Music Review Ravers

MXP4 : The New Revolutionary Music Format

noreply@blogger.com (Margaux) — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 16:38:00 +0000

I thought I would tell you about an exciting new music format, which I am convinced will revolutionize the way we create and listen to music.

You may already be aware of an interactive format called MXP4.

I have been using and beta-testing a software called MXP4 Creator for several months now and am regularly liaising with Eric Mallet who is the Vice-President Production & Engineering of a major Paris-based company called Musinaut. This firm is a cutting edge music software development organization that has created the next big thing after MP3 : MXP4 has been released in September 2008.

The MXP4 format enables recorded music to be unpredictable each time it is played and therefore it will always be refreshing and dynamic to the listeners.

Artists in this scenario have endless possibilities to create MXP4's of their existing songs by allowing equally endless permutations using tracks and unused takes (vocals tracks, guitar tracks etc...) they have recorded in GarageBand, LogicPro or other recording softwares.

It is also possible to create different 'skins' in different styles (acoustic, rock, dance ...) and give any particular song a different feel and genre each time. These different MXP4 skins can be played intermittently in the free MXP4 player thus again offering a greater listening experience.

I believe that this new format will enable our fellow musicians to explore different avenues and also provide a new dimension to their existing catalogue whilst multiplying their potential revenue stream.

Tthis could also be an excellent additional distribution opportunity for independent artists and I assume that you will feel likewise.

December 2008

Review Raver : Margaux

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Margaux - Spookydubois At Corfe Castle : new album available on iTunes !

noreply@blogger.com (Margaux) — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 09:25:00 +0000

Listen to the MXP4 of 'The World Needs A New Hero', the first scene of 'Spookydubois At Corfe Castle'

When I first set eyes on the enigmatic castle ruins at Corfe in the beautiful Dorset countryside in England, little did I realise precisely how much impact this was to have on my life.

Some 10 years later the inspiring village hilltop site that ignited my imagination, is now the setting for my latest album 'Spookydubois At Corfe Castle'.

Full of action and fantasy it's a gripping tale of passion love and betrayal, good versus evil, a 'minds eye' musical concept, which can be 'visually heard' !

Set in Medieval England and Southern France 'Spookydubois At Corfe Castle' is the first part of a trilogy featuring the epic adventures of Spookydubois a fictional heroine who awakens during an eclipse suffering from amnesia.

A curse is lifted that allows her to embark on an epic quest in search of her destiny and long lost son. Slowly discovering the truth and battling intermittent memory loss and confusion, she faces constant danger, for the evil Lord is the unrightfully ruler of the realm and his love for her is profoundly consequential...

Discover interesting quirky characters such as Dark Lord Maltravers, the Wiseman Peter of Pomfret and the Blind Raven, his faithful alter ego.

The introduction of MXP4 has provided me with the opportunity to portray my enchanting story within my music. Find out more on www.margauxmusic.com

'Spookydubois At Corfe Castle' is a magical 'Music like a Movie' album that has long been evolving to finally be shared and enjoyed !

Perfect for Halloween ! Wishing you all a 'Happy Halloween' !
Margaux

'Spookydubois At Corfe Castle' is available on iTunes and CD Baby

Album tracklist :
1. The Blind Raven
2. The World Needs A New Hero
3. Spookydubois At Corfe Castle

4. The Dark Lord
5. Tick Tick Tick
6. The Eclipse

7. The Miracle Cross

8. My Little Prince
9. Halloween At Corfe Castle
10. Spookydubois Halloween Mix

www.margauxmusic.com

The Automatic - Live at the Norwich Arts Centre

noreply@blogger.com (Margaux) — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 21:26:00 +0000

[Aternative, Rock]

Firstly the support bands: Canterbury and Viva Machine. Neither had I heard of before but both bands managed to impress me. Though, it must be said both bands were very similar in style to the Automatic themselves but they were ok, they made a good listen, and Viva Machine got a few of younger members of the audience going.

Then it was the AUTOMATIC ! The last time I saw these guys were when they headlined the NME shockwaves tour along with the view, the horrors and Mumm-ra, back in the early months of 2007. I remember it clearly, they wrecked the joint ! Crowd surfers were flying over head like black birds, people were unable to remain still and steady, drinks were flying everywhere and the Automatic need not have bothered singing anything, for fans done it for them !

