Electric Roulette - the hip side of music and pop culture

Avatar: Trailer

2009-11-03T13:52:23+00:00

I'm no film nut. All that acting gets in the way. However, I've been stupidly giddy about James Cameron's newest flick, 'Avatar'. You can blame an article I read a while back which raved about this new 3D he's invented for it. People are talking about it like it's the shift between black and white and colour. I don't know about that, but it piqued my interest enough to want in. Now, this sci-fi fing has got a trailer, which you can see over the jump.

Watch this. Imagine it in 3D and try and side-step all that Star Wars Episode 1 hippie-fluff. This could be the funnest film to dig over Christmas.

[Gimmers]

Uh-oh! The original Sugababes are reforming...

2009-11-03T13:26:03+00:00

Just about everyone in world thought that, when Keisha was ousted from the Sugababes, wouldn't it be funny if all the original members reformed. Well, according to Holy Moly, it could well be happening. So Keisha, Mutya and Siobahn could be getting it back on and singing the old hits and... well... dishing out kickings to the three people currently in The Sugababes. The universe is folding in on itself slightly. Maybe they should call one of them a B-Team or something? Sugababes Reserves? Either way, Amelle is still the fittest one. [MG]

Iggy to do full Raw Power tour

2009-11-03T00:45:15+00:00

Iggy Pop has revealed that he and remaining Stooges are set for a full tour next year.

The singer had previously announced that guitarist James Williamson would replace the late Ron Asheton in the band to play their '1973 cut, 'Raw Power', in May next year to play the All Tomorrow's Parties in the UK.

Now there's more to come.

"We're going to be doing a one-off show in Brazil [on November 7 at Planeta Terra] but the real touring starts next year," he told BBC News.

Pop paid props to Asheton too:

"His spirit within the group remains with the rest of us and he is still a presence within the group without being on the physical plain."

You can find out the dates and venues yourself in a bid to convince yourself that you're still able to function without blogs like us wiping your arses for you. Or something.

The Music of Hammer Horror!

2009-11-03T00:39:21+00:00

Get yaw creep on! Yep, Soundtrack Presents: The Music of Hammer Horror - Marcus Hearn In Conversation with DR. David Huckvale & Hammer Double Bill: The Quatermass Xperiment & To The Devil A Daughter

Wha'? Read over, chump!

On Friday 20th November at the Chapter Arts Centre, Market Road, Cardiff, you can dig a full evening of Hammer Horror badness.

The Music of Hammer Horror will see author and Hammer historian Marcus Hearn in conversation with fellow author and Hammer expert Dr. David Huckvale, as they delve in to the history of the men whose chilling scores raised the hairs on the necks of a generation of classic horror fans.

Following the chat will be a double bill of two classic Hammer titles, chosen specifically for their fantastic soundtracks by our hosts for the evening.

Val Guest’s '55 sci-fi horror ‘The Quatermass Xperiment’ which features a fantastic score by James Bernard, will be followed by occult thriller ‘To The Devil A Daughter’, starring Christopher Lee, Honor Blackman, Nastassja Kinski and Richard Widmark, with a score from Paul Glass.

For tickets, click here

Review: Jimi Tenor and Tony Allen 'Inspiration Information 4'

2009-11-02T16:16:10+00:00

The Strut 'Inspiration Information' series has been, on the whole, a pretty good. Effectively, it's a chance for cool oldsters to team up with hip young(ish) producers and musicians. If you search our lovely website, we've reviewed the entire series... and the latest is collab is between Joe90 Warpist, Jimi Tenor and Tony Allen, drummer and musical director for Fela Kuti.

There's no hiding from the fact that these releases are achingly hip. However, however knocked their brains around when teaming up people, they hit on some gold. By and large, the results have been well worth a listen and, at some point in the future, they'll make for a very admirable boxset.

This suite of noises sees kitsch electronics and flutes melding together with afro-funk, some straight-out, splayed out on the floor, others weird, off-kilter and exotic.

It would be fair to assume that a collection like this could be pretty impenetrable, but the reality is a set that is very easy on the ear and filled with sneaky little horny grooves that bubble away in your blood.

There's some raps on that may make hip-hop aficionados baulk a little, as we're not dealing with firebrand skillz or flowing insight... however... the words contained are pretty fun, especially 'Path To Wisdom' with its riffs on secret leaders of the world and the Bilderberg group, chatting nicely over hot jazz and Tortoise style One Man Band On A Bike Going Down A Cobbled Street jams.

