UNMAP - New Album "Pressures" out now

When Marichen Danz first began to make music with Alex Stolze, it was a project intended to soundtrack her art performances. But the soulful, crystalline melodies the two had begun to weave could not be contained within that context; instead they took on a life of their own, expanding into territories the two hadn't planned on charting - into the world of UNMAP.

Using the framework of these ideas, the two began isolating these ideas into beautifully ferocious pop melodies. They came armed with the tools of familiarity, knowledge and passion, having collaborated together previously thanks to Alex's work in the Berlin-based groups Dictaphone and Bodi Bill. With Vision and Voice firmly in place, Alex chose Matthias Geserick on bass duties; Geserick then chose Thomas Fietz on electronic drums to complete the quartet. Together they pared back the songs, rearranging pieces and building new aural edifices to attach their visions to. Occasionally they would find that melodies had reverted almost to their initial state, suggesting an inherent magic that remains timeless.
Indeed the melodies within their debut album Pressures feel out of time and space, imbued with a wide depth of energy and emotion. Embedded within are eleven tracks that thrum with the tremendous mass of our lives: the structures of social philosophy and hierarchy we place upon ourselves, and which are placed upon us. Cautionary tales of paranoia, protest and colonialism, the barriers of thought, religion and language, the fallacies of power and the weight of impermanence are translated into the language of liquid pop which wears its influences deftly and proudly. Though every member comes from a different musical background, be it classical or hip-hop, they each know how to weave their aural loves - which include Massive Attack, Tricky and Blonde Redhead - together into a shimmering cosmic blanket of sound. Through a blend of R&B-inspired rock and soulful electronic chamber pop, Marichen's lyrics are given a backdrop on which to live, to extend fingers into the ears and mind of the listener. These are more than songs; they are stories, mapping out a world both private and individual.
Many of the songs on Pressures began life as performance pieces tied to artwork, such as the bouncing sub-hip hop groove of "Pirates" and the chiming, unexpected twilight menace of "Take Over". Some, however, are entirely new pieces unique to UNMAP's strange and wonderful world, such as the foreboding "Altar" and the angelic "Monkey Effort". The group produced the album in Chez Cherie Studios with the help of Shitkatapult founder Marco Haas (aka T. Raumschmiere) and Apparat/Warren Suicide's PC/Nackt, giving it that unmistakably Berlin vibe with touches of Marichen's Irish storyteller roots apparent in the narratives. Delicately strummed strings and booming piano weave amongst her words, alternately pulsing with warmth and commandingly cold. It's something special, unique and captivating, and it will echo in your ears long after the album is over. 


Hear the new single, The Golden Route here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BC0l6wGFuZ8

Hundreds "Aftermath" Out March 14th (Free Download and Video)

It's been two years since their self-titled debut album was released but with their second offering, Aftermath, Hundreds return stronger than ever with the same, if not more, conviction, passion and excitement. Only a band like Hundreds could return with the same vigour whilst maintaining that enchanting, cool elegance that has become their signature sound and attitude.

After endlessly touring half the world, the Milner siblings were searching for a new approach to writing their music. They moved to the countryside and built their own studio in the middle of nowhere, starting from scratch, they began to write Aftermath. In their quiet seclusion, the band found their new approaching, writing organically and eventually producing twelve perfect tracks.

Aftermath is the story of opening up and letting go, growing older, but also of refreshing naivety and unconditional utopia. "Beehive (Prelude)", an instrumental version of a track from the album, is the perfect introduction for what's to come. 

"Beehive (Prelude)" Video:http://youtu.be/B0CxG9oInFI
"Beehive (Prelude)" Download:https://soundcloud.com/hundreds/beehive-prelude

Nugent & Belle "Doves" Stream, live show in London, December 17th

Artist: Nugent & Belle

Free Stream: Doves

Live: The Garage, London - December 17^th 

               

Something pretty amazing happens when these two ladies from Ireland and Scotland, respectively, come together. First noticed by industry legend Rob Dickins (ex-Chairman of Warner Music) who signed them to his label Instant Karma in the noughties as part of The Alice Band, Amy Belle and Audrey Nugent are quite simply a duo of great distinction.