However this time was very different. First off they were playing in a tiny former church as a venue and a lot had changed since then. The Autos had been off the music scene for a while recording new songs with their new man; Paul Mullen (previously of YourCodeNameIs: Milo), the replacement of Pennie (Autos keyboardist). Also the crowd held a vast mix of young and old, was quite unusual ! Well anyway they took to the stage with a massive roar from the small crowd and jumped straight into the deep end with playing a brand spanking new tune.

And you know what ? It was darn tooting good as well. They pumped through their set revealing they still had as much, if not more energy than before and played with great passion and enthusiasm. However, the crowd was pretty dull. Only a few people expressed their energy, the rest, it has to be said, stood like lemons. This was obviously disappointing to the band who made continual comments that even though they were in a church they didn't have to remain silent ! I'm not sure if this was due to such a mixed audience or the fact that Pennie was the band member who had most contact with the fans and encouraged them to go wild. Though looking past this their set was incredible, most of their new material was upbeat, lively and fresh, though a few tracks did sound a bit too similar.

Overall they proved that they still had it in them to pull of a rocking show !

Roll on the album !

June 2008

Review Raver : Stephanie Leiston

For more reviews, visit www.reviewravers.com

Margaux With An X - Live Acoustic Session (Video)

noreply@blogger.com (Margaux) — Tue, 23 Oct 2007 12:59:00 +0000

Watch ‘Margaux With An X’ – Live Acoustic Session

Here is a little taster of the 'soon to be released' acoustic album 'Home Is You', which was recorded live whilst shooting the videos.

In this acoustic session, I am accompanied by singer/guitarist Seb Mallen.

Mainly based on improvisation, Seb and I like to challenge each other whilst performing, never knowing quite where either is taking the songs and this is especially the case involving ‘Margaux With An X’, a version that is quite different from the original dance track.

The release of 'Home Is You' is currently planned for early 2008 a live acoustic version of several tracks previously featured on my albums ‘My Difference’ and ‘Margaux With An X’.

Also in the pipeline: UK television appearance on ITV’s ‘Thames Valley Tonight’ on the 18 November 2007 at 6 pm. During the music feature of this programme the making of ‘Margaux With An X’ dance track video + an interview and live acoustic performance of ‘Ma Différence’ will be showcased.

More news is coming soon and in the meantime: Happy Halloween !

Margaux

http://www.margauxmusic.com/

__________________________________________________________

Vidéo acoustique de ‘Margaux With An X’

Voici un petit avant-goût du prochain album ‘Home Is You’, qui a été enregistré live en tournant les vidéos.

Dans cette séance acoustique, je suis accompagnée à la guitare et au chant par Seb Mallen. Essentiellement basé sur l’improvisation, nous aimons nous lancer des défis pendant l’exécution des morceaux sans savoir où cela va nous mener. C’est particulièrement le cas pour cette version acoustique de ‘Margaux With An X’ qui est très différente de la version originale dance.

La sortie de ‘Home Is You’ est prévue pour début 2008. L’album est une compilation acoustique de certaines chansons figurant sur mes deux précédents albums ‘My Difference’ et ‘Margaux With An X’.

A venir : passage télé sur la chaîne anglaise ITV dans ‘Thames Valley Tonight’ le 18 novembre 2007 à 18 heures. On y vera le ‘making of’de la vidéo de la version originale dance de ‘Margaux With An X’ avec interview et l’interprétation acoustique de la chanson ‘Ma Différence’.

A très bientôt pour d’autres nouvelles et d’ici-là : Joyeux Halloween !

Margaux

http://www.margauxmusic.com/

Glastonbury 2007 - Iggy Pop & The Stooges

noreply@blogger.com (Margaux) — Sun, 24 Jun 2007 16:47:00 +0000

The Other Stage -
Saturday, 23rd June 11pm

At Glastonbury the nearest you can usually get to a headliner is around 30 feet. And that's if you've been on the barrier since before lunchtime - sacrificing food, drink and basic sanitation - and you're the sort of fanboy/fangirl lunatic that goes through rock stars' rubbish bins and sends them death threats.

Not when that headliner is Iggy Pop though.

This guy's been breaking down the barrier between band and fan years before Pete Doherty or Dominic Masters had even invented the concept of a guerilla gig a couple of years ago. Tonight was no different, as he beckoned up hundreds of drunken, muddy devotees during a raucous ‘No Fun'. “These are the world champion Glastonbury dancers,” Iggy said of his temporary new bandmates. “We're having a moment here”.

