Rudimental are a four piece collective based in London who have built a strong reputation on the live circuit as well as winning critical acclaim for the unique music they are producing. A kind of latter day Massive Attack the band appear to have no problem at all in attracting some top voices.

John Newman, Ella Eyre and Angel Haze are all new names to me but each has left a mark on me through their tracks on Home. Despite the trademark clashing live instruments and rapid beats, the soulful vocals from the various artists on Home invariably evoke an almost charming old school flavour.

It is hard to pick out stand out tracks as after a couple of listens the whole thing just flows like a personal playlist, but if pushed I would say Hell Could Freeze featuring New York rapper Angel Haze, a fantastic bitter sweet street record, and surprisingly, as I didn’t like it on first hearing Spoons featuring MNEK and Syron.

Just put it on and party!

Home is the debut album from Rudimental and is available in all formats now.

“HOME” TRACKLIST:
1. Home
2. Feel The Love ft. John Newman
3. Right Here ft. Foxes
4. Hell Could Freeze ft. Angel Haze
5. Spoons ft. MNEK & Syron
6. Hide ft. Sinead Harnett
7. Powerless
8. More Than Anything ft. Emeli Sandé
9. Not Giving In ft. John Newman & Alex Clare
10. Baby ft. MNEK & Sinead Harnett
11. Waiting All Night ft. Ella Eyre
12. Free ft. Emeli Sandé

Additional tracks on deluxe version

13. Give You Up (ft Alex Clare)

14. Alien Bashment

15. Solo (ft Ella Eyre & Mark Crown)

16. Feel The Love Rudimental VIP (ft John Newman)

Rudimental are:

Piers Aggett, Amir Amor, Kesi Dryden and Leon Rolle.

Following a recent sold out UK tour Rudimental will be appearing at T in the Park, Global Gathering,Bestival and Glastonbury festivals, with more to be announced soon.

*NEW TOUR ANNOUNCED* OCTOBER UK HEADLINE SHOWS

8th October – Leeds O2 Academy

11th October – Newcastle O2 Academy

14th October – Bristol O2 Academy

15th October – Bournemouth O2 Academy

17th October – Birmingham O2 Academy

18th October – London Brixton O2 Academy

But enough of politics. During the 80’s the same stark choices were laid out in pop music. Before Itunes, downloading and the information superhighway, music was scarce. Nowadays it seems you can be equally into Lady Gaga, Fela Kuti, The Parma Violets and Burial. But the scarcity of music back then seemed to concentrate its importance. You loved your favourite bands passionately. The music that you hated represented all that was soulless and evil.

During the reign of Thatcher, Creation Records and bands like the House Of Love represented one side of this divide. You were either My Bloody Valentine or Johnny Hates Jazz; Felt or Annie Lennox; House Of Love or U2.

Before Britpop and the de-indiefication of indie the House Of Love threatened to brook this divide. Their debut album, stuffed with soaring tunes, and the burning intensity of their live shows raised expectations that they would be Creation’s first true breakthrough act. However their narrative arc followed that of so many other bands; from music press darlings to a record label bidding war to collapse under the weight of drugs, ego and mental illness. Apparently lead guitarist Terry Bicker’s departure/ejection from the band was preceded by him singing Sham 69 lyrics over the bands songs at a gig in Wales and then being thrown out the band’s tour bus at a service station on the M4 – I find it difficult to believe that anyone actually knows a gig’s worth of Sham 69 lyrics but it’s a good story. The one-two punch of acid house and grunge finally put pay to the band’s crystalline anthems and that was the end of that.

……until a few years ago when original members songwriter Guy Chadwick, guitarist Terry Bickers and drummer Pete Evans reformed and released an album ‘Days Run Away’ to dreaded ‘critical acclaim’ but not much else. So what to expect from a run of reformation gigs a few years on from the reformation?

The Scala in Kings Cross is packed to the rafters with a combination of indie-genarians and the young and curious. The band arrive to a rapturous reception and it’s just like 1988 all over again.

Songs from the new album ‘She Paints Words in Red’ are a lot mellower than than the average middle aged House of Love fan might be expecting – the excellent ‘Lost In The Blues’ even giving a nod to Curtis Mayfield. But ‘A Baby Got Back On Its Feet’ sees the band cut loose and even ‘rock out’ a bit.

Guy Chadwick’s voice, always much more soulful than your run of the mill indie whiner is as violent and warm as ever but the night really belongs to Terry Bickers. Looking exactly the same as he did 25 years ago – if there was ever a advert for living a roll n roll lifestyle it’s him – he plays like the angelic offspring of Jimmy Page and Will Sargeant and acts like a 14 year old boy who’s won a competition to play on stage with his favourite band. He looks like he’s having an absolute ball.