I guess the only thing to be said against this LP is that I couldn't help but feel that, at times, I was sitting in some vegan's student halls bedroom on a Friday night in 1999. It's a bit Throws-And-A-Nosering, you know what I mean?

That said, it's another decent cut that brings a section of music that can be far-removed from the average record buyer and for that alone, it's worth giving props to. It's a fun, accessible route into the heart of Africa without having to deal with Damon Albarn. And you can dance to it. [Roman Clef]

X Factor: Hurting it makes it stronger

2009-11-02T16:01:45+00:00

The X Factor is the most insane thing on television. That's not to say that it's well-made or credible. Who cares about the latter anyway? Idiots, probably. But it is the most dazzling polarising show on the box. People react to it like it's a football team. X Factor is the Chelsea FC of TV land that clearly has too much money and ruthless with it. Of course, it's prone to turkeys, but it's also likely to throw out the gold.

One person I know has a weekly outpouring of rage around the 7pm mark, every weekend without fail. It's not the kind of anger that is normally saved up for a TV show. With alarming regularity, he accuses the viewers of the show of being stupid and inbred. Bearing in mind his girlfriend is an avid viewer, you can see just how far this show can push someone.

However, I'm both thrilling at this outcrying, as well as becoming weary of them. The fact is, people look at X Factor like it is something important. The naysayers seem to be the ones who value it most, with screams of "IT HAS RUINED THE CHRISTMAS NUMBER ONE BATTLE!" and "THIS IS SIGNIFYING THE END OF MUSIC AS WE KNOW IT!" Amusingly, most people who bemoan the state of music in relation to X Factor are the biggest illegal downloaders I've ever met, unlike The Kids who tune in for Cowell's musical equivalent of Monster Truck racing.

As such, people tune in with their ears already stung and reddened with the cries of 'you should be ashamed of yourself'. Why? For watching a television programme? It's ridiculous.

I know that this may seem a little hypocritical coming from someone who has asked for public floggings in the past... however... generally speaking, I say thing like that just to get a laugh. The crushing reality of it is that rubbish albums and shows irritate me and I continue to watch and listen to them so I can (hopefully) say something funny about it the day after (usually in the face of Don't Like It? Then Switch Off You Idiot).

Weirdly, like a sporting team, what happens with X Factor is that for every mind numbingly obvious attack on it, it sees people dig their heels in and like it even more. Paul Morley wrote in the OMM that the show is 'hideous' and 'bloated' before adding: "I immediately listen to some great singers - Tim Buckley, Tim Hardin, Etta James, Neil Young, Baaba Mal - just to rinse away the agony of listening to the latest bunch of sanitised, job-hunting recruits"

What a crock of shit comment that is. Comparing the mind melting and baffling thrill of Jedward to effectively, a dream Later... With Jools Holland line-up is sneery and pointless. If I had to choose sides with the dazzling foam fingered glee of X Factor in 2009 with the pious, sycophantic pea-shelling record collector squibbery of Jools Holland, I know I'm going straight for the show that actively welcomes you in, as opposed to putting up yet another barricade of supposed cool in the way of those who didn't spend their entire teens blubbing over dog-eared NME back issues and re-pressed John Coltrane LPs.

The fact is, kicking the X Factor only makes it stronger. I tried it for years and, to be perfectly honest, I enjoyed it. Series after series churned out anti-pop like Michele McManus. However, the crappy montage videos and sob-stories have been replaced with unashamedly glitzy pop-numbers and WWE faux-tension. Self-aware, sure, but that's better than self-serving.

The only thing X Factor proves is that we as Brits love a good moan. I'll moan about those crashing bores who vent against it, whilst they'll feel they've got some credible purpose in their criticisms against it. Together, all these words give air and energy to a show that is simply without peer. [Mof]

Beatles remasters get vinyl treatment

2009-11-02T15:52:20+00:00

We don't speak to you for ages and then whut? We come back with some Beatles news like we're Uncut or something. This news is vinyl based. Contains Charles Manson joke.

Every man and his dog who has disposable income, a Beatle-fetish bigger than Mark Chapman and Charlie Manson combined has been thrilling at the recent Beatles' remasters, with the basic view that these new oldies have got rid of the crap stereo that blighted anyone who tried listening to the '65 onward cuts when sharing headphones with mates on the back of the bus (She Said She Said being a particularly bad one if I recall).