When he wasn't filling the stage with fans, he and his band tore through a peerless greatest hits set – including ‘TV Eye', ‘I Wanna Be Your Dog' and ‘LA Blues' – that proved that Iggy's still punk's top dog. His torso is as deliciously ripped-to-the-core as ever – you have to say he looks fantastic for 60 – he's still the ultimate rock'n'roll performer , charging round the stage like a man a tenth of his age, diving into the crowd and proving that the modest crowd that turned out were right to forgo bowing down at the church of Brandon on the Pyramid Stage in favour of these punk legends .

All hail king Iggy: the coolest man onsite – nay the planet – by an absolute freaking mile.

Best Song: ‘No Fun'.

Best Moment: The stage invasion.

The Stooges played:

‘Loose' ‘Down On The Street' ‘I Wanna Be Your Dog' ‘TV Eye' ‘My Idea Of Fun' ‘Dirt' ‘Real Cool Time'' ‘No Fun' ‘1970' ‘Mindroom' ‘Fun House' ‘LA Blues' ‘Skull Ring' ‘Trollin'' ‘1969' ‘She Took My Money' ‘Not Right' ‘I'm Fried' ‘Little Electric Chair'

For more reviews, visit www.reviewravers.com

Glastonbury 2007 - Interview with KT Tunstall

noreply@blogger.com (Margaux) — Sat, 23 Jun 2007 14:25:00 +0000

So the line-up's been announced, the pre-Festival excitement's mounting and the Official Glastonbury website can reveal the first in a series of exclusive interviews with performers at this year's Festival. What more could you ask for to whet your appetite for the feast of music, arts and (don't hold your breath but do cross your fingers!) glorious weather that is to come?

First to bite the bullet and answer the Webteam's questions is Scottish singer/songwriter K.T. Tunstall , who will be returning this year after a storming set at the 2005 Glastonbury Festival clutching a brace of new songs from her forthcoming album. Want to know what the Rum Run is? K.T.'s weather forecast? Her tips for the finest food to be found at Glastonbury?
Read on...

Have you been to the Festival before?

The first time I came to Glasto was three years ago. I was singing with a Jewish hip-hop band called Oi Va Voi - I played one gig and stayed for five days! It was one of the best times I've ever had - 10 of us set up a little circle camp in the Green Fields. One of my favourite bits was down at Lost Vagueness watching a trumpet/clarinet combo, being served pink gin in a tea cup by a 50s beauty salon lady. I love the food there too, bloody lovely porridge!

Do you have any memories of previous Glastonbury Festivals that you wish (or are able!) to share?

Being taught complex reggae moves in the pissing rain by my best buddy whilst watching Toots + the Maytals, listening to the 'bollocks' game throughout the night (someone shouts 'bollocks' and you wait for a reply; beautifully simple) My friend Kev also invented a very dangerous game called the 'Rum Run'...
But the highlight had to be a group of people who found a pushchair and started trying to persuade strangers to get in and be pushed down the steeply sloping metal walkway. “Tall Man in the chair! Tall man in the chair!” (Cheers as tall man agrees). “Ginger man in the chair!” (Boos as ginger man declines etc). A zenith was reached when they successfully managed to persuade a copper to get in the chair.

Have you ever seen in the sunrise at the Stone Circle on a Sunday morning?

I think I did! I certainly saw a few from somewhere.

What is your drink of choice at Glastonbury?

Red wine, rum for the rum run obviously, and a hip-flask of good single malt whisky.

Do you spend the Festival living in luxury, or down with the masses in a tent?

Tent every time!! However, a choicy £20 air bed with the nice soft felty stuff on the top, and a backstage pass to get to the posh bogs make it considerably more classy.

Who do you most want to see of the other performers appearing at this year's Festival?

I would have paid double to see Bjork - she's such a phenomenal live act. But won't get there in time. I'm going to try and see Willy Mason and The Who , and get some beany stew and then I'll be well happy.

How do you choose what to play at a Festival? Do you play your favourites or the crowds'?

My favourites and the crowd pleasers are usually the same. The fast, loud, catchy ones. We'll definitely be going for a whip-crackin' set list! A lot of my new stuff is a lot faster, but no one will have heard most of it so fingers crossed we don't get egged.