The atmosphere in the crowd is warm and joyous – it’s like one of those friends and family gigs – and even during the more subdued moments of the set such as The Beatles and The Stones, there’s no exodus to the bar as people remain rapt throughout. The audience ignites during songs like I Don’t Know Why I Love You, Christine and Road and the band seem genuinely amazed at the reaction they get.

Apparently some of the tension that led to Bickers original departure was due to Guy Chambers’ resentment of all the attention given to his guitarist. Well Terry Bickers is still the band’s live focal point. He is electric, magnetic, mesmeric. Hopefully the passing of time has mellowed Chambers frustration as they’re truly compelling performers and it would be a genuine shame if we never got the chance to see the House Of Love live again.

Counting Crows

To coincide with six UK shows, this month Cooking Vinyl has released a live album by Counting Crows.

Echoes Of The Outlaw Roadshow was recorded across several dates on their 2012 North American tour and is a true representation of the power and energy of their live shows.

Counting Crows have built a live reputation for powerful live performances and a loyal following that has been built up over the past two decades.  Singer and band spokesman, Adam Duritz is pleased to have documented last year’s concerts with this latest album.

“After having one of the best and most adventurous touring years of our career, it’s really satisfying to collect some of the best moments and document them for everyone to hear. I’m glad we didn’t just let the moment pass us by.” Says frontman Adam Duritz.

Counting Crows’ line-up for both the live album and April tour features Adam Duritz (vocals), David Bryson (guitar), Charlie Gillingham (keyboards), Dan Vickrey (guitar), Jim Bogios (drums), David Immergluck (guitar) and Millard Powers (bass).

Echoes of the Outlaw Roadshow was recorded and mixed by Shawn Dealey, who worked with the band on their latest studio release Underwater Sunshine.

Echoes of the Outlaw Roadshow by Counting Crows track listing:

01 – Girl From the North Country
02 – Round Here
03 – Untitled (Love Song)
04 – Four Days
05 – Hospital
06 – Carriage
07 – Start Again
08 – I Wish I Was A Girl
09 – Sundays
10 – Mercury
11 – Friend of the Devil
12 – Rain King
13 – Le Ballet d’Or
14 – Up All Night (Frankie Miller Goes To Hollywood)
15 – You Ain’t Goin Nowhere

Counting Crows have sold over 20 million albums, including 5 hit albums studio albums both in the UK & US.  The music is a smooth blend of influences R.E.M., The Band and Bob Dylan; and at their most rocking, a hint of Nirvana.

Counting Crows UK Tour 2013 dates:

Fri 19th
Birmingham O2 Academy

Sat 20th
Bristol Colston Hall

Mon 22nd
London Hammersmith Apollo

Tue 23rd
London Hammersmith Apollo

Thu 25th
Manchester O2 Apollo

Fri 26th
Glasgow O2 Academy

Tickets are £33.50 adv Reg / £36.50 Bristol / £37.50 London (all subject to booking fee).  Lucy Rose is supporting.

For more information visit www.countingcrows.com.

Win a copy of Echoes of the Outlaw Roadshow by Counting Crows.

Evening Hymns new album 'Spectral Dusk'

Spectral Dusk is a beautifully haunting album that documents the painful loss of the death of Jonas Bonnetta’s father. Blending alternative folk pop, minimal soundscapes and atmospheric field recordings with Jonas Bonnetta’s sullen voice, Spectral Dusk includes 12 heartbreaking tracks, that will resonate with fans of Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy, The Wilderness of Manitoba, Josh T. Pearson and Bon Iver.

Recorded in a log cabin in Northern Ontario, Spectral Dusk, like with debut ‘Spirit Guides’, was recorded out of the studio with the intention of bringing with it human reference. The warm and ambient tone of the record is often set by the crackling of fires and the popping of ice in bourbon.

Beginning in mono with gentle whirring electronics, Jonas Bonnetta transports the listener into his world of sorrow and grieving.

‘Family Tree’ explores the notion of severing ties with relatives and the restraints of traditional family structures that echoes Josh T Pearson’s ‘Country Dumb’.

The gentle, sad but soothing strings of ‘Irving Lake Access Road‘ create a solemn soundscape reminiscent to Sigur Ros at their most minimalist.  The title refers to a place that Bonetta & his father frequently visited during their lives together. This is followed by ‘Song To Sleep to‘ with the sad lamented lyrics “Here’s a song for dad to sleep to. Rest your weary legs and fall asleep.”