After the group disbanded the girls went their separate ways for a few years, during which time Audrey wrote with several major artists including Chris Martin and Tim Wheeler of Ash. Meanwhile, Amy performed on stage with Rod Stewart at the Royal Albert Hall and went on to sign a record deal with Epic in New York. But having formed a strong bond whilst negotiating the treacherous waters of survival in a country/pop band, the two never completely lost touch and when Amy relocated back to London from Glasgow, they found themselves living down the road from one another in North London. Inevitably, it was meant to be and Nugent & Belle started jamming and writing again.

Audrey and Amy soon decided to collaborate on a new album. Self-funded and working mostly with friends and a sterling cast, helping for the love of the project, they produced an eclectic and often beautifully moving album entitled 'Seeing Stars'. Recorded at KT Tunstall's residential studio in Hungerford, Nugent & Belle’s debut offers eleven tracks that showcase some of the most stunning examples of female harmonies, melodious country- tinged folk and pop set to cinematic imaginings of life and love as lyrical prose.

Artists ranging from Alison Krauss through to Joni Mitchell and KT Tunstall all spring to mind, though it’s fair to say these girls have their own delectable sound. With a soft release digitally earlier this year, iTunes and Rolling Stone magazine were quick to pick up on its potential but with a physical release planned in early 2014 and a headline show at The Garage in London on December 17^th Nugent & Belle deserve your attention right here and now.

Album track ‘Doves’ available to stream: https://soundcloud.com/nugentandbelle/doves

Brilliant new album from Get the Blessing, out January 20th

Get the Blessing were one of my favourite finds of last year. Now they're back with a great new album. A review is forthcoming, but for now here's all the important information.

GET THE BLESSING                                               

‘Lope & Antilope’

Release Date: 20 January 2014

Label: Naim Jazz Records naimcd199

CD,  Digital + 180gm vinyl

UK tour in March 2014 

Bassist Jim Barr once remarked that Get The Blessing were “total outsiders” and  “the punk entry” when they won the 2008 BBC Jazz Award for Best Album with ‘All Is Yes’. Almost six years later and four albums down the line, the same could still be said to hold true, albeit with a little more age and wisdom at their disposal.  Lope & Antilope is the band’s fourth album (second for Naim Jazz) and whilst to some degree the thrashing rhythms of previous albums have advanced into more mellow territory, the irreverent and mischievous attitude is still very much in evidence: with a fixation for words that end in ‘ope’ Get The Blessing return with their most sophisticated album to date and UK tour to follow.

Formed in 2000 to share a fascination with the improvisation and monophonic nature of Ornette Coleman’s earlier works, the Bristol-based four-piece can now boast a truly international fan base and the last two years have seen them take their cellophane masks half way round the world and back (it was the rhythm of movement and travel experienced on the road that gave way to the new album and inspired the title). Throughout this time, the line-up has remained the same with Portishead rhythm masters Jim Barrand Clive Deamer on bass and drums respectively, Pete Judge on trumpet and Jake McMurchie on saxophone. And all this despite other commitments for everyone, not least Deamer’s recruitment as Radiohead’s second live drummer in 2012. The band’s old friend and collaborator – and Portishead guitarist - Adrian Utley also returns to make a guest appearance with Bat for Lashes guitarist Tim Allenbrought in to engineer the recording sessions.

Conceptually Lope & Antilope is different from previous albums as it makes use of sounds collected whilst on the road but crucially, is almost all improvised. With the urge to leave their comfort zone and break some of their recording habits, the album was recorded in an empty pottery in Pembrokeshire. With nothing written, everything on the album came out of four days of improvising. The starting point was often experimentation with sound effects, both acoustic and electric, to which a groove would be added, then a tune, or a solo and so forth. As the band put it, it’s  “the culmination of 4 days of recording, 3 years of gigging and 12 years of drinking tea and gin.”

The use of guitar effects pedals and other electronic gizmos had become a big part of what the band do live, but until now had never been fully integrated into the recording process.  As well as extensive use of delay by the horns, the rockiest track on the album,  ‘Little Ease’ also features the trumpet routed through a distortion pedal, bought for a song on the way to the first day of recording (it also features on ‘Trope’). The saxophone is treated in a similar way, producing the Theremin-like pitch bends that can be heard on ‘Quiet’. This could lead you to think that Lope & Antilopeis an effects heavy, raucous album, but in fact the opposite would be more accurate. Lope & Antilope is more textured than previous work, shifting from the atmospheric ambience of ‘Luposcope’ to the pulsing, almost Nordic menace of ’Viking Death Moped’ – but all the way through maintaining the trademark bass riffs that carry the album through giving it that quintessential Get The Blessing Sound.