Who's influenced your performance/on stage style?

I couldn't say anyone in particular, I'm not very good at the old tricky dicky moves - tend to end up getting over-involved in my guitar lead or falling over the monitor. Must get some jumping lessons from Ricky Kaiser...

What is it like playing open air gigs as opposed to arenas/clubs/indoor venues?

The crowd are really far away so I tend to shout very loudly when I speak between songs... I'm learning the physics of amplification slowly but surely. I do love a little club, but you don't get the euphoria of a festival. There's an awful lot of love in the air when you're outside.

How will you be dressing at the Festival? T-shirt and shorts or Sunday best?

I haven't decided yet - there's got to be a healthy degree of pikeyness whichever I choose. Wee dress if it's hot, tights if not.

No sleep until Monday or tucked-up in bed with your ear-plugs every night?

A few hours with the plugs definitely enhances my experience of life in general, and particularly when one must dance maniacally. Between 8am and 1pm I find to be the most helpful.

Given Glastonbury's reputation, will you be buying crystals and looking for ley lines?

Absolutely. You'll find me getting my hair read whilst asking the standing stones for new harmonies.

Will you be hanging about backstage, or out and about with the crowds?

Both I expect, it's lovely to get to say hello to people you've always admired from afar, but the fun really starts out front with people going commando whilst wearing daring mud suits.

What was the first song you ever wrote? And how old were you?

Only You , about being cheated on, which had never actually happened to me, when I was 14. I think Myles had just been unfaithful to Claudia on Dynasty .

What one song – by another performer – do you wish you had written?

Won't Get Fooled Again - The Who

How is your record collection made up; vinyl, CD or download?

CDs and about 3 downloads.

Assuming you're not a fully trained meteorologist, what's your gut instinct on this year's Festival weather? Sunshine or rain?

Ahhh... the great stones tell me it will be a scorcher! With the odd scattering of biblical floods possible.

If you could ask yourself an interview question, what would it be and what's the answer?

“What is your favourite sweetie?” It's a toss up between lemon bons bons and kola kubes.

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Unsigned is beautiful

noreply@blogger.com (Margaux) — Fri, 27 Apr 2007 20:53:00 +0000

The prolific use by the music industry of the term 'unsigned artist' has for a long time been a concept neatly exploited, to infuse the music community and general public with the notion and sometimes belief that artistic credibility, success and recognition, can only be achieved by being 'signed' to a major record label and yet we know that this is wrong. Today, it doesn't matter anymore whether you are signed or not, the opportunities are open to all thanks to the new media place, the Internet.

Before the Internet revolution, a band had to record an album in a studio, manufacture CD's, get their music on the radio for exposure, be on TV to promote their newly released album and have their CD distributed in the shops. The infrastructure of releasing an album back then was very heavy and therefore very costly, someone had to put the money up and in the majority of cases it was the record label. Above all, an artist/band needed a whole army of people working with and for them, sharing the big cake, which left the artists with the smaller if not minuscule cut. They had to make a hell of a lot of sales to start making some money. Getting signed at that time seemed to be the only way forward.

This isn't the case anymore, times have changed for the better, being 'unsigned' is now the key.

Nowadays artists can record music on a computer in their bedroom and release it via downloads over the Internet for a very low cost. It has never been this easy and it's free to be a member of a community based website such as myspace or youtube to name just a couple.

You can make friends, showcase your music, network and now it is also possible for artists to sell their songs direct via Snocap on myspace. Digital distribution is now the key to boosting sales. Today there is no need to manufacture CD's nor is there any packaging or shipping cost.
Promotion and advertising have also become easy and accessible with an array of online advertising websites to choose from, where you decide the amount you want to spend on your campaign. Through RSS feeds and podcasts, artists and bands can propagate their music and latest news throughout the worldwide web thus potentially touching thousands, hundred of thousands if not millions of new fans. In other words, a band doesn't need a record label anymore to get their music off the ground as the Internet has opened it up to absolutely everyone to use it as a platform to share, promote and make money.

The big advantage in being 'unsigned' and using the Internet is that you don't have to pay a whole army of intermediate people like a publisher, record company, manager etc... you can cut down to a strict minimum people who you find useful to work with.