At the point of reflecting on your own morality, the album finishes with ‘Spectral Dusk’ a poignant letter penned to his father that contains another field recording from ‘The Burn’.

Evening Hymns is centred around Jonas Bonnetta and a rotating collective of musicians which includes members of Ohbijou, The Wooden Sky, The Burning Hell, The D’Urbervilles and Forest City Lovers.

Bonnetta himself says he wanted to create “spaces for reflection, rather than bombarding the listener simply with eleven crisp songs. This is an important element of listening to music, which is now missing on most boards much. I often miss the opportunity of a mental escape.”

Evening Hymns new album ‘Spectral Dusk‘ shows an artist with his heart and soul cut deep and open.  There is pain, sadness, but most of all a deep love for what is a truly beautifully moving account of one man’s love and grief for another.

Evening Hymns UK Tour Dates

20.05.13 Coventry, Taylor John’s House
21.05.13 Glasgow, Pivo Pivo
22.05.13 Durham, Old Cinema
23.05.13 London, The Slaughtered Lamb

Evening Hymns new album ‘Spectral Dusk‘ was released on 8th April 2013 on Tin Angel Records.

For more information visit eveninghymns.com.

Outernational by Billy Mackenzie

A timely reissue of Billy MacKenzie’s first solo album ‘Outernational‘ plus bonus tracks. William MacArthur “Billy” MacKenzie first came to musical prominence through his involvement in the much loved band The Associates in the early 1980’s. This was his first album release after the split with fellow Associate, Alan Rankine.

The album was originally released in 1992 on Circa Records and contains the two singles ‘Baby‘ and ‘Colours Will Come‘.

This digitally remastered ‘extended edition’ CD features the ten tracks of the original album release and four bonus tracks including mixes/remixes of ‘Colours Will Come – US 60659 Mix‘ by Larry Heard, ‘Feels Like The Richtergroove‘ by Mike Koglin, ‘Look What You’ve Done – Marital Mix‘ and the beautiful ‘Because You Love‘.

The CD booklet features an expanded version of the original artwork and includes a detailed UK discography and sleeve notes.

Speaking of the ‘Outernational‘ album to Record Collector magazine in 1994 MacKenzie gave his impression of the album “I think it has a glacial beauty. It doesn’t always have to be demonstrative. Fire can burn, but so can ice. And that would direct the attention to the lyrical content as well. Some of it had a lot of religious connotations, like “Colours Will Come”. I think that it’s an emotionally detached album in some ways, but it also has a strong message. Maybe it appeared like I wasn’t trying or expressing, or that there was a block. But it wasn’t. There was a calmness and a lot of beauty in that album.

Billy MacKenzie committed suicide following the death of his mother aged just 39 on 22nd January 1997, leaving behind a lasting musical legacy.

The expanded edition of ‘Outernational‘ by Billy Mackenzie is released on Cherry Red Records.

Fuzzbox - Big Bang

We’ve Got A Fuzzbox and We’re Gonna Use It!! were formed in Birmingham in 1985, the all-female quartet originally consisted of Vix (Vickie Perks), Magz (Maggie Dunne), Jo Dunne and Tina O’Neill.

Three years after the release of their debut album ‘Bostin Steve Austin‘, We’ve Got A Fuzzbox And We’re Gonna Use it!! returned in 1989 as simply Fuzzbox. with a new look and their second album ‘Big Bang!‘

The first single launched from the album, International Rescue launched the all female indie pop band back into the UK single charts and a new age of Fuzzbox begun. Gone were the mohair jumpers, day-glo hair and so-called “musical ineptitude” that had first enamoured them to the world, replaced instead with co-ordinating military style uniforms, a refined glamour and a slick Fairlight production style, whilst still retaining their unique charm and wit. The accompanying promo video for International Rescue was directed by Adrian Edmondson (The Young Ones, Comic Strip & Bottom).

The album also spawned UK singles chart hits Pink Sunshine and Self!

Released in August, 1989, Big Bang! went gold upon its release for initial sales in excess of 250,000 in the UK alone.  But unfortunately tensions grew between the band members and with their record company, WEA.  A promotional tour of the Far East followed and following a return to the studio to record a third album in 1990, Jo, Maggie, Tina and ViX halted production on the album and opted to disband; citing the ubiquitous “musical differences“.

This new 2CD extended edition of ‘Big Bang’ released on Cherry Red Records comes 14 years after it’s debut release on WEA Records. CD1 includes the original 10 track album digitally remastered, whilst CD2 offers 15 tracks featuring 12-inch mixes, B-sides, rarities, CD exclusives, recordings from the Out of This World sessions and the 2004 Syndrum Mix of Fast Forward Futurama featuring Manda Rin (Bis). The expanded CD booklet features sleeve notes, complete with original and expanded artwork.

