Monthly Archives: April 2012

Milk Maid to release 2nd album in July | Music News

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Martin Cohen, mainman of Milk Maid used to play bass in Manchester alt-rockers Nine Black Alps. He left the band to concentrate on Milk Maid, releasing his debut album “Yucca” in 2011, to much acclaim. Just a year later he returns with Milk Maid’s second album, “Mostly No”, released via FatCat on 9th July and finds front man Martin Cohen cementing his reputation as a talented songwriter straddling the line between noise and pop whilst also expanding the band’s sonic terrain and adding swirls of psychedelia to debut ‘Yucca’s’ crafted fuzz.

“Mostly No” is released by Fat Cat Records on 9th July.  Milk Maid tours the UK in June and July.

 

 

 

Seth Lumsden to release debut ‘Who You Tryin’ To Kid?’ EP in June | Music News

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Scottish singer-songwriter Seth Lumsden is to release his debut 6 song EP, Who You Tryin’ To Kid?, as a digital-only download on 1st June. The troubadour, who lives in a cottage in the Loch Lomond & The Trossachs Country Park, has been earning rave reviews north of the border and is cut from the same cloth as such broken-hearted singer-songwriters like Bright Eyes, Tim Buckley, Nick Drake and Elliott Smith.

The recording was self-produced in Seth’s bedroom over the past year and features a cover of Elliott Smith’s “Between The Bars” as well as five other original tracks.

The ‘Who You Tryin’ To Kid?’ EP is available here from 1st June

 

Wildeflower to release debut single | Music News

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Surrey popsters Wildeflower will release their debut single ‘Good Girl’ via Stella Mortos on May 14th. The 6 piece band from Englefield Green, Surrey are led by Max Kinghorn-Mills and marry influences from revival/progressive Nick Drake, Bert Jansch and Fairport Convention with the modern, swirling patterns of Caribou and Four Tet.

As introductions go, ‘Good Girl’ is richly evocative, showcasing the group’s sound: spring-reverb, warm piano flourishes and flickering percussion. Amazing Discovery’ saunters down a well-trodden pastoral path into a leafy mantra: ‘Sound surround the earth and help me wonder’.

Recording took place last summer in bedrooms and the Beaconsfield countryside with Chris Smith (Fractal Skulls). Max explains further,  “I wanted to keep these recordings organic, avoid cold production; so we recorded some parts outside in the fields.” Max put the video together with clips he’d filmed during the recordings with friends.

‘Good Girl’ is released via Stella Mortos on 14th May

 

New Eugene McGuinness album released 3rd July | Music News

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London-based singer-songwriter Eugene McGuinness is to release his 2nd full length album on 2nd July . “The Invitation to the Voyage” is the follow up to 2008’s self-titled album and will be marked with an album launch show at the Lexington in Islington.

The album, which Eugene is calling this release the “most powerfully conceived and fully realised artistic statement to date”, was recorded with the dual assistance of  producers Clive Langer (Madness, Elvis Costello, Morrissey) and Dan Carey (MIA, Hot Chip, Santigold).

As well as a full tour throughout April as special guest to Miles Kane, Eugene McGuinness will also be performing at many festivals over the next few months including the Camden Crawl, The Great Escape, Liverpool Sound City, and Blissfields. Full live dates are as follows:

 

20th April: Nottingham: Rock City *

21st April: Glasgow Barrowlands *

22nd April: Dundee Fat Sams *

23rd April: Inverness Iron Works *

25th April: Leeds Academy *

26th April: Manchester Academy 1 *

27th April: Bristol Academy *

28th April: London Forum *

5th May: London Camden Crawl, two shows, venues TBA

10th May: Brighton Pleasure Dome – The Great Escape, with Maximo Park

17th May: London Electric Ballroom, with Spector

18th May: Liverpool Sound City, Kazimier, with White Denim

30th June: Hampshire Blissfields Festival

3rd July: London: Lexington Headline – album launch show

(* = dates with Miles Kane)

The Invitation To The Voyage, released on 2nd July 2012 by Domino Records

Interpol’s Paul Banks covers Sinatra on new EP | Music News

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Interpol frontman Paul Banks is to release a new 5 song EP,”Julian Plenti Lives….”. The release will be the first under his own name, having released his first solo album, 2009’s “Julian Plenti Is… Skyscraper” under the pseudonym of Julian Plenti. The release in June will be followed by a full album, due later this year and will be available digitally as well as a limited edition run of 1,500 CD and 2,300 vinyl copies.
The Julian Plenti Lives… EP centres around the new original track ‘Summertime is Coming’ plus original instrumental ‘Cavern Worship’ and cover versions of J Dilla, Frank Sinatra and The Running Man movie theme (by composer Harold Faltermeyer).
Paul Banks was born in Clacton-on-Sea and grew up in Michigan, Madrid and Mexico and formed Interpol in 1997 when he whilst at New York University studying English and Comparative literature.
Paul Banks – Julian Plenti Lives… EP is released on June 11th by Matador Records and is available for pre-order here