Get The Blessing live dates 2014:

2 Mar    Capstone Theatre, LIVERPOOL

5 Mar    XOYO, LONDON

6 Mar    Hare & Hounds, BIRMINGHAM

9 Mar    Jazz Festival, BRISTOL

10 Mar  Arts Centre, WARWICK

27 Mar  Sheffield University SU, SHEFFIELD

29 Mar  Clitheroe Grand, CLITHEROE

Naim Jazz Records was founded in 2008 in order to provide a platform for deserving British jazz talent. In dedicating itself to artistic freedom and superb technical and creative quality, Naim Jazz has built a diverse and exciting roster including Neil Cowley Trio, Empirical, Kairos 4tet, Get The Blessing, trioVD, Stuart McCallum and Sons Of Kemet.

www.naimjazz.com

Naim Hi Definition:  Listen to this album as the artist intended, by downloading it in 24bit 48khz WAV, FLAC and Apple Lossless from the Naim Hi Def Download Store, one of the world’s first independent label websites to sell fully uncompressed music. www.naimlabel.com

cHANTAL cLARET

cHANTAL cLARET

Stream: ‘Pop Pop Bang Bang’:http://goo.gl/wYjCC4

“Imagine Tina Turner fronting Outkast at Bette Midler’s bat mitzvah.”

               

That’s how singer-songwriter Chantal Claret describes her solo debut The One, The Only…, a stunning album that swings with retro rhythmic swagger and songs that feel like revitalized Motown gems. Co-written and co-produced by Chantal, the album is meaty, beaty, big and bouncy, with Chantal putting a modern twist on early '60s femme-pop. "I wanted to make music that sounds like it could've been written in the '60s or '70s, but with a big fat hip-hop-like low end," she says. "Luckily for me, a lot of amazing people came together to help me pull it off--not because they were looking for a payday, but because they believed in the songs and that means everything to me. I hustled my ass off to make this record happen. I'm really proud of it and hope people have as much fun listening to it as I had making it." Chantal enlisted the likes of Rob Kleiner (David Guetta, Cee-Lo), Pigeon John, Lionshare, Mher Filian and mixer Mark “Exit” Goodchild (Erykah Badu, Cee-Lo) to help bring her musical vision to life.

For more visithttp://chantalclaret.com or contactjamie@cannonballpr.com

Nine Inch Nails Tour News

NINE INCH NAILS

ANNOUNCE UK TOUR FOR MAY 2014

Nine Inch Nails has announced details of a full UK tour in May 2014. The tour – their first in this country for 6 years – will take in 6 venues across 6 cities including the o2 Arena in London, full dates below. It follows the release in September of their critically acclaimed new album Hesitation Marks.

Tickets go on general sale from 9:00 AM Friday from www.kililive.com/nin. Pre-sale tickets will be available from 9:00 AM this Wednesday on tour.nin.com. Fans must be a member of the NIN website to access tickets (membership is free).

Nine Inch Nails played a series of festival shows throughout the summer before embarking on the Tension 2013 tour throughout North America, which runs until the end of this month. Their performance at Reading/Leeds festival this year and at their intimate London show at Scala proved they are once again delivering one of the best live shows on the planet.

Nine Inch Nails is considered a pioneer in the industrial music movement and has been highly influential in the evolution of electronic music. Its recordings - which include the RIAA Platinum-certified Pretty Hate Machine (1989), Broken (1992), The Downward Spiral (1994) and With Teeth (2005) - have revolutionized detailed digital production. The band has sold more than 30 million albums worldwide, released a remarkable series of singles, including the No. 1 Modern Rock radio hits "The Hand That Feeds," "Only," "Every Day Is Exactly the Same" and "Survivalism". For a more extensive history of Nine Inch Nails, visit http://thehistory.nin.com/.

UK TOUR MAY 2014

Sunday 18^th               Birmingham LG Arena
Tuesday 20^th              Glasgow Hydro Arena
Wednesday 21^st         Cardiff Motorpoint Arena
Friday 23^rd                 London The O2
Saturday 24^th              Nottingham Capital FM Arena
Sunday 25^th                Manchester Phones 4u Arena

WWW.NIN.COM

https://www.facebook.com/ninofficial 

https://twitter.com/nineinchnails