Win a copy of the Counting Crows new live album, Echoes Of The Outlaw Roadshow in our FREE to enter COMPETITION

Buzzin Music has 2 copies of the Counting Crows new live album, Echoes Of The Outlaw Roadshow to giveaway

To enter to competition, simply answer the question below:

Who is the singer of Counting Crows?

a) Adam West
b) Adam Sandler
c) Adam Duritz

Submit your entries to comps@buzzinmedia.co.uk with the subject line: ‘Counting Crows Comp’ (other subject lines will not be entered) with your full name, address & contact number.

This competition ends on 13th May 2013.

The editor will randomly choose two winners from the correct answers. The editor’s choice is final.

Big Country new studio album, The Journey

Big Country will release their brand new studio album, The Journey as they embark on a 14-date tour of the UK this April. Released on Cherry Red Records, this is Big Country’s ninth studio album and their first since the sad and untimely death of lead singer and songwriter, Stuart Adamson in December 2001.

The Journey was recorded on the Welsh border town of Wrexham in an old cold war nuclear bunker.

Aptly titled, The Journey is released some two years after Big Country embarked on a new era, when guitarist and founder member Bruce Watson officially invited Mike Peters (The Alarm) to join them as lead vocalist for two concerts to celebrate 30 years since the group’s formation.

Win a copy of  The Journey by Big Country CD in our FREE COMPETITION

Buzzin Music has 3 copies of The Journey by Big Country CD to giveaway

To enter to competition, simply answer the question below:

Who was the original lead singer in Big Country

a) Mike Peters
b) Richard Jobson
c) Stuart Adamson

Submit your entries to comps@buzzinmedia.co.uk with the subject line: ‘Big Country Comp’ (other subject lines will not be entered) with your full name, address & contact number.

This competition ends on 13th May 2013.

The editor will randomly choose three winners from the correct answers. The editor’s choice is final.

Anyone fortunate enough to have tickets to see Eric Clapton will surely be ecstatic to hear the first few bars of songs like ‘Layla’, a hit for Derek & The Dominos in 1971.

But previously to forming Derek & The Dominos, Eric Clapton had been in several bands throughout the 1960’s where he became known as one of the most respected blues guitarists in the world.  In 1963 he joined The Yardbirds performing blues-influenced rock n roll and in 1965 they had their first hit single, ‘For Your Love’.  The single erred towards a more commercial pop sound and for that reason Clapton left the band. After a short stint with John Mayall’s Blues Breakers he joined Ginger Baker & Jack Bruce to form Cream; and together they had hits of their own including ‘White Room’ & ‘Sunshine Of Your Love’.  In 1968 Eric Clapton was asked to play lead guitar on The Beatles ‘While My Guitar Gently Weeps’.

In 1969, after Cream disbanded, Clapton & Ginger Baker joined forces with Steve Winwood (Traffic) & Ric Grech (Family) to form another so-called ‘supergroup’, Blind Faith.  Though the group was short-lived they played their debut concert to a staggering 100,000 fans in London’s Hyde Park on 7 June 1969.

Since the 1970’s Eric Clapton has concentrated on his solo career and making guest appearances with a wide variety of artists.  ‘Old Sock’ is his 21st solo studio album. The UK tour includes seven nights at London’s Royal Albert Hall, a venue he first played 29 years ago with The Yardbirds and has since played over 200 times.

Eric Clapton UK & Ireland Tour Dates 2013

May 09, 2013
O2, Dublin

May 10, 2013
Odyssey Arena, Belfast

May 13, 2013
LG Arena, Birmingham

May 14, 2013
Manchester Arena, Manchester

May 17, 2013
Royal Albert Hall, London
May 18, 2013
Royal Albert Hall, London
May 20, 2013
Royal Albert Hall, London
May 21, 2013
Royal Albert Hall, London
May 23, 2013
Royal Albert Hall, London

May 24, 2013
Royal Albert Hall, London

May 26, 2013
Royal Albert Hall, London

Mike Joyce (The Smiths drummer) tweeted a link to the demo, saying: “A fan of The Smiths? An early recording you’ve probably never heard before”.

The Smiths – The Pablo Cuckoo Tape Demo tracklisting:

You’ve Got Everything Now
Accept Yourself 04:26
What Difference Does It Make 08:46
Reel Around The Fountain 12:52
These Things Take Time 19:28
I Don’t Owe You Anything 22:37
Hand In Glove 28:06
Handsome Devil 31:04
Miserable Lie 34:11