The whole music industry has shifted towards the realm of independence, thus taking away the monopoly of a 'one way only music-making propaganda,' imposed by the established record label dinosaurs.

From a consumer point of view, we now have real choice and I must admit the music I buy is 95% by independent artists via downloads. I don't have to buy the whole album if I just like 3 tracks on it. It's better to sell 1 song 10 times to 10 different people than sell 1 CD with 10 tracks to 1 person who is only going to like 1 song. Downloads give us consumers the flexibility to buy what we like, thereby encouraging us to spend more money discovering new talent.

I love the new era and embrace it with wide-open arms. I very much encourage my fellow musicians to pursue their independent journey and not waste their time 'knocking on record labels doors'. There's nothing divine about a record label. Artists ought to take an interest in the business reality of releasing an album, for it is as fascinating and challenging as making music. Knowledge is freedom and by learning from business people, artists will understand the mechanism, which can achieve them success.

After all, music is their life, why not make it their business as well.

Unsigned is beautiful and freedom is priceless.

Margaux

www.reviewravers.com

Guilfest 2007 - The booking ordeal

noreply@blogger.com (Margaux) — Fri, 06 Apr 2007 15:01:00 +0000

If you are an 'unsigned' artist or band and want to get a gig at Guilfest this year - you better have a few quid in your pocket, as it is not cheap - money is the magic word here!

This is what happens when you call Guilfest to talk about the possibility of having your act on one of the unsigned stages; you will need to persevere and be very patient ! Keep calling and you might be lucky to speak with the not so very friendly Suzie Pile - the woman in charge of the pre-selection of 'unsigned acts'. She lays out all of the terms and conditions, which as you might guess are 99.9% financial. Out of curiosity when we asked her for a definition of an 'unsigned band', she replied saying that a signed act is a ‘big name'. I must admit that this didn't make any sense to me at the time and it still doesn't !

Anyhow, back to the financial aspect. If you want to play at Guilfest on one of the 'unsigned stages' you have to buy at least 50 one-day tickets at a minimum cost of £35 each or a combination of week-end tickets, each costing £90 and having a total minimum spend of £1,750.

All of this is on the basis of an upfront payment once you are selected and approved before the actual gig takes place. You will be getting a discount of £5 ONLY for each ticket on those costing £35 and a £10 reduction on the £90 week-end tickets. This is your ONLY option and this was heavily emphasised 3 times by Suzie Pile during the course of the telephone conversation.

So, fellow musicians, be prepared : you won' t be able to negotiate and if you do go for it and they ultimately accept you, you won't be able to offer your fans a real deal by selling the Guilfest tickets much cheaper unless you sell them at cost price or at a loss.

After having spoken with Suzie Pile, you will need to send her an email suzy@guilfest.co.uk (feel free to bombard her - she loves 'unsigned bands'), and afterwards you have to fill in an application form and send her a demo.

And then, you may just get a chance to perform at Guilfest 2007 and if you are lucky you will have to lay down the bank notes. Don't forget, it's £1,750 minimum to play ! This all leads me to believe that Guilfest might decide to put the bids up - it could easily end up costing a band between £2,000 and £2,500 if not more just to get a 30 minutes slot. Does this sound like the e-bay of music ?

Let's have a look at the figures now; How much do Guilfest actually make just on the unsigned acts ? Based on last year's line-up for the unsigned stages (The Rock Cave + the 2 Live Club stages), I counted a total of 100 bands. That's 100 bands all paying a minimum of £1,750 = £175,000 ! There is another stage called The Funky End Tent, which I suspect could be another unsigned stage and if so, we can then add another 30 or so bands paying £1,750.

Total : 130 unsigned bands x £1,750 = £227,500 !

Wow, that's what I call a real result ! For the Guilfest organisers, of course. The way this is going, Guilfest will in future be running their business purely on unsigned bands over the next few years.

Now let's go back to Suzie Pile's definition of a signed band being a big name' - it is very clear to me that without the unsigned bands, she wouldn't have a job. In fact, the unsigned acts are paying her wages not the big names. Therefore Miss Pile, you could at least be friendly when on the phone to your wage payers and not treat them like cattle, after all, unsigned bands are YOUR ONLY OPTION !!

If you do want to get your band on the Guilfest line-up, you can call Suzie Pile on 01483 454 159 and don't forget to give her my best regards !

Margaux

www.reviewravers.com