Original Mercury Rev frontman to release EP | Music News

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It’s been 18 since he left the public spotlight but David Baker, original singer in American alt-rock heroes Mercury Rev, is back with a new band, Variety Lights. The band, a collaboration between Baker and fellow vintage synth addict Will MacLean, have an EP ready for release on 21st April, with a full album to follow in June. The lead track is, appropriately, “Silent Too Long”, which will be released as an exclusive single for Record Store Day on transparent peppermint green vinyl.
As co-founder and vocalist of Mercury Rev, Baker helped to forge their revolutionary sound. he left the band in 1993 to be replaced by Jonathan Donahue. Since leaving Mercury Rev Baker has released solo albums and more recently he has been working as a producer for other bands.
The album was recorded by Baker at his own Over the Trees studio using a mixture of 80’s era midi expanders, vintage keyboards, drum machines and effected guitars. Speaking about the band’s sound, Baker says that “personal adventure is and always has been the most important thing”. Baker says that plans are afoot to play the songs live with a full band including drums and bass, with dates to follow at some point later on in 2012.
Variety Lights – Silent Too Long EP is released on 21st April 2012 on Fire Records

 

 

 

Prey 2 Not Cancelled

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After fears that the eager awaited Prey 2 had been shelved, ‘Bad Boy’ publisher Bethesda has finally come clean and confirmed that Prey 2 has not been cancelled, but it won’t be released this year after apprehension over its current quality.

The saying goes ‘Bad news travels fast, but good news travels slow’. Well this is news could not come a moment too soon. After rumours emerged almost a fortnight ago that the beloved ‘Prey 2’ was being canned; rumours that the developers Bethesda refused to deny, a public statement has now been issued that its development has not been cancelled but put on hold for further development and as result unlikely due to be released in 2012 as planned.

In a press release they go onto say ‘The delay is due to the fact that game development has not progressed satisfactorily this past year, and the game does not currently meet our quality standards. Prey 2 has shown great promise and we regret disappointing our fans.

‘We have made a substantial investment in game development to deliver the experience fans want. We are determined only to release the AAA game that fans rightfully expect, and are unwilling to compromise our quality standards to meet a release schedule.’

No other information, and certainly no new screenshots or footage, has been offered up but the news sure to make the many fans who posted on their face book fan page rejoice.

Rumours that the game had been cancelled were surprising as the game impressed most people that saw it at E3 and Gamefest festival last year. However, the lack of any hands on demos certainly gave the possibility that very little else of the game has been finished or indeed even properly planned.

Prey 2 has relatively little to do with the 2006 first person shooter and follows a new character who is marooned on an alien planet and forced to become a bounty hunter.

If you haven’t seen the trailer for this game then take a real look below and enjoy; this might be all we see of the game for a while. Then again, another good saying is ‘Everything comes to those who wait’. Well Time will tell if this game will be everything we come to expect of ‘Bad Boy’ publisher Bethesda.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VhMUA_B5ozo

Leo Bancroft launch party

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Last night I attended  the brilliant launch of Leo Bancroft’s new product range at The Ivy Club. It was celebrity packed with Ruth Langsford, Derek Chisora, Matt Johnson, Liam Botham, Amy Willerton, Nancy Sorrell and Vic Reeves, Lembit Opik, Javine Hylton, Mem Ferda and many more attending.

Ruth Langsford said, “Leo has always been a great hairdresser and I am a big fan, he has been doing my hair for years. I highly recommend Leo and his line of products to everyone, and we love him at This Morning.”

It is not only the models and catwalks that love Leo, but since becoming This Morning’s hairstylist, Ruth Langsford and Eamonn Holmes are both his biggest fans and loyal customers, as well as a list of celebrity clients and friends, including the Chelsea football team and their families, Peter Crouch, Abbey Clancy, and Kirsty Gallagher.

 

 

Leo has launched his 17-product line, bringing catwalk and celebrity glamour to his full product line and the high street. His unrivaled range of products delivers you beyond professional hair care, allowing you to replicate his award-winning styles and acclaimed approaches to create ‘the best version of you’.

 

Leo’s range is hot with celebrities. I have tried it and I like it. His new range at Tesco is brilliant but reasonably priced.  Leo’s range is now available exclusively in 500 Tesco stores UK-wide. Get your hands on some if you can.