Well, these re-cuts will be pressed on to vinyl says Jeff Jones, Chief Executive of Apple Corps. Speaking exclusively to MOJO, Jones revealed that work on the next stage of the Beatles Remastered campaign is currently underway:

"We're working on them now," said Jones, "I don't have a release date. To put a release date next to them forces us into a situation where we're releasing something that might not be ready. They are incredibly complicated in terms of getting the masters right and getting the packages right."

"How do you assemble them? How do you put them in a box? How much do they cost? We want to make sure we're doing it right and that people get real value from it."

So there you have it. Vinyl remasters are on the way and, quite possibly, a boxset too. Apparently, Abbey Road engineers are looking at creating a new format so we can repeat this process until the end of our failing race. [Gimmers]

Review: Noah and the Whale 'The First Days Of Spring'

2009-10-28T13:54:33+00:00

"I do see the film and the album as being together, as a unified thing... but the album very much came first - it has its own internal narrative".

Rule one. Never listen to a lead singer of a band when they start speaking. In this case, Charlie Fink, singer and songwriter in Q-darlings, Noah and the Whale. Basically, NATW have made an album with a film in mind, which they've made on a "minuscule budget".

That shouldn't change the way you listen to the album though, because, regardless of pompous ideas, it's just a bunch of sounds like any other. But what kind of sound? Well, as the artwork suggests, this crew like pastoral, folky things... with a dash of amplified equipment.

This album, not offensive in any way, is indicative of What's Wrong With Rock Music in The Noughties. It's earnest, sincere and prone to supposed majestic swoops of grand orchestrations, giving the listener a very clear warning shot that This Is Serious Music For Smart People.

It's The Elbow Effect.

Currently, the world is a pretty dreary place and white rock music is reflecting that. It's become introspective and weary. Each phrase and syllable has been poured over so much that the weight of seriousness leaves you either nauseous or believing in something that simply isn't there. This LP reeks of a bad critic saying "this record will change your life" or using phrases like "soaring".

It's none of these things. In fact, it's quite the opposite. It leans heavily on the Gloom-Country of Bonnie Prince Billy, without any of that quirky, oddballery of Will Oldham's various character inventions. Noah and the Whale are, quite simply, the crushing bores at the house party, endlessly tuning up guitars and thrilling about Gram Parsons records.

Of course, if that's your bag, you'll love this LP. The whole singer-songwriter thing will tick your need to feel that you are indeed listening to some very well crafted music. However, you really can see one of these tracks featuring on a tender moment on Gossip Girl or on an advert for a touchy-feely building society or something.

The whole suite feels incredibly familiar. Of course, this being a white rock band, that's fine, because this implies a certain thinking... that thinking is that At Least They Know Cool Records And They're Influenced By Them... It's Scholarly, Not Generic.

Sadly, it is inordinately generic. It's the bastard offspring of a million late '90s alt.country bands, filling the void left by Ryan Adams since he went into retirement. What 2009 needs is something urgent and vital... something to cut through the glaze and make you feel alive. This album feels like the last words of a narcoleptic before he sleeps himself to death.

This amble through a Sunday afternoon is all well and good, but really, we need to bring on the dancing horses. The world is depressed... we don't need 'The First Days Of Spring' handing us the pillow to smother ourselves with. Once again, it's toward pop where we must look to get our kicks. Noah and the Whale are exacerbating the problem. 2009 is the year of the slow death.

Available on Cherry Tree Records

Lord Mandelson and the date with file-sharing

2009-10-28T13:32:53+00:00

Throw your diamonds up! Peter Mandelson there, invariably incurring the wrath of conspiracy theorists the world over... anyway, Lord Mandy has made an announcement which will no doubt see file-sharers shrugging with ambivalence or indeed, writing furious Facebook notes about it...

Basically, Peter Mandelson has outlined the details of anti file-sharing legislation which will come into play at some point in the not so distant future.

In short, illegal downloaders could get their internet connections cut off.

The Business Secretary, speaking at the digital creative industries conference c&binet, said that if the amount of illegal file-sharing taking place in the UK hadn't dropped by 70 per cent a year on from April 2010 measures to cut off file-sharers' connections would come into place from July 2011.

Mandelson said that connections would be cut off as a "last resort" and that there would be a "three strikes" policy, with offenders receiving letters of increasing severity, reports the Guardian.

He said that he does not expect to see a large amount of internet cut-offs. "Technical measures will be a last resort and I have no expectation of mass suspensions resulting. It must become clear that the days of consequence-free widespread online infringement are over."

