazing to sell out 50 shows in one city in a big arena. It's the biggest comeback since Lazarus. It's good news - but not for me"

Do you have strange thoughts after watching adverts? Devo frontman Mark Mothersbaugh might be responsible: "I have written music for around 400 commercials, with clients that range from Coke, BMW, Mercedes, Pepsi, Target, McDonald's, Burger King to Taco Bell - probably a good majority of the evil empire. When I was younger, and occasionally today, I include subliminal messages"

		Free Jane's Addiction, NIN & Street Sweeper tour EP. Just in case the upcoming Nine Inch Nails/Jane's Addiction co-headline tour, with support from Rage Against The Machine guitarist Tom Morello's new band Street Sweeper, wasn't exciting enough already, they've released a free download EP. Each band has provided two new tracks. Jane's Addiction's tracks are produced by Trent Reznor. Try not to weep too openly - www.ninja2009.com

		Dan Deacon. Baltimore's electronic prince Dan Deacon has created something of a triumph with his new record, 'Bromst', a smoother, arguably more polished follow-up to 2007's 'Spiderman Of The Rings'. First track 'Build Voice' is a prime example, a euphoric salute to Deacon's talent for concocting soulful bliss within his vast understanding of electronic instrumentation. It's going to sound brilliant live - www.myspace.com/dandeacon

		The Horrors give away free download. The Horrors release their second album, 'Primary Colours', on 4 May. Already causing quite a stir amongst those who've managed to get their hands on a copy (including me). It seems anyone who wrote them off as little more than a flash in the pan novelty band should eat their words. You can download the album's first single, 'See With In A Sea', from the band's website - www.thehorrors.co.uk

		Delphic. We first heard this band about two years ago when our good friend Eddy Temple-Morris played a demo version of their upcoming single, 'Counterpoint', on The Remix on Xfm. Now Delphic are fast becoming Manchester's hottest new property. Their sound is steeped in their home city's musical history but they're taking it forwards like no one has managed for quite some time - www.myspace.com/delphic

		Plushgun. This trio have managed to come up with a sound that sits half-way between Blink 182 and the Pet Shop Boys. They've just released their debut album, 'Pins & Panzers', which seems to be going down pretty well back in the USA. Unavoidably and unashamedly American, it recalls moments from high school that you never personally experienced but that you still know intimately thanks to Hollywood - www.myspace.com/plushgun

		75% of Soundgarden reunite. The three members of Soundgarden who aren't Chris Cornell reformed for an impromptu set in Seattle this week. Vocals were handled by Tad Doyle of semi-legendary Seattle band, TAD, Mudhoney's Mark Arm, Rage Against The Machine's Tom Morello, MC5's Wayne Kramer, and Steve Earle. You're probably wondering what that sounded like. Well, luckily someone thought to record it - www.earcandybeat.com/?q=node/38

		Q1 How did you start out making music? HIGAMOS HOGAMOS: "I've always really loved music, from an early age it was 50's rock 'n' roll that first caught my attention. Then it was early hip hop and electro followed by that whole electronic side of post punk ...then I went back further into psych, kraut and prog rock. Now I kind of love joining the imaginary dots between all these genres" Read more of Higamos Hogamos' answers

		Q2 What inspired your latest album? MONO: "I collaborated with someone who shared the same vision as me for this album and she wrote the short story that became 'Hymn To The Immortal Wind'. Each song is a chapter of the story. Wind symbolises that which we cannot see but we know exists - traces of memory left in the soul, traces of the energy and movement of the universe. It is like what people can feel but not understand, and do not question until the moment of death" Read more of Mono's answers

		Q3 What process do you go through in creating a track? RADIO TRIP: "Listening to lots of record is our daily thing. When we do get the inspiration to do some actual work we play around until something fits or makes sense. We feel committed to our ears only and follow one ground rule: if it sounds goods to us, it works" Read more of Radio Trip's answers

		Q4 Which artists influence your work? THE QEMISTS: "So many. All forms of music from hardcore rock to avant-garde classical. Generally we all like stuff with high production values, lots of energy and lots of emotion, but it's all sorts. We often notice parallels between music and other art forms too, like visual art and martial arts, these influence us too. There is something about having good technique but being able to throw that away if you feel like it" Read more of The Qemists' answers

		Q5 What would you say to someone experiencing your music for the first time? ALAIN CLARK: "Turn it up and listen to the whole album. Then turn it down and listen to the whole album. If you still like it, do it again" Read more of Alain Clark's answers

		Q6 What are your ambitions for your latest EP, and for the future? JOE & WILL ASK?: "The EP, we would just like a lot of people to be playing it, it is a catchy song and when we play it people already seem to know the track, which is great. For the future, we are working towards an album. No name for it yet, but we are gradually getting an idea of how we want it to sound. We are working with a few vocalists over the next few months, really excited to see how it turns out!" Read more of Joe And Will Ask?'s answers

This week, George Harrison.

Still dead.

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