That was funny wasn't it? So yeah... what about Cheryl Cole's single? It's a real grower isn't it? Yadda yadda [Mof]

Breaking News: Morrissey collapses on stage

2009-10-24T22:14:21+01:00

Morrissey's gig at Swindon's Oasis Leisure Centre has been halted tonight after the former Smiths frontman collapsed on stage.

He was stretchered off the stage by medical staff. Full story etc here.

Adam Roche, at the gig (@audiojoe) Tweeted that some fans were shouting "wanker" after Morrissey was stretched off stage 20 minutes into the show. According to the Telegraph, a spokesman for the hospital that Mozza is now at, said: "Morrissey has been admitted to the Great Western Hospital. He is being reviewed by the medical staff and his condition is stable." Here are some photos of the incident.

More news when we get (steal) it.

Playboy digs Marge Simpson

2009-10-24T09:37:22+01:00

Check this out! Playboy has a new cover girl in Marge Simpson! Marge, who everyone forgets is kinda hot until she appears in her lingerie or starts growling about snuggles, will appear in her smalls for the mag, complete with a three-page pictorial spread, pullout, and an interview entitled The Devil in Marge Simpson.

Shindig! get the fuzz with garage punk special

2009-10-23T12:16:04+01:00

The record collecting freaks at Shindig! have gone all fuzz pedal with a special collectors garage punk special!

The mag, which should retail at £5.99, is called Psychotic Reaction: The U.S. 60s Garage Explosion and features articles and pieces on The Sonics, Count V, Gonn, We The People, Elastik Band, The Standells and, in what might be my fave article in the issue, a look at the garage bands that appeared on The Flintstones cartoon and Garage in the Movies, which charts all the appearances of garage punk outfits on the big screen. There's also a great piece of garage art from SFA cohort Pete Fowler.

Effectively, it's a compendium of Brian Jones haircuts, Beatle boots and crappily recorded 45s that make you want to jump and shout. Published 26th October. Oh, and here's the Beau Brummels (or the Beau Brummelstones) appearance on The Flintstones...

John and Edward make best TV moment ever.

2009-10-17T22:40:41+01:00

Christ on a bike. I'm literally rooted to the spot. I've just witnessed something so monumentally baffling that my mouth has been open so long that it's dried to a haunted barren wasteland.

I'm talking, of course, about this generation's JFK moment. That moment is John and Edward's rendition of Britney Spear's 'Oops... I Did It Again' on week two of The X Factor live gubbins.

It was a phenomenal TV moment that united every single human in Britain in utter bewilerment. Two creepy clones pranced around in PVC suits and butchered the gigantic pop hit, after appearing in chains, before stopping for what will be referred to as: That Titanic Moment. It was so staggering that I cried like a baby - hungry (for more) and growing new teeth (so they could be so on edge that they could scream at the TV).

With haircuts that give the impression that the singing-two are constantly falling down a mineshaft, pretty much every beverage in Britain was spurting out of noses in a mixture of amusement, horror and a whole new emotion that was invented just for the occasion.

Seriously. The whole spectacle was like accidentally farting in front of a new girlfriend whilst puking euphorically, sat in a car crash, whilst being force-fed Es with your favourite tune playing on the radio after being given a million pounds and a hover-board. And you've got three minutes to live and a potential erection.

It was so confusing and dismally brilliant that it's almost impossible to try and convey what happened on stage tonight.

This will be shown on clip shows until the end of time and John and Edward should, and probably will, be given their own show to wheel out their horror-entertainment for us all on a weekly basis.

It was horrible, brilliant, confusing, wonderful, poetic, puke-inducing, stirring and... and... and... every bit of my DNA says it was wrong, yet, it felt so very right.

Introducing the Stylophone Beatbox

2009-10-15T15:39:20+01:00

Dig this. The Stylophone Beatbox is imminent and costing as little as £16! It does beats, loops and plays Stylophone basslines on it and... basically, it's the coolest thing you'll ever see in your life! Imagine having The Human League contained in a little black box - only without Oakey or those two girls. Anyway, if you want to see how cool this little bitch is, click over the jump to see an ace video.

BBC Four documentary on Krautrock coming soon!

2009-10-15T15:33:13+01:00

There's very little to be said that the headline hasn't said already... so, click over the jump and watch the trailer for the Krautrock: The Rebirth of Germany, which is coming to BBC Four on a screen in your living room soon! October 23rd in fact. Featuring Neu!, Kraftwerk, Faust and Can, Cluster and... you